Sommaire pour 2022-08-10 de Mercury

THE BLACK Business Chamber (BBC) said on Monday that it was perturbed by Investec’s decision to spend R2 million a year on each of its directors’ personal security, highlighting that corporates needed to be more “forward thinking” in South Africa’s increasing unequal society. In what appears to be a first for South Africa, banking and wealth management group Investec said last week that it would be spending as much as $121 520 (about R2.026 million) a year on each of its executive directors’ personal security as crime levels in the country surge. Mntuwekhaya “Khaya” Cishe, the BBC secretary-general, said in a statement: “While kidnappings have been reported to be on the rise by South African crime data, it is just unimaginable that the company would spend…

President Cyril Ramaphosa and KwaZulu-Natal Premier-designate Nomusa Dube-Ncube both called on citizens to play their part in the fight against gender-based violence (GBV) and femicide by speaking out. Ramaphosa and Dube-Ncube were addressing hundreds of women who had gathered at the Silahla Sports Field in Richmond in the KZN Midlands at the official event to commemorate the 66th national Women’s Day. Ramaphosa said because of the bravery and sacrifices of the women of 1956, the women of South Africa today had equal rights and opportunities. He said the country had made great strides in the empowerment of women, including that there were more female students enrolled in universities than men. “Close to half the members of Parliament are female, we are seeing more female judges and for the first time…

“MOTHERS just know. It comes naturally to women,” was often said when my sons were very young. If I was in a good place, I understood the concern. If I was tired, which was almost always, or barraged with questions, I’d be short in my responses, annoyed at the enduring belief that somehow baby-care was beyond me or all men. It was not difficult to tell when people questioned from a sincere interest or from a position of disbelief or cynicism. One particularly irate woman informed me, our presence triggering something within her, that no matter how much I did a “woman’s job I would never know what it is like to breastfeed”. She was correct about that and I told her so as kindly as I knew how. Mostly,…

WHILE Anthony Starkey (The Mercury, August 8) is correct in noting that numerous state court challenges regarding fraud in the 2020 US election have been unsuccessful, the fact that the majority of states have tightened electoral regulations serves as an indicator of awareness that electoral fraud was a factor. Predictably, Mr Starkey dismisses references to instances of corrupted Dominion voting machines, under-age voters, unregistered voters, missing ballots, deceased voters and other irregularities as “yarns” and “rabbit-hole theories”. However, indictments against officials in Pennsylvania, Texas, Georgia, Wisconsin and elsewhere for blatant electoral fraud do not support his view. The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled in July that absentee ballot drop boxes are illegal. Its decision comes in the wake of irrefutable evidence of ballot trafficking. The Governor of Arizona, Doug Ducey, is…

South Africa is the rape capital of the world, says Interpol. In 2018/2019 there were more than 41 000 reported cases of rape. This figure could be much higher as many women don’t report rape. They feel ashamed or think it’s a waste of time reporting it to the indifferent police. Our country is one of the most dangerous places on Earth for women. In the first three months of this year alone, an astonishing 11 000 women were raped. And then there was the violent gang rape of eight women on the mine dumps in Krugersdorp. So what is there to celebrate on Women’s Day? Fifty thousand women raped every year? It’s a damn shame on our country. We don’t respect, love or care for the women who play…

The SA Medical Association (Sama) and Junior Doctors’ Association of SA have welcomed the updating of the critical skills list to include medical practitioners. Last week Minister of Home Affairs, Aaron Motsoaledi, updated the critical skills list to include health-care practitioners such as registered nurses, medical practitioners specialising in different fields and dentists. Foreign nationals with these skills can qualify for critical skills work visas to work in the country. Sama chairperson Dr Mvuyisi Mzukwa said the organisation welcomed the inclusion of medical skills on the critical skills list. “These skills that are of relevance to Sama are medical practitioners specialising in anaesthesiology, cardiothoracic surgery, clinical pharmacology, paediatrics, oncology, orthopaedic surgery, urology, and public health, among others.” Mzukwa added that Sama had previously highlighted the critical shortage of doctors…

OVER the past three years, there were 5 311 cases where the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) failed to consult victims or their families before parole was granted to offenders. Of those cases, the majority – 2 166 – were in Gauteng, followed by Kwa-Zulu-Natal with 1 787 cases. The Western Cape recorded 112 cases. This was revealed by Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola when answering a parliamentary question from DA MP Janho Engelbrecht, who asked for the number of cases in which victims or their families had not been consulted before parole was granted since March 1, 2019. In his response, Lamola said for 2019/2020 there were 1 396 cases, during 2020/2021 about 2 033 cases and 1 882 were recorded in 2021/2022. Victims participated in parole…

Police Minister Bheki Cele says the deployment of soldiers was not needed to deal with growing unrest relating to the issue of illegal miners in Gauteng. The word “terror” has been used in various communities that have suffered violent attacks by the so-called zama zamas, alleged to be mostly foreign nationals from Lesotho. They are blamed for the spate of armed robberies and rapes committed in communities living near abandoned gold mines that have been taken over by illegal miners. Last week, residents of Kagiso went on the rampage, seeking out zama zama suspects. One man was killed. The incident came after the gang rape and robbery of a movie crew in Krugersdorp. In response, Cele and law-enforcement leaders held an anti-crime imbizo in Krugersdorp and Kagiso over the weekend,…

Three people died and 15 were injured in a multiple vehicle crash involving a taxi, a truck and other vehicles on the M4 Durban bound highway before Margaret Mncadi Avenue (Victoria Embankment) yesterday. The accident occurred just before 9.30am, according to ALS Paramedics spokesperson Garrith Jamieson. Jamieson said when paramedics arrived on the scene, they found that multiple vehicles had been involved in the collision. “It is believed that a truck, a fully loaded taxi and two to three vehicles collided before the taxi rolled over, ejecting most of its occupants,” said Jamieson. Jamieson said paramedics found multiple casualties at the scene and more ambulances and rescue services were immediately dispatched. “At this stage, I can confirm that three people have passed away, all believed to be adults in their…

THE study of history is the beginning of wisdom. And as the anniversary of the August 9, 1956, historic march of women to Pretoria dawns on us, it is extremely important to take stock of how we got here, and where we are going. The story of Queen Nandi, the pillar and centre of gravity for King Shaka Ka Senzangakhona, is hardly taught in schools. And neither is the powerful story of the amazing Queen Mmanthatisi of the Batlokwa, whose totem is the tlokwe cat and thus earned her the nickname The Wild Cat Queen of southern Africa. She militarily led her nation to migrate through periods of crises in history (including the Mfecane). She finally settled them peacefully at the majestic mountains, Jwala-Boholo, near Ficksburg, where she passed…

BORGO VIRGILIO: Heatwaves sweeping through Europe have brought not just record high temperatures: the drought-stricken waters of Italy’s River Po are running so low they revealed a previously submerged WWII bomb. Military experts defused the 450kg bomb during a controlled explosion on Sunday near the village of Borgo Virgilio, close to Mantua. About 3 000 people living nearby were evacuated for the disposal operation, the army said. The airspace and the waterway was closed, as well as traffic on a railway line and state by were halted for the operation. |…

Cubans awoke to massive blackouts yesterday with 40% of the country’s main fuel storage facility destroyed by what officials said was the worst fire in its history. Reuters witnesses reported the flames that ravaged a four-tank at the Matanzas super tanker port had died down and the plumes of thick black smoke were still streaming from the area. A third crude oil tank caught fire and collapsed. Cuba made progress fighting off the raging flames during the weekend after drawing on help from Mexico and Venezuela, but on Sunday the fire began spreading from the second tank, which collapsed, said Mario Sabines, governor of the Matanzas province, about 120km from Havana. Helicopters scrambled on Monday to contain the blaze. According to an official update, one fireman died and 24 people…

While Jesse Kriel’s selection at right wing for Saturday’s second Test against the All Blacks was expected, it doesn’t make it the correct one. And that statement is not meant as a slight on Kriel at all. We know that the 28-year-old will give his all, and is usually in top physical shape as well. But Kriel is a specialist outside centre who could do a job at fullback as well, where he played earlier in his career. The problem is that he is not a wing. Yes, he will do a solid job in defence, and I’m sure part of Jacques Nienaber’s thinking in bringing him in to replace the suspended Kurt-Lee Arendse is to mark giant All Black wing Caleb Clarke, while his experience of over 50 Test…

VOLATILITY in the oil market continued to prevail on Monday as prices eased to pre-war levels during early trade over concerns of a global recession and weak demand, before slightly climbing back later in the day. The price of Brent crude oil traded around the $94-per-barrel mark on Monday amid a weakening demand outlook, dipping further below the highest levels of $134 (R2 234) per barrel reached at the height of the Russia/Ukraine war. Economic data released over the weekend showed that China, the world’s top crude importer, imported 9.5 percent less oil in July than a year ago as refiners reduced inventories amid slower-than-expected demand recovery. This followed US government figures last week, pointing to growing US crude inventories and declining gasoline demand. However, oil prices…

ONE employee in the Durban Solid Waste (DSW) unit managed to triple his salary when he claimed more than 208 hours of overtime pay in one month. The 208 hours the official, who is a general worker, claimed to have worked were above his normal working hours of 160 hours a month. With these hours, the official, who earns a general salary of about R10 000 a month, saw his salary go up by an extra R20 000. “It is illegal to work such hours, the law dictates that the person must work 40 hours in overtime per month,” said deputy mayor Philani Mavundla. He was speaking to The Mercury following a go-slow by DSW workers in the collections and sweeping unit, after a policy to limit the amount of…

IT’S time somebody got in touch with the maternity services in New Zealand to discover how many babies have been born in recent weeks. The number of New Zealanders who have never known the All Blacks to win a Test is increasing at an exponential rate. Saturday, I think, made it five losses in a row. Next Saturday will probably make it six. The statisticians owe it to us, I feel, to keep tally of such things in these momentous rugby times. What a match it was. Devastating rucking. Devastating tackling. Keeping the Kiwis unnerved and on defence. The Barrett Brothers Ballet tried to show itself here and there, but was quickly shut down. Seldom if ever have I watched a Bok game where I had no reservations whatever about…

“Bodies rot on the Phoenix Mortuary floor” was the talk on everyone’s lips. It was once said you can measure how civilised a country is by the way it treats its dead. Once again, Phoenix Mortuary has come under the spotlight, with bodies lying on the floor. I am utterly ashamed of being South African. I am filled with disdain and disgust to see there is no value system and human dignity in place. We are in a crisis. Drastic and preventive action need to be taken as this is unacceptable. To see bodies on the floor is unnecessary and insensitive. The Department of Health must be taken to task for their incompetence and heads need to roll. It is so sad to see a total breakdown of values in…

The more one daily reads in The Mercury and reads on the electronic media about uncollected monies, over-spending on budgets, unaccounted for expenditure and the comments from the auditor-general about the functioning of municipalities, the more one is reminded that there is basically something very, very wrong with the capabilities of these so-called managers that the ANC have put in power. In fact, based on all the exposures over the past 18 months, all these individuals can be classified as totally incompetent and how they got into these positions with hefty salaries make one really wonder whether their appointments were all above board. How does one allow arrears to amount to millions? How does the Education Department allow themselves to not know what is due to the municipalities? Why have…

A 41-year-old e-hailing driver is expected to appear in court this week for perjury and defeating the ends of justice. According to police, the man alleged that he was hijacked on Friday night and kidnapped. He told police he escaped. KZN police spokesperson Constable Thenjiswa Ngcobo said the man arrived at the Phoenix Community Service Centre on Sunday morning to report a hijacking. “According to the alleged victim, he is an e-hailing driver and on Friday (August 5) he picked up passengers on Hillhead Road in Phoenix.” He told police that during the trip he was hijacked and held hostage. “He further alleged that he managed to escape and arrived at Phoenix SAPS to report a case of hijacking,” said Ngcobo. On investigation, the car was found parked at the…

AN intelligence organisation that collects data on service delivery protests says there has been an increase in service-delivery protests in the country since the advent of Covid-19. Municipal IQ, in its latest municipal hot spots monitor, said there was an increase in service-delivery protests in 2022. For its data, the organisation focuses on service-delivery protests against municipalities which have been recorded by the mainstream media and by the SAPS through press releases. It does not record issues falling outside of the local government’s service-delivery mandate, such as demarcation, industrial relation disputes or clear party political issues (including candidate lists or elective conferences issues). Where protests are sustained over several days or weeks, these are recorded as a single entry. The data analysed was from January to June, but the organisation…

A group of flood victims, who were initially placed in mass care centres in Yellowwood Park and uMlazi, were on Monday evicted from a Transnet Lodge building in Montclair they had occupied illegally in July. About 400 flood victims, with the assistance of an organisation called uMsinsi WokuZimilela (the South African Native Movement), took refuge in the hostel as they felt it was more suitable for living in than a community hall. UMsinsi WokuZimilela spokesperson Sbusiso Khumalo had previously told The Mercury that they had a plan to move more flood victims from halls into unoccupied buildings. The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Human Settlements said these flood victims were originally housed at mass care centres or community halls and they voluntarily left the care centres, including one at Yellowwood Park Community…

The body of an elderly woman was discovered floating in the surf at Ramsgate Beach on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast on Monday. Netcare 911 spokesperson Shawn Herbst said paramedics responded to a drowning at Ramsgate Beach just before noon. He said reports indicated that members of the public were walking on the beach when they spotted what looked like the figure of a human floating in the surf. “The bystanders jumped into the water and retrieved the body of an elderly female,” he said. Herbst said when paramedics arrived, they assessed the woman. He said that, unfortunately, the woman showed no signs of life and was declared dead on the scene. “Circumstances leading up to the woman found floating in the water are not known. However, the deceased was handed…

Nablus: Four people were killed and dozens wounded yesterday, the Palestinian health ministry said, as Israeli forces raided a house in the occupied West Bank city of Nablus. The Israeli military said a senior militant commander was among the dead. The latest violence comes two days after deadly fighting between Israel and Islamic Jihad militants in the coastal enclave of Gaza was halted by a truce. In the city of Nablus, Palestinians traded gunfire with Israeli security forces. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said its medics treated 69 people for gunshot wounds across the Nablus area, at least four of them in critical condition. |…

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in the Democratic Republic of Congo yesterday for a one-day visit expected to focus on a conflict in the east of the country that has sparked tensions with Rwanda. Blinken, on the second leg of an African tour, was met at Kinshasa’s Ndjili Airport by Foreign Minister Christophe Lutundula, the president’s office said. On his tour of African nations, Blinken has a recurring message for the continent’s leaders: Washington won’t push you to choose between America and its global rivals, even as Russia and China make inroads across the continent, The Washington Post reported. In a speech on Monday in South Africa he unveiled the Biden administration’s new strategy for sub-Saharan Africa. Blinken described what he said was America’s more constructive alternative,…

The dramatic FBI raid on Donald Trump’s palatial Florida residence has supercharged the bitter, polarising political debate around the slew of investigations facing the former president as he considers another White House run. Monday’s shock action marked a stunning escalation of legal probes into the 45th US president, drawing cheers from his political foes and condemnation from his allies. Trump said FBI agents raided his Mar-a-Lago estate on Monday and broke into his safe in what his son acknowledged was part of an investigation into Trump’s removal of official presidential records from the White House to his Florida resort. The US Justice Department declined to comment and the FBI’s head- quarters in Washington and its field office in Miami also declined comment. Eric Trump, one of the former president’s adult…

The Ombudsman for Banking Services (OBS) 2021 annual report revealed that it had seen a 7% increase in the number of complaints adjudicated compared with the previous year. The issues the OBS dealt with included complaints of fraud, maladministration by banks, closure of bank accounts and repossessions. Reana Steyn, the Ombudsman for Banking Services, said: “Continuing the trend from previous years, 2021 was no different, with many of the complaints received and resolved by the OBS relating to fraud, maladministration by banks, closure of bank accounts and repossessions. The OBS opened a record 8 257 complaints during the reported period. This was a 7% increase from 2020 and a 28% increase from the number of cases opened in 2019.” One of the most serious cases in the report deals with…

DURBAN mayor Mxolisi Kaunda’s days as the city’s first citizen are said to be numbered following the removal of Sihle Zikalala from the powerful position of KwaZulu-Natal ANC chairperson and his resignation as premier last week. Zikalala had been involved in a four-way contest with businessman Sandile Zungu, Nomusa Dube-Ncube and Siboniso Duma for the chairperson position. The contest turned into a two-way tie, with Zikalala losing heavily to Duma and also failing to make it as an additional member of the Provincial Executive Committee, a development which dwindled his political influence in the province. Kaunda, a former Transport MEC, is also known to back former president Jacob Zuma and it has been suggested that his hold on city hall had been because of the former president’s influence. But many…

When a 14-year-old boy was in danger of drowning off the Spanish shores of Valencia last month, help came in an unusual form: a drone. Within seconds of spotting trouble, lifeguards used walkie-talkies to notify trained drone pilots to fly to the child. The drone battled crosswinds and hovered over the boy, dropping an auto-inflating life vest. Soon after the child put the vest on, a lifeguard arrived on a watercraft to bring him back to shore. The rescue mission relied on technology from General Drones, a Spanish company. The technology has gained traction in Spain, and other countries, including the US, where lifeguards are also using drones as an extra set of eyes. “Every second matters,” said Adrián Plazas Agudo, the chief executive of General Drones and a former…

A nuclear holocaust could envelope Europe, as the conflict in Ukraine intensifies in scope and depth. The largest nuclear reactor complex in Ukraine, which is the largest on that continent, could be struck as the war intensifies. Both sides have accused the other of shelling the complex. If this huge atomic installation is attacked and damaged, deadly radiation will spread across Europe and many parts of the Northern Hemisphere. The Zaporizhzhia is a huge nuclear complex of six atomic reactors, which if breached, could trigger an escape of radioactive material. This plume of atomic particles could contaminate vast areas of land and water. Any military assault on the complex, whether planned or unintentional, could spell doom for Europe, it will mean in a worst case scenario, the evacuation of Europe.…

Why is it that government bodies at all levels take so long to respond to issues of importance in our country? Is it because of a lack of expertise, or are there other more deep-seated reasons? While this tendency embraces all facets of our society, I will only comment on infrastructure, with particular emphasis on its maintenance. In the field of roads, for example, professional engineers and engineering institutions have for about two decades been pointing out the lack of maintenance on provincial and municipal roads and the consequences thereof, including vast lengths being classified by road experts using international yardsticks as “unfit for purpose”. Our road network has an asset value measured in trillions of rand, yet the government has treated it in the same way as an unwise…

THE Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has been given the go-ahead to investigate maladministration in the awarding of honours degrees at the University of Fort Hare. President Cyril Ramaphosa has also authorised the SIU to probe the renovations conducted by the Public Works and Infrastructure Department at government properties. The corruption-busting body will also probe the procurement of drought relief technology services by the Amatola Water Board and Lepelle Northern Water Board. This emerged in proclamations signed on June 29 by Ramaphosa and published in the Government Gazette last Friday. Ramaphosa said allegations had been made in the affairs of the University of Fort Hare in the Eastern Cape, Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, the Amatola Water Board and Lepelle Northern Water Board. The government institutions may have suffered losses…

A 46-year-old policeman, arrested for armed robbery, will appear in court this week, North West police said. The policeman and three others were arrested after they allegedly bombed an ATM in Mogwase a week ago. North West police spokesperson Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone said Sergeant Sello Molefe, stationed at the Rustenburg Tactical Response Team (TRT), Mcebeni Benene, 38, Arrao Silva, 44, and Bokamoso Moabi, 39, face charges for the ATM bombing, business robbery, five counts of attempted murder and two counts of carjacking. “The accused were nabbed following crimes allegedly committed at a petrol filling station on the R510 road near Mogwase outside Rustenburg,” Brigadier Mokgwabone said. The four reportedly arrived at the filling station in two vehicles – a silver Volkswagen Polo and a BMW X5. They allegedly pointed firearms…

THREE people were killed in two separate incidents at taverns in KwaZulu- Natal in the past few days. In an incident on Saturday, police confirmed that two people were shot dead in Ladysmith by two gunmen who walked into a tavern and opened fire at the patrons. In the most recent incident, in Ulundi on Monday, one person was stabbed to death after a quarrel among patrons at a tavern. Bheki Mbanjwa, acting CEO of the KwaZulu-Natal Liquor Authority, said it had learnt of the incidents in the uThukela and Zululand Districts. “The first took place on August 6, at Blue Waters Tavern in Ladysmith where it is alleged the suspects started a quarrel with some patrons and started shooting at random patrons. The incident left two patrons fatally injured.”…

AS SOUTH Africans commemorated Women’s Day and Women’s Month to celebrate women and their important role in society, many young women, including teenage girls, continue to experience hardship and adversity. Often, they are exposed to sexual abuse and exploitation. This often results in many teenage girls being stuck with an unwanted pregnancy and contracting HIV. South Africa has the highest rate of HIV infections in the world, with approximately 200 000 new infections per week. Most of these infections are among young women, including teenage girls. This highlights their vulnerability in a male-dominated society. Teenage mothers, especially those in rural areas, are in desperate need of support and empowerment as several of them are HIV-positive. Because of this, they have special needs, which include education about their and…

Islamabad: A popular Pakistan television station critical of the current government has been taken off air in much of the country, the channel said yesterday. An official from ARY News said it had been blocked by Pakistan’s media authority for allegedly airing “seditious” content. Ammad Yousaf, vice-president of the network, said the decision was “illegal and ridiculous”, and would be challenged in court. ARY is one of Pakistan’s biggest private TV channels and has long supported Imran Khan, who has been critical of the country’s powerful military since being ousted by a no-confidence vote in April. |…

Kenyans lined up before dawn to vote in an election yesterday, with the country on edge as two political heavyweights battle it out in a tight race for the presidency, as well as for positions as senators, governors, lawmakers, woman representatives and some 1 500 county officials. Kenya is hoping for a peaceful transition of power after almost a decade under President Uhuru Kenyatta, but concerns over vote-rigging linger after past election disputes spiralled into bloodshed. More than 22 million people, about 40% of them under 35, are registered to vote in an election held against a backdrop of soaring inflation, a punishing drought and disenchantment with the political elite. Deputy president William Ruto, 55, is running against Raila Odinga, the 77-year-old veteran opposition leader backed by long-time rival Kenyatta…

Los Angeles: The late Olivia Newton-John’s Grease co-star John Travolta took to social media to pay his personal tribute to her. “My dearest Olivia, you made all of our lives so much better,” Travolta wrote in a post quoted by Variety. “Your impact was incredible. I love you so much … Yours from the moment I saw you and forever! Your Danny, your John!” Newton-John, who was also known for her fight against cancer, died at her ranch in California on Monday at the age of 73. The Grammy-winning superstar who reigned on pop, country, adult contemporary and dance charts with hits such as Physical and You’re the One That I Want and won countless hearts as everyone’s favourite Sandy in Grease. Daniel Andrews, the premier of Victoria, is…