Sommaire pour 2022-01-19 de Cape Times

Banele Ginindza banele.ginindza@inl.co.za ESKOM admitted yesterday it would have to burn closer to R8 billion on its open cycle gas turbines (OCGT) rather than the R1bn it had originally envisaged in this financial year, as it faces bleaker generation prospects. It will likely deal with more blow-outs from its coal fired plants and a scheduled shutdown of Koeberg if it is to keep the lights on and the economy ticking over this year. At the second day of public hearings for a 20.5 percent increase in electricity tariffs before the National Energy Regulator of South Africa., Eskom chief financial officer Calib Cassim said the utility had to override costs of production against the necessity for power in the economy, hence it would be prudent to spend more on diesel…

Staff writer Government will appeal the North Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, ruling declaring the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences Act (Aarto) unconstitutional and invalid. Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula announced the decision at Grasmere Toll Plaza yesterday as he released the 2021 festive season fatality statistics. “The Aarto provides an adjudication system for infringements of the rules of the road determined by the National Road Traffic Act. “Aarto is the final piece of the puzzle in the implementation of a new road traffic management system by the democratic state. The importance of Aarto in driving behaviour change of motorist and providing disincentives for unbecoming conduct cannot be overemphasised,” Mbalula said. “It is for these reasons that we have decided to appeal the ruling of the Pretoria High Court declaring the…

Siphokazi Vuso siphokazi.vuso@inl.co.za FORMER Western Cape DA leader and Transport MEC Bonginkosi Madikizela has lashed back at the criticism over his appointment as Premier Alan Winde’s political adviser, saying he was “more than qualified for the job”. Madikizela resigned as the DA’s Western Cape leader and MEC in April last year following claims that he had lied about his qualifications. Winde’s spokesperson, Cayla Murray, said he was awaiting feedback from the national Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) on the appointment of Madikizela, after which it would be possible to officially appoint him. Murray added: “Given the specific advisory capacity required by the premier, including assisting with engagement with local communities, and important priorities such as ensuring a functional rail system, the premier believes that Mr Madikizela has the…

Lunch box ideas Ingredients Method 24 slices brown bread Margarine for spreading +-250g chicken mince 1 small onion 1 small green apple 10ml smooth apricot jam or mango chutney 5ml coconut 15ml tomato sauce 5ml curry powder Custard topping 2 large eggs beaten into 200ml full cream milk Preheat oven to 200ºC. Lightly grease 2 x 6-cup giant muffin trays. Cut off the crusts from each bread slice. Roll each one slightly larger using a rolling pin. Lightly spread margarine on one side, and push one into each muffin cup, spread-side facing upwards, pressing to ensure a snug fit and room for the filling. Place a second slice on top but at a different angle to provide even height sides. In a small frying pan, toss the remaining ingredients (except custard topping)…

Albert Glass | Sea Point MAYBE in another life Lindiwe Sisulu may have been seen and regarded as having the potential to aspire to be the president of the country? There is a lot more required of a candidate than having the potential to aspire. One needs integrity coupled with honesty and drive. Being a politician, however, these qualities are in short supply. After all, as we have experienced of late, politicians have self-serving agendas. And then there are no qualms about lying in attempting to convince the country otherwise. Having grown up in an illustrious family, her record of deceit has preceded her. As minister of housing she promised and promised … but no delivery! Then, as defence minister, she blotted her copybook too. She flouted the military…

Siphokazi Vuso siphokazi.vuso@inl.co.za A BREAKDOWN in trust in the Greater Oudtshoorn Municipality has led to coalition partner, the Oudtshoorn Community Initiative (OGI), withdrawing from the majority alliance. In a statement this week, the party said its executive board, after consultation with the full management, decided to end the party membership of the coalition. This follows after the party said it was considering withdrawing a few months ago, citing “abuse of power and illegal appointments” within the caucus. Additionally, one of the party’s founders and former mayor of the town under the DA, Colan Sylvester, resigned as the municipality’s speaker. The OGI had entered into a coalition with the Patriotic Alliance (PA) and the ANC, among others, to lead the town after the local government elections. Sylvester said the party would…

Odwa Mkentane odwa.mkentane@inl.co.za IN WHAT has been described as a taxi-related killing, former SA National Taxi Council (Santaco) deputy chairperson and leader of Congress of Democratic Taxi Association (Codeta) Mzoxolo Dibela was murdered just days before signing an agreement with the City to bring the stalled MyCiti N2 Express service back to Khayelitsha, Mitchells Plain. Dibela’s body was discovered at Monwabisi Beach on Monday afternoon with gunshot wounds to his head. Police spokesperson Joseph Swartbooi said the suspects are yet to be arrested. “Harare police attended a crime scene at Monwabisi beach yesterday (Monday) about 3pm. On arrival, they found the body of an unknown man next to the road who sustained gunshot wounds to his head. The victim was declared dead on the scene by the medical personnel. The…

For the ANC to live, greed, corruption, deception, lies, betrayal, and murders must die “Angathin’ uTamb’ ukuba angasibona sinje? Angalila, angalila!” That song was sung by the current Minister of Public Administration, Ayanda Dlodlo, while she was still Minister of the State Security Agency, at the funeral service of her comrade Kebby Maphatsoe. Maphatsoe was the former president of the now dismantled uMkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans Association. He died amid the tension between two factions in the ANC, the Radical Economic Transformation (Jacob Zuma) camp, and that of CR17 (President Cyril Ramaphosa). Today, a 10-year-old political party is strong with a certain amount of influence. You might differ with the EFF, but in barely 10 years it grew with direction. At 110, the ANC is supposed to be growing…

Police have taken down a global virtual private network used by criminals to do business online, which left more than 100 firms at risk of cyberattacks, the EU’s policing agency said yesterday. Officers in Europe and North America seized or disrupted at least 15 servers hosting users and VPNLab.net, a service provider that offered criminal groups shielded communications and internet access, on Monday, Europol said. “The VPN provider service ... was being used in support of serious criminal acts such as ransomware deployment and other cybercrime activities,” Europol said. Available for a subscription fee of as little as $60 (about R925), VPNLab.net was “a popular choice for cybercriminals, who could use its services to carry on committing their crimes without fear of detection by authorities”, Europol said. Law enforcement agents…

Beirut: A bank customer held dozens of people hostage in eastern Lebanon after he was told he could not withdraw his foreign currency savings, a source at the lender said yesterday. The hostage-taker demanded $50 000 (R775 000) of his money at a branch in Jeb Janine, in the Bekaa Valley, a source at the Bank of Beirut and the Arab Countries (BBAC) said. After being refused, “he brandished a gun and grenade in front of staff and doused himself in petrol before pouring it on the premises and threatening to set it alight,” the BBAC source said. The customer was eventually given some of his savings and surrendered to security forces.…

LONDON: The British broadcaster BBC’s TV licence fee has been frozen for two years to support families as they struggle to pay living costs. “At a time when families are facing a sharp increase in their living costs we simply could not justify asking hard-working households to pay even more for their TV licence,” secretary of the UK’s digital and culture ministry Nadine Dorries said. The free will remain at an annual £159 (about R3 300) until 2024. BBC chairperson Richard Sharp called the decision “disappointing” and warned that tough choices would be made to allow the broadcaster to absorb rising inflation.…

Siphelele Dludla siphelele.dludla@inl.co.za THE WORLD Economic Forum (WEF) has agreed that Covid-19 vaccine equity should be a global concern to prevent the further spread of the pandemic and its associated variants. Meeting the challenge of vaccine equity was the common sentiment shared at the WEF Davos Agenda 2022 yesterday as the global vaccine apartheid continued unfolding. This as poor countries continue lagging behind in immunising their populations while rich countries have more than enough supply of the vaccines. In a session to discuss this, experts agreed that the failure to ensure universal global distribution risked not only bad health outcomes but also economic upheaval and geopolitical tensions. John Nkengasong, director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, said there had been a collapse of global co-operation and solidarity…

Nicola Daniels nicola.daniels@inl.co.za MOTHERS, fathers and pensioners are among millions of South Africans who fear they will not survive another electricity tariff increase, as they are already financially crippled by the current high price of energy. As the National Energy Regulator of SA (Nersa) enters its third day of public hearings today into Eskom’s attempts to force the regulator to allow a 20.5% increase for this year, many have strongly rejected the proposal. Eskom wants Nersa to consider its revenue application for R279 billion, R335bn and R365bn for 2023, 2024 and 2025 respectively, meaning more increases for South Africans. “It is going to kill me,” said 72-year-old pensioner Stanford Kirby, a silversmith with a modest shop in the CBD. He supports his wife, two daughters and three granddaughters, and is…

Chevon Booysen chevon.booysen@inl.co.za THE State suffered the first blow in its attempts to keep accused Parliament fire accused Zandile Mafe detained at Valkenberg Psychiatric Hospital when Western Cape High Court Judge President John Hlophe found that this was “unlawful and should not have happened”. Mafe will be released this morning to be kept in a regular detention facility ahead of his bail application hearing scheduled on Saturday, after Judge Hlophe set aside his referral for a 30-day observation period at Valkenberg Hospital. The court also granted a cost order against the State. Mafe – who faces six criminal charges including two counts of arson, housebreaking with intent to steal, theft and being in contravention of the Terrorist and Related Activities Act – is accused of setting alight Parliament building on…

Keith Alfred Adolph Blake | Ottery I WANT to thank Nicola Daniels from the Cape Times for her brilliant article dated January 18 regarding my issue with the three-way corner of Link Road and Ottery Road, Ottery. One can see she is an artist in her work as a journalist in how she tackled the article, and (her way of) conversing with me, a very concerned resident of Ottery. I can now with all my emails and this article close this chapter, as I can not see even a temporary solution being in place while we await the proposed MyCiti upgrade for which I see there is no time frame. But I am washing my hands like Pontious Pilate. Instead of water I wash my hands with vinegar and…

Odwa Mkentane odwa.mkentane@inl.co.za A SUSPECTED hijacker was shot dead when he allegedly attempted to rob an off-duty officer of his vehicle in Khayelitsha on Monday. The incident involving the 19-year-old suspect took place in Japhta K Masemola Road, an area Site B residents described as a hot spot for hijackings, due to potholes slowing vehicles. Police spokesperson Joseph Swartbooi said: “Two unknown suspects approached the driver of a vehicle, pointing at him with firearms. The driver then fired gunshots at the suspects, fatally wounding the 19-year-old while the other suspect fled. “The one suspect was declared dead on the scene by medical personnel. The motive for the attack was a robbery. Khayelitsha police registered an attempted murder case and an inquest for further investigation.” Describing the hijacking attempt, a witness…

WHILE the debate rages on around Lindiwe Sisulu’s “plagiarised” article, it would be good to remind ourselves that this happened in a context in which we are trying to make sense of what concepts such as democracy, constitutional supremacy, the rule of law, freedom and sovereignty mean in real terms and real time. This is a daily struggle. It will be with us for the longest time, for just as long as humans pursue and want to widen the horizons of knowledge and make sense of the nonsense around us. Back to Lindiwe. Many will recall the opening of the debate on “reconciliation and nation building” in the national assembly in May 1998 by then deputy president Thabo Mbeki. Mbeki penned what was later called a “Two Nation” statement that…

WELLINGTON/SYDNEY: The South Pacific archipelago of Tonga could spend days, or even weeks, cut off from the rest of world because of difficulties in repairing its sole undersea communications cable, which an operator said was ruptured during a massive volcanic eruption. The challenge underlines the vulnerability of undersea fibre-optic cables, which have become the backbone of global communications, thanks to a capacity to carry data that is about 200 times that of satellites. Saturday’s explosion of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano sent tsunami waves across the Pacific Ocean so that connectivity was lost on the line, operated by Tonga Cable Ltd, in waters about 37km offshore. But the repair of Tonga’s critical 827km fibre-optic link to Fiji depends on the arrival of a specialised ship now days away in Port…

Anders Behring Breivik, the Norwegian man behind one of that country’s most heinous crimes in recent memory, was in court yesterday to argue for early release from his 21-year prison sentence – a move that is being opposed by prosecutors. In July 2011, Breivik killed 77 people by setting off a bomb outside the prime minister’s office in Oslo and opening fire at a youth summer camp organised by the left-leaning Labor Party. In 2012, he was given the maximum prison sentence permitted under Norwegian law after being convicted on terrorism and murder charges. At the time, the judge ordered “preventive detention”, reserved for criminals seen as dangers to society beyond the length of their sentence. That makes it unlikely that he will ever be released, but Breivik became eligible…

TOKYO: Japanese Defence Minister Nobuo Kishi yesterday said recent missile tests by North Korea indicated that Pyongyang was rapidly improving its weaponry technologies. “It is obvious that North Korea is rapidly enhancing the technological level of weapons, operational capabilities and diversifying the launching methods,” Kishi said at a briefing. Earlier in the day, Pyongyang confirmed the launch on Monday of two tactical guided missiles that hit an island target in the East Sea of Korea. The recent missile launch was the fourth North Korean test-fire this month.…

Dieketseng Maleke dieketseng.maleke@inl.co.za BUSINESS Leadership South Africa (BLSA) has announced that it has accepted the resignation of Bain & Company from its membership as the business entity’s reputation has come under fire for its stance on the US management consulting firm. This comes after the local unit of Bain was criticised for its consultancy work for the South African Revenue Services (Sars) at the peak of state capture. When the State Capture Inquiry’s report was released earlier this month, it was critical in its assessment of Bain’s consultancy work for Sars. The inquiry’s chairperson and acting Chief Justice, Raymond Zondo, recommended that law enforcement agencies investigate how contracts were awarded to the firm. In a statement, BLSA said it had noted Bain & Co’s decision to withdraw its membership.…

Loyiso Sidimba loyiso.sidimba@inl.co.za | POLITICAL BUREAU THE meeting between ANC employees and the party treasurer-general Paul Mashatile over the long-running non-payment of salaries has been moved to today as staff undertook to stay away from work until they are paid. ANC staff representative committee chairperson Mvusi Mdala yesterday told Independent Media that they would meet Mashatile on Wednesday. ”We will be on stayaway until we are paid,” Mdala said. ANC employees have not been paid their salaries for months and were set to meet Mashatile yesterday, but the meeting was moved to today. According to Mdala, some ANC employees were last paid in August, others in November and last month. He said the employees were now on a stayaway. The ANC has failed to fulfil several promises it made…

Okuhle Hlati okhule.hlati@inl.co.za INDEPENDENT schools have scored an improved pass rate for the Class of 2021 at 98.39%, slightly higher than last year’s 98.06%. The release of the Independent Examinations Board (IEB) and National Senior Certificate (NSC) results showed that 89.2% of the cohort achieved entry to degree study, compared to 88.41% in 2020. At least 7.82% qualified for entry to diploma study, compared to 8.14% in 2020, and 1.37% compared to 1.5% in 2020 achieved entry for study at a higher certificate level. About 12 857 full-time and 968 part-time candidates from 238 examination centres wrote in 267 venues across Southern Africa. IBE chief executive officer Anne Oberholzer said as with an iceberg, the achievement in the class of 2021 hid the depth of the struggle and effort that…

Okuhle Hlati okhule.hlati@inl.co.za WITH only two days left, the Department of Basic Education (DBE) has said it will be ready to release the 2021 National Senior Certificate (NSC) results in the public domain, including newspapers and the broadcast media. Candidates were only going to access their results by fetching them at schools or viewing them on the department’s website, after the DBE said it would violate the Protection of Personal Information Act (Popia) if it published the results publicly. However, a pupil and lobby group AfriForum challenged the decision, taking Minister Angie Motshekga and the DBE to the Pretoria High Court. Judge Anthony Millar said yesterday not everyone had access to the internet and some candidates no longer lived in the area where their high school was based. This might…

THE Duke of York’s mésalliance with Geoffrey Epstein’s house of ill repute becomes ever more unsavoury. His reputation now in tatters, he has lost all standing with the armed services, the Royal Family and with a majority of the British public. By contrast, his mother, the Queen, mourning her late husband, saddened by the defection of the Sussex couple and insulted by the rudeness of her Prime Minister, remains truly a noble figure, wise and considered in everything she does, an inspiration to all. Her Majesty, revered these many years as a major moral force for good throughout the world, has gained immeasurably in stature by her swift and, for her, undoubtedly painful removal of her son’s style and military titles and by her peerless sense of duty. niel veitch…

Chevon Booysen chevon.booysen@inl.co.za WHILE the proclamation of legislation to enforce compulsory DNA sampling of alleged offenders takes effect at the end of this month, activists have said the same should apply to convicted criminals. This comes after the implementation of Section 36D of the Criminal Law (Forensics Procedures Act), which will enforce compulsory DNA sampling of alleged offenders arrested on any schedule 8 offence, which was not mandatory in the past. From February 1, a suspect arrested and charged with a schedule 8 offence – which includes rape and murder – will be required to provide a DNA sample which will be uploaded on to the National Forensics DNA Database. Regional director of DNA for Africa, Vanessa Lynch, said the government needed to also pass legislation which made it mandatory…

Goitsemang Tlhabye goitsemang.tlhabye@inl.co.za UNISA vice-chancellor and principal Professor Puleng LenkaBula was not involved in the renovations to her official residence in Pretoria, which cost twice as much as the R1 million budgeted for it. The university issued a letter to its stakeholders after media reports that LenkaBula had requested refurbishments to the official residence, Cloghreen, which it said was incorrect. The information regarding the exorbitant expenditure was contained in a report titled “Consolidated progress report on the renovation of Cloghreen”. In the letter, the university said LenkaBula had not been able to take occupation due to the delayed renovations and the unavailability of the handover report by the operations and facility portfolio. It claimed LenkaBula made numerous attempts to get hold of the report, but to no avail. The institution…

Almost six months since the management of the State Security Agency (SSA) was transferred to a directorate of the Presidency after the riots in July that left more than 300 people in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng dead, President Cyril Ramaphosa had another change of heart this week. This time, Ramaphosa decided to appoint Minister in the Presidency, Mondli Gungubele, as the political head of the country’s spy agency. Previously, the agency was headed by Minister Ayanda Dlodlo, a minister who was seemingly not in the good books of the dominant faction of the ANC. She was later shifted to the Department of Public Works. Although some people applauded Ramaphosa’s decision to appoint Gungubele, the move does not adequately address the concerns that the SSA could still be turned into a private…

Around 14 people were killed and others injured in retaliatory airstrikes on the Yemeni capital of Sana’a overnight, Houthi officials said yesterday. Images from the scene show Yemenis sifting through the rubble of buildings destroyed in the strikes. The Saudi-led coalition airstrikes on Sana’a came after the Houthi rebels, who are backed by Iran and control most of Yemen’s north, claimed responsibility for attacks on the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Monday that left three people dead and six wounded. The UAE is a partner of the coalition that has been battling the Houthis since 2015, shortly after the group took over the Yemeni capital. On Monday, police in the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi said that three petroleum tanker trunks had exploded near the city’s port and that a…

Bridgetown: Barbados today will hold general elections called by Prime Minister Mia Mottley, the Caribbean nation’s first vote since it became a republic last year by removing the British Queen as its sovereign. Mottley, whose Barbados Labor Party now controls 29 of the legislature’s 30 seats, said last month that the vote would help promote unity in the face of the coronavirus pandemic, which has heavily hit the country’s tourism-focused economy. Barbados in November removed the Queen as head of state and replaced her with President Sandra Mason in a ceremony coinciding with its independence day that included the presence of Prince Charles.…

KABUL: About 1 000 displaced and needy Afghan families received relief assistance in the capital Kabul yesterday as the Taliban-led caretaker government and aid agencies redoubled efforts to help destitute families in winter, authorities said. “The families received assistance packages which included food and non-food items as well as kitchenware and tarpaulins … in eastern Kabul,” Acting Minister of Disaster Management Mullah Mohammad Abbas Akhund said. The distributed assistance supplies were donated by Turkmenistan, Pakistan, China, Kazakhstan and Russia. The families also received special food packages for children provided by Unicef. |…