Tabla de contenidos para 2023-05-17 en Mercury

IN SOUTH Africa, the conversation around energy is intensifying. As we grapple with the impact of load shedding and a strained national grid, there’s a growing consensus that we need to expedite our transition to renewable energy, particularly solar. With most of South Africa receiving about 2 500 hours of sunshine per year, and solar radiation levels between 4.5 and 6.5kW/h per m² daily, the country’s abundant solar resources makes solar one of the cheapest sources of energy currently available to South Africans. Solar provides a promising solution to the load-shedding crisis, offering both immediate relief and long-term sustainability. Innovative financing models and business strategies, particularly from financial institutions, have made solar energy accessible and feasible not only for households, but also for commercial, industrial and utility scales. Sapvia…

THERE is renewed excitement in some circles that the Drakensberg Cable Car Project, which has been part of KwaZulu-Natal government’s plans to attract foreign visitors for almost two decades, may finally take off. The project, initiated during former Economic Development and Tourism MEC Mike Mabuyakhulu’s time in office, may finally see the light of day. Back in 2020, the project was forecast to cost between R500 million and more than R1 billion, and the provincial government had been attempting to entice investors, local and international, to inject the capital to get the project started. Trade & Investment KwaZulu-Natal (TIKZN) CEO Neville Matjie said the Drakensberg Cable Car project was being driven by a steering committee led by the department, and also comprised representatives from TIKZN, Tourism KZN, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife,…

The MERCURY is to be applauded for its editorial of May 15 condemning the callous indifference of the ruling liberation regime towards the people of South Africa. Like so many governments in power today, it is out of touch – detached, as the editorial expresses it – from the realities of the daily lives of people. Of course, that is an intentional part of the agenda of the World Economic Forum (WEF), namely, to impoverish through manufactured crises and false narratives so as to achieve subjugation and control. Our liberation regime is fully on board with the WEF agenda because it has always been fundamental to its Marxist Freedom Charter. Be that as it may, one aspect of the collapsing state of the country not mentioned in the May 15…

The REVELATIONS of corruption at Eskom by former CEO André de Ruyter have sent shock waves through South Africa. The state-owned entity responsible for keeping our lights on has been caught in a web of corruption, with senior ANC politicians interfering in its affairs. The load-shedding crisis has worsened, with no end in sight. This situation is catastrophic, and South Africans can’t afford to have their electricity supply cut off for days on end. The blame for the crisis at Eskom falls squarely on the shoulders of those who have been plundering the entity’s resources and milking it dry. The only way to salvage the situation is to replace the key personnel at Eskom with experienced ones who were removed because of the colour of their skin or for political…

The Political Party Funding Act is facing a challenge in court, with some of its sections being scrutinised on their constitutionality. According to the act, parties must disclose all donations received above R100 000 – whether in cash, kind (eg transport, catering) or both – to the Electoral Commission each quarter. Also, parties may not accept donations above R15 million a year from a single donor. My Vote Counts has filed papers in the Western Cape High Court calling for the scrapping of the R100 000 limit for disclosures and that the R15 million donation be reduced. In contrast, the ANC has wanted the law amended to allow for the threshold amount of R100 000 to be increased. It also wanted the R15m limit on…

THE orange bag recycling programme in the eThekwini Municipality is to be “reconfigured” amid challenges that have brought it to the brink of collapse. The municipality said yesterday that it is facing challenges and processes are under way to have it reconfigured. It was not immediately clear what the reconfiguration plan would entail. The DA in eThekwini is demanding answers about the programme amid concerns the programme has collapsed. Councillors and community-based organisations have told of differing fortunes when it comes to the programme with many revealing that it is almost dysfunctional and others saying it has not worked for years. EThekwini Municipality’s head of communications, Lindiwe Khuzwayo said: “We acknowledge that there are some challenges with this programme. The Cleansing and Solid Waste Unit has drafted a report to…

THERE exists a self-righteous tendency among self-appointed radicals and black spokespersons to criticise and condemn black super-achievers who are successful in a supremacist and capitalist economic system. I guess it does not sit well with some to witness ordinary folk from our kind of people and background – poor working class – suddenly rise to earn R5 million per annum. There are some who see this criticism of super-achievers as a mentality where blacks do not celebrate the few who make it. What we need to understand about black excellence is that it subscribes to the same rules of the white supremacist capitalist games. You must serve the interests of the white patriarchs for you to succeed beyond your wildest dreams. Frankly, in most instances, the super achievement and success…

Libya’s eastern-based parliament voted yesterday to replace Fathi Bashagha as prime minister, its spokesperson said, after he failed to take office in Tripoli where the incumbent Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah has refused to cede power. The parliament assigned Bashagha’s finance minister Osama Hamad to take over his duties, parliament spokesperson Abdullah Belhaiq said, part of a new push to oust Dbeibah and install a new government in Tripoli. Bashagha was appointed in March 2022 but his efforts to enter Tripoli and take office ended in battles between factions aligned with him and others aligned with Dbeibah. He has had to operate outside Tripoli with no control of state finances. He wrote to the parliament saying he was handing his duties over to his deputy Ali Qatrani. He did not say whether he…

KHARTOUM: The death toll in the clashes between the Sudanese Army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has climbed to 822, the Sudanese Doctors Union said. “The number of civilian deaths since the beginning of the clashes has climbed to 822, with 3 215 injuries,” the union said. Witnesses said clashes broke out yesterday between units of the Sudanese Army and RSF fighters in Jabra, in the south of Khartoum, and areas east of the capital. RSF said in video clips it had seized Al-Kadro camp in Bahri town, a major camp of the Sudanese Army. This has been denied. There have been clashes between the Sudanese Army and the RSF since April 15. | Xinhua…

Paris: A total of 14 people are set to face trial in France over the beheading of a teacher by an Islamist extremist in 2020, a crime that shocked the country. The most serious charges – complicity in a terrorist murder – are being pressed against two friends of the Chechen refugee who murdered teacher Samuel Paty after he showed pictures of the Prophet Muhammad to his pupils, the legal documents reveal. The killer, Abdullakh Anzorov, 18, was shot dead by police in a Paris suburb. Prosecutors believe two friends accompanied Anzorov to buy a knife. Another six adults will be tried for associating with terrorists. | AFP…

Convicted rapist and murderer Thabo Bester set tongues wagging when he appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court virtually, sporting a Burberry hoodie valued at almost R19 000. Bester also sported a new look with a clean-shaven head. “I am represented by advocate Jeremiah Pela, my Lord,” Bester told magistrate Mohlolo Khabisi. Bester is facing a number of charges, including escaping from the Mangaung Correctional Facility. The State and his defence attorney argued over a number of matters, including why Bester was appearing virtually. The case has been adjourned until June 20 for further investigations. He escaped last May after allegedly faking his own death. G4S Security, the company running the public-private facility, Mangaung Correctional Centre, had initially believed it was his body found at cell 35, set alight. Investigations have…

A CREATURE named Chonkosaurus has been spotted and filmed in a Chicago waterway in the US and is causing a sensation on social media, according to Associated Press. The name was made up by the filmer, Joey Santore, who spotted the enormous snapping turtle perched on rotten logs in the Chicago River. He posted a video of the turtle on Twitter, labelling it the “Chicago River Snapper aka Chonkosaurus”. Joey has been having better luck than Steve Feltham, over in Scotland, who has spent 30 years searching for the Loch Ness Monster, with only one possible sighting – and that was in the first year of his search. He gave up his job and sold his home in England to move to the shores of the loch in 1991. He…

Over the course of 2022, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) condemned Israel more times than it did all other countries in the world combined for so-called human rights violations. Fifteen of those resolutions criticised Israel, while only 13 condemned various countries in the rest of the world. The other countries included Russia, Afghanistan, Iran, Myanmar, North Korea, Syria and the US. Let us put matters into perspective. In 2022, Russia invaded a sovereign neighbour. Iran cracked down on civilians protesting inhuman treatment by the regime, imprisoning, torturing and executing its own people for something so simple as women refusing to cover their hair. Women in Afghanistan continue to be subjected to a future without education, worth or a voice. President Bashar al-Assad, called the Butcher of Damascus, continues to…

Do your part to make the mountains you face become mole hills: One day at a time, the Twelve Step mantra is helpful. Not everything you face has to be faced today. Learning to “hold on to yourself” is a skill really worth developing and will reap huge benefits. Gaining some distance to improve perspective is always helpful. Listen more than you speak. When you listen for what you hope people are saying rather than to what they are saying, your hopes can distort what they are trying to tell you. How people treat any one person is how they can treat everyone. Watch out for those who treat others poorly. You may be, you probably are, next in line. We see the world and others not as the world…

Gone are the days of children being seen, but not heard. It is no longer good enough to let the adults battle it out, excluding the child, a judge said in a case where divorced parents are locked in an all-out war with each other over the affections of their only child – now 11 years old. The parents divorced in 2018 and signed a settlement agreement in terms of which the child would spend alternate weeks with each parent. But this agreement, at the time made an order of court, did nothing to bring peace to the family – especially the child. The tug of war over their only child has been ongoing ever since. During the past seven years, the child, identified as S, has been subjected to…

Conservation organisation, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has called for a ban on “most high-risk and unnecessary” single-use plastic products – such as plastic cutlery, e-cigarettes and microplastics in cosmetics. This is ahead of further negotiations around an international legally binding treaty on plastic pollution to take place in Paris from May 29 to June 2. WWF said in spite of regulation and voluntary measures at national levels, efforts haven’t proven enough to stop plastic leaking into the environment in one location, and ending up hundreds or even thousands of kilometres away. Single-use plastics, microplastics and lost or discarded fishing equipment – known as “ghost gear” – now make up most of plastic pollution in the ocean, said WWF. “Many communities don’t have the infrastructure to deal with…

Tributes are pouring in for former trade unionist, activist and academic Dr Dennis George who passed away on Monday evening. At the time of his death, George was a board member at Ayo Technology Solutions. He was previously the general secretary of the Federation of Unions of South Africa (Fedusa) for many years and he fought for the rights of workers, championing fair wages, safe working conditions and equitable opportunities. He also was the founding director of African Quartz. Close friend Dr Iqbal Survé said he was deeply saddened by George’s passing. “It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that I inform you that my dear friend, colleague, activist, revolutionary, intellectual giant, confidante and wonderful comrade, Dr Dennis George passed away peacefully last night,” said Survé. “My thoughts…

‘It is essential to our democratic sovereignty as a country’ During the course of the previous week, there was breaking news pertaining to South Africa’s relationship with Russia. It was reported that the South African government had allegedly traded arms to Russia. Naturally, when the news broke, there was a buzz around what that could mean for South Africa. In context, the government has always claimed a stance of neutrality and non-interventionist action in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. This is viewed as a dubious position from opponents of the ANC-led government, mainly the opposition party, the DA. The mere thought of the government covertly supporting Russia with arms sparked controversy over the future of South Africa-US relations. The US has publicly given military aid to Ukraine. But now we have more…

Artificial sweeteners, used to replace sugar in a vast range of products, do not help in losing weight and can have serious health effects, according to the World Health Organization. The UN health agency has released new guidelines advising against using so-called non-sugar sweeteners or NSS. A review of available evidence “suggests use of NSS does not confer any long- term benefit in reducing body fat”. Results “suggest that there may be potential undesirable effects from long-term use of NSS, such as an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and mortality in adults”. The WHO said its new recommendation applied to everyone except those with pre-existing diabetes. It includes all synthetic and naturally occurring or modified sweeteners not classified as sugars found in manufactured foods and beverages…

Tanthirimale: Villagers stormed a remote government office in Sri Lanka yesterday, officials said, a day after a herd of up to 50 elephants ravaged farmers’ fields near a wildlife reserve. In what local farmers said was the biggest such incident involving the protected animals in recent memory, the elephants munched through nearly half their crops across seven villages in the island’s north. Wildlife officials drove the herd away from villages with fire crackers. Farmers and officials rushed to a school fearing the elephants could harm students. Farmers stormed the office of divisional secretary Manjari Chandradasa in Mahawilachchiya, to demand that action be taken. | AFP…

ROME: Two skeletons have been found in the ruins of Pompeii, the ancient Roman city wiped out by an eruption of volcano Mount Vesuvius nearly 2 000 years ago, the Italian Culture Ministry said yesterday. The skeletons recovered from a building are probably that of two men in their 50s who died in an earthquake that accompanied the eruption, it said. Pompeii Archaeological Park also said they were killed not by volcanic ash but by collapsing buildings. Pompeii, 23km southeast of Naples, was home to about 13 000 people when it was buried under ash amid an eruption – equivalent to many atomic bombs– in the year 79 AD. | Reuters…

Competition for spots in the Proteas starting XI for the Cricket World Cup will intensify in various departments, but most intensely in the battle for the all-rounder spot. Marco Jansen has taken the world by storm from the time he made his international debut against India on Boxing Day in 2021. His natural ability to step up against top opposition was the most impressive factor in Jansen’s game. Since then, it was clear that the youngster could play any format for South Africa, and fast forward to a couple of years later, Jansen is a regular in the Sunrisers Hyderabad team in the IPL and also for the Proteas, a feat that is testament to the youngster’s invaluable contributions in a playing XI. In the same breath, the resurrection of…

The eThekwini Municipality will return to the national load-shedding schedule later this month – despite calls by political parties for Eskom to continue with its exemption for the city. Residents in the metro are only affected by load shedding once it reaches Stage 4 and higher, and at these stages it is the equivalent of Stage 2 in most other municipalities. The reason for the amended schedule was based on the severe damage to the city’s high-voltage substations caused by the April 2022 floods. The City last year said if these substations were subjected to load shedding in their current state, many of them could suffer severe additional damage, such as explosions and fire, and this could affect large parts of the grid. The municipality, in a statement yesterday, said…

There seems to be a deliberate attempt to destroy most state-owned enterprises (SOEs) by high-ranking politicians in the past and present government to enrich themselves, their friends and families. I will highlight just two SOEs, the first being Eskom, which is in the public domain. Unfortunately, because of a lack or maybe no law enforcement in this country, whistle-blowers are fearful of their lives because of the deep-rooted corruption in these entities. Fortunately the previous CEO of Eskom, André de Ruyter, has a conscience and decided to sacrifice his safety by exposing the rot at Eskom. He makes various allegations, and no one is denying them, but these criminals will fight back to discredit him. In his book, which was released on Sunday, May 14, called Truth to Power, he…

The National Freedom Party (NFP) is deeply concerned about the looming threat of an electricity-grid collapse and the lack of a comprehensive plan by the government to address this critical issue. In the eventuality of a grid collapse and subsequent blackout, it is crucial for the government to have effective measures in place to prevent widespread chaos and ensure the continuity of essential services. We fervently urge the president to articulate a clear and comprehensive plan that outlines the steps to be taken to safeguard the functioning of vital services during such a crisis. The NFP believes a prolonged blackout will result in the increased demand for alternative power sources, particularly diesel generators. As businesses and affluent households turn to generators for power, the demand for diesel will sky-rocket. This…

KwaZulu-Natal police have launched a manhunt for cash-in- transit (CIT) robbers who allegedly shot dead a woman in uMlazi on Monday evening. Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said police were searching for suspects in connection with a CIT robbery, murder and attempted murder which happened on the Umbogintwini Bridge on the M35 pass, Philani Valley in uMlazi. “Information has revealed that the CIT armoured vehicle had just collected money from a grocery chain store and was driving on the M35 when it came under attack by reportedly heavily-armed suspects,” Netshiunda said. He said officers from the Public Order Policing unit in Durban, who were on duty travelling in a combi, drove into the active CIT crime scene unaware, and were ambushed by the suspects. “One police officer sustained a…

A Durban father, who is charged with the murder of his 12-year-old son, has abandoned his bid for bail in the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court. Siyabonga Shezi, 29, of KwaNdengezi, appeared yesterday in court. Shezi has been charged with the murder of his son, Sfundo Sibisi. In court, Shezi was represented by a Legal Aid attorney, who told the court that Shezi was not going to apply for bail as he feared for his life. The case has been adjourned to June 30 for further investigation. The police said Sfundo was killed on January 13 following a dispute between his parents. He was allegedly strangled to death. Shezi appeared before court for the second time for his bail application yesterday. He has been in custody since his arrest in January. Sfundo’s…

Msunduzi Municipality says while the process of implementing some of the recommendations from forensic investigation reports is slow, there are legal processes that had to be followed. Msunduzi Municipality City Manager Lulamile Mapholoba was responding to remarks made by some members of the Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) portfolio committee, during a meeting last week. The members questioned the municipality’s resolve to deal with officials fingered for wrongdoing in investigations. Mapholoba, however, rejected suggestions of reluctance on the City’s part to carry out disciplinary action against errant officials. “Progress may have been slow; however, one needs to understand that there are legal processes involved in these matters, and it takes time to solicit responses,” said Mapholoba. He pointed out a range of steps he had undertaken to restore order…

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan’s AK Party came out on top in Sunday’s elections in 10 of the 11 provinces hit by February’s earthquakes, with analysts saying his vow to rebuild devastated cities had reassured voters in what are mostly AKP strongholds. The ruling party’s strong showing, defying initial expectations in February that the quakes would hurt its support, was also driven by doubts about the opposition’s ability to meet voters’ expectations. Nationwide, the Islamist-rooted AKP won a new parliamentary majority with its alliance partners, while Erdogan, 69, led comfortably in the presidential vote ahead of a runoff with his main rival on May 28. The powerful earthquakes on February 6 killed more than 50 000 people and left millions homeless in Türkiye, causing destruction across 11 provinces from Adana near…

Rohingya families in cyclone-hit Myanmar buried loved ones outside shattered villages and searched the seashore for the missing, expecting little help from a government that denies their identity. Cyclone Mocha snapped bridges, downed power lines and ruptured close-lying huts in displacement camps and villages across Rakhine state, leaving tens of thousands of the persecuted minority even more on the edge. Yesterday, many were trying to pick through piles of debris that had once roofed their homes or clear fallen trees from village paths. Others were looking for family members not seen since the cyclone made landfall. It was the most powerful storm to hit the region in over a decade. Dozens were reported dead and more than 100 were missing. “We were trying to run but the water was very…

KYIV: Ukrainian air defences intercepted 18 attempted Russian strikes on Kyiv yesterday, including six hypersonic missiles, military and city authorities said, largely foiling one of Moscow’s fiercest attacks. Falling missile debris injured at least three people in Kyiv and caused damage to the city’s zoo and other central areas, officials said. The assault “was exceptional in its density – the maximum number of missile attacks in the shortest period of time,” said Serhiy Popko, head of Kyiv’s city military administration. Ukrainian officials claimed a perfect interception rate, and credited Western-donated Patriot air defence systems. | Reuters…

Washington: Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani is being sued for sexual harassment by a former employee. Noelle Dunphy, who says she was hired by Giuliani’s firm in 2019 when he was working as former US president Donald Trump’s lawyer, filed the $10 million (R190m) civil case in New York state this week. The lawsuit says Giuliani made it clear that satisfying his sexual demands was an “absolute requirement of her employment”. Dunphy is also suing him for refusing to pay her a promised $1 million salary for the role. Giuliani denies the claims. | IANS…