Inhoudsopgave van 2023-08-24 - Mercury

A grateful heart will lift your spirit, shift your lens from what you think you lack or need, to recognition of all you do have and enjoy. A grateful heart will lighten your load and offer you helpful objectivity. A grateful heart will sharpen your vision to see the miracles in the immediate – like the shifts in seasons, the births of neighbours’ babies, the happiness you see in a child when she runs to be embraced by her daddy. A grateful heart will alleviate the necessity for sarcasm and cynicism as you find yourself expressing gratitude. Gratitude will open your eyes to sunsets and sunrises in new ways, to regard each as an opportunity to be thankful for a good day ending and the arrival of fresh opportunities. Gratitude…

Central to the Phala Phala issue is whether the president has deliberately failed to declare a major foreign currency transaction as required by law. The indications are that it was not money stolen from the state. He might have been able to hide this from public view, had the cash in US dollars not been stolen from his private residence while he was apparently overseas, and a personal political opponent (from within the ANC) had not chosen to embarrass the president publicly. This could well, nevertheless, be a serious transgression, especially if committed by the president of the country. The drawn-out criticism followed by a high-level investigation and a suspected cover-up report has not resulted in a satisfactory closure. But let us consider the possibilities if an impeachment were to…

THE World Rugby authorities clearly are serious about stamping out dangerous play. You don’t take a drastic step such as banning England captain Owen Farrell from the team’s first two matches in the World Cup unless you’re serious. It leaves England in a parlous situation, already at a low level following their recent humiliating defeat by Ireland. But in the longer term the decision of World Rugby could turn out to be pivotal to the game, preventing it from degenerating widely into something ugly. A game that is based on bodily contact at speed is obviously open to abuse, especially as the stakes are raised to a new pitch. Yet the adjustment is not easy, as illustrated by the Owen Farrell case. The players themselves have to adapt to new…

KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport officials were held at gunpoint in uMzinyathi, near Inanda, and robbed while repairing roads damaged by flooding. The department said it was concerned about the alarming increase in crimes perpetrated against officials carrying out their jobs. “There were a few incidents that had occurred around the areas of uMzinyathi, in eThekwini, where staff members have been hijacked and state vehicles taken at gunpoint,” said department spokesperson Kwanele Ncalane. He said the workers’ lives were being threatened by people “who are enemies of service delivery”. Ncalane said the latest incident was the second to happen in recent weeks. “In one of the incidents on the same road, some of the staff were victimised by criminals, who took away their brush cutters. The equipment is essential in maintaining…

As IFP founding president Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi remains in hospital, there are hopes that he will spend his 95th birthday at home this weekend. Buthelezi, who has been in hospital since the beginning of the month, will turn 95 on Sunday, making him one of the oldest public representatives in the country. Speaking to The Mercury yesterday, IFP president Velenkosini Hlabisa said they would be happy if the statesman got to spend his birthday at home. “A home provides a certain level of warmth and comfort, which we would love for the president emeritus to enjoy on such an important occasion,” said Hlabisa. He added that they continued to pray for his swift recovery. In a statement conveying birthday wishes to Buthelezi, Hlabisa said: “Shenge, as you reach yet…

Businesswoman Caroline Michael, who was robbed of her cellphone by opportunists outside a bakery she frequents on Musgrave Road on Monday, says the incident should be a lesson for all women to be vigilant. CCTV footage which shows Michael being attacked in broad daylight, went viral. Michael is seen being grabbed from behind by a man standing near the door as she exits the shop. A struggle ensues and a man walking by trips the robber. Michael and the suspect both fall to the ground, partially on the road. The robber is seen placing something in his pocket before he approaches her again. People soon come out of the shop to help and the robber escapes into a waiting vehicle. Michael, who owns Innovation Hair Company in Durban, said she…

THE strength of our democratic institutions lies in serving all South Africans, no matter their status, and doing so transparently. Secrecy is a demon that poses an existential threat to institutions and could be detrimental to the country’s young democracy. The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) should have kept this in mind when deciding to keep its full report into the Phala Phala investigation secret. Simple logic dictates that anything, especially of this magnitude, that’s shrouded in secrecy gives rise to suspicion. Ordinarily, where there’s smoke, there must be fire and this can only be dispelled or addressed by revealing the full details of the decision. The public interest in the matter far outweighs any other concerns. The SARB’s findings, which appear to clear President Cyril Ramapahosa of any wrongdoing,…

South Korea’s majority opposition party and civic groups around the country stepped up protests yesterday against Japan’s plan to release water from the Fukushima nuclear plant a day ahead of the planned start of the discharge. Conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol’s government has come under criticism as it defended the position that its own assessment found no problems with the scientific and technical aspects of Japan’s plan. Opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung called Japan’s plan to discharge water from the Fukushima plant an act of terror. Public concern remains high in South Korea over the plan to release more than 1 million metric tons of treated radioactive water starting today, with a majority of people expressing worry over seafood and ocean contamination, according to surveys. In a July public…

The leaders of BRICS countries were in unanimous agreement that expansion was necessary for the bloc as it seeks to become a larger grouping of developing countries from the Global South. At least 20 countries have applied to be part of the bloc and yesterday President Cyril Ramaphosa, Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, People’s Republic of China President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin (via video link) and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi were seized with discussions on how an expanded group would work. Xi and Putin have suggested that the expanded group be referred to as “BRICS Plus” and among those seeking inclusion are Algeria, Egypt, Argentina, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates. The leaders attended the 15th BRICS summit in Johannesburg and while…

The imprisonment of former Pakistani leader Imran Khan will disqualify him from politics and thereby drive Pakistan back into authoritarian rule. Pakistan, meaning a land of noble people, is a country where two families and the army have dominated the political system. Regrettably, the Pakistani army generals and other authorities’ vendetta against Khan and his populist Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party might bring an end to Khan and his party’s political ambitions. The extent to which these powers have gone with their hate campaign against Khan conveys that they are not alone in this disgusting scheme. Perhaps the promised benefits that they will receive from their funders and handlers allows them to take such risks. According to many analysts and political commentators, the US admin istration does not want someone who…

Iconic pioneering TV news broadcaster Derek Watts has died after a brave battle with cancer. Watts was indeed a trailblazer. Sadly, the world of journalism in Africa has lost a pillar of professionalism, courage and integrity. Watts spoke truth to power. He never flinched when questioning the most powerful leaders in our land. He was an example of bravery and truth. There is a void in our world without Watts. He was a quintessential South African TV journalist. His name is synonymous with Carte Blanche and he was vital to the programme’s popularity. Investigative journalism has lost a media superstar. In his multitude of news-breaking interviews, he understood human triumph and frailty equally well. We in the media will remember him as a fearless and master interviewer. Watts was an…

United Democratic Movement (UDM) leader Bantu Holomisa has written to the Governor of the South African Reserve Bank (Sarb), Lesetja Kganyago, asking for the release of the report on Phala Phala. He said he wanted the report to be released within seven days and if that does not happen, the UDM reserved its rights to take action. Holomisa said he was applying for the report under the Promotion of Access to Information Act (Paia) to end speculation surrounding the report. He said the findings of the report had raised more questions than answers. He added that the fact that the report had been kept secret made it difficult to establish some of the issues around Phala Phala. Holomisa said the days of doing business in secret belonged in the past…

Former sports kingpin fails to record the shoulders he stood upon For nearly 20 years, from 1973 to 1992, the global swimming community dealt the all-white South African Amateur Swimming Union (Saasu) the same treatment they had been dishing out to black swimmers: kicking them out of all international swimming competitions. This interval was framed by two catalytic events, occurring in 1973 and 1992, which would shape the nation’s swimming landscape for years to come. The first transpired at a gathering in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, in 1973, where the Federation, Internationale de Natation Amateur (Fina), expelled Saasu. According to apartheid-sympathisers, it was a terrible decision that should not have been allowed. 1973 Nestled in Tito’s Yugoslavia, the city of Belgrade braced itself for the first Fina World Championships, seen by many…

Zimbabweans lined up to vote yesterday, saying they were hungry for change from relentless economic chaos but analysts were sceptical that the ruling Zanu-PF party would allow a credible election or any loosening of its stranglehold on power. President Emmerson Mnangagwa is seeking re-election after a first term during which runaway inflation, currency shortages and sky-high unemployment left many Zimbabweans reliant on dollar remittances from relatives abroad to make ends meet. “I am expecting change. We are struggling and hungry,” said Mabel Fambi, 67, who cares for five of her grandchildren because their parents cannot find jobs. She was waiting to cast her ballot in the Kuwadzana constituency in the capital, Harare. In Mbare, a densely populated low-income suburb of Harare, first-time voter Gladys Msipa, 23, was among large numbers…

A grieving widow has sued Tesla in the US after her husband died in a 2020 crash involving a Model 3 vehicle. Jyung Woo Hahn, 46, died on March 12, 2022, when his Tesla malfunctioned and collided with a tree and burst into flames in New York. He allegedly survived the initial crash but was trapped in the burning vehicle. Now, the plaintiff Jiyoung Yoon has sued Tesla in the US District Court, Southern District of New York, for its role in designing, manufacturing, distributing, and selling the vehicle “in its defective and unreasonably dangerous condition and for causing Hahn’s horrific injuries, suffering, and death”. The lawsuit comes as the electric car-maker’s engineers reportedly admitted that Musk-run Tesla did not fix the autopilot system after a crash in the US…

Candidates for the position of public protector were interviewed yesterday. The interviews were held by the ad hoc committee established to deal with the process. The committee will recommend one candidate for consideration by the National Assembly. Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s term comes to an end in October. Advocate Tseliso Thipanyane said he was the best candidate. “I think at this point in time, the public protector definitely needs to restore dignity of the organisation in order to serve the mandate and the people of this county and, therefore, what one needs is someone with a track record of leadership,” he said. Thipanyane, who is currently the head of legal service in the Office of Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, previously served as CEO of the Human Rights Commission. Thipanyane said his track…

The ANC, which has been in power for a long time, seems to be losing its grip on power as the elections loom. Opposition parties are making plans to take over. The DA has started a pact called “moonshot” to work together with other parties to try to remove the ANC from power after the elections. But here’s the thing: the ANC is currently weak because of all the fighting within the party. Both sides of the party are stealing from the country, hence they are scared that a new government will reveal their corruption. The only way they can keep their power and continue to steal is by uniting. The thing is, if they unite, disillusioned ANC members and voters may be tricked into thinking the party is not…

KwaZulu-Natal Social Development MEC Nonhlanhla Khoza’s recent comment of “shock and dismay” over the spike in gender-based violence (GBV) in the province is itself shocking and shows a clear lack of initiative. The MEC’s sentiments will not fix the problem, nor will it be reduced simply through dialogue. It will only decrease when political will meets strong action on the ground by the MEC and her department. This means the establishment of a specialised GBV law-enforcement unit. It means government departments, including Community Safety, Health and Social Development, working together to find viable solutions. It means SAPS officers being given adequate resources. It also means GBV perpetrators being prosecuted and punished harshly. Until this happens, these individuals will not be afraid to commit such heinous crimes – because there are…

A 20-year-old Hillbrow, Johannesburg resident won a whopping R22.4 million in the Lotto jackpot. The National Lottery Ithuba said he won the jackpot from the August 19 draw. In a statement, Ithuba said the winner spent R40 on the winning ticket and opted to select his numbers manually. It was not his first win. In the past, he pocketed R11 000, Ithuba said. Speaking shortly after his win, the winner said: “I always believed I could win the jackpot, as I’ve seen other players win. Persistence truly pays off.” With the substantial prize money, the young winner is eager to channel his new-found wealth into investments, particularly in property. He also intends to plan wisely so that his future is secure. The winner said his winning formula was consistently playing…

THE Correctional Services Department is working on an information system which will contain the criminal history of accused persons and convicted criminals. This was revealed by Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola when he was responding to a parliamentary question from ANC MP Anthea Ramolobeng about steps his department was taking to strengthen its relations with sister departments within the justice cluster, to ensure incidents such as the escape of prisoner Thabo Bester did not take place. In his written response, Lamola said his department had a programme called the Integrated Justice System (IJS) to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the criminal justice process. Lamola said the programme was driving a multi-department effort to increase the probability of successful investigation, prosecution, punishment and the rehabilitation of offenders. “As…

A suspect has been arrested almost a month after gunmen opened fire on the occupants of a taxi at the Port Shepstone taxi rank, killing four and injuring several others. KwaZulu-Natal provincial spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said the suspect linked to the shooting was arrested along with another suspect. “The Provincial Taxi Violence Task Team members, working with the Tactical Response Team, operationalised intelligence about two suspects alleged to have been on a mission to execute a planned assassination,” he said. Netshiunda said the two suspects were cornered and the vehicle they were in was intercepted on the N2 near Ballito. | Mercury Correspondent…

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to South Africa for the 15th BRICS Summit reinvigorates the historic bilateral and Struggle relationship shared between the two countries. This year marks 30 years of diplomatic relations between India and South Africa. India was the first country to apply to the UN to impose sanctions against the apartheid government and its oppressive regime. In those 30 years, India has transformed significantly and the transformation has been most transparent under the leadership of Modi. Today, India stands on the cusp of being in the top three of the world’s leading economies, it is a world leader in technology and innovation, it is making strides in eliminating poverty and it views its status as the most populous country on the planet as an opportunity rather…

India became the first nation to land a craft on the moon’s South Pole yesterday, the latest milestone in a renewed push for lunar exploration that has drawn in both the world’s top space powers and new players. New Delhi’s attempt came days after the crash-landing on the moon of Russia’s Luna-25 probe. Chandrayaan-3, which means “Mooncraft” in Sanskrit, follows India’s successful launch of a probe into lunar orbit in 2008, and a failed lunar landing in 2019. The mission launched in mid-July and orbited Earth several times to build up the necessary speed for its journey. After yesterday’s landing, a solar-powered rover will explore the surface of the relatively unmapped lunar South Pole and transmit data to Earth over its two-week lifespan. The mission is the latest milestone in…

LOS ANGELES: Serena Williams has given birth to her second daughter, her husband said this week, adding that both were “happy and healthy”. Reddit founder Alexis Ohanian posted on Instagram a photograph of himself with a beaming Williams hugging both her daughters. Addressing his wife, 41, he told her she had “given me another incomparable gift – you’re the GMOAT (Greatest Of All Time).” The new baby was named Adira River Ohanian, he added. In 2017 Williams, one of the greatest players in history, won the Australian Open while she was pregnant with the couple’s first child, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr. But months later she nearly died after she developed a blood clot in her lung after giving birth to Olympia via emergency C-section. | AFP…