Inhaltsverzeichnis für 2024-10-04 in Cape Times

The Proteas Women team will hope to go one step further as they begin their quest for ICC Women’s T20 World Cup glory today in the desert plains of the United Arab Emirates. It was less than 18 months ago when Suné Luus’s side shattered the glass ceiling by becoming the first senior South African senior cricket team to reach a World Cup final, which was played before raucous home support at a sold-out Newlands in Cape Town. Unfortunately, the juggernaut Australian team just had too much experience on the day for the South African rookies and emerged triumphant. Much has changed, though, since the balmy afternoon under Table Mountain, with star batter Laura Wolvaardt taking over the leadership reins from Luus and long-serving coach Hilton Moreeng having relocated to…

A-G blames management for not implementing adequate internal controls THE National Skills Fund (NSF) failed to provide audit evidence showing that the skills development funding for 2023-24 and prior years was properly accounted for. This was Auditor-General Tsakani Maluleke’s finding after she audited the finances of the NSF, which obtained a qualified audit opinion, saying that evidence that services had been received could not be provided. “I was unable to confirm the skills development funding by alternative means,” Maluleke said. “Consequently, I was unable to determine whether any adjustments relating to skills development funding stated at R1 784 654 000 (2022-23: R1 182 657 000) disclosed in note 20, as well as the related deferred expenditure stated at R1 370 063 000 (2022-23: R1 221 194 000) disclosed in…

THERE is a pressing need for a strategic cancer plan that makes proper provisions for children. This is according to the 26th edition of the South African Health Review, dedicated to the challenges, successes, and gaps in cancer care within the South African healthcare system. The report was released this week, as the country marked childhood cancer awareness last month. Researchers conducted a health systems analysis to identify barriers and facilitators in access to childhood cancer treatment and medicines including interviews with professional stakeholders in the pharmaceutical value chain. They included policy makers and regulators, medical insurance scheme informants, medicine companies and suppliers, healthcare providers, and civil society stakeholders. In South Africa, approximately 1 000 children under the age of 19 receive a cancer diagnosis every year. In 2023, Tygerberg…

FOUR police officers appeared briefly in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court yesterday in connection with a Llandudno house robbery. Jacobus Adriaan Gronewald (44), Bradley Dimitri Minnaar (28), Mthuthuzeli Mafanya (33) and Bathandwa Soldati (38) appeared in court following the arrest of Soldati on Wednesday morning. Soldati was linked to the crime scene through fingerprints. National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson, Eric Ntabazalila, said the accused face charges of aggravated robbery. “Three of the accused were supposed to apply for bail but this could not happen as Soldati was added to the docket (yesterday) and his legal representative also needs to get instructions from him, and further consult with him before applying for bail,” said Ntabazalila. The bail application for all accused has been postponed until October 10. Police spokesperson, Frederick van Wyk, said…

THE Association for the Advancement of Wilgenhof Residents (AAWR) has turned to the Western Cape High Court in efforts to prevent the closure of the controversial Stellenbosch University (SU) Wilgenhof Residence. AAWR yesterday announced it had approached the court for an urgent interdict to restrain the institution from implementing the decision to shut the men’s residence in its current format for the entire 2025 academic year. This follows a Council resolution on September 16. Council, the highest decision-making body at the university, wants Wilgenhof to be replaced with a “reimagined and rejuvenated” residence, and said that the well-being of students housed at the residence was one of the biggest concerns. The decision came after a report was released in June recommending the residence be permanently closed over initiation-like allegations in…

Music as medicine Daniel Levitin Loot.co.za (R340) Penguin We are only just beginning to appreciate the healing power of music. In recent years, a wave of scientific research has upended everything we once knew about its effects on our brains: not only in reducing stress, but also in enhancing cognitive function, slowing the spread of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, even strengthening our immune systems. Here, a renowned neuroscientist and celebrated musician introduces a bold new paradigm for medical treatment, rooted in the unexpected influence of music on our minds and bodies. From explaining how ‘rhythmic auditory stimulation’ can fight multiple sclerosis, to examining why Tracy Chapman’s songs might just help cure PTSD, Professor Daniel Levitin offers surprising insights into the new science of music as medicine. Along…

There is an urgent need for culturally relevant strategies to support their well-being THE theme for this year’s World Teachers’ Day, held annually on October 5 to celebrate teachers around the world, is “Valuing teachers’ voices: towards a new social contract for education”. To fully harness the pivotal role teachers play in shaping, nurturing and driving education and the future educational progress of their learners, it is crucial that their voices are heard and valued in the decision-making processes that affect their profession. According to the United Nations’ cultural agency, Unesco, World Teachers’ Day “is a day to celebrate how teachers are transforming education but also to reflect on the support they need to fully deploy their talent and vocation, and to rethink the way ahead for the profession globally”.…

At a laboratory in Beijing, purple and green hybrid-species grapes are laid out on a board for testing, part of the strategy China’s nascent wine industry is using to try to combat climate challenges. Scientists are using genetics and artificial intelligence to address imperfect weather, as well as anticipate future problems that might be wrought by rising global temperatures. “In China, since we have a young industry, we don’t have many clear observations about the effect of climate change,” Dai Zhanwu, a professor at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), said. “But globally … there are many clearly observed impacts.” The world’s wine production dropped 10% last year, mostly because of “extreme environmental conditions” such as droughts and fires, according to a leading industry body. Scientists say climate change, driven…

Pakistan and Russia have signed their first agreement on barter trade after a large delegation of Pakistani government officials and businessmen visited Moscow. The Pakistan-Russia Trade and Investment Forum kicked off in Moscow on Monday, with more than 70 Pakistani businessmen and 100 Russian companies taking part. The forum would have a positive effect on bilateral relations between the two countries, said Russian Deputy Trade and Investment Minister Alexey Gruzdev while welcoming the Pakistani delegates. Islamabad wanted to enhance its trade with Russia, Pakistani Federal Minister for Privatisation and Communications Abdul Aleem Khan said, adding that the two countries had long-standing diplomatic and commercial relations and Pakistan attached importance to its ties with Russia. Two agriculture companies from Russia and Pakistan have signed the first barter deals on the sidelines…

KABUL: The Turkish National Intelligence Organization (MIT) and the police have detained a former judge in a joint operation for his alleged links to a network accused of attempting a coup in 2016, the semi-official Anadolu Agency reported this week. Mustafa Karatay, a fugitive wanted for eight years due to his alleged ties to the Gulen movement, was captured at his apartment in the Yenimahalle district of Ankara after a tip-off, Anadolu reported, citing anonymous security sources. During the operation, security forces also seized a laptop, tablet, phone and other digital devices he allegedly used to communicate with the movement’s top leadership. Karatay was believed to play a key role in the movement. | Xinhua…

MORE than 700 000 people were internally displaced in Haiti, an increase of 22% since June, a UN spokesperson said on Wednesday, citing new figures from the International Organization for Migration. More than half the people were children, said Stephane Dujarric, a spokesperson for the UN secretary-general, at a daily briefing. He said escalating gang violence was deepening the humanitarian crisis. The school year started on Tuesday, and UN humanitarian partners had been working with the authorities to support the back-to-school campaign. Some 1.4 million pupils and teachers had experienced disruptions to education. | Xinhua…

Western Province duo Kyle Simmonds and Daniel Smith will be hoping to take the confidence of being picked up at the SA20 auction into their CSA T20 Challenge clash against North West Dragons at the JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom this evening (6pm start). All-rounder Simmonds has had a taste of SA20 action before for the Joburg Super Kings, but was released after season 2. Simmons need not be perturbed though for cross-town rivals Pretoria Capitals saw the opportunity and immediately brought the 30-year-old across to Centurion for his base price of R175 000. The Capitals certainly have a distinct Western Province flavour to their squad, with both former WP captains Wayne Parnell and Kyle Verreynne already part of the roster. Simmons is looking forward to joining up with…

AUDITOR-GENERAL Tsakani Maluleke has expressed doubt on the Road Accident Fund’s ability to continue as a going concern at the end of 2023-24 financial year. In her audit 2023-24 report tabled in Parliament, Maluleke said RAF has an accumulated deficit of R25.5 billion and the total liabilities exceeded its total assets by R25.4bn. “These events or conditions indicate that a material uncertainty exists that may cast significant doubt on the public entity’s ability to continue as a going concern,” she said about the public insurance fund that received an adverse audit opinion for a second year in a row. But, CEO Collins Letsoalo defended the fund’s financial position, saying it was well documented. “Its liquidity and solvency have been under pressure for decades. This is mainly the result of the…

THE agreement to permanently employ eligible temporary teachers in the Western Cape will ensure stability and security for schools across the province, says the ANC. It was reacting to the announcement of the agreement at the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC) between the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) and teacher unions South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) and National Professional Teachers’ Organisation of South Africa (Naptosa). The agreement document confirms that the WCED “agrees to convert all temporary educators who are all eligible for conversion in terms of Clause 4.2 of the ELRC collective Agreement 4 of 2018, to permanent educators”. In a statement yesterday, the ANC in the provincial legislature said this was a significant victory for educators. “Schools are urged to immediately act on this agreement, ensuring that…

Flight of the Dancer Liza Lazarus Self-published IT IS a fact that “classical ballet mamas” have an uncanny ability either to promote or crush their daughter’s career. True, that statement can apply to every parent who takes an overzealous interest in their child’s scholastic and/or extra-mural activities. In Lisa Lazarus’s debut novel, Flight of the Dancer, she tells a typically woeful tale of the damage Lillian Glass does to her pubescent daughter Julia by refusing to listen to why she wants to stop dancing. For every reason Julia offers to quit her tuition, her mother simply swishes and overrides them, putting forward her own arguments as more important. Backed by ballet mistress Mrs Zeederberg, Lillian wades in to Julia about her talent, what a pleasing performer she is, and…

The Road Is Good Uzo Aduba Viking Uzo Aduba informs the reader at the start of her memoir that her mother, Nonyem, does not survive the book. “As I write this, my mother is dying,” Aduba writes, a statement so blunt it could be seen as harsh. But it is also the truth. Aduba inherited the pragmatism her mother’s generation adopted to survive in a society that was often hostile to foreigners. Sentimentality is a privilege. It exists in environments where nostalgia and vulnerability are not only allowed but encouraged. Aduba, whose prose warms up as she revisits her past – and her mother’s – does not take for granted that Nonyem, a Nigerian immigrant who survived polio and domestic abuse before Aduba’s birth, created a realm of safety for…

COALITION governance has become a prominent feature of South Africa’s political landscape, emerging across local, provincial, and national levels. The ANC, often the leading party in these coalitions, has consistently branded these power-sharing arrangements as “governments of unity”. However, the reality behind this rhetoric tells a very different story. Rather than embodying true unity, these coalitions are political marriages of convenience, fragile and unsustainable. The term “government of unity” is a gross misrepresentation of what is actually a scramble for power, driven by self-interest rather than a commitment to public service or cohesive governance. The ANC’s weakening grip on power has led to a proliferation of coalition governments. At the local level, particularly in key metros such as Johannesburg, Tshwane, and Nelson Mandela Bay, no single party has been able…

Japanese shares rallied yesterday as the yen extended losses after the country’s new prime minister dampened interest rate hike expectations, while Hong Kong shares fell for the first time in more than a week after a blistering China-fuelled surge. Traders remained on edge, however, as they awaited Israel’s response to an Iranian missile attack on Tuesday, which has fanned fears of a regional conflict in the Middle East, pushing oil prices ever higher. The Nikkei gains, which come after a roller-coaster few days in Tokyo, followed Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba saying the time was not right for further increases in borrowing costs after a meeting with central bankers. News of Ishiba’s victory in a ruling party vote on Friday last week, essentially making him premier, sent the yen soaring and…

Dutch airline KLM plans to cut costs and delay investments to improve profits amid rising equipment costs, staff shortages, and increased airport fees. The airline aims to enhance its operating result by €450 million in the short term, boosting its profit margin to over 8% by 2028 from 5.4% in 2023. KLM will adjust flight schedules, reduce an undisclosed number of office jobs, and seek productivity improvements through automation. Chief executive Marjan Rintel highlighted that KLM is not operating at full intercontinental capacity and will work with unions to expand with the current pilot workforce. The airline will also postpone investments in new headquarters and maintenance buildings while maintaining planned investments for fleet renewal. KLM plans to generate at least €100m annually through new onboard products and enhancements to its…

COPENHAGEN: Two Swedish teenagers were charged yesterday with possessing five hand grenades and detonating two of them on a rooftop near Israel’s embassy in Copenhagen, and were remanded in custody until October 30. The teenagers, aged 16 and 19, were detained on Wednesday on a train at Copenhagen’s main railway station and pleaded not guilty during preliminary questioning yesterday in a Copenhagen city court. No one was injured in the two explosions on Wednesday, but the building near the embassy sustained some damage, investigators said. A third man, aged 19, was detained elsewhere in the Danish capital and was released after questioning. | Reuters…

PARIS: President Emmanuel Macron is hosting leaders from French-speaking countries this week for the Francophonie summit in Paris, the first in 33 years. The summit aims to strengthen French influence amid global challenges, particularly in Africa, where France’s sway has diminished due to recent coups in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. Key discussions will also address the crisis in Lebanon, showcasing France’s limited influence in the Middle East. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is among the notable guests. Macron views the summit as an opportunity for dialogue and mediation on various political issues, including a territorial dispute between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. | AFP…

Israel’s military told residents of more than 20 towns in south Lebanon to evacuate their homes immediately yesterday as it pressed on with cross-border incursions and struck Hezbollah targets in a suburb of Beirut. The latest warnings took the number of southern towns subject to evacuation calls to 70 and included the provincial capital Nabatieh, suggesting another Israeli military operation was imminent against the Iran-backed armed group. Hezbollah also carried out new strikes, targeting what it called Israel's “Sakhnin base” for military industries in Haifa Bay on the Mediterranean coast of northern Israel with a salvo of rockets. Israel, which has been fighting Hamas in the Palestinian territory of Gaza for almost a year, sent troops into southern Lebanon on Tuesday after two weeks of intense airstrikes in a worsening…

THE Department of Correctional Services (DCS) has expressed confidence that its inmates are ready for the forthcoming National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams. According to the department, 173 inmates are expected to write from October 21 to November 27. National Commissioner Makgothi Thobakgale praised educators for their dedication and hard work in preparing them. “The Department of Correctional Services is pleased with the level of preparedness, as inmates have completed the academic syllabus on time and have undergone various assessments throughout the year. Educators from the department’s 18 schools remain optimistic, having made significant efforts to ensure that all candidates are thoroughly prepared,” said Thobakgale. “Additionally, the department ensured that all required textbooks and stationery were delivered to schools in a timely manner. Education not only empowers offenders with knowledge but…

How did we get here? Mpoomy Ledwaba Loot.co.za (R210) Jonathan Ball “I share to normalise talking about those shameful, hurtful things we keep hidden. I share because shame loses its power when we find safe spaces to share our truth … and when women heal, generations heal.” To her thousands of fans, Wisdom & Wellness founder, speaker and influencer Mpoomy Ledwaba is a symbol of strength and women empowerment. But going from university dropout to Forbes magazine’s list of 30 Under 30 wasn’t always easy – it took much courage and a commitment to personal growth. How Did We Get Here? is her coming-of-age story. Looking back on her upbringing, major milestones and the challenges she’s faced, Ledwaba takes us on her journey of self-discovery. Behind the Instagram likes and…

From suspenseful thrillers to dramas, these books have consumed many nights and weekends, and taken me on adventures I did not expect. One of the most notable titles is The Housemaid’s Secret by Freida McFadden. McFadden has taken social media by storm, and it’s easy to see why. Her fast-paced psychological thrillers feed right into what the high-energy BookTok community thrives on. It’s no surprise that McFadden continues to dominate reading lists. In the realm of fantasy, The Prisoner’s Throne by Holly Black was not something that I resonated with as much as I had hoped. While Black is known for her writing, fantasy novels often lack the challenge I seek in my reading. Black’s world-building is impressive, but the genre itself does not captivate me. Conversely, The Library of…

Last February, the Proteas Women made history when they became the first South African senior team – men or women – to reach the final of an International Cricket Council (ICC) event. And it all happened on home soil, with matches played in Newlands, Paarl and Gqeberha. The South African ladies, captained by Suné Luus, enjoyed a remarkable run. They beat New Zealand and Bangladesh in the group stage, but went down to Australia and Sri Lanka. So, they had to pick themselves up for the semi-final against a powerful England side, and they played the game of their lives at Newlands to win by six runs. It was a blockbuster title decider in Cape Town against Australia, but while they lost by 19 runs, they won the hearts of…

Turkish annual inflation slowed less than expected in September to 49.4%, official data showed yesterday, a figure which analysts said could disappoint central bank officials after a series of interest rate hikes. Türkiye’s central bank began to raise rates last year in efforts to battle soaring prices, after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan dropped his opposition to orthodox monetary policy. The September inflation figure was higher than the 48.1% consumer price increase forecast by Turkish economists cited by local media. Inflation had reached 52% in August. “The smaller-than-expected decline in Türkiye’s headline rate to 49.4% y/y (year-on-year) in September will be a disappointment to policymakers at the central bank,” Nicholas Farr, emerging Europe economist at the London-based Capital Economics, said in a note to clients. He said the figure showed that…

LONDON: The British government has chartered a limited number of flights to support its citizens to leave Lebanon, it said yesterday, repeating its advice for them to leave the country immediately. More than 150 British nationals and dependants left Beirut on a government chartered flight on Wednesday, the statement said. “To meet the demand for the charter flight on Wednesday, additional flights will depart from Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport from yesterday. The flights will continue for as long as the security situation allows,” it added. | Reuters…

TAIPEI: Nine people died yesterday after a fire ripped through a hospital in southern Taiwan, the island’s fire agency said. The blaze in Pingtung County was reported at around 7.40am, and was put out soon after 1pm, according to the fire agency. Eight victims were confirmed dead after being taken away for treatment, and another was later found dead at the scene. The fire broke out the same day that Typhoon Krathon made landfall in the island’s south, although Taiwanese authorities did not link the two. Krathon forced schools and offices to shut for a second day amid strong winds and heavy rain that have left two dead and more than 100 injured. | AFP…