Table of contents for 2022-12-06 in Mercury

IN AN effort to drive transformation in the diamond sector, the De Beers Group yesterday announced that Molefi Letsiki Diamonds (MLD) would become its first majority black-owned sightholder, effective from January 1, 2023. A sightholder is a company on the De Beers Global sightholder sales list of authorised bulk purchasers of rough diamonds. De Beers Group sells its rough diamonds through two channels: global sightholder sales, and auctions. The diamond miner said Molefi Letsiki was an alumnus of the De Beers Enterprise Development Project for diamondbBeneficiators launched in 2016 to facilitate growth and transformation of diamond beneficiation in South Africa. According to the world’s biggest diamond producer by volume, Letsiki formed part of the first cohort of the Diamond Beneficiators Project and was a second-generation diamantaire, whose father worked…

THE more things change, the more they stay the same. For investors, with 2020 still fresh in their minds, this year has been yet another case in point. With so much having changed this year, it is easy to believe we’ve entered a new paradigm. But although much has changed, the future is no less certain than it was a year, or two, or even ten years ago. Investing today is equally challenging, because we’re still looking to make portfolio decisions in highly uncertain times. We still need to carefully review the opportunity set, try to put emotions aside and take calculated risks. The reward then lies in waiting to see whether we realise a return better than risk-free. This sounds simple, but it is far from easy. For most…

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa yesterday asked the country’s apex court for direct access to challenge a damning report against him on the eve of today’s parliamentary hybrid sitting that will vote on whether he should face an impeachment committee. The ANC has faced a dilemma since Wednesday, when the Section 89 independent panel report on the Phala Phala scandal found that there was prima facie evidence that Ramaphosa may have violated the Constitution. Yesterday, Ramaphosa filed papers at the Constitutional Court for a review application of the report, saying that he wanted direct access to the highest court in the land because of the serious nature of the recommendations contained in the report. In court papers, Ramaphosa said he was requesting direct access to the apex court as “this is an…

New York City is advertising for a “somewhat bloodthirsty” person not opposed to “wholesale slaughter” to be its new “Rat Czar”. Mayor Eric Adams’s administration wants someone with “a general aura of badassery” to lead the city’s battle against the rodents, according to Sky News. While the official job title is for a “Director of Rodent Mitigation”, the role has been dubbed the “Rat Czar”. It comes with a salary range of $120 000 to $170 000 (about R2.1 million to R2.9m). “The ideal candidate is highly motivated and somewhat bloodthirsty, determined to look at all solutions from various angles, including improving operational efficiency, data collection, technology innovation, trash management, and wholesale slaughter,” the ad reads. New York City has been trying to control its rodent population for generations. The…

While the country marks 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children, congratulations to all organisations that are launching activism campaigns. It is time to give women the respect they deserve. It is so sad to notice the increased number of women who suffer abuse and violence and in some cases are murdered by a spouse or partner. The recently released statistics of crimes committed against women and children have shown an increase, and to me this is worrying and is becoming sickening and shameful. What possesses any man to behave with such cruelty and cowardice towards women and children? Today, despite all the sacrifices made and the fact we have one of the world’s most progressive constitutions, many South African women sadly face domestic violence and…

AN investigator from the City’s Integrity and Investigations Unit (CIIU), who has been accused of corruption, has been released on R10 000 bail. The eThekwini Municipality official, identified as Ntuthuko Mntungwa, 40, faces charges of extortion and corruption. He was arrested last month after he travelled to the South Coast to allegedly collect a bribe from a businessman. It has been alleged that he approached the businessman, claiming that he was being investigated for possible wrongdoing, and demanded a bribe. He was not the only employee that was involved in the alleged bribery scandal. The ensuing investigation by the CIIU after Mntungwa’s arrest uncovered that another employee from the CIIU was involved and when that employee was confronted with evidence and possible suspension, he resigned with immediate effect, the city…

IF WE want to bear the characteristics of who we are as a country, then how does the Constitutional Court justify the release of the unrepentant murderer of Chris Hani on parole? As a democratic state, this is a disgrace, and as president of the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru), I strongly appeal to the Constitutional Court to overturn this decision. On November 21, the highest court in the land upheld an appeal brought by convicted killer Janusz Walus and ordered the Ministry of Justice and Correctional Services to place him on parole within 10 days. Chief Justice Raymond Zondo said that Justice Minister Ronald Lamola’s 2020 decision to refuse Walus parole was “irrational and it falls to be reviewed and set aside”. Walus was sentenced to…

China is set to announce the further easing of some of the world’s toughest Covid-19 curbs as early as tomorrow sources said, as investors cheered the prospect of a policy shift that follows widespread protests and mounting economic damage. China’s zero-tolerance measures, from shut borders to frequent lockdowns, contrast sharply with the rest of the world, which has largely decided to live with Covid-19. The strict approach has battered the world’s second-largest economy, put mental strain on hundreds of millions and last month prompted the biggest show of public discontent in mainland China since President Xi Jinping took power in 2012. Although last month’s protests largely subsided amid a heavy police presence across major cities, regional authorities have since cut back on lockdowns, quarantine rules and testing requirements to varying…

Moscow: The Kremlin said yesterday that a price cap on Russian oil exports agreed by the EU, G7 and Australia would not affect Moscow’s military campaign in Ukraine. The price cap of $60 (R1 040) a barrel aims to restrict Russia’s revenue while making sure Moscow keeps supplying the global market. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia “would not recognise” the price cap, which amounted to “a step towards destabilising the global energy markets” and would “change” oil prices. The oil price cap aims to ensure Russia cannot bypass the embargo by selling its oil to third countries at high prices. | AFP…

Now that the dust has settled on the November international season, we can take a considered look at the rugby landscape ahead of next year’s World Cup and - for my money - the Springboks have made more progress up rugby’s Everest than their rivals. Before a ball was kicked on the first weekend in November, Ireland and France were rated the best contenders for the Webb Ellis Cup, with New Zealand not far off them; England were breathing down the necks of the Kiwis and the Springboks and Wallabies were not doing well at the bookies. Four weekends of international rugby later, it looks a little different. Ireland and France are still right up there but they no longer look unbeatable. There has been so much hype about both…

Achraf Hakimi was born in Madrid but will have little hesitation plotting the downfall of Spain when he and his Moroccan teammates take on the 2010 World Cup winners today. The flying wingback is one of the key players in the north African outfit whose last-16 match in the Qatar World Cup against Spain, at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, gives them a chance to reach the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time. Hakimi could even have been on the opposite side, as he was called up when still a teenager for Spain's junior team. "I felt it was not the right place for me, I did not feel at home. It was not for anything in particular, but it was not how I lived at home,…

THE premier beaches of uMhlanga have been closed – again – by eThekwini Municipality after a spike in E coli levels. The two beaches, uMhlanga Main and Bronze, were opened last week amid much excitement after the municipality declared that the E coli levels were at an acceptable level and the water quality had improved. However, subsequent tests of the water have revealed that it is not safe as E coli readings are still high. On Thursday last week, the city gave an update on the state of its beaches as it was getting ready to welcome tourists for the festive season. It hosted an event at North Beach in Durban with artists and social-media influencers to encourage people to visit the city. Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda and deputy city manager…

Springbok player Sbu Nkosi, who was reported missing by rugby team the Bulls, has been found safe and sound at his stepfather’s home in Emalahleni in Mpumalanga. The Bulls confirmed in a statement yesterday afternoon that they had tracked him down and that chief executive Edgar Rathbone has been to see him. “After lengthy and extensive efforts from the Bulls, in collaboration with (security group) SSG – that have gone beyond their commercial responsibility – at 2.02pm on Monday December 5, Nkosi was located,” the Bulls said. “Once it was established that Nkosi was safe, unharmed and in a position to speak, chief executive Edgar Rathbone went into Nkosi’s home (with the permission of the player), spending alone time with him, to understand how best the company can…

How can we ever forget the clip that went viral where a white American police officer was pressing his knee against the neck of a black man for more than 9 minutes, despite the black man pleading that he had difficulty breathing? Had it not been for social media and a passer-by who caught it on a cellphone camera, the brutal action of officer Derek Chauvin from the Minneapolis Police that led to the death of George Floyd would never have been exposed. Chauvin was sentenced to 20 years for murder and manslaughter. In July 2022 he was sentenced to an additional 20 years for violating George Floyd’s civil rights. Fast forward to December 2, 2022 to Hawara, near occupied Nablus in Palestine. A video clip went viral that showed…

This government of ours really knows how to waste taxpayers’ money. This ongoing saga with the public protector and her sidekick Dali Mpofu is becoming a total waste of money. I stand to be corrected, but is it not the government and indirectly our tax funding her legal costs? This has become more than a joke and a waste of our money. She should be funding her own legal costs if she feels that she has been badly treated by all and sundry. Mpofu must be making a killing on the fees he charges, paid by the government; it’s probably very similar in the Zuma saga as well. I am sure that if she were to pay her own legal costs, Mpofu would not be employed, unless he does it…

KwaZulu-Natal Athletics (KZNA) has dismissed as false rumours that there were positive doping results at the 2022 Comrades Marathon. KZNA president Steve Mkasi said in a statement on Sunday that the provincial athletics body had been made aware of rumours circulating in certain athletics quarters of positive doping results at this year’s Comrades. “We would like to confirm that there is no basis to these rumours,” he said. Mkasi said there were stringent doping tests and processes that were carried out by the SA Institute for Drug Free Sport (Saids). He said the results were released a few weeks ago, clearing the top 10 athletes in both male and female races. “These stringent drug tests are doubly verified if any questions or doubts arise in the initial tests and as…

The reaction of the so-called experts after the Section 89 independent panel found there is prima facie evidence of serious misconduct against President Cyril Ramaphosa has been shocking, to say the least. The panel made its findings after foreign currency, hidden inside a sofa at Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala game farm, was stolen. Following the report being made public, there have been growing calls from political parties for the president to fall on his sword. According to media reports, Ramaphosa was ready to throw in the towel late last week, but his political handlers in the ANC persuaded him to stay on, saying that if he resigned the party would be thrown to the wolves. While Ramaphosa has gone to ground since the political fallout last week, his supporters in the…

About 2 500 dead seals have been found on the coast of the Caspian Sea in south-western Russia, conservation authorities said, a significant setback for the endangered species. The Natural Resources Ministry in Dagestan said the seals had been found at different locations along Dagestan’s coast, which lines the north-west portion of the Caspian Sea, the world’s largest inland body of water. The ministry said autopsies on some of the first few hundred seals found determined that they probably died of natural causes. Kazakhstan, one of five countries bordering the Caspian Sea – along with Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran and Turkmenistan – has on a few occasions this year reported the deaths of dozens of the seals, but not as large a number. The animals’ remains will be examined in a…

Lumajang: Rescuers evacuated more people yesterday from villages after the eruption of Indonesia’s Mount Semeru, officials warning of danger from cooling lava despite less activity from the volcano. More than 2 400 villagers have now fled their homes and taken shelter in 11 evacuation centres after the highest mountain on the country’s main island of Java erupted early on Sunday. Officials announced a state of emergency for the next two weeks. Yesterday, dozens of evacuees in Lumajang district where Semeru is located ventured back to their ash-covered homes to retrieve important belongings, before returning to shelters. | AFP…

Zulu royal insiders have spoken out about a tussle for positions of influence within the royal family, indicating that the royal house has been targeted by “outsiders”. The sources claim the contestation had now reached deadly proportions with the killing of Prince Mbongiseni Zulu who was buried this past weekend. While the police have not made any arrest following the murder, this has not stopped speculation from a wide range of sources that Prince Mbongiseni had been seen as being too close to the reigning monarch, King Misuzulu kaZwelithini. Some suggested he had blocked individuals seeking to take advantage of the royal house from having access to the king. At the weekend, Prince Vanana Zulu lamented the prince’s murder when addressing mourners at the funeral in oSuthu, outside Ulundi. “Was…

Respecting an emotional, psychological or physical boundary is the recognition of the simple truth that people – even married couples – remain unique individuals. Healthy relationships do not rob a person of his or her uniqueness, no matter how much love or “closeness” there is. Getting lost in each other is not the kind of closeness that will or can endure. Every person has his or her own body, his or her thoughts, his or her feelings, his or her dreams, desires and separateness. When these distinctions are honoured and respected, then the choice to be in a relationship and the choice to love is that much more profound. Boundaries empower people to love with freedom. Unhealthy boundaries make – force, coerce – people to “love” from a position of…

We have all been duped. President Cyril Ramaphosa is a con artist par excellence. Suave and articulate, he hoodwinked us all. Personally, I feel ashamed that I believed in him, that he would lead us out of the quagmire into which state capture had plunged the nation. But this shrewd billionaire president, who was earning a fat salary with all the perks of his high office, had other plans. He wanted more. Rather than fulfilling his oath of office and putting the interests of the nation first, he has been putting the interests of his own pocket first, allegedly stashing away millions of illicit dollars on his Phala Phala farm. As the weekend papers reported, no one knows for sure how much money he got as donations from Saudi Arabia,…

Your article in The Mercury (December 5) “Pens-down parties are dangerous, Education Department warns”, refers. Like Mt Stromboli in Italy, our pupils, especially just after the matric exams, erupt every year with grim but explosive regularity. I know of my own pupils who just vanished overnight after the last paper. Motor car accidents, drownings and stabbings. Generally accompanied by alcohol, but it is not always the culprit. What exactly do all pupils, not necessarily just post matric, do immediately after their end-of-year exams? After a regimented existence over most of the year – even some mid-year holidays involve extra classes or tuition that leaves very little time for having some fun – children are just stamping their hooves and biting at the reins, anxiously awaiting the second week of December.…

A black doctor has laid a complaint with the B-BBEE Commission Afrocentric accusing it of trying to use her to support its black economic empowerment (BEE) status. Afrocentric has, however, denied the claim. A South African-born woman, Dr Nomteto Belinda Ogundipe, approached UDM leader and Member of Parliament Bantu Holomisa complaining that Afrocentric had embarked on a scheme to use her as a BEE front. The B-BBEE Commission confirmed it was aware of the matter. In a letter, Holomisa, on a parliamentary letterhead, requests the intervention of Trade and Industry Minister Ebrahim Patel. The letter in part reads: “I was approached by Dr Nomteto Belinda Ogundipe … of what happened to her in a BEE fronting scheme. It has been a case of shifting the goalposts with regards to equipment…

THE problematic question in the Grade 12 Maths Paper 2, which pupils struggled to answer, with some saying it could not be solved, has been excluded from the paper. This was confirmed by Department of Basic Education spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga yesterday. Mhlanga said the department had “resolved” that the question would be excluded when the paper was marked. “The matter regarding the mathematics Paper 2 has been resolved. Question 5.1 (worth 7 marks) in mathematics Paper 2 was found to be faulty. The question has been excluded from the marking process,” he said. Mhlanga said the paper would now be out of 143 marks instead of 150. “The question paper will be marked out of 143 marks and the mark will be upscaled to 150. Marking sessions will commence on…

‘The leadership of these schools is contributing to the problem’ PRIVATE schools have recently been under the spotlight for various reasons, not all positive. But the golden thread is a stony silence and a business-as-usual attitude once the noise subsides. Diversity and inclusivity remain a headache for private schooling in South Africa. This subject is dominating global headlines amid another royal race row involving the late queen of England’s lady-in-waiting, Lady Susan Hussey, which may seem contradictory. Fortunately, Prince William swiftly responded, saying Lady Hussey’s racism has no place in the world. One cannot leave Fifa out of the debate since there’s no justification for saying that racism and discrimination have no place in football while denying footballers the right to spread a message of love – or fans their…

Sudan’s military and civilian leaders yesterday signed an initial deal aimed at ending a crisis caused by last year’s military coup, prompting sceptical protesters to cry betrayal. Army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan seized power in October 2021, derailing a rocky transition to civilian rule that began after the 2019 ouster of veteran autocrat Omar al-Bashir. The past year has seen near-weekly protests and a crackdown pro-democracy medics say has killed at least 121, a spiralling economic crisis exacerbated by donors slashing funding, and a rise in ethnic violence in several remote regions. Divisions among civilian groups have deepened since the coup, some urging a deal with the military while others insist on “no partnership, no negotiation”. Yesterday’s deal was signed by Burhan, paramilitary commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo and multiple civilian…

Iranian shops shut their doors in several cities yesterday, following calls for a three-day nationwide general strike from protesters seeking the fall of clerical rulers, with the head of the judiciary blaming “rioters” for threatening shopkeepers. Iran has been rocked by nationwide unrest following the death of Iranian Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini on September 16 in police custody, posing one of the strongest challenges to the Islamic Republic since the 1979 revolution. Amini was arrested by Iran’s morality police for flouting the strict hijab policy, which requires women to dress modestly and wear headscarfs. The semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that an amusement park at a Tehran shopping centre was closed by the judiciary because its operators were not wearing the hijab properly. The reformist-leaning Hammihan newspaper said morality police…

Sydney: A new New South Wales (NSW) report has found migrant workers in Australia are facing a wage theft problem and called for reforms. The trade union surveyed 7 000 job ads across more than 10 industries. More than 1 000 migrant workers shared their experiences. More than 60% of the job ads audited offered wages below the minimum pay. The retail industry was the worst offender at 85% , followed by cleaning, transport, construction and hospitality. Over one-third of migrant workers reported being paid less because of their visa type, and a quarter because of their nationality. | IANS…