Innholdsfortegnelse for 2024-11-29 i Mercury

The primary problem with affirmative action is that CEOs who are underqualified and struggling to cope are almost certain to appoint senior managers who, due to being similarly underqualified, represent little threat to them and support them loyally out of a fear of being retrenched or overlooked for promotion by a new CEO. In addition, these senior managers invariably fall victim to their insecurities and the poison quickly spreads, frequently resulting in the organisation making less profit and paying less tax, which has the potential to negatively impact the government’s ability to increase social welfare grants and maintain infrastructure. Simply put, affirmative action is a recipe for disaster if it is implemented too high up the management chain.…

WHEN one looks at the huge debts owed by municipalities to Eskom, you realise why it has failed in so many ways. Why were these rogue municipalities allowed to get into such debt? We are talking millions and millions, in some cases billions, of rand. I remember the days when if one was in arrears, you were immediately cut off the grid. Obviously this doesn’t happen today and one can renege on payments as long as you like, so getting these debts paid today is practically impossible. Whereas if in the beginning they had been firmer with these miscreants, Eskom wouldn’t have these colossal debts. The minute they first stopped paying, if Eskom had cut them off, I assure you money would have been found to service the debt.…

As the December 13 deadline looms for spaza shops to register their business or face closure, eThekwini Municipality says it has received more than 400 applications. Earlier this month, President Cyril Ramaphosa set a 21-day registration deadline for spaza shops and small businesses after 22 people died from foodborne illnesses. In one incident, six children in Naledi, Soweto, died from pesticide poisoning. EThekwini Municipality spokesperson Gugu Sisilana told The Mercury that since Ramaphosa announced measures to regulate spaza shop operations, the municipality’s Business Licensing Department had received 412 new business licence applications from November 18 to date. Sisilana said the licensing department currently maintains a database of 4 700 spaza shops. “The new 412 business licence applications cannot be added to this number yet as the approval process is not…

As South Africans prepare for the end of year holidays, a tourism organisation says travellers to Mozambique should maintain close contact with their tourism service providers to ensure they get accurate, up to date information. The Southern Africa Tourism Services Association (Satsa) was commenting yesterday after anti-government protests flared up again on Wednesday. Mozambique is currently facing political instability following disputed election results, which have led to clashes between government forces and protesters. AFP reported that anti-government protesters and security forces clashed across Mozambique on Wednesday with at least two deaths reported. The South African Border Management Authority stated yesterday that the movement of trucks passing through the Lebombo border post had resumed after disruptions to freight travel on Wednesday. In a brief statement to The Mercury, the Border Management…

The DA has formally requested President Cyril Ramaphosa to issue a Presidential Proclamation, authorising the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to launch an urgent investigation into allegations of widespread fraud within the South African Social Security Agency's (Sassa) Social Relief of Distress (SRD) R370 grant system. The call follows the revelation by Sassa that serious challenges within the SRD system has been substantiated by an independent investigation. The external audit, conducted by Masegare & Associates Incorporated, uncovered multiple vulnerabilities in the system, confirming allegations initially raised by two Stellenbosch University students. Last month, it was reported that the two Stellenbosch students, Joel Cedras and Veer Gosai identified vulnerabilities in the SRD grant application and payment system through an informal on-campus survey they conducted after they realised that they were unable to…

Long-distance taxi operators in Durban have warned of disruptions to services today amid their dispute with the government over operating permits and the release of impounded taxis. One of the busiest daily routes between Durban and Pietermaritzburg will be among those affected. The operators have indicated that the protest could extend into next week. This protest follows closely on another similar protest a few weeks ago, which left scores of long-distance travellers stranded at taxi ranks for hours. The Mercury also understands that the protest is likely to affect small business traders, who have been informed that they will not be able to operate today while the strike is underway. The traders most likely to be affected are situated next to the Durban station area, where many long-distance taxis are…

Namibians were still voting yesterday, hours after polls were scheduled to close in a presidential and legislative election set to test the ruling party’s 34-year grip on power in the southern African nation. Logistical issues left crowds waiting to vote although polls were scheduled to close at 9pm (7pm GMT) on Wednesday. Ballot counting had started at some polling stations with early results initially expected by Saturday according to the electoral calendar. In the face of criticism from political parties and voters over the long queues, the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) said it was extending voting hours. Yesterday morning,, “some people were still voting,” said ECN spokesperson Siluka De Wet. At the University of Science and Technology in Windhoek, voting stopped at 5am yesterday, polling officers said. The vote…

“Bro, I can’t wait for my first dead body,” wrote an 11-year-old boy on Instagram in Sweden, where gangs recruit children too young to be prosecuted as contract killers on chat apps. “Stay motivated, it’ll come,” answered his 19-year-old contact. He went on to offer the child 150 000 kronor (about R249 000) to carry out a murder, as well as clothes and transport to the scene of the crime, according to a police investigation of the exchange last year in the western province of Varmland. In this case, four men between the ages of 18 and 20 are accused of recruiting four minors between the ages of 11 and 17 to work for a criminal gang. All were arrested before carrying out the crimes. The preliminary inquiry contains a…

Kampala: At least 30 people were feared dead after landslides in a village in eastern Uganda, officials said yesterday, warning that the toll could rise. Landslides struck Masugu village, and six bodies, including that of a baby, had been recovered so far. Several people were missing. The Ugandan prime minister’s office said as many as 20 homes were feared to have been swept away. The East African nation has been battered by heavy rains in recent days, with flooding in the north-west after a tributary of the Nile River burst its banks, causing emergency teams to be assembled to rescue stranded motorists. | AFP…

Proteas hero Marco Jansen said that his astonishing seven-wicket haul against Sri Lanka yesterday was as a result of “making the batters play” during day two of the first Test at Kingsmead in Durban. The lanky quick showed very few signs of rust following a 12-week-long conditioning break as he helped blow the visitors away for just 42 – the lowest Test total in South Africa since readmission – with figures of 7/13 in 41 balls, the best return of his 14-Test career. Speaking to the media following his memorable day, Jansen said that he felt mentally and physically fresh in his second Test of the year. “Mentally, I feel a lot more refreshed, which is nice,” he said. “Similar to the physical, it feels like I can go for…

IF YOU really want to be happier, there are a few things you can do that may stimulate and result in your greater happiness: Shed victim thinking. It’s unlikely anyone is out to get you. God is definitely not out to get you. I know, I know, it’s hard, especially if you have been a victim and especially if you’ve developed it as a lifestyle. Understand that you don’t deserve happiness - Your parents or your church may really have misled you for all these years. Happiness may result from hard, healthy choices. It also may not. Watch what you eat - those few extra kilos will suck your joy and energy. You can’t eat your way out of unhappiness. Take charge of your finances, no matter how flush or…

The Indian community recently commemorated the arrival of indentured labourers from India to South Africa. The period between 1860 and 1911 and the growth of this community over time — including the various contributions to our country’s freedom, growth and development — are replete with a rich and evolving history. This includes recognising that we are all united in our diversity. During last week’s sitting of the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature, the “green” MK party showed its usual intolerance and bigotry — this time when one of their members, pointing at me, spoke of “you Indians”. While his derogatory remarks, tone and gestures were withdrawn after the Deputy Speaker’s instruction to do so, the withdrawal was clearly not genuine in both tone and demeanour. This is typical of the MK. It is…

SOME years ago, after being tried beyond endurance by load shedding but also to make a contribution to protecting the environment, I installed solar panels at a substantial cost. I opted not to feed into the grid but retained the possibility of drawing Eskom power if needed. Very occasionally I do in fact do so, using about 30 units a month. A few months ago, I noticed that my municipality bill contained something called Electricity Home User Charge, which upon investigation turned out to be a levy, not, as you would expect, for electricity I actually use from Eskom, but for having installed a solar system and therefore not using any Eskom power. I can only speculate, but this looks as if Eskom is trying to compensate for the electricity…

THE Department of Basic Education (DBE) has expressed their intention to release this year’s matric results in newspapers, stating they will be guided by a 2022 North Gauteng High Court decision. In January 2022, AfriForum, Maroela Media and a matriculant won a case to ensure that the 2021 matric results would be published in the media after the department announced a decision that it would not do so. Earlier this month, the Information Regulator of South Africa (IR) issued an Infringement Notice and an Enforcement Notice to the department, stating it failed to comply with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) in 2023. “The IR found that no legal justification existed for the DBE to continue with the publication of the results in the newspapers. It directed that the…

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has said there was no guarantee that the projected amount budgeted for the public sector wage bill will not be over the budget. Godongwana said the government was in the midst of wage negotiations with the labour movement. “We have made a specific offer which is being considered by the unions,” he said when he was answering oral questions in the National Assembly this week. The Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement projects the public sector wage bill to cost more than R298 billion over the medium-term expenditure framework by 2027. Godongwana said at the time of the budget, they had projected the baseline on the consumer price index, which was standing at 4.5% and subsequently moved downwards. He said the government made an offer of a 4.5%…

A former adjudicator at the permit section of the Department of Home Affairs, Phanuel Mokomo, has been found guilty of corruption by the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court. The Hawks said the conviction comes after Mokomo offered an internal investigator a R10 000 bribe to stop him from conducting a probe into his corrupt activities. Gauteng Hawks spokesperson, Colonel Katlego Mogale said Mokomo was facing an internal investigation by the department for irregular issuance and approval of permits. After the bribe offer, the matter was referred to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), also known as the Hawks, in September 2018. “An entrapment operation was authorised and executed in terms of Section 252A of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977,” said Mogale. “The operation culminated in Mokomo being caught in…

THE water curtailment measures in eThekwini Municipality have resulted in the City being able to save between three to five megalitres of water each day. Mayor Cyril Xaba welcomed the progress and expressed hope that the savings will increase as the curtailment measures gain momentum. He spoke to The Mercury this week as the City launched its festive season campaign. EThekwini has been implementing water curtailment measures for the past few weeks, following a directive from the Department of Water and Sanitation to the uMngeni-UThukela Water Board, which supplies bulk water to the City, to reduce the amount of water it extracts from the uMngeni system. There is a concern that failure to curtail water supply would negatively impact the network and could have a disastrous effect in the event…

Neglect, underfunding hinders fight against the world’s No 1 fatal infectious disease THE worsening global state of climate action and finance neglect as shown at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan earlier this month is not the only metric of shame that plagues humanity. Overshadowed by the surfeit of summits, meetings and conferences over the last two months, the world’s number one killer infectious disease tuberculosis (TB) reared its pernicious head in Washington, DC at the end of October almost unnoticed revelling in the fact that it claimed 1.25 million lives in 2023 which the clinical experts exhort were eminently preventable. The common feature of climate action and finance neglect is mirrored in the global fight against TB and its eradication. The World Health Organization (WHO) Global Tuberculosis Report 2024 (GTbR 2024)…

Candidates backed by new Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto look set to triumph in key regional elections, apart from in the capital Jakarta, facilitating the implementation of his agenda and reinforcing his domination of national politics. More than 200 million Indonesians voted on Wednesday for leaders in 37 provinces, 93 cities, and 415 districts. While the official results will be announced between November 30 and December 15, independent pollsters have released their election counts. Candidates backed by Prabowo’s broad coalition won most key provinces, including Central Java, West Java and East Java, according to initial results from the pollsters. Former Indonesian president Joko Widodo’s son-in-law, Bobby Nasution, who was also backed by Prabowo’s big coalition, won in North Sumatra province, a key province on the island of Sumatra. “This is a…

HANOI: Human rights activists this week accused Communist-run Vietnam of infringing on freedom of religion after a court handed jail sentences this week to five ethnically Khmer Buddhist monks and four religious activists. A court in the southern province of Long An sentenced the men to prison terms between two and six years after finding them guilty of “abusing democratic freedoms to infringe upon state interests” and of illegally detaining people, according to a police statement. Asia Human Rights and Labour Advocates said that the monks’ sentences were “unacceptable”. Khmer Krom Buddhist monk Thach Chanh Da Ra was given the longest term. | Reuters…

KUWAIT CITY: The Opec+ alliance of oil-producing countries has postponed its next meeting on output policy to December 5 from December 1 to avoid a conflict with another event, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries said yeserday. Top Opec+ ministers held talks before the meeting. Sources have said there will be discussion over a further delay to oil output increases, due to start in January. Opec+, which comprises Opec and allies led by Russia, pumps about half the world’s oil. It aims to unwind oil production cuts next year that it introduced to help support prices. But a slowdown in Chinese and global demand and rising output outside the group pose hurdles to that plan. | Reuters…

The physical toll of Test rugby has finally caught up with Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth, if coach John Plumtree is to be believed. Etzebeth was not considered for selection yesterday by the Sharks mentor for tomorrow’s United Rugby Championship clash against the Stormers at Kings Park (5pm kick-off), after returning from national duty on the UK tour. Etzebeth, who became SA’s most-capped player earlier this year and completed the international season with 130 Tests under his belt, departed the field in the Bok victory over Wales last weekend in noticeable discomfort. The 32-year-old only played 29 minutes in that 45-12 win. Yesterday, while discussing his match-day selection for the weekend, Plumtree admitted concern regarding the current fitness of the veteran lock. “We’re trying to get Eben right, he said. “The…

It is BLACK FRIDAY time again. This year, we are going big, with all our branches running the sale on Friday, Saturday and Sunday! 20% OFF everything in our stores, excluding bait and items already on sale. Shimano rods and reels less 15%, while stocks last. Pop into your nearest Kingfisher branch to make the most of the awesome deals. We have branches in Durban, (Hunter Street, as well as at Tackle Centre), Warner Beach, Kloof, Pietermaritzburg, Ballito and Salt Rock. The dates and times are Friday November 29 (8am-5pm), Saturday November 30 (8am-1pm) and Sunday December 1 (8am-1pm). It’s pelagic season offshore, with a variety of species being landed as water temperatures hit the ideal 23-24 degrees – a true dream for ski boaters. Dorado, sailfish, couta and tuna…

Richards Bay coach Brandon Truter has once again challenged his players to show more desire to turn around the club’s form following another defeat to Kaizer Chiefs. The Natal Rich Boyz dropped to 14th spot on the Premiership standings as they went down to an Amakhosi outfit that played nearly an entire half with 10 men in Polokwane on Wednesday, after Reeve Frosler was sent off in the 48th minute. That loss was the third in a row in all competitions, and the club’s sixth in the 11 matches they’ve played in the 2024/2025 campaign. Truter’s seat as the leader of the technical team has been in danger in recent weeks, but he has apparently been handed a lifeline after the international break, having been reportedly shown the door after…

President Cyril Ramaphosa will unpack South Africa’s significant new role as the incoming President of the Group of Twenty (G20) on Monday, outlining the country’s ambitions when it leads the group of the world’s largest economies. During the recent G20 Rio Leaders’ Summit in Brazil, Ramaphosa officially accepted South Africa’s responsibility for the G20 Presidency for next year. This will be the first time an African economy leads the G20 for a rotational one-year term. Vincent Magwenya, spokesperson for the Presidency, said South Africa would, under its G20 Presidency, seek to provide strategic direction in establishing a more equitable, representative and fit-for-purpose international order, in line with the main multilateral processes under the UN. Brazil held the G20 Presidency this year, and South Africa will at the end of its…

Financial markets are cyclical and periods of economic downturn often present unique opportunities to achieve your desired investment outcomes. For this reason, it is important to identify solutions tailored to global market dynamics to realise the wealth that spans generations. Seizing opportunities in adverse market conditions When market sentiment is low, asset prices tend to follow suit and create a ripe environment for long-term investment. Using these downturns as buying opportunities, you can position for future growth when markets inevitably recover. This approach not only helps to weather the storm but also sets you up to reap the benefits of the market’s eventual rebound. How to identify opportunities in the market Identifying opportunities in the market requires a blend of local expertise and global awareness. Look for research on…

IT’S an intriguing suggestion, this, that the Zulu Royal House and the British Royal Family should establish some sort of relationship, leading to tourism linkages. There are already some linkages. Many locals describe this province as “Natal – Last Outpost of the British Empire.” Many Brits are fascinated by the Zulu War. The Zulus seem to have largely forgiven that. Master conservationist Ian Player worked closely with a Zulu named Maqubu Ntombela who spoke not a word of English yet communicated with tourists through uncanny imitation of the game species they were about to view. Player took Ntombela overseas where he addressed, through an interpreter, soldiers of the British regiments that had fought in the Zulu War. It caused wild acclamation, no animosity from Ntombela, even though his father had…

South Africa’s legacy of apartheid continues to cast a long shadow over society. While the political landscape has shifted, the underlying structural inequalities remain deeply entrenched. The land question, a central issue of the liberation truggle, persists, with the majority of Black South Africans still dispossessed of their ancestral lands. This dispossession has far-reaching consequences. It has eroded the dignity of millions, fostered a distorted sense of self, and fuelled social and economic marginalisation. The rise of informal economies, such as spaza shops, is a symptom of this systemic failure. It reflects the desperation of individuals struggling to survive in a system that offers few opportunities. The government’s attempts to address these challenges have been largely ineffective. Although well-intentioned, these policies often lack the necessary depth and foresight. The…

The holiday, or the silly season, is here. Exams are over and schools are set to close. To some parents, the relief is not over, as matric students, after a hard year, will flock to the Matric rage parties. My appeal to parents: know where your children are during the holiday season. The rush to the coast and inland for the annual holiday will begin. Sadly, the death toll will also begin because of negligent and drunk driving. Safe driving starts with the driver behind the wheel — one has to be careful not to speed, overtake on a blind rise or drive recklessly. Also, one has to ensure the car is in good condition. Even if you do all this, it is only half the battle won. We need…

South African discount retailer Boxer celebrated a triumphant debut on the JSE yesterday with an Initial Public Offering (IPO) valued at R8.5 billion. This move positions the former Pick n Pay subsidiary for significant growth in a rapidly expanding market. This is the first listing of a soft discount retailer in South Africa and one of the most anticipated listings in nearly a decade. With a 47-year history, Boxer with its roots in KwaZulu-Natal, with just 35 stores and a turnover of R800 million at the time Pick n Pay acquired it in 2002, has grown from a modest 35 stores to over 500 across South Africa and Eswatini. The company now boasts an annual turnover of R37.4bn and a trading profit of R2.1bn for the 2024 fiscal year.…

THE court overturned the sale of a house on auction to “the highest bidder” after a divorced wife went behind her former husband’s back and bought the home, valued at more than R1.5 million, through her attorney for a meagre R1 000. According to a divorce settlement, the house was to be sold to the highest bidder, and the parties agreed that they would split the proceeds. However, the husband was unaware that the house was sold from under his nose to the “highest bidder”, the attorney, who had a mandate from the wife to buy it on her behalf. Thus, if the proceeds were to be split, the husband was due to receive R500 for the home valued at more than R1.5 million. When the husband got wind of…

Two men have appeared in court after they were arrested by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, also known as the Hawks, for unlawful possession of gold valued at R15 million. Gauteng spokesperson for the Hawks, Captain Lloyd Ramovha, said the accused are 33-year-old Zimbabwean man, Joachim Chivayo, and Ayanda Brian Gungwa, a 20-year-old South African citizen. “The Gauteng Hawks’ serious organised crime investigation team, in collaboration with their head office counterparts, achieved a significant breakthrough in their fight against illegal precious metal trading by arresting the two suspects involved in the unlawful possession of gold,” said Ramovha. The two were apprehended at Helderwyk Estate, while in possession of six bars of unwrought gold, as they were attempting to find a buyer for the minerals. “The seized gold underscores the…

SPORT, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie has been cleared of flouting the code of MPs after a member of the public lodged a complaint with Parliament. McKenzie came under the scrutiny of the joint committee of ethics and members’ interest after a member of the public submitted a complaint to the committee in July over an alleged breach of the code. In her complaint, she stated that McKenzie made a live video on social media, which was directed at her. “The complainant states that the member threatened her with a court order in relation to an allegation that he stole Joshlin Smith,” committees’ co-chairpersons Lusizo Sharon Makhubela and Joseph Britz said. The woman claimed McKenzie abused his ministerial position by threatening her as an ordinary citizen. “She states that…

Hyundai is slowly but surely sharpening its SUV game in the face of increased competition from a seemingly endless stream of new Chinese models. This year it cut the prices of its Venue compact model, and then introduced the even smaller Exter to compete at the budget end of the market beneath the R300 000 mark. Now it’s time for the Creta to get some love and attention, and to that end Hyundai Automotive South Africa has announced a raft of subtle upgrades to its Creta, the biggest of its compact models, while also reducing prices. More standard features have been added across the board and the importer has added a pair of Matte Edition models, which boast matte paint work in black, silver or white, as well as black…

When Rassie Erasmus moved to Cape Town in 2007 to coach the Stormers, he was decidedly wary of the media in general. He wasn’t a big fan of social media either, and when he became Springbok coach in 2018, he warned his players about the pitfalls of focusing too much on their profiles instead of winning rugby matches first. Then the penny dropped after the Boks’ 2019 Rugby World Cup triumph in Japan. “I was one of the guys who was never into that – we have a family Facebook page, but that was probably the closest I got to social media,” Erasmus said in 2020. “But I have 16-year-old twin daughters who are very much into Instagram and those things. “At the Rugby World Cup, with very full days…

British MPs must decide today whether to support assisted dying in an emotional vote which has split parliament and the country. MPs will debate proposals to allow mentally competent, terminally ill adults with six months or less left to live, the right to choose to end their lives with medical help. The first attempt to change the law in a decade has caused a national debate in Britain among former prime ministers, faith leaders, medics, judges and ministers in Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government. Polls show that a majority of Britons back assisted dying and many people want those in the last months of their lives to have a greater sense of control. But some MPs want more time to examine the legal and financial implications. Many of those opposed…

Riyadh: The first phase of Riyadh Metro was launched yesterday, a significant step to reshape the Saudi capital’s public transport landscape. Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud inaugurated the project, which is expected to become Riyadh’s public transport network backbone. The Riyadh Metro includes six train lines spanning 176km and 85 stations, including four main hubs. The SPA reported that three lines will open to the public on December 1, with “gradual launches” completing the network across the city. Once fully operational, the Riyadh Metro is expected to be the largest in the world to be completed in a single phase, and the world’s longest driverless metro line. | Xinhua…

ALEPPO: The Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) rebel group and allied factions launched a major offensive on Syrian military positions in the western countryside of Aleppo province this week, resulting in territorial gains and 89 deaths, a war monitor said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that the HTS and factions seized control of 21 villages, towns, and strategic sites. It noted that 89 combatants died. Five Syrian soldiers were captured by the HTS, which has also seized weapons depots, armoured vehicles and heavy weapons. In response, Russian warplanes conducted air strikes around the city of Atarib, and Syrian government forces shelled surrounding villages. | Xinhua…

An enthralling second day of the first Test between the Proteas and Sri Lanka produced a number of highlights at Kingsmead yesterday. Here are our plays of the day... Records Jansen’s seven-for saw Sri Lanka crumble to 42 all out, the lowest Test total in South Africa since readmission and the third lowest in Mzansi in history. The left-arm quick returned figures of 7/13, the best of his 14-Test career and his second five-wicket haul as the 24-year-old marked his return to Test cricket. Gerald Coetzee’s 2/18 and Kagiso Rabada’s 1/10 were just as important as South Africa bundled Sri Lanka out in just 83 deliveries, making it the second shortest Test innings in history. Jansen’s 50th wicket Returning for his second Test of the year following a 12-week-long rehabilitation…