Table of contents for 2022-05-16 in Mercury

ESKOM’s windfall announced on Friday that it will be able to short-circuit Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) procurement processes which are likely to help the utility to move faster, but there remain concerns that continuing corruption and the need for extensive maintenance may take more power off the grid for longer. Eskom announced on Friday that the National Treasury’s relaxation of some procurement and supply chain management rules and processes contained in the PFMA will assist it in speeding up critical and urgent procurement. The amendment, which is outlined in an instruction note that became effective in April, will also empower it to engage directly with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and maintenance suppliers. This is as Eskom, which has long bemoaned that it needs at least 77 days…

GLOBAL and domestic financial markets continued their nervous volatile movements last week, as the Russia-Ukraine conflict continued, US inflation remained a threat for interest rates and the Covid-19 lockdown in China put resource prices under pressure. The Ukraine-Russia conflict has kept the oil prices (Brent) above $111 (R1 793) a barrel, fuelling cost-push inflation, especially in the developed world. The US inflation rate for April 2022 came in at 8.3 percent, against market expectations of 6.1 percent. The figure immediately put share prices around the globe under renewed pressure, as further hawkish interest rate hikes by the US Federal Reserve now loom. In the US, equities were subject to another week of hammering. The Dow Jones Industrial shares lost another 2.14 last week, and the index is…

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa said yesterday that the government would help the people of the province rebuild their lives and to help business get back on their feet after devastating floods damaged infrastructure and led to loss of lives. At a meeting with KZN organised business in Durban yesterday, Ramaphosa was joined by ministers Pravin Gordhan, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Fikile Mbalula and KZN Premier Sihle Zikalala. Chief executives of some of the biggest companies and employers in the province raised several issues including the damaged rail system and how it was adding to daily logistic expenses. “As government, we are firmly committed to give the business community in KwaZulu-Natal all the necessary support, resources and technical capacity to recover from these catastrophic events. The KwaZulu-Natal economy is a vital part…

FEW people understand that we may be more at risk of being victims of banking corruption than government corruption. The banks have too much financial power which eventually leads to malfeasance and corruption. Our banking industry was born during apartheid and cannot possibly transform themselves to conducting business in a constitutional democracy. It is an impossibility. They must at every step of the way be led by the findings of an ombudsman or the courts. They simply don’t understand democracy. In fact, they do everything within their financial power to stop democracy in its tracks. This paper, on May 13, revealed that the banks were ordered by the ombudsman (OBS) to return R19 million to their customers. What more do we need to prove that they have CEOs, directors and…

Now I see the Russian Foreign Minister, Mr Lavrov, says the West has declared a hybrid war on Russia. He's annoyed. Are we meant to be taken as fools in this world? Russia made an unprovoked invasion of a sovereign country and the results, so far, are devastating. Did Russia think at all about the wrong it was about to do and has done, so far? No. Does Russia for one moment not think that the civilised world would condemn it (most UN member states do) and that the richer countries would provide any aid they could to support Ukraine, in the defence of democracy and peace? Obviously, they do not and only look at it from their warped perspective. So Lavrov mustn’t be surprised about the strong anti-Russian sentiment…

LIFE is increasingly like a computer puzzle. Consider this anguished appeal to Tech Support from a young woman. “Dear Tech Support, “Last year I upgraded from Boyfriend 5.0 to Husband 1.0 and noticed a distinct slowdown in overall system performance, particularly in the flower and jewellery applications, which operated flawlessly under Boyfriend 5.0. “In addition, Husband 1.0 uninstalled other valuable programs such as Romance 9.5 and Personal Attention 6.5 and then installed undesirable programs such as National Boxing Association 5.0, National Football League 3.0 and Golf Clubs 4.1. “Conversation 8.0 no longer runs and House Cleaning 2.6 simply crashes the system. “Please note that I have tried running Nagging 5.3 to fix these problems, but to no avail. What can I do?” “Desperate!” Response: “Dear Desperate, “First keep in…

Home Affairs is in the process of drafting regulations to allow unmarried fathers to register the births of their children in the absence of the mother. A 2018 High Court judgment, which was confirmed by the Constitutional Court last year, ordered the department to do this. The judgment declared section 10 of the Births and Deaths Registration Act unconstitutional to the extent that it did not allow unmarried fathers to register the births of their children in the absence of the mothers of such children. The case referred to the matter concerning a South African soldier who struggled to register his child’s birth under his surname. Home Affairs first refused to register the birth on grounds that the mother was an undocumented Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) national. Home Affairs…

EThekwini Municipality has said that the Water and Sanitation Unit was fast-tracking the laying of two pipelines in oThongathi to assist in restoring water supply in several parts of the area. The city said this came after water supply interruptions were caused by damage to infrastructure during the floods, which added to the existing damage to several alternate water supplies into the oThongathi area. “The laying of pipelines is expected to be completed in the next two weeks. Consumers are urged to use water sparingly during the testing process, as it will take time to fully restore water supply,” said the municipality. Ashan Nandlal, a project executive at eTheKwini Water and Sanitation, said the pipelines that were being laid from the iNyaninga line were approximately 2km long. “It’s been fast-tracked…

Like the rest of the world, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) is battling the negative effects of colliding crises. Chief among these crises are the Covid-19 health and economic pandemics, deglobalisation from unipolarism, and the neutering of multilateral organisations. The threat of nuclear war from the Russia-Ukraine imbroglio has exacerbated these colliding crises further by hurting global economic growth and driving up prices for basic consumer goods like food and energy. In this maelstrom of both man-made and natural crises, one question that comes up concerns identifying the response of the world’s second largest economy. The PRC’s strategic response – namely the New Development Philosophy (NDP) – is noteworthy for its clarity, relevance and transparency. What are its constituent elements and why should we be interested to know about…

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has told his Finnish counterpart, Sauli Niinistö, that Finland scrapping its military neutrality would be a “mistake”, the Kremlin said. “Putin stressed that the end of the traditional policy of military neutrality would be a mistake since there is no threat to Finland’s security,” the Kremlin said in a statement after a phone call between the two leaders. Helsinki is expected to announce its bid for Nato membership. “Such a change in the country’s political orientation can have a negative impact on Russian-Finnish relations developed over years in a spirit of good neighbourliness and co-operation between partners,” the statement said. Both leaders also touched on the situation in Ukraine, Putin informed his counterpart on the status of Russian-Ukrainian talks, which he said had been “near suspended…

Staff Reporter Richards Bay FC, nicknamed the Natal Rich Boyz, won the National First Division championship yesterday and will play in the DStv Premiership next season after they finished the season on 59 points. The University of Pretoria (AmaTuks) and Cape Town All Stars finished in second place and third place, respectively. They will fight it out with a yet unconfirmed top-flight outfit in the three-team PSL promotion/relegation play-offs in a few weeks. Richards Bay started the final round of the GladAfrica Championship on top of the standings and a goalless draw against Cape Town Spurs at King Zwelithini Stadium yesterday was enough to see them earn automatic promotion to the elite league, while also claiming the GladAfrica Championship crown. The University of Pretoria, meanwhile, could have won the championship…

ORGANISED business has called for greater co-operation between the private sector and the government, especially on major projects, warning that the current situation had the potential to lead to disinvestment in eThekwini, and KwaZulu-Natal as a whole. The sentiment was expressed when organised business met President Cyril Ramaphosa and some members of his Cabinet yesterday in a meeting organised by KZN Premier Sihle Zikalala. Speaking on behalf of business, the co-chairperson of the KZN Growth Coalition, Moses Tembe, said that as KZN was busy with rebuilding efforts after the floods, there were far more opportunities than challenges. He added that the business community was committed to rebuilding. “We are of the view that huge investment could be unlocked in the private sector if we begin to look at some of…

TOGETHER with the cold-blooded murder of Al-Jazeerah journalist, Shireen Abu Akleh, the violence that erupted at Abu Akleh’s funeral procession need to be condemned in the strongest possible terms. The Israeli forces’ disgraceful attack on pallbearers that violates all values, norms and international laws will be remembered forever. The Israeli violence against the funeral procession resembles the apartheid-era police actions in South Africa and highlights the brutality of the Israeli occupation. How much more suffering and pain must the Palestinians endure? Repeatedly it has been recorded that the Israeli military operate with impunity in Palestine, not only targeting and persecuting Palestinians, but also aid workers, journalists and human rights activists, without justification or reason. When will Israeli soldiers or military officials be held accountable for their evil and abuses? History…

NO South African with a heart could have sat down to dinner with a clear conscience last Sunday after reading about starving adults and children – some eating sand to survive – in some parts of KwaZulu-Natal as reported in the media. No, this was not about Ukraine or Yemen, but about what is happening on our doorstep, in a country where the well-heeled drive Ferraris and Beemers. It is scandalous that people have to starve in a country with its much-vaunted notion of ubuntu. I grew up in the district of Springtown in Durban in the 1950s in a very low-income community. There were local support structures which ensured that a family facing starvation would have a loaf of bread at least once a week. I recall my…

To love one another is our lifetime and toughest charge no matter who we are and no matter what our circumstance. It is our universal calling. Yes, love one another, no matter where you are or what you’re doing with your life. No matter how many trophies you may win (or lose), the challenge is always going to be to love one another. An inroad to clarifying what practical actions such love may involve can begin with answering the question: “What’s the very highest good I can do for this person in this circumstance right now?” and do what you can to act accordingly. Answering such a question may indeed lead you and me to what it means to love one another. May we honour, admire and respect each other.…

THE eThekwini Municipality has said that Durban beaches are to remain closed as the threat of water-borne diseases and E coli bacteria have reached alarming levels following last month’s floods. Municipal spokesperson Msawakhe Mayisela said water tests were being carried out daily, and people would be informed when the levels of E coli bacteria drop. E coli may be found in water sources that have been contaminated with faeces from infected humans or animals, and can cause water-borne disease (ie cholera, typhoid, amebiasis, hepatitis and gastroenteritis). “We sincerely apologise for this inconvenience, but we must all be mindful that it is in the interest of safety, and our city is doing everything in its power to ensure that the situation returns to normal with speed,” he said. Residents can still,…

A DURBAN resident has called on the city’s residents to implement a “pressure campaign” against the eThekwini Municipality to get the metro to deliver improved basic services. Nivern Chetty says residents should inundate city officials and councillors with emails and phone calls about service-delivery problems in their areas, saying it was up to residents to force the city to improve its service delivery. Chetty has been on a one-man “pressure campaign” writing emails to city officials demanding his area to be better serviced. A few days ago, he had raised concerns about the state of Percy Osborne Road in Morningside, saying it was filthy. The Mercury reported recently about his call for better services after he photographed city workers allegedly “relaxing” mid-morning when they should have been working. The workers…

A NATIONAL dialogue should be held immediately to come up with innovative ways to respond to the current water challenges being experienced in various parts of the country. Not too long ago, South Africa had the distinct honour of being one of the few countries in the world in which people could drink tap water without any fear of getting sick. However, a lack of maintenance, the exodus of experienced engineers to run water treatment plants, and falling standards of service delivery have changed that. Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality in Gqeberha is experiencing its worst water challenges to date, with authorities urging residents to “boil the water before consuming it” because of contamination. The authorities have also expressed fears that the municipality will run out of water due to an…

British medical journal The Lancet has warned that US Supreme Court justices would have “women’s blood on their hands” if they strike down the nationwide right to abortion. In a hard-hitting editorial, the renowned scientific publication condemned a leaked draft decision to override the landmark 1973 Roe v Wade ruling that enshrined the right to abortion in the US. “The fact is that if the US Supreme Court confirms its draft decision, women will die,” the publication said. “The justices who vote to strike down Roe will not succeed in ending abortion, they will only succeed in ending safe abortion. “Alito and his supporters will have women’s blood on their hands,” it concluded, referring to Justice Samuel Alito, who authored the draft majority opinion of the court that was leaked.…

The Top 8 situation has all but taken shape. It is only ninth-placed Golden Arrows who still have a chance of breaking into the top eight equation should they win their final league game of the season against AmaZulu at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban next Saturday. With 33 points to their name, 10th-placed Marumo Gallants have no chance finishing in the Top 8 as a win in their final game of the season against Sekhukhune United will leave them one point short of eighth-placed SuperSport United. This essentially means that Gallants’ last league game of the season against Sekhukhune is a dead-rubber. Dan Malesela’s side can start focusing on their Nedbank Cup final clash with Sundowns later this month. SuperSport heaped the pressure on themselves by falling to…

THE Department of Water and Sanitation has committed R130 million to addressing the water challenges faced by the embattled Ugu District Municipality. The money will be made available to address infrastructure challenges over the next two financial years. The funding comes as the district municipality has battled to provide water to its residents for the past few years. There have been reports that some areas suffer constant, prolonged water shortages for days or weeks at a time. There have also been allegations that some of the outages are caused by the sabotage of the municipality’s infrastructure which is considered fragile. The situation has been worsened by the recent floods that damaged infrastructure. Businesses, especially those in the tourism sector, have been severely affected by the water outages. DA MP Tim…

From a Star Wars X-Wing spacecraft model to a Thor hammer, a treasure trove of entertainment memorabilia from much-loved movies is going up for auction in Hollywood next month. More than 1 800 items are offered at the June 21-24 auction which is expectedto raise more than $9 million (R145m). “Over 600 film and television titles are represented,” Propstore chief operations officer Brandon Alinger said. “Beyond the core props and costumes … (we have) collectible toys, comic books, comic artwork and film production materials … ” Leading the lots is the “Red Leader” X-Wing model from Star Wars: A New Hope, estimated to fetch between $500 000 and $1 million. “We believe this is the only genuine, intact, original X-Wing from the very first Star Wars ever offered…

NO doubt John Gardener, formerly of Underberg, derived cathartic relief from his creative writing exercise published in The Mercury on May 13. But like Kamala Harris, who giggles when confronted with challenging questions and information, Gardener’s attempts to dismiss narratives which diverge from what he regards as holy writ, really amount to subterfuge. Nonetheless, Gardener’s saponaceous fulminations pay tribute to the power of the mainstream media in dictating narratives. Apparently, credibility becomes incontrovertible the more a specific narrative is repeated by “renowned” sources. But history shows that such hidebound thinking is not permanent. The Reformation would never have occurred without the courageous challenges of Luther, Calvin and others to the prevailing narrative. Many inventions would never have come about without the tenacity to persevere against naysayers. Historically, the most damning…

IT seems that my criticism of the proposed Durban Eye project may have been a bit premature. If so, as a “real man”, I wind in my neck and shall dine on humble pie. The project, as revealed today, is supposedly not going to cost eThekwini Municipality a brass farthing. A private investment consortium simply developing land granted by Council? Well, then, phew! What a relief. But wait, let’s look a little more closely. The project reportedly shall generate revenue for eThekwini in various ways, “with inflation-linked escalations year-on-year” for 30 years. Ja, well, no fine. But, after 30 years, then what? The municipality will “inherit the asset and all building improvements”. And then? Yet another bottomless hole, just like uShaka Marine World and Moses Mabhida Stadium, into which goodness…

Knorr Cup-a-Soup Lite Beef and Vegetable instant soup products have been recalled. Acting National Consumer Commissioner, Thezi Mabuza, has urged consumers in possession of Knorr Cup-a-Soup Lite Beef and Vegetable to discontinue use of the product and return it for a full refund. “The manufacturer, Unilever South Africa informed the commission that Knorr Cup-a-Soup Regular Beef and Vegetable instant soup variant sachets were incorrectly packed into the Knorr Cup-a-Soup Lite Beef and Vegetable instant soup variant cartons. “We understand that this means that consumers could unwillingly consume the Knorr Cup-a-Soup Lite Beef and Vegetable variant which contains the undeclared wheat and gluten,” said Mabuza. The affected products were manufactured on March 23, 2022, with an expiry date of September 22, 2023. Consumers who are allergic to both wheat and…

Motorists who applied for new driving licence cards or renewals are urged to collect the more than 17 000 cards that remain uncollected. The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) has urged all motorists who applied for new driving licence cards or renewal of their licence cards between October 2021 and December 2021 to present themselves for collection. The RTMC said to date, the two RTMC licensing centres have received 32 748 licence cards from the Driving Licence Card Account (DLCA), a Department of Transport entity that prints driving licence cards. “However, an underwhelming 42% of those have been collected to date, leaving 17 011 licence cards uncollected,” the corporation said. Last year, Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula opened RTMC licensing centres in Midrand and Eco Park in response to the backlog…

Since the beginning of the year, 106 rhinos have already been poached, according to KwaZulu-Natal Economic Development, Tourism, and Environmental Affairs (Edtea) MEC Ravi Pillay. In a statement on Saturday, Pillay said this came after 93 rhinos were poached in KZN parks in 2020, and 102 last year. He said this year’s figures indicated a syndicate operation and severe brazenness. The MEC said security forces were responding and more rangers had been deployed. However, he said the department was aware that only provincial, national and internationally co-ordinated responses would have a long-term effect. Pillay said Premier Sihle Zikalala had tasked his department with processing and implementing recommendations of the report by the Task Team on Rhino Poaching in KZN. He said this was a work in progress. “It is my…

Springbok flyhalf Elton Jantjies was reportedly arrested at OR Tambo International Airport yesterday morning after an alleged in-flight incident between Dubai and Johannesburg. Details were sketchy yesterday and a spokesperson for SA Rugby said they were investigating. “We have been informed of Elton’s arrest but we are still in the process of gathering information,” the spokesperson said. After news of the arrest broke, an SAPS spokesperson said “a 31-year-old man was arrested at OR Tambo International Airport for malicious damage to property belonging to the airline”. It appears Jantjies was arrested at 8.50am when his flight from Dubai landed and his identity was confirmed by a fellow passenger. It was unknown whether Jantjies was still in custody. Jantjies’s social media platforms showed, he spent last week in Dubai. The 41-Test…

THE Palestinian Authority said it would welcome international support in the inquiry into the death of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, while Israel said it would investigate an eruption of violence at her funeral on Friday. The death of the veteran reporter while covering an Israeli raid in the occupied West Bank last week sparked international condemnation as Israeli police charged at mourners during the funeral procession. The incident happened as Palestinians carrying the coffin led a crowd mourners in an outpouring of grief and anger over her killing. Packed around the coffin, mourners waving Palestinian flags and chanting began walking toward the gates of St Joseph’s Hospital. Israeli police officers, in an apparent bid to stop them proceeding by foot rather than taking the coffin by car, burst…

LONDON: The oldest underground rapid-transit system in the world - the beloved, smelly, iconic, clanking, overstuffed Tube – is about to undergo its biggest expansion in decades with the opening of the super-speedy and library-hushed Elizabeth line, which promises to transform the city for commuters and visitors alike. The new line boasts sleek carriages zooming along tracks laid 10 storeys below streets, through climate-controlled tunnels. The opening coincides rather nicely with the Platinum Jubilee of its namesake, Queen Elizabeth II, who is marking 70 years on the throne. |…

The Sharks’ Currie Cup destiny is still technically in their own hands but that means little if they cannot turn around their wretched form. The Sharks have had a disappointing fortnight, losing badly to the Pumas in Durban and then at the weekend they were outclassed by the Cheetahs 44-15 in Bloemfontein. The Sharks have two remaining fixtures before the play-offs, a home game against the Lions on June 4 and then they finish away to Western Province a week later. They are currently third on the table but are descending into a dog fight with Griquas and the Pumas for the two spots that are available — the Cheetahs and Bulls can’t be caught at the top of the table and have booked home semi-finals already. After the Sharks…