Índex per 2023-05-10 a Mercury

Making it easier to travel between African countries was important if the continent wanted to boost tourism spend. This was said by Minister of Tourism Patricia de Lille during the official opening of Africa’s Travel Indaba yesterday. De Lille said there was a need to harmonise the visa regime across countries to boost tourism. “We have to make it easier to move from country to country. The visa problem is a problem on the continent of Africa. We are going to work with tourism ministers in Africa to address the visa application process and reduce the cost of visas, so there can be more international visitors.” She added that the benefits of tourism must be distributed equitably and more opportunities needed to be provided to small, medium and micro enterprises…

SPEAKING as one who without question supports the democratic right to dissent and protest, I say hats off to the London Metropolitan Police for locking up those who were wanting to show dissent at the coronation parade. It could so easily have gone wonky in the most disastrous way. Hundreds of thousands of people were there cheering their heads off for their king and queen. How would they have taken it? Fisticuffs, brawls spilling out into the streets? Quite possible. That could cause chaos among the mounted units, a stampede of horses. And what if the protesters were to use firecrackers? Can you imagine the effect? I’m not suggesting they intended using firecrackers. But how were the cops to know, one way or the other? They took the safest course,…

Character assassination is on the increase in South Africa as aspiring politicians and incumbent leaders vie for political power. Sadly, every political party is guilty of this heinous and sinister strategy. Lies and half-truths, laced with political venom, are now on graphic display as the nation enters election mode. The attacks on leaders in high-profile positions is tantamount to character assassination. It is a particularly repugnant tactic, and has been extensively deployed throughout our history. Politicians lie. They come from every political party, their careers are based on a battery of lies, they still have the brazen audacity to engage in disgusting acts of character assassination based on crudely manufactured deceptive trash. Unfounded allegations are levelled to discredit public figures in a hysteric atmosphere. Slander, distortion, fabrication and sophistry are…

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) is demanding answers about the use of a private intelligence operation by former Eskom CEO André de Ruyter to probe corruption in the power utility. SIU boss Andy Mothibi said they were surprised to learn that De Ruyter had used a private company to gather intelligence and that the probe was funded by the private sector. He said De Ruyter should have approached the SIU on matters that he wanted to be investigated and they would have agreed. The SIU, the Hawks and the SAPS were appearing before the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) yesterday, following damning allegations by De Ruyter of massive corruption at Eskom. Mothibi said they had a number of questions on the appointment of the private company, headed by former…

Msunduzi Municipality’s failure to implement recommendations of two forensic investigations in which findings were made against some of its officials, have prompted calls for the Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Department to act against them. This follows revelations at yesterday’s Cogta portfolio committee in the KwaZulu-Natal legislature that Msunduzi, along with the uMgungundlovu District Municipality, had failed to implement most of the recommendations from forensic investigations conducted by the department, which had revealed corruption and had implicated some municipal officials. Briefing committee members, the Cogta Head of Department (HOD) Thando Tubane indicated that he had a meeting with Msunduzi municipal manager Lulamile Mapholoba, where the city boss had admitted to difficulties in implementing the recommendations. “He (Mapholoba) conceded that there was little appetite to implement the recommendations of the…

It may not be that plausible in SA, given parties’ vast ideological differences THE 2024 general election season is nearly upon us. Naturally, many people are wondering about the outcome of these results. There are some mumblings about a possible coalition government after the elections. One question to be asked is: Is the South African governance structure conducive to a coalition government? Firstly, let us try to understand what a coalition government is. A coalition government is a government formed jointly by more than one political party. Parties may decide to form a coalition government if there is a hung parliament, where no single party has a clear working majority following a general election. This is according to the UK Parliament glossary. I specifically utilised the UK definition of a…

Protests erupted across Pakistan yesterday after former prime minister Imran Khan was arrested during a court appearance in the capital for one of dozens of cases pending since he was ousted last year. His arrest follows months of political crisis and came hours after the powerful military rebuked the former international cricketer for alleging that a senior officer had been involved in a plot to kill him. Some protesters took out their wrath on the military, storming the residence of the corps commander in Lahore and laying siege to a gate of the army’s general headquarters in the garrison city of Rawalpindi. Police fired tear gas and water cannon to disperse Khan supporters in Karachi and Lahore, while protesters blocked roads in the capital Islamabad, Peshawar, and other cities. Khan…

British police have expressed regret over the arrests of anti-monarchy protesters during the coronation of King Charles, saying they will not face criminal prosecution, following criticism that the security response was heavy-handed. London’s Metropolitan Police said six people were arrested on Saturday under new powers from the Public Order Act, a law to restrict protests that came into force days before the coronation, the biggest ceremony seen in Britain for 70 years. As crowds gathered, police arrested the leader of the anti-monarchy campaign group Republic and six of its members who were planning to take part in its biggest protest. The incident cast a shadow over what had otherwise been a weekend of largely positive coverage for the royal family. Police said protesters were arrested because they had items that…

Paris: Calls grew yesterday to halt an auction of jewels that belonged to Austrian billionaire Heidi Horten, whose German husband made his fortune under the Nazis. Labelling the auction in Geneva, which opened online last week and begins in person today, “indecent”, the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions in France (CRIF) called for proceedings to be suspended. The collection, valued at between $150 million and $200m, consists of 700 lots, including “unique and exceptional pieces” from 20th-century designers including Cartier, Bulgari and Van Cleef & Arpels. Heidi Horten died last year aged 81. According to Forbes, she was worth $2.9 billion. | AFP…

London: The Church of England yesterday said it would vote against a “green” transition plan proposed by energy giant Shell, joining other shareholders in calling for more ambitious carbon-cutting targets. The church made its position known ahead of Shell’s annual general meeting due on May 23, noting its dissatisfaction also with BP, another British oil and gas major. The church will back a resolution put forward by activist investor group Follow This that calls for more ambitious targets by the company on cutting carbon emissions. Shell defended its action and said that its strategy “to become a net zero energy company by 2050” remained unchanged. | AFP…

days after eThekwini mayor Mxolisi Kaunda detailed the municipality’s successes in his State of the City Address, the provincial Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Department has confirmed that experts will be sent to assist the metro amid administrative red flags, including its failure to spend grants. They have been deployed by the provincial government under Section 154 of the Constitution, which allows for the provincial or national government to provide help to municipalities where there are concerns. The experts include the City’s former municipal manager and now local government consultant Michael Sutcliffe and former director-general in the Presidency Dr Cassius Lubisi. Cogta MEC Bongi Sithole-Moloi confirmed the Section 154 intervention at the Cogta portfolio committee meeting in the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature yesterday. Approached by The Mercury yesterday, Sutcliffe said he…

MINISTER of Electricity Kgosientsho Ramokgopa said yesterday that R30 billion would be spent on burning diesel to prevent higher stages of load shedding. Ramokgopa said the purchasing of the diesel would come at great cost to the fiscus, but warned that it was necessary. “We run the open cycle gas turbines so that the stages do not exceed stage 6. It is desirable to bring lower stages of load shedding,” he said. Answering questions during his maiden question-and-answer session in the National Council of Provinces, Ramokgopa said out of the R254bn relief funds for Eskom, R22bn would be directed to buying diesel. An additional R8bn will be set aside from tariff revenue. “The question is not whether the fiscus can afford it, but whether the South African economy can…

The death of Palestinian prisoner Khader Adnan, who passed away after a prolonged hunger strike, is a tragedy that highlights the inhumane conditions that many Palestinians face in Israeli prisons. Adnan’s death is a stark reminder of the ongoing struggles for justice and human rights in Palestine, and it is a call to action for all those who believe in freedom and equality. His hunger strike was a protest against the injustice of administrative detention, which allows Israeli authorities to detain people without charge or trial indefinitely. This practice is a violation of basic human rights and a denial of due process, and it is one that has been used to silence and intimidate Palestinian activists for decades. The NFP condemns the Israeli authorities’ use of administrative detention to detain…

The announcement by the KwaZulu-Natal secretary of the ANC, Bheki Mtolo, that crime-fighting volunteers should be compensated is a step in the right direction towards creating safer communities. ADeC made similar proposals three years ago and we are pleased that the ANC has seen the light. It is also encouraging to note that Mtolo has accepted that crime is uncontrollable and something drastic has to be done. It is no secret that crime is a prevalent issue across the country, and it is also no secret that the police are overwhelmed, under-resourced and in total disarray. This has created a huge gap in the protection of our communities. However, this gap has been filled by numerous brave men and women who have taken upon themselves the responsibility of safeguarding our…

THE Senzo Meyiwa murder trial yesterday had to be postponed to today as the Zulu interpreter did not pitch at court. Defence advocate Chartles Mnisi was due to start his cross-examination of witness Mthokozisi Thwala. This is the second week that Thwala, said to be the former soccer star’s best friend, is in the witness stand. He faced severe grilling on Monday from defence advocate Sipho Ramosepele, who told Thwala that his version of the events of October 26, 2014, when Meyiwa was shot and killed, did not make sense. Ramosepele especially frowned upon Thwala’s version that Longwe Twala, the son of musician Chicco Twala, who was in the house at the time, managed to run away during the incident. According to Thwala, Longwe jumped up and pushed one of…

LITIGATION in a custody battle to have a minor girl returned to her British father’s care in the UK, after her mother died, was heard in the Constitutional Court this week. Judgment in the matter has been reserved after being heard by a full Bench yesterday. The application for leave to appeal is against the Supreme Court of Appeal’s decision ordering that the return of the 5-year-old girl – currently in her maternal grandmother and aunt’s care in Cape Town – to her father in the UK “would expose her to the risks of psychological harm or otherwise place her in an intolerable situation”, having cited as reasons that the father abused alcohol and did not have stable living arrangements. The father has been involved in litigation to have his…

FOR the third year running, the much-vaunted Abantu Book Festival in Soweto will provide a platform that espouses the view that black writers can be free, independent and self-determining through racial separatism – that is, doing their own thing in their own areas away from white people. On the face of it, this is an overreaction and rejection of the concept of “race” as constructed by alleged white supremacists who own and control the publishing industry. This has resulted in frustrated and angry black writers wishing to create their own platforms where they can speak freely, according to conscience, and be true to their people. Over the past three years, organisers, exponents and supporters of the festival have convinced themselves that they are turning alleged discrimination, racism and the abuse…

President Vladimir Putin yesterday vowed Russia would be victorious in Ukraine during a military parade on Red Square, and blamed Western countries for the conflict, comparing the fighting to World War II. But his defiant address was overshadowed by scathing comments from Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of Russian mercenary group Wagner, who accused Russia’s military of repeated failures in Ukraine. EU chief Ursula von der Leyen met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to mark Europe Day that celebrates peace and unity, a symbolic retort to Moscow’s Victory Day parade. Soon before Von der Leyen arrived, Ukraine’s air force said it had downed 23 out of 25 cruise missiles launched by Russia in the night between Monday and yesterday. During his address, Putin told columns of military personnel in ceremonial uniform in…

VATICAN CITY: Sexual abusers are disgusting “enemies” who deserve to be condemned and punished – but also deserve Christian love and pastoral care because they too are children of God, Pope Francis said. Francis made his comments on April 29 in a conversation with Jesuits while he was visiting Hungary. Francis is also a Jesuit and his comments were published yesterday in the Italian Jesuit journal Civilta Cattolica. Abuse scandals have been a major challenge for the pope, who has passed a series of measures over the past 10 years aimed at holding the Church more accountable. | Reuters…

KALEHE: More than 5 500 people are still unaccounted for and 411 bodies had been found in an area in east Democratic of Congo where floods killed more than 400 people last week, a local official said yesterday, as shaken survivors waited for food. Scores of bodies have been recovered from the villages of Bushushu and Nyamukubi in South Kivu province’s Kalehe territory since torrential rain caused landslides and flash floods. Mass graves were dug over the weekend to dispose of the dead, many of whom were women and children, prompting complaints from some civil society groups who said the burials were undignified. | Reuters…

BEIJING: An unmarried Chinese woman, Teresa Xu, 35, made a final appeal in a court yesterday to sue a hospital for refusing to freeze her eggs because she is single. Teresa Xu, 35, a freelance writer, lodged her complaint against the Beijing Obstetrics and Gynaecology Hospital in 2019 in a landmark case. Xu’s appeal comes as authorities’ attitude to giving unmarried women access to reproductive technologies has begun to soften as China grapples with a falling birth rate. It is difficult for unmarried women to access fertility treatments – they must be married. But due to the ageing population, government advisers proposed single women be allowed the treatments. | Reuters…

While Orlando Pirates try to nail down the runners-up slot, the relegation axe looms large over three teams in the penultimate round of DStv Premiership fixtures on Saturday. Pirates are under threat from SuperSport United, who are also well-placed to win the battle for a CAF Champions League place next season. SuperSport (48), in third place, trail Pirates (50) by two points. Fourth-placed Kaizer Chiefs are mathematically out of the running even if they win their remaining two matches as they have a seriously inferior goal difference. Chiefs will play SuperSport, who have been living a nomadic existence since dumping Lucas 'Masterpieces' Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville as their home venue. They will host Chiefs at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg. Pirates have an interesting match-up with Sekhukhune United at…

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the ANC is expected to meet the party’s leaders in KwaZulu-Natal this weekend amid rising governance issues in the province. The scandal involving the near collapse of the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) contract, which affected 5 400 schools and more than 2 million pupils, is one of the key issues to be discussed. National leaders are concerned that mounting issues in the province may affect the outcomes of next year’s elections, as the ANC has won only four of 12 by-elections, with the IFP and DA making inroads into previous strongholds. Other issues include interference by provincial party leaders in the decision-making of the provincial Cabinet. “A Cabinet meeting did not take place because the provincial leadership needed to be appraised on the…

He waited so long to be king. Now, at last, at the ripe old age of 74, he can wear the crown on his head and proclaim proudly to the world, “I am king, King Charles III.” Though King Charles wanted his coronation to be watered down, it was still a magnificent event filled with all the pomp and glory reminiscent of a bygone era. In the biggest ceremony since his mother’s coronation in 1953, Charles was crowned king of the UK. But is he a mighty king of all he surveys? He is king of an empire no more. Gone is the mighty British Empire, which stretched across the world. Gone is the mighty British navy which once ruled the waves. And gone, too, are all the colonies which…

The inquiry into the fitness of suspended Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane to hold office has been postponed until next week to afford her an opportunity to obtain legal representation. This emerged when the inquiry resumed this week after the hearings were halted when the Public Protector SA (PPSA) cited financial constraints and stopped funding her legal fees, which escalated to R30 million as at March. Briefing the inquiry, committee chairperson Qubudile Dyantyi said funding had now been made available for completion of the inquiry. “I want to thank the role-players who ensured the work of this inquiry gets closer to a conclusion,” Dyantyi said in referring to the R4m allocated by PPSA. He indicated they had revised their programme and had 22 days to conclude their work. He also indicated…

MILLIONS of rand have been set aside for the upgrade of the network infrastructure at Durban’s Moses Mabhida stadium. The eThekwini Municipality council recently approved the spending of R36 million on the upgrade of infrastructure which will include network and air-conditioning upgrades. A report on the matter tabled before the council recently said the upgrades were “critical for the daily operations and event specific requirements”. “The project will include network services to security, access control systems, ticketing systems, centralised heating and air conditioning systems and internet services, lighting control and building management systems since all the systems are integrated.” It was noted that the system would be procured through a state-owned entity for the configuration and installation of network equipment and service with a 36-month maintenance and support plan. The…

A 32-year-old man charged with the rape of two minor pupils who he was tasked with transporting to school daily has appeared in court. The man, who cannot be named until he pleads, abandoned his bail application in the Pongola Magistrate’s Court yesterday. The National Prosecuting Authority in KwaZulu said the accused would drive the 4-year-old pupils to pre-school daily. “He will remain in custody,” said Natasha Ramkisson-Kara. The case was adjourned to June 12. The KZN MEC for Social Development, Nonhlanhla Khoza, called on the justice system not to grant the accused bail. “We are utterly horrified by the allegations of the raping of young children by a taxi operator in uPhongolo. These are heinous, unimaginable crimes and we must all do everything in our power to protect…

Israeli air strikes on Gaza killed three Islamic Jihad militant group leaders and 10 others, including several children, yesterday, officials in the Hamas-controlled Palestinian territory said. Islamic Jihad vowed to “avenge” the deaths in the pre-dawn raid involving some 40 Israeli aircraft, which hit targets in the crowded coastal territory for nearly two hours. The Gaza health ministry said four children were among those killed and 20 people were wounded, some of them in serious or critical condition, in the attacks which left buildings ablaze and reduced others to rubble. The Israeli army said that in its Gaza strikes it had targeted three leaders of Islamic Jihad, which it considers a terrorist group, as well as its “weapon manufacturing sites”. Asked about child casualties, army spokesperson Richard Hecht said: “If…

Residents of Sudan’s capital reported air strikes and sporadic gun battles yesterday amid what they call a surge in looting, with no sign of progress in ceasefire talks taking place in Saudi Arabia. The violence has accelerated a wave of people fleeing their homes, with the number of people internally displaced inside Sudan more than doubling in a week to more than 700 000 the UN’s migration agency said. “The biggest danger is the spread of robbery and looting and the total absence of the police and the law,” said Ahmed Saleh, 45, from Khartoum’s adjoining sister city of Bahri. Homes, shops and warehouses have all been targeted, residents said. The eruption of conflict between Sudan’s army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary risks a prolonged war that could…

SYDNEY: A cross-party delegation of Australian MPs said yesterday that they met US Ambassador Caroline Kennedy, urging her to help drop the pending extradition case against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and allow him to return to Australia. The Bring Julian Assange Home Parliamentary Group said it had informed the US envoy of “the widespread concern in Australia” about the continued detention of Assange, an Australian citizen. The meeting comes ahead of US President Joe Biden’s visit to Australia this month for the Quad leaders’ summit. “Mr Assange is being treated unjustly,” the MPs said after meeting Kennedy in Canberra. Assange is battling extradition from Britain to the US where he is wanted on criminal charges over the release of confidential US military records and diplomatic cables in 2010. Assange’s…

NEW YORK: The UN Security Council has expressed concern over the deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in Haiti. It condemned increasing violence, criminal activities, and human rights abuses and violations which it said undermined the security of Haiti and the region, calling on the perpetrators of the “abhorrent acts” to be brought to justice. It stressed the importance of restoring efficient judicial institutions in Haiti. The council noted illicit trafficking flows of firearms and ammunition that enable gangs and other criminal networks to fuel violence in Haiti. The council called for free and elections there. | Xinhua…

An energised Faf de Klerk has warned that the Springboks are ready to “prove the world wrong” by retaining their World Cup crown. The feisty scrumhalf with flowing blond hair is one of rugby’s most recognisable players and was key to the Boks’ World Cup triumph in Japan four years ago. He is now playing for Yokohama Canon Eagles after leaving England’s Sale Sharks last year and was one of nine Japan-based players on South Africa’s tour of Europe last year. De Klerk said that Japan’s comparatively shorter league season means he is feeling “much better off” physically and believes the Boks will benefit at the World Cup in France in September. “If you peak too early you will burn out,” the 31-year-old said. “I feel in a good spot…

Olivier Giroud said yesterday that he has a young man’s hunger for European success ahead of AC Milan’s all-Italian Champions League semi-final with Inter Milan. Veteran France striker Giroud won the competition with Chelsea in 2021 and wants to continue his Indian summer at Milan with another triumph after winning the Serie A title last season. Milan host local rivals Inter tonight in the first leg of the biggest local derby the Italian city has seen for nearly two decades. “I’m motivated more than ever. For me it’s a big opportunity to win it again. Almost 37-years-old, but still hungry like a young boy,” Giroud said. “In football it’s never good to underestimate the others. I know what I’m talking about. At that level every single game is very tough…