Tabla de contenidos para 2021-09-27 en Mercury

Siphelele Dludla siphelele.dludla@inl.co.za THE SOUTH African Reserve Bank (SARB) has remained bullish about this year’s economic growth prospects, in spite of the prolonged lockdown and negative impact of the July riots. The SARB, on Thursday, revised upwards South Africa’s gross domestic product (GDP) to 5.3 percent, from a previous forecast of 4.2 percent, despite the much larger negative effect on output. SARB Governor Lesetja Kganyago, said the July events – widespread looting and violence in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng – and the pandemic, were likely to have lasting effects on investor confidence and job creation, impeding recovery in labour-intensive sectors hardest hit by the lockdowns. However, Kganyago said, the risks to the medium-term domestic growth outlook were assessed to be balanced, as most of the bounce-back from the recovery…

Baldwin Ndaba baldwin.ndaba@inl.co.za EFF leader Julius Malema yesterday launched his party’s election manifesto, vowing to build RDP houses next to affluent areas such as Sandton in Joburg and other parts in the country where there are upmarket houses. Those living in such areas would also be expected to pay a “property wealth tax” to subsidise social grant recipients. Malema also promised heavy tax rebates to small businesses that were prepared to revive defunct factories and create jobs for unemployed people. He was speaking at the launch of his party’s election manifesto and celebrations to mark what would have been the 85th birthday of late Struggle icon Winnie Madikizela-Mandela at Gandhi Square in the Joburg CBD yesterday. The event culminated in the renaming of the EFF headquarters at Gandhi Square after…

Mexico’s foreign ministry said yesterday it had recovered valuable manuscripts from the 16th century, including some relating to conquistador Hernan Cortes, months after a group of academics reported them missing from Mexico’s national archives. In an apparent systematic fashion, 10 documents were stolen over several years from a collection dedicated to Cortes and later put up for sale in international auction houses including Swann, Bonhams and Christie’s, the academic investigators said. Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said on Twitter that the documents had been recovered by US investigators and the office of the attorney general of New York. “Today the documents were handed over to the foreign ministry and taken into the custody of our consulate to be transported to Mexico City,” Ebrard wrote, after noting that the documents had…

MUHAMMAD OMAR | Durban North AS A youngster paging through the family album, there was a picture of the “old” cruise terminal (also impressive even today) with my mum (and taken by my dad) next to a door sign “No Indians and Dogs”. Some may joke that today Durban is full of Indians and gone to the dogs. However, all is not doom and gloom despite the recent tragedy instigated after Zuma’s imprisonment for his refusal to appear before the Zondo commission; there are no words to describe the damage and mayhem. Scores of people outside Capitec ATMs in the CBD, seeing a burnt building flying over Cornubia en route to King Shaka is not exactly a welcome message. However, in spite of all the doom and gloom…

KEVIN GOVENDER | Shallcross Word around the political fires is that smart and snazzy Duduzane Zuma has hegemonic aspirations of becoming a future president of the Republic of South Africa. And so the plan is simple – become chairperson of one of eThekwini’s branches, then forward his name as a nomination for ANC presidency at their elective conference and we all know that the president of the ANC traditionally becomes president of South Africa. But whether the embers of his protean ambition will turn into a bonfire remains to be seen. He is the son of former president Jacob Zuma. Jacob Zuma’s time in power has been chaotic and corrupt and his tenure has been marred by scandal, graft, betrayal and gerrymandering. His avaricious meanderings set him on…

Nonhlanhla Nozizwe Hlatshwayo nozizwe.hlatshwayo@inl.co.za THE Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex (LGBTQI) community in KwaZulu-Natal has welcomed the #LGBTI+equality project by the Commission of Gender Equality (CGE) to solicit comments on the state of their equality in the country. The commission announced that from tomorrow they would be putting up a questionnaire on their website for comments that would be used to identify key areas of intervention to ensure the queer community had equality. “The objective of the project is to assess the state of LGBTQI equality in South Africa 27 years after the achievement of democracy in South Africa. While acknowledging the progress over the last decades of our democracy – equality in marriage, removal of sodomy laws, equal recognition of spousal benefits and inclusion of same-sex couples…

Thami Magubane thami.magubane@inl.co.za Traditional leaders in KwaZulu-Natal are on edge following the killing of another induna in the province last week. Induna Makhosonke Bubu Cele of eMambedwini Traditional Council in the iLembe District was murdered outside his home last Thursday. His death came as the KZN Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) held an imbizo to discuss the killing of traditional leaders. Cele’s slaying sees the number of izinduna killed in the past few years climb to 33, according to Ubumbano Iwezinduna, an organisation that says it represents the interests of izinduna. The killing also comes at a time when Ubumbano Iwezinduna is at loggerheads with the House of Traditional Leaders, a body made up largely of amakhosi. Cogta MEC Sipho Hlomuka said his department was concerned…

The need to find creative and innovative ways to celebrate their extraordinary lives TODAY, we commemorate 52 years since the death of Imam Abdullah Haron in apartheid detention in Cape Town. Imam Haron had been incarcerated in solitary confinement for 123 days at the then-notorious Caledon Square police station in the city centre. An apartheid police report claimed Imam Haron had died from a fall from a flight of stairs at the Maitland police station. The first public protest against the Imam’s death calling for an independent inquiry into the cause of his death was launched exactly 50 years ago by an Anglican priest, Reverend Bernard Wrankmore. In August 1971, two years after Imam Haron’s death the Reverend Wrankmore, an Anglican priest at the Mission to Seamen in the Cape…

KHARTOUM: Sudan’s military said yesterday that it had repelled an attempted incursion by Ethiopian forces in the border area between the two countries. The Ethiopian forces had been forced to retreat from the Umm Barakit area. The head of Sudan’s military, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, said the incident on Saturday showed how the military was protecting the country in the wake of a coup attempt in Khartoum last week. Colonel Getnet Adane, Ethiopia’s military spokesperson, did not immediately comment. Tensions along the border between Sudan and Ethiopia have escalated since the outbreak of a conflict in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region last year that sent tens of thousands of refugees into eastern Sudan. | Reuters…

Herman Gibbs herman.gibbs@africannewsagency.com Kaizer Chiefs produced yet another anaemic performance in a 0-0 draw against Marumo Gallants in yesterday’s Premiership clash at Peter Mokaba Stadium. Gallants midfielder Katlego Otladisa produced the first-half’s best scoring attempt in the 14th minute with a powerful header but was denied by Chiefs goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi. On the half-hour mark, the Gallants No 10 Celimpilo Ngema rifled a long-range shot that struck Akpeyi on the chest. Ngema tried his luck again just ahead of the break when Akpeyi was well off his line, but his shot ballooned hopelessly wide. In the second half, a close-in free-kick some 15 metres from the Gallants penalty area saw Khama Billiat’s tame strike land safely in the hands of Washington Arubi. There were some promising moves, but it all…

MR MARKET is now more often than not spooked by the word “taper”. Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic last year, the Federal Reserve Bank (Fed) supported the US economy. Interest rates were slashed to near zero percent while the Fed is purchasing $120 billion (R1.8 trillion) of government bonds monthly. The economy has recovered to such an extent that the Fed is considering tapering of these asset purchases. On Friday, Cleveland Federal Reserve Bank president Loretta Mester said the Fed should start reducing its support for the economy in November and could start raising interest rates by the end of next year. Tapering of asset purchases, specifically of long-term bonds, is likely to lead to rising long-term interest rates and therefore to a steepening of the…

Sibusiso Mboto sibusiso.mboto@inl.co.za THE KwaZulu-Natal government has frozen funding for the Zulu royal household’s cultural activities, saying it would only release it once the battle over the throne has been resolved. The household has been beset by conflict over who is the rightful successor to King Goodwill Zwelithini who passed on earlier this year. Some royals have questioned the legitimacy of King Misuzulu as the rightful heir, with different names being bandied about as successors. Last week, the IFP accused the government of supporting a faction in the royal household that opposes Misuzulu as the rightful king, noting the number of traditional events that had not been sponsored by the government as had been the case in the past. The IFP said such a move was aimed at reducing the…

MOHAMED SAEED | Pietermaritzburg ACCORDING to reports, Msunduzi Municipality is unhappy with Mountain Rise residents in Pietermaritzburg after several boom gates were erected in the area. Judging by the apparent endless lack of service delivery by under-performing municipalities and the government’s failure to protect citizens, what are dissatisfied citizens expected to do? Unemployment, crime, lawlessness and violence impact on human beings. Can citizens really be criticised for protecting their properties? The recent civil unrest, chaos, looting and violent protests led to the destruction of many businesses, properties and infrastructure. It was the organised action of business individuals and community heroes that protected and saved suburban or residential homes and some businesses from the looters. The Constitution not only guarantees “freedom of movement and residence”, “the right to equality…

| Agatha Christie ’TWAS a fitting celebration of the 100th Test between the Boks and the All Blacks in the 100th year of rugby between the two countries. It could have gone either way; the Boks ahead by a single point until the final minutes, then the Kiwis nailing a penalty to win by two – as close as that. The previous weekend’s cataclysmal, disastrous performance against the Aussies was like a distant nightmare. Here our fellows were tackling heroically, driving with purpose and running the ball whenever they could. This was real rugby and the All Blacks had their work cut out countering it. Yes, our fellows do still have something of a reflex instinct to kick away possession rather than hold on and keep holding. Can they…

POLICE unveiled new policing strategies they hope will increase police visibility and squeeze out crime. They launched the police visibility operation, “Country in Blue”, a nationwide initiative, at the Inanda policing precinct on Saturday. In attendance were the Minister of Police Bheki Cele, his deputy Cassel Mathale and the National Police Commissioner General Khehla Sitole, among others. Cele said: “More boots and blue lights on the ground not only means police officers are visible at all times to deter criminality but officers should also be quick to respond…” | Karen Singh…

Peter Neil Hendricks | Cape Town EVERYONE in South Africa has an opinion about the teaching profession. Teachers and principals must always carry the brunt of the education sector. Teachers’ emotions or opinions are not acknowledged. Once again we must worry about their safety. Why must someone be killed first in this godforsaken country, and how many must be killed before somebody takes note, Mr Ramaphosa? Take note and leave your cosy office and put your feet on the ground. As for those in the business and private sector: once you all sat in a classroom before you became successful. Wake up and smell the rot in this country. Put your money where your mouth is and do something drastic. Help this society and help poor schools get proper security.…

Dineo Faku dineo.faku@inl.co.za CLICKS has appointed Bertina Engelbrecht as its first female chief executive. Engelbrecht, 58, an admitted attorney and the group’s corporate affairs director, has been appointed as chief executive-designate. She starts in January, making her South Africa’s first black female to lead a JSE-listed retail group. Engelbrecht will take the top post after the resignation of Vikesh Ramsunder, who held the position for three years after taking the helm of the beauty, health and pharmaceutical retailer. Ramsunder will step down at the end of December to take up the post as a chief executive at an Australian listed company, Clicks said last week. Ramsunder is expected to continue as a strategic adviser to the group until the end of August, next year. Engelbrecht joined the group in 2006…

Banele Ginindza banele.ginindza@inl.co.za NIGERIAN Tax authorities have given the entertainment conglomerate MultiChoice until next month to prove its commitment to comply with regulatory directives, until a final decision is made on whether to levy a R4.4 billion fine. The saga which began earlier this year has taken several dramatic twists akin to communications giant MTN, which also a couple of years back faced the censure of Nigerian authorities over disputed regulatory issues, involving the non-disclosure of subscribers. On Thursday, Nigerian media reported that the Federal Inland Revenue Service’s (Firs’) tax appeal tribunal postponed a decision to October 10 for MultiChoice to prove it had deposited the first tranche of the fine, which the group claimed it had paid as part of its statutory tax obligations. MultiChoice is on the…

Thami Magubane thami.magubane@inl.co.za PROVIDING government housing to individuals who are not in desperate need of low-cost houses has had unintended consequences where beneficiaries sell the houses or use them as storage facilities next to their palatial homes. This was the observation made by eThekwini mayor Mxolisi Kaunda at a municipal executive committee meeting where he proposed a policy change to prevent such individuals from benefiting from a government-funded housing scheme. The policy change, if it materialises, would target people who qualify for a government-funded house, but are not in need as they have family members who could provide housing for them. He said there had been cases where people with “mansions” also had a government house while their neighbour, who desperately needed a house, was living in a crumbling structure.…

THEMBA KHOZA | Department of Water and Sanitation September is a special month where we celebrate our heritage and cultural differences as the rainbow nation. It is also a special month where we are reminded of the importance of monitoring and protecting our water resources through the World Water Monitoring Day. Water is an essential element of our cultural heritage. Water is life and it is crucial for our cultural activities. We use our water resources to perform cultural rituals in different cultures. The interconnection between water resources can never be disputed, therefore we need to protect and keep our water resources clean and safe at all times. South Africa is a water-scarce country which is negatively affected by climate change due to diminishing water resources. Some of…

DUNCAN DU BOIS | Bluff THE consensus expressed by eThekwini’s public representatives regarding climate change shows a depressing ignorance about the reality of the subject and what drives it (The Mercury, September 23). According to the report, opposition parties claim “climate change is a serious threat and everyone should fight it”. That is studied ignorance. Climate change is a natural, historical occurrence. Steven Koonin, who was under-secretary for science in Obama’s administration and is a professor of physics and engineering at New York University, makes it clear in his book titled Unsettled that very little has changed in weather extremes over the past century. In other words, human-generated carbon emissions are not promoting climate change. Patrick Moore, co-founder of Greenpeace stated in a Congressional hearing in 2019 that…

YOU will hear “there are two sides to every story” when people face interpersonal conflicts. I would like to suggest that there are usually about seven sides – maybe more – and at least three or four layers to every story. People and relationships and people in relationships are simply not that simple. We are not jigsaw pieces in search of our perfect fit in a puzzle. Human entanglements are complex. Each of us brings to every relationship a complex history, a network of failures and successes, a compendium of both declared and undeclared, known and unknown, dreams and expectations. We have needs and drives and hopes of which we ourselves may be unaware. “I have found my soul-mate,” or “finally, I have what I want in a relationship” are…

Tarryn-Leigh Solomons Tarryn-Leigh.Solomons@iinl.co.za AFTER a video of ANC treasurer Paul Mashatile handing out money to congregants in Makhado surfaced on Twitter yesterday, he cleared the air and assured there was no wrongdoing. He said he had attended a church service and when it was time for tithe offerings he handed money to his team to contribute as well. Yesterday Eskom’s former interim group chief executive Matshela Koko took to Twitter to publicly lambaste Mashatile’s handing out money following the challenges the ruling party had with the payment of staff salaries. A tweet shared by Mpho Mathoho reads: “ANC Treasurer, Paul Mashatile handing out money to congregants in Limpopo, where he is doing door-to-door campaign. ANC staffs have not been paid for at least three months now via @PelaneM #Election2021 #ANCLGE2021…

“A ROBUST economic performance and stronger-than-expected fiscal revenue in recent months mean that South Africa’s budget deficit in the fiscal year ending March 2022 will be smaller than the government’s February 2021 projections. Economic growth in Q2 2021 was stronger than we expected at 1.2% quarter-on-quarter, and the government has also revised up earlier quarterly growth rates,” says Fitch Ratings in its latest take on the South African economy. Rating agencies sometimes have a tendency to speak with a forked tongue. The very next observation was: “Nevertheless, the (South African) government will continue to face substantial challenges as it seeks to stabilise debt by FY2025/26.” Whether it’s any consolation for Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana is a moot point. Last Tuesday, at a book launch, he eloquently rolled out the now…

DESPITE efforts from political parties, the campaigning ahead of the local government elections could spawn super-spreader events and increase the number of people infected with Covid-19. The elections must go ahead, and while the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) tried to postpone elections to next year, there is no doubt that the dangers of the pandemic would have still been prevalent. The IEC is now faced with the task of holding the elections with as little damage as possible to society. For political parties, Covid-19 has presented a challenge of getting their message out to the masses without the masses being present, as has previously occurred at mass rallies. The launching of manifestos, often seen as a grand and exuberant opportunity to talk policy, is now more subdued in…

Several hundred demonstrators gathered in Tunis yesterday under a heavy police presence to protest against Tunisian President Kais Saied’s seizure of governing powers in July and called on him to step down. Saied this week brushed aside much of the 2014 constitution, giving himself power to rule by decree two months after he sacked the prime minister, suspended parliament and assumed executive authority. “The people want the fall of the coup,” they chanted in the centre of Tunis along Habib Bourguiba Avenue, a focal point of the demonstrations that ended the rule of former president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali on January 14, 2011. The crisis has endangered the democratic gains that Tunisians won in a 2011 revolution. Saied has said his actions are needed to address a crisis…