Indholdsfortegnelse for 2024-03-27 i Mercury

Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) said yesterday that formal employment in the country for the fourth quarter of 2023 decreased by 194 000 jobs, or 1.8%, quarter on quarter. This brought the level of employment to 10.7 million, according to Stats SA’s quarterly employment statistics (QES) survey. Lara Hodes, an economist at Investec, said declines were logged in five of the eight industries included in the survey, evincing the fragile state of the economy. The country’s numerous challenges, including unstable electricity supply and logistical constraints which were particularly elevated in quarter four of 2023, continued to impede optimal growth, she said. The survey showed that the community services industry saw the highest number of job losses, totalling 214 000, followed by the construction industry, which lost 19 000 jobs, and…

THE debt relief programme introduced by the eThekwini Municipality last year will collect more than R1 billion from customers who have entered into payment arrangements with the City. The City announced yesterday that the programme will be reintroduced for another four months, from April until July 31. EThekwini is battling ballooning consumer debt and is currently owed close to R29bn. The report tabled before a council meeting said while the last round of the programme between October and December last year had some challenges due to external economic factors, it had attracted interest and many ratepayers had tried to keep up with their commitments. There are conditions and benefits to being part of this programme, including that customers would have a portion of their total debt written off if they…

Before World War II, the prevailing world order was not based on specific principles or values; it was like a jungle, meaning strong countries could invade and occupy weak countries and plunder their resources under the world’s watch without anyone interfering from other countries. That was one of the reasons World War II broke out, in which about 60 million people were killed. The killing and destruction caused by that war prompted the late US President Roosevelt to seek a new world order aimed at promoting peace, stability, justice, economic cooperation, respect for the right of self-determination of peoples, and peaceful settlement of disputes to avoid more wars. To achieve these goals, Roosevelt, before he passed away, took some practical steps to rebuild the post-war world by establishing international organisations…

US President Joe Biden is at long last waving his finger at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and saying: “Naughty Boy.” However, the West is not coming down on Israel as it should. Russian President Vladimir Putin was declared a war criminal within a short period. Yet, apart from South Africa, no one is doing or saying anything that would have an impact regarding Netanyahu. Why treat Putin one way and allow Netanyahu to get away with murder? What on earth is the reason for the bombing of hospitals? Children are affected and even if they survive, they will suffer the effects for the rest of their lives. There are Israelis who decry what Netanyahu is doing. The rest of the world should stand up and say, enough is…

A standing ovation and ululation filled UCT’s Sarah Baartman Hall on Monday as anti-apartheid activist Shirley Gunn was recognised for her activism and leadership in human rights, and advocating for the rights of the marginalised, when she was bestowed a Doctor of Social Science (honoris causa) degree. Gunn was honoured during the Faculty of Humanities’ second graduation ceremony. A total of 4 850 students will graduate, including 26 PhD degrees, during the ongoing March graduation ceremonies taking place over five days. “I was moved by seeing the demographics of the social science and humanities graduates in that hall, a transformation that we can be proud of. I witnessed diversity, a room filled with women. Seeing so many women graduating that’s another thing I take home with great pride. Even that…

Water, a packet of jelly babies and innovative thinking kept six Cape fishermen alive after they ran out of fuel and got lost at sea. An extensive search and rescue operation involving multiple resources, reaching more than 80 nautical miles south-east of Cape Point was conducted for the men who were reported missing on Saturday. The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) Fisheries Patrol vessel Ellen Khuzwayo, located and recovered the six missing fishermen off Cape Point. The men were found in good health and a National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Simon’s Town rescue craft was launched to escort them on their last leg towards Simon’s Town yesterday morning. They were warmly welcomed by their family. Police spokesperson Joseph Swartbooi said: “Following the news of the missing crew…

GAUTENG health authorities are facing a multi-million rand damages claim after a little girl became blind after she did not receive the proper care at a state hospital after birth. The child will turn nine later this year and her mother turned to the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, as she felt that her child’s condition was due to the alleged negligence of medical staff at the Thelle Mogoerane Hospital in Vosloorus. It was argued on her behalf that doctors and nurses failed to adhere to the existing guidelines for the prevention, screening and treatment of the condition, known as retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). This is described as an eye disease that can occur in premature-born babies when abnormal blood vessels grow in the retina, which is the light-sensitive area of…

Conflict is about the collective West’s dominance being threatened A year ago, in one of our “Alternative Viewpoint” entries, we offered our readership an opportunity to reflect on how the conflict in Ukraine might end. Back then, Kyiv was preparing for its infamous “counter-offensive”, while the West, entangled in the “labyrinth of lies”, was frantically pumping it with weapons. We all know the cost of those illusions: by October 2023, in the course of the counter-offensive, Ukraine lost about 125 000 troops and 16 000 units of heavy weaponry. As of 2024, it has become clear, even to those who observed the entire picture through the lens of Western propaganda, that Russia owns the initiative on the battlefield. Not only was the Russian defence industry not ruined by sanctions, it…

The US Supreme Court re-entered the contentious legal battle over abortion yesterday as it weighed restrictions on the drug that is most widely used in the US to terminate pregnancies. The conservative-dominated court, which overturned the constitutional right to abortion nearly two years ago, is to hear oral arguments on access to the abortion pill mifepristone. Anti-abortion groups are seeking to have the drug banned, claiming that despite its long track record it is unsafe. Mifepristone was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2000 and the FDA estimates that more than 5.9 million Americans have used it to end pregnancies since then. The case stems from a ruling last year by a conservative US District Court judge in Texas, an appointee of former Republican president Donald Trump,…

A senior Russian security official yesterday laid the blame on Ukraine for orchestrating the attack on a Moscow concert hall that left at least 139 people dead last week. The accusation from the secretary of Russia’s powerful Security Council Nikolai Patrushev comes after the Islamic State group said it was behind the attack -- the most deadly on Russian territory in over two decades. “Of course, Ukraine,” said Patrushev, answering a question on whether Kyiv or the Islamic State group, which claimed responsibility, was behind Friday’s attack. Despite the claims from the jihadist group and assertions from US intelligence, Moscow has sought to divert blame for the tragedy onto Kyiv, which has vehemently denied any link to the attackers. President Vladimir Putin acknowledged for the first time that “radical Islamists”…

BANGKOK: Thai civil society groups voiced concern yesterday about the fate of 19 stateless children taken into government custody this month, saying they could be deported to Myanmar, although a minister denied any plan to do so. The groups say the case spotlights on Thailand’s lack of readiness to care for undocumented children, whose numbers are rising, fuelled by instability and violence in Myanmar. The children have been denied access to parents and relatives since March 12, when social workers took them from a shelter in the northern province of Chiang Rai. | AFP…

THE Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has made the lists of the independent and political party candidates available for inspection with any objections having to be submitted today. The focus in terms of objections appears to be firmly on the ANC and the MK Party, with both parties in court in Durban today over the uMkhonto weSizwe trademark. This comes after the ANC failed in its bid to challenge the IEC’s registration of the MK Party. The IEC said yesterday that there were 42 candidates appearing on more than one party list implicating 39 parties. Furthermore, one candidate was nominated as an independent and also appeared on a list of a party. The commission said the lists of independent and political party candidates would be available for inspection at…

A REMARKABLE book comes this way. At 512 pages in A4 format, you could stun a rhino with it. The book contains chapters on the early history of Natal and Zululand; chapters on early Natal families, one in particular; chapters on World War II; chapters on life in London; chapters on rugby in Maritzburg; chapters on the high-jinks that went with rugby; chapters on travel in Africa; and plenty more. Plus loads of pictures. Foxie’s Way is the life story of the writer, Phillip “Foxie” Rodwell, in Maritzburg and elsewhere, written to explain to his children and grandchildren – and anyone else interested – how he grew up, the oddities of those times and why he (and his old friends) could today be considered somewhat quirky. Do I get a…

KATE Middleton’s brave, bold and heartbreaking cancer diagnosis message should serve as notice to those individuals who are obsessed with indulging in and spreading frenzied conspiracy theories, rumour-mongering, hurtful speculation and controversies. Exhibitionist, selfitis or social media addicts should remember that behind those posts are human beings with feelings, emotions and families. Probing, questioning and unjustly exposing and intensely scrutinising Kate’s private life on social media by certain sections of the media around the globe is unacceptable, is so wrong and needs to be condemned in the strongest possible terms. We have all heard the saying “think before you speak,” but what about “think before you post?” Pause, think about what you are sharing before you click post. Kate should be allowed her personal space to recuperate peacefully and process…

As the countdown to Easter begins, the shocking reality is that our religious institutions have become a soft target for crime in KwaZulu-Natal. There have been several recent incidents during which criminals have brazenly entered churches, posing as members of the congregation, before pulling out guns and robbing innocent people. To take advantage of pastors and churchgoers must rank as one of the most despicable acts and is a clear indication of the downward spiral of society. It is also a sign that KZN’s people can no longer rely on government to keep them safe – not even when they go to church and other places of worship. The DA urges KZN’s citizens to be extremely vigilant during the coming weekend. We also call upon all church leaders to be…

THE family of a 13-year-old autistic pupil have expressed their concerns after he missed out on the first quarter of school this year as they struggled to find adequate placement for him. Grandmother Melody Titus said her grandson, Jude Fortune, was currently idle at home. The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) said they were aware of the case and working on a solution. “We noticed very early that there was a learning challenge when Jude couldn’t read or write. He could copy stuff off the board but he couldn't understand what it was that he was writing as he couldn’t read. “Unfortunately, due to the system at the school, they just kept progressing or promoting him to the next grade due to his age,” said Titus. “While I lived in…

The founder of uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, Jabulani Khumalo has described yesterday’s decision by the Electoral Court as a victory for the party. The court ruled that there was nothing unlawful about the registration of the MK Party by the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). The party’s registration had been challenged by the ANC. Khumalo said they will now focus on the campaign and want Jacob Zuma to be the next president of South Africa. “On June 1, Zuma will start to prepare to form his Cabinet,” Khumalo told members of the MK party outside the Johannesburg High Court. In its ruling the court criticised the ANC for failing to challenge the registration of the MK party within the required period. The ANC had argued that the process…

The Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has announced that it has successfully obtained three orders granting it permission to seize assets worth some R18 million from alleged illegal mining kingpins. The NPA said the order was granted in the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, and authorises the seizure of 16 bank accounts, 51 vehicles and seven properties from several suspects. The matter involves six alleged illegal mining kingpins arrested on the West Rand, Joburg, in October 2022. The six suspected illegal mining kingpins are identified as Bethuel Ngobeni, Dumisa Moyo, Nhlanhla Magwaca, Moseki Sechele, Thabo Sechele and Khudzai Mashaya who made their first appearance at the Oberholzer Magistrate’s Court on October 19, 2022. In 2023, three more female suspects, reported to be…

Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife is investigating a buffalo attack that claimed the life of a man outside the Hluhluwe Imfolozi Park (HIP) in northern KZN at the weekend. It is unclear when or how the animal escaped from the park. Ezemvelo spokesperson, Musa Mntambo explained that on Sunday there were reports of a buffalo outside the park, near the Mashiya gate. “As inclement weather prevented the helicopter to take-off, the community decided to hunt the buffalo. Ezemvelo field rangers stationed at Siqwashi Outpost heard a gun shot outside HIP. They reacted and found a group of people gathered around the deceased body of a man,” he said. It is alleged that the gunshot was to scare off the animal. Ezemvelo chief executive officer, Sihle Mkhize extended his condolences to the family…

The ANC suffered a major blow yesterday when it lost its case seeking the deregistration of uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party. And it’s not just about the legal arguments and the findings of the Electoral Court; the loss cut much deeper than that. It’s for the history books that the MK name has ANC written all over it. In February 2018, Jacob Zuma was sent packing from Mahlamba Ndlopfu and the Union Buildings and headed to his Nkandla homestead, having being pushed out after he lost the ANC presidency to Cyril Ramaphosa. Since then, Zuma has been among the biggest critics of the ANC and government presided over by his former number two. It came as no surprise when Zuma announced he would be campaigning for, and voting for, the MK…

New York: An appeals court in New York has cut the bond in former US president Donald Trump’s business fraud case by more than half and granted a 10-day period for him to come up with the smaller bond. Trump, his two sons, one business associate and business organisations need to fulfil a bond of $175 million (R3.3 billion) within 10 days rather than paying a total of $464.576 million (R8.7bn), according to a ruling by an appellate panel under the New York Supreme Court. The latest ruling is seen as a win for Trump and his assets probably will avoid being seized by New York Attorney General Letitia James, the plaintiff in Trump’s business fraud case. Trump said he respected the decision, and cash or a bond would be…

LONDON: WikiLeaks’ Julian Assange was yesterday given a chance to continue his fight against extradition to the US after the High Court in London said the US needed to provide more assurances. US prosecutors are seeking to put Assange, 52, on trial on 18 counts, all bar one under the Espionage Act, over WikiLeaks’ release of confidential US military records and diplomatic cables. Assange’s lawyers in February sought permission to challenge Britain’s approval of his extradition to the US, arguing his prosecution was politically motivated. Two judges said he had a prospect of successfully appealing against extradition on a number of grounds. | Reuters…

STUDENTS attending four private colleges which are under the Educor group are facing an uncertain future after the Department of Higher Education and Training cancelled their registration. Minister of Higher Education and Training Blade Nzimande said in a press briefing yesterday that the department had cancelled the registration of four Educor private colleges: CityVarsity; Damelin, Icesa City Campus and Lyceum College for non-compliance issues and other challenges. Nzimande said the cancellation came as the institutions had failed to comply with the 2016 Regulations for the Registration of Private Higher Education Institutions and the applicable sections of the Higher Education Act. “These four institutions failed to fulfil the requirements for registration contemplated in Section 57(2)(b) of the act, and to discharge their responsibilities as required by Chapter 6 of the Regulations.…

Soon several nations, including South Africa, will celebrate Mother’s Day. In affluent areas restaurants will have table reservations for several generations of mothers. In modest settings a bowl of flowers may be arranged for mom. As a dad to adopted sons I ache for the millions of women (and who sometimes sit silent at the same tables) whose Mother’s Day is tainted with shame, loneliness, disconnection, for having made the tough choice for adoption. Many women have expressed Mother’s Day is not for them, that it’s among the most painful days they endure. If that’s you or almost you, and you are in KZN, and your adoption was recent or decades ago, I have an invitation for you: Please join me for lunch or an early dinner on May 11.…

T MARKANDAN’S letter to The Mercury, titled “World condemnation of Israel grows”, demonstrates a complete misunderstanding of the topic he discusses. Gaza experienced five major flare-ups of fighting between Palestinian militants and Israel between 2006 and 2021. Each of these wars – initiated by Hamas attacks on Israel through continuous rocket and terror assaults on civilian targets – resulted in devastating consequences for the people of Gaza. One might wonder why an unsophisticated force such as Hamas would engage with the most powerful industrial, economic, and military country in the region. The answer, for any discerning individual, lies in the belief that sacrificing civilians garners world sympathy. Hamas’s strategy, as immoral and obscene as it may be, has always been to use the deaths of its own people as a…

Public Enterprise Minister Pravin Gordhan’s unethical attempts to privatise the SA Airways (SAA) through the back door were eventually outed. Gordhan was hellbent on selling SAA to cronies, thereby undermining a norm relating to the sale of equity in state-owned companies. The Cabinet may have sanctioned the termination of the Takatso Consortium deal, but the murmurs over its secrecy will follow Gordhan in retirement. The whole deal exposed Gordhan’s duplicity and disregard for transparency and accountability. It’s hard to disagree with pundits who have thrown cold water on the partnership as amateurish, ambitious and controversial. That’s because political manoeuvrings were put before commercial interests to cast down the shift towards renewal. An obvious red flag was the fact that SAA went into a business rescue process as it was unable…

What are the implications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in higher education and what does applying such technology responsibly look like for the African continent? These were among the questions explored during the recent University of Pretoria (UP) Meta AI Policy Dialogue held at the institution’s Javett Art Centre on the Hatfield campus. The policy dialogue brought together leaders and practitioners from higher education, the government and the private sectors who explored the use of AI under the theme: “Responsible AI: Current Realities and Future Possibilities for Africa.” Higher Education, Science and Innovation Deputy Minister Buti Manamela, who delivered the keynote address, said: “As a continent, we have immense diversity of potential and are standing on the cusp of a technological renaissance. The possibilities for artificial intelligence in Africa today are…

Independent Media and IOL are introducing a groundbreaking initiative aimed at providing the South African public with valuable insights into the May 29 national elections. Beginning this week, Independent Media and IOL will be releasing results of poll surveys conducted by African Innovation Research SA (AIRSA), a subsidiary of African Innovation Solutions. Independent Media and IOL said the decision to conduct the bi-weekly polls stems “from our commitment to fostering transparency, understanding, and engagement among citizens during this critical juncture in South Africa’s democratic process”. Adri Senekal de Wet, Editor-in-Chief of Independent Media, said: “At Independent Media, we believe in the power of information to shape perspectives and drive meaningful dialogue. By partnering with AIRSA and IOL, we are reinforcing our commitment to providing our readers with timely, accurate, and…

JULY 2021 unrest murderer, Joel Fenton Pillay, was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment this week, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has said. Pillay was found guilty on Monday by the Scottburgh High Court for the murder of Lindani Mthethwa that took place amid the looting and public violence in various parts of KwaZulu-Natal in July 2021. On July 12, 2021, Mthethwa was walking on Ireland Street in Verulam, when Pillay drove past him. Pillay, who was driving a marked vehicle owned by a security company, turned his vehicle around and drove back towards Mthethwa. When he was alongside Mthethwa, he lowered the window of his vehicle and shot him in the head. Mthethwa died on the scene. Commenting on the case, NPA regional spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara said the State’s case…

Hamas yesterday urged foreign nations to stop parachuting aid into war-torn Gaza after officials and humanitarians said 18 people died trying to reach food packages in the starving north. Instead, the Palestinian militant group that rules the Gaza Strip demanded that its enemy Israel allow more aid trucks to enter the besieged territory, which the UN has warned is on the brink of a “man-made famine”. Fighting raged on unabated a day after the UN Security Council passed its first resolution calling for an “immediate ceasefire” in the bloodiest ever Gaza war, sparked by Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel. The resolution also demands that militants free the roughly 130 hostages Israel says remain in Gaza, including 33 captives who are presumed dead. Jordanian, US and other planes have airdropped…

A container ship smashed into a four-lane bridge in the US port of Baltimore in darkness yesterday, causing it to collapse and sending cars and people plunging into the river below. Rescuers pulled out two survivors, one in a “very serious condition,” and were searching for more in the Patapsco River after huge spans of the 2.57km Francis Scott Key Bridge crumpled into the water. The ship “lost propulsion” as it was leaving port, and crew on board notified Maryland officials they had lost control of the vessel, ABC News reported, citing an unclassified US intelligence report. Baltimore officials said at least seven vehicles plunged into the water but could not give an exact figure. Kevin Cartwright, the spokesperson for Baltimore City Fire Department, said earlier that as many as…

PESHAWAR: A suicide bomber rammed a vehicle into a convoy of five Chinese engineers working on a dam project in Pakistan yesterday, killing six people, police said, the third major attack on Chinese interests in the country in a week. The first two attacks hit an airbase and a strategic port in the south-west province of Balochistan where China is investing billions in infrastructure projects. The engineers were on their way from Islamabad to their camp at the dam construction site in Dasu in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, police said. Dasu is the site of a major dam and the area has been attacked in the past. Chinese engineers have been working on a number of projects in Pakistan. | Reuters…

Virat Kohli said he has “still got it” in him to ace T20 cricket after his attacking 77 guided Royal Challengers Bengaluru to their first win of this IPL season on Monday night. Master batsman Kohli smashed 11 fours and two sixes in his 49-ball blitz as hosts Bengaluru chased down their victory target of 177 with four balls to spare against Punjab Kings, and bounce back from their loss in the opener of the lucrative T20 tournament. Kohli fell to fast bowler Harshal Patel in the 16th over, and soon Bengaluru lost another wicket, before Dinesh Karthik (28) and impact substitute Mahipal Lomror (17) steered the team home in an unbeaten stand of 48 off 18 balls. Kohli, who missed India’s 4-1 Test series victory over England because of…