Table of contents for 2023-11-14 in Mercury

ALTRON’S share price increased by 6.06% to close at R8.75 on the JSE yesterday, even though group headline earnings fell by more than 100% to a headline loss per share of 63 cents, following significant restructuring write-downs. The interim dividend, however, was up 56% to 25c per share, supported by an increase in the dividend payout ratio from at least 40% to at least 50% of headline earnings from continuing operations. “We are in the early phases of our journey, however, the successful profit improvement strategies in Altron Systems Integration and Netstar, with focused execution on our growth levers, delivered pleasing results,” said the CE Werner Kapp. He said their aim was to be the leading platform and IT Services business in their markets. The operating loss before capital…

CONSUMERS in South Africa are under immense pressure with the cascade of bad news resulting in increased prices at the till. Producer Price Inflation continues to rise. The latest figures show an increase from August’s 4.3% to 5.1% in September. Things are going to keep becoming more expensive, following higher fuel prices, a high lending rate to try to keep inflation in check and a weak, volatile rand. Despite this, retailers have to sell goods and consumers need to buy goods. If the prevailing conditions weren’t enough to threaten consumer loyalty, it is all playing out in an era of more competition than ever before and a consumer that demands a superb shopping experience. While this would appear to spell bad news, the flip side of the coin is that…

The lack of sleep is a major contributor to burnout, warns Dr Alison Bentley, a sleep expert and medical doctor at Restonic Ezintsha Sleep Clinic in Johannesburg. She added that work stress is often blamed for poor sleep, but in some cases, disorders like insomnia or obstructive sleep apnoea could be the cause. Bentley also cautioned that daytime fatigue resulting from these disorders can be misinterpreted as early burnout. About 10% of adults have chronic insomnia, and 40% have sleep apnea. Bentley explained that the first step in treating these disorders is to identify them. She added that not being able to doze off, without any clear reason is a big cause of ongoing sleep problems. She suggested keeping a sleep diary which can help track sleep patterns and identify…

The proliferation of firearms has been seen as one of the main factors behind the mass shootings in KwaZulu-Natal. This is according to a crime expert who was commenting after a mass shooting in uMlazi. Police are investigating the murders of five people who were killed in three houses in the Uganda informal settlement in uMlazi on Sunday night. Police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda, said a manhunt was under way for suspects who shot and killed five people and injured another person. When police arrived at the first house, Netshiunda said police discovered the bodies of a 32-year-old man and a woman, believed to be in her 30s, who was yet to be identified. “At the second house, police found two bodies of women aged 30 and 38 years old,…

Consumers may get some breathing room as economists say there is a strong possibility that the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) will leave interest rates unchanged next week due to a stronger rand and the international price of Brent crude oil coming down. Professor Irrshad Kaseeram, from the University of Zululand’s Economics Department, said inflation last month rose from 4.8% to 5.4% due to food and fuel price increases, while core inflation fell to 4.5%. “Most economists expect inflation to remain below 6% for at least the next six months, so we can expect interest rates will remain unchanged for the next six months.” Kaseeram added however that the interest rate remained high, which would see people spend less in general. “Saving from spending on luxury items will be shifted to…

DIWALI was such a joyous occasion in my family. From a young age, I always looked forward to it – to the special dishes and tasty treats my mother used to make. My father would have his drink or two and entertain us with his song and dance. I would wind up the gramophone and my father would play his favourite Tamil songs. Then, to round off the day of fun and joy, we would light the fireworks. My father wouldn’t buy a lot, just enough to celebrate the Festival of Lights. In those days, there were no ear-shattering loud bangs like the ones you get now. When we moved to Chatsworth, Diwali became much noisier. As the income levels of Chatsworth residents improved, competition became stiff among the families.…

The news of Comrade Jini Patrick Khoza’s passing struck us with disbelief, marking the end of a poignant chapter in the life of a man who dedicated himself to the service of the ANC and the impoverished. Affectionately known as Cde JP, he emerged as a beacon of hope during the anti-apartheid struggle, serving as a father figure to countless activists during the challenging times. His influence extended across regions formerly known as East Griqualand and the South Coast, leaving an indelible mark on communities of regions now named Harry Gwala and Tolomane Mnyayiza. Amid the political violence and challenges of the time, Cde JP became a hero for many, shielding them from the troubles caused by rival political forces like the IFP. Even during the most crucial times, when…

DEPUTY President Paul Mashatile says a funding proposal for a new student financial aid model will be submitted to Cabinet before the end of the year. Answering oral questions in the National Assembly last week, Mashatile said the Department of Higher Education and Training was already engaged in preparing the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (Nsfas) for the 2024 academic year through various measures, including finalisation of a new comprehensive student financial aid model for the Cabinet’s approval. “As part of a process of developing this model the department consulted stakeholders including the Business Association of South Africa, Nedlac and others like organised labour. “According to the Minister of Higher Education and Training, a clear proposal on a funding model will be submitted to the Cabinet by the end of…

STOLEN eThekwini Municipality street lights were discovered during a random search by police of a van near the Mozambique border. The 52 LED street lights branded with the City’s logos were found in a trailer. A City official who was called to the scene, said the lights are valued at R1.82 million. Two men, aged 31 and 44, were arrested for possession of suspected stolen property and due in court soon. Opposition parties in the ANC-EFF led City are calling for a full investigation into how the street lights left the eThekwini electricity department and ended up in a van en route to Mozambique. “This whole thing stinks,” said Zwakele Mncwango, the leader of ActionSA in eThekwini. “Besides the fact that these lights left eThekwini without anyone knowing about it,…

MUNICIPALITIES have complained about the centralisation of disaster funds in the national government, saying this impedes their ability to respond to disasters. Since April this year, the funds have been centralised in the national Department of Human Settlements. The City of Cape Town has publicly raised concerns about this while the issue was also mentioned by the mayor of eThekwini Municipality in a recent executive committee meeting. In June, storms battered Durban and caused extensive damage, with the cost estimated at R543 million. The Mercury reported late last month that the municipality was waiting for funding to rebuild damaged infrastructure. Included in this figure, is R80m for relocating about 360 families affected by floods and who live close to streams. EThekwini mayor Mxolisi Kaunda told a meeting in the same…

Police have made another breakthrough in the murder of former eThekwini ward councillor Sunil Brigmohan. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in KwaZulu-Natal confirmed that Vikash Brian Sewnath appeared in the uMlazi Magistrate’s Court yesterday in connection with the murder. NPA KZN spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara said Sewnath faces charges of conspiracy to commit murder, as well as unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition. “The matter was adjourned to November 27 for a formal bail application.” The prosecuting team planned to oppose the bail application. Brigmohan, 46, a father of two, was killed at Cato Crest in Amanzimtoti on October 21 last year. He was a former councillor for Ward 90 in Isipingo. A chilling video of the shooting went viral on social media. It shows two men walking up to Brigmohan.…

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak brought back former leader David Cameron as foreign minister yesterday in a reshuffle triggered by his firing of interior minister Suella Braverman after her criticism of police threatened his authority. It was the latest reset for a prime minister whose party is badly lagging the Labour Party before an election expected next year. The return of Cameron suggested Sunak wanted to bring in a more centrist, experienced hand rather than appease the right of his party which supported Braverman. It also reawakens divisive debate over Brexit: Cameron held the referendum on EU membership in 2016 and was hated by many on the right of the party after he campaigned to remain. He quit hours after Britain voted to leave. Under fire from opposition MPs and…

Ugandan prosecutors yesterday charged the commander of a feared militia with terrorism and murder over the killing of two foreign tourists and their driver last month. A commander in the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) militia, Abdul Rashid Kyoto, alias Njovu, was captured earlier this month, and is also accused of leading a horrific massacre at a school in June. Uganda has blamed the ADF, which is affiliated with the Islamic State group, for the murder of the honeymooning tourists and their local guide. Prosecutors have “sanctioned two charges of terrorism, three charges of murder, three charges of aggravated robbery and one charge of belonging to a terrorist organisation” over the tourist attack, the director of public prosecutions said yesterday. A Briton and a South African were murdered along with their…

Reykjavik: After a series of recent earthquakes, authorities in Iceland have declared an emergency over a possible volcanic eruption posing a threat to a now-evacuated town. The Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) said there was a considerable risk of an eruption with authorities ordering thousands of people living in the south-western town of Grindavík to leave. The IMO said the probability of an eruption on or just off the Reykjanes Peninsula increased since Sunday and could start at any time in the next few days. Reykjanes Peninsula had remained dormant to volcanic activity for 800 years before a 2021 eruption. | IANS…

MANILA: A Philippine court yesterday granted bail to a former senator and fierce critic of a former president’s bloody “war on drugs” after nearly seven years in jail on charges she always denied. Leila de Lima, 64, faced various charges in 2017 within months of launching a Senate inquiry into the President Rodrigo Duterte’s brutal anti-narcotics campaign, in which thousands of users and dealers were killed by police or in mysterious circumstances. Duterte, whose term ended in 2022, accused her of colluding with drugs gangs while she was justice minister, which led to charges of conspiracy to trade narcotics. Two of three cases against De Lima have been dismissed and she had sought bail in the one pending case on health grounds, which the court granted yesterday. |…

South African men’s cricket teams have a rather painful memory of World Cup knockout matches. However, Proteas spinner Tabraiz Shamsi said that the past has no effect on the current crop of players as they are a different bunch from the other Proteas World Cup teams. “That doesn’t matter one bit, we’re a different group of players. Before we got to the World Cup, nobody said that we’d be in the semi-final and here we are. We’re just excited for the opportunity,” he said. “That’s what propels this team – instead of feeling pressure, we see it as an opportunity to do something special. “No South African men’s team has been in the World Cup final and that, for us, is very exciting because it is an opportunity to do…

India are the overwhelming favourites to lift a third World Cup but a star of the country’s 1983 breakthrough triumph has warned of the threats posed by cricket’s “glorious uncertainties”. Rohit Sharma’s side have cruised into the semi-finals, where they will face New Zealand tomorrow, with nine wins from nine matches in the group phase. Now, Syed Kirmani, who played a major role in the 1983 title victory that set India on the road to becoming the sport’s financial powerhouse, has warned against complacency undermining the nation’s hopes. Kirmani, 73, believes the West Indies, who arrived at the 1983 World Cup as two-time champions, paid the price for underestimating India. “Superb,” Kirmani said, when asked for his thoughts on the 2023 World Cup side who are looking for a third…

Teary-eyed Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rhulani Mokwena was awash with a flood of emotions after being showered with praise from all quarters, including Fifa supremo Gianni Infantino. The victorious Mokwena, who had guided his charges to the inaugural African Football League (AFL) championship, was bursting with pride at the post-match media conference where he offered to talk about his red-carpet moment with Fifa president Infantino. He had a touching experience as he walked up on to the stage for the medal ceremony at Loftus Versfeld. “If I can tell you something, as I walked on to the stage, Dr Patrice Motsepe, the CAF president and our former club president, congratulated me. As I walked further on to the Fifa president, Mr Infantino, the first thing he said to me was: ‘Your…

AECI AIMS TO double the profitability of its core mining and chemicals business by 2026 and become a global top three integrated mining explosives and chemicals solutions provider by 2030. The ambitions were laid out at a recent capital market day, where AECI CE Holger Riemensperger announced a revised strategy, which aims to extract value from its underlying operations. Businesses deemed non-core in the new strategy – Much Asphalt, Animal Health, Schrim, Sans Fibers and Bever- age – would be exited over a period. AECI is a diversified chemicals solutions company employing 7 168 people at more than 100 sites, with a presence in 22 countries. “AECI is more than a business. It is a South African institution. At our core, we enable safe mining operations. “While some synergies…

A STRONGER performance in South Africa and the newly acquired Egyptian operation failed to unshackle Vodacom from the impacts of regional volatility and higher costs of starting up in Ethiopia, and the JSE-listed mobile operator’s headline earnings per share fell 4.2% for the six-month period to September 30. South African companies with operations across Africa such as MTN and MultiChoice among others have been battling regional currency and exchange rate woes. Vodacom, which has operations in countries such as Kenya, Egypt and the Democratic Republic of Congo, yesterday reported that headline earnings per share for the September 2023 interim period had slowed down by 4.2% to 438 cents. Investors in the company on the JSE responded negatively, with the share price shedding 4.04% to close at R103.25 on the…

IN A WORLD grappling with the perils of disinformation, the recent arrest of two members of the Indian wrestling team in New Delhi shed light on the concerning potential of AI-generated images. The two women were arrested after protesting against alleged sexual harassment by the president of India’s national wrestling federation. Afterwards, two photographs of the wrestlers in a police van appeared online – one where they were sombre and the other where they were grinning happily. The manipulated photo of the women smiling (probably created with any of the easily available AI-powered photo editing apps such as FaceApp) was widely circulated on social media by supporters of the wrestling federation president. The incident serves as an omen of a disconcerting future where discerning reality from fiction becomes an increasingly…

Diabetes is a chronic condition characterised by elevated blood sugar levels. While lifestyle changes alone may not be sufficient to manage diabetes, they play a crucial role in its overall management, along with medication (if prescribed) and regular monitoring. Making the right lifestyle choices and following a healthy overall routine can greatly influence your health and help in the management of diabetes. This recipe will help you make a delicious, healthy meal your entire family is sure to enjoy. Mushroom and veg-loaded pancakes with tomato relish Serves 6 Ingredients Tomato relish 1 white onion, finely diced 500g ripe cherry tomatoes, quartered 125ml vinegar 50g Sweetly or another non-nutritive sweetener of choice Pancakes 150g stone-ground wholemeal flour ½ tsp baking powder 1 tsp sea salt 180ml ice-cold water 1 large free-range…

This was after a 26-year-old woman, who is a student at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), was stabbed several times, allegedly by her husband, on Saturday. In the now-viral video footage, a man can be seen stabbing a woman on the pavement of the building where she lived. The incident happened 24 hours after UWC marched to raise awareness about gender-based violence. Nzimande welcomed the swift response of law enforcement agencies in arresting the suspect, who, according to the video footage in circulation, was “merciless” and “barbaric” in committing the crime. He said that gender-based violence (GBV), or violence against women and girls, was a global pandemic that affected one in three women in their lifetime. He said as many as 38% of murders of women were…

A POND in Hawaii has mysteriously turned bright pink – with experts voicing concerns about the bizarre phenomenon, according to Sky News. Curious onlookers have been flocking to the pond after images first appeared on social media. Volunteers at the Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge, some of whom have lived around the water for 70 years, say they have never seen anything like it before. Bret Wolfe, the refuge manager, says he was first alerted by someone walking on the beach who told him: “There’s something weird going on over here.” But while it may look fun, officials think the cause of the pond turning pink could be more concerning. The county has been experiencing a drought which scientists say may be responsible. Toxic algae was first considered a suspect,…

Horrific bus, taxi, truck and light vehicle collisions on the eve of the December holidays already scream volumes about what’s to come. Gruesome visuals of giant trailers being hauled already give trailers of impending doom in the next month. Like Lemmings on a suicidal course, we march on, mesmerised, in a stupor. Most Gauteng and KZN residents are heading for the far country of Cape Town. All under the illusion of a faraway peaceful mountain hideout from crime and grime. Where the sun never rises but sets every day. The Atlantic Ocean. One can even catch a glimpse of the towering Statue of Liberty from atop the tabletop of our world heritage site. The historically-starved academics risking nausea on the high seas as they head towards the Island where some…

DISCOVERY Health will turn to the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, next month to obtain an urgent order to declare the Road Accident Fund (RAF) CEO, Collins Letsoalo, in contempt of court for allegedly not adhering to three court orders pertaining to the payment of medical claims. Under a directive, the RAF made it clear it would not make payments in cases where claimants’ medical aid schemes had paid for their accident- related injuries. The medical scheme took the directive to court and last year, the court ruled that the directive was illegal. The RAF, in turn, launched several unsuccessful applications in a bid to appeal the judgment, including in the Constitutional Court. Last month, the Constitutional Court refused to entertain an application by the RAF for leave to appeal against…

A senior State advocate and member of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), a Lieutenant Colonel from the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) and a civilian have been granted bail in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on charges of corruption. Advocate Phuti Freddy Matabane, Lieutenant Colonel Lucky Thabethe, and Daniel Benjamin Lessing were granted R5 000 bail each. The Gauteng regional spokesperson for the NPA, Phindi Mjonondwane, said the charges relate to allegations of corruption in May 2021. A the time of the alleged crime, Matabane is alleged to have received gratification following his decision not to prosecute Lessing in a fraud case of more than R6 million opened by Interwaste at the Germiston police station on December 14, 2020. “Investigations revealed that in June 2021, all accused persons embarked on…

ActionSA president Herman Mashaba said the party saw itself as a potential kingmaker in KwaZulu-Natal as he announced Zwakele Mncwango as the party’s premier candidate in the province. Mncwango, former DA provincial leader, joined the party last year. ActionSA is not in the provincial legislature but is part of coalition governments in Newcastle and KwaDukuza (Stanger) and has councillors in the eThekwini Municipality. Mashaba yesterday said they were willing to work with other parties in the province, outside of the ANC, as they believed they had the potential to become “kingmakers”. He said Mncwango has a long history of service to the people of the province and represented the calibre of leadership the party hoped to bring into government. “We are a party that believes in ethical leadership, this is…

The alarming frequency of violent killings, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal, is rapidly transforming South Africa into a landscape of bloodshed, where the perpetrators of these heinous crimes face minimal consequences. The savage murders of innocent victims throughout the country in recent months have left the South African population in a state of shock, disbelief, and helplessness. As we pen this editorial, law enforcement in KZN is initiating a search for a number of suspects following a shooting in uMlazi on Sunday, where six individuals were shot. Sadly, five of the victims, aged between 24 and 38, were killed, while a 32-year-old was rushed to hospital. These recent shootings are just a few examples among many that have occurred in KwaMashu, Inanda and Mariannhill in recent months, with the disheartening realisation that…

Ethnic minority insurgent groups attacked security posts in Myanmar yesterday, residents, rebels and an official said, as fighting erupted on two new fronts, and thousands of people crossed into neighbouring India seeking safety. Myanmar’s military junta is facing its biggest test since taking power in a 2021 coup after three ethnic minority forces launched a co-ordinated offensive in late October, capturing some towns and military posts. The military-installed president last week said Myanmar was at risk of breaking apart because of an ineffective response to the rebellion. The generals say they are fighting “terrorists”. One of the three allied insurgent groups, the Arakan Army (AA), which is fighting for greater autonomy in Rakhine State in western Myanmar, seized posts in the Rathedaung and Minbya areas, about 200km apart, AA spokesperson…

MADRID: The Spanish parliament will vote on Thursday to confirm the new government of Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who is assured of a majority after securing the support of Catalan separatists. Parliamentary debate will begin tomorrow with a vote of confidence expected on Thursday, said lower house president Francina Armengol. In exchange for the votes of the Catalan separatist parties, Sanchez agreed to a controversial amnesty for those involved in a failed 2017 secession attempt. With support of the far left, with whom he has ruled, and parties representing Basques, Catalans and the Canary Islands, Sanchez can expect to receive 179 votes, with 176 needed. | AFP…

Paris: President Emmanuel Macron yesterday hosted religious leaders for talks on combating anti-Semitism in France, a day after a Paris march rallied tens of thousands to express anxiety over an upsurge in acts against Jews. The country has seen an upsurge in anti-Semitic acts since Hamas’s bloody October 7 attack on Israel killed around 1 200 people. Macron called on people to rally around the country’s “values” and “universalism”. He has been rebuked by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after criticising in a weekend interview Israel’s extensive bombing campaign in Gaza. Macron “expressed his solidarity with Israel,” the Elysee said.…

Taking on Australia in any event, anywhere in the world, is a daunting task, regardless of the calibre of players making up the Australian team. When it comes to crunch games, be it World Cup knockouts or any other ICC event, the Australian cricket team tends to resemble how Real Madrid perform in the Uefa Champions League – it doesn’t matter their LaLiga form, when it’s Champions League time, they are always in the running to win the trophy. Real Madrid have won more Champions League trophies than any other club. The Australian cricket team is the world’s most decorated. So, what does this mean for South Africa, a team with no World Cup trophy and very little to boast about on the international stage, when they face the Aussies…

Clarification about AgriBEE requirements for agricultural exports issued THE DEPARTMENT of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (Dalrrd) would continue to ensure all farmers enjoy access to EU and UK markets, according to the department’s Minister, Thoko Didiza. Yesterday, the government issued a statement in which it said it was clarifying incorrect views about the AgriBEE requirements for agricultural exports to the EU and UK. It said the department had recently published two gazettes outlining the procedure for exports from the Southern African Customs Union and Mozambique to the EU and the UK, respectively, to take advantage of preferential tariff rate quotas for certain agricultural and agro-processed products. “The weekend newspapers misrepresented the government’s message about the procedure and annual application for export permits to the EU and UK markets,”…

IN THE BEGINNING, it was a machine that could fit in a room. It was followed by a machine that required a desk to operate and thereafter, only a hand was required. Now, you might just need something to wear to have the same computing power that required a room many years ago. This is the thought that crossed my mind as I was thinking about the significance of the product, Ai Pin, that was launched last week by a couple who formerly worked at Apple, Bethany Bongiorno and Imran Chaudhri. If the founders of Humane, the company behind the AI device, succeed in getting consumers to buy into their product, they would have pioneered a significant shift in the history of computing industry. Before we get into the significance…

While families are battling to put food on the table, more than R500 000 was allegedly spent on catering for guests aboard President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Inkwazi presidential jet following the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II last year. Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka is now expected to receive a formal request to probe allegations of wasteful expenditure in connection with the catering costs. A Sunday newspaper reported that the return flight from London to South Africa cost taxpayers R569 000 or at least R23 708 per person for the maximum 18 passengers allowed on the jet. The 15-seater Boeing 737 aircraft is used to transport the president and is operated by six crew from 21 Squadron of the South African Air Force. Last year the Presidency was criticised after it emerged that…

If you have been a caregiver to someone – spouse, parent, friend – for any length of time, and now that person has died, you may expect to feel that part of you is lost or gone, because it is. Caring requires love and deep bonding. In the separation, in your own way, you are wounded. You are not damaged, you are wounded. To feel you are rattling in a cage of caring habits and not quite sure of what to do or where to be. You feel pulled between responsibilities that no longer exist and feel irresponsible for not being present where you once were. At times you don’t know where to be or what to do. To experience some guilt about the way things turned out, developed or…

The African Democratic Change (ADeC) expresses deep concern and regret at the unexpected closure of the Chatsworth Service Centre, which houses the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) office in Chatsworth. The closure comes after the centre was declared unsafe for occupation, leaving the community without access to vital social security services. The Chatsworth offices serve more than 300 000 residents in the surrounding areas. We acknowledge Sassa’s call on the community to use alternative offices in Pinetown, uMlazi, Wentworth and Durban. However, we recognise the hardships that residents in and around Chatsworth will face travelling long distances to access the services, including state grants. The cost of transportation is unaffordable for many, making it unacceptable to expect residents to bear additional financial burdens. As such, we call on Sassa…

STROKES are the second most common cause of death after HIV/Aids in South Africa, and it is a significant cause of morbidity, with an estimated 150 000 people experiencing a stroke each year. This contributes to more than 560 000 stroke-related disability-adjusted years, said health cover provider Affinity Health. It also said there has been a noticeable rise in strokes in young adults. “When we think of strokes, we often associate them with older adults. However, strokes can happen at any age, and they’re not as rare in young adults as you might think,” says CEO Murray Hewlett. “A staggering 15% of strokes occur in those aged 18-50,” he said. A stroke was like a traffic jam in the brain, he said, which occurs when something blocks or bursts a…

The Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) will hear arguments today in a case which raises important questions around how courts respond to matters of intimate partner violence, which includes whether a kiss can be construed as consent to sex. The Initiative for Strategic Litigation in Africa (Isla) is represented by the Centre for Applied Legal Studies (Cals) in the appeal. In October 2021, the Eastern Cape High Court handed down judgment in an appeal by Loyiso Coko, who had been found guilty of raping his then-partner. Although the complainant had said “no” to sexual intercourse and had cried and tried to push the accused off her, the court found that the accused had not intended to rape her, and instead had mistakenly believed that she had consented. In making this…

Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga said the more than 1 000 Grade 12s found to have cheated during the 2022 exams were barred from writing three examinations. “Learners found guilty of engaging in irregular practices to obtain an unfair advantage during the writing of the examination have been sanctioned for a maximum period and are prohibited from writing the next three examinations. “They will only be allowed to write the November 2024 examination, once the sanction period has expired,” Motshekga said. She was responding to parliamentary questions from IFP MP Siphosethu Ngcobo about the findings of the investigation conducted by her department into allegations of cheating in the national senior certificate examinations which involved 1 189 matrics from six provinces. It was reported earlier this year by quality assurance body…

Health Minister Joe Phaahla has revealed that 217 foreign-qualified doctors wrote their board examination with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) last month. Phaahla was replying to parliamentary questions from EFF MP Nqobile Mhlongo, who asked about the total number of South African doctors who have trained abroad since January 2020 and were waiting to write the board exam in order to be admitted as doctors in the country. “There were 405 foreign-qualified doctors eligible to write the HPCSA board examination, which includes South Africans and foreign nationals,” Phaahla said. “Only 217 applicants confirmed they would write the exam.” He said the HPCSA exams were conducted through medical schools. The council embarked on a procurement process before its contract with Sefako Makgatho University had expired. The University of…

The hospitals in northern Gaza have been forced out of service amid fuel shortages and intense combat, with the death toll inside the territory’s largest facility rising, the Hamas-run health ministry said yesterday. Israel argues that its Hamas enemies built their military headquarters under the Al-Shifa hospital complex, while UN agencies and doctors in the facility warned a lack of generator fuel was claiming lives, including infants. Witnesses reported intense overnight air strikes, with tanks and armoured vehicles just metres from the gate of the sprawling Al-Shifa compound at the heart of the Gaza City, now an urban war zone. The Hamas government’s deputy health minister, Youssef Abu Rish, said the death toll inside Al-Shifa rose to 27 adult intensive care patients and seven babies since the weekend as the…

Rescuers in northern India battled for a second day yesterday to save 40 workers trapped underground after the road tunnel they were building collapsed, bringing down tons of debris. Teams using heavy excavators have been working non-stop since the collapse early yesterday to clear piles of concrete and earth, but with more debris falling as workers tried to clear a passage, a giant steel pipe was being prepared as an escape route. “All the 40 workers trapped inside the tunnel are safe,” Karamveer Singh Bhandari, a senior commander in the National Disaster Response Force, said from the site in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand. Oxygen was being pumped into the blocked portion of the tunnel, with food sent through a water pipe. Bhandari said excavators had removed about 20m of…

LONDON: Indi Gregory, a critically ill eight-month-old baby girl from Britain who was taken off life support over the weekend following a legal battle, has died overnight, her family said yesterday. Indi’s parents lost a legal fight last month to keep her on life-support machines and have her transferred to a Vatican children’s hospital in Rome. Indi suffered from an incurable mitochondrial disease. Doctors in Britain’s National Health Service said she suffered from significant pain and distress. English courts agreed. Her father, Dean Gregory, said: “The NHS and the courts not only took away her chance to live a longer life, but they also took away Indi’s dignity to pass away in the family home.” | Reuters…

QUETTA: Pakistan yesterday opened three new border crossings to accelerate the repatriation of undocumented Afghan nationals who have been ordered to leave the country or face expulsion, officials said. Many Afghans have opted to go home voluntarily. Pakistan’s move affects more than 1 million Afghans, many of whom Islamabad says have been involved in militant attacks and crime, a claim Kabul rejects. The new crossings were set up at the Afghan border in south-western Balochistan province in addition to the main crossing in Chaman district. The mass migration has raised fears of a humanitarian crisis as Kabul grapples with the logistics. | Reuters…

It’s desperation mode for the Stormers and Sharks this weekend as they seek to turn their losing fortunes around in the United Rugby Championship (URC). The Stormers, South Africa’s premier side over the past two seasons and former URC champions, have a tough task at Thomond Park in Limerick when they take on champions Munster in their third match of the European tour on Saturday. They are 0-2 so far, after falling to Glasgow Warriors and Benetton, and something seriously needs to click for the Cape side if they are to turn their fortunes around. They have had little success with their usually powerful scrums, and haven’t reaped the rewards of a good rolling maul in the first two tour matches. Getting that right against Munster, who boast one of…