Innholdsfortegnelse for 2025-01-27 i Mercury

Imagine awakening each day burdened by an unseen weight, a fatigue that lingers like a shadow before the day has even begun. This is the reality for many living with anemia, particularly iron-deficiency anaemia, a condition that goes far beyond the occasional tiredness. With an estimated 2 billion people worldwide affected, it manifests as a daily struggle, robbing individuals of energy and joy. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that around 38% of the global population suffers from low iron levels, affecting everyone from newborns to the elderly. Without enough iron, your body struggles to produce healthy red blood cells, leading to reduced oxygen delivery to tissues and organs. This lack of oxygen manifests as fatigue, cognitive impairment and an overall decline in physical and mental health. In severe cases,…

I really want to travel, write a book, plant a garden, drive to Cape Town, run a marathon, be a poet, visit my estranged aunt, collect art, learn French – (insert your own “I really want to…”). This is something I hear quite often. If you’re a “I really want to…” person I challenge you to assess if you really want to do or be whatever your “it” is or not. Everything begins with the first step. Secure a passport, bury yourself in maps, read masses of poetry, sign up for a class to learn French – move beyond expressing what you really want to do by moving your life in that direction. Today. When hearing I’m from South Africa people will often respond with, “I really want to go…

The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) rejects the decision of the president to sign the Expropriation Bill into law. This decision undermines the spirit of consensus and collaboration that is fundamental to the Government of National Unity (GNU) framework. As the IFP, we have consistently maintained our principled opposition to the current version of the Expropriation Bill. While we support meaningful land reform that is just, equitable, and aimed at addressing historical injustices, the Expropriation Bill as it stands falls short of these principles. Our key objections include the following: 1. “Nil Compensation” Provisions: The open-ended and vague clauses under Clause 12(3) allow for abuse by expropriating authorities. This provision creates room for arbitrary targeting of landowners, undermining investor confidence. 2. Prejudicial Litigation Framework: Clauses such as 15(3) and 19(8) unfairly…

A VICTORY for South Africa’s most vulnerable, is how advocacy groups hailed the judgment by the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, which ruled that regulations limiting access to the R370 a month Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant are unconstitutional and invalid. Judge Leonard Twala also declared that regulations relating to the Covid-19 SRD are unconstitutional and invalid to the extent that it provides for these grant applications to be lodged on an electronic platform only – a means which many don’t have. Another regulation he had declared as invalid pertains to the extent that it sets the income threshold for insufficient means at R624 per person per month. The court declared that the Constitution requires the government to devise and implement a plan to address the retrogression in the value…

THE National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) Service Providers Association has called out the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education for failing to pay service providers, putting the programme, and the essential meals it provides to pupils, at risk. The association expressed frustration over the department’s failure to honour payment commitments outlined in Circular 83 of 2024 and Circular 01 of 2025. “These promises have not been honoured, and the department has failed to provide any further communication to service providers or the association’s leadership,” said Thabang Mncwabe, the association’s communications and stakeholders specialist. According to Mncwabe, the release of Circular 01 of 2025, which promised payments between January 13 and 17, was a calculated move to mislead the public during the provincial legislature’s school functionality assessments. “This misleading action created the perception…

The legal saga surrounding Musa Khawula, a blogger embroiled in accusations of cyberbullying and hate speech, has ignited debate about the repercussions of online actions. Khawula has been charged with crimen injuria and contravention of the Cyber Crimes Act of 2020, stemming from derogatory comments directed at businessman Zed Nxumalo from October 10 to 12, 2024. Legal experts warned that social media users needed to be cautious about what they posted or shared. Legal expert Nthabiseng Dubazana said: “What people should be aware of is that cyberbullying is a criminal act in terms of the Criminal Procedure Act. As such, one can be charged with crimen injuria (defamation).” She said sharing any potentially harmful information, even with noble intentions, could result in serious legal consequences, including being regarded as an…

Seven people were injured in a structural collapse at a construction site on the R102 near King Shaka International Airport, on Saturday. Several emergency services and rescue units responded to the scene. It was reported that construction workers were working on scaffolding inside a factory when it gave way. IPSS Medical Rescue spokesperson Samantha Meyrick said: “The collapse occurred on a construction site, leaving five people on the ground injured, and a further two patients stranded, hanging from the roof in their harnesses. One worker sustained critical injuries and was airlifted to hospital, Meyrick. The remaining four on the ground sustained serious injuries. Meyrick said the two stranded workers were lowered to the waiting paramedics using a cherry picker and a rope system. Both were taken to hospital in serious…

WHAT do South Africa’s Presidency of the G20 in 2025, the participation of South Africa Inc. in last week’s World Economic Forum in Davos, the plight of a global management consultancy, the calling out of this consultancy by a British peer after the UK Labour government lifted its suspension on engaging with it, the EU, the Governments of India, UAE and Switzerland, and the intergovernmental Financial Action Taskforce (FATF) have in common? They all have the potential to help turn the year 2025 into what President Cyril Ramaphosa has perhaps prematurely claimed last week in Davos will be a “momentous” year for South Africa. For that potential to be realised, it would require Madiba-like leadership, a political will which supersedes diplomatic niceties, frustrations and the rhetoric of aspirations, and a…

US President Donald Trump floated a plan to “just clean out” Gaza, and said he wants Egypt and Jordan to take Palestinians from the territory, as a fragile truce between Israel and Hamas aimed at permanently ending the war entered its second week yesterday. The truce deal that came into effect on January 19 saw four Israeli hostages and around 200 Palestinian prisoners released to joyful scenes on Saturday, in the second such exchange so far. But after 15 months of war, Trump called Gaza a “demolition site” and said he had spoken to Jordan’s King Abdullah II about moving Palestinians out of the territory. “I’d like Egypt to take people. And I’d like Jordan to take people,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, adding that he expected to…

Tens of thousands of Australians protested over the treatment of Indigenous people yesterday as the country celebrated a national holiday marking the 1788 arrival of British colonisers. Crowds rallied in Melbourne and other cities on Australia Day, decrying the high incarceration rates, poor health and historic persecution of the continent’s first inhabitants, whose ancestry stretches back 60 000 years. The January 26 national day commemorates the arrival of a British fleet in Sydney Harbour to establish a penal colony. For many Australians, it is a day to celebrate with friends and family at beaches and backyard barbecues. But for rights activists “Invasion Day” marks a period of oppression of Indigenous peoples, including the dispossession of their lands, massacres, and the removal of children from their families. In Melbourne, thousands of…

ABUJA: A fuel tanker truck explosion killed 18 people in Nigeria’s south-eastern Enugu state at the weekend, the national road safety agency said, a week after another incident left about a 100 residents dead in the north of the country. The truck suffered brake failure and the driver lost control, crashing into more than a dozen vehicles on an expressway, Olusegun Ogungbemide, spokesperson of the Federal Road Safety Corps said. He said 10 people were rescued with different degrees of injuries and another three were unharmed. “Unfortunately, the remaining 18 victims were burnt beyond recognition,” said Ogungbemide. Accidents involving fuel tanker trucks have become common in Africa’s largest oil producer, which authorities blame on bad roads and reckless driving, often with dozens of fatalities. | Reuters…

Golden Arrows co-coach Musa Bilankulu insists he expects his side to show character for the rest of the season despite suffering a blow in the Nedbank Cup. Abafana Besthende were eliminated by Chippa United in the last 32 round of the Ke Yona competition at the Mpumalanga Stadium on Saturday. In what will be remembered as one of the most memorable matches of the round, three goals were scored in the final 20 minutes with Arrows Brandon Theron scoring in both nets in a space of two minutes. The Chilli Boys, who celebrated with their new assistant coach Mabhuti Khenyeza booked their place in the round of 16 for the 12th time in the club’s history. Bilankulu, who had expressed a great desire to place a second major trophy in…

Ebrahim Essa’s armchair psychoanalysis of Donald Trump coupled with Thyagaraj Markandan’s hidebound adherence to debunked mainstream media sources aptly reflect the words of EB White, posted at the bottom of the front page of The Mercury’s January 24 edition: “Prejudice is a great time saver. You can form opinions without having to get the facts.” Essa and Markandan remain shocked at Trump’s resounding election victory because their information sources – the fake news, as Trump aptly calls them – have misled them. Essa claims Trump is “creating animosity amongst the majority”. What utter nonsense, Mr Essa. Besides his landslide support of 77 million on November 5, current ratings show 56% of those polled approve of Trump’s roll-out of orders, appointments and policies. Markandan is offended by Trump’s reference to…

THE office of a politician, whether in national, provincial or local government, is a high one. They are expected to have positive qualities, primarily proficiency and integrity, and must be people serving. In our 30 years of democracy, all three tiers of government were graced by some persons with proficiency and integrity and who were people serving. Regrettably now, the government has been disgraced by a “biryani mix” of criminals, fraudsters, corrupt looters, smooth talkers and con artists. One must have a minimum level of academic qualifications to serve as a politician. For a good start a matric should be the prescribed minimum. I make a strong plea for legislation to be enacted to this effect. In addition, politicians must be literate with computers and numeracy, both being the Achilles…

THE DA is continuing its fight against the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown regulations. The Constitutional Court has set down the matter for next month. The matter continues despite the Government of National Unity (GNU) arrangement in which the ANC is in a coalition with the DA. According to court papers, the DA states that the Disaster Management Act gives the government too much power. It argues that the Co-operative Governance minister has too much power to drastically limit the basic rights of ordinary South Africans in every sphere of life. “The Covid-19 lockdowns illustrated the breadth and intrusiveness of the powers,” the DA said. The party said at the time of the pandemic, the minister’s powers were not subjected to input, approval, or scrutiny from Parliament before promulgating the Covid-19 regulations.…

The Foundation for Rights of Expression and Equality (Free SA) has written to Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube, raising concerns about the Basic Education Laws Amendment (Bela) Act and urging that she uses her powers, in terms of existing legislation, to create regulations that limit the “damaging effects of Bela.” While acknowledging the Act’s goal to address educational challenges and improve inclusivity, Free SA argues that certain provisions, especially those in amended clauses 5 and 6, concentrate power in a way that undermines local school governance and violates the principles of decentralisation enshrined in the Constitution. In its letter, Free SA highlighted that the Constitution promotes the decentralisation of power, allowing local communities – especially parents, educators, and school stakeholders – to be directly involved in key decisions regarding…

UMngeni-uThukela Water has announced a planned maintenance shutdown of the 53 pipeline. The shutdown, which began yesterday and was schedule to continue until February 22, was necessary to repair a section of the pipeline, it said. “The shutdown and repair work is critical to improving the bulk potable water supply to the Umlaas Road reservoirs,” uMngeni-uThukela Water said. During the shutdown, the uMgungundlovu District and parts eThekwini Municipality which receive their water supply from the Umlaas Road reservoirs, will experience reduced water volumes. The affected areas are Eston, Mid-Ilovo, Mkhambathini, Umbumbulu Reservoir and the outer west areas of eThekwini. “While uMngeni-uThukela Water will increase production from its Midmar Water Works to boost supply volumes to the affected areas, we urge communities to assist us by using water sparingly,” uMngeni-uThukela Water…

FOR millions of South Africans, the start of the Seventh Administration’s second year in office is a time of great promise, including when the 10 political parties represented in our executive prepare for a Cabinet Lekgotla to craft the 2025 programme to build a better, more equal and more just South Africa. Even some of those who still do not support the current composition of the coalition national and provincial governments wish the Seventh Administration the best. I expect this year’s start-of-the-year Cabinet Lekgotla – which brings together ministers, deputy ministers, premiers, local government representatives, directors-general and other key government officials – to focus primarily on implementing an augmented “Minimum Programme”, which forms the foundation of the work of the Seventh Administration the president announced last year in his July…

Congo has severed all diplomatic ties with Rwanda and South Africa said at the weekend that nine of its peacekeepers had been killed amid a surge in fighting with Rwanda-backed rebels in mineral-rich eastern Congo. The three-year M23 insurgency in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has intensified in January with the M23 rebels seizing control of more territory than ever before, prompting the UN to warn of the risk of a broader regional war. Congo and its allies said on Saturday they had pushed back M23 fighters, who were advancing on the provincial capital Goma. The sound of nearby heavy bombardment rocked the city in the early hours of Saturday. Congo, the UN and others accuse neighbouring Rwanda of fuelling the conflict with its own troops and weapons. Rwanda denies…

COLOMBO: At least 29 people were hospitalised after an accident involving three buses in Galle located in the Southern Province in Sri Lanka yesterday, the police said. The incident involved privately owned passenger buses, according to the police. Initial reports indicate the accident happened when one bus was stationary, and another collided with it from behind, followed by a third bus crashing into the second. In response to the increasing number of accidents involving buses, Sri Lankan authorities have been intensifying legal actions against individuals who violate traffic regulations on passenger buses. The Sri Lankan government has authorised the recruitment of an additional 10 000 police officers to bolster efforts aimed at preventing road accidents. | Xinhua…

Washington: The US State Department at the weekend condemned the capture of additional UN staff by Huthi rebels in Yemen, amid the group’s ongoing attacks. In a statement, the department called for the release of all detainees, including seven UN workers captured Thursday, and decried the “campaign of terror” by the rebel group. “This latest Huthi roundup demonstrates the bad faith of the terrorist group’s claims to seek de-escalation and also makes a mockery of their claims to represent the interests of the Yemeni people,” the State Department said. It also highlighted an executive order signed by President Donald Trump this week placing the Huthis back on the US list of foreign terrorist organisations. The Iran-backed Huthis have detained dozens of staff from UN and other humanitarian organisations, most since…

They’re combining science with jazz at the University of KwaZulu-Natal – in an extra-curricular sense, one presumes. They took the first few steps one evening last week as Sibusiso “Mash” Mashiloane produced some spine-tingling jazz on the piano, after being introduced by Professor David Davis, who has a triple doctorate in the sciences and is currently at Sol Plaatje University in Kimberley. This was the start of UKZN’s multi-step “Science with Jazz Seminar”. And it was greeted with wild enthusiasm by those who packed the varsity’s Jazz and Popular Music Centre to listen. Prof Davis took us through the background of an intellectual development of jazz, including a fascinating account – illustrated graphically on-screen and backed up with sound – of the way computers have been able to…

The saviour of the Free World, Donald Trump, has vowed to sweep aside the mess left behind by Joe Biden. Among other things, Trump is going to do Israel, and the West, a massive favour by defunding so-called aid organisation UNRWA. At first, even I didn’t want to believe it, but the UN, UNRWA in particular, along with Qatar, Iran, and Türkiye’s Erdogan, have been working in attacking, delegitimising and publicly shaming Israel for crimes never committed. These countries, along with UNRWA, have been protecting, shielding, fighting on behalf of and supporting terrorist organisations for decades. As a Christian living in South Africa, I cannot stress enough how important it is that we pray for Israel and stand up to terror. Trump will continue to support, arm and protect Israel…

The DA expresses its condolences to the families of the three SANDF members who lost their lives in the intensified conflict in Sake, in the eastern DRC, on January 23. In addition, at least 18 SANDF soldiers were wounded in the battles with M23 rebels in their new offensive which coincided with the inauguration of US President Donald Trump. The lack of communication from the SANDF about the situation in the DRC is of serious concern. South Africans must rely on DRC sources to be informed of casualties. The embarrassing silence comes in the wake of the assurances by the Minister of Defence, Angie Motshekga, that the SANDF is ready and prepared for any threat. The South African casualties come after repeated concerns of the DA about the preparedness of…

THE SA Local Government Association (Salga) in KwaZulu-Natal has rejected uMngeni-uThukela Water’s proposed bulk water tariff increase of 13.5%, saying the hike would be passed on to consumers. This matter was part of the discussion at a Salga meeting last week. The organisation warned that customers are already struggling to pay their bills, and this increase could worsen the situation. Many municipalities have had to enter into arrangements with uMngeni-uThukela to pay their accounts as they have fallen behind. The developments have outraged the municipalities and ratepayers, who argue that the proposed increase cannot be justified, is excessive and ratepayers cannot afford it. Some of these municipalities are said to already owe the uMngeni-uThukela water entity hundreds of millions of rand. “The Salga KZN Executive Committee, led by councillor Xolani…

The uMhlathuze Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal is on tenterhooks as the EFF is demanding the replacement of three of its councillors. Last Thursday, the EFF protested at the uMhlathuze Municipality’s offices. EFF KZN spokesperson Mazwi Blose said the municipality had refused to replace EFF councillors who were expelled by the party. Blose explained that following the 2021 local government elections, where the EFF secured six council seats, uMhlathuze Municipality was left hung with no outright winner. “This reflected the desire of the people for an alternative government. However, due to internal organisational processes leading up to the EFF’s 10th anniversary in 2023, three councillors were disciplined and subsequently expelled from the party,” Blose said. He added that despite clear communication from the EFF and its legal team, the municipality refused to…

When financing a new car, beware of the balloon payment – this was a lesson learnt by a man who lost his legal bid to get his car back after it was repossessed by the bank. The man said that he did not realise that after paying off his monthly instalments, there was still a balloon payment due. By the time he did, he could not afford the additional payment. Sthembiso Bokleni turned to the Eastern Cape High Court sitting in Grahamstown after Wesbank obtained default judgment against him for not paying the outstanding balloon payment. He claimed he knew nothing about this extra payment, as this was never explained to him when he got finance for his new car. Bokleni was very happy when he came to the end…

As we step into a new academic year, the ongoing plight of the KwaZulu- Natal Department of Education’s management of the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) raises pressing concerns. Last year, this vital initiative suffered significant setbacks as service providers found themselves waiting for weeks on end to be paid for the nutritious meals they were contractually obliged to deliver. It is disheartening to see that as we embark on another year, the programme is once again beset with similar challenges. The NSNP, a multimillion-rand initiative, is crucial for ensuring that thousands of learners from disadvantaged backgrounds receive at least one healthy meal a day. This support is essential for their physical well-being and academic performance, helping to shield vulnerable families from the scourge of hunger. However, the ongoing issues…

Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko said yesterday that some of his political opponents had “chosen” to go to prison as he cast his vote in a election that was set to extend his 31-year rule. Lukashenko, 70, held a long press conference at which he was asked how the vote could be free and fair, given that all the main opposition figures are in jail or have fled the country. “Some chose prison, some chose ‘exile’, as you say. We didn’t kick anyone out of the country,” he said. Lukashenko said no one was prevented from speaking out in Belarus, but prison was “for people who opened their mouths too wide, to put it bluntly, those who broke the law”. The US and the EU have both described yesterday’s election as…

OMDURMAN: Sudan’s army chief yesterday visited his headquarters in the capital Khartoum, two days after forces recaptured the building which had been encircled by paramilitary fighters since the war erupted in April 2023. “Our forces are in their best condition,” Abdel Fattah al-Burhan told army commanders at the reclaimed headquarters. The army’s recapture of the General Command building is its biggest victory in the capital since reclaiming Omdurman, Khartoum’s twin city on the Nile’s west bank, nearly a year ago. In a statement, the army said it had merged troops stationed in Khartoum North (Bahri) and Omdurman with forces at the headquarters. Since war with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) began, RSF had encircled both the Signal Corps in Khartoum North and the General Command of the Armed Forces…

Football is the most popular sport in South Africa, boasting over two million players. Its popularity is regularly highlighted by the thrilling Soweto derby, which consistently attracts 80 000 fans or more, depending on the capacity of the match venue. Given this fervent support, it is understandable that the followers of South Africa's most beloved sport have their eyes fixed on the ever-evolving situation surrounding Royal AM, a club that has become a source of embarrassment within local football. The KZN-based club has reduced the guardians of the country's professional game, the PSL, to helpless bystanders. This is particularly notable considering the PSL is helmed by Irvin 'The Iron Duke' Khoza, widely regarded as one of the most powerful sports officials in South Africa. Khoza, 76, has held an unopposed…

A week can be a famously long time in rugby, and the Sharks return to Durban in high spirits after the trauma of an excruciating defeat in Bordeaux transformed into a gutsy victory in Cardiff. There was a worry that the 66-point drubbing by the French team might drain the Sharks of desire against the Welsh side in the United Rugby Championship fixture, but they fought from the first whistle to the last to win a crucial away game. The 42-22 match was massive because it cemented the Sharks in the top half of the URC, while allowing a squad that has been under immense pressure to retreat into a fortnight’s rest with their spirits high. Never underestimate the importance of a win, however manufactured, when you are coming off…