Sommaire pour 2024-05-17 de Cape Times

AT THE RECENT passing of its founder, Dr Sam Motsuenyane, Africanbank is stepping into a new era of growth and innovation. Yesterday it unveiled a revamped logo and a new campaign message, “Africanbank backs you”. For major long-standing South African brands, it takes great deal of courage to change a logo, key messages and other accoutrements of corporate identity, as the brand could lose or even alienate its existing client base that has been built up over a long period of time with the previous branding. “We celebrate this growth at a time of sadness as we remember our founder, Dr Sam Motsuenyane. “His triumph in establishing South Africa’s first black bank was a victory for us all and his story remains a source of inspiration,” Africanbank group chief…

From Page 1 “We’d rest and stretch every two and a half hours, have something to eat, and then sleep over at places near where I finished for the day. My wife joined me from Mossel Bay. “I walked about 10 hours a day, covering 40 to 50km, sometimes even more.” He said at some point he was “taking strain”. When he reached Riversdale he had trouble with his feet and back and received physiotherapy in George but was determined to continue. “I’m glad I made it and I’m happy to report I completed 832km, incident and injury free. Somebody asked me if I ever thought about giving up. That never crossed my mind. I was just taking it step by step. “I don’t think I’m special or have any…

MOTORISTS will heave a sigh of relief after economists and the AA predicted that a petrol and diesel price decrease is on the cards. There had previously been four consecutive increases in the fuel price and experts believe that the predicted decrease for petrol will be around 60 cents a litre, while diesel is expected to decrease by around 74 cents a litre. They have attributed the decrease to lower oil prices and a stronger rand. Layton Beard, spokesperson for the AA, said that significant decreases in fuel prices across the board are expected in June. “Mid month data from the Central Energy Fund (CEF) indicates that 95ULP is expected to drop by around 61c/l, and 93ULP by around 63c/l. The wholesale price of diesel is expected to decrease…

CAPE Town’s track record of developing social housing projects in well-located areas is not strong. Only one site – the Maitland Mews development – has been occupied six years since the Affordable Housing Prospectus was launched for Woodstock, Salt River and the inner city. The process of releasing public land for affordable housing has been fraught with technical, legal, financial and political obstacles and shrouded in mystery. These are among the findings in the “Releasing Municipal Land for Affordable Housing – Documenting the Experiences of Cape Town, eThekwini, Johannesburg, and Tshwane” report by Development Action Group (DAG) with the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) and the National Association of Social Housing Organisation (NASHO). The report looks at affordable housing and the release of well-located public land, drawing on Cape Town,…

Knysna municipal manager Ombali Sebola is continuing his duties as he intends to appeal the court decision that set his appointment aside, the municipality confirmed. Last week, Western Cape High Court Judge Mas-Udah Pangarker ruled Sebola’s appointment as municipal manager was null and void, as well as calling for a fresh advertisement process. However, following a special council meeting this week, Sebola indicated he was appealing the decision, said municipality spokesperson, Christopher Bezuidenhout. “The judgment was deliberated upon during (Wednesday's) special council meeting. However, Sebola has filed an application for leave to appeal the judgment. As a result, he will continue his duties until the decision on the application for leave to appeal is made,” said Bezuidenhout. According to court documents, Sebola was shortlisted with two other candidates during the…

SIX suspects were killed in two separate shoot-outs with the police in KwaZulu-Natal yesterday morning, with police saying that officers came under fire in both incidents. In Camperdown, four men linked to a series of cash-in-transit robberies were killed, while two men who were being sought for intimidation, extortion and other violent crimes were killed in a police shoot-out at the Klaarwater Hostel in Mariannhill. Police spokesperson Jay Naicker said that in both incidents the police were greeted with a hail of bullets. They returned fire and the suspects sustained fatal gunshot wounds. “Police in KwaZulu-Natal remain committed to enforce and uphold the law by preventing, combating and investigating crime. Suspects who challenge the authority of the state by shooting at police officers will be met with the force proportional…

Quantum Body - The New Science Of Living A Longer, Healthier, More Vital Life Deepak Chopra Loot.co.za (R297) Rider My journey with Deepak Chopra began with a serendipitous encounter in a second-hand bookshop in Durban. Among dusty shelves, Ageless Body, Timeless Mind beckoned me, and with my last few coins, I secured a treasure that would shape my understanding of the universe. Since then, Chopra’s wisdom has been a guiding light on my path of personal growth and self-discovery. This is a great book to understand the difference between accepting to grow old and youthful in mind and heart using some practices for living a longer life. In his latest collaboration, Deepak Chopra co-authors Quantum Body with physicist Jack Tuszynski and leading endocrinologist Brian Fertig, MD, to reveal the new…

local author Gail Schimmel is known for her witty, down-to-earth novels set in the leafy ’burbs of Jozi. Her latest novel, The Finishing Line, is a departure. It centres on characters Brenda and Denver and how their competitive streaks got the better of them. As an only child, Brenda Critchley had many odd traits. From calling her parents by their first names because no one sent a memo to tell her they should be referred to as mom and dad, to holding grudges for years. Being an only child, she struggled to make friends and be accepted by those she considered as friends until she met her first true friend in standard one, Gabriella. Brenda came from a public school and was awarded a scholarship at a prestigious boarding school…

They say money makes the world go round, but will that ring true for Team South Africa at the Paris Olympics? There was great excitement at Sascoc House in Houghton, Johannesburg on Wednesday as the first batch of athletes were announced for Team South Africa – 39 members across the following sporting codes: aquatics, athletics, canoeing, gymnastics, climbing, surfing and wrestling. Among that group was swimming champion from the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, Tatjana Smith (née Schoenmaker), who is hoping to add to the gold and silver she won in Japan in the 200m and 100m breaststroke respectively. Surfer Bianca Buitendag was the only other medallist in Tokyo with a silver, and Team SA will hope for a much bigger haul in Paris. At least this time around, athletes have…

Israel’s tanks pushed into the heart of Jabalia in northern Gaza yesterday, facing anti-tank rockets and mortar bombs from militants concentrated there, while in the south, its forces pounded Rafah without advancing, Palestinians said. The slow progress of Israel’s offensive, more than seven months after it was prompted by Hamas’ deadly cross-border raid, highlighted the difficulty of achieving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s aim of eradicating the militant group. Armed wings of Hamas and its ally Islamic Jihad have been able to fight up and down the Gaza Strip, using heavily fortified tunnels to stage attacks in both the north, the focus of Israel’s initial invasion, and new battlegrounds like Rafah. Israel says four Hamas battalions are now in Rafah along with hostages abducted during the October 7 assault, but faces…

AMMAN: Jordan’s King Abdullah said yesterday that militant groups that smuggle drugs and arms should be confronted. The US-allied kingdom foiled a suspected Iranian-led plot to smuggle weapons to help opponents of the ruling monarchy carry out acts of sabotage, two Jordanian sources with knowledge of the matter earlier said. An official told state news agency Petra this week that the kingdom had foiled an attempt by “foreign-backed militants” to smuggle arms into its territory, seized the arms and detained the smugglers in March. “We should confront armed militant groups … especially smuggling drugs and arms which is what Jordan has been thwarting for years now,” the king said. | Reuters…

THE HAGUE: Far-right leader Geert Wilders said yesterday that it could take “years” for the Netherlands’ new government to fulfil its pledge to opt-out of the EU asylum system. After clinching a coalition deal six months in the making, Wilders said: “We will try to get a so-called opt-out for asylum, as the Danish have. That might take years if it is successful anyway.” Denmark negotiated a deal to exclude the country from being bound by common EU asylum policies. But Wilders said that in the short-term, the new right-wing government would aim to use Dutch law to restrict what he called an “influx of asylum-seekers” in the Netherlands. | AFP…

KAROOOOO, the JSE-listed multi- national with an outstanding 15% average earnings growth over 10 years, is optimistic about its prospects in South Africa, both in capturing market share and in growing new market, chief executive Zak Calisto said yesterday. The founder of the vehicle tracking and asset management company said in an interview that the group, which also has fast-growing operations in Asia-Pacific, Europe and the rest of Africa, had invested R450 million in infrastructure in the past year in South Africa. “We believe this country is a great destination to invest in. We have about 40% of the South African market, and we believe we can grow this,” Calisto said. They employed about 4 500 people globally, and he expected this might increase by 1…

From Page 1 Thousands of new opportunities are currently in the pipeline. “Overall, the City has a pipeline of 6 500 social housing opportunities across 50 land parcels City-wide.” He said the national housing regime and the funding allocated to metros to cater to subsidised and affordable housing has not been able to keep up with demand. “For this reason, the City’s strategy is to enable much more private sector-led affordable housing development in well-located areas.” Asked for delivery dates on projects it was planning, the City said “various projects across the metro at various stages with various sizes and construction and delivery dates”. On concerns around public participation, it said: “All due process is followed when land is released for housing, with extensive public participation opportunities at various stages…

UCT is expected to formally announce the appointment of its vice-chancellor (VC) after it emerged that Professor Mosa Moshabela has been selected to take over the helm of Africa’s top-ranked university. This is after UCT’s council met on Wednesday evening to make their decision on the final shortlist of three candidates. The candidates running for the position along with Moshabela were Professor Nellie Nosisi Feza, deputy vice-chancellor (DVC) for research and postgraduate studies at the University of Venda, and Professor José Frantz, DVC for research and innovation at UWC. Council's decision comes after Moshabela, the current DVC for research and innovation at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, received 89% approvals from the Senate’s recent meeting. According to his CV sent to the selection committee, Moshabela holds a substantive position of full…

A court order stopping the taxman from installing cameras in cigarette factories is a green light for gangsters to continue looting South Africans of R74 million every day, Tax Justice SA (TJSA) has warned. A law allowing the South African Revenue Service (Sars) to install 24/7 CCTV in all cigarette warehouses has been interdicted by the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria. This followed a case brought by several local producers, some of them represented by the Fair-Trade Independent Tobacco Association. TJSA founder Yusuf Abramjee said the court order was yet another gift for the illicit tobacco barons robbing South Africa of over R27 billion a year by flooding the market with tax-evading cigarettes. “For too long, these criminals have been able to flout the laws and hide their industrial-scale looting…

An abundance of wild roses Feryal Ali Gauhar Loot.co.za (R339) Canongate Feryal Ali-Gauhar’s UK debut An Abundance of Wild Roses is a novel that combines lyrical storytelling with contemporary themes of gender violence, tradition and patriarchy. In the Black Mountains of Pakistan, the discovery of an unconscious, unknown man is the first stone in an avalanche of chaos. The head of the village is filled with problems – including the injured stranger – and failing to find his way out. His daughter receives a love letter and incurs her father’s wrath. A lame boy foretells disaster, but nobody is listening. Trapped in terrible danger, a wolf-dog is battling ice and death to save a soldier’s life. Beaten by her addict husband for bearing him only daughters, a woman is…

Tipping Point Edited by Raymond Parsons Loot.co.za (R219) Jacana Media What is your stake in the upcoming 2024 election in South Africa – the most crucial election since 1994? As a businessperson, consumer, worker or farmer, you will be affected by the election results and the significant changes that are likely to appear in South Africa’s political economy. The 2024 election gives South Africans the opportunity to decide what the country and its political leadership will look like in the future. Tipping Point – Turmoil Or Reform? examines some critical questions about the country’s political and socio-economic landscape today. It asks the question whether the 2024 election outcome is likely to signal more gloom, or will it rather pave the way for positive and enduring reforms? Edited by Raymond Parsons,…

‘The Cry of Winnie Mandela’ honours the resilience of South African women INITIALLY planned for a 3-week run, The Cry of Winnie Mandela was extended by two more weeks at the Market Theatre due to popular demand. The Market Theatre’s moving theatrical presentation of The Cry of Winnie Mandela based on the well-known book by poet, novelist, and essayist Professor Njabulo Ndebele, is anchored on three key terms: departure, waiting (a state of limbo) and return. Alex Burger adapted this poignant new play on perseverance, which was directed by the acclaimed MoMo Matsunyane. The play revolves around the experiences of four women (Mannete played by Rami Chuene, Delisiwe played by Ayanda Sibisi, Marara played by Siyasanga Papu, Mamello played by Pulane Rampoane and Winnie Mandela played by Nambitha Mpumlwana) who…

Leaders Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin framed their nations’ ties as a stabilising force in a chaotic world as they met yesterday in Beijing, where the Russian president is seeking greater Chinese support for his war effort in Ukraine. It is Putin’s first trip abroad since his March re-election and the second in just over six months to China, an economic lifeline for Russia after the West hit it with unprecedented sanctions over its military offensive in Ukraine. Putin was greeted by Xi at a grand welcoming ceremony outside Beijing’s Great Hall of the People. In a meeting, Xi then told his “old friend” Putin that China-Russia relations were “conducive to peace”. “China is ready to work with Russia to ... uphold fairness and justice in the world,” Xi added.…

Children up to the age of 18 at schools in England will not be taught gender identity under government proposals due to be published yesterday, with growing concern in the UK and elsewhere about the contentious issue. The move follows a landmark review which last month urged “extreme caution” on prescribing masculinising or feminising hormone treatments for young people grappling with gender identity issues. England’s first gender identity development service for children closed in March after years of criticism that it had been too quick to prescribe puberty blocking treatment. The “contested theory of gender identity” would “not be taught” to pupils of any age, a Department for Education statement read. “At secondary school (11-18 years) pupils will learn about legally ‘protected’ characteristics, such as sexual orientation and gender reassignment.”…

JAKARTA: Indonesia’s volcanology agency yesterday raised the alert level of the Ibu volcano to the highest on its scale after recording six eruptions since the weekend. It also warned nearby residents against coming close to the volcano, which is on the remote island of Halhamera. Spewing thick columns of grey ash several kilometres into the sky, Ibu has erupted since May 11 after activity increased during April, it said. It cautioned residents in a 4km radius to stay clear of the mountain. Ibu’s activities follow a series of eruptions of different volcanoes in Indonesia, which sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire” and has 127 active volcanoes. | Reuters…

ABUJA: Nigeria’s military has asked northern neighbour Niger to arrest a kidnapping gang leader it says is among the most wanted in the country, a defence spokesperson said yesterday. Major-General Edward Buba said Halilu Buzu was a Niger national and a major arms supplier with links to Libyan arms dealers. Buba said Buzu also operated an illegal gold mine in Zamfara, one of the states hardest hit by kidnappings. “When troops closes in on him, he moves across the border into the Republic of Niger for refuge,” Buba said. The military said members of Buzu’s armed gang had killed 19 villagers last week during an attack in Zamfara. | Reuters…

THE National Assembly yesterday passed the Basic Education Laws Amendment (Bela) Bill that was referred back for concurrence by the National Council of Provinces (NCOP). The ANC secured 193 votes with support from the EFF, IFP, NFP and PAC, against the combined 78 garnered by the DA, Freedom Front Plus, ACDP and Al Jama-ah. “The bill is passed. The question is accordingly agreed and the bill will be sent to the president for assent,” said House chairperson Grace Boroto. The bill makes it compulsory for children to attend school and also provides for home-based education, among other things. However, the powers to be given to the head of department to intervene in schools’ language and admission policy has been a contentious issue since the bill was formulated. Speaking during the…

After spending 28 harrowing hours entombed in concrete, young father Delvin Safers was able to embrace his rescuers AFTER reflecting on the most gruelling 28 hours of his life, a survivor of the multistorey building that collapsed in George, Delvin Safers, 29, shared a special moment yesterday with the two rescuers who saved him from a concrete grave. Safers, an electrician by trade who lives in Mossel Bay, attended the presidential comfort visit to the collapsed building site on Victoria Street in George with his father, Deon Safers. Safers, breadwinner and father of a two-year-old boy, said while he was still recovering from his injuries, he was grateful for his life. Outside the George municipal building a personal and private moment was shared by Safers and the two SAPS search…

THE issue of crime and unemployment calls for real attention and is central in the Alliance of Citizens for Change (ACC) manifesto. “There is no time for sweet talking because of people dying through being killed violently. Every 20 minutes a person is dying. There is a need for a policy rethink as well as a drastic policy intervention that is not business as usual,” ACC secretary-general Nkosekhaya Lala said in an interview with the Cape Times this week. “As ACC we noted that a number of murders are done by people who are repeat offenders. We are going to reintroduce the death penalty,” Lala said. “The four most dangerous policing areas are in the Western Cape. Crime and joblessness are two critical issues that need to be dealt with,…

PUBLIC Works and Infrastructure Minister Sihle Zikalala has announced a R24 million financial injection to save jobs and improve the efficiency of the Saldanha Bay Harbour. Zikalala and Environmental Affairs and Fisheries Minister Barbara Creecy visited the West Coast town as part of an imbizo to respond to issues concerning the upgrade of the harbour and beneficiation of communities in the oceans economy. In May 2023, a number of challenges were raised during a stakeholders’ engagement: deterioration of infrastructure within the harbour; long-term leases by harbour tenants; vacant buildings subjected to vandalism and illegal occupation; the disposal and transfer of properties requested for human settlement; job creation; and SMME development. In a statement, the department said Zikalala and Fred Robertson, board chairperson of Sea Harvest, signed a framework agreement committing…

It does not take vast imaginary powers to conjure up images of a scene after a party. Nothing is in its place. The buffet on the table is not the delicacy it was. Instead, it is a mess of half-eaten cakes, meats, and barely-touched hors d’oeuvres. The balloons are deflated, the champagne bottles lie on their backs, empty; the detritus at the bottom of the glasses give a hint of the liquids quaffed, any of the guests left are only just waking up, the hangover thundering in their heads. The music has long stopped. Even the echo of sound is hardly audible. Eeriness reverberates all round. It is back to reality. The host, barely awake himself, begins the process of tidying up. Time is of the essence. Life beckons. Get…

When Love Kills The tragic tale of AKA and Anele Loot.co.za (R235) Melinda Ferguson Melinda Ferguson Books Any book about AKA is poised to draw attention and controversy. Kiernan Forbes was a man who attracted attention wherever he went. Colourful, controversial, naughty, sometimes salacious, sometimes simply tragic, he was indeed the master of his own destiny and Melinda Ferguson’s hot new book has certainly reignited the flame and put the spotlight back on a son of our country whose star had shone so brightly and was dimmed too early. When AKA, 35, was gunned down in February last year together with his friend Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane, 34, on Florida Road, Durban, society mourned the loss of a man who had become regarded as something of a legend. If you are…

ON MAY 29, we will once again head to the polls to vote in the general elections, which will coincide with the 30th anniversary of our democracy. Yet, amid the democratic fervour lies a crucial question: Are citizens making informed decisions when casting their votes? Engaging with individuals from diverse backgrounds, from the elderly to the youth in township communities, reveals a disconcerting trend: many voters base their choices not on policy platforms or promises but on deep-seated party attachments. The attachments, rooted in emotional and historical ties, often override considerations of a party’s contributions or commitments to societal progress. The people I engaged with shared how they would defend their parties at all costs. The phenomenon, driven by sentiments of gratitude, fear of loss, or familial tradition, raises…

Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico was in a serious condition and it was too soon to say whether he would recover, a deputy prime minister said yesterday, a day after an assassination attempt that has sent shock waves across Europe. The shooting was the first major assassination attempt on a European political leader for more than 20 years, and has drawn international condemnation. Political analysts and lawmakers say it has exposed an increasingly febrile and polarised political climate, both in Slovakia and across Europe. “Unfortunately, I cannot say yet that we are winning (the battle to save Fico) or that the prognosis is positive because the extent of the injuries caused by four gunshot wounds is so extensive that the body’s response will still be very difficult,” Deputy Prime Minister…

Grigory Sverdlin, a Russian activist now living in exile in the Georgian capital Tbilisi, has watched over the past month as thousands of Georgian protesters have taken to the streets to voice their opposition to a draft law on “foreign agents”. Domestic critics say the bill is a copycat of Russian legislation that has been wielded for more than a decade to target critics of President Vladimir Putin’s Kremlin. The Georgian government says the law – which cleared parliament this week and now heads to Georgia’s president for review – is needed to ensure transparency in the foreign financing of non-profit organisations. The Kremlin has denied any association with it. Sverdlin, 43, fears the Georgian bill’s passage will make non-profit work difficult and give the government free licence to crack…

PARIS: The French government sent more police to the Pacific island of New Caledonia yesterday and said it would crack down on rioters, scrambling to restore order after three nights of upheaval that have killed four people. Rioters angry with an electoral reform have burnt businesses, torched cars, looted shops, and set up road barricades, hampering access to medicine and food in the French-ruled Pacific island, authorities said. France declared a state of emergency in New Caledonia and went on to put at least 10 people under house arrest and ban TikTok. Numbers of police on the island will rise from 1 700 to 2 700 by today. | Reuters…

ESSEX: Britain’s opposition Labour leader Keir Starmer pledged yesterday to “rebuild Britain”, setting out what he called the first steps in government if his party wins a national election this year. Starmer set out his six priorities at a campaign launch, but said he would only promise what could be afforded. In a speech in Essex, Starmer said if in government, Labour would focus on growing the economy while keeping tax, inflation and mortgage rates as low as possible, reducing waiting times in the state-run health service, cracking down on people smuggling gangs and boosting green energy supplies. The other priorities would be tackling antisocial behaviour with more police and recruiting thousands of new teachers paid for by ending tax breaks for private schools. | Reuters…

Stellenbosch FC’s match against reigning Premiership champions Mamelodi Sundowns tomorrow (3pm kick-off) has been moved to the austere Athlone Stadium, which has fond memories for the Danie Craven Stadium-based side. The PSL, the guardians of the Premiership, have learnt a lesson from last month’s Nedbank Cup semi- final between Stellenbosch and Sundowns at the Winelands venue. After the final whistle, there was a pitch invasion and broken fences around the Danie Craven Stadium. The switch of venue is a good omen for Stellies. It was at the Athlone Stadium that Sundowns last lost a match against domestic opposition when Stellenbosch inflicted a 2-1 defeat on the Tshwane giants in last year’s Nedbank Cup quarter- final. This time, however, the teams will have different agendas for the match, which will be…