Table of contents for 2023-01-05 in Mercury

ANC PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa will have his hands full this week as he launches his party’s 111th anniversary in a faction-riddled Free State province that has failed to hold its elective conference three times due to divisions. Ramaphosa kicked off the celebrations yesterday with a wreath-laying ceremony at the party’s Fezile Dabi Region at the grave site of Zacharias Richard Mahabane, third president of the ANC, in Seeisosville Cemetery, Maokeng. This was one of the events that will be marked this week in the run-up to the main January 8 statement which is expected to take place at the Dr Petrus James Molemela Stadium on Sunday. Ramaphosa later proceeded to lay wreaths at the grave site of Reverend James Seme Moroka in the Mangaung region before meeting with ANC local…

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube has been at the forefront of clamping down on illegal taverns in some of Durban’s crime hot spots, including Inanda, Ntuzuma and KwaMashu (INK). From December 28 to January 3, the premier was joined on the raids by provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi and the KwaZulu-Natal Liquor Authority. Dube-Ncube said the operation was also aimed at curbing gender-based violence (GBV). “We focused on the INK because a lot of violent crimes have been reported in these areas. Crimes such as rape and violent contact crimes are reported in taverns, especially in those that are illegal,” she said. “We also conducted the blitz to monitor that liquor outlets with licences adhere to regulations – such as not selling alcohol to minors and not operating beyond stipulated…

THERE are three letters in every newspaper, making my blood boil: “ANC”. Mandela talked about freedom and hope for people in South Africa. If he could see what has been achieved so far, he would turn in his grave. The ANC has achieved only chaos and destruction since then. Years with Zuma and his cronies have done nothing else but damage. The top elite steal and wheel, filling their pockets with taxpayers’ money, protecting each other’s doings, whistle-blowers getting removed or even killed. Court procedures take years to be resolved, or are even “watered down” or forgotten. In the meantime, serious crimes happen daily and pile up like debris on a dumping site. But here comes a new ANC leadership, South Africa hoping for a better future. The new president…

Indians are very sociable people. They like to have big get-togethers. When they have a function, they don’t want to leave out any relative for fear of antagonising them. So they invite everyone, no matter how distant a relative he or she is. Their weddings, birthday parties and funerals turn out to be big, extravagant events. My own wedding went against the norm. It was a poor, shabby event. I couldn’t afford a big, showy wedding because I was earning a pittance as a teacher. After paying the instalment on the bond for the house, I didn’t have much left to afford anything else. So I opted for a small wedding – a marriage ceremony at a temple and a reception at the house. But I have no regrets. It…

TOURISM authorities have condemned an incident in which more than 20 gunmen held up a filling station that is frequented by international tourists en route to scenic spots in the mountainous town of Graskop in Mpumalanga. Provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala said the armed robbery took place in the early hours of Tuesday. “According to the report, a group of more than 20 armed suspects, who covered their faces with balaclavas, reportedly stormed a filling station in Graskop, an area regarded as one of the tourist destinations in the province. “The suspects initially posed as clients who wanted to refill at the fuel station at around midnight. “However, when fuel attendants offered their assistance, the suspects reportedly held them at gunpoint and tied them up with cable ties.” Mohlala…

FIVE suspects who allegedly committed a house robbery in Malvern on Tuesday and crashed into a truck on the M7 during a police chase are under police guard at a Durban hospital. Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said yesterday that the five suspects were recovering in hospital under police guard after their attempts to evade arrest resulted in an accident on Tuesday afternoon. Detailing the events that led to the crash, Netshiunda said members of the SAPS Umbilo Task Team were patrolling along Fielden Drive in Umbilo when they spotted a vehicle with six occupants. “The vehicle was positively identified as one which was reported to have been involved in a house robbery in the Malvern area earlier in the day,” he said. A high-speed chase ensued after the…

Armed robbers stole an undisclosed amount of cash from the Mayville post office on Tuesday, which was a scheduled South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) grant collection day for pensioners. SA Post Office spokesperson Johan Kruger said at about 8.55am, the branch manager at Mayville post office was in her office when she heard a loud bang. Kruger said the manager walked to the front to investigate. “She saw a man smashing the front counter glass window and pointing a firearm at her,” he said. The man then jumped over the counter. “The suspect forced the branch manager at gunpoint to hand over the cash on hand,” said Kruger. SAPS attended the scene and fingerprints were lifted, he said, adding that the getaway vehicle was a white Toyota Corolla. Provincial…

A mother of two will this year be able to proceed with her damages claim against the doctor who treated her husband at a Durban hospital after he suffered permanent brain damage following a cardiac arrest. The mother, who cannot be identified to protect her children, earlier turned to the high court in Pieter- maritzburg. A judge determined that the doctor, a locum hired by a firm of doctors, as well as the doctor’s firm, were 65% liable for the damages which she could prove that she had suffered as a result of her husband’s condition. Both the locum doctor and the firm who had hired him, however, turned to the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) to appeal against the judgment which found them liable. This meant the woman’s claim…

missing Free State 5-year-old twins and their aunt have been found in good health. Olerato and Orakilwe Moraile and their aunt Sylvia Majoro were found by the police’s search team and reunited with their family. “The three are all in good health,” Free State police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Thabo Covane said. “The SAPS would like to thank all media houses and community safety structures which helped to spread the message wide.” Meanwhile in another incident, police are still searching for KwaZulu-Natal toddler Ibongwe Ntanga, who has been missing since December. Anyone with information on his whereabouts can contact Glendale police at 032 947 9001 or Crime Stop at 0860 010 111. | Mercury Correspondent…

Nasrec showed how disorganised, ill-disciplined, divided and unprepared the party is The ANC as a leader of society should lead by example. The ugly scenes that characterised its 55th national conference at Nasrec left the nation astounded, to say the least. From the events that led to the eight-hour delay on the first day of the conference to the announcement of the Top 7. These delays demonstrated how disorganised, ill-disciplined, divided and unprepared the organisation is. The level of disharmony among the delegates showed the electorate the ugly side of politics that no one wants to see. It showed the world how the country has regressed since 1994. It demonstrated a glaringly huge conceptual disparity between current ANC leaders and those of the past. It is surprising that 30 years…

Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro’s loss of broad protections from prosecution when he stepped down on Sunday leaves him more exposed to criminal and electoral probes that could lead to his arrest or prevent him from running for office. Bolsonaro, a far-right nationalist, left Brazil for Florida on Friday after losing to leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Brazil’s most fraught vote in a generation. It remains unclear how long he plans to stay in Florida, which is home to his political idol, former US president Donald Trump. Bolsonaro’s US trip insulates him from any immediate legal jeopardy in Brazil, where he is under investigation in at least four criminal probes. Beyond that, his future may hinge on the path charted by crusading Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de…

The global airline association yesterday criticised decisions by governments to impose Covid-19 tests and other measures on travellers from China as ineffective “knee-jerk” reactions. Countries including the US, Canada, Japan and France have insisted that all travellers from China provide negative Covid-19 tests before arrival. The measures have been imposed as China has been hit by a surge in infections after Beijing abandoned containment measures. IATA, which represents 300 airlines accounting for 83% of total air traffic, argued that Covid-19 was already circulating widely within the borders of countries imposing the tests. | AFP…

SYDNEY: As major flooding continued across the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW), the state’s emergency service agency yesterday said that Menindee, a small town with around 500 people, was releasing 75 000 megalitres of flood water per day. “This is the equivalent of 30 000 Olympic pools and would fill Sydney Harbour in six days,” the NSW State Emergency Service said. As the Darling River level is steady near 10.20m, the agency voiced its concern that further rises to 10.7m are possible at Menindee town gauge from today, which will surpass the 1976 flood record of 10.47m. Ten properties have been evacuated. | Xinhua…

AMAZULU are set on ‘righting’ the wrongs of the first half of the DStv Premiership season. The KwaZulu-Natal based side have had an underwhelming league campaign but did enjoy an impressive run in the MTN8, eventually losing to Orlando Pirates in the final. Usuthu began the campaign under the stewardship of Brandon Truter. Following an accumulation of poor results, he was then replaced by Romain Folz, who is currently in the process of rebuilding the club. After four victories, four losses and six draws in the 14 matches they’ve played, Usuthu are looking to turn the corner in the second half of the season according to captain Makhehleni Makhaula. “As players, we've set ourselves targets for the upcoming five games and we are extremely focused on those. We were…

CHELSEA manager Graham Potter said forward Raheem Sterling has been through a challenging phase at the London club following his move from Manchester City but backed the England international to deliver more. Chelsea signed Sterling from City for about £47.5-million in July but his performances have been underwhelming with six goals in 21 games in all competitions this season. Sterling will face his former club City in the Premier League tonight at Stamford Bridge before the teams meet again in the FA Cup at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday. "It's been a challenge for him but it's been a challenging period for everybody," Potter told reporters yesterday, as his team sit 11 points behind second-placed City. "There's been a lot of change and a lot has happened, so in that…

OPPOSITION parties in the KwaZulu-Natal legislature are calling for clear guidelines and regulations to be established to govern the government spending on funerals of prominent individuals in the future. The parties are also demanding a full accounting record of the contribution made by the provincial and local government for the funeral of prominent Durban musician, Mandla “Mampintsha” Maphumulo. The calls come after an allegation that as much as R50 million had been spent on Maphumulo’s funeral – a claim that was vehemently denied by the provincial government yesterday. Maphumulo’s funeral was held on Friday at the Durban International Convention Centre (ICC). The EFF, NFP and DA said they wanted a full record of the expenditure and called for rules and regulations to be established to govern such spending in…

VERY persistent these Nasa fellows are. Associated Press quotes them on the way they picked up the sound of a “dust devil” on Mars. “A Nasa rover by chance had its microphone on when a whirling tower of red dust passed directly overhead, recording the racket. “It’s about 10 seconds of not only rumbling gusts of up to 40km/h, but the pinging of hundreds of dust particles against the rover Perseverance. “It sounds strikingly similar to dust devils on Earth, although quieter since Mars’s thin atmosphere makes for more muted sounds and less forceful wind, according to the researchers. “The dust devil came and went over Perseverance quickly last year, thus the short length of the audio, said the University of Toulouse’s Naomi Murdoch, lead author of the study appearing…

ActionSA has learnt of yet another tragedy involving minors at a local tavern. One would have thought that the tragic Enyobeni Tavern disaster would have been the last such incident to occur in the socially depressed and impoverished Eastern Cape. The latest case with similar circumstances has been reported where three women, one of whom was a minor, died at a tavern as they tried to flee the establishment after an unknown substance was allegedly sprayed on patrons. Four other minors at the establishment were taken to hospital for light-headedness and coughing. The reported arrest of the manager of the establishment will not bring solace to the families of the young women, but it should send a clear message to owners of similar establishments not to allow access to minors…

It is worrying that a Zimbabwean MP of opposition party Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), Job Wiwa Sikhala, is seriously ill after a suspected poisoning in jail. Sikhala, who has been detained without trial for seven months in Harare’s notorious Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison, seems to be in a stable condition. Sikhala, who represents Harare’s poor high-density suburb of Zengeza West in Parliament, as well as his fellow CCC MP Godfrey Sithole and 14 other CCC activists were arrested on June 14, 2022. This was in connection with the disappearance and murder of CCC activist Moreblessing Ali in May 2022. Sikhala, also a lawyer, was then asked by her family to represent them in trying to find her. They have since had numerous court appearances to try to get bail,…

Claremont SAPS in Cape Town are investigating a case of attempted kidnapping after a woman allegedly tried to take a child from her mother at a shopping centre. “Reports suggested that the complainant was standing in a queue with her minor daughter on Friday, December 23, at a local shop when an unknown woman approached the minor,” said police spokesperson Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi. He said the woman allegedly took the child’s hand and told her to be quiet. “The complainant resisted and the woman left,” he said. According to the second-quarter crime statistics released by Police Minister Bheki Cele in November, kidnappings doubled nationally with more than 4 000 counts reported between July and September 2022 compared to the same period in the previous year. He said hijackings, robbery…

A CONSTITUTIONAL Court challenge against practice directives which place hurdles in the way of the public claiming against the Road Accident Fund (RAF), an application to have specified medical tariffs overturned, and the possibility of the fund’s executives being personally slapped with legal costs in two cases are but a few of the challenges facing the entity this year. Apart from the plethora of claims instituted by road accident victims, which filled the court rolls last year, the fund also faced various legal challenges regarding its operations. The high court in Mpumalanga is this year expected to deliver its judgment within the first court term on whether the fund’s CEO, Collins Letsoalo, and some of the senior management should personally be held liable for the legal costs in two cases.…

THE first test of how much of a boost comes with his re-election as ANC president will be when Cyril Ramaphosa decides who he leaves out in the cold when reshuffling his Cabinet either later this month or early in February. It will set the stage for a tough period before next year’s general elections, where all indications are that the ANC is likely to go below the 50% mark for the first time. That means Ramaphosa’s newly composed Cabinet could also be the last ANC administration to govern this country – quite interesting. Forget his internal foes like Tourism Minister Linidiwe Sisulu and Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, who have openly stated their desire for him to vacate his office over the Phala Phala saga; he also faces a dilemma…

AT LEAST 35 people have been killed in twin car bombings in central Somalia claimed by al-Shabaab, officials in the Hiran region said. Two cars packed with explosives were simultaneously detonated in Mahas, a town in Hiran where a major offensive was launched last year against the al-Qaeda-linked militant group. The attack was claimed by al-Shabaab, which has been waging a years-long insurgency against the fragile central government, according to the SITE monitoring group. Abdikarim Hassan, a traditional elder in Mahas, said most who died in the blasts were civilians. Another community leader, Mohamud Suleyman, said 52 people were wounded and “most were transported to Mogadishu for treatment”. Security officials and local leaders said two military bases were targeted in Mahas in retaliation for operations against the militants. Al-Shabaab claimed…

MANILA: Efforts by Philippine authorities to crack down on drugs under President Ferdinand Marcos jr are being hampered by the involvement of a few high-ranking police officials in the narcotics trade, the interior minister said yesterday. In the past six months, authorities have confiscated R3bn worth of methamphetamine. Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos appealed for the voluntary resignation of police holding the ranks of colonel up to general to restore trust in anti-narcotics operations after some were suspected of having links to the drug trade. Roughly 300 officers hold the rank of colonel to general in the 227 000-strong police force. | AFP…

Myanmar’s military government will release 7 012 prisoners under an amnesty to mark the country’s independence day, state broadcaster MRTV reported yesterday, as the junta chief praised some countries for maintaining support for his nation. The country has faced international isolation and Western-led sanctions since the military seized power from a democratically elected government led by Nobel laureate Aung Sang Suu Kyi nearly two years ago. “We are closely working with neighbouring countries such as China, India, Thailand, Laos and Bangladesh. We will work together for border stability and development,” Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said in a speech to mark Myanmar’s 75th independence day. There was a parade in the capital Naypyitaw, complete with flag-waving civil servants, marching soldiers, tanks and a flypast by military jets. Myanmar has been…

A MEMBER of the Radical Economic Transformation (RET) faction within the ANC who is a staunch Jacob Zuma backer has dismissed the announcement by the governing party that its top brass intend to meet the former president, describing the move as a “hollow gesture” aimed at gaining popularity with party members and the voting public. Nkosentsha Shezi, of ward 41 in eThekwini region, was reacting to reports that the ANC leadership would meet Zuma before the ANC birthday celebrations at Mangaung, in the Free State this weekend, where party president Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to deliver the keynote address. ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula had said during a briefing on Tuesday that there would be an engagement with Zuma. The former president has launched a private prosecution case against Ramaphosa in…

In the midst of family disagreements, if you can, be quiet. Be very quiet. Listen rather than speak. When you do speak, be assertive, be clear about what you do and don’t want, what you think or do not think. As far as possible, take no sides. Neutrality will not only ramp up your respect levels among other family members, but it will also save you a great deal of future pain. Taking sides always divides. When families express disagreement and discussions get heated and things start to get out of hand, damage is done. You’ll be better off if you can remain silent and self-composed when others are becoming more and more engaged in the conflict. Family arguments – and I don’t mean the playful banter that occurs in…

YOU have your first job. You are earning your own money, which is amazing. But with the way the world’s economies are going, one needs to think of the future and not just the here and now. Starting to save and invest your money will go a long way for your future. By investing as early as possible, you allow the process of compounding to work to your advantage. As time goes on, your investments will earn interest and dividends. When starting to look at investment options it’s good to start off with an investment where you cannot lose your money easily. There are many ways to start investing. One of the most common ways is to buy shares in companies because if the shares do well, you stand a…

A South African-born child will next week start school in Croatia after her father won a legal battle against his estranged wife. The father has been allowed to take his 13-year-old daughter with him to Croatia where he is assisting Ukrainian refugees. The child’s mother was shortly before Christmas ordered by the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg to allow the child to live with her father abroad. Judge Shanaaz Mia ordered the mother to sign all the necessary documents relating to her daughter’s relocation. If the mother refused to sign the documents, the sheriff of the court was entitled to do so on her behalf, the order read. Not only did the mother lose her battle for her child to remain in South Africa, but she was also instructed…

At a press briefing in Johannesburg on Tuesday, ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula indicated that disciplinary proceedings would go ahead against senior party members who did not toe the line during the parliamentary vote for the adoption of the Section 89 report over allegations concerning the robbery on Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm. The ANC previously said the matter would be dealt with by the party’s new national executive committee (NEC), which was appointed at the party’s 55th national conference recently. But Mbalula said the matter had been referred to the disciplinary committee. Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, former North West premier Supra Mahumapelo, and former mineral resources minister Mosebenzi Zwane are among those accused of defying the party by voting in favour of the report being adopted.…

Illegal male initiation schools and inadequate parental care in failing to disclose the underlying chronic diseases of their children have been listed as being among the reasons for the deaths of 20 Eastern Cape initiates, and two initiates in the Western Cape. This is according to the National House of Traditional and Khoisan Leaders (NHTKL). The deaths and injuries were reported at both legal and illegal schools. While the NHTKL awaited full reports from all provinces, the Eastern Cape so far has the highest number of incidents. In another incident in that province, two initiates, both 19, drowned at about 10am on December 14 and their bodies were recovered on December 20 following an intensive search. “The two initiates were reported to have been washed away in the uMzimvubu River…

THE kindness, warmth and immense assistance given to the victims of the Boksburg fiery gas inferno is an act of magnanimity unprecedented in recent times. Helpers rushed forward in the pandemonium to bravely assist the injured as flames of fury shattered the environment. The impact area resembled a war zone, the sound of the explosion was equivalent to a seismic event. The country was engulfed in an overwhelming sense of bereavement. The shock and the sense of disillu sionment was seen before a global audience. Some of those brave acts of heroism in attempting to rescue the injured and retrieve the dead were acts of courage that will be recorded and remembered for posterity. South Africa witnessed raw strength in the face of pain and monumental grief. Communities and organisations…

China has been refining its Covid policies in light of the evolving situation. Recently, China made the decision to manage Covid-19 with measures against Class-B instead of the more serious Class-A infectious diseases. Nucleic acid tests and centralised quarantine will no longer be conducted on inbound travellers upon arrival. Passenger capacity limits on international flights have been removed. The focus of our response has shifted from stemming infection to preventing severe cases and caring for health. This is conducive to a smooth transition of Covid-19 response phases as well as quicker socio-economic recovery in China, and will provide solid support for a full and final victory against Covid. China keeps to the original aspiration and puts the people and life above all else. This has been China’s consistent approach in…

Tehran: Iran warned France yesterday that it would respond after “insulting” cartoons depicting Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei were published in the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo. The weekly had published dozens of cartoons on the same day ridiculing the highest religious and political figure in the Islamic republic. The magazine said the cartoons were part of a competition in support of the protests triggered by the September 16 death in custody of Mahsa Amini, an Iranian Kurd who was arrested for allegedly violating the country’s strict dress code. The magazine said the contest aimed to support Iranians fighting for freedom. | AFP…

Jerusalem: A Jerusalem bishop said yesterday he was “dismayed” by the desecration of dozens of Christian graves on the edge of the Old City, as police probed the vandalism. Stone graves lay in pieces with crosses toppled at the Protestant cemetery on Mount Zion, where Christians believe Jesus’ Last Supper took place. “We discovered that more than 30 tombstones and crosses were smashed to pieces,” said Hosam Naoum, an Anglican bishop. Israeli police said they had launched an investigation. Israel’s foreign ministry called for the perpetrators to be prosecuted. Mount Zion lies outside the Old City walls and has drawn pilgrims for centuries. | AFP…

Palestinians are holding urgent talks on their next moves after an extreme-right Israeli minister visited Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa mosque compound, a step so far met with stern words rather than violence. There have been fears Tuesday’s controversial visit by Israel’s new national security minister, firebrand Itamar Ben-Gvir, could spark a war. Palestinian militant group Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, had earlier warned such a move would be a “red line”. Al-Aqsa mosque lies in Israeli- annexed east Jerusalem and is the third-holiest site in Islam. It is the most sacred place to Jews, who refer to it as Temple Mount. Hours after Ben-Gvir’s appearance at the sensitive site, Hamas and other militant groups held emergency meetings to discuss a “proportionate” response, sources within the movement said. Overnight a single…

Highly exasperated Swallows coach Ernst Middendorp did not tip-toe his way through Tuesday's post-match presser. Instead, he climbed in boots and all and declared that Mamelodi Sundowns have already won the DStv Premiership title even though the season had only reached the halfway mark. Middendorp's lively media session followed his side's 2-0 defeat at the hands of the defending champions at Loftus. His exasperation would have been fuelled by several refereeing decisions that went against his team, including a strong penalty appeal that was dismissed. “I said it at the beginning of the season, the resources of a team like Sundowns are phenomenal,” said Middendorp. “Let’s not make jokes about it because at the end of the season, and this is a clear opinion, Sundowns will be at least…