Table of contents for 2022-08-18 in Mercury

CITY LOGISTICS, the largest privately- owned logistics company in South Africa, and private equity management company Clearwater Capital have partnered to acquire 100 percent of franchiser Fastway Courier Company. The acquisition creates one of the largest turnkey logistics providers to the fashion, retail and e-commerce sectors, City Logistics chief executive Ryan Gaines said yesterday. Clearwater has acquired a 30 percent minority stake in Fastway. The value of the transactions was not disclosed. The deal takes place in one of South Africa’s fastest-growing business sectors. South Africa is the 41st largest market for e-commerce, with a revenue of $5 billion (R82.08bn) in 2021. Global e-commerce sales are expected to increase at a yearly rate of 8 percent between 2021 and 2025 and are expected to outperform the…

EMIRA Property Fund increased distributable earnings by 3.8 percent and its cash-backed dividend by 1 percent to 119.79 cents per share for the year to June 30, 2022. Net asset value per share increased 7.3 percent during the financial year to 1 628.60c per share. Its share price closed unchanged at R10.65 on the JSE yesterday. Chief executive Geoff Jennett attributed the improved results to consistent delivery on strategy and incremental steps taken to achieve the best value from investments. “Emira has done well to increase dividends and, in the consistent Emira way, continues the strategic direction of the fund with active asset management, focusing on basic property fundamentals and performing them (well),” said Jennett. He said Emira’s portfolio was bal- anced to deliver stability…

A disagreement over the implementation of a 32-hour overtime policy saw dozens of workers in the Durban Solid Waste unit of eThekwini Municipality embark on another go-slow. The workers also blocked roads in parts of Durban yesterday. The go-slow comes after another one earlier this month over the same issue. Labour unions at the municipality yesterday said they were happy that the impasse had since been resolved, promising that their members would go about their duties. Queen Mbatha of the Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union said the impasse could have been avoided if management had applied the agreement reached earlier. “The municipality, through deputy mayor Philani Mavundla, reached an agreement in which workers were allowed 32 hours of overtime. But when it came to the application by line managers…

NASA’s gigantic Space Launch System moon rocket, topped with an uncrewed astronaut capsule, began an hours-long crawl to its launchpad Tuesday night ahead of the behemoth’s debut test flight this month. The 98m long rocket is scheduled to embark on its first mission to space – without any humans – on August 29. It will be a crucial, long-delayed demonstration trip to the moon for Nasa’s Artemis programme, the US multibillion-dollar effort to return humans to the lunar surface as practice for future missions to Mars. The Space Launch System, whose development during the past decade has been led by Boeing, emerged from its assembly building at Nasa’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida about 10 pm on Tuesday and began a 6km trek to its launchpad. Moving less than 1.6km/h,…

The recent appointment of a new KwaZulu-Natal ANC premier and MECs has raised the question of where the new generation of Indian leadership is in that party. Well, it’s missing because, along with the other minority race groups and according to reports of recent polls, also the majority of South Africans, we’ve turned our backs on the ANC. Who else would want to be part of a racist, corrupt, broken and compromised party of thieves, con men, criminals, forex looters, rapists and other dregs and rubbish? An ANC led by a weak and compromised president, Cyril the Silent, Mr Marikana, Captain Cowardice aka The Hollow Man. A party propped up by a police chief who wouldn’t recognise crime even if it was living under his hat. Who else would want…

A former state prosecutor from the Free State has been convicted and sentenced in the Phuthaditjhaba Magistrate’s Court on charges of corruption and theft. Nkululeko Theophilus Ngcana, 51, was arrested on February 14, 2021, by the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation team based in Bloemfontein. According to the provincial spokesperson for the Hawks, Captain Christopher Singo, during September 2017, the prosecutor persuaded a suspect facing charges of operating a vehicle with a fraudulent licence disc to pay R600 to have the charges against him withdrawn. The suspect agreed to pay Ngcana the money. “Later, the suspect realised that Ngcana did not withdraw the charges against him as agreed. He then reported the matter to the senior public prosecutor,” Singo said. In January 2020, in another incident Ngcana approached a police officer…

A 34-year-old man accused of killing a KwaZulu-Natal policewoman in April has pleaded guilty to the crime. Siyabulela Mayoko Mbhele pleaded guilty to killing SAPS Sergeant Nokhuthala Florence Somani. Somani, 55, who lived in Kokshil near uMzimkhulu, died as a result of multiple gunshot wounds. The murder took place on April 28 at Somani’s home. Pietermaritzburg High Court Acting Judge Elsje-Marie Bezuidenhout found Mbhele guilty of the murder and sentenced him to 22 years behind bars. Two people, including Somani’s younger sister Bongeka Somani, 42, were arrested for her murder. Mbhele was the first to be arrested on July 11, while Bongeka was arrested on July 15. Bongeka has been denied bail and remains behind bars. In his Section 105A plea and sentence agreement handed to the court by attorney…

Through the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s the Asian economies prioritised their insertion into the global economy. This resulted in a macroeconomic policy environment that became critical for Asia’s economic transformation and post colonial rise. Many East and Southeast Asian economies have progressed from low income to middle income status in the past 50 years, prompting the World Bank to coin the term “East Asian Miracle” to describe their achievements in overcoming the development challenges developing countries face. The forces driving Asia’s rapid growth – new technology, globalisation, and market-oriented reform – are also fuelling rising inequality. Asia’s rapid growth in recent decades has lifted hundreds of millions out of extreme poverty, but the region remains home to two-thirds of the world’s poor, with more than 800 million Asians still living…

Thousands of people in Britain infected with HIV and hepatitis C through contaminated blood transfusions will receive a compensation payment decades after the scandal, the UK government announced yesterday. The payment of £100 000 (R2 million) to each victim is an interim one after Brian Langstaff, the chairperson of a public inquiry, last month recommended making immediate payouts before waiting for an ongoing inquiry to conclude. The government said the tax-free payments to survivors of the scandal and bereaved partners of the thousands estimated to have died would be made by the end of October. Thousands of people with haemo- philia contracted hepatitis C and HIV after receiving blood transfusions, mainly from the US, through the National Health Service in the 1970s, 80s and 90s. | AFP…

South Africa will play just two three-match Test series after the tour to Australia later this year, with the new Future Tours Programme illustrating just what a big emphasis there will be for the Proteas on the white ball formats. The Australia series that starts in December will be the last featuring three Tests that South Africa will play for three and a half years. In between South Africa will play 10 Test series’ of two matches, including a home series against India in 2023/24. The Proteas will play in Australia and England in three-match series’ on home soil in 2026/27, with two matches against Bangladesh sandwiched between those – a veritable feat of Test cricket compared to the rest of the schedule over the next three and a half…

Day 1 of 5: England 116/6 SO, that was entertaining, right? A bit more than a third of the overs were bowled on the opening day at Lord’s before the forecast showers arrived to end proceedings shortly after 3pm SA time, but even with the pricey tickets at the ‘Home of Cricket’, the spectators would have felt they got their money’s worth in terms of action. South Africa’s captain, Dean Elgar also got just what he wanted to start the match - with the coin falling in his favour at the toss. He couldn’t wait to blurt out “we’ll have a bowl". His opposite number Ben Stokes would have done the same and not just because of his side’s fondness for chasing, which has led to their last four Test…

CAPE Town City goalkeeper Darren Keet is looking to revive his career following the departure of Hugo Marques from the Citizens. Angolan international Marques surprisingly left the club this week despite winning the PSL Goalkeeper of the season award last term, beating off competition from the likes of Sekhukhune United shot-stopper Toaster Nsabata and AmaZulu’s Veli Mothwa. While the news of Marques’ departure will be a blow to City, it does present Keet, once regarded as one of the best shot-stoppers in South Africa, to re-establish himself. The 33-year-old delivered a solid performance in City’s 0-0 draw with Maritzburg United on Tuesday night. It was City’s first point of the season after they lost their opening three games to Mamelodi Sundowns, Swallows FC and AmaZulu. “This is our…

Africa Fashion International (AFI) is closing off Women’s Month on a high note with the second annual “Power To Empower” event, set to take place at the Jaguar Land Rover Experience Centre in Lone Hill, Joburg, on August 30. Themed “Drive Your Vision”, the second annual fashion event aims to celebrate South African women who are trailblazing in their various professions. AFI Founder, Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe will be in conversation with the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations champions, Banyana Banyana. “The success of Banyana Banyana is once again putting social inequality, particularly the income gap at the centre stage,” said Roshnee Pillay, AFI marketing manager. “And it is important for AFI to celebrate the historic achievement of Banyana Banyana. “They are under-resourced and do not enjoy the same level…

THE FARMING community has raised fears about the sustainability of their operations after the government imposed a countrywide ban on the movement of cattle for 21 days due to the outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD). The groups also criticised how the FMD outbreaks had been handled thus far and said more efficient handling of the situation may have avoided a ban having to be imposed. Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Thoko Didiza, announced that the movement of all cattle would be banned on Tuesday. Farmer’s associations who spoke to The Mercury yesterday said they were concerned about the serious impact the ban would have on the export industry and the economy as a whole. Didiza said the decision was aimed at halting the continued spread…

To bee is to do – Socrates. To do is to bee – Jean-Paul Sartre. Do bee do bee do – Frank Sinatra. Hey, I’ve just swallowed a bee – Doug Ford. ONTARIO premier Doug Ford got a surprise “hive five” when a bee flew into his mouth. The Canadian was talking about possibly privatising health care when the winged invader went straight into his mouth. Video shows a bee beginning to circle Ford about midway through a news conference. Ford attempted to swat it away from him, but the bee landed on Ford’s bottom lip and went into his mouth, causing him to cough. “Little bugger got away in there,” Ford said. “Man, he went right down the hatch!” But the premier somehow escaped being stung. The incident recalls…

I feel embarrassed that Zimbabwean heroes died for nothing to make the nation of Zimbabwe independent. On August 8 every year, Zimbabwe celebrates Heroes’ Day which is a waste of time. Corruption is breeding like mosquitoes in swamps and it is the daily language that is worsening the situation in the country. The Zanu-PF government is the chief leader of corruption when its families are living a luxurious life and the majority are suffering in poverty. Human rights are abused for free dom of speech and innocent people are dying because they want Zimbabwe to be a democratic nation. There are too many power cuts and it’s a very big disadvantage to people such as farmers as some of their equipment uses electricity for irrigation pipes and milk storage. Some…

August 23, 2021 will forever bring back haunting memories for the Deokaran family of Gauteng. It was on that fateful day that a brave, courageous and uncompromising woman of impeccable principles was callously and cravenly gunned down – all because she stood up against the rampant corruption and gratuitous robbery of the public purse by the very people entrusted to govern. Babita Deokaran, a daughter, wife, mother, aunt, friend and above all else, a patriotic and dedicated public servant of a country whose moral compass has all but disappeared, paid the ultimate price for her dedicated and loyal service to South Africa. When she discovered an enormous unauthorised payment out of Tembisa Hospital and hundreds of millions more from larger hospitals in the province, she challenged the authorities to conduct…

Initiatives, including skills development, were in the pipeline to assist R350 Covid-19 social relief of distress grant (SRD) recipients gain access to employment opportunities, said Lindiwe Zulu, Social Development Minister. Zulu revealed this when responding to parliamentary questions from EFF MP Laetitia Heloise Arries. Arries asked about interventions the department would make to assist SRD grant recipients and to help those not eligible for the grant under the new requirements that came into effect this year. When Zulu tabled the department’s budget vote at a mini plenary of the National Assembly earlier this year, she said R44 billion was allocated for the grant while millions of people were applying. “For the 2022/23 financial year, the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) has been allocated a budget that can accommodate approximately…

The public comments and submissions period for the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill closed on Monday, but there is still widespread concern about how the final bill will affect the future of basic education in the country. The bill was introduced in Parliament on January 10 and is at the National Assembly level. A draft bill was first published for public comment in October 2017, and after a lengthy consultative process, the Cabinet approved that it be introduced in Parliament on November 24, last year. The portfolio committee on basic education welcomed submissions of written comments on the bill for a three-month period. The bill will allow the amendment of the South African Schools Act and the Employment of Educators Act. This will make Grade R compulsory, and proposes to…

NO PRONOUNCEMENTS have been made on a possible rise in the fuel levy to cover Gauteng freeway improvement bonds. This was said by Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula yesterday, in reaction to a statement by the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa), that the fuel levy may increase by 25c to 30c a litre. Outa said it was concerned that the levy may increase to bring in more revenue. “Outa is concerned that the Minister of Finance, Enoch Godongwana, may seize the opportunity of this petrol price reduction to increase the fuel levy by 25c to 30c per litre, in order to raise additional revenue to cover the Gauteng freeway improvement bonds, which the e-toll debacle has failed to do.” Outa chief executive Wayne Duvenage added that Mbalula “indicated that an announcement…

Msunduzi Municipality and the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) conducted a route inspection this week to ensure runners were safe ahead of the race. The Comrades Marathon, last held in 2019 because of the Covid-19 pandemic, will take place on August 28. Msunduzi deputy mayor Mxolisi Mkhize said apart from a few potholes which needed to be repaired, the city was ready to host the down run. He said the final assessment was conducted to check outstanding repairs. “We are giving an assurance to the runners and the residents of Pietermaritzburg that we will be able to meet all the deadlines,” said Mkhize. He said all the identified problems would be fixed by tomorrow. Mkhize said all the street lights were in full operation, while the parks and recreation department would…

Their campaign began in northern Mali a decade ago, advanced into the country’s powder-keg centre and from there into neighbouring Niger and Burkina Faso. Now, fears are growing that the ruthless jihadists wreaking havoc in the Sahel are heading towards coastal West Africa. Following multiple incursions, including deadly attacks in the northern regions of Benin, Ivory Coast and Togo, governments in the Gulf of Guinea are reviewing their strategy. Their chief concerns, say analysts: how to avoid replicating the mistakes of their neighbours in the Sahel, and how best to muster foreign support. After Mali’s junta took power in August 2020, the country’s ties with Paris went into a downward spiral, triggering a withdrawal of French troops that was completed on Monday. Last month, Benin President Patrice Talon told his…

Around 14 million Angolans at home and abroad will head to the polls on August 24 to vote in what is likely to be the tightest race since the first multiparty election in 1992. “Nothing has changed in terms of the transparency of the election since 2017, so if the (ruling) MPLA sees that it’s not doing well, it has the ability to falsify the results,” said Justin Pearce, senior lecturer in history at Stellenbosch University. The MPLA did not respond to a request for comment. It does not help that the government passed a law last year to centralise the final vote counting from all stations at home and abroad in the capital Luanda, a system that has raised fears about voter fraud. Civil society groups have advocated for…

IAN Foster will coach the All Blacks through to next year's World Cup, New Zealand Rugby said yesterday, giving him a vote of confidence despite recent poor performances. A relieved-looking Foster thanked the board and chief executive Mark Robinson for their “strong support” after a meeting to decide his fate. “It’s a privilege to be in this job, it’s never something you take for granted,” Foster said. The 57-year-old stays in charge for the All Blacks’ next home Test, against Argentina in Christchurch next Saturday, and will coach New Zealand at the World Cup in France in September 2023. Foster will receive extra support with former Ireland boss Joe Schmidt coaching the attack, having been a New Zealand selector. “Joe Schmidt has been on my radar for a couple of…

According to the World Health Organization, eating a range of whole (that is, unprocessed) and fresh foods daily aids in ensuring that both children and adults receive the proper amounts of crucial nutrients. Barbecue experts FoodFireFriends collaborated with nutritionists Ellie Busby and Dr Sarah Cooke to find out what nutrients are missing the most from the average person’s diet. Zinc Nutritionist Ellie Busby says most people do not get enough zinc, due to our food being over-processed, which strips out the goodness, and zinc suffers the most. “If your hair is thinning or dry, you might need more zinc. Other signs of a zinc deficiency are soft nails, dry skin, and getting ill a lot. “Foods that are rich in zinc to integrate in everyday diets are whole-wheat bread and…

SEVEN opposition parties represented in Parliament have agreed on the list of names who will form part of the section 89 independent panel. Section 89 of the Constitution provides for the National Assembly to remove a President of the Republic from office. The panel will look at the matter and determine whether an inquiry in terms of Section 89 should be held. This comes after political parties including the EFF, ACDP, IFP and ATM held a joint press briefing in Houghton yesterday as part of their collective effort to hold President Cyril Ramaphosa accountable for the Phala Phala farm scandal. The parties have put forth the names of former judges, Bernard Ngoepe, Dikgang Moseneke, Yvonne Mokgoro, Mogoeng Mogoeng as suitable candidates to take up the section 89 independent panel. The…

You are more powerful than you probably realise and it all begins in your thinking and in telling yourself the truth about who you are: You have the power: To plan your own behaviour in response to all that comes your way. To say “no” to requests and expectations that are uncomfortable for you. To say “yes” to opportunities and possibilities that broaden your horizons. To say “give me some time to think this through” whatever it is that needs more time and thought. To say “I have had enough” when you feel you are being tested or tried unnecessarily. To decide “I want a change” when you are exhausted and need time for rest. To decide, “I will be kind, I will learn from this, whatever it may be”.…

Once again Mr Du Bois rains praise on Donald Trump (The Mercury, August 17) and exposes the conspiracies to stop him from running in 2024. I have an idea for Mr Du Bois. Have you ever thought of sending your CV, together with copies of your plaudits for him, to the Donald? Perhaps you could move to the USA and become his PR man? I am sure that he would be impressed by your letters and would love to have someone like you dealing with the negative publicity he gets. It’s worth a try.…

The divisions in American politics are no longer premised on conservative versus liberal diversity. That is because both sides have been subjected to takeovers from within, which have placed them on a collision course in determining the future of the US and much of the world. Traditionally, the Democratic Party espoused liberal policies, while the Republicans embraced conservatism. In the past 60 years, however, the only real differences between the two have been defined by personalities: Ronald Reagan for the Republicans and Bill Clinton for the Democrats. Although the Republicans opposed the bigger government policies of the Democrats, under Republican presidents, the Federal government grew in size. Despite President Dwight Eisenhower’s warning, both parties were harnessed to serve the interests of the “military-industrial complex”. Until Donald Trump, every president since…

A gang-related altercation resulted in the murder of a Grade 10 pupil at an Mpumalanga school this week. The Cebisa Secondary School pupil was allegedly stabbed by another pupil on the school grounds. It is alleged both pupils belong to gangs in the township. According to authorities, the stabbed pupil was rushed to the Ermelo Public Hospital but died of his injuries. MEC for Education in Mpumalanga, Bonakele Majuba, is expected to visit Cebisa Secondary School in Ermelo, Gert Sibande District, later this week. While Majuba conveyed his condolences to the bereaved family, he also condemned the incident and directed the department to work closely with law enforcement agencies to probe the circumstances which led to it. The department’s communications officer, Gerald Sambo, said the MEC and Mpumalanga education officials…

A lawyer who slipped on a wet floor in the passage of a court and injured his shoulder, is claiming nearly R2.9 million from the departments of Public Works and Infrastructure, and Justice. Lineen Swarts told the Eastern Cape High Court sitting in Gqeberha that these departments should have ensured that the passages were safe. The departments blamed Swarts and said he was the author of his own misfortune as he had lost his balance. They also argued that since government departments had nothing to do with the cleaning process they could not be held liable. But a judge of the high court found that the departments were liable for any damages which Swarts could prove were the result of the incident. The court held that the government could not…

A 40-year-old man, who has been on the run for seven years, after he allegedly stole hardware products, has been arrested. Mpumalanga police spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala said Thomas Ngcobo appeared before the Bethal Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday and he was remanded in custody. “According to information, the suspect was supposed to make a delivery of hardware material worth more than R20 000. “It is alleged that the said material was redirected to another address,” said Mohlala. “The suspect’s dirty tricks were uncovered a week later after the manager decided to check invoices. Two invoices were missing and other material had been delivered to wrong addresses.” A case of theft was registered in September 2015 at Bethal SAPS. There had been no progress in the case until Ngcobo showed up…

SMALLER political parties in eThekwini Municipality believe the allegations of corruption swirling around the process to appoint a new city manager will not affect the ability of councillors to select the best candidate for the position. Councillor Jay Singh of the United Independent Movement said there had been frank discussion within the block of smaller parties on the type of city manager that should be appointed. While some smaller parties added that they had confidence in the manner in which the process has been carried out, others called for an formal investigation into allegations of wrongdoing that were discussed by deputy mayor Philani Mavundla on Tuesday. The allegations have been levelled against Mavundla and he on Tuesday adamantly denied any wrongdoing. The voting by the bloc of smaller parties is…

Promoting trade, providing training and investment, reducing poverty Since its establishment in 2000, the Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (Focac) has become an important platform for collective dialogue, an effective mechanism for China-Africa practical co-operation, and a pacesetter for international co-operation with Africa in the new era. At the 8th Ministerial Conference of Focac last year, President Xi Jinping put forward for the first time the “spirit of China-Africa friendship and co-operation”. He set forth “four-point propositions” on building a China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era, and announced the “Nine Programmes” for practical co-operation with Africa, which have set a new milestone in the history of China-Africa relations. Over the past year, the Nine Programmes have reaped a rich early harvest. First, the medical and health programme…

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas explained his remark on Israel committing “50 Holocausts” against Palestinians, saying he did not mean to deny the Holocaust, and called it “the most heinous crime” in modern history. Abbas took part in a press conference in Berlin this week following talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. When asked if Palestine intended to apologise for the 1972 Munich attack against Israeli athletes, Abbas said Israel had committed “50 massacres, 50 Holocausts” in Palestine since 1947. In response, senior Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Yair Lapid and his predecessor Naftali Bennett, criticised Abbas for what they said was an attempt to rewrite history and deny the Holocaust. Scholz also expressed his outrage at the remark. Abbas reaffirmed that the Holocaust is “the most heinous crime in modern…

London: A man appeared in court yesterday after allegedly entering Windsor Castle grounds armed with a crossbow, declaring he planned to kill Queen Elizabeth II. Jaswant Singh Chail, 20, from Southampton in southern England, appeared at a London court, having been charged with treason earlier this month. He appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court via video-link from Broadmoor high-security psychiatric hospital, confirming his name and location. The prosecution told the court that Chail was held in the grounds of Windsor Castle, where the monarch was staying, on Christmas Day last year. | AFP…

CAPE Town City coach Eric Tinkler is not concerned with the team’s poor start to the new season. The Capetonians continued their winless streak after playing out to a 0-0 draw with Maritzburg United on Tuesday night. The result means City have managed just one point from their first four Premiership games, their worst start to a PSL season. Speaking after the match, Tinkler played down any questions of his position at the club and in fact went on to reveal that he and his players are enjoying the pressure they currently face. “We are judged on results and I think I have produced results at the club. We’re unfortunately going through a patch at the moment, but fortunately for us we also like the pressure of the…