Innholdsfortegnelse for 2024-10-16 i Mercury

Tissue oil has long been known for its numerous benefits for the skin and hair. But what exactly is tissue oil, and why should you consider incorporating it into your daily routine? Let’s uncover its secrets and explore how it can enhance your beauty regimen. Tissue oil is a specialised blend of oils, typically including ingredients like vitamin E, essential fatty acids, and sometimes botanical extracts. These oils are chosen for their moisturising, nourishing and rejuvenating properties, making tissue oil a versatile product for skin care. We turned to Bramley Cosmetics, whose extensive range of Tissue Oils is the number one selling tissue oil in SA, to highlight some of the benefits you can expect. Here are five tissue oil benefits that showcase its versatility: Minimises scars and stretch marks…

My failures get in my way. I can’t speak for you, but mine do. Do yours? Finding the opportunity to seek forgiveness, participating in repair or restitution with people whom I have hurt may result in their expressing forgiveness. While hearing such comforting words warms me, self-forgiveness remains difficult. Do you have similar battles? I know this is a particular struggle because having known what is right, good, wholesome, I have not always done what is right, good and wholesome. I find it painful to admit and confront. Knowing better was hardly helpful. While it is no excuse, I am aware that I am not too different from many. When I am feeling down it feels as if my failures speak louder than any successes. Despite the knowledge that “people…

Some people, like Mr Oosthuizen, continue to be confused about the Palestine issue. Israel is indiscriminately killing everybody that moves in Gaza, West Bank and, yes..wait for it..Lebanon. Most Christians left Gaza and the West Bank over the years because of general discrimination, oppression and insecurity always posed by Zionists there. Presently, Israel has been bombing parts of Lebanon, which has a large percentage of Christians too (30% of Lebanon is Christian!). Read my lips, sir: This is about illegal occupation, not a religious war. It's termed the Zionist Movement, aka Zionist Wholesale Theft! Please spend some time doing some unprejudiced research. It's most enlightening and good for the soul.You bet!…

This week, a 27-year-old man was arrested at OR Tambo International Airport for being in possession of R6.9 million in US dollars in cash. While the circumstances of his arrest might sound significant, the case itself raises critical questions about how justice is applied—especially in a country where President Cyril Ramaphosa was found with millions in foreign currency hidden in his couch, yet faced no real consequences. Let us not beat around the bush. When Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm was raided, and millions of rands worth of US dollars were discovered stashed in a sofa, the public was told by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) that there was no prospect of securing a successful conviction. The NPA claimed that insufficient evidence made it impossible to hold Ramaphosa accountable. But, conveniently,…

The Automobile Association and economists expect the petrol price to increase slightly for the first time in six months in November. The predicted price hike is being attributed to a weaker rand and higher Brent crude oil prices due to the conflict in the Middle East. Layton Beard, spokesperson for the Automobile Association, said that the five-month trend of fuel decreases was set to end in November, according to unaudited mid-month data from the Central Energy Fund (CEF). “According to the CEF’s figures, ULP95 is expected to be slightly higher by around 14 cents a litre, while ULP93 is set for an increase of around three cents/litre. Diesel is expected to increase by between 14 cents and 13 cents/litre while illuminating paraffin will increase by around seven cents a litre.”…

The South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) has paid more than R15 million to motorists after their vehicles were damaged while they were driving on pothole-riddled national roads over the past two years. Minister of Transport, Barbara Creecy, disclosed this while responding to a Parliamentary question asked by Rise Mzansi MP, Makashule Gana. Gana wanted to know the total number of claims filed against her department in the past three financial years, including the total monetary value of the specialised claims and total amount that has been paid to motorists who suffered the damages. In response to the question, Creecy said over R15m was paid by Sanral for a total of 116 claims for pothole damage on the country’s national roads. Creecy said Sanral is responsible for claims related…

Trade Union Federation, Cosatu, said it has welcomed the progress made to ensure thousands of South African Post Office (Sapo) and Telkom employees are able to exercise legal rights to the relief provided to workers under the two-pot pension reforms. The South African Revenue Service (Sars) last week said that it had received 1.2 million applications for tax directives for withdrawals and a total gross lump sum of R21.4 billion for two-pot withdrawals had been paid out to date. The two-pot system, which commenced on 1 September, is a system where all the future contributions of pension and retirement fund members will be split into two pots: a savings pot and a retirement pot. Cosatu’s parliamentary co-ordinator Matthew Parks said the reforms will provide financially struggling workers with an alternative…

THE National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) yesterday blamed incomplete reconciliation data between the entity and tertiary institutions for the delays in submitting its financial statements for auditing by the Auditor-General. Briefing the standing committee on public accounts, NSFAS administrator Freeman Nomvalo said the entity had failed to submit its financial statements for a number of years. “(In) 2021-22, there was a bit of drama that has now been resolved,” Nomvalo said. He also said the audit of the 2022-23 financial statements had been finalised and the A-G had since provided a report at the end of September. “We are now undergoing quality control so that we can submit to the minister for tabling at the end of the month. That is tabled a year later than when it ought…

In the fabric of any organisation, stakeholders weave a crucial thread, often steering the direction of projects and policies. However, dynamics can shift dramatically when stakeholder relationships become strained, particularly when confronted with recalcitrant stakeholders. These individuals stand out as persistent resistors of change. A recalcitrant stakeholder is not merely someone with a difference of opinion; they are often entrenched in their opposition, characterised by a profound distrust of leadership, a rigid refusal to adapt, and a tendency to influence others negatively. Their reluctance to engage in constructive dialogue highlights a deeper issue within stakeholder engagement – one that can severely threaten organisational stability and growth. So, why do stakeholders dig in their heels? Many may have endured negative experiences with an organisation, fostering an atmosphere of distrust. Others feel…

Chinese and European automakers went head-to-head at the Paris car show this week, with tensions running high as the EU gears up to impose hefty import tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles and the industry struggles with weak demand. This year’s event – the largest car show in Europe – comes at a pivotal time. Struggling European automakers need to prove they are still in the game, while Chinese rivals are aiming to get a foothold in a competitive market. There was some common ground, though, with executives from both regions warning about the dangers of EU tariffs. “Who pays the bill? Consumers. So this makes people very concerned. It will stop poorer people from buying,” Stella Li, executive vice president of Chinese EV giant BYD said. Stellantis CEO Carlos…

Rwandan authorities were perpetrating serious human rights abuses in detention facilities, including torturing inmates, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said yesterday, denouncing a lack of accountability for those responsible. Under President Paul Kagame’s three-decade rule, political dissent and free speech have been crushed, with international campaigners long decrying the shrinking civil rights space in the small east African country. HRW’s report is based on interviews between 2019 and 2024 with almost 30 people, including former inmates, as well as court documents and interviews shared online. It described how “serious human rights abuses, including torture, are pervasive in many of Rwanda’s detention facilities”, saying it believed only one senior prison official, Innocent Kayumba, had been held accountable. HRW said it had contacted the government in September over the report’s findings, but had…

Istanbul: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government sought yesterday to defend a proposed tax on credit cards that is designed to fund the defence industry, after cardholders scrambled to avoid the new levy. “Our country has no choice but to increase its deterrent power. There’s war in our region right now,” Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek said. The ruling party submitted a bill to parliament stipulating that people with a credit card limit of at least 100 000 liras (about R51 000) will have to pay an annual 750 lira in tax from January next year to bolster the defence industry. | AFP…

KINSHASA: More than 14 000 people have been vaccinated against mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as part of the vaccination campaign launched in early October, the country’s health ministry said. Since the beginning of the campaign, about 14 180 people have been vaccinated in three provinces, the ministry said on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter. On October 5, the DRC kicked off its vaccination campaign against mpox in Goma, the capital of North Kivu Province. The country plans to vaccinate a total of 2.5 million people with 3 500 000 doses of vaccine, said DRC Health Minister Roger Kamba. | Xinhua…

CONGO-BRAZZAVILLE (1) 1 Bassouamina 45+2 SOUTH AFRICA (1) 1 Mokwana 31’ Bafana Bafana missed out on an opportunity to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 finals with two games to spare after drawing with Congo-Brazzaville in Brazzaville last night. The result at Alphonse Massamba-Debat Stadium meant that Bafana dropped two points. Bafana didn’t pitch up last night, and were nowhere near as good as their performance in the first leg of this back-to-back qualifier, having won 5-0 in Gqeberha last Friday. Coach Hugo Broos will hope that his troops will seal their qualification in their next qualifier away to the table-topping Uganda early next month. Failure to do that, and they’ll have to wait for the very last qualifier against South Sudan at home, also next month, to…

Karooooo, the JSE and Nasdaq listed owner of Cartrack and 74.8% of Karooooo Logistics, is raising its subscriber forecast for its 2025 year after lifting year-on-year adjusted earnings a share 31% to R7.35 for the second quarter to August 31. The company, which through its subsidiaries provides insights, real time data analytics and business intelligence predominantly on mobility assets, said yesterday that Cartrack's number of subscribers was now expected to be between 2.3 million and 2.4m, while previously the forecast was between R2.2m and R2.4m. Cartrack's subscription revenue was expected to be between R3.95bn and R4.15bn - previously the forecast was between R3.9bn and R4.15bn. CEO and founder Zak Calisto said in an interview they were already more than 50 000 subscribers higher than the end of August, and he…

South African designer Thebe Magugu is venturing into home- ware after having partnered with Anna Weylandt. Originating from Windhoek, Namibia, Weylandt is a Cape Town interior designer who is also fond of floral arranging, ceramics, photography and writing. In this collaboration, the two creatives merge their talents to produce high-end furniture, including a sofa. “It’s very special when you think of the amounts of hands it has taken to create that one very beautiful piece,” said Magugu. “The Makhoni sofa, we now make ourselves. We really invested in all the things you cannot see. You cannot compromise on quality, comfort and design,” added Weylandt. Both designers added their touch to the stitching, attaching more detailing to the sofa. “The final touches are being added and the unveiling is fast approaching.…

SURPRISE, surprise! Police in Portland, Oregon, in the US, stopped a car believed to have been stolen. A driver and passenger, were inside, according to Sky News. Also in the car: scales, cash, and a loaded gun. Also a small brown make-up bag labelled: “Definitely not a bagful of drugs.” Inside the bag: more than 10g of fentanyl and meth. I guess it’s what you’d call a fair cop. Raccoon siege Possum up the ‘simmon tree’. And raccoon on the ground. Possum says you dirty hound, You’d better shake some ‘simmon down ….’ AMERICAN songwriter Snooks Elgin’s lines are about a raccoon in the Deep South trying to persuade a possum to shake down some fruit for him. They’re all innocent compared with what’s been going on in Kitsap County,…

Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) mourns the passing of former Minister of Finance and Reserve Bank Governor Tito Mboweni. Busa is profoundly saddened by the passing of Mboweni. Tito’s contributions to South Africa’s economic landscape were transformative and will be remembered for years to come. During his tenure, Tito Mboweni played a crucial role in shaping South Africa’s economic policies, promoting fiscal discipline, and ensuring monetary stability. He was a key architect of significant reforms that enhanced the resilience of our economy, particularly during challenging times, including the global financial crisis. His leadership fostered a climate of confidence among investors and businesses, encouraging both local and foreign investment. I first met Tito in the days after the ANC was unbanned and he had returned from exile. He played a critical…

KEY ANC leaders from KwaZulu-Natal are expected to feature prominently in the political discussions over who will likely succeed President Cyril Ramaphosa when the party will hold its National General Council (NGC) next year. While the competition for the party’s highest position is expected to be between Deputy President Paul Mashatile and Secretary General Fikile Mbalula, ANC sources said Senzo Mchunu, Zweli Mkhize, Sihle Zikalala and Mdumiseni Ntuli are being seen as crucial in swinging support for whoever wants to become the next president. The ANC will hold its next elective conference in 2027 but the NGC is expected to be the platform where the prospective leaders of the party will emerge. Mbalula, sources say, has already started the campaign to be recognised as a potential replacement to Ramaphosa, with…

IN a move described as the first of its kind, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) has announced that Amakhosi will now sit in executive committees (Exco) of municipalities to ensure they are well informed about service delivery matters. KZN Cogta MEC Thulasizwe Buthelezi made the announcement while addressing a meeting with mayors and municipal managers yesterday. It is hoped that the inclusion of the Amakhosi in the exco will provide them with insight into decision-making processes and boost service delivery in rural areas. Buthelezi, who is also the traditional prime minister of the Zulu Nation, said he would soon be signing off on a circular that authorises traditional leaders to be members of Exco as ex-officio members. He said at each municipality, at least one…

A Nigerian man, Gabriel Okori, who has been charged in connection with a “romance scam”, is set to apply for bail in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court later this month. The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, also known as the Hawks, said Okori, 39, appeared before the Pretoria court on Monday after he was arrested earlier this month in Cape Town. He has been charged with fraud and theft. The Hawks in Gauteng said the case against Okori was postponed to October 28, when he is expected to formally apply for bail. Gauteng spokesperson for the Hawks, Warrant Officer Thatohatsi Mavimbela, had previously said that Okori allegedly scammed a woman who he met online. She had believed she was communicating with a white man named Mark Hermanus. “The complainant in the…

The synthetic opioid drug fentanyl, which has resulted in more than 100 000 deaths in the US this year alone, has made its way to South Africa, and, due to SA’s high levels of opioid use and dependence, it poses a threat. The National Head for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya, warned on Sunday that fentanyl has entered the drug trafficking network in South Africa. Lebeya said while it was known that traffickers were distributing dagga, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and nyaope, the highly potent synthetic opioid called fentanyl had recently entered the trafficking network. “One kilogram of fentanyl has the potential to kill 500 000 people. As reported by the Drug Enforcement Agency of the United States, more than 107 000 Americans died of fentanyl…

Guests at Olifants Rest Camp had to be evacuated and relocated to nearby rest camps after a fire broke out at the camp on Tuesday night at Kruger National Park. According to a statement released by South African National Parks (SANParks), while the fire was contained, it proved impossible to remove the belongings of guests and three chalets were evacuated. In a video shared to the social media platform, TikTok, the three chalets can be seen gutted by the fire. This fire is just one of two fire incidents reported to have occurred at the park on Tuesday. The first fire occurred at Satara Rest Camp, where embers from a braai fire landed on the thatch roof of a chalet, setting it alight. SANParks said the park was experiencing hot,…

North Korea blew up sections of inter-Korean roads and rail lines on its side of the heavily fortified border between the two Koreas yesterday, prompting South Korea’s military to fire warning shots. Tension has been rising on the Korean peninsula, with Pyongyang saying last week that it would cut off the inter-Korean roads and railways entirely and further fortify the areas on its side of the border as part of its push for a “two-state” system scrapping its long-standing goal of unification. At around noon yesterday, some northern parts of road and rail lines connected to the South were destroyed, the South’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said. Seoul’s unification ministry, which handles cross-border affairs, condemned the incident as a clear violation of past inter-Korean agreements, calling it “highly…

The International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) sees Ivory Coast’s cocoa production reaching 2 million metric tons in the 2024/25 season compared with 1.8 million tons last season, an ICCO expert said. West African neighbours Ivory Coast and Ghana are the world’s top two cocoa producers, but adverse weather conditions and plant diseases hit output in 2023/24. “We believe that Ivory Coast’s production will return to an acceptable level of 2 million tons, even if it will still be below the usual average,” said the expert, referring to the average seasonal production of 2.2 million tons over the three seasons preceding the 2023/24 drop. For Ghana, the ICCO does not expect production to exceed 500 000 tons in 2024/25 due to issues related to artisanal gold-mining and the prevalence of swollen shoot…

Doha: Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani yesterday accused Israel of choosing to expand the conflict in the Middle East to implement “pre-existing plans” for the occupied West Bank and Lebanon. Qatar has played a key role in efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza and has called for a truce in Lebanon, where Israel last month intensified operations against the Iran-backed Hezbollah group. Sheikh Tamim said yesterday that Israel had “begun to expand its aggression to Lebanon”. The Qatari ruler said Israel was “exploiting the opportunity of the international community’s inaction... to implement dangerous settlement plans in the West Bank”. | AFP…

SHENZHEN: With the flourishing of the fourth technological revolution, intelligent construction has become the theme of change in the construction industry. The 2024 International (Shenzhen) Intelligent Construction Industry Expo will be held on October 20 and 21 at Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Centre (Futian). Themed forums will be held with academics, cross-border experts, entrepreneurs and industry, academia and research to gain insight into industry trends and lead the development of the industry. Organisers will establish green channels for new products to enter the supply chain, and promote innovation in development. | AFP…

In a culinary controversy that has taken social media by storm, a kota sandwich priced at an astonishing R450 has provoked a mix of outrage and curiosity among South African food lovers. Traditionally a beloved street food, the kota – a quarter loaf of bread filled with a variety of ingredients – has never been associated with such an extravagant price tag, leading to passionate discussions surrounding affordability, culinary creativity and consumerism. This eye-popping meal, showcased by the @KasiEconomy account on X, is far from the simple street food many know and love. It is crafted from two loaves of bread and generously filled with an assortment of toppings, including three burgers, served alongside crispy fried chips and Viennas, thus changing the kota into a towering feast rather than a…

The analogy of a group of freedom fighters from a small enclave like Lesotho attacking South Africa has an acute but the opposite connotation. Remember HAFRADA days (sorry it's Apartheid in Hebrew if you didn't know)? Similar persistent cross border assaults by the ANC finally resulted in the overthrow of the White privileged class that some people may still enjoy. Anyway, Lesotho is and was a sovereign state with well defined borders unlike Israel, which annexed large swathes of Palestinian land illegally (refer to International Law), the law of occupiers and oppressors vs the concept of resistance. The similarities are evident for those who will see.…

October 15 is Global Handwashing Day and a reminder of the importance of regularly washing our hands to prevent the spread of bacteria and diseases. Global Handwashing Day is an annual global advocacy day dedicated to increasing awareness and understanding about the importance of handwashing with soap as an effective and affordable way to prevent diseases. Hands are one of the most important parts of the body. The theme for this year’s Global Handwashing Day is “Why are clean hands still important?” which calls for introspection and is a reminder that it is still important and critical to regularly wash our hands and keep them clean. We need to wash our hands with soap and a small amount of water. Handwashing with soap is an easy, effective and affordable…

Two South African boys’ private schools, Michaelhouse in the KZN Midlands and Bishops Diocesan College in Cape Town, appear on the list of the top 150 private schools in the world according to Carfax Education’s fifth annual edition of The Schools Index. Carfax Education stated that the index is a leading international listing of top private schools from across the globe, hand-picked by leading education consultants. “The guide is comprehensively curated by international experts, with each school recognised as notable for their individual footprint in education, including academic standards, facilities, preparation for university entry, unique ethos, and how they set their pupils up for life beyond academia.” The index includes brief profiles for each of the selected schools. It states that Michaelhouse is a boarding school that blends academic rigour…

The Public Service Commission (PSC) says there is an urgent need for the National Treasury to consider an overhaul of systems and policy for financial management within departments amid billions of rand in overdue invoices to service providers. The number of invoices paid after 30 days by provincial departments was 98 318, worth R12.6 billion. As of the end of June, 47 440 invoices worth R6.5bn were more than 30 days overdue. According to PSC commissioner Anele Gxoyiya, timeous submission of exception reports by provincial departments remained a concern for provincial treasuries as an average submission rate of 89% is recorded for the first quarter of the 2024/25 financial year. This represents a regression of 4% when compared with the average submission rate of 93% achieved in the first quarter…

The Department of Home Affairs has taken action against 31 officials who were found to have flouted the law at various offices across the country. The department said the sanctions against errant officials included some being dismissed, suspended without pay or receiving final written warnings. “These actions reflect the department's intensified commitment to enforcing ethical governance and accelerating disciplinary and criminal sanctions against officials involved in maladministration,” said Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber. “Our determination to root out corruption is absolute, as winning this fight is essential to our vision of turning Home Affairs into a respected and ethical institution that delivers dignity to all our clients.” The department said two officials, Judy Zuma and Tony Stout, have already been dismissed. A Border Management Authority (BMA) official, Dora Ncube, appeared…

A former official with the Road Accident Fund (RAF) in KwaZulu-Natal who solicited a bribe of half a million rand from a claimant has been sentenced to an effective 10 years behind bars. Nobuhle Magwaza, 45, was sentenced in the Durban Specialised Commercial Crime Court on Monday. According to the Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation (known as the Hawks), Magwaza was employed as a claims and legal officer during the period of November 2019. “During the course of her work she demanded R500 000 gratification from the claimant,” explained KZN Hawks spokesperson, Captain Simphiwe Mhlongo. “She requested R50 000 to be paid in cash, while the balance of R450 000 was to be deposited into her bank account once the claim is finalised.” The Hawks said Magwaza solicited the gratification…

As South Africa embarks on a new chapter in its political landscape, the Government of National Unity (GNU) has endured its first 100 days against predictions of imminent collapse. When the GNU was established, many critics and political analysts predicted that the divergent ideologies of the ANC and DA would lead to an implosion within the first few months. Yet here we are – 100 days in, and South Africa still has a functioning government. Internally, however, the tranquillity of the GNU is not universally accepted. Cosatu and the SACP expressed their discontent by boycotting the ANC’s celebratory event marking the 100-day milestone, highlighting fractures within the ANC’s traditional ally group. During the celebrations, President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the gathering, stating that the GNU was focused on building upon the…

As Israel continues its war against Hamas in Gaza, it has repeatedly carried out deadly strikes on medical facilities and refugee camps, leading to a staggering civilian death toll, with reports of thousands of Palestinians being held in custody indefinitely in inhumane conditions. Israeli soldiers and intelligence agents have been using Palestinians in the Gaza Strip as a human shield during their war on Hamas that broke out last October, an investigation by The New York Times has revealed. Captured Gazans have been forced to carry out life-threatening reconnaissance missions to avoid putting Israeli soldiers at risk, the publication cited Israel Defence Forces (IDF) soldiers and former Palestinian detainees as saying. At least 11 squads in five cities in Gaza have reportedly resorted to this illegal practice. The use of…

SEOUL: K-pop star Hanni, a member of the group NewJeans, made an emotional appeal yesterday for young artists to be treated better in the multibillion-dollar industry, as she relayed her experience of workplace bullying during a parliamentary hearing. For years, the K-pop industry has been dogged by complaints of high pressure and bullying, sparking calls for companies to protect their artists better. “I hope trainees don’t suffer these incidents and that’s why I decided to appear,” the 20-year-old Vietnamese Australian singer said during a parliamentary audit. The group has been caught in the middle of a clash between executives of its parent label HYBE and the former CEO of its subsidiary Ador, which manages NewJeans. | Reuters…

Jerusalem: Israel will consider the US’s opinion but will act against an Iranian missile attack based on its own “national interests”, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said yesterday. US President Joe Biden has cautioned Israel against striking Iran’s nuclear or oil facilities to avoid a further regional escalation and amid concerns over global energy prices. Netanyahu’s statement followed a Washington Post report citing unnamed US officials, that Netanyahu had reassured the White House any counterstrike would be limited to military sites. Iran launched about 200 missiles at Israel on October 1. | AFP…