Table of contents for 2023-07-14 in Mercury

President Cyril Ramaphosa wants the ANC Youth League (ANCYL) to return to militancy in a “revolution”. What revolution exactly, Mr Ramaphosa? Let me state my disappointment in your leadership – or lack thereof. Not only have you stated publicly that you put party before country, but it seems that you are walking your talk on this aspect more than governing the country as per your oath of office. In your closing remarks at the ANCYL congress recently, you unequivocally called for the return to militancy of the ANCYL of the 1944 era, and of the ’80s and ’90s. You claim you don’t want to see an ANCYL asleep during a “revolution”. What revolution were you talking about, Mr President? I am certain the oath of office you swore allegiance…

As is the case in every instance and government department, the government fails to see opportunities that stare it in the face. This includes “easy wins”, whereby South Africa can benefit maximally, with minimal input. An example of this is ensuring that applications for various visas are processed as speedily and effortlessly as possible. I was thus not surprised to receive replies to questions I submitted to the minister of Home Affairs that demonstrates yet another lost opportunity. Just like applications for tourism visas, retirement visa applications allow retired persons who are financially stable to reside in South African for certain periods or even permanently. The individuals, who enjoy their retirement years have strong currencies, such as the euro and the dollar, and are able to spend in South Africa…

South African Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana and Trade and Industry Minister Ebrahim Patel have held a meeting with a senior US official to discuss the extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) agreement. The ministers are in Washington, where they engaged with officials from the Joe Biden administration. US Trade Representative Katherine Tai confirmed the meeting, highlighting that Agoa and other trade-related matters were on the agenda. This meeting is part of South Africa's ongoing engagements with the US. Patel had previously mentioned in Parliament that he would be meeting with Tai. He had met with her last year and earlier this year, and continuous discussions have been taking place. South Africa has faced pressure since the docking of a Russian ship at the Simon’s Town naval base…

Police arrested five suspects in connection with a mass shooting at Kwanobuhle, Eastern Cape, that claimed six lives and left four people injured. The attack took place on Tuesday just before 8pm outside a house at Mdledle street. According to police the incident was suspected to be drug-related. The six people who died have been identified by their families. They are Siyabonga Williams, 24, Sinovuyo Nene, 24, Mzuvukile Grootboom, 33, Siyamthanda Vena, 27, Siyanda Luther Mlilwana, 29, and, Sivenathi Mxaku, 17. Police said two victims were still in hospital, while two others have been discharged. Police said at about 7.40pm on Tuesday, three men entered a yard in Mdledle Street, Kwanobuhle, and shot dead six people, and injured four others. Police confirmed that the suspects were being held on charges…

The City has launched a new mobile app that will, according to eThekwini Municipality, make life easier for residents. City manager Musa Mbhele says the application was introduced as a preferred first point of contact for customers to enquire about any services rendered by eThekwini. “The City is committed to improving customer services and service delivery. This app will make it that much easier to interact with the City. The app also proves that the City is embracing the digital age and moves us a step closer to achieving our ambition of being a smart City. I urge everyone to download and use the app,” he said yesterday. The City said the app had a fresh look with easy functionality and was a quick and easy-to-use platform for residents and…

The SA National Blood Services (SANBS) is appealing to members of the public to donate much-needed blood to avoid low levels of stock this winter. Winter is synonymous with low blood collections when schools and universities close for a break, and the donors that the SANBS rely on for much-needed donations dwindle. “We are in the midst of a bloodstock crisis as levels continue to drop consistently. “The frigid weather has affected the levels of donations, and that is why we are calling on all willing and able to donate a unit of blood,” SANBS added. Compounding an already difficult situation is the closure of schools and tertiary institutions,” SANBS said in a statement. SANBS made an impassioned plea to South Africans who aren’t yet donors to make their way…

IN SPEAKING about the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technophobes might consider it a coup d’etat of robots as seen in movies. The world’s first ATM was launched on June 27 in 1967 at the Barclays Bank in Enfield, England. At the time, it permitted only £10 withdrawals. In the past 56 years, the banking industry has evolved, from the card-imprint machine to payment terminals, writing cheques to EFTs, and online shopping. When I was at school learning how to write cheques, I could never envision that I would make payments on a computer or mobile phone. “Skilling teachers, trainers and youth for a transformative future” was this year’s theme on World Youth Skills Day on June 15. Our youth must learn the skills needed in the digital age. New…

In a world of competing conflicts, Sudan ranks low when it comes to getting the outside help its population so badly needs. Three months into factional fighting that has upended life – shutting hospitals and schools, emptying shelves and banks – foreign donors have coughed up only half the funds Khartoum called for to weather the crisis. Aid workers say daily life is getting worse, and deteriorating fast, as international attention wanes now that its embassies have emptied. Left behind, they say, is a nation in tatters. One in two Sudanese now depends on some form of aid. Three million of its people are on the march. Thousands are dead and the living are traumatised – with the weakest stuck at home without food, electricity or water. As agencies focus…

Harare: President Ebrahim Raisi received a red carpet welcome in Zimbabwe yesterday on the last leg of the first Africa tour by an Iranian leader in 11 years. Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa greeted Raisi as “my brother” on the tarmac after the Iranian leader’s plane landed at Robert Mugabe International Airport in the capital Harare. The visit comes as the Islamic republic tries to shore up diplomatic support to ease its international isolation. “When we went to war Iran was our friend,” said Mnangagwa, referring to Zimbabwe’s fight for independence from Britain, which it attained in 1980. Zimbabwe’s foreign ministry said several agreements were to be signed. | AFP…

London: The BBC yesterday resumed an internal inquiry after its star news anchor was revealed as the man at the centre of a sex pictures scandal, following days of fevered speculation about his identity. Huw Edwards, 61, was named by his wife, six days after claims that an unnamed presenter had paid a young person £35 000 (R842 000) for sexually explicit pictures. The family of the young person claimed they had used the money to fuel a crack cocaine addiction, but the now 20-year-old dismissed the allegations. Six people have reportedly made complaints to the media about the star in the past week. Edwards has been the anchor of the BBC’s News at Ten since 2003. | AFP…

“The end of Aids” is still possible by 2030, the UN insisted yesterday, but cautioned that the world’s deadliest pandemic could only be halted if leaders grasped the opportunity. The UNAids agency outlined a roadmap of investment, evidence-based prevention and treatment and tackling the inequalities that are holding back progress. The UN first set out in 2015 the target of ending Aids as a public health threat by 2030. Executive director Winnie Byanyima said the greatest progress on HIV, the virus that causes Aids, was being made in the countries and regions that have invested strongly. She cited eastern and southern Africa, where new HIV infections have dropped by 57% since 2010. Botswana, eSwatini, Rwanda, Tanzania and Zimbabwe have already achieved 95-95-95 targets. This means that 95% of those living…

The Switzerland-based Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) is entertaining an appeal by Royal AM, who have been slapped with a ban by football’s world governing body Fifa. The ban came about after striker Samir Nurkovic turned to Fifa in an attempt to recover R12-million in compensation from Royal AM. The 31-year-old Serbian-born Nurkovic was signed from Kaizer Chiefs. Although he signed a contract, he never played for Royal AM. A few weeks ago, Nurkovic’s lawyer Davor Lazic – an attorney who has worked in several European countries – wrote to Fifa and told them that his client has not been paid. Fifa responded by handing Royal AM a transfer ban with immediate effect. It was also felt that Royal AM unlawfully terminated Nurkovic’s contract at the end of last…

THE ANC in eThekwini Municipality is mounting a pushback against the section 154 intervention which was announced for the metro, charging that its terms of reference amount to placing the municipality under administration “through the back-door”. The intervention was announced by the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) a few months ago, amid concern that there were serious problems in the municipality, including its failure to spend grant funding. Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda yesterday said they were engaging with the government on the matter following concerns about the terms of reference attached to the section 154 intervention. ANC councillors also raised doubts that the intervention would happen. Cogta announced a few months ago that the intervention would involve enlisting the assistance of municipal experts, including former city manager Mike…

FOLLOWING the termination of a lease agreement, which marked an end of Durban Funworld, months ago, another Durban landmark on the beachfront, Mini Town, is set to close its doors as eThekwini Municipality moves ahead with its beachfront development project. Bike and Bean, Circus Circus and Mini Town have received notices of termination and are set to close. Speaking to The Mercury yesterday, Viki Ferreira of Bike and Bean said she had learnt a lot during her time as a tenant on the beachfront. “Yes, it is true we received notices, and the fact is this is quite emotional for me because I arrived here more than 10 years ago filled with ambitions and dreams, and over the years I have learnt and developed a lot,” she said yesterday.…

In recent years, the political landscape of South Africa has undergone significant changes. The ANC, once the dominant political force, is now losing ground in many provinces and is at risk of losing the national vote in 2024. This shift in political power has the potential to be disastrous for the country as it could lead to a coalition of convenience that lacks experience, expertise and any meaningful input in government. The current state of South Africa is far from ideal. The country has been embroiled in state capture scandals, corruption in government and rising unemployment. Poverty and homelessness continue to be a pressing issue, with millions reliant on state grants. The government has created a welfare state that has left many citizens dependent on state support rather than actively…

In yet another legal challenge against the embattled Road Accident Fund (RAF), its new directive is being challenged in the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria. The matter involves whether all foreigners – or only those able to provide proof of being in the country legally at the time of injury – can claim compensation here. Kirstie Haslam, a partner at DSC Attorneys, said that up to last year, RAF compensation was available to any person injured in a road accident in South Africa, regardless of their immigration status. This principle is stated clearly by the government, which holds that the RAF provides compulsory cover to all users of South African roads, citizens and foreigners, against injuries sustained or death arising from accidents involving motor vehicles within the borders of South Africa.…

THE National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has resolved that it will investigate allegations involving the new direct-payment system after students raised issues including a delay in payments, as well as disappearing allowances. Students have also complained about excessive fee charges, inaccessibility of service providers and lack of clarity on how to access funds. NSFAS introduced the direct payment, partnering with banking service providers including eZaga, Tenetech, Coinvest and Norraco, to ensure its accountability on student allowances and to establish a better co-ordinated system of the transfer of funds to students. This is a five-year contract to directly pay student allowances through a compulsory bank account. The scheme and service providers met with the South African Union of Students (Saus), where a number of demands were made. Saus president…

The Welkom Magistrate’s Court has ordered 45-year-old Molefi Johannes Qosheka to pay R30 000 before the end of this month as compensation to a woman in her forties whom he kidnapped in 2018. Additionally, the court sentenced Qosheka to five years in jail, which are wholly suspended. Qosheka appeared before the court this week on charges relating to a kidnapping, extortion and money laundering incident. Lieutenant-Colonel Zweli Mohobeleli, spokesperson for the Hawks in the Free State, said the victim was the wife of a Welkom mine manager. “She was kidnapped in November 2018 by Qosheka and his accomplices, who had made demands for a ransom. The woman was released after a hostage drama that lasted over 12 hours,” said Mohobeleli. He said the suspects were thereafter arrested. The Hawks…

The recurring violence, robberies and arson attacks targeting haulage trucks in South Africa are having a detrimental impact on the country’s economy, as an increasing number of landlocked African nations are looking to ports in other countries for their cargo imports. Charles Mhlongo, the president of the Black Bulk Transporters Association, made these comments during an interview with television broadcaster Newzroom Afrika, highlighting the consequences of the arson attacks on heavy trucks across various parts of South Africa. Mhlongo noted that previously, landlocked African countries heavily relied on South Africa’s harbours for their transportation needs. However, due to the ongoing incidents of violence, the business is shifting towards countries such as Mozambique and Namibia. He emphasised that this issue represented significant economic sabotage driven by criminality. Mhlongo also highlighted that…

Flooding in parts of New Delhi forced the city’s management to close all education institutions in India’s capital yesterday and advise people to work from home, while warning that there would be water rationing after the Yamuna River broke its banks. Since the rainy monsoon season began on June 1, Delhi has recorded 113% above-average rainfall, the India Meteorological Department said, and the rains in the hilly states to the north have fed the river’s floodwaters. Video footage showed submerged roads downtown, with water half-way up the sides of parked cars. “Due to closure of water treatment plants, the supply of water will be affected by up to 25%,” said Delhi’s chief minister Arvind Kejriwal. The city of 20 million people has ordered the closure of all schools, colleges and…

ATHENS: Southern Europe sweltered under a fierce heatwave yesterday, with a warning that temperatures could hit record highs for the continent next week. Weather alerts were in place across Spain’s Canary Islands, Italy, Cyprus and Greece, with the Greek authorities expecting temperatures to reach as high as 43°C or 44°C today and tomorrow. Research this week said that 61 000 people may have died in Europe’s sweltering heatwaves last summer. There are concerns about the impact on those working outdoors in Italy after a 44-year-old man who was painting road markings in the northern town of Lodi collapsed and died this week. | Reuters…

Paris: French prosecutors said yesterday they had opened an investigation after the discovery of a severed fingertip in a letter addressed to the presidential palace. The gruesome find was reported by staff working for President Emmanuel Macron at the beginning of the week, with police called in to investigate. The fingertip is believed to belong to the sender of the letter who suffers from psychiatric problems, a source close to the investigation said. Between 1 000-1 500 emails and letters are addressed to Macron each day and they are monitored and scanned by a 70-strong team working from offices away from the main Elysee Palace. | AFP…

EFC vice president of talent and matchmaker Graeme Cartmell has weighed in on why Dricus du Plessis called out Israel Adesanya for not residing in Africa as the middleweight champion. The feud between Du Plessis and Adesanya is brewing now more than ever. Like with many UFC newcomers, fans around the world saw Du Plessis as just another loud-mouthed wannabe who’s talking was solely for a big-money fight. Little did they know that the South African had a vision of what he wanted to achieve written down, and most importantly, Du Plessis has always had a bigger ‘WHY’ – inspiring people back in South Africa and Africa as a whole. His true character showed when he decided to face Robert Whittaker first before getting to Adesanya, despite the UFC wanting…

The current SA Cricketers’ Association MVP and 4-Day Player of the Season, Beyers Swanepoel, has blossomed upon arriving at the Gqeberha-based Warriors and he reckons that coach Robin Peterson’s backing is the reason behind it all. It is difficult to deny the talent that has emerged from the Warriors in the past couple of seasons. Apart from Anrich Nortjé, there has been a number of youngsters in the Warriors team who have come through the ranks in spectacular fashion and gone on to dominate domestic cricket. Warriors batter Matthew Breetzke played all his cricket in Gqeberha and was at his best last season, finishing top-run scorer with over 700 runs in the 4-Day competition. Year-in and year-out, the Warriors keep producing quality cricketers like Tristan Stubbs. Last season, youngsters Jordan…

With the winter chill gripping the country, protecting yourself and your home is crucial. Though winter may be associated with the crackling of a fireplace and cosy nights indoors, colder months come with their fair share of risks for homeowners. According to Karen Rimmer, Head of Distribution at PSG Insure, low temperatures and windy weather, as well as heavy rainfall in some parts of the country, could lead to damage. “By proactively addressing some of these risks, you can ensure a safe and stress-free winter season for you and your home,” said Rimmer. She shares four ways to prepare and mitigate any unnecessary winter-related risks. Keep warm but stay watchful Rimmer said that ongoing load shedding had placed South African households under even more pressure this year, and as…

The Constitutional Court has dismissed an application by the Department of Correctional Services, for leave to appeal a ruling which found that former president Jacob Zuma’s medical parole was unlawfully granted by former Correctional Services Department commissioner Arthur Fraser. The matter had reached the Concourt after the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) had ruled that the granting of the parole had been unlawful. The SCA said it was up to the current commissioner to determine whether the time Zuma spent on medical parole should be considered as part of his sentence. Zuma was sentenced to 15 months in prison in 2021 by the Constitutional Court for contempt of court for refusing to appear before the Zondo Commission, which looked into allegations of state capture and corruption. He handed himself in…

“I am sitting at the Johannesburg Airport Hotel passing time until my flight to reunite with my family in Kuala Lumpur tomorrow. I fell upon your column about dealing with grief. What an inspiring article! Thank you for that. I have not suffered the type of grief one can hardly recover from so far and by God’s grace, I can only imagine one’s loneliness in it. Well done for your advice. Go well, my friend. It will be nice to meet you one fine day.” The reader quoted above was inspired by my writing. I, in turn, am deeply encouraged and also inspired by her response to the column. It’s a good feeling to open emails to such a warm response. Such responses are what keep me writing. Added to…

A police data typist was arrested this week for operating as a loan shark after he was allegedly found with 120 different bank cards belonging to his “clients’’ in Hazyview, Mpumalanga. Mpumalanga Hawks spokesperson, Captain Dineo Lucy Sekgotodi, said the 52-year-old suspect was arrested after information was received regarding a SAPS member operating an unregistered business. “A search warrant was obtained. During the search, the member was found in possession of 120 different bank cards belonging to victims who came and lent money against interest payable,” said Sekgotodi. Sekgotodi added that the suspect was arrested and charged with fraud. The suspect is expected to appear at the Hazyview Magistrate’s Court soon. Meanwhile, head of the Hawks in Mpumalanga, Major-General Nicholas Jacobus Gerber, appealed to members of the public to refrain…

The Constitutional Court ruled yesterday that President Cyril Ramaphosa made a rational decision when he suspended Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane last year. Ramaphosa suspended Mkhwebane in June 2022 after Parliament started impeachment proceedings against her. Prior to the suspension, Mkhwebane had been asked to make representation on why she should not be suspended. Mkhwebane challenged her suspension in the Western Cape High Court, questioning its timing as it came after she had sent Ramaphosa questions to answer on the Phala Phala scandal. The court ruled in her favour in September 2022 and found Ramaphosa’s decision to suspend her invalid and improper, but the order was subject to confirmation by the Constitutional Court. Ramaphosa and the DA also appealed against the decision directly to the apex court. In a unanimous judgment…

EThekwini mayor Mxolisi Kaunda and his KwaDukuza counterpart Lindi Nhaca will appear before the provincial legislature to explain why they have spent the disaster relief funds slowly, Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube revealed yesterday. Briefing the media after a meeting of the provincial executive on Wednesday, Dube-Ncube highlighted a number of milestones that had been reached by her administration, including sorting out the National School Nutrition Programme issue, and dealing with housing backlogs. Asked how the government justified underspending on disaster relief, Dube-Ncube conceded that her government had not spent as much as it wanted, but refuted claims that the spending amounted to only 4%. This follows a recent report from Auditor-General (AG) Tsakani Maluleke that KZN had only spent 4% of its allocation amounting to billions of rand in disaster…

The Tax Justice South Africa (TJSA) group has called on South Africans to reject the proposed tobacco control bill to avoid handing over even more billions of rand to criminals already using loopholes to gain exorbitant profits. According to the TJSA the introduction of the Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill would hand complete control of the country’s cigarette market to criminal tobacco barons who were already stealing more than R20 billion each year in much-needed tax revenue. The bill was presented in Parliament on May 31, by the National Department of Health before the portfolio committee on health. TJSA founder Yusuf Abramjee said, as it stood, the proposed rules would simply turbo-charge the trade for organised crime networks that were already looting state revenue on an industrial scale…

Police Minister Bheki Cele had said the SAPS was not in possession of a warrant of arrest for Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin is expected to come to South Africa to attend the BRICS summit next month. Cele was responding to written questions from EFF MP Henry Andries Shembeni, who asked whether the government would give effect to the warrant of arrest that was issued by the International Criminal Court against Putin in March. In response, Cele said SAPS could not comment on a matter that was outside of its scope of responsibilities. “The SAPS is not in possession of the warrant of arrest for the head of state or foreign state,” he said. “In terms of South African law, the SAPS is not responsible for interacting with international institutions…

LEXUS recently gave us an opportunity to get behind the wheel of their new NX and LX models and as we’ve come to expect from the luxury brand, it’s all rather top notch. The two models are on opposite ends of the scale and are a bit of a David and Goliath but provide owners a very pleasant driving experience each in its own way. Both models have new engines under the bonnet and in the case of the LX the well-known 5.7-litre V8 has been replaced with twin turbocharged motors, one a petrol and the other a diesel, both producing more power than the mill they replace and paired to a new 10-speed direct shift automatic transmission fitted with a new torque converter with a multi-plate lock-up clutch. The…

There is nothing that gets the blood flowing in rugby more than a Springboks vs All Blacks clash. The two heavyweights of the oval ball game will lock horns in Auckland tomorrow morning (9.05am South African time) in the Rugby Championship, with the Boks having beaten Australia last weekend, while New Zealand got the better of Argentina. The fact that there is a Rugby World Cup on the horizon – starting in September in France – makes tomorrow’s encounter at the Mount Smart Stadium even more enticing. Yes, the World Cup champions won’t be decided just yet, but the match will show coaches Jacques Nienaber and Ian Foster exactly where their respective teams stand at the moment. The Boks were outstanding at times in last week’s 43-12 win over the…

Hollywood actors went on strike yesterday, joining writers in the first industry-wide shutdown in 63 years after last-ditch talks failed, with nearly all film and television production likely to grind to a halt. The Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA), which represents 160 000 performers including A-list stars, said negotiations late on Wednesday had ended without a deal on their demands over dwindling pay and the threat posed by artificial intelligence. Its negotiators have unanimously recommended a strike to its national committee, who were expected to vote. The vote opens the door to a “double strike” with writers, who have already spent 11 weeks on the picket line, which would trigger the first Hollywood shutdown since 1960. Popular series set to return to television this year would face lengthy delays. And, if…

Washington: The US drug regulator approved the first over-the-counter birth control pill in the country, it said yesterday, widening access to contraception for women as the US grapples with reproductive rights. The medication, Opill, will become available in pharmacies and supermarkets as well as online early next year, manufacturer Perrigo said. Many countries already allow contraceptive pills to be sold over the counter. But in the US, the measure comes as the right to abortion is under renewed assault from conservatives and is now banned in several states. Almost half of the 6.1 million pregnancies in the US each year are unintended. | AFP…

UK Prime minister Rishi Sunak yesterday urged unions to call off strike action, warning that the government would no longer negotiate on higher salaries. The government said it had accepted recommendations from independent pay review bodies for salary increases of between 5% and 7% in the public sector. “Today’s offer is final. There will be no more talks on pay. We will not negotiate again on this year’s settlement,” Sunak said. “No amount of strikes will change our decision.” The announcement comes as hospital doctors below consultant level in England began a five-day strike over pay – the longest in the 75-year history of the state-funded National Health Service (NHS). Consultants are preparing to walk out next week, heaping fresh pressure on the under-staffed and under-funded service, which is battling…

Organisers of the ‘F1 in Schools’ competition say the Netflix ‘Drive to Survive’ effect is reaching the classroom, with a record number of teams entered in this year’s finals in Singapore in September. The global not-for-profit programme, which aims to encourage students into science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects, offers university scholarships and future work opportunities with F1 teams. “Drive to Survive has definitely helped the whole sport,” the programme’s founder Andrew Denford told Reuters, referencing the docu-series credited with a rapid rise in the sport’s popularity. “At the primary final, I asked the kids who likes Formula One and all their hands went up when four, five, six years ago, maybe only half of them (did).” The school teams must raise sponsorship, draw up a business plan, design…

TUNA, snoek, bottom fish and garrick have been on the menu. So there is something for all the offshore anglers, you just need to get out there. North of Umhlanga the fishing skis have been doing some damage. Snoek, tuna and couta have been the main hatch-fillers. The snoek have been feeding well after the recent rains. The flush of dirty water not only creates a brilliant hunting area for these predators, but it also flushes the smaller estuarine baitfish into the sea. The Durban coast has produced good catches of snoek at Blue Lagoon, tuna at most of the bait spots, dorado at the shops and a host of bottom fish at secret locations. The tuna have favoured a live bait. Drifting over the bait marks with a live…