Indice dei contenuti per 2023-05-23 in Mercury

BARLOWORLD has exited non-core businesses and the focus is on organic and acquisitive growth in its industrial equipment and services and consumer industries divisions, CEO Dominic Sewela said. The group yesterday reported im- proved trading activity across most of its operations in the six months to March 31, which with cost containment resulted in a 20.3% increase in headline earnings per share to 578 cents. “The performance cements the decisions with respect to our strategy and focus on the core verticals of industrial equipment and services and consumer industries,” he said in a statement. The interim dividend was raised to 200c per share from 165c. Following unbundling and listing of Zeda in December 2022, and the disposal of the remaining logistics business, the key exits out of non-core businesses…

BALWIN Properties, which lifted profit 20% to R437 million in the year to February 28, has a development pipeline that now spans 18 years consisting of up to 43 781 apartments across 26 projects. “I have been criticised about the extent of our land bank before, but we have found that rezoning land takes time and we don’t want to have to continually stop-start our development work,” CEO Steve Brookes said in a telephone interview yesterday. Speaking at the release of their annual results, he said the performance was boosted by pent-up demand after the pandemic, and the launch of Munyaka Beach Living Apartments in Waterfall, and of Izinga Eco Estate in uMhlanga, which spiked forward sales. A final dividend of 14.1 cents per share was declared…

President Cyril Ramaphosa will no longer legally challenge the Section 89 report, which called for his impeachment over Phala Phala, as Parliament has dealt with the matter. Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, said the parliamentary process in December rendered any legal process moot. Political parties had tried to revive the motion after the report was rejected by the ANC in Parliament, but failed. Magwenya said Ramaphosa had noted the decision of the Constitutional Court in March in which it refused to hear his application. He had gone directly to the Constitutional Court because he felt the matter belonged there. Magwenya said Ramaphosa respected the court’s decision not to hear the case. However, the president was advised there was no basis to continue with the legal challenge of the Section 89 report…

As a country that is haemorrhaging skills through emigration as a result of ideological discrimination, the fact that a debate on employment equity is even occurring reflects the poverty of our politics. Equity is a synonym for discrimination. It prioritises opportunity for individuals and classes with specific or unique needs. In so doing, it scorns and disparages the principle of equality and ignores the crucial element of merit. In a sane and rational environment, equity has no place in the hierarchy of competence. In a free society, initiative and enterprise are stifled when they are shackled to an ideology that coerces equity in employment. The post-apartheid era, which was supposed to be based on non-racialism, abounds with the blatant results of employment equity coercion and BEE – widespread dysfunctionalism and…

The news last week that eThekwini will now be subjected to additional load shedding from Thursday has been met with concern from its customers. This is understandable. The reduced load-shedding levels that eThekwini has enjoyed since last year’s floods served to cushion some of the frustration and inconvenience caused by the power cuts, and so it can be expected that customers will be angered to learn that the metro will now be subjected to Stage 1 load shedding. The national grid is severely constrained as evidenced by almost daily load shedding. With winter approaching, electricity demand is expected to increase, necessitating the reduction of the available load. To protect the national grid, it is thus no longer possible to continue with reduced load shedding for eThekwini. Honouring our load-shedding obligations…

AN INVESTIGATION has been launched into the cause of the escalating cholera crisis in Hammanskraal, which had claimed 15 lives as of yesterday afternoon. The Department of Water and Sanitation and provincial health departments have set up a command centre with the aim of stopping the spread of the infectious waterborne disease in Hammanskraal, north of Pretoria, after five additional deaths were reported at the Jubilee District Hospital. Yesterday, Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister David Mahlobo announ- ced the number of fatalities had risen to 15. As a result of the escalating crisis, the government had established a command centre to find an immediate solution and avoid further deaths, he said. Multi-disciplinary teams had been established to focus on different aspects, including the health sector’s capacity to curb the spread,…

Science has an important role to play in managing SA’s energy mix POWER grids are the backbone of society’s electrical systems. These large human-made networks provide electrical power to consumers worldwide, from the most minor households to the largest sprawling cities. To generate this electrical power, power generators – conventional, like fossil-fuelled power plants, or renewable, like solar and wind power plants – are scattered throughout a power-grid system. In the past two decades, power-grid systems have evolved tremendously. Profound innovations surrounding solar and wind energy have turned what were once unprofitable energy sources into some of the most competitive power generation systems in the world. In today’s world, most renewable energies, like photo-voltaic and wind turbines, are more cost-effective than all fossil and nuclear generation. People and governments around…

Gunfire and explosions rocked Sudan’s capital yesterday, hours before a one-week humanitarian ceasefire was to take effect after a series of previous truce announcements were all violated. The US and Saudi Arabia announced that the ceasefire agreed between the rival camps would take effect yesterday to enable humanitarian assistance to civilians. Unlike truces previously announced, the US and Saudi said this one is different because it was “signed by the parties” and will be supported by a “ceasefire-monitoring mechanism”. Desperate residents voiced hope that the new agreement would stem the brutal warfare that has shaken the capital Khartoum and other parts of the impoverished country, particularly the western Darfur region. Fighting erupted on April 15 between the army, led by Sudan’s de facto leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the paramilitary…

GENEVA: Head of the World Health Organization has urged countries to carry out the reforms needed to prepare for the next pandemic and honour a commitment to boost financing for the UN health agency. Speaking at WHO’s annual health assembly yesterday, weeks after ending the global emergency status for the Covid-19 pandemic, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said it was time to advance negotiations on preventing the next one. WHO’s 194 member states are negotiating reforms to the binding rules that fix their obligations in the event of a global health threat and are also drafting a pandemic treaty up for ratification next year. | Reuters…

The pressures of professional cricket in this day and age are unimaginable. The best tournaments in the world reach hundreds of millions of viewers around the globe and social media has taken things up a notch. The ongoing IPL is an excellent example of how fans around the world have gotten involved in the game by taking to social media to their share views and reactions on the games. “During the 2011 World Cup, social media was at its infancy stage. I think now everything will be even more exaggerated,” Robin Peterson said. “There’ll be more media and broadcast attention around the tournament. Back then, it felt like it (high pressure), now it will feel like that even more.” Franchise cricket has made all this pressure and intensity in games…

Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe and environmental groups are on a collision course over the Karpowership deal, with the environmental lobby planning to challenge the deal for the emergency procurement of some 2 000MW of electricity, warning that the ships would cause huge damage to the marine ecology and fishing. They have also questioned the length of the contract and have called for any deal to be transparent and open to the public. Last week the Transport Ministry said it had granted Türkiye’s Karpowership access to the three ports of Durban, Ngqura and Saldanha Bay for a period of 20 years in an effort to find solutions to the country’s power crisis. Karpowership aims to generate power on its floating gas ships and distribute it to South Africa’s…

AGRICULTURE, Land Reform and Rural Development Minister Thoko Didiza has announced the appointment of new Ingonyama Trust Board (ITB) members, bringing an end to months of behind-the-scenes discussions involving her office, KwaZulu-Natal Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube and traditional leaders. Inkosi Thanduyise Mzimela (chairperson), advocate Linda Zama (vice-chairperson) iNkosi Mabhudu Israel Tembe, Dr Thandi Dlamini, Nomusa Zulu, Dandy Matamela, iNkosi Phallang Bokang Molefe, iNkosi Sibonelo Mkhize and Lisa del Grande have been appointed to the board on a four-year term. The announcement brings to an end the uncertainty that has surrounded the organisation since the previous board’s term ended in November last year. Mzimela said the absence of a board had hindered ITB functions, and the announcement was a welcome development. “This means that Ingonyama will now be able to deal with…

Hello Mr President, how do you sleep at night? Are you in dreamland once your head is on the pillow or do you stay awake all night long wondering about the state of the country and its economy? Do you toss and turn, unable to get a wink of sleep, worrying about the crisis facing the country or do you go to bed with a full stomach, happy with your hard day’s work and curl up snugly next to your loving Mrs, oblivious of the darkness engulfing the country? Do you ever lie awake on your luxury king-size bed, staring at the ceiling and thinking of the millions of unfortunate South Africans huddled together on a cold winter’s night in their leaking jondholos? Tell me, Mr President, how do you…

HIKERS in the Cape have been cautioned to take extra safety precautions during winter after a 75-year-old collapsed and died while hiking, and a 66-year-old slipped on a wet trail. Mountain rescue group Wilderness Search And Rescue (WSAR) said it responded to a distress call concerning the 75-year-old on Saturday. WSAR spokesperson David Nel said when the teams arrived, they found the man had died. Earlier, teams were dispatched to the lower cable station after receiving reports that a hiker had injured himself on the India Venster hike. A 66-year-old hiker had slipped on a wet trail. “He was unable to continue, and a call was made to the emergency number. Several team members quickly hiked up to his position where he was assessed and treated by a paramedic. “The…

The employment and labour portfolio committee has thrown its weight behind the amended Employment Equity Act. Committee chairperson Lindelwa Dunjwa said yesterday the amendments were a positive step towards ensuring that workplaces reflect national and provincial demographics of the economically active population. The amended legislation was assented to by President Cyril Ramaphosa in April but it has attracted criticism from its opponents who claim it promotes racial quotas and racially obsessed legislation. Dunjwa said one of the key amendments in the legislation was empowering Minister of Employment and Labour Thulas Nxesi to set employment equity targets for economic sectors and prescribe demographic targets for employers with more than 50 employees. “This was a necessary step towards addressing the historical imbalances in the workplace. It’s important to note that these amendments…

BUSISIWE Mkhwebane’s return to the Constitutional Court to demand unlimited state funding of her defence and her latest failure to appoint a legal team suggests a last throw of the dice in her bid to derail the Section 194 committee inquiring into her fitness for office. She has influential political connections and is desperate for logistical support. She has shown she can use it well and deserves to get it, as long as there is a chance of exposing scandals that could prevent another presidential run for Cyril Ramaphosa. Mkhwebane did not continue with her testimony last week after halting it on March 31, due to an impasse about the funding of her legal team. The current impasse started on March 1, when the Office of the Public Protector (PP)…

Meta was hit with a record 1.2 billion euro (about R25bn) fine by its lead EU privacy regulator over its handling of user information and given five months to stop transferring users’ data to the US. The fine, imposed by Ireland’s Data Protection Commissioner (DPC), came after Meta continued to transfer data beyond a 2020 EU court ruling that invalidated an EU-US data transfer pact. It tops the previous record EU fine of 746 million euros handed by Luxembourg to Amazon.com in 2021. The battle over where Meta’s Facebook stores its data began a decade ago after Austrian privacy campaigner Max Schrems brought a legal challenge over the risk of US snooping in light of disclosures by former US National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden. Meta said that it…

GEORGETOWN: At least 20 people died in a fire at the Mahdia Secondary School in Guyana, a government official said yesterday. The Guyanese government has mobilised a “full-scale medical evacuation-supported response”. Five planes have departed for Mahdia to support regional health officials with additional medical supplies and medivacs, the government said. Seven children are being sent by medivac to Georgetown. The fire is believed to have started around midnight. President Mohamed Irfaan Ali said “all efforts will now be made to contact the parents of the girls, as they hail from not only Mahdia, but also several other villages”. | AFP…

Consumers should brace themselves as economists have predicted another interest rate hike to be announced by the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) this week. The MPC is expected to meet on Thursday. Economists have listed high inflation, the weak rand and the energy crisis as among the reasons for the expected hike in the rate. Professor Bonke Dumisa, an independent economic analyst, said he expected an increase of 25 basis points. “The South African Reserve Bank will increase the interest rate if inflation targets of 3% to 6% are not achieved. The inflation rate is hovering around 7% and I can’t see a significant change in it any time soon, which will most likely mean an increase in the interest rate this week.” Dumisa said he did not expect to see…

I ENJOY moments when life places me with people of diverse cultures. I love it when individuals are sufficiently comfortable to discuss the power that culture has in shaping our lives and perceptions. Mary is amazed that Anvi met her husband for the first time at their wedding. Mary is further surprised that Anvi says she is happily married. Anvi tells Mary she could never have been brave enough to pursue a “love marriage”. Anvi says her parents, whom she does trust, know her better than she knows herself and therefore knew what kind of man she would want to marry. John is amazed to hear that I’m willing to respect woman leaders. John is even more surprised to hear I raised two babies without women to change their nappies…

HOW heartening to see the Sharks notch up win after win in the Currie Cup! The damsels of the Street Shelter for the Over-Forties are beside themselves with joy as they strum at their knickers and provide elastic for a fashioning of catapults for the time-honoured celebratory feu de joie in which the street lights are shot out. ’Tis a celebration that continues in spite of Eskom’s attempts to put the lights out itself. The tinkle tinkle of falling glass in the darkness is testimony that the Street Shelter’s marksmen are undeterred. And how pleasing it is that the Currie Cup sides are playing in their traditional colours from the era before professionalism in rugby. Nostalgia for those of us who remember that era based on amateur club rugby. And…

AN attorney, who made headlines two years ago when he swore 16 times at a judge during virtual court proceedings, has now again hurled insults at another judge. He shouted “f*** ff”, before he stormed away. Darren Sampson had tongues wagging in 2020 when he repeatedly swore at Judge Tasneem Moosa during virtual proceedings. Sampson subsequently apologised to that judge and at the time said he has severe anxiety, depression and bipolar disorder. After the incident in 2020, the Legal Practice Council said it was launching an application to have him either struck from the roll of attorneys or suspended from the attorney’s profession. It is not known what happened regarding that application, as the Legal Practice Council has not yet responded to a question posed to it yesterday. But…

the article in the Cape Times, the Mercury’s sister newspaper, which appeared on May 22 with the headline “Renewables alone not enough for south africa”, refers. It is absolutely correct to say that renewable energy is not enough to stop loadshedding. However, the ANC government is so desperate to ensure that they get the people to vote for them in the forthcoming elections that they will spend anything regardless of the nature of the contract to get electricity even for a short time. In essence, they are going to be forced to sign the deal with the Karpowerships. This agreement will bind government for 20 years. The ANC are fully aware that they are going to be out of power after the 2024 elections. In essence this desperate last ditch…

TOURISM Minister Patricia de Lille needs to approve all overseas trips that involve South African Tourism officials to ensure that its expenditure is used to promote the country abroad. Recently, SA Tourism has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. The body, whose mandate is to grow visitor numbers to South Africa, was involved in a R1 billion sponsorship of one of the English Premier League’s best-known teams, Tottenham Hotspur. The deal fell through following an uproar from members of the public, political parties and civil society. De Lille’s intervention, when she became tourism minister after President Cyril Ramaphosa reshuffled his Cabinet, led to the scrapping of the deal. The minister, who is known for her anti-corruption stance, vowed to clean-up SA Tourism by monitoring any future…

The Zimbabwe government was to hold talks yesterday over its shock announcement that it will claim half of all revenues from carbon offsetting projects in the country. The government last week said 50% of all revenue from carbon offset projects should go to the treasury.; another 20% to local investors with foreign partners allowed to pocket no more than 30%. All carbon credit deals are to be subjected to government approval, it said, and all agreements previously entered into by international agencies with local authorities and others are thus “null and void”. Companies or individuals can buy carbon credits from entities that remove or reduce greenhouse gas emissions. With one credit equivalent to one ton of CO2, they are widely used to boost firms’ environmental credentials. But the industry has…

LA PAZ: Bolivian authorities are investigating whether any Catholic Church officials in the country should be held accountable following the publication of a diary of a late Jesuit priest that contained multiple confessions of child abuse. The case has triggered complaints from former students about other abuse in religious-run schools in Bolivia, including those of Jesuits, but also Dominicans, Franciscans, and other orders. The revelations, first reported in April, documented abuse by Alfonso Pedrajas, known as Father Pica, a Spanish priest who lived for years in Bolivia. | AFP…

Ma Long is settling back in to his old stomping ground, posting a 4-0 (15-13, 11-4, 11-3, 11-6) over Eugene Wang in the men’s singles round of 64 yesterday at the ITTF World Table Tennis Championships in Durban. It was a class act from the GOAT on table one, putting on a show in front of South African fans watching on from the stands. While Canada’s Wang set himself up with a chance to take an early lead, Long didn’t fold under pressure. After taking the opener 15-13, the Chinese legend had a complete lock on the match. Long only dropped a further 13 points across the next three games to secure his spot in the round of 32. After the match, Long praised the efforts of his opponent to…