Table of contents for 2021-05-12 in Mercury

EDWARD WEST edward.west@inl.co.za THE DIFFERENCES between the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) executive and senior staff in a department that manages its unlisted investments, Isibaya Fund, was a “management matter” that was “being attended to internally”, a PIC spokesperson said yesterday. Senior employees at Isibaya berated the executives of the continent’s biggest asset manager for failing to renew a mandate with its biggest client, the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF), and for general mismanagement, reports citing a letter seen by Bloomberg News said yesterday. The spokesperson said the PIC continued to invest on behalf of the GEPF. The Isibaya Fund was founded in 1995 and manages unlisted commercially viable African projects that have a strong transformation and development impact. According to the PIC’s 2020 report, Isibaya’s total unlisted investments, including unlisted…

Dineo Faku dineo.faku@inl.co.za TORONTO and JSE-listed Eastern Platinum (Eastplats) yesterday reported the first full month of production following the revamp of its small-scale platinum group metals (PGM) circuit known as Circuit D. Eastplats president and chief execu- tive Diana Hu said yesterday that Circuit D’s first full month of production was an important breakthrough for the company. “It not only created a new revenue stream in addition to the company’s chrome production, but will also assist and accelerate the recommissioning of the PGM Main Circuit, which is expected to add a further 600 to 800 tons of PGM concentrates per month from September, a significant boost to the company’s operation and revenue growth,” Hu said. Eastplats, which sells concentrate to Impala Platinum, said it had dispatched 199.8 dry tons of…

MODEL Gigi Hadid says her daughter is her “muse”. The 26-year-old model enjoyed her first Mother’s Day since she and partner Zayn Malik welcomed baby Khai into the world in September and she admitted she feels “so lucky” to be a parent to the little girl. Marking Mother’s Day on Sunday, Gigi shared three new photos of her and her daughter – one out of focus of them in matching beige outfits, a second of the blonde beauty pushing the tot’s pram and a third of them cuddling together in bed – on Instagram and wrote: “The rumours are true: my best friend, purpose, muse, greatest pride & joy. “I feel so lucky and inspired being your mama, my Khai!! An old soul full of sunshine, you light up everyone’s…

Sihle Mavuso sihle.mavuso@inl.co.za A BATCH of leaked Department of Home Affairs documents has revealed that the new Zulu King, Misuzulu kaZwelithini, has been married for almost a week. This came as Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi said yesterday all disputes in the royal court had been settled. The documents show that the 47-year-old king’s marriage was registered on Thursday last week, the same day that his mother, the late Zulu Queen Regent Mantfombi Dlamini-Zulu, was planted (buried). Furthermore, they revealed that the king married his long-time girlfriend, Ntokozo Mayisela, 36. Independent Media understands that in around 2009, she studied towards a diploma in popular jazz and music at a university in Durban, where she lives. Independent Media also learnt that Mayisela and the new king met in August 2009 during the…

JEAN MICHEL BOUVIER | Bryanston AFTER the three-day meeting at the weekend, all the ANC NEC came up with was not to solve any of the myriad problems that plague our country. These include the economy, education, land reform, the failed municipalities and the most pernicious enemy, the pandemic, with the third wave rising as the new deadly variants are spreading and the vaccine roll-out is stillborn. This has shown the ANC’s corroded underbelly and that they have no idea or plans on how to address the problems that the country and its people are facing, because their main preoccupation for over a year has been to solve their internal fighting. They have no idea what to do and how to handle Ace and Zuma. In the meantime,…

| Claud Cockburn SOME court action in small town America comes this way, captured in a publication called Ireland’s Eye. (Would this be an Irish version of Britain’s satirical Private Eye?) It’s set in Mississippi and an elderly grandmother is on the witness stand. Prosecuting attorney: “Do you know me, Mrs Jones?” “Why, yes I do, Mr Williams, I’ve known you since you were a boy and, frankly, you’re a big disappointment to me. You lie, you cheat on your wife and you manipulate people and talk about them behind their back. You think you’re a big shot, while you haven’t the brains to realise you’ll never be more than a two-bit paper pusher, Yes, I know you.” Taken aback, the lawyer points across the room. “Do you know…

Sakhiseni Nxumalo and Karen Singh Two people were shot and injured in an incident outside Pinetown Post Office yesterday morning. It is alleged that the incident took place just after 11am in Crompton Street. According to KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Colonel Thembeka Mbele, two people were standing near the post office when three suspects allegedly fired shots at them. Gwala said both victims sustained gunshot wounds. “They were taken to hospital for medical attention. Charges of attempted murder were opened at Pinetown SAPS for investigation,” said Mbele. It is alleged that the suspects fled the scene towards the Pinetown train station. The incident resulted in post office operations being affected while emergency services were on the scene. Meanwhile, a man has been left in a critical condition after the taxi…

NIGERIAN President Muhammadu Buhari has asked the US to move its military headquarters overseeing Africa to the continent, from Germany. This is to better tackle growing armed violence in the region. The Conversation Africa’s Wale Fatade asked peace and security expert Kester Onor about the implications of this request. What do you think of President Buhari’s request that the US should move its Africa Command headquarters to the continent? The request that the US should relocate Africom headquarters to Africa contradicts the previous position taken by most African heads of governments when it was created. Africom was formed in 2007. It was formed as a structure devoted to Africa (excluding Egypt) as part of US national security strategy. It became operational in 2008. African policymakers, scholars and media resisted…

THE Department of Justice and Correctional Services’ decision to quietly release on parole two members of the notorious right-wing group, Boeremag, is an insult to South Africans, especially the families of political prisoners languishing in jail for decades after being arrested for having taken part in the Struggle against apartheid. And the fact that Minister of Justice and Correctional Services Ronald Lamola’s decision has been shrouded in secrecy adds insult to injury. Independent Media reported this week that Kobus Pretorius and his father, Dr Lets Pretorius, were quietly released on parole last year after serving seven years of their 20-year jail terms. They and others were found guilty of preparing a home-made bomb that was to be placed to injure or kill then-president Nelson Mandela in 2002, while he was…

The EU’s Brexit negotiator warned Britain yesterday to fully apply the terms of its exit from the bloc, in particular on fishing and Northern Ireland, or risk losing credibility on the global stage. “A signature is important, it reflects on the confidence the UK must continue to deserve by upholding its commitments,” Michel Barnier told journalists in the Europresse association. “Which is not what it’s doing in Northern Ireland today, and which it is not doing with fishermen,” he said. He urged London to respect the Brexit terms on these two crucial issues “precisely as they were written in the two agreements of October 2019 and December 2020”. Tensions over fishing flared last week when French boats massed at the Channel Island of Jersey, claiming they were being denied licences…

Timing is everything in life and in cricket and while the heavens may not be aligned right now with Hashim Amla still scoring double centuries in the English County Championship and preparing to turn out for Western Province in the new domestic structure next season, I can't help but feel the Mighty# may just be the man to fix the Proteas' batting woes. There is no hiding from the fact that South Africa's batting has been on a downward spiral, particularly in Test cricket, for a number of years now. Current Proteas coach Mark Boucher raved about Jacques Kallis' contribution to the national team during his short stint as the batting consultant and there was almost a national outcry when Kallis recently joined the England set up. I have no…

MIHLALI BALEKA Hugo Broos, the new Bafana Bafana coach, says he wants his team to win matches, while at the same time being pleasing on the eye. It’s been more than two decades since Bafana won the Africa Cup of Nations. Their form has declined since then as the closest they came to winning the title was in the last edition after reaching the quarter-finals in Egypt under coach Stuart Baxter. They’ve failed to qualify for the 2022 showpiece – thanks to a defeat by Sudan in the last qualifier in Group C. That failure cost coach Molefi Ntseki his job as he was sacked at the end of March. Enter Broos. The 69-year-old was not the primary candidate for the hot seat as Safa wanted either Carlos Queiroz…

Sandile Mchunu sandile.mchunu@inl.co.za NUTRITIONAL Holdings yesterday warned its shareholders that it had entered into negotiations regarding additional global contracts, which might have a material effect on the price of the company’s shares. The warning comes after the investment holding company concluded two contracts worth more than R2 billion with over- seas companies. Nutritional Holdings has interests in the manufacture, marketing and distribution of staple dry foods, cannabis infusions, oils, extracts and related edibles. Nutritional Holdings con- cluded a R1.26bn three-year contract with GIH Distributors for the supply of Immune Booster to Germany. It will supply 50 000 units a month to GIH. This will increase to 200 000 units a month in the third year. The contract started at the beginning of January. The group also concluded…

Vernon Mchunu vernon.mchunu@inl.co.za STABILITY around the Zulu monarchy appeared to have finally returned, with the announcement last night that Prince Simakade Zulu – earlier rumoured as a contender to the throne – was fully behind the new king and had never aspired to contest him. Ending weeks of ructions in the royal household over the throne, the traditional prime minister to the kingdom Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi read a statement yesterday, in which Prince Zulu refuted rampant speculation that he had aspired to become king. Buthelezi also said during a press briefing, in Durban, that King Misuzulu kaZwelithini had turned down a mediation offer by Premier Sihle Zikalala and Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, saying it was not required. “Following His Majesty the King’s appointment last…

DURING President Ramaphosa’s question-time in Parliament last week, he defended the ANC’s policy of cadre deployment in the civil service, in response to the leader of the opposition, John Steenhuisen, who presented persuasive arguments that this practice is prejudicial to national interest and one of the principal causes of corruption of endemic proportions and the maladministration occurring in government departments. These, in turn, he asserted further, are responsible for the failure of adequate service delivery and cognate problems for the long-suffering people of this country. The DA has initiated a process to introduce legislation that would make it illegal to appoint people to posts in the civil service on the basis of their loyalty to a political party, which is what, inter alia, cadre deployment is all about. In the…

NARENDH GANESH | Durban North WILLIAM Wordsworth’s epigram, “the child is the father of man”, encapsulates the reality that most parents face. Any parent will tell you that all they want for their children is that they be happy and successful – the ideal recipe for an ideal world. But this is not an ideal world. The world has moved on since the past century. Where relationships were once initiated by physical meetings or arrangements between a couple, today it can be done in virtual reality. Where education was once conducted by face-to-face interactions, today it can be done by the touch of a keypad. Where physical cash was once required to transact, today it can be done by plastic or the touch of a keypad. How many…

Shakirah Thebus shakirah.thebus@inl.co.za The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has announced that the annual Hajj pilgrimage, drawing more than 2 million people to Mecca, will take place this year. While it said this would be in adherence with Covid-19 safety measures, it provided no further information on guidelines for travel operators and travellers. The pilgrimage to Mecca will take place in July. South African Hajj and Umrah Council president Shaheen Essop said: “We always remain hopeful to be able to send pilgrims from South Africa for Hajj. There are always concerns, and while we are not yet privy to the finer details regarding the conditions that the KSA may impose, the ball is up in the air.” Last year saw a scaled-down…

Sakhiseni Nxumalo sakhiseni.nxumalo@inl.co.za Mangosuthu University of Technology staff members have once again downed tools. The workers, led by the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu), embarked on a protest on Monday after they objected to the delay in the implementation of their settlement agreement with management. Late last month, the union told The Mercury that they had reached an agreement with the university about salary increases, bringing an end to a three-week protest. The workers then resumed work on April 19. Initially, the union had demanded an 8% salary increment, while the university had offered 3.3%. However, the union said the employer moved from 3.3% to a 5.8% increase and they reached an agreement. They also agreed that on the housing allowance issue, it would increase, gradually, by…

Sakhiseni Nxumalo and Vernon Mchunu THE KwaZulu-Natal Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (Edtea) MEC Ravi Pillay has been urged to intervene amid the ongoing sewage leaks in areas under the uThukela District Municipality. The municipalities that fall under the district municipality include Alfred Duma, Inkosi Langalibalele and Okhahlamba. Businesses and opposition parties under the district have raised concern about the matter and accused the district and local municipalities of failing to maintain its infrastructure. IFP councillor Abbas Warasally said that Estcourt, Bergville, Zakheni, Mbabazane, and the Wasbank area, were all affected by sewage problems. “The sad part is that when the sewage goes to the Klip River, lower down is the community of Zakheni. The community uses the water from the river to cook with and drink. That…

Portia Jordan NURSES are an unstoppable and an incredible workforce in the health-care environment. According to the database of the SA Nursing Council, there are about 400 000 nurses in South Africa, making nursing an integral and crucial part of our economy. The Bureau of Labour Statistics in the US expects nursing job growth of 12% through 2028, much faster then the average occupation. Nurses are the heroes of our health-care system, caring for both sick and healthy individuals across the world. The global Covid-19 pandemic has shown the world the important role that nurses play in keeping people healthy across the lifespan. As our country combats the pandemic, it has been proven that nurses play a critical role in keeping the health-care system functioning and well managed.…

At least nine pupils and a teacher were killed and 18 people were injured yesterday in a school shooting in the Russian city of Kazan, 805km east of Moscow, the head of the Republic of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov, said. He said the shooter, whom he called a “terrorist” was detained. The gunman had a weapon registered in his name and “no accomplices”. Video footage shared on social media showed students hurling themselves from third-floor windows to escape the gunfire. Two children died jumping from the windows. Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a plane with medics, psychologists and equipment to be dispatched to Kazan to assist the victims. Putin has also instructed the head of Russia’s National Guard to “urgently” draft new regulation on what kind of weapons can be owned…

BRASILIA: Illegal gold miners inside the Yanomami reservation in northern Brazil on Monday opened fire with automatic weapons on an indigenous community that has opposed their entry by river, a Yanomami leader said. The Yanomami responded with bows and arrows and shotguns wounding four of the attackers during the 30-minute clash on Monday morning, Dario Kopenawa, head of the Yanomami’s Hutukara Association said yesterday. One indigenous person was grazed in the skirmish, he said in a report to the government’s indigenous affairs agency Funai…

The Premier League has welcomed the British government’s announcement on the easing of lockdown restrictions amid the Covid-19 pandemic, and chief executive Richard Masters said on Monday it is their priority to have full stadiums next season. The government said in February that under the third stage of its four-stage “roadmap”, stadiums would – if all conditions are met – from May 17 be allowed to hold up to 50% of their capacity, or 4 000 people, whichever is lower. A special provision will be made for large outdoor, seated venues, so that they can open their doors to up to 10 000 people or 25% of the capacity, whichever is lower. Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed on Monday the roadmap would progress as planned. The Premier League said last…

ESHLIN VEDAN and MIHLALI BALEKA RICHARD Mbulu’s 37th-minute goal consigned AmaZulu to their first defeat since February as Usuthu fell to a 1-0 loss against Baroka FC at King Zwelithini Stadium yesterday. The result has effectively cleared the path for Mamelodi Sundowns to stroll towards another Premiership title. Bakgaga’s goal came against the run of play with Evidence Makgopa first producing a dummy before finding Mbulu, who cut in from inside and fired in a shot which sailed beyond AmaZulu goalkeeper Veli Mothwa. Baroka showed confidence against their second-placed opponents and had their first shot on goal as early as the third minute. Makgopa capitalised following a defensive error from Mbongeni Gumede, though the 20-year-old striker ended up failing to take advantage of the opportunity. After meeting a pass…

Siphelele Dludla siphelele.dludla@inl.co.za THE RAND BROKE below the key psychological mark of R14 to the dollar yesterday to touch R13.96, buoyed by positive sentiment as manufacturing output rose more than expected. This was the second consecutive day this week that the rand dipped below R14 to the greenback, after briefly hitting R13.99 on Monday, driven by the surge in commodity prices. By 5pm, the rand was bid at R14 against the dollar, 0.01 percent higher from the previous day’s fix at the same time. Citadel Global director Bianca Botes said the rand was testing a sustainable move below R14 to the dollar, boosted by a strong risk appetite, a weaker dollar and robust commodity prices. “Commodity-driven currencies, such as the rand, continue to enjoy benefits over the dollar, as…

Thami Magubane thami.magubane@inl.co.za THE eThekwini Municipality has approved the leasing out of land to be used as sites for cellular base stations despite concerns that the stations might pose a health risk to community members. Parties opposed to the plan claimed the community had not been properly informed about the sites. The Mercury understands that there are more than 100 of these stations, including new and existing stations across Durban, to improve cellphone connectivity. In recent years, communities have held protests to call for these stations not to be erected in their areas as they feared for their health. In a case last year, Glenwood residents alleged in court papers that the municipality had not followed legal processes when it gave permission to MTN to erect cellular masts and…

Queen Elizabeth is selling two beers made from plants on her Sandringham estate. The beers, which are available in bottle form, and will be priced at £3.99 for a 500ml bottle, can be purchased from the Sandringham gift shop. The bottles feature the Sandringham name and give a nod to some of the local wildlife, with a picture of a hare and a pheasant. Produced using organic barley harvested from the estate’s gardens, the beers come in two variations: a 4.3% Best Bitter and a slightly stronger 5% Golden IPA. The Best Bitter is described as “uniquely natural” and “full-flavoured”, while the IPA is said to have a “subtle flavour”. They will be made by Barsham Brewery in Norfolk. It is also revealed, via a sign in the shop, that…

THYAGARAJ MARKANDAN | Kloof THe battles lines are drawn, the gloves are off as the ANC factions square up against each other in the open. After the NEC meeting last week, President Cyril Ramaphosa temporarily suspended ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule and then, in a surprise move, the secretary-general unilaterally suspended the president from the ANC. It was a tit-for-tat move: you suspend me, I’ll suspend you. The ANC had a problem. Magashule was as defiant as ever. He wasn’t going to meekly accept the suspension notice. He was prepared to fight it out to the bitter end. This defiant stance from Magashule forced the NEC to convene another meeting over the weekend to deal with its recalcitrant secretary-general. On Monday evening, Ramaphosa delivered the NEC’s verdict that Magashule’s…

EVERY overreaction, poor attitude and expression of anger will have an equal, opposite reaction no matter how much love there is between or among you. People are designed for freedom. Get in the way of someone’s freedom and you will pay for it. It may take years but it will cost you. The person who most wants whatever from another person (time, sex, a beach walk, a loan, long intimate chats over coffee) places the other in a position of power. This is why pleading and begging are so unattractive. The stronger, more mature person in a relationship will be the one who seeks forgiveness and reconciliation when a relationship is derailed. While the focus is on who is right or wrong and who needs to apologise first, the people…

Sakhile Ndlazi sakhile.ndlazi@inl.co.za A reward of R10 000 is being offered for information regarding artworks stolen during a hijacking in Pretoria last month. Pieces from renowned artists WH Coetzer, Ignatius Marx, Helene Kapp, Margaret Gradwell and Gerhard Smit were taken, Lyttelton police spokesperson Captain Dave Miller said. “The police are requesting any information that can assist them in recovering these paintings taken during a hijacking on April 15. The incident occurred in Pretoria East at around 11.30am.” Miller said although the vehicle was later recovered, all the artwork had been taken. “The paintings were en route to a gallery from an auction,” he said. “A reward of R10 000 has been offered by the affected parties for any information that will lead to the successful recovery of the paintings…

A 63-YEAR-OLD man has been arrested at the Lebombo border post as he allegedly attempted to smuggle drugs from Mozambique into the country. Mpumalanga police spokesperson Brigadier Leonard Hlathi said the Mozambican national was scheduled to appear in the Komatipoort Magistrate’s Court today facing charges of possession of drugs. “According to information received, the suspect was travelling from Mozambique to South Africa when his vehicle was stopped for processing by members from the SAPS and the SA Revenue Service’s (Sars) customs unit during a joint routine operation,” said Hlathi. He said that when the man’s vehicle, a double-cab bakkie, was searched, 136kg of suspected heroin as well as 19kg of suspected crystal meth worth a combined value of about R32 million was allegedly found. “The drugs were stashed underneath charcoal…

Sibusiso Mboto sibusiso.mboto@inl.co.za LEADING funeral parlour associations have distanced themselves from the planned strike action by some unhappy operators in Gauteng, saying they would rather engage the government than embark on a strike. As fears mount that the strike led by Unification Task Team (UTT) over a range of complaints – such as the demand for the issuing of a certificate of competence – could spread to other parts of South Africa, including Kwa- Zulu-Natal, two prominent groups have distanced themselves from the action. Funeral Federation of South Africa chairperson John Storom said that while they understood UTT’s grievances, they believed that strike action was not an appropriate option. He equally slammed the lack of an appropriate response from the department, which had given rise to the prospect of a…

PRINCE MANGOSUTHU BUTHELEZI | MP and Traditional Prime Minister to the Zulu monarch and Zulu nation I NOTE from a letter by Mr Mfezeko Bunu (Cape Times, May 6) that he is “perplexed” about my title of traditional Prime Minister to the Zulu Monarch and Nation. Allow me to assist. He is right that this position does not match the Western “English” definition of a prime minister. But that does not disqualify the position. Under colonial rule, the British reduced AmaKhosi to “tribal chiefs” and the king to a “paramount chief”. That does not change their factual existence. Mr Bunu’s opinion, that I shouldn’t be “given” the title of traditional prime minister because it “suggests that all the Zulu-speaking people support the principles that (I) stand for”, is based…

PETROL stations along the US East Coast are starting to run out of fuel as North America’s biggest petroleum pipeline fights to recover from a cyberattack that has paralysed it for days. From Virginia to Florida and Alabama, fuel stations are reporting that they’ve sold out of petrol as supplies in the region dwindle and panic buying sets in. The White House said it was aware of shortages in the southeast and was trying to alleviate the problem. Four days into the crisis, Colonial Pipeline Co has managed only to operate a small segment of the pipeline manually as a stopgap measure and doesn’t expect to be able to substantially restore services before the weekend. The risk is that by that point drivers or airlines may already be suffering severe…

Foreigners climbed Mount Everest for the first time since Nepal’s government reopened the mountain after it was shut last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, despite recent coronavirus cases at its base camp. Thirty-eight climbers including 10 Bahraini and two British mountaineers climbed the world’s highest mountain yesterday. It comes as a few climbers were evacuated from the Everest base camp in April with symptoms of Covid-19. Nepal closed the mountain in March last year due to the pandemic, but reopened for this year’s climbing season starting in April, issuing a record of 408 permits granting access to the 8 848.86m peak.…

Mike Greenaway The wounds cut deep in the Sharks players after their agonising Currie Cup final defeat to the Bulls in January, and lessons were learnt, says flyhalf Curwin Bosch ahead of his team’s return to Loftus on Saturday for a Rainbow Cup SA match. Bosch, who personally had a forgettable day when his kicking radar proved faulty, said the Sharks had taken the unusual step of going back and studying events of that afternoon. “In the past we wouldn’t have analysed a final, but we did an in-depth review of this one and learnt a lot, and we will apply the lessons this weekend in what is definitely going to be a very good contest between two unbeaten sides,” Bosch said. “We have seen how we could have won…