Cape Times 2023-01-06

THE Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) said it hoped that the ANC would make use of its 111th anniversary to reflect on the government’s increasing inability to grow the economy, fix the load shedding crisis and reduce unemployment and poverty in South Africa. The anniversary celebrations are set to take place in the Free State this weekend. The event is marked to drum up support for the main January 8 statement, which is expected to take place at the Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium, also in Bloemfontein, on Sunday. Cosatu national spokesperson, Sizwe Pamla said they expected immediate solutions. “The ANC is increasingly presiding over a nation that is politically unstable, that experiences periodical rioting, suffers from rampant crime levels and is hungrier with a high-disease burden. “The ANC…

ANC members and leaders in KwaZulu-Natal need to remember the importance of working with other provinces, and making compromises when necessary in order to remain an influential bloc in national politics. This was the view expressed by a number of members attending the hybrid ANC national elective conference at the Durban Exhibition Centre yesterday. The conference had to be postponed last month because delegates were unable to complete the programme. The conference resumed yesterday in a hybrid format – with delegates joining from other provinces. The gathering, which was attended by a number of leaders, including former president Jacob Zuma, Dr Zweli Mkhize, Nathi Mthethwa and Malusi Gigaba, will continue today before the party’s January 8 celebrations in the Free State this weekend. Many delegates attending yesterday, said they had…

In an exciting initiative, the Okapi Ladies International, a professional women-only race, will take place this weekend at the L’Ormarins King’s Plate in Kenilworth. About 14 female riders chosen from the 20-odd applicants who come from varying equestrian backgrounds will showcase their ability down the 1 200m Hollywoodbets Kenilworth straight course this Saturday. Two international riders, O’Meara Rusike from Zimbabwe and Samantha Swanepoel of the UK, will be in attendance. Okapi founder Hanneli Rupert said they were excited to be sponsoring the Okapi Ladies International at the L’Ormarins King’s Plate and it would be the first of what they hoped to be an ongoing addition to the race card. Riding master and former jockey Craig du Plooy said the candidates have all been outstanding. “They have joined my normal training…

WITH more than seven million emergency calls to 10111 being dropped and police call centres operating with 41.5% of the ideal staff complement, the situation was dire but came as no surprise to anti-crime activists who received complaints from community members daily. The statistics were based on feedback from Police Minister Bheki Cele for the financial years 2020/21 and 2021/22, and from April 1, 2022 until present, following a parliamentary question by DA MP Andrew Whitefield. Whitefield wanted to know how many staff there should be and how many people were actually employed at each 10111 centre, as well as the number of dropped calls that had been recorded in respect of each call centre. While the ideal number for the 2020/2021 year was 3 344, a total of only…

The closure of yet another beach due to a sewage spill – this time a part of Gordon’s Bay – has added to the growing fears over health and safety, especially amid increasing gastroenteritis reports. The City, however, has claimed it has not received any reports from patients over drinking water or water for recreational activities, and a spate of stomach bug cases was due to rising heat temperatures, with the Provincial Health Department backing this. Between October 31 and December 26, 2 453 gastroenteritis cases were reported to the City. Gordon’s Bay Beach, between the walkway and the area in front of Spur, is the latest to experience sewer overflows. Within a space of four days, four beaches, including Strand Beach, Small Bay in Blaauwberg and Fish Hoek…

HAVING dedicated his life to the klopse, 71-year-old Suluiman Poromano never anticipated the huge impact of establishing the Cape Town Hawkers troupe on the lives of ordinary street hawkers in the city. It was 34 years ago when he was the brains behind the group that has since grown to have a troupe of about 700 strong members. As communities across Cape Town are revelling in the return of sequinned gears, the trilling of tambourines, reverberation of the trombone and the beating of ghoema drums, the Cape Times spoke with the Bonteheuwel resident who expressed his excitement about about the return of the klopse after being put on hold for two years due to Covid-19 restrictions. Troupes are now gearing up - after months of rehearsals and perfecting their entertainment…