Table of contents for 2022-02-28 in Mercury

Lengthy war to have ‘serious implications’ for food prices as SA doesn’t produce enough wheat Siphelele Dludla siphelele.dludla@inl.co.za Agri SA has warned that Russia’s ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine not only puts pressure on global oil prices, but also threatens to destabilise trade relations and jeopardise food security. Russia and Ukraine are meaningful contributors to the global food chain, accounting for at least 30 percent of the world’s wheat exports, 20 percent of maize exports and 80 percent of sunflower oil exports. Ukraine’s wheat has the greatest impact on food security throughout the world, as the country exported at least 18 million tons of wheat in 2020, making it the world’s fifth-biggest wheat exporter. Wheat prices have risen to the highest level since 2008, as the Russian…

Edward West edward.west@inl.co.za Oceana Group’s shareholders appeared to take heart on Friday after it said initial feedback from a probe by ENSafrica Forensics showed no employees or directors would be implicated in fraud or criminal conduct in the report. In addition, none of the matters in the ENSafrica Forensics investigation were likely to result in a financial loss to the company, a statement from Oceana said. The share price gained 3.38 percent to R53.60 on Friday afternoon, this after it has been trending lower following delays in releasing the results for the year to end-September 2021, the “precautionary” suspension of CFO Hajra Karrim, and the resignation of the CEO Imraan Soomra. Further doubts were cast when Oceana said the report had also uncovered “other matters, that were not within the…

Sihle Mavuso sihle.mavuso@inl.co.za ALMOST two months after hearing arguments from legal teams representing parties involved in the high stakes court case of the Zulu royal family, the Pietermaritzburg high court will hand down its judgment on the matter on Wednesday. KwaZulu-Natal deputy president Isaac Madondo will hand down the judgment. Initially, when the case was first launched in court in early 2021, Queen Sibongile Dlamini-Zulu, the first wife of the late Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini, wanted the court to grant her 50% of the estate of the late king on the basis that she was the first wife and was married to the king in civil rites which barred him from marrying more wives. The queen’s two daughters, Princess Ntandoyenkosi and Princess Ntombizosuthu Zulu-Duma, joined the case as they wanted…

A huge “Moai” statue, one of the iconic stone monuments from Easter Island, has begun its journey back home following a years-long campaign to get it returned to its original setting since it was housed in a museum in Santiago in the 19th century. The 715kg sculpture will be transported by truck to the Chilean port city of Valparaíso, from where it will set sail on a ship on a journey of about five days to reach the remote Easter Island, known locally as Rapa Nui. The initiative is part of a repatriation programme seeking to return to the Pacific Ocean island ancestral remains, sacred and funerary objects. Similar negotiations have taken place to try to recover a specimen in the British Museum. “For the first time, a Moai will…

MALCOM MITCHELL | Hillcrest THERE has been much discussion in recent years on how to manage South Africa’s economy in order to build up its wealth. Suggestions have ranged from an almost pure socialist approach, through a “developmental state” to free market capitalism. It is an indis putable fact, however, that before enjoying the fruits of the “golden egg” it first must be laid, or rather created. Two-and-a-half centuries ago, Adam Smith, the accredited founder of political economics, pointed out that productive “labour” is the true source of a country’s wealth. He pointed out that a nation is just a vast workshop, where the labour of each, however diverse in character, adds to the wealth of all and that “only the idle are sterile”, in the creation of…

FAROUK ARAIE | Johannesburg EVENTS in Europe are escalating out of control, bearing an uncanny resemblance to when WW II unfolded. Any miscalculation over Ukraine could unleash the dogs of war, and usher in WW III, with all its grim consequences. Once the conventional red line is crossed, mankind will have reached a point of no return. The world’s major nuclear superpowers are engaged in a dangerous exercise in political brinkmanship that could spill over into the realm of a deadly atomic holocaust. Putin is practising roulette in Ukraine. Biden and Xi Jinping rehearse a deadly game of military chess in the conflict zones. Simulated nuclear war scenarios reveal that a nuclear war involving exchange of a fraction of their nuclear arsenals could change the climate of the…

British-Belgian teenager Mack Rutherford is hoping to become the youngest male, at 16, to fly around the world solo in a light aircraft, just months after his sister became the youngest woman to do so. Mack said he felt “pretty confident” he was ready for the challenge in his Shark ultralight plane while at Biggin Hill Airfield in London. “It’s exciting to think that really soon I’m going to do something incredible,” he said. The teenager, at school in England, is due to take off from the Bulgarian capital Sofia on March 17 and expects to be gone for two to three months. His sister Zara became on January 20 the youngest woman, at 19, to fly solo around the world, and also the first person to do so in…

Godongwana’s measured judgements confirm scrapping measure remains some way off THE fizzy drink levy might seem like a relatively light business, but through those bubbles you can get a glimpse of what’s to come as Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana hiked the health promotion levy, commonly known as the “sugar tax” from 2.21c per gram of sugar to 2.31c, when he delivered his maiden Budget last Wednesday. And, hey presto, there is panic in the sugar industry. Sorry, I should say some in the sugar industry. There is one hell of a debate going on in economic, financial, and health policy circles about whether this tax is warranted at all in the first place, given the forecast threat of job losses in the current financial year in an industry that has…

Mamelodi Sundowns achieved the improbable after beating Al Ahly away for the first time on Saturday night. This win in the CAF Champions League group stage was even sweeter for them as it came against their former coach Pitso Mosimane. Mihlali Baleka looks at five key things that Downs got right to ensure that they pulled off an historic win that, not only sealed them the full points, but also ensured that they took a gigantic step closer to the last eight. Remaining Calm With a handful of Al Ahly faithful allowed into the stadium, Downs were inferior in terms of support from start to finish. But they didn’t panic, managing to find their rhythm that led to the winning goal, scored by substitute Thapelo Morena. Mweene’s experience Stand-in goalkeeper…

Banele Ginindza banele.ginindza@inl.co.za SOUTH Africa’s just transition from coal resources to a mix of renewable energy debate became painfully historic as Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe likened the “enforced march” to renewables as akin to the 1856/7 prophecy by Nongqawuse that people in the Cape Colony must destroy available assets in anticipation of future windfalls. Mantashe, who is Xhosa, said the temperament of green energy proponents suggested that South Africa should immediately desist from utilising its fossil fuel resources, enough for two more centuries, in favour of the yet unproven efficiency of renewable energy, from sun, wind, nuclear battery storage and hydrogen outcomes. In April, 1856 the 15-year old Nongqawuse and her friend Nombanda went to scare birds from her uncle’s crops in the fields by the sea…

OUR Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo (DCJ) presiding over the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into State Capture established for the purpose of determining whether or not in a specific time period, the state had been captured by non-state actors and where so captured to what degree, has raised in his findings the possibility of a named bank or banks having actively participated in money-laundering activities. With this finding, the obsequious halo that adorns the image of the banks has arguably been sullied, and the learned law lord has called an abomination on such conduct. By so doing, the Honourable Deputy Chief Justice has cracked open the vaults of intrigue and shone a light on the chicanery of the high priests of capital. The harried events spawned by these revelations have…

Yogashen Pillay yogashen.pillay@inl.co.za Ratepayers’ associations in Durban said yesterday that the tariff hike that had been approved by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) was too high and unaffordable. Last week Nersa announced that it had approved a 9.61% tariff increase for Eskom for 2022/23. The increase will come into effect on April 1. Eskom had applied for a 14.58% tariff increase and said it was waiting for Nersa’s report on the reasons for it only approving a 9.61% tariff hike. Sunil Ramadar, of the Isipingo Ratepayers’ Association, said residents would not be able to afford the increase. “We are still emerging from Covid-19, the elderly are struggling and so many are struggling because of jobs lost. We also have to take in consideration the violence and looting…

| Ludwig Erhard THE Ukraine war has raised the alert level worldwide, according to John Cleese, British writer, actor and tall person. The English are feeling the pinch in relation to recent Russian threats and have therefore raised their security level from “Miffed” to “Peeved”. Soon, though, security levels may be raised yet again to “Irritated” or even “A bit cross”. The English have not been “A bit cross” since the Blitz in 1940 when tea supplies nearly ran out. The Russians have been re-categorised from “Tiresome” to “A Bloody Nuisance”. The last time the English issued a “Bloody Nuisance” warning level was in 1588, when threatened by the Spanish Armada. The Scots have raised their threat level from “Cheesed Off” to “Let’s get the bastards!” They don’t have…

NARENDH GANESH | Durban North I AM inherently opposed to war between countries in any form. Yet, every so often we get reminded of Wilfred Owen’s poem, The Futility of War, like we are being reminded at this moment in history. Being a closet polemologist, it has been depressing to learn of man’s inhumanity to man as he pillaged, plundered and pulverised humanity over centuries, simply in the quest for power. The world sits agog and aghast watching helplessly as Russian troops, under the orders of their leader, Vladimir Putin, prepare an onslaught on a sovereign country, Ukraine, only so that Putin’s ideology of resurrecting the former Soviet Union can be brought to fruition. Has the world and humanity not suffered enough from the desires of men who…

GLEN CHRISTIE | Durban North HAVING seen the Budget, we once again see that the easiest way to collect tax is by increasing the so-called “sin tax”. What is most concerning is that we don’t see the government’s size and related bloated wage bill being cut in half. If this was done, then the tax increases would not be so severe. Nowhere in the world does a country with a population of ours have a government of the size we have. Why is this? One can only assume that all those in government positions, both central and local, have to employ many others to do their work, which in turn means that they have no real idea of what they are supposed to be doing. If my assumption…

Sameer Naik sameer.naik@inl.co.za South Africa has been ranked in the top 10 countries to have the most cybercrime in the world. This was revealed by world-renowned cybersecurity company Surfshark, that recently compiled research on the countries hardest hit by cybercrime over the past few years. While South Africa sits sixth in the countries found to have the most cybercrime, research by the cybercrime company has shown that South Africa has shown the sharpest rise in cybercrime recently compared to any country in the world. Among the countries hardest hit by cybercrime are the UK, which ranks first, followed by the US, Canada and Belgium. France, Germany, Mexico and India also feature on the list. However, South Africa is the only African country to feature. SurfShark’s research shows that South Africa…

Mercury Reporter WITH just a month to go before the Department of Basic Education (DBE) is expected to take over Early Childhood Development (ECD) from the Department of Social Development, Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga held a roadshow in Madadeni in Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal, on Friday. The DBE will take over the ECD from April, as announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa. The department said the roadshow, also to be held in other parts of the country, aimed to raise awareness among ECD stakeholders and the public about their programmes, so they would be able to participate. The department said it had also shared information on its Read to Lead programme, aimed at encouraging and developing a reading culture in the community. The DBE commissioned an ECD Census last year to collect…

WITH the dismissal of national police commissioner Khehla Sitole, the search is on for a suitable replacement. The question that will linger is whether the new police boss will be appointed for political reasons rather than his/her ability to do one of the country’s most crucial jobs. Since 1994, with the exception of George Fivaz, none of the permanent appointments has completed their term in office. Political interference in policing has turned the office of the national commissioner into a tool for promoting the political interests of factions and parties. The July unrest, arson attack on Parliament and vandalism at the Constitutional Court reveal the failings of policing, specifically at the Crime Intelligence unit. There are undoubtedly excellent officers in this unit, but interference has neutralised their abilities. President Cyril…

Stuart Hess stuart.hess@inl.co.za Neil Wagner - through word and deed - has provided three of the most captivating periods of play through this all too brief Test series between New Zealand and South Africa. With the bat in the first Test he blitzed the Proteas with a ballsy 49 on the second morning. In the second Test, which was delicately poised at the end of day three at Hagley Oval, it was Wagner in his primary role as bowling ‘enforcer’ that sought to get under the skins of the Proteas. It didn’t work that well in the first innings, where 21-year old Marco Jansen looked him up and down, then belted him over mid-on for four and subsequently had to endure a mini-barrage of verbals. Jansen’s already shown he doesn’t…

Banele Ginindza banele.ginindza@inl.co.za STATE arms manufacturer Denel still faces a steep road ahead with its outstanding R650 million salary bill despite a R3 billion gifting by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, and R1bn allowance out of the medical aid kitty. Unions with favourable attachment orders might still execute them, because the latest windfall is meant for interest payments and legacy debt, and not the salary arrears that the unions fought for in court. As acting CEO William Hlakoane confirmed on Friday, the financially ebattled state utility would still rely on its five-year turnaround plan, including the disposal of assets such as property and land to meet its arrears obligations. Unions were adamant they would move for an execution of court orders, which entitle them to attach Denel’s assets. “It…

Thami Magubane thami.magubane@inl.co.za COUNCILLORS in the Msunduzi Municipality are shocked by the resignation of municipal manager Madoda Khathide, saying his departure would exacerbate the instability in the city. Reacting to his departure, councillors said Khathide was leaving the municipality in an even more precarious position than what he found it in, with debts ballooning and rampaging theft of services including water and electricity. However, other councillors praised Khathide, saying he had brought stability that would allow the next municipal manager to “hit the ground running”. The councillors were informed during a council meeting last week that Khathide had tendered his resignation and would leave the municipality by the end of next month. A confidential item was tabled before the council informing councillors that a vacancy had been declared and the…

DUNCAN DU BOIS | Bluff As intended, the front page image of the parade SANDF Ratel IFVs published on February 22 as part of the commemoration of Armed Forces Day was impressive. Unfortunately, the image does not reflect the state of the SANDF. For a start, those Ratels are about 35 years old and were used by the SADF during the Border war. That begs the question: what has happened to all the military hardware purchased under the Arms Deal of 20 years ago? According to DA MP Kobus Marais, who is a member of the Parliamentary defence force portfolio committee, most of that hardware is unserviceable. At its recent meeting, the portfolio committee was told that of the 200 aircraft the SA Air Force has, only 46…

ROLAND FISHER | Durban AT the start of the new tertiary year, we have protests, destruction, intimidation, as is seemingly normal, every year. Naturally, the student unions will declare that their students have nothing to do with this disruption, so we must assume that it is some third force with who knows what objective in mind. Furthermore, the students are the cream of the crop as it were in terms of who goes to these hallowed halls of learning – really? This behaviour we are seeing is evidence of rabble who have had not a shred of discipline in their upbringing. Generations coming through the system now seem to be well on their way of emulating the current crop of “intellectual elites”, what with teenagers killing fellow pupils…

The best time to begin a journey of no regrets is today, right now, this very minute: Contact an estranged relative. Begin a process of mending and healing. Do so while protecting the integrity of your immediate family and taking care of your primary responsibilities. Establish firm boundaries with everyone, from the most casual of acquaintances to the most intimate of companions. Do what you can to right your wrongs. Acknowledge that some errors of judgement and lapses of integrity are, with the passage of time, beyond your power to redeem. Sometimes, all you can do is sincerely apologise and not repeat your errors. Embrace unusual challenges and opportunities, especially the opportunities to serve others and opportunities that test and challenge your natural desire for comfort. Go counter. When others…

Sibusiso Mboto sibusiso.mboto@inl.co.za THE nationwide strike by the All Truck Drivers Forum (ATDF) has had the desired effect despite some drivers who opted to go to work. This is according to ATDF secretary Sifiso Nyathi, who said the organisation was preparing to go to the Bargaining Council today to make an emphatic statement by going on strike: “As you know, with any strike action there are people who decide to go to work. We will not be disheartened by sell-outs but will focus on our objective.” Part of the demands they will take to the bargaining council include: A 15% wage increase. Removal of foreign truck drivers. South African registered trucks to be driven by South African drivers. Nyathi insisted that they would not back down on their demands. “For…

Finance Minister Enoch Godon- gwana spelt out the sombre reality of the state of the country’s finances and its economic prospects for the year ahead and beyond in his 2022 National Budget. What was striking was his tone of pragmatism, tempered with hope and despair. The usual overstated rhetoric of aspiration of his predecessors and sometimes his president, Cyril Ramaphosa, was muted. The handouts were also considered! The reality is a Budget that combines a “carrot, stick and stuck” approach. That the country has been stuck in an economic Groundhog Day for the past 10 years speaks volumes of the inability of the governing ANC to get on top of its stewardship of the economy and its finances. There has been some painstakingly slow progress. “These interventions,” noted the minister,…

Eshlin Vedan eshlin.vedan@inl.co.za Royal AM goalkeeper Patrick Nyame pulled off yet another masterclass for his team, helping them earn a vital 2-0 win against SuperSport United at Lucas “Masterpieces” Moripe Stadium yesterday. SuperSport will only have themselves to blame for not winning. The chances were there, but they failed to take advantage. The opening 10 minutes of the game were action packed. Royal AM surprisingly took the lead against the run of play in the seventh minute as Mxolisi Macuphu got himself into a good position through excellent timing of his run before slotting the ball beyond Ronwen Williams. Royal AM got their second after 76 minutes through Victor Letsoalo from the penalty spot, after Guily Manziba was penalized for a foul in the box. Other than having to pick…