Table of contents for 2024-05-24 in Cape Times

THE Department of Basic Education (DBE) is set to introduce mother-tongue bilingual education from Grade 4 next year and education experts have described the policy shift as “transformational” and “progressive”. The historic announcement was made by Basic Education Minister, Angie Motshekga when she addressed a workshop on the implementation of mother tongue-based bilingual education earlier this week. South Africa’s official languages include Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, siSwati, Tshivenda, Xitsonga, Afrikaans, English, isiNdebele, isiXhosa, isiZulu, and Sign Language. The minister said mother tongue-based bilingual education was piloted in the Eastern Cape for the past 10 years and would be implemented incrementally from January 2025. It is seen as a critical change in the course of history for South African children. “This means this cohort of learners will write their first maths, science…

Traumatised fisher relives tragedy that claimed 11 colleagues at sea “I AM grateful to be here alive today because surviving on that fateful day was not easy.” Those are the words of Vukile Mpophoma, one of the nine surviving fishermen who were rescued when the Sea Harvest-owned MFV Lepanto sank. Eleven of their colleagues are presumed to have drowned on May 18 when the hake deep-sea trawl vessel sank about 350m into the ocean. Speaking during what was referred to as a “service” at the Cape Town Cruise Terminal yesterday where the bereaved families of the 11 fishermen and survivors had gathered, Mpophoma from Delft was overwhelmed with emotions and struggled to speak in front of his colleagues’ families. “I am grateful to be here alive today because surviving on…

THE joint standing committee on intelligence (JSCI) wants a review of all legislation dealing with interceptions to allow for all main communication methods. “The seventh JSCI (is going) to make a follow-up with the Minister in the Presidency with regard to the bill on the interception of communication to be introduced,” said the committee. This emerged in the committee’s annual report for the period ending March 2024, which was tabled in Parliament this week. The committee identified the absence of regulations to operationalise the mandate, duties and powers of SAPS-Crime Intelligence as outlined in the National Strategic Intelligence Act. “This legislative gap was concerning due to the intrusive nature of SAPS-CI’s techniques, necessitating regulations. Poorly regulated intelligence services pose a substantive risk to human rights and democratic rule of law,”…

NON-profit organisation (NPO) the Surrogacy Advisory Group turned to the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, to seek an order declaring certain regulations relating to artificial fertilisation of persons unconstitutional. It questioned regulations of the National Health Act which deal with the control over artificial fertilisation, embryo transfer, storage and destroying zygotes and embryos. These regulations are specifically aimed at medical practitioners specialising in gynaecology with training in reproductive medicine, medical scientists, and medical and clinical technologists with training in reproductive biology and related procedures. The Surrogacy Advisory Group said they were raising the application in the public interest. It told the court that the application concerns in vitro fertilisation for intended parents who are considering surrogacy, but before the court has confirmed their surrogate motherhood agreement. The group contended that a…

Crooked Seeds Karen Jennings Loot.co.za (R249) AMAZON A woman in post-apartheid South Africa confronts her family’s troubling past in this taut and daring novel about national trauma and collective guilt. Cape Town, 2028. The land cracks from a years-long drought, the nearby mountains threaten to burn, and the queue for the water trucks grows ever longer. In her crumbling corner of a public housing complex, Deidre van Deventer receives a call from the South African police. Her family home, recently reclaimed by the government, has become the scene of a criminal investigation. The remains of several bodies have just been unearthed from her land, after decades underground. Detectives pepper Deidre with questions: Was your brother a member of a pro-apartheid group in the 1990s? Is it true that he was…

All the glimmering stars Mark Sullivan Loot.co.za (R185) AMAZON Inspired by a true story, two teens kidnapped by an African warlord find salvation through love in a powerful and healing historical novel. Anthony Opoka and Florence Okori are coming of age in Uganda in the 1990s. Outstanding students, they believe in being good humans before they are kidnapped and forced into the fanatical Lord’s Resistance Army. In a legion of young recruits, no one gets closer than Anthony to powerful messianic warlord Joseph Kony and his darkest secrets. To stay sane as he spirals through chaos, Anthony clings to his childhood lessons about being a good human. Florence’s upbringing grounds her, too, helping her keep her dreams alive even as she’s pulled deeper into the insanity of Kony’s war. At…

MAY is celebrated as Africa Month. And on May 29, South Africa goes to the polls. Interestingly enough, a total of 17 African countries will undergo elections in 2024 alone; a busy year awaits the continent. Historically, elections in Africa have evoked mixed feelings. Often, the same scenario characterises the state of elections on the continent – low voter turnout, election-related violence and the tearing away of the democratic cloak. In addition, rampant vote buying has been framed as an issue of concern in several African countries. A flawed electoral process, including a context of instability, is a major obstacle to investment and development. On two fronts, the South African electoral context leading to the election can offer a valuable window of learning for the African continent. First, South Africa…

China launched drills around Taiwan yesterday in what it said was a response to “separatist acts”, sending up heavily armed warplanes and staging mock attacks as state media denounced newly inaugurated President Lai Ching-te. The exercises, in the Taiwan Strait and around groups of Taiwan-controlled islands beside the Chinese coast, come just three days after Lai took office, a man Beijing detests as a “separatist”. China, which views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, denounced Lai’s inauguration speech on Monday, in which he urged it to stop its threats, saying the two sides of the strait were “not subordinate to each other”. On Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called Lai “disgraceful”. Lai has offered talks with China but has been rebuffed. He says only Taiwan’s people can decide…

Tens of thousands of Iranians took to the streets yesterday to bid farewell to president Ebrahim Raisi ahead of his burial in his home town after he was killed in a helicopter crash on Sunday. Men and women thronged the main boulevard of Mashhad, the Islamic republic’s second city in the north-east where Raisi was born. Raisi had been expected to succeed supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Massive crowds had gathered for a funeral procession in the Iranian capital on Wednesday. The leaders of the Iran-led “axis of resistance” regional militant groups also came to the Islamic republic for the funeral. A presidential election in Iran had not been expected until next year, and the crash has caused uncertainty as to who will succeed Raisi, with some expressing concern about…

BANGKOK: Twenty people who were aboard a Singapore Airlines flight that hit severe turbulence and diverted to Bangkok for an emergency landing on Tuesday remain in intensive care, a hospital official said yesterday. The hospital said there were no life-threatening cases. Of the 40 people on the flight still under treatment, 22 patients have spinal cord injuries and six have brain and skull injuries, it said. The oldest patient at the hospital was 83 and the youngest a 2-year- old child who suffered a concussion. It said 41 people were still under treatment, but later said that one person had been discharged. | AFP…

NEW YORK: US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was to host a campaign rally in the South Bronx area of New York yesterday, targeting a Democratic stronghold as he tries to chip away at President Joe Biden’s support. Trump was expected to focus on the economy, crime and immigration. Recent polls suggest Trump is gaining ground with black and Hispanic voters, groups that have supported Democrats. Trump’s campaign sees an opportunity to grab enough of their votes to make the difference in battleground states in the November 5 election. That is not the case with New York, which Trump lost by 23 percentage points in 2020 and has no chance of winning this year, analysts say. But a well-attended rally in the city covered by major TV networks could help…

THE head of Parks, Culture and Recreation in the eThekwini Municipality, Dr Simphiwe Ndlovu, faces suspension over the alleged use of municipal money to buy alcohol. The head was issued with a letter of intention to suspend him on Wednesday. The unsigned letter seen by The Mercury accused Ndlovu of buying alcohol with funds for a municipal function at Durban’s International Convention Centre in December last year. Sources who are acquainted with Ndlovu said it was strange that he was facing suspension over the matter, adding that on the night in question he was not at the event as he was unwell. They said he does not consume alcohol and is unlikely to spend government money on liquor, something that could land him in trouble. They said another loophole in…

Black Shield Maiden Willow Smith, Jess Hendel Del Rey Loot.co.za (R279) LORE, legend and history tell us of the Vikings: warrior-kings on epic journeys of conquest and plunder. But the stories we know are not the only stories to tell. There is another story, one that has been lost to the mists of time: the saga of the dark queen. That saga begins with Yafeu, a defiant yet fiercely compassionate young warrior who is stolen from her home in the flourishing Ghanaian empire and taken as a slave to a distant kingdom in the North. There she is thrust into a strange, cold world of savage shield maidens, tyrannical rulers, and mysterious gods. And there she also finds something unexpected: a kindred spirit. She comes to serve Freydis, a shy…

The Shadow key Susan Stokes-Chapman Loot.co.za (R270) Harvill Secker In the heart of Wales, where lush landscapes meet ancient secrets, Susan Stokes-Chapman’s The Shadow Key transports readers into a world of intrigue and suspense. From the very first page, I was ensnared by the enigmatic cryptic artefact that lies at the heart of this mystery. Henry Talbot, Lynette Tresilian, and the mysterious Dr Dee form an unlikely trio, each harbouring their own secrets and hidden agendas. As they delve deeper into the artefact’s mysteries, they must confront their own shadows – the sins of their pasts that threaten to unravel their lives. Rowena, a pivotal figure, dances on the edge of trustworthiness, her motives veiled in uncertainty. Stokes-Chapman’s storytelling prowess shines as she weaves together elements of mythology, history, and…

hunting with the hawks – Untold Stories Behind South Africa’s Elite Crime-Fighting Unit Graham Coetzer Loot (R320) Tafelberg Publishers More often than not, often unfairly, the police are painted with the same brush by the disillusioned public. A few rotten apples give the police a bad name. But if you read Graham Coetzer’s offering, Hunting with the Hawks – Untold stories from the elite South African crime-fighting unit, you get to appreciate that inside the SAPS there are men and women dedicated to sterling work, often putting their own lives on the line. This book is about the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, commonly known as the Hawks, of course, the elite crime-busting unit of the SAPS. But the spotlight shone on those dedicated officers of the unit could…

Many Springbok fans will still be on cloud nine from last year’s Rugby World Cup triumph, which saw the South Africans become the first team to win four titles. But for Bok coach Rassie Erasmus, the grey hairs will be increasing after yet another of his key figures was ruled out of the massive July two-Test series against Ireland yesterday. Powerful No 8 Jasper Wiese received a whopping six-match suspension for dangerous play in his final match for English club Leicester last weekend. Wiese was given a red card by referee Karl Dickson for the incident in which he lifted Exeter loose forward Ross Vintcent and then dropped him to the ground, Vintcent landing on his head. That means that the 28-year-old World Cup winner will miss Tests against Wales…

UK political leaders kicked off six weeks of campaigning yesterday, firing the first angry shots in their electoral battle before the country votes for a new government on July 4. Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak ended prolonged speculation about the general election in a rain-soaked speech on Wednesday outside Downing Street, which some took as an omen for his Conservatives’ chances at the ballot box. Sunak hit the airwaves for a round of radio and television interviews yesterday, before a whistlestop tour of Britain to insist he was right to call the vote. But UK commentators were virtually unanimous in describing his decision to hold a vote six months before he has to as a “gamble”. “I can’t for the life of me imagine why he has done this,” former…

KANO: Nigeria troops have rescued 64 women and children kidnapped by criminal gangs weeks ago in north-western Zamfara state, the government said yesterday. Early last month gunmen raided the remote Gidan Danzara village in the Zurmi district of Zamfara, taking 64 women and children captive and demanded ransom for their release. Zamafara State governor’s spokesperson Suleiman Bala Idris said the captives were released on Tuesday following a “military onslaught” on bandit camps in the area. He denied any ransom was paid, but residents claimed they had to pay the bandits to secure their release. Zamfara is one several states terrorised by bandit militias. | AFP…

KHARKIV: Russia pounded Kharkiv with missiles yesterday, killing seven people inside a printing house, and President Volodymyr Zelensky chided Ukraine’s western allies for not providing enough military support to rebuff Russian attacks. Moscow’s forces are hammering the north-eastern regional capital as they attempt to press a ground assault on the border region and stretch Ukrainian defences. Authorities said Russia fired about 15 missiles on the cities of Kharkiv and Liubotyn yesterday, targeting mostly transport infrastructure and the printing house in Kharkiv, where officials said around 50 people were inside at the time of the strike. | Reuters…

VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis has attributed a second miracle to an Italian teenager who in his short life used his computer skills to spread the Catholic faith – the first saint of the millennial generation. Carlo Acutis, who died of leukaemia in 2006 aged 15, was known as “God’s influencer”. In Milan he took care of his parish website and later of a Vatican-based academy. He was beatified in 2020 after one miracle attributed to him. The attribution of a second miracle means he can be elevated to sainthood. | Reuters…

Young people are ready to cast their vote as a recent election survey by Varsity Vibe of more than 11 000 participants saw 93.62% of those under 30 believing that their vote can influence the country’s future political landscape. The Electoral Commission of South Africa’s (IEC) voter registration data shows close to 5 million (4 952 250) voters between the ages of 18 and 29 are registered to vote. Varsity Vibe, a student discount platform, wanted to know what came to mind for South African youth ahead of the upcoming national elections. The survey was conducted between April 29 and May 13 and respondents were between the ages of 19 and 28 years old. The survey garnered responses from 11 034 participants. According to Varsity Vibe, 93.62% of Gen Z…

NEARLY four decades of work as a teacher went down the drain for a Clanwilliam Secondary School teacher after he was fired for sexual assault. The Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC) dismissed the teacher after his conduct was found to have constituted misconduct of a sexual nature. ELRC arbitrator Jacques Buitendag found him unsuitable to work with children and instructed that the South African Council for Educators (SACE) be informed that it should consider revoking his certificate. According to the arbitration papers, a virtual inquiry into the allegations took place last month. The teacher faced a charge that on November 27 last year he sexually assaulted a Grade 9 pupil by standing so close to her that his private parts touched her buttocks. He then placed his hands underneath her…

The Great Divide Cristina Henriquez Loot.co.za (R289) Fourth Estate IT IS said that the Panama Canal will be the greatest feat of engineering in history. But first, it must be built. Ada Bunting, a bold 16-year-old girl from Barbados, arrives alone in Panama as a stowaway alongside thousands of other West Indians seeking work in the grand building project of the canal. Francisco, a local fisherman, resents the foreign nations clamouring for a slice of his country, but nothing is more upsetting for him than his son Omar’s decision to work as a digger. For Omar, whose upbringing was quiet and lonely, this job offers a chance to finally find connection and independence. Scientist John Oswald has come from further afield. He has journeyed to Panama in pursuit of one…

South Africans should be stone cold sober when deliberating the pros and cons THE mind boggles! South Africans living abroad and registered to vote, casting the first salvos of the 2024 General Election last Friday and Saturday, uncannily coinciding with the signing of the ruling ANC’s controversial National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill into law by President Cyril Ramaphosa last Wednesday. Across the socio-political spectrum including the radical extremes, the epithets, metaphors, hyperbole and even imagery are embarrassing in their abundance – some in praise of the hope of a long overdue initialisation of a transformation of a healthcare system perceived by most as still steeped in several of the accessibility inequalities of apartheid. Some judging by their vitriol against the NHI Bill bordering more on gratuitous fear mongering and doomsday…

Israel launched devastating air strikes on Gaza yesterday while also saying it was ready to resume stalled talks on a truce and hostage release deal with Hamas to pause the war raging since October 7. The Gaza Strip’s civil defence agency said two pre-dawn air strikes had killed 26 people, including 15 children, in Gaza City alone. Agency spokesperson Mahmud Bassal said one strike hit a family house, killing 16 people, in the Al-Daraj area, and another killed 10 people inside a mosque compound Fierce street battles also raged in Gaza’s Jabalia and Rafah where the armed wings of Hamas and its ally Islamic Jihad said they had fired mortar barrages at Israeli troops. International pressure for a ceasefire has mounted on Israel and its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as…

A stage collapsed at a Mexican election campaign rally late on Wednesday night, killing nine people and injuring dozens as high winds tore apart the large, concert-style structure, scattering politicians and attendees. About 78 people were hospitalised after the rally for the Citizens’ Movement party in the northern Mexican state of Nuevo Leon, Samuel Garcia, the state’s governor, said. The victims were eight adults and one child, Garcia said, adding he was headed to a hospital where three people were in surgery. Many of the injured were being treated at local clinics, the director of Mexico’s social security institute reported. Jorge Alvarez Maynez, the presidential candidate for the centrist Citizens’ Movement party, said a gust of wind caused the stage to collapse at the event in the city of…

WASHINGTON: US President Joe Biden and his Kenyan counterpart, William Ruto, were yesterday to announce investments in green energy and health manufacturing in Kenya and a plan to reduce its debt burden, a US official said. Biden was also to designate Kenya as a major non-Nato ally, making it the first sub-Saharan African country to receive the designation. Currently, 18 countries are designated as non-Nato allies, including Israel, Brazil and the Philippines. The humanitarian crisis in Haiti was also a focus as Kenya prepared to deploy 1 000 paramilitary officers to the country as part of UN-led effort to curb gang violence and hunger there. | Reuters…

PORT-AU-PRINCE: A tornado in northwest Haiti has injured at least 50 people, destroyed 200 houses and left more than 300 families homeless, the UN said. Haitian weather authorities have warned of flooding and landslides after Tuesday’s storm on the Caribbean nation that is one of the world’s poorest and is prone to natural disasters. The UN said that aid agencies were assessing damages at the worst-hit area of Bassin Bleu, around 25km south of Port-de-Paix. More than 360 000 people are already internally displaced in Haiti, mostly from Port-au-Prince, due to a conflict with armed gangs who have taken over most of the city. | Reuters…