Fighting Drug addiction

 Here's the story: We sat down with a man who had a harrowing journey with addiction. He began by telling us about his early days in tertiary education, where he would occasionally smoke dagga with friends. However, his focus remained on his studies, and he worked hard to graduate and secure a qualification. After landing a job, he started building a life for himself. He got married, bought a property, and even splurged on a car. Life was good, and he felt like he was on top of the world. But one fateful night, while out with friends, he was introduced to heavier narcotics. At first, the experience was exhilarating. He described it as an elevation from the mild high of dagga to a level 5 high, where he felt invincible and euphoric. The effects would last for days, allowing him to party from Friday to Sunday without sleep. The problem, however, began to manifest on Mondays and Tuesdays every week, when the withdrawal symptoms would kick in, and he'd struggle to function at work....

'We won't go back until it's safe' — Rio Tinto closes SA operations over violence

 30 June 2021 - 16:50

BY FELIX NJINI
Mining firm Rio Tinto has halted its operations in KwaZulu-Natal after recent violence. File picture.
Mining firm Rio Tinto has halted its operations in KwaZulu-Natal after recent violence. File picture.
Image: Supplied

Rio Tinto Group declared force majeure on customer contracts at Richards Bay Minerals (RBM) after escalating violence forced it to suspend activity at the mineral sands operation in SA.

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MD Werner Duvenhage said the company was prioritising the safety of its 5,000 workers at RBM, which exports titanium dioxide slag used to create ingredients for products including paint, plastics, sunscreen and toothpaste.

The closure of Rio’s only South African business follows the death last month of RBM manager Nico Swart, who was shot on his way to work.

It has become impossible for us to run the business. We won’t go back until it's safe for our people.
Werner Duvenhage, RBM MD

“It has become impossible for us to run the business,” Duvenhage said by phone. “We won’t go back until it's safe for our people.”

The suspension of operations at RBM is a blow to the South African government’s efforts to attract new investment to the country. Violence around RBM forced the operation to temporarily shut in 2019, with work subsequently halted on a $463m (R6.60bn) expansion project.

In recent weeks, mining equipment and infrastructure has been destroyed and access roads blocked. SA mining operations are frequently dogged by community protests which relate to issues ranging from poor municipal services to labour conditions. Duvenhage said there have been reports that the latest violence may be connected to youth unemployment.

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RBM’s furnaces are being run on low power as they can’t be shut down completely. The company is engaging regional and national government to get a better understanding of the cause of the violence, Duvenhage said.

SA’s mines and energy ministry didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment from Bloomberg.

For more articles like this, please visit bloomberg.com


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