Table of contents for 2025-01-13 in Cape Times

It’s normal for your relationship with your parents or loved ones to evolve as you grow older. Your parents will always be your parents but that doesn’t mean the dynamic has to remain the same. Establishing healthy boundaries is one of the most empowering things you can do for yourself and your relationships. For many South Africans, family ties are deeply intertwined with culture and tradition. While this connection is beautiful, it can also make setting boundaries difficult. Saying “no” or asserting your needs might feel like disrespect or rejection but boundaries are actually about crea- ting healthier, more respectful relationships – not breaking them. Why boundaries matter Boundaries are a form of self-care. They communicate what you will and won’t tolerate in your interactions with others. This might include…

Those involved in a mass rescue operation at Bonza Bay Beach, East London, have been commended for their efforts to save eight people, including children, from dangerous rip currents. Buffalo City municipal spokesperson Samkelo Ngwenya lauded the search and rescue teams that managed to avert what could have been a disastrous situation on Friday. “This has got to be one of the biggest rescues in a single moment in our region and it would not have happened if it wasn't for the swift action of the lifeguards, the NSRI team, paramedics, the police and all the role players. “We wish those affected a speedy recovery. We need to amplify the messaging around how rip currents work and the dangers associated. We also need to emphasize to parents not to let…

IT CONTINUES to mystify me how the DA remains the voters’ choice in the Western Cape, given its appalling neglect of the mass of the province’s citizens. Is it because their PR is slicker? Is it because the electorate love the ANC less? Whatever it is, under a DA provincial government the legacy of apartheid continues. Nowhere is this clearer than in their educational policy and practice. Using all the resources at their disposal, and despite resolute opposition by those most affected (the students, parents, community and trade union bodies) the DA-led WCED used its considerable resources to hound educators like Brian Isaacs and Wesley Neumann, who were among the country’s finest, out of the system. Now, with the “get out of jail free card” provided by the courts recently,…

HOPEFULLY incoming President Donald Trump hasn’t prematurely popped his cork with his irreverent comments about incorporating Canada into the US, taking over the Panama Canal and uttering a veiled threat to Hamas to release the Israeli hostages before his inauguration or face dire consequences. Hopefully Trump's facetious rhetoric is just golf course banter designed to remind the world not to forget him. It’s to be hoped that Trump will take the Ukrainian crisis seriously and not mimic Joe Biden's wishy-washy attempt to gain votes for his reelection by grandstanding about his support for Ukraine when in fact he hasn’t even supplied 50% of his promised military aid according to the Kyiv Post. Trump promised to end the Ukrainian conflict and needs to be held to his word!…

In a staggering move that sends shivers down the spines of many South Africans, the government’s decision to cut over 67 000 public service jobs poses a severe threat to service delivery at a time when it is already critically low. This decision, ostensibly aimed at cost-cutting measures to reduce the government wage bill, risks compromising vital services essential to the nation’s poorest citizens who rely on the public sector for basic needs such as healthcare, education, and social services. Cost-cutting measures are undoubtedly necessary in today’s economic climate; however, terminating contracts for nearly 67 000 workers, including over 31 000 aged 55 to 59 and nearly 36 000 aged 60 and above, can have catastrophic unintended consequences. These experienced civil servants possess institutional knowledge and expertise that are crucial…

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai urged Muslim leaders yesterday not to “legitimise” the Afghan Taliban government and to “show true leadership” by opposing their curbs on women and girls’ education. “Do not legitimise them,” she said at a summit on girls’ education in Muslim nations being held in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad. “As Muslim leaders, now is the time to raise your voices, use your power. You can show true leadership. You can show true Islam,” said 27-year-old Yousafzai. The two-day conference has brought together ministers and education officials from dozens of Muslim-majority countries, backed by the Muslim World League. Since sweeping back to power in 2021, the Taliban government has imposed an austere version of Islamic law that the UN has labelled “gender apartheid”. Their curbs have shut women…

The Indian Ocean nation of the Comoros headed to the polls yesterday to elect lawmakers, with many opposition groups planning to snub a vote they say lacks transparency. Comorian President Azali Assoumani’s eldest son, Nour El Fath Azali, who is 39 and the country’s secretary-general, is running to represent a constituency just outside the capital Moroni. Several voting booths opened late after material failed to materialise in time for an official 7.00am start. One US observer, James Burns, said officials had to “improvise” one booth comprising two panels around a table. Nearby, another booth consisted of a simple box placed on a chair – making it nigh on impossible to preserve voter privacy as ballots were cast. Before he was appointed to the post in July 2024, Nour had…

PARIS: Two trams collided on Saturday evening in the eastern French city of Strasbourg, leaving several dozen people injured but no fatalities, confirmed Jeanne Barseghian, the mayor of Strasbourg. Speaking to French news channel BFMTV, Barseghian said that while about 100 people were involved in the accident, there were no deaths or critically injured individuals. She explained that the collision occurred due to one of the trams moving backward. “For the moment, we do not know what caused this backward movement of the tram.” The Strasbourg public prosecutor’s office announced the opening of an investigation into “unintentional injuries” following the collision. “The initial investigations have allowed us to rule out the hypothesis of a voluntary act,” the prosecutor’s office said in a press release. | Xinhua…

Ten-man Manchester United beat Arsenal 5-3 on penalties after a dramatic 1-1 draw in the FA Cup third round, while Tottenham needed extra time before seeing off non-league Tamworth 3-0 on Sunday. Defeated 2-0 by Arsenal in the Premier League in December, FA Cup holders United exacted revenge on their return to the Emirates Stadium to extend their revival after last weekend's impressive draw at Liverpool. Ruben Amorim's troubled side took the lead through Bruno Fernandes, who smashed a superb strike into the far corner from the edge of the area in the 52nd minute. United defender Diogo Dalot was sent off for a second booking after fouling Mikel Merino nine minutes later. Gabriel Magalhaes grabbed Arsenal's equaliser in the 63rd minute, the Brazilian defender swivelling to hit a low…

OPERATIONS by Mining Rescue Services (MRS) have begun to pave the way to rescue the trapped miners in Stilfontein, and it is hoped that the actual rescue of the miners can start in full swing today. Gauteng High Court Judge Ronel Tolmay on Friday ordered that rescue operations had to begin after an urgent plea was made by the sister of one of the miners. The court ordered the State to finalise and send a service-level agreement and letter of appointment to MRS and also mandated the uninterrupted delivery of food, water and medical aid to the trapped miners over the weekend. Various stakeholders, including the police, community workers and Lawyers for Human Rights, which is fighting the legal battle to save the trapped miners have met at the mine…

THE renewal of the ANC should start with the Phala Phala scandal, whose stench reeks all the way to heaven. That is the reaction of at least one political analyst following the party’s 113th anniversary celebrations in Mandela Park stadium, Khayelitsha at the weekend where its President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered the keynote address. Ramaphosa had delivered another promise of the ANC renewal, while conceding that the general election performance last year had been a major setback for the party. “The extent and depth of the electoral loss points to an organisation that has lost significant support and public confidence,” Ramaphosa said. The fact that the people of the Western Cape and South Africa continue to be confronted by the persistence of unemployment, poverty, and inequality and their attendant causes and…

TO ENSURE Cape Town is an even better place to live in future, the City aims to maximise the public benefits of strategically located municipal-owned land to serve the needs of residents and drive economic growth. This includes the redevelopment or reconfiguration of golf courses where potential has been identified for major long-term developments to meet the needs of a growing city. Through careful planning and public consultation, it is absolutely possible to maximise socio-economic benefits without the City ‘losing more than it gains’ when it comes to enabling mixed-use development at strategic sites such as golf courses (Why Cape Town should preserve its often historic golf courses, Cape Times 30 Dec 2024). The City currently leases land to approximately nine golf courses and three driving ranges across Cape Town.…

QUITE comical, the way Khayelitsha residents and activist groups blame the political parties for the problems there (Political parties fail Khayelitsha residents; Cape Times, 8 January), when their own illegal occupations and constructions are the main reason that the authorities spend more rates money there, than in Camps Bay – it's much cheaper and easier to fix a broken pipe in Camps Bay, because nobody has built an illegal shack over it! The illegal builders don't consult the authorities before densifying an already crowded situation; but are very quick to blame them if services don't work due to overuse – there seems to be a childish approach of: "I want it, and I want it NOW!", without any understanding of the complexities of getting sufficient services to crowded areas and…

Ingredients: 1-2 tins of butter beans drained 500gram beef / mutton pieces (optional) 2 tbsp cooking oil 1 large onion, chopped 1 tsp garlic paste 1 tsp ginger paste 1 medium tomato, chopped 2 green chillies, deseeded and chopped 3 cloves garlic, grated 1 1/2 cumin powder 1 tsp coriander powder 1 tsp turmeric / borrie 2 tsp leaf masala / roasted masala 1 tsp salt (according to your taste) 3 cardamoms 1 stick cinnamon 2 TBSP plain yoghurt ( optional ) Freshly chopped coriander for garnishing Method: Pour the oil into a heavy based pot, add the chopped onions and braise until the onions are transparent about 10 minutes over medium heat. Add cinnamon and cardamom. Add garlic, ginger and tomatoes. Add meat. Cook 5 minutes. Add little water…

The Fuels Industry Association of South Africa (Fiasa) says it is working around the clock to ensure continued fuel supply to the OR Tambo International Airport following a fire at the refinery, earlier this month. In a statement, the Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) said it is collaborating with Fiasa and the National Petroleum Refiners of South Africa (Natref) to implement risk mitigation and prevent disruptions in fuel supply. The Crude Distillation Unit damaged by the fire is expected to be back online by February 21," Acsa said. It added that a jet fuel delivery of 17 000m³ was expected to arrive by yesterday at OR Tambo International Airport, while a planned injection of 31 000m³ from Durban was set for tomorrow with delivery to the airport expected by January…

South Africa is on the edge of a precipice. More than three million South Africans lack access to basic water provision and 19% of rural communities in South Africa lack access to a reliable water supply. An estimated 26% of our schools are facing severe water supply challenges and only 23% of our municipalities achieved good capacity scores for effective water management. Economic forecasts suggest that by the year 2030, water demand could exceed supply by 10%. Given the grim picture painted by the data, how do we address the water problem and end water poverty? This is an essential question for not only the chemical industries, but society as a whole. A root cause analysis points to failing municipal infrastructure, climate change leading to changing rainfall patterns, and the…

A magnitude 6.2 earthquake rattled a region of south-west Mexico yesterday, the US Geological Survey said, but there were no reports of casualties or damage. The tremor was centred 8km from Coalcoman de Vazquez Pallares, a municipality of around 20 000 people which is about 600km west of the capital Mexcio City. The quake struck at a depth of 86.2km. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on X that the national emergency services had reported “there are no new developments and are initiating review protocols” in Coalcoman. | AFP…

WASHINGTON: US President-elect Donald Trump accused California officials yesterday of incompetence over their handling of deadly wildfires raging in the Palisades. “The fires are still raging in LA. The incompetent pols (politicians) have no idea how to put them out,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform. “This is one of the worst catastrophes in the history of our Country. They just can’t put out the fires. What’s wrong with them?” he wrote. The speed and intensity of the blazes ravaging Los Angeles have tested its firefighting infrastructure and given rise to questions and criticism about the state’s preparedness. Hydrants ran dry in the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood as it was ravaged by one of the region’s five separate fires. | AFP…

SAO PAULO: Three farmers were shot dead and five others injured in an attack on a workers’ settlement in Brazil’s Sao Paulo state, local authorities said at the weekend. Ten armed men stormed the Olga Benario agricultural settlement of Brazil’s Landless Workers’ Movement (MST) in the city of Tremembe late Friday, opening fire on families living there, said the local police. The land where MST farmers have been working for 20 years is home to 45 families, who produce food in the area. Paulo Teixeira, minister for agrarian development and family farming, condemned the incident as “a heinous crime” and called on Sao Paulo’s regional government to arrest the perpetrators. Gilmar Mauro, an MST co-ordinator, said that the attack is linked to real estate pressures in Sao Paulo targeting land…

After their back-to-back giant-killing acts, embattled Cape Town City FC looked set for a dramatic change of fortunes but that came crashing down in the 'City of Roses' on Saturday. Not many would have foreseen that lowly Marumo Gallants would be victorious in their Betway Premiership clash in Bloemfontein after City defeated the pride of Soweto with clean sheets, Kaizer Chiefs on January 5, Orlando Pirates on January 8 and Gallants on January 11. By the time the Saturday match kicked off, Gallants were hovering above the relegation zone, having won only three of their 12 games, whereas City were in a lofty sixth place on the standings. However, during the on-field pre-match interview, City coach Muhsin Ertuğral aired his fears about the team's punishing Premiership schedule. “We have just…

Liverpool manager Arne Slot complimented fourth-tier Accrington Stanley for posing a challenge to the Premier League leaders despite losing 4-0 in Saturday's FA Cup third round clash. Accrington, with only just over 21% of possession, tried hard to hold off Liverpool but were left licking their wounds as the home attack found their mark after initial misses. “They are not afraid to press high, they're not afraid to play one-v-one, but then you wonder, will they do this at Anfield as well? But they definitely did. They were not afraid," Slot told a post-match press conference. The Dutchman made eight changes to the Liverpool starting lineup that he fielded in Wednesday's 1-0 League Cup semi-final first leg loss at Tottenham Hotspur. “For us it was all about the players that…

ORLANDO PIRATES(0)(2) Mofokeng 20’, Mbatha 61’ CR BELOUIZDAD(0)(1) Benguit 82’ ORLANDO – Orlando Pirates cruised to the clear waters of the Caf Champions League’s quarter-final after beating CR Belouizdad 2-1 in Orlando yesterday afternoon. The Sea Robbers beat the Algerians via goals from Relebohile Mofokeng and Thalente Mbatha – as they top Group C with 11 points. Pirates will face Al Ahly in the last game of the group stage away on Saturday, but that match will serve as a decider for the team that will top the group as both sides are through to the last eight. You see, Pirates will fancy their chances of cruising to Cairo and coming back with a result especially given that they won there in the group stage in 2013 under Roger De…

Pumped storage hydropower (PSH) is the best solution for long-duration energy storage (LDES), Eddie Rich, the CEO of the International Hydropower Association (IHA), told the Pre-Assembly Day of the Fifteenth session of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) Assembly in Abu Dhabi. The theme of the event was: Accelerating the Renewable Energy Transition – The Way Forward (Energy security, Socio-economic development and Financing options). Participants in the round table discussion highlighted the importance of grid and storage solutions for accelerating the energy transition and their crucial role in achieving renewable energy and storage targets by 2030, which amounted to 1 500 Gigawatts (GW) of energy storage and 25 million kilometres of transmission lines. PSH uses off-peak power to pump water to an upper dam and then releases this water to…

The holidays are officially behind us and for South African pupils, it’s time to return to the classroom. As the new school year commences, excitement fills the air, but for many children, it also marks the beginning of increased anxiety. The start of a new school year brings excitement. Still, it can also trigger anxiety – especially for those entering new phases, like starting high school or adjusting to new teachers and unfamiliar environments. Social anxiety, coupled with the fear of fitting in, peaks at this time of year, making the 2025 school year especially challenging for many families. But what causes this anxiety? Young Minds cites that young kids may feel nervous about school for various reasons. They may be concerned about making friends or fitting in, finding…

The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure has clarified why it has not yet enforced the eviction order against King Khoisan SA and his followers at the Union Buildings despite a 30 day deadline that ended on Saturday for them to vacate the premises. The group has been camping at the Union Buildings, near the Nelson Mandela statue, for almost seven years fighting for the Khoisan people to be recognised as the first nation in South Africa. Their demands also include removing the term “coloured” from all government documents. Department spokesperson Lennox Mabaso said although the judge made the pronouncement on December 11 there was a delay in serving the respondents with the full written judgment, which was made available afterwards. As a result the department still has a three…

THE class of 2024 is expected to improve the pass rate, but not by a large percentage. Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube will announce the matric results today following the conclusion of the National Senior Certificate examinations on November 28. The previous year’s matric pass rate stood at 82.9%. This was up 2% from the 80.1% achieved in 2022 and about 6% up from 2021, when the pass rate was 76.4%. The Western Cape had a 81.5% matric pass rate last year. Stellenbosch University Dean of the Faculty of Education, Professor Mbulu Madiba said he anticipated the results to improve slightly. “Additionally, we are likely to see a high number of Bachelors (passes). This class experienced a full curriculum recovery,” said Madiba. Naptosa provincial executive committee member, Charline Little said…

THE false claims made in the Cape Times on January 9 regarding the construction of new school infrastructure in the Western Cape must be addressed. The Rapid School Build programme is delivering new schools in poor communities faster than before, creating quality education opportunities for learners in areas of high admissions demand. These schools are a game-changing investment in low-income communities, because attending school in a safe and beautiful environment will make all the difference to learners in these areas. The programme is also unique in that it brings together all stakeholders to develop new schools, including officials, municipalities, contractors, and community representatives. Working together, we have been able to achieve incredible outcomes, like building a school in Fisherhaven in just 71 days. The National Treasury specifically allocated funding to…

WE KEEP reading about the disparities in Cape Town between the haves and the have nots. Now this doesn’t only pertain to Cape Town, or indeed South Africa, but the whole world we live in. There are always going to be the rich and always going to be the poor. That has never changed sadly over the centuries. That is why we have had revolutions. “Let them eat cake," said Marie Antoinette. How do we change this status quo is something we all need to think about? One thing we need to do is limit our numbers. There is no doubt we can never play catch up if we keep getting burgeoning numbers. I saw in the Cape Times recently when parents were talking about the cost of…

‘The killing of women and children is not normal and should not be normalised’ Gender-Based Violence and Femicide remain a multifaceted social issue in South Africa, particularly with the country’s violent history. We have just concluded the festive season which coincides with the commemoration of the country’s 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children Campaign which commenced on November 25 and ended on December 10, 2024. Last year’s campaign fell under the theme: “30 Years of Advancing Collective Action to End Violence Against Women and Children”. At its core, the theme aimed to accelerate and amplify multisectoral and whole-of-society accountability. Sadly, the country continues to witness heinous crimes committed against women and children at alarming rates. For example, three children suffered unthinkable violence this past week…

Residents of the French territory of Mayotte braced yesterday for a storm expected to bring strong winds and flash floods less than a month after the Indian Ocean archipelago was devastated by a deadly cyclone. Mayotte was placed on red alert on Saturday in anticipation of the passage of Dikeledi, a storm forecast to skirt about 100km south of the territory. It hit the northern coast of Madagascar as a cyclone on Saturday evening and weakened into a severe tropical storm, but is expected to regain intensity as it moves towards Mayotte. It was to be reclassified as a cyclone by today, according to French weather service Meteo-France. At around 6.00am (7am South African time) local time the storm was around 260km south-east of Mayotte, moving at 22km per hour.…

ALGIERS: Algeria said on Saturday that it has no intention of escalating tensions with France, despite a “vindictive” and “hateful disinformation campaign” led by “the French far-right,” according to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Community Abroad, and African Affairs. Algeria “has no intention of pursuing a strategy of provocation or humiliation; on the contrary, it is the far-right and its supporters within the French government who are attempting to impose their agenda on Algerian-French relations through threats, intimidation, and confrontational tactics,” the ministry said. “This group views this campaign as an outlet for their resentment, frustrations, and historical grievances,” it added. The tensions stemmed from the controversial expulsion of an Algerian national from France. | Xinhua…

Somalia and Ethiopia announced Saturday they would restore full diplomatic relations following a visit by Somalia’s president to Addis Ababa to heal a year-long rift that threatened further instability in the Horn of Africa. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed “agreed to restore and enhance their bilateral relations through full diplomatic relations in their respective capitals,” they said in a joint statement. Land-locked Ethiopia’s desire for access to the sea had deepened long-standing grievances between the two neighbours. Somalia was outraged when Ethiopia signed a deal one year ago with its breakaway region of Somaliland, reportedly to recognise its independence in exchange for a port and military base on the Red Sea. Ethiopia’s ambassador in Mogadishu was expelled last April and the countries broke off their…

The Stormers will look to rest a few of their top players in their next Champions Cup match in Paris on Saturday, but qualifying for the knockouts is still a top priority for the Cape outfit. After taking Sale Sharks to the cleaners this past weekend in Cape Town, winning 40-0, their next target is Racing92 in the final group clash that could determine their progression in the competition. They are on a three-match winning streak in all competitions and have bagged a maximum of 15 points in those matches. Saturday's five points took them above Sale and Racing in Pool 4. While their fate is still not in their own hands, they need five points in France and a win-favour from the Glasgow Warriors who face Harlequins in the…

Henk Lategan’s overall lead was slashed to 21 seconds as a road book note error caused many drivers at the front of the field to lose their bearings, forcing Dakar Rally organisers to erase any gains or losses for a 20km stretch during yesterday’s stage seven. South African Lategan finished 15th in the 419km special in Al Duwadimi, with his closest challenger in the overall standings, local hero Yazeed Al-Rajhi, coming seventh to throw the championship battle wide open. Lucas Moraes, who lost nearly three hours on Saturday due to a shock absorber problem, bounced back to win the stage, as Mattias Ekstrom finished second to remain third overall. "We didn't have anything to lose today, so we pushed a lot," Moraes said. Five-time Dakar winner Nasser Al-Attiyah was fourth…