Table of contents for 2023-05-15 in Mercury

TWO Durban ratepayers’ organisations have joined forces against eThekwini Municipality over the proposed tariff increases which they view as equivalent to placing an “unjustified burden on residents” by the City. The Westville and Bluff ratepayer groups are threatening legal action against the municipality and at the heart of the dispute are the steep tariff increases. This is compounded by a public engagement on the process that the ratepayers believed was flawed or reduced to a “cynical tick-box exercise” that has resulted in their concerns not being taken seriously. Public engagement is a legal process that municipalities must undertake to canvass the views of its ratepayers before implementing a new budget. The public participation process was set to end this past Friday. The associations have written a letter to the City…

The immediate market reaction to the allegations made by US ambassador to South Africa related to South Africa supplying arms to Russia was the dramatic fall of the rand against the dollar which indicates how seriously the markets consider these allegations. Business Unity SA (Busa) believes that the government’s response is unsatisfactory as it introduces uncertainty that we simply cannot afford. Our economy is already buckling under the severe impact of load shedding which is expected to shave off as much as 2% from the GDP growth forecast for 2023, and any further negative developments will sink us even deeper. These allegations, if proven true, will have a significant negative impact on the economy, and will most likely jeopardise our trade relations, in particular our continued access to US markets…

REPORTS of the US ambassador to South Africa apologising for Russia arms sales comments refers. Based on past American-issued security warnings, I would accept such statements with a “pinch of salt”. It should not be ignored and forgotten that many former American presidents used false flags to create panic in order to start a war, to capture, subjugate and invade sovereign countries. A case in point is the illegal invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan by George W Bush. Similar casus bellis or justification was used to validate the Vietnam War. Before going public with his unsupported announcement, why didn’t US ambassador to South Africa, Reuben Brigety, follow the proper channels in South Africa to raise his findings? Why issue such an open-ended statement and cause unnecessary challenges for South Africans…

HEY, FATSO! That kind of call could get you into big trouble in New York one of these days. The city has passed a bill outlawing discrimination based on weight, according to the BBC. This is part of a growing movement in the US to make size a protected trait, on a par with race and gender. More than 40% of American adults are considered obese and studies show weight stigma is pervasive. New York Councilman Shaun Abreu – who put on more than 18kg during the Covid-19 lockdown – says weight discrimination is “a silent burden people have had to carry”. During public hearings, overweight people cited difficulty navigating seating at restaurants and theatres, getting turned away by landlords, and putting up against weight limits on the city’s bike-sharing…

IN what could be a groundbreaking case for affordable access to medicines in South Africa, the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) and Doctors Without Borders Southern Africa (MSF), have intervened as friends of the court in a legal challenge relating to access to a life-saving drug to treat cystic fibrosis, called Trikafta. Cystic fibrosis is a severe multi-system illness that can cause frequent serious lung infections, including antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, liver and pancreatic damage, and lung failure, and can necessitate a lung transplant. Cheri Nel, a South African patient with cystic fibrosis, has launched a Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, application against Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc, an American pharmaceutical company that patented Trikafta. This is said to be an effective new drug that changes the trajectory and impact of cystic fibrosis for patients…

The National Prosecuting Authority’s Asset Forfeiture Unit has secured a restraint order for a Ferrari, classical instruments, foreign currency and a range of high-end jewellery and other assets worth R102 million in an SAPS fraud investigation. The Investigating Directorate (ID) said SAPS members of the Supply Chain Management division allegedly colluded with the Chetty family, among other accused, and defrauded the SAPS of tens of millions of rand. ID spokesperson Sindisiwe Seboka said: “The 45 persons, whose assets have been restrained, are facing charges relating to 53 contracts that were unlawfully awarded to the 26 companies. The State is alleging that companies that are effectively owned and controlled by Kishene Chetty and his father, Krishna Chetty, were unlawfully awarded contracts by the SAPS. “It is alleged that fraudulent broad-based black…

Two parents were allegedly killed by their children in incidents in Durban at the weekend. In Glen Anil, Durban North, a 40-year-old man allegedly stabbed and killed his mother, and stabbed his sister during an altercation on Saturday. The man also stabbed himself. In another incident, in Botha’s Hill, a 21-year-old man stabbed and killed his father. KwaZulu-Natal provincial police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said: “The son is alleged to have stabbed his mother to death and injured his sister in Glen Anil. He reportedly also stabbed himself in what could be an attempted suicide. “What the police have gathered so far is that the mother and her son had an argument concerning the cleaning of the room and an altercation ensued. He, together with the injured sister, were rushed…

IN SOUTH Africa, the standard of reading of learners in Grades 4 to 6 (Intermediate Phase) is cause for great concern. The 2016 Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) provided overwhelming evidence that these learners struggle to understand what they read. It showed that 78% of Grade 4 learners do not have basic reading skills by the end of their school year. A lack of reading comprehension puts them at a disadvantage and has dire consequences for their progression in school and their academic development. We need interventions that can address the reading comprehension crisis in our schools and improve the literacy skills of our learners. Such interventions would also have to focus on the role of Intermediate Phase teachers and what they can do differently to improve learners’…

Tehran: Iranian authorities have arrested eight people for “leading” a workers’ strike at a key gas site in the south of the country, local media reported yesterday. “Eight main leaders of the workers’ strike in the South Pars projects have been arrested by the intelligence services,” Akbar Pourat, the deputy local governor, was quoted as saying by Tasnim news agency. About 40 000 people are employed at the South Pars/North Dome mega-field, the largest known gas reserve in the world, which Iran shares with Qatar. “Eight companies and subcontractors active in this area have been blacklisted for incitement to strike,” Pourat added. | AFP…

Havana: About 200 Cubans marched in Havana to the rhythm of conga, a popular dance, protesting against homophobia and transphobia, and celebrating the legalisation of same-sex marriage. Chanting “socialism yes, homophobia no”, demonstrators cheered the “Family Code”, passed last September. The code permits surrogate pregnancies as long as no money changes hands and legally recognises same-sex unions and adoptions. The march was led by Mariela Castro, daughter of one of Cuba’s revolutionary leaders Raul Castro. In the 1960s and 1970s, the government ostracised the LGBTQ community, sending many to militarised agricultural labour camps. | AFP…

Storm surges whipped up by a powerful cyclone moving inland from the Bay of Bengal inundated the Myanmar port city of Sittwe at the weekend, with winds of up to 210km/h ripping away tin roofs and bringing down a communications tower. About 400 000 people were evacuated in Myanmar and low-lying neighbouring Bangladesh ahead of Cyclone Mocha making landfall, as authorities and aid agencies scrambled to avert heavy casualties from one of the strongest storms to hit the region. Parts of Sittwe, the capital of Myanmar’s Rakhine state, were flooded and the ground floors of several buildings were under water, a video posted on social media showed. Across Rakhine state and the north west of the country about 6 million people were already in need of humanitarian assistance…

KYIV: President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said yesterday Kyiv and its Western supporters could make Russia’s defeat in the war in Ukraine “irreversible” this year, as he thanked Germany for its military support. The Ukrainian leader told a joint news conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin that Kyiv would always be grateful to Germany for its support during Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. Ukraine is expected to launch a major counter-offensive in the coming weeks to try to recapture tracts of its land from Russian forces. Kyiv has ruled out the idea of any territorial concessions to Russia. | Reuters…

Manchester City are on the brink of winning the Premier League title after Arsenal crashed to a shock 3-0 defeat against Brighton yesterday. Mikel Arteta’s side were rocked by second half goals from Julio Enciso, Deniz Undav and Pervis Estupinan at the Emirates Stadium. Second-placed Arsenal trail City by four points and a defeat for the Gunners at Nottingham Forest on Saturday would hand Pep Guardiola’s men their fifth title in six years. Fired by Ilkay Gundogan’s brace and Erling Haaland’s latest goal, City’s 3-0 win at Everton earlier yesterday had moved them within touching distance of the title and Arsenal’s loss makes the silverware almost certain to remain in Manchester. Even if Arsenal beat Forest, City will be champions for a third successive season if they defeat Chelsea at…

ASCENDIS Health’s share price slipped 4.8% to 60 cents on Friday after it said that it had put a subsidiary, Surgical Innovations (SI), into business rescue. In the six months to December 31, 2022, Ascendis raised a R67 million provision in its interim results because of a dispute between SI and the South African Revenue Service (Sars) relating to value added tax for the 2018 to 2020 tax periods. SI distributes surgical and acute care medical equipment and consumables in South Africa. It represents reputable global agencies and has an equipment footprint that services private and government hospitals. Ascendis said at the weekend that SI’s underlying business remained sound and presented “attractive prospects.” It was, however, burdened by “onerous non-operational creditor agreements and disputes with Sars relating to…

Residents of greater uMgungundlovu District Municipality have cautioned against a clause of the Basic Education Laws Amendment (Bela) Bill which proposes a process to be followed in the merger of small and non-viable public schools. The bill was mostly rejected by residents who highlighted that the merger of schools took away the right of pupils to quality for education at schools closer to where they lived. Concerned residents and parents spoke out against the bill during the second of three public hearings held by the portfolio committee on basic education at the Grange Community Hall in Pietermaritzburg recently. The participants pointed out the inherent risk posed by transporting young children to schools further away as a result of the merger of schools and cited many fatal accidents that involved pupil…

I wish to express my deep concern and disgust over the recent statements made by the US ambassador to South Africa, his excellency, Reuben E Brigety regarding alleged arms supplies to Russia in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. His comments were not only irresponsible but also unbecoming of a diplomat of his stature. The ambas sador’s remarks have caused a major diplomatic embarrassment to South Africa and the rest of the world. Such careless utterances cannot be tolerated, especially when they threaten to damage the country’s relations with other countries. It is disappointing that an ambassador who is expected to maintain good relations with the host country would make such a reckless statement without proper evidence. Such actions only serve to promote unfounded perceptions and spread disinformation. Therefore, I…

With no wish to “rain on anyone’s parade” – an American phrase I found rather fascinating when I landed in this great country three decades ago – I do want to write a few things about mothers and motherhood in the wake of Mother’s Day weekend which is so correctly and widely celebrated. Please join me in acknowledging the following: Mothers who try to hold families together “for the children”, whether you or I agree with such a necessity or not. Every family and every family issue is unique. When women “stay for the children”, they deserve respect and support for their choices. Mothers who love with an illogical and irrational love and appear to be supporting or enabling an addiction or the poor choices of the son or daughter…

Five men found guilty of an armed robbery at a post office in Ekuvukeni, Ladysmith, have been sentenced to an effective 35 years behind bars. The accused were sentenced in the Madadeni High Court in Newcastle last week for the September 3, 2021 robbery. Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said armed robbers had stormed into the post office and, at gunpoint, robbed it of an undisclosed amount of money. “Police were alerted. The armed robbers fired shots at police. After the shoot-out, one robber was found to have suffered fatal gunshot wounds.” Five robbers were arrested by police following an intensive investigation. Xolisani Nhlangothi, 22, Nhloso Mnguni, 26, Mfundo Mchunu, 28, Sibusiso Xulu, 31, and Zephania Mdlalose, 37, stood trial. Netshiunda said each of the accused were jailed for…

DEVELOPERS with deep pockets can get their hands on prime real estate on Durban’s beachfront as a large stretch of land is set to be leased by the eThekwini Municipality in the coming weeks. Only four sites on the beachfront will be excluded as deals have already been struck on those properties, the City said. Thapelo Mmusinyane, the head of the Real Estate unit in Durban, said the site that was previously used by Durban Funworld and other parts of the beachfront would be put out for tender in the coming weeks to attract developers. The Funworld has closed after operating for more than 75 years. Mmusinyane said the City had considered giving the site to uShaka Marine World to operate but the theme park had declined it on account…

A 27-year-old man was sentenced to two life terms by the uMlazi Regional Court for the double rape of his 13-year-old niece. Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said the man was found guilty on Friday for the double rape of his niece at an informal settlement in uMlazi. Netshiunda said on September 5 last year the mother of the victim was furious to learn that her daughter did not go to school. He said while chastising the child, the mother was shocked to discover that the child’s uncle had instructed her not to go to school. “The crying child confessed to the mother that she was raped by her uncle on the night of 3 September 2022,” he said. Netshiunda said the uncle had lured his niece to his…

While local media in a global context is favourable, there are signs of creeping challenges IMAGINE South Africa scoring above the UK, Australia, Belgium, Spain, Italy and the US in the 2023 World Press Freedom Index (WPFI), released in early May and compiled annually by Reporters without Borders (RSF). The index assesses the state of journalism in 180 countries and territories with respect to political conditions, legal frameworks, safety and economic and socio-cultural metrics. Never mind the dire state of the economy, the entrenched stage 6 to 8 power cuts, depending on whether you believe Eskom or the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), and a cost-of-living crisis that has ravaged society, especially the marginalised majority, disproportionately. South Africans can rejoice in the fact that their country’s ranking in…

Quetta: More than a dozen people were killed in an overnight battle between Pakistan paramilitary troops and militants who stormed their base and took families hostage, the army said. “Well equipped” fighters assaulted a Frontier Corps compound in Muslim Bagh, Balochistan province, and captured three families in a residential block, the military said. Fighting raged from Friday evening until Saturday morning and “the complex clearance operation involved hostage rescue operation”, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement. “The terrorists had not even spared children” in their hostage-taking,” ISPR said. | AFP…

Turks voted in one of the most important elections in modern Türkiye’s 100-year history, which could either unseat President Tayyip Erdogan and halt his government’s increasingly authoritarian path or usher in a third decade of his rule. The vote will decide not only who leads Türkiye, a Nato-member country of 85 million, but also how it is governed, where its economy is headed amid a deep cost of living crisis, and the shape of its foreign policy. Opinion polls have given Erdogan’s main challenger, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, who heads a six-party alliance, a slight lead, with two polls showing him above the 50% threshold needed to win outright. If neither of them wins more than 50% of the vote, a run-off will be held on May 28. Polling stations in…

Calm returned to Gaza yesterday as a fragile ceasefire ending five days of fighting held, leaving Palestinians and Israelis to count the cost of cross-border fire which has killed dozens. Fishermen took to their boats in the coastal Palestinian enclave, as Gazans emerged from sheltering in their homes amid the fierce exchange of fire. The fighting which broke out Tuesday with Israeli strikes on the Islamic Jihad militant group ceased late Saturday, following days of truce talks led by Egypt. As the skies fell silent, residents were left to mourn the 33 people killed in Gaza, as well as the two in Israel – a Palestinian labourer from the territory and an elderly Israeli. After the ceasefire took effect in Gaza, ambulances and fire trucks drove in convoy while Palestinians…

Thailand’s health minister and cannabis advocate Anutin Charnvirakul turned heads during elections as he arrived to cast his vote at a polling station wearing a dark shirt with bright green marijuana leaves. The 56-year-old is the prime ministerial candidate for the Bhumjaithai Party, which has campaigned on a promise to promote medical marijuana after successfully pushing for the substance to be decriminalised last year. Without associated regulations in place, recreational use surged, angering the Southeast Asian country’s conservatives. Anutin has promised that if re-elected, he will tighten regulations to curb recreational use and restrict cannabis use to medical purposes only. Anutin flashed a smile as he emerged from a voting booth and declined to answer reporters’ questions about the symbolism of his shirt. His party, which ran on the same…

Chelsea are on the verge of hiring Mauricio Pochettino as their new manager after agreeing terms with the former PSG boss, according to reports yesterday. Pochettino is reportedly set to join Chelsea at the end of this season as he returns to the Premier League four years after his sacking by Tottenham. The Argentine will replace interim manager Frank Lampard at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly bids to get his troubled club back on track after a dismal season. Pochettino will be Chelsea's sixth permanent manager in five years after Boehly sacked Thomas Tuchel in September and then axed Graham Potter in April. Pochettino, who has also managed in the Premier League with Southampton, left PSG in July 2022 and was replaced by Christophe Galtier. Pochettino guided Tottenham…

AmaZulu interim head coach Ayanda Dlamini blasted the officiating team he feels is responsible for his side suffering yet another derby defeat. Usuthu could not break their horrible record in local derbies this season as they fell 1-0 to Golden Arrows at the Princess Magogo Stadium. Their latest defeat means the club have now lost four and drawn four of the eight matches they played against teams from the KwaZulu-Natal, capturing just four out of a possible 24 points. However, Dlamini, who was elevated to the helm in the last five matches of the season, has turned his attention to the officiating team of Christopher Kistoor (referee), Sbusiso Sisilana (first assistant), Thembinkosi Mangai (second assistant) and Siyabonga Nkomo (fourth official). “You’d be surprised that as soon as I saw the…

ANC national leaders are expected to keep a close eye on developments in KwaZulu-Natal and the eThekwini Metro, although there are no plans to disband the provincial leadership ahead of next year’s national general elections. The National Working Committee (NWC) of the ANC was in the province this weekend amid mounting governance issues, including the near collapse of the National School Nutrition Programme contract which affected 5 400 schools that feed more than 2 million pupils, and concerns with the ANC winning only four of 12 recent by-elections. There are also concerns about the state of the eThekwini Municipality, with experts being sent to assist the metro under Section 154 of the Constitution after it failed to spend R322 million it received in grant funding. City manager…

INTERNATIONAL relations and military experts have poked holes in US Ambassador, Reuben E Brigety’s claims that South Africa supplied Russia with equipment in its war with Ukraine. They have, however, advised the government to come clean and draw a line in the sand in terms of its affiliations. This comes as the South African Department of International Relations and Co-operation said Brigety had since apologised for his remarks following a meeting with Minister of International Relations and Co-operation Naledi Pandor. Stellenbosch University military science Professor Francois Vrey said he had serious doubts the allegation could be true, as he was not sure Russia could find the systems it needed in South Africa. “South Africa can supply any of those Russian manufactured systems that depend on South Africa components, is what…

So the US ambassador to South Africa is prepared to bet his life that South Africa loaded weapons and ammunition on to a Russian boat in Simon’s Town in December 2022. How did he obtain this information? Does he have moles at the base? Surely this amounts to “spying”? Are they admitting to this? What other information are they gathering? Perhaps he should come clean with where and how he obtained this information. What would happen if the South African ambassador in the US had to suddenly make claims about what they do in their country?…

The allegation by US ambassador, Reuben Brigety, that South Africa supplied arms to Russia between December 6 and December 8, 2022 from Simon’s Town naval base on the vessel Lady R, has all the hall marks of a James Bond thriller. Simon’s Town was last thrust into the global limelight during January 1983, when Soviet spy Dieter Gerhardt was unmasked by Western Intelligence. President Ramaphosa will appoint a retired judge to investigate these allegations. It is indeed ironic that virtually every industrial nation is engaged in the arms trade. South Africa is a junior player in the global arms game. The US supplied the largest worth of weapons to Ukraine between January and November 2022, at over $18.1 billion. Germany and the UK were second and third. A raging conflict…

DEFAULTING on maintenance has had a costly effect on a father who has not paid any maintenance for the former couple’s only child in the more than 28 years since the divorce. He now faces a bill in arrears of more than R2 million. The Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg, once again proved that the courts would not tolerate parents who simply ignore a maintenance order. The court placed the man under final sequestration. The man entered into a settlement agreement during the divorce in 1995, when their only child was 34 months old. The settlement was, at the time, made an order of the court. The parties were married to each other out of community of property. When they divorced in September 1995, the divorce settlement agreement concluded by the…

An even-handed approach is required from the Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) when dealing with disputes in municipalities, so that the KwaZulu-Natal local government does not collapse. This is the view of some members of the Cogta portfolio committee following revelations that some decisions taken in some municipalities had been in violation of standing rules on local government, owing to the tussle for power among political parties. Head of department (HOD) Thando Thubane told committee members last week that KZN is in danger of disintegrating into chaos if the stand-offs playing out at some municipalities are not dealt with. He cited instances where a municipal manager and speaker of a council had refused to call a council sitting when indications were that the meeting could result to a change…

Parliament’s inquiry into suspended Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s fitness to hold office has been given an ultimatum to meet its deadline for the end of May or abandon the process as there is no more money left in the pot. The Section 194 committee which is meant to resume this morning was paused a week ago to enable Mkhwebane to get legal representation following the announcement the previous week that the Office of the Public Protector (PPSA) had secured R4 million to fund Mkhwebane’s legal team. The Speaker of Parliament, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, said it was do or die for the committee and said if it did not complete its work by the end of May there would be no money left to continue funding the process. Members of Parliament’s programme…

A CARING government would not have hesitated in implementing the high court order directing it to ensure power supply at health facilities, schools and police stations. In fact, a caring government would not have had to be directed by a court to do what is expected of it. With the same enthusiasm that it exempted Cabinet ministers and their deputies and bought them standby generators, the ANC-led government of President Cyril Ramaphosa should prioritise the most vulnerable in our society. That is what it always claims to do – but of course its actions say something different. To now appeal the same court order that seeks to ensure the protection of these essential human rights is basically showing South Africans, in particular the voters, the middle finger. It says the…

SYDNEY: The platypus, a species unique to Australia, was reintroduced into the country’s oldest national park just south of Sydney this weekend in a landmark conservation project after disappearing from the area more than half a century ago. Known for its bill, webbed feet, and venomous spurs, the platypus is one of only two egg-laying mammals. Four females were released on Friday into the Royal National Park, which was established in 1879 and is the second oldest national park in the world. The platypus is increasingly threatened by habitat destruction, river degradation, feral predators, and extreme weather. Estimates on the current population vary from 30 000 to 300 000. | Reuters…

Accra: Ghana’s largest opposition party chose the country’s ex-president John Dramani Mahama as its flagbearer yesterday for the 2024 presidential election. Delegates of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) voted in primaries on Saturday through yesterday to choose a candidate for both the presidential and parliamentary polls. Mahama was declared the overwhelming winner after polling 297 603, or 98.9%, of the votes while his challenger former Kumasi mayor Kojo Bonsu scored 3 181, or 1.1%. The primaries come as Ghana holds talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) over a $3 billion bailout to help overcome an economic crisis. | AFP…

With tough new asylum rules in place, many migrants on the US-Mexico border are seeking legal routes to enter the US despite warnings of a chaotic surge in crossings. Gustavo Rodriguez, who fled Venezuela after deserting the military, was among those who saw official channels as offering the best chance of being allowed to stay on US soil. “I want to enter legally,” he told AFP in Matamoros, one of several Mexican cities along the border where thousands of migrants fleeing poverty, crime or persecution are gathered. US President Joe Biden’s right-wing opponents predicted a rush across the border after pandemic-era restrictions allowing for immediate expulsion ended at midnight on Thursday. So far the surge failed to materialise, though thousands of migrants had tried to enter the US in the…

Pakistan’s former prime minister, Imran Khan, called for nationwide “freedom” protests yesterday after his brief arrest and detention last week triggered deadly unrest. The one-time cricket superstar – who has been tied up in dozens of legal cases since being ousted from power in April last year – was freed on bail on Friday after his detention was declared unlawful by the Supreme Court. Enraged by the arrest, supporters set fire to government buildings, blocked roads and damaged property belonging to the military, which they blame for Khan’s downfall. “Freedom does not come easily. You have to snatch it. You have to sacrifice for it,” he said in an address broadcast on YouTube. He called for supporters to hold protests “at the end of your streets and villages” across the…

Polokwane City hammered Pretoria Callies 4-0 at the Old Peter Mokaba yesterday to seal automatic promotion to the DStv Premiership. Rise and Shine dramatically pipped both Cape Town Spurs and Casric Stars to top the table and returned to the top flight after a three year absence. Spurs scored a stoppage-time equaliser to rescue a useless point against the University of Pretoria as the two sides played out a 1-1 draw at the Athlone Stadium. Spurs, led by Shaun Bartlett, started the day in the driver’s seat at the top of the league standings and knew they could decide their own fate with a victory against AmaTuks. Polokwane City started like a house on fire and scored four goals in the opening stanza, led by inspirational captain Pulane Tlolane. The…