Tabla de contenidos para 2022-10-19 en Mercury

TWO northern KwaZulu-Natal mayors and a deputy mayor have come under fire after allegations regarding their conduct came to light. Msinga Municipality mayor Mletheni Douglas Ndlovu has been charged with failure to lock away a firearm in a prescribed safe, as well as handing over a firearm to a person not permitted to be in possession of such. The deputy mayor of Abaqulusi (Vryheid) Municipality, Mandla Mazibuko, has been accused of using a derogatory term to describe residents. Pongola mayor Velephi Mavis Sikhosana has been accused of borrowing money from a businesswoman and allegedly promising a tender in return. All three are members of the IFP and the party said yesterday that the matters were receiving attention. Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Sihle Zikalala said councillors in municipalities should…

The world’s fattest parrot can’t fly, and now it can’t run either. Voting began yesterday in New Zealand’s always-controversial Bird of the Year contest, with angry twitchers spitting feathers at a decision to ban the twice-winning kakapo. The beguiling owl parrot – which resembles a feathered bowling ball – already won the contest in 2008 and 2020, and came runner-up in 2021. The kakapo was a favourite to win this year, scoring an endorsement from natural history icon David Attenborough, who described it as “loveable” and his favourite New Zealand bird. But faced with a campaign of such soaring pedigree, organisers said they wanted to give less popular birds a chance on October 31. “The decision to leave kakapo off this year’s candidate list wasn’t one we took lightly,” said…

IN 1788, a petition was sent to the House of Commons by the merchants of Liverpool in answer to some misguided people who had the bad taste to suggest that the horrible trade in live human beings was unbecoming of a civilised country. “‘Your Petitioners’ therefore contemplate with real concern attempts to obtain a total abolition of the African slave trade, which for a long series of years has constituted and still constitutes to form a very extensive branch of the commerce of Liverpool. “Your Petitioners humbly pray to be heard against the abolition of this source of wealth.” Jack Hawkins (1619) was the first Englishman to conceive the idea that there was lots of money to be made by seizing unsuspecting “Negroes” in Africa, and selling them as “raw…

The bombing of the Nord Stream pipelines was an act of terror that will have grave implications for under-sea installations and the beginning of sub-surface warfare. It was a serious breach of international law that will have global ramifications. It is shocking that certain nations took part in an act of terror to disrupt energy supplies, setting a precedent for other nations to follow. Nations with expertise in undersea capabilities took part in the audacious operation. The acts of terror have raised concerns that undersea cables connecting the world to the internet are at risk. Internet cables connect all the world’s continents and represent the digital highway for everything from YouTube videos to financial market transactions. Almost all the world’s internet traffic is carried across a global network of more…

Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu said the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) had referred 219 cases involving civil servants who defrauded the R350 social relief of distress grant to the police for criminal prosecution. Zulu was responding to parliamentary questions from DA MP Mimmy Gondwe. Gondwe had written to Zulu asking whether Sassa had opened criminal cases against public servants who were found to have fraudulently applied for and received the R350 grants. She also enquired about the amount recovered from the public servants who had signed acknowledgement of debt forms with Sassa. In her written response, Zulu said 219 cases had been referred to the SAPS in two tranches. She said 198 cases emanated from the first sample of 242 cases and an additional 21 cases of civil…

UNDER the theme, “Rebuilding KZN through innovation”, the 2022 Youth Innovation Challenge was launched in Cato Manor yesterday and 70 young people were selected to come up with unique solutions to everyday problems faced by society. The Youth Innovation Challenge is an annual flagship programme of Innovate Durban which is held in partnership with institutions, organisations, businesses and government sectors locally and globally. Tendai Pasipamire of Innovate Durban said the challenge attracted more than 200 applicants and that pushed the organisers to move the number of participants from 60 to 70. He said that this year the focus would be on planning ahead, disaster readiness and how to best reduce the economic impact of disasters. Klariska Moodley, the head of experimentation at challenge sponsor the UN Development Programme’s (UNDP) Accelerator…

In Sikhosana’s matter, Independent Media has reported that Sikhosana is facing legal action after she allegedly borrowed R80 000 from a businesswoman and then told the woman that she would be given a tender and recoup the money she borrowed from her. It was reported that the matter is now before the Pongola Magistrate’s Court where the businesswoman is trying to claw back the money and the mayor has been served with a summons. Thabani Khumalo, an independent political analyst, said that since IFP president emeritus Mangosuthu Buthelezi had stepped down as president of the party, it had become a party with ill discipline. “The issue is that there are also factions in the IFP and councillors also guilty of irresponsible utterances. “These allegations come at a time when the…

Former health minister Dr Zweli Mkhize’s supporters say that his ANC presidential ambitions have been bolstered after the office of the State Attorney representing the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) sent his lawyers a letter acknowledging that it did not have the Cabinet documents it had relied on to make adverse findings against him in the Digital Vibes matter. Mkhize yesterday said the SIU had found that he had violated the Constitution by allowing the department to appoint Digital Vibes when the Cabinet had directed the department to appoint GCIS instead. But when his lawyers asked for this Cabinet resolution to be provided to them, the State Attorney, on behalf of the SIU, said the resolution did not exist, or was not in their possession. Mkhize said this raised the question…

ETHEKWINI Municipality is pulling out all the stops to market itself as the destination of choice when it hosts the handover of the certificate ceremony (coronation) for Zulu King Misuzulu kaZwelithini at the end of the month. The commitment was made during yesterday’s executive committee (Exco) meeting, where a report was presented by community services committee chairperson Zama Sokhabase, outlining activities planned by the city as part of the festivities. Sokhabase pointed out that the city had reacted late because the ceremony and its preparations were led by the national and provincial governments. She told Exco members the main objective of the ceremony was to honour Misuzulu formally as king, “in terms of government protocol”. She emphasised the significance of the ceremony, which would be attended by President Cyril Ramaphosa,…

If you do not take care of “your self” (two words used intentionally), no one else will be able to do so for you. Your apparent decision to ignore “your self” and your lack of self-care will act as a barrier when others who love you may try to care for you, and their attempts will meet your resistance. This is a very sad place to be, but such “selfless” loving is widespread and even encouraged. “I am a giver. I care for others. If I am not caring for others. I don’t know who I am. I really struggle to receive care from others,” are frequently repeated sentiments. I’d suggest it is possible and essential to take care of “your self”, without being selfish or preoccupied with self. It…

I would like to comment on the letter in The Mercury (October 17) by Ebrahim Essa. He makes valid points regarding the airlines’ charging for one to book a specific seat and to book luggage into the hold. I travelled from London to Cape Town on September 27. Just as I was about to take my seat, I felt a violent thump on my back. I shouted and fell into my seat whereupon two stewards enquired if I was all right. They did not witness the incident. I said I was not and discovered the reason for the thump – a suitcase (one of the ones with a hard carapace) had hurtled into my back. The apologetic fellow passenger had misjudged the capacity of the locker and his case had…

Research by Dr Iraj Abedian, the founder and chief executive of Pan- African Investment and Research Services (Pty) Ltd, suggests that a 10% increase in investment in the manufacturing sector could boost the country’s GDP, create jobs and increase tax revenues. The 60-page report, which was commissioned by Proudly SA, is the third in a series of research papers that identifies the manufacturing sector’s potential in boosting the country’s development, especially on the back of the Covid-19 pandemic and the country’s pre-existing challenges. Abedian presented his findings during the Durban leg of the Proudly SA localisation roadshow on Friday. The study found that the manufacturing sector had historically been a key driver of higher value jobs and increases in living standards. “The sector has indeed been vital to…

ANC shouldn’t take a leaf out of how China holds a conference, but rather follow their recipe The Chinese Communist Party (CPC) is currently holding its 20th National Congress in Beijing (it started on October 16), where 2 296 delegates are representing the CCP’s estimated 90 million members. It is reported the National Congress will be a culmination of “preparations that commenced in 2021 during which local and provincial party organisations began electing delegates to the congress as well as receiving and amending party documents”. On average, it means a single delegate will be representing about 42 000 members. When we juxtapose this number with the delegate-member ratio of the ANC, that have, give or take, one million members and about 4 000 delegates that will be attending its…

THE SOUTH African Reserve Bank (SARB) is in the process of attaching billions of rands of assets of former Steinhoff chief executive Marcus Jooste, the alleged ringleader in a financial fraud that saw investors lose more than R200 billion and resulted in the 95% collapse of the share price in 2017. The SA Reserve Bank published the Western Cape High Court order on its website yesterday which showed that Jooste and the respondents were suspected of contravening foreign exchange regulations. The assets to be attached included those of the Silver Oak Trust, art worth about R98.78 million, financial assets worth R1.21bn, loans receivable of R131.12m, Jooste’s house in Voelklip, Hermanus, at least six luxury vehicles, jewellery and other art worth some R795 400, books, documents, electronic devices and…

“SOMETIMES it is exhausting to be a South African,” Gareth Ackerman, the chairperson of Pick n Pay, said yesterday in a speech ahead of the interim results presentation, as he reflected on the challenges facing the retailer, while calling on the government to incentivise business to make infrastructure upgrades – through rates or tax rebates. This, as he said: “We are not power- less to turn this situation around. In fact, a much more positive trajectory is possible if we get just a few basics right.” He said tax levels in South Africa were high. “There is room to incentivise business to invest in the common good, but please don’t double tax us,” Ackerman said, as he reflected on headwinds, such as food inflation, the decay in…

THE Office of the Chief Justice (OCJ) was adamant yesterday that there was no secrecy surrounding the R225 million IT tender that involved former employees who allegedly formed a company to benefit from the deal. “I would like to assure the committee that there is no veil of secrecy we place on this matter. As soon as the audi partem process has happened, we will report,” OCJ secretary-general Memme Sejosengwe said. “I am not hiding anything and I have nothing to hide. Myself, the executives and department officials will subject themselves to whatever process needs to happen out of the outcome of this process,” she said. Sejosengwe made the statement as the OCJ briefed the justice and correctional services portfolio committee on allegations of impropriety in the R225m IT tender…

A REVEALING account comes this way of a dialogue between a patient and a Japanese doctor. Patient: “I’ve heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life. Is this true?” Doctor: “Heart only good for so many beats and that’s it … Don’t waste time on exercise. Everything wear out eventually. Speeding up heart not make you live longer, it like saying you extend life of a car by driving faster. Want to live longer? Take a nap.” Patient: “Should I reduce my alcohol intake?” Doctor: “Oh no. Wine made from fruit. Fruit very good. Brandy distilled wine, that means they take water out of fruity bit so you get even more goodness that way. Beer made out of grain. Grain good too. “Bottoms up!” Patient: “What are the advantages of…

Mr John Knottenbelt (The Mercury, September 22) expresses distress at callous comments from so many writers, when people are struggling to come to grips with the grievous loss of the English monarch. His sentiments are understandable. Grief is a very personal concept. Relative. A gangster’s mother would cry at her murderous son’s funeral. The oppressed neighbourhood celebrate. Perfectly understandable. Consider our own predicament. Bankrupt. Sold to the highest overseas bidder. Mr Duncan du Bois refers to that as “globalisation”. We all know who the chief culprits were … are … they are all still around. And we are fully aware that the majority in this country will still vote for the likes of them … it has happened before. Sentiment runs deep. Irrational. So the big question remains: Will those…

The public reaction to the perks that ministers and deputy ministers currently get, which have now been rescinded by the president, is well justified. It is disgraceful, to say the least, what Cabinet members earn – it could be classified as thieving when one looks at the bigger picture. This means Cabinet members are all millionaires. With the salaries they earn they should not be granted any perks at all, what for? They are there to serve the people of this country, not to line their pockets with as much cash as they can. When reviewing the effectiveness of some Cabinet members over the past couple of years, they have done nothing to even justify their current salaries. Not one has contributed to improving anything that the government controls, in…

An Eastern Cape teacher has been remanded in custody after he allegedly murdered a traffic officer for issuing him with a fine. Siphesonke Galoshe, 34, a teacher from Tutor Ndamase Senior Secondary School, appeared in the Mthatha Magistrate’s Court on a charge of murder. He is alleged to have shot dead Daniel Mxoli, 61, a traffic officer attached to the King Dalindyebo Local Municipality in Mthatha last Monday. After being on the run for days, Galoshe was arrested by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation’s (Hawks) Serious Organised Crime Investigation team last Friday. Hawks provincial spokesperson, Captain Yolisa Mgolodela, said Galoshe was alleged to have murdered Mxoli after he was issued a fine for contravening traffic rules. “It is alleged that on October 10, Galoshe, who…

THE attacks on and vandalism of city assets has prompted eThekwini Municipality to host a crime summit next month to look at ways of containing the problem. The summit is set to include representatives of the police, local community policing forums and other community structures as the city attempts to mobilise communities to stand with it to protect public assets. Addressing Executive Committee (Exco) members yesterday, eThekwini mayor Mxolisi Kaunda expressed worry at the ongoing theft and vandalism of municipal properties that include pump stations, libraries and city clinics. He cited a recent initiative with Police Minister Bheki Cele, where the city convened a series of crime imbizos in the townships of Inanda, uMlazi and Clermont to engage communities and all relevant stakeholders on the role they should play in…

Struggle icon and human rights activist Dr Allan Boesak has lashed out at President Cyril Ramaphosa for allegedly “instructing” Upington Correctional Services officials to prevent him and Tourism Minister Lindiwe Sisulu from visiting John Fikile Block. Block, 54, is the former chairperson of the ANC in the Northern Cape. He was the MEC for finance, economic development and tourism in the Northern Cape legislature. He was found guilty by the Kimberley High Court of money laundering and sentenced to 15 years in jail in December 2016. Sisulu, in her private capacity, and Boesak attempted to visit him yesterday. However, there was drama when they were stopped at the second gate at the prison. They were told there was no provision for ministers to visit prisoners at Correctional Services facilities. At…