Inhaltsverzeichnis für 2022-11-25 in Cape Times

DESPITE the huge deficit in terms of nominations between ANC presidential hopeful Dr Zweli Mkhize and President Cyril Ramaphosa, the former health minister is confident he will give the incumbent a run for his money at the party’s 55th national elective conference. On Tuesday, the governing party’s electoral committee, headed by former president Kgalema Motlanthe, announced the top six candidates who will contend for leadership positions at the conference. Mkhize will go head-to-head for the position of ANC president with Ramaphosa at the conference. Ramaphosa was nominated by 2 037 branches while Mkhize was given the nod by 916 branches. Mkhize, speaking to Independent Media before delivering the Bertha Gxowa Memorial Lecture in Katlehong on Wednesday night, said: “The branches have indicated that they want a leadership that will focus…

CUT from her knee to her ankle with a blade, hit with a hammer, beaten to a pulp and ending up in hospital just for trying to go to study. This is the story of a woman counted among the shocking statistics of crimes against women in South Africa, as the 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence and femicide campaign begins today. The 16 Days of Activism is an annual international campaign that runs until December 10 with the theme: “UNITE! Activism to end violence against women and girls”. Police Minister Bheki Cele this week released the quarter two crime statistics for 2022/2023 which revealed that more than 13 000 women were victims of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm between July and September 2022. About 1…

“MISSING middle” students were the source of the student debt that has now climbed up to more than R16.5 billion - money that could have been improving higher education institutions, the Universities South Africa (Usaf) said. This year about 120 000 students may not be able to graduate because they owe tertiary institutions. Currently, the government is looking at the possibility of a credit guarantee model for loans for missing middle students from 2023 onwards. Usaf’s Chief Executive Dr Phethiwe Matutu said they were concerned that there was no national system for funding the students who fall outside of those that don’t qualify for the National Student Financial Aid (NSFAS) threshold. “Due to there being no solution for them, the students tend to be the source of student debt. “This…

The Light we carry Michelle Obama AT some point when I was a child, my father started using a cane to keep himself balanced when he walked. I don’t remember exactly when it showed up in our home on the South Side of Chicago — I was maybe four or five years old at the time — but suddenly it was there, slim and sturdy and made of a smooth dark wood. The cane was an early concession to multiple sclerosis, the disease that had given my father a severe left-legged limp. Slowly and silently and probably long before he received a formal diagnosis, MS was undermining his body, eating away at his central nervous system and weakening his legs as he went about his everyday business: working at the…

No political will from ANC-led government to confront apartheid past On February 4, 2015, I penned an opinion piece entitled “What about De Kock’s victims?”, just after the apartheid prime evil, Eugene de Kock, was released on parole by then Minister of Justice, Michael Masutha. Driven by a deep-seated pain and agony and sympathy for the victims of many family members whose loved ones were brutally murdered by De Kock, I lamented this insensitive decision, which at the time seemed to both provoke and test the limits of our people’s resolve. Later on I learnt that De Kock was actually getting paid approximately R40 000 a month and living a luxurious life, while the families of the people whom he mercilessly murdered continue to languish in squalor on the…

Pakistan yesterday named Lieutenant-General Asim Munir as chief of its army, an organisation that plays an extraordinarily influential role in the governance of this nuclear-armed nation. Munir, who also headed both of Pakistan’s powerful spy agencies, will take over from outgoing General Qamar Javed Bajwa, who retires later this month after a six-year term, the defence ministry said. His appointment coincides with a dispute between the military and former prime minister Imran Khan, who blames the army for playing a part in his ousting earlier this year and who has been leading anti-government protests since then. The army has rejected involvement. Khan was wounded in a gun attack earlier this month during anti-government protests. The army has played a huge role in domestic and foreign politics, and Munir’s appointment…

THE ANC in the Western Cape retained a seat at a crucial by-election in ward 38 in Nyanga on Wednesday, while the DA retained its seat at a by-election in Ward 17 in the Drakenstein Municipality. The vacancies were caused by the resignation of ward councillors. The ANC’s head of communications, Sifiso Mtsweni, said the party was showing slow but steady improvement. “In ward 38 in the City of Cape Town, we won with 63% of the vote. Slowly but surely people on the ground are feeling the impact of our programme on renewal, unity and rebuilding of the ANC in the province,” he said. “Since the local government elections in 2021, we have shown slow but steady improvement in the by-elections contested. “We are laying a solid…

SINCE finding its way into hazel-eyed Cole Macleod’s newborn life 15 years ago, cystic fibrosis has brought the teenager to a medical crossroads as he anticipates a much-needed lung transplant. Diagnosed with CF at just three months old, Cole has soldiered on with his family – who have had to become self-taught experts on the rare condition – but is now in desperate need of funding for medical tests to be done so that he can be listed for the transplant. Over time, CF causes severe damage to the lungs, digestive system, and other organs. The condition results in the overproduction of mucus, sweat and digestive juices that thicken in the body’s ducts and passageways, causing lung infections and severe weight loss, among other problems. Cole is currently in hospital…

WHILE the Western Cape Education Department’s (WCED) goal to build seven schools in six months has been cautiously welcomed, concerns have been expressed over capabilities to accommodate more than 12 000 unplaced pupils in January. Annually, many pupils in the province scramble for placement before the academic year begins, while in other cases frustrated communities protest over overcrowded classrooms. About 12 786 children are waiting to know at which schools they will be attending Grades 1 and 8 next year. According to education MEC David Maynier, the department received 117 270 applications for Grades 1 and 8 for the 2023 school year. Of these, 100 302 children have already been placed in schools. “We received applications for 117 270 learners for Grades 1 and 8 of which 22 113 were…

Long Shadows David Baldacci Loot.co.za (R275) Macmillan FBI agent Amos Decker returns in this action-packed thriller to investigate the mysterious and brutal murder of a federal judge and her bodyguard at her home in an exclusive, gated community in Florida. Things are changing for Decker. He’s in crisis following the suicide of a close friend and receipt of a letter concerning a personal issue which could change his life forever. Together with the prospect of working with a new partner, Frederica White, Amos knows that this case will take all of his special skills to solve. Judge Julia Cummins seemingly had no enemies, and there was no forced entry to her property. Close friends and neighbours in the community apparently heard nothing, and Cummins’ distraught ex-husband, Barry, and teenage son,…

Forever Home Graham Norton Loot.co.za (R240) Coronet Carol is a divorced teacher living in a small town in Ireland, her only son now grown. A second chance at love brings her unexpected connection and belonging. The new relationship sparks local speculation: what does a woman like her see in a man like that? What happened to his wife, who abandoned them all those years ago? But the gossip only serves to bring the couple closer. When Declan becomes ill, things start to fall apart. His children are untrusting and cruel, and Carol is forced to leave their beloved home, with its worn oak floors and elegant features, and move back in with her parents. Carol’s mother is determined to get to the bottom of things; she refuses to see her…

For the first time, a majority of Americans dying from Covid-19 received at least the primary series of the vaccine. Fifty-eight percent of Covid-19 deaths in August were people who were vaccinated or boosted, according to an analysis conducted for The Washington Post’s Health 202 newsletter, by Cynthia Cox, vice president at the Kaiser Family Foundation. It’s a continuation of a troubling trend that has emerged over the past year. As vaccination rates have increased and new variants appeared, the share of deaths of people who were vaccinated has been steadily rising. In September 2021, vaccinated people made up just 23% of coronavirus fatalities. In January and February this year, it was up to 42%. “We can no longer say this is a pandemic of the unvaccinated,” Cox said. Being…

At least three babies were born in the same evacuation tent a day after the magnitude 5.6 tremor killed 272 people this week, according to West Java’s governor, Ridwan Kamil. Nova Dwiyanto, a doctor from the Social Affairs Ministry, said he received reports that at least two babies were born in the tent, including one prematurely at eight months. He said the two babies and their mothers were “in good health” after check-ups. A recent US study showed pre-natal babies during a natural disaster are at a higher risk of developing psychological and behavioural disorders. Meanwhile, yesterday Indonesian authorities deployed heavy machinery, helicopters and thousands of personnel to locate dozens trapped in rubble by the quake, as hopes of finding survivors faded. Some have been pulled alive from the hulk…

THE eight people arrested in connection with tender fraud in the construction sector – which includes officials in the DA-led City of Cape Town and directors at local business Ilitha Painters and Decorators, trading as The Construction Co – are said to be small fry, with “more arrests to come”. Police confirmed yesterday that eight warrants of arrest were executed in connection with alleged corrupt activities involving tender fraud in the construction sector within the City. More arrests were imminent, warned police spokesperson Novela Potelwa. “The staggered arrests, which started from early morning on Thursday at various locations in Cape Town are the culmination of protracted investigations into complaints of fraud and corruption that entails the inflation of invoices, irregular payments of service providers for construction work not undertaken…

Police in the Eastern Cape have reported a pit bull that mauled a 15-month-old child to death in East London to the SPCA. The child was attacked by the pit bull on Wednesday and succumbed to his injuries in hospital, police said. Police spokesperson Brigadier Tembinkosi Kinana said the child was playing with the neighbours’ dog when it attacked him in the Gonubie Farm area. Kinana said police have registered an inquest for investigation and the incident has also been reported to the SPCA. “It is alleged that the pit bull attempted to get out of the yard while barking at the passing dog. After failing to leave the yard, the pit bull is alleged to have returned to the child and bit him in the upper body. “Subsequent to…

AFTER a personal journey of discovery, Aurora Krotoa Moses, 21, successfully took on the University of South Africa (Unisa) when they refused to change her race classification from “Coloured” to “African”. Moses, a psychology and criminology student, said that while she started identifying as Khoisan in 2019 after a journey of personal discovery and research, it was a therapy session with her social worker in 2020 that sparked her will to stand up for herself and her identity. “It's been a journey, there was this module I did at Unisa, a political module about critical reasoning. It helped me to ask questions critically, why do I have this label? I did my research and went into history, my heritage.” The label “coloured” did not sit well with her she…

Flat out and fearless Peter Lindenberg Loot.co.za (R229) Tracey McDonald WITH a racing career spanning more than four decades, coming second is never an option for Peter Lindenberg. Troubled by a lack of self-confidence, Peter’s “average” childhood saw a bitter parent who doubted his abilities, a demanding school system that forced him to fit the mould, a younger brother who was better at everything, and brutal, undeserved beatings with a sjambok. But when Peter tasted the buzz of barefoot water-skiing he found it impossible to resist, and went on to break records, earn numerous Springbok Colours, and win many world championships. This, however, was just the start. Little did Peter know the sporting magic that would follow in his life – first as a powerboat racer and then as a…

Chinese President Xi Jinping and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa committed to work together at the G20 Leaders Summit held in the Republic of Indonesia on November 15 and 16. The G20 Leaders Summit in Bali was hosted by His Excellency President Joko Widodo, under the theme “Recover Together, Recover Stronger”. The summit grouped world leaders with the notable exception of Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose economies account for 85% of the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP), 80% of world trade and two-thirds of the world’s population. The summit discussions focused on food and energy security, health, digital transformation, infrastructure and investment. “We meet at a time of momentous changes unseen in a century, changes that are consequential to the world, to our times, and to history. The Covid-19…

China has ordered 6 million people into lockdown in a city where violent protests broke out at an iPhone factory over Covid-19 isolation policies and working conditions. Hundreds of workers took to the streets around the vast iPhone factory in Zhengzhou this week, confronting hazmat-clad personnel wielding batons in a rare display of public anger in China. In the wake of the unrest, Zhengzhou authorities ordered mass testing and an effective lockdown for several districts in the central Chinese city starting today. City centre residents cannot leave the area unless they have a negative Covid-19 test and permission from local authorities, and are advised not to leave their homes “unless necessary”. The restrictions will affect more than 6 million people but do not cover the iPhone factory, where workers have…

NEW YORK: Donald Trump was sued for defamation a second time yesterday by a writer who accused the former US president of lying by denying that he raped her 27 years ago. Former Elle magazine columnist E Jean Carroll also accused Trump of battery during an alleged encounter at the Bergdorf Goodman store in Manhattan. Trump, 76, has denied raping Carroll, 78, or knowing her, and said she was “not my type”. His first denial in June 2019 prompted her to sue for defamation five months later. He repeated the denial in October, calling her claim a “lie,” prompting the new defamation claim. | Reuters…

SOUTH Africa is still the land of the bloodthirsty fast bowler, right? Newlands offered a hint of evidence that that was the case with Western Province’s seam quartet dismissing the woeful Knights for 110 in 40 overs on the opening day of their Cricket SA 4-Day Series clash yesterday. Elsewhere however, spin dominated. That is unsurprising for Kingsmead, but the Wanderers? There was bounce but typically at “The Bullring”, the pace on the opening day was sluggish. However, what was unusual was the amount of spin on offer which Simon Harmer used to his advantage. The Lions’ batters looked bemused when the second delivery from the off-spinner did strange things. Rassie van der Dussen beckoned opener partner, Josh Richards to have a look at the surface with the Proteas batter…