Índex per 2023-10-26 a Mercury

KWAZULU-NATAL Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube said there were no timelines in place for the implementation of the Section 154 intervention at eThekwini Municipality, despite serious challenges in service delivery and unspent grant funding. The intervention was announced by the KZN Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) earlier this year, amid concern that there were serious problems in the municipality, including delays in service delivery, poor maintenance of infrastructure and its failure to spend grant funding. Cogta said that experts, including former director-general in the Presidency, Dr Cassius Lubisi, and the City’s former municipal manager and now local government consultant, Michael Sutcliffe, would be sent to assist the metro under Section 154 of the Constitution, which allows for the provincial or national government to provide help to municipalities where there…

The destructive bombing of the Gaza hospital will be remembered as a day in infamy, that will haunt the lives of those who carried out this heinous crime. Across the mutilated landscape of Gaza, innocent civilians are being killed and massacred daily in an orgy of violence that defies description. The scope and depth of these brutalities are acts of barbarity unprecedented in the annals of human relations. Savagery is condoned, bloodshed is accepted, those in power sanction discrimination, humiliation is undertaken with glee, destruction of property becomes enshrined in law, and displacement of innocent civilians becomes an edict. Horrific acts of slaughter, mutilation, and butchery unprecedented in the history of the human race are covered up by a grossly biased global media. These grotesque acts are not only a…

EQUALITY: We are equal. You may be wealthier than I am, more educated than I am, and had more experiences in a wide range of significant areas of life, but we are equals. You are not above me. I am not above you. If I have the lowliest job on the street while you command an army of assistants to do yours, we are equals. We contribute differently to the community but we are of equal value, divine value. Mutuality: Neither of us is more important than the other. I will pay for things as often as you do. I can choose our shared activities as often as you may. My voice in our relationship is as important as yours. We will each have our say in matters important to…

More than 22 000 South Africans had their vehicles repossessed in the first six months of the year, according to data from the National Credit Regulator (NCR). Vehicle repossessions are becoming a common occurrence due to the rising cost of living, interest rate hikes and stagnant salaries. This was also noted by Banking Services Ombud Reana Steyn, who said her office has experienced an increase in the number of complaints regarding vehicle repossessions. The NCR data recorded the number of vehicle repossessions in the first two quarters of the year, measuring the periods from January to March and then from April to June. The vehicles that were repossessed were purchased through a bank loan or by non-bank vehicle financiers. Non-bank vehicle finance refers to any instance when a buyer wants…

AN ARMED response officer was killed early yesterday in Durban. According to provincial police, charges of murder and robbery were being investigated by Mayville SAPS. “It is alleged that on October 25, a 31-year-old man was robbed and shot while at the corner of King Cetshwayo and Brickfield roads,” said provincial police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Nqobile Gwala. “The victim was taken to hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.” The victim was identified as Bhekokuhle Shezi who worked for Marshall Security. According to Garrith Jamieson from ALS Paramedics, the security officer sustained multiple gunshot wounds to his upper body. “He was in a critical condition, and Advanced Life Support Paramedics worked to stabilise him on scene before rushing him to a nearby hospital.” Jamieson said the officer died shortly after his…

ARE museums the correct correctors? What moral authority do they have over issues of restitution and the unfolding politics of return? These questions come as museums with colonial baggage all over the world are being taken to task for the role they have played in perpetuating colonial crimes. Some of the oldest museums have in their collections skeletal remains of the vanquished communities who were deemed lesser human beings solely on the basis of their languages or darker skin pigmentation. In the early European expeditions to the Cape, North America, Canada, New Zealand and many other areas where settler communities had had an encounter with indigenous peoples, there was a corrosive gaze (the dehumanising way in which white Europeans viewed indigenous people) that was at play. As an expression of…

The Black Business Council in the Built Environment (BBCBE) says while transformation is vitally important, it understands why the South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) withdrew its preferential procurement policy (PPP) that would have benefited emerging black-owned businesses. Sanral on Tuesday said the policy was withdrawn to avert lengthy court battles brought by companies who had raised issues with the policy. Danny Masimene, the president of the BBCBE, said while the organisation was concerned by the move, they understood the reasoning behind it. “We as the BBCBE are in complete support of Sanral’s PPP. Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) has not been able to achieve transformation, and we are almost 30 years into democracy. Some 93% of our country’s population is black, and unfortunately there hasn’t been enough transformation for…

YOU go away on holiday. You leave your home secured against burglars. But have you secured it against demolishers? For Susan Hodgson of Atlanta, Georgia, in the US, it was that second outside possibility that came to pass, according to Associated Press. Her house was accidentally demolished. She received a call from a neighbour while she was away, asking whether she had hired someone to demolish the home. She replied that she had done no such thing. The neighbour went over to confront the demolisher, who replied in a harsh tone, telling her to shut up and mind her own business. The neighbour again contacted the homeowner, still on holiday, who sent a family member over to speak to the fellow who was doing the demolition, who then realised he…

We are extremely proud of Chatsworth United Cricket Club (CUCC) in reaching the finals of The Castle Premier T20 Final to be played at Kingsmead Cricket Stadium this Friday evening, October 27. CUCC will be playing against Crusaders, and the kick-off is at 17H00. CUCC is one of the oldest non-racial clubs in KZN. The club was formed in 1965, and it’s the oldest cricket club in Chatsworth. During its long history, it has produced many top cricketers that went on to play at Provincial and National level in both the men and women’s league. From humble beginnings to its present status, CUCC is totally dependent on sponsors, although the union provides a subsidy, it’s not enough to maintain a club of this magnitude. It has seven divisions and also…

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) is probing thousands of students who received more than R5 billion in funding but did not qualify for the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). SIU head of investigations Leonard Lekgetho told members of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts this week that there were more than 40 000 students who were given funding for their studies despite not qualifying in terms of NSFAS criteria. The head of the SIU, Andy Mothibi, along with members of his unit briefed Scopa on their investigations into NSFAS. Lekgetho said the students were enrolled in 76 institutions of higher learning, and the matter dated back to 2018. He also told Scopa they were still investigating overpayments to institutions of higher learning. “NSFAS has failed to design and…

The SAPS have arrested an alleged kidnapping syndicate that targets Portuguese businessmen in Gauteng. National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said nine suspects were arrested, including a policeman. “The syndicate is alleged to be involved in at least five kidnapping cases where Portuguese businessmen were targeted,” said Mathe. She said that following the kidnapping they would demand ransom payments from the victims’ families. In the latest kidnapping incident, police said a Portuguese businessman who was kidnapped outside his business premises in Bramley on Monday night, was rescued and reunited with his family. “The 53-year-old businessman was found safe and unharmed by the SAPS National Anti-Kidnapping Task Team at a house in Kempton Park on Tuesday afternoon,” said Mathe. She said the team pounced on the address where the businessman had…

Eight years after Govindamah Vengetsamy was found dead in her oThongathi (Tongaat) home, her granddaughter has been charged for her murder. Deandra Naidoo, 27, was granted R5 000 bail in the Verulam Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday. The mother of four was ordered to report to Tongaat SAPS as part of her bail conditions. Vengetsamy, 75, was found dead in December 2015, at her Arum Place home in oThongathi. She was found by her grandson. In a sworn affidavit by investigating officer Rajan (RM) Govender of the Provincial Organised Crime Unit as to why the State should oppose Naidoo’s bail, he said Naidoo lived a nomadic lifestyle and in all likelihood could evade trial. He said it was alleged Naidoo and her boyfriend Nivesh Simboo, who is a co-accused in this…

A WESTVILLE resident who has been without power for almost two months has vowed not to back down from their fight despite the hardship her family has experienced since the eThekwini Municipality disconnected her electricity along with that of other residents. The residents, who are members of the Westville Ratepayers’ Association (WRA), had their electricity disconnected after they embarked on a rates boycott. A few months ago, WRA declared a dispute with the municipality over the tariff increases the City imposed when it passed its budget. The association said the increases were excessive and were imposed without consultation. After WRA had declared a dispute, the members started paying their rates into a trust account, and more than a million rand has been deposited in the account. In response, the municipality…

The defence has raised more allegations of torture and assault against police officers involved in the Senzo Meyiwa murder investigation. The latest claims of assault and torture involved accused two, Bongani Ntanzi, who the defence said was assaulted and tortured in the presence of a Justice of the Peace officer who took his statement on June 19, 2020. There is a trial-within-a-trial in the murder trial at the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria to determine if confessions made by Ntanzi and accused one, Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya, were made freely and voluntarily. Lieutenant-Colonel Mohale Raphadu took Ntanzi’s confession at the Moroka police station. Ntanzi’s lawyer, advocate Thulani Mngomezulu, has challenged the admissibility of the confession, telling the court that Ntanzi was beaten in front of Raphadu. Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng said State advocate George…

THE DA’s silence and failure to distance itself from its MP Glynnis Breytenbach’s distasteful remarks towards acting public protector advocate Kholeka Gcaleka could barely come as a surprise for a party that saw nothing wrong with its leader’s disparaging comments about his ex-wife. Instead the DA’s Women’s Network jumped to John Steenhuisen’s defence when he used words we refuse to repeat in this editorial out of respect for those affected. A party that takes the plight of women in this country seriously wouldn’t have hesitated in reprimanding him and demanding that he withdraw his statement and apologise. Brytenbach’s vitriolic attack on Gcaleka last week insinuating that her ascendance to the top was a result of her being in a relationship with her boss while at the National Prosecuting Authority, and…

The Irishman in the Springboks’ midst, Felix Jones, says it is hard for him to describe the energy that the Boks draws from their supporters in South Africa but he says they most certainly will be drawing from it in Saturday’s World Cup final against New Zealand. The word Jones is looking for is “gees”, (spirit) and he says it is unique in world rugby. “I can just say Springbok rugby gets the whole country behind their team and over here in France, we feel that support. We have drawn on it in this World Cup and we will be drawing on it again this weekend,” he said from Paris yesterday. The weather forecast for Saturday suggests rain and that is likely to mean a change in starting halfbacks for…

Lawn bowls is a unique sport that allows both disabled and able-bodied individuals to compete on a level playing field. The disability arena opens up an additional dimension for participation and competition in which the disabled can participate internationally. They compete with and against able-bodied bowlers socially, competitively and in corporate events. Lawn bowls is a game of skill, strategy, concentration, co-operation, tactics and stamina and it requires perseverance and constant adjustment to situations as they arise. Mandy Sargent, a member of Wentworth Bowling Club, exemplifies the resilience essential for success in the sporting arena. In an announcement made by Bowls South Africa this week Sargent was named as one of the squad to represent South Africa in the proposed International Bowls for the Disabled tournament planned to be held…

South Africa’s game-plans have worked wonders thus far in the ongoing World Cup but there are holes that stronger teams are likely to expose. And with powerhouses New Zealand and India still looming ahead next week, the Proteas have improvements to make. We looked at two areas of improvement that the South Africans should focus on ... Chasing scores down The Proteas have beaten Sri Lanka by a mammoth 102 runs, Australia by 134 runs, England by 229 runs and Bangladesh by 149 runs. These results were on the back of big totals batting first: 428/5 against Sri Lanka, 311/7 against Australia, 399/7 against England and 382/5 against Bangladesh. Quinton de Kock has been in fine form, hitting three hundreds, while Heinrich Klaasen came alive with a thrilling century against…

DURING Mental Health Awareness Month, it’s crucial to address the common yet isolating experience of mental health struggles, especially among young people. Unfortunately, youth mental health has been deteriorating, with an alarming increase in the number of young people seeking help for their mental well-being. Recent statistics reveal that 1 in 3 people in South Africa experience a mental health issue. In light of these challenges, it is more important than ever to foster open, honest, and compassionate conversations about mental health. Creating a home environment where emotions can be discussed openly and without shame is crucial for families and anyone involved in the lives of young individuals. Dr Hina Talib, a paediatrician and adolescent medicine specialist, on behalf of Unicef, offers tips on how to initiate these conversations: Start…

IN AN about-turn, the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government, along with eThekwini Municipality, will no longer host the South African Music Awards (Samas) in Durban. This comes after opposition political parties raised their concerns about the millions of rand that were to be spent on the event that they said could be used for other important programmes. They put the figure at a cumulative R53 million which was denied by the provincial government. Speaking during a press briefing yesterday, KZN Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (Edtea) MEC Siboniso Duma announced that the department had withdrawn from hosting the awards this year in the “interest of maintaining fiscal discipline”. The 29th annual national awards ceremony was scheduled to take place at the Durban ICC next month. KZN beat the other provinces in…

The NFP unequivocally condemns the mass slaughter of the people of Gaza, the inhumane cutting off of basic necessities like water and electricity, and the unjust use of collective punishment by the apartheid state of Israel. All of this occurs with the approval of Western governments, giving the apartheid state the licence to commit genocide before our eyes. What is taking place is being conveniently framed as a “holy war” between the “good” Jews and the “bad” Muslims. This misnomer is being used as a mechanism to solidify support for what is shaping up to be a genocide of the people of Gaza. What is conveniently left out of the conversation is the Palestinian Christians, who face the same bombardment, oppression and stealing of land as their Muslim counterparts. Palestine,…

Two articles in The Mercury on October 25 refer: Dr Duncan Bois again reminds us about fast-advancing totalitarian attitudes by the US regime. The other is from Farouk Araie who, again, predicts another holocaust, this one using a mechanism far more potent than carbon-monoxide. During schooldays of yore, we were taught to debate issues instead of pushing monologues down the throats of others. Intra-class, inter-class, and inter-school debates were the greatest periods of excitement for many of us. One of the most interesting aspects was to sometimes argue a point even without having a genuine belief in it. Only because the other team had grabbed that motion/opposition first. At other times, one team would vehemently argue for or against a point without a thorough understanding of its implications, or without…

A recent report by the Public Protector has unveiled the shocking state and overcrowding of some schools in the Eastern Cape, including Loyiso Senior Secondary School which, at the time of investigation had up to 164 learners crammed into one classroom. In a report titled “Inadequate and/ or lack of provision of essential services and basic infrastructure by various organs of state in certain villages within the province of Eastern Cape”, acting Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka found substantial complaints against the provincial education department to be true. At the time of the on-site investigation in 2021, the investigators found that in Loyiso Senior Secondary School there were 121 Grade 8 pupils crammed into one classroom, Grade 9 had 116 pupils, and Grade 10 had 164 pupils in one classroom. Loyiso…

The National Freedom Party says it will elect new leadership before an Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) deadline, which could see the party not participating at the ballots next year. The party has been divided since the death of its founding leader Zanele KaMagwaza-Msibi in 2021, which led to the emergence of factions. Leadership disputes and subsequent high court challenges have resulted in the party being barred from participating in by-elections in KwaZulu-Natal and it will not be able to participate in the 2024 elections until the IEC is satisfied that it has an elected new leadership – the deadline is March 24. The party held a provincial elective conference in Newcastle last month, but this has not changed the party’s status with the IEC which wants the names…

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport says it is taking steps to ensure companies who have won contracts are able to complete the work within the required period of time without compromising on quality. One of the measures is a meeting that is held with contractors that is attended by MEC Sipho Hlomuka and Head of Department Siboniso Mbhele. Appearing before the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) this week, the department admitted that in some instances, companies had delivered shoddy work when constructing roads and bridges in parts of the province and this had prompted it to take a more proactive approach. “Some contractors are failing, we have picked up that some project managers are junior,” said Mbhele in explaining why in some instances work had been of poor quality.…

Tremendous appeal of the BRI proves it is the world’s most popular public product This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping. Just last week, the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Co-operation (BRF) was successfully held in Beijing. Representatives from 151 countries and 41 international organisations attended the event, and over 10 000 people registered for it. This fully demonstrates the tremendous appeal and global influence of the BRI. It proves once again that Belt and Road has become a road of co-operation, opportunity and prosperity, leading to common development, and that it is the world’s most popular public product and the largest international co-operation platform. In his keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the…

For a newspaper group, partly owned by Muslims, to take a pro-Palestinian stance regarding the horror that continues to unfold in the Middle East, is perhaps understandable. It has been sadly taken to such an extreme however that it is certainly not good journalism and certainly not devoid of monumental hypocrisy with regard to press freedom. Independent Media has the monopoly of daily newspapers in Durban and is therefore effectively silencing other views with its editorial choices. For years the thinking readers of Independent Media publications have had to navigate their way around the relentless published propaganda of your neo-colonial masters, China and Russia. They have had to seek out truth and balance from other less partisan sources. Dissenting and contrary views have at least occasionally been allowed expression in…

Underestimated and under-appreciated, Ian Foster is one win away from becoming the fourth coach to deliver New Zealand a World Cup title – but it would be a bittersweet triumph for a man long since judged unfit to carry on in the role. Whether the All Blacks win or lose against the Springboks in Saturday’s final, Foster will be out the door to make way for Scott Robertson, the succession foisted upon him more than five months before the tournament kicked off. Foster can expect tributes and thanks from New Zealand Rugby (NZR) bosses when making his exit, some 12 years after joining the All Black set-up as an assistant to Graham Henry. Most will ring hollow. The 58-year-old spoke in February of wanting “another crack” at the job if…