Indice dei contenuti per 2022-07-19 in Cape Times

THE spike in terror attacks in Mozambique is likely to cause political instability in South Africa and other other SADC countries, if it is not stopped. Efforts should also not be spared to promote a “peaceful and inclusive dialogue” in Eswatini in the interest of regional security and the African Continental Free Trade Area This is contained in the ANC policy document dubbed, In Pursuit of Progressive Internationalism, in which the party asks branches to discuss solutions to terrorism and cross-border terror networks in Africa. Addressing the media at Luthuli House, the ANC’s headquarters, in Johannesburg, the party’s head of international relations, Lindiwe Zulu, said the party had developed the policy documents to allow branches to beef them up before the national policy conference in Johannesburg next week. The ANC…

THE process to decommission Driftsands Nature Reserve near Blue Downs owing to land invasions is at its legal stage. The reserve stands to lose its provincial nature reserve status, with the national Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment giving the green light for the decommissioning. The reserve’s threatened ecosystems such as the Cape Flats Dune Strandveld and associated wetlands have become restricted to small, isolated fragments. Around March, local government, environmental affairs and development planning MEC Anton Bredell published in the Government Gazette the intent to de-proclaim Driftsands following a complaint from CapeNature which spent R214 020 trying to demolish illegal structures in the reserve. A 60-day process for public written representations or objections ended in June. CapeNature’s General Manager Petro van Rhyn said the withdrawal of the nature…

A DISMISSED employee of the Office of the Public Protector claimed the State Security Agency (SSA) - and not incumbent PP, Busisiwe Mkhwebane - asked that the mandate of the South African Reserve Bank be changed. Tebogo Kekana, who was an investigator at the Office of the Public Protector, made the remarks while testifying yesterday at the inquiry into the fitness of Mkhwebane to hold office. During his testimony into the investigation over whether the government should have implemented the CIEX report, Kekana said when a transcript of an interview with former SSA head Billy Masetlha could not be found, a meeting was arranged with the agency where former SSA head Arthur Fraser and James Ramabulane were in attendance. However, he said he was told that Mkhwebane held a meeting…

In honouring global peace icon Nelson Mandela, UN Secretary-General António Guterres yesterday said Madiba’s example inspired hope in a troubled world. Mandela’s birthday on July 18 was in 2009 declared Nelson Mandela International Day by the UN General Assembly. This year’s theme highlighted the plight of food security and climate change under the theme: “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are”. Guterres delivered a special message yesterday, saying: “The world honours a giant of our time; a leader of unparalleled courage and towering achievement; and a man of quiet dignity and deep humanity. “Nelson Mandela was a healer of communities and a mentor to generations. “He remains a moral compass and reference to us all. “Madiba walked the path to freedom and dignity with steely determination…

GLOBAL reductions in Covid-19 testing may have impacted on the detection of the new Omicron Covid-19 sub-variant, BA 2.75. Similarly, the variant has not been confirmed to have been detected in South Africa. World Health Organization (WHO) director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the new sub lineage of the Omicron mutations was found in India, which the authority was “following”. “First, testing has reduced dramatically in many countries. This obscures the true picture of an evolving virus and the real burden of Covid-19 disease globally. “It also means that treatments are not given early enough to prevent serious illness and/or death. “Second, new treatments, especially promising new oral antivirals, are still not reaching low- and low-middle income countries, depriving whole populations that need them. “Third, as the virus evolves, vaccine…

MORE than five murders a month have taken place in Khayelitsha since March, as the area continues to battle unprecedented violence. Police Minister Bheki Cele, senior SAPS members and officials from the Department of Community Safety yesterday hosted an imbizo after five more people were killed in the area at the weekend. Police have since launched an investigation after three men aged 34, 36, and 50 were killed on the corner of Nyebelele and Ntango streets in Site C on Saturday night. Two men in their thirties were also shot and killed in Tutu Avenue, Harare, on that same night. Cele said more resources needed to be deployed in Khayelitsha to curb the spate of mass shootings. “Khayelitsha has been under attack recently and we are trying to work with…

THE controversial statement made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi that alcohol should be banned in townships and rural areas should not go unchallenged. The police boss made the remarks in the wake of mass killings at various drinking spots in Gauteng and KZN last week. A total of 20 patrons were killed at taverns in Sweetwaters, in Pietermaritzburg, and Orlando West in Soweto by gunmen who indiscriminately opened fire. To support the call for a ban of alcohol in townships and rural areas, Mkhwanazi said these areas had been identified as major crime hot spots. While it is a fact that townships and rural areas have a high crime rate, Mkhwanazi’s call for a total liquor ban is an easy way out of what is essentially a socio-economic problem.…

Russian shelling in battle-scarred east Ukraine yesterday left six dead, Kyiv said, as the country was reeling from President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s decision to sack two senior law enforcement officials. EU foreign ministers were convening meanwhile to discuss toughening sanctions against Moscow and the bloc’s foreign policy chief warned of the “life and death” consequences of Russia’s blockade of Ukrainian Black Sea grain exports. Rescue workers in blue helmets could be seen digging through debris and clearing rubble from the collapsed remains of a two-storey building in Toretsk in the industrial east that was struck by Russian artillery yesterday. “Rescuers found and recovered the bodies of five dead people in total. Three people were rescued from the rubble and one of them died in hospital,” the emergency services said, adding that…

The death toll from tribal clashes triggered by land disputes in south-eastern Sudan’s Blue Nile State has risen to at least 64, medical sources said yesterday, with the long festering tensions spreading into some other states. A curfew was imposed in two major towns of Blue Nile State and security forces deployed following fighting between the Hausa and Funj tribes that began last week. Medical sources in the state capital Damazine said at least 64 people had been killed and hundreds injured, amid a severe shortage in emergency medical supplies. In the city of Roseires, also in Blue Nile, clashes continued yesterday with several houses burned, witnesses said. Others said large groups of people had begun moving in cars and on foot to neighbouring Sennar state. Members of the Hausa…

LAS VEGAS: Jennifer Lopez wore “a dress from an old movie” to her wedding to Ben Affleck. The Marry Me star tied the knot with Ben Affleck in Las Vegas at the weekend and she’s treated fans to a glimpse of the “best possible” day they could ever have imagined. Jennifer, who first got engaged to Ben in 2002 before they split in 2004 and rekindled their romance last year, shared details of the nuptials in her On the JLo newsletter, including some pictures and videos of her dress. In a clip showing off her classic, boatnecked gown, she said: “I’ve had this dress for so many years, and I’ve just been saving it, and now I’m wearing it on my wedding day.” While at the Little White Wedding Chapel,…

Beijing: Global heating is leading dozens of bat species to migrate to southern China and other south-east Asian countries, amid growing concerns that the climate crisis could fuel further deadly pandemics, reports said. A 2021 University of Cambridge study found that climate change may already have played a role in the emergence of the current pandemic, after researchers tracked large-scale changes in vegetation patterns across south-western Yunnan province and neighbouring Myanmar and Laos. It said an additional 40 bat species had moved into Yunnan during the past 100 years, bringing with them around 100 new coronaviruses. | IANS…

The last time the All Blacks lost a home series was in 1994 against France; and two weeks later they took out their frustrations on the Springboks, bouncing back strongly to win a series 2-0, with one Test drawn. History has a strange knack for repeating itself, but let’s hope that is not the case when the latest All Black team to be hurting from a home series defeat — this time to Ireland — arrives in South Africa shortly for two Rugby Championship matches against the Boks in a fortnight’s time. I have a feeling though, that things will be different this time and that the Boks have the forward arsenal to see off the Kiwis in Nelspruit and a week later at Ellis Park, because what was evident…

Orlando Pirates have parted ways with veteran defender and club legend Happy Jele, with the Sea Robbers announcing the release of the 35-year-old in a statement yesterday. “Our central defender and club captain, who has reached the end of his contract, will be leaving the club. This marks the end of Jele’s momentous career with us,” Pirates stated. Jele had been on the books of Pirates for 16-years. During that time, he won two Premiership titles and made nearly 400 appearances. Jele’s exit from Pirates forms part of the club’s plans to rebuild itself into a giant of South African football after several years of underachievement. In addition to Jele, the club have also parted ways with no less than 14 other players. They have also seen no less than…

The office of the Minister of Sports, led by Nathi Mthethwa, appears to have joined the entities that ride on the success of women’s football to polish their image. Banyana Banyana continued to be the country’s flag bearers on the continent after reaching the Wafcon semi-final to qualify for the 2023 Fifa World Cup last Thursday. Whenever they chalk up another form of success, ahead of their male counterparts, it's inevitable that Banyana will receive a flock of congratulatory messages. Indeed, those messages have been all over social media in the last few days, coming from fans, former coaches, such as Vera Pauw, politicians, such as Mthethwa, corporates, such as Bernini SA. It was a bleak sight for those who’ve covered women’s football as they know that was for show,…

WHILE President Cyril Ramaphosa refuses to answer further questions around the Phala Phala farm theft scandal, National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola yesterday distanced himself from the allegation that he was involved in the tracing of the suspects using state resources. Masemola almost did not answer questions regarding his alleged involvement, with police spokesperson, Athlenda Mathe jumping to his rescue, saying her boss would not comment on ongoing investigations. Masemola did however interject, saying at the time of the incident, two years ago, the Presidential Protection Unit, “did not report to me, so I’ve got nothing to do (with that)”. “If people (are) deployed at divisional level, whatever mission they do, there’s nothing wrong with such a deployment,” he said. However, he added that answers around any deployments at the…

WOMEN and child rights organisation Ilitha Labantu says it is worried about a Philippi rapist’s opportunity to appeal against his life imprisonment sentence. Thembelani Sogoni was convicted by the Wynberg Regional Court in December 2020 on four counts of raping a 12-year-old girl. Sogoni had pleaded not guilty on all charges brought against him, but following his conviction on all counts, he was sentenced to life imprisonment. The Western Cape High Court yesterday granted Sogoni a chance to appeal his sentence, finding that his sentencing proceeded with undue haste, which undermined the process of sentencing itself. A spokesperson for Ilitha Labantu, Siyabulela Monakale, said: “We are deeply concerned that the court would grant a convicted rapist the chance to appeal against his sentence. We have seen in many cases that…

ESKOM says it has no choice but to withdraw its services in communities where its employees are threatened, and their safety compromised. The power utility said at the weekend that its contracted security guard was shot and wounded while escorting technicians in Mabopane, Pretoria. Eskom spokesperson in Gauteng, Amanda Qithi, said the latest shooting was the third incident where staff were attacked while working in Mabopane. “Eskom is concerned that this is the third such incident where our colleagues get attacked and robbed while performing their duties of ensuring electricity supply in Mabopane. Of more concern and disappointment is that community members had mobilised and threatened our technicians while conducting repairs on the site.” Eskom’s safety, health, environment, quality and security manager in Gauteng, Kith Maitisa, said it is…

It is patently clear that Andile Lili does not have a proper understanding of the practical reality of providing housing (Cape Times, July 12). If he did, he would not be so quick to criticise the progress made by the Western Cape government in responding to the housing needs of our citizens. The fact is that the Western Cape is working on a limited budget, with the provincial equitable share allocated to the province still largely based on outdated census data from 2011. The population in the province has grown considerably since the last census, with people from all across the country coming to the Western Cape in search of jobs and a better life – a life they can’t picture in ANC-run provinces. The provincial government also spent 100%…

Britain and France went on heatwave alert yesterday, bracing for record temperatures as south-west Europe wilted under a scorching sun, and ferocious wildfires devoured more forests. Forecasters said Britain could hit 40°C for the first time, which would cause havoc in a country unprepared for the onslaught of extreme heat. Britain’s current record temperature stands at 38.7°C. Scientists blame climate change and predict more frequent and intense episodes of extreme weather. Across the Channel, firefighters failed to contain two massive fires in France’s south-west that created apocalyptic scenes of destruction. Forecasters put 15 French departments on the highest state of alert for extreme temperatures, including in western Brittany where the Atlantic coastal city of Brest was expected to hit 40°C yesterday. Blazes in France, Greece, Portugal and Spain have destroyed…

Sri Lanka’s acting president renewed the country’s state of emergency yesterday ahead of a parliamentary vote to pick a new head of state, a poll in which he is a leading candidate. Ranil Wickremesinghe automatically became acting president when Gotabaya Rajapaksa resigned last week after fleeing to Singapore. A state of emergency allows troops to arrest and detain suspects, and the president to make regulations overriding existing laws to deal with any unrest. One was already in place but parliament had not met to ratify the declaration as required, and Wickremesinghe extended it from Monday “in the interests of public security”, he said. Police and the military, armed with emergency powers, stepped up security in the capital ahead of yesterday’s election of a new president. Wickremesinghe, a six-time former prime…

Washington: A man opened fire at a mall in the US state of Indiana at the weekend, killing three and injuring two, officials said, the latest armed rampage in a country plagued by gun violence. The attack ended when a “good Samaritan” shot the gunman dead, police said. The gunman, who has not been identified, entered the food court of the Greenwood Park Mall, in Greenwood, carrying a rifle and several magazines of ammunition and opened fire. A 12-year-old girl was among those injured. No motive has been established. Police praised the intervention of the armed passer-by who ended the attack, calling the 22-year-old man a “good Samaritan”. | AFP…

ACCRA: Ghana has announced the country’s first outbreak of Marburg virus disease after a World Health Organization laboratory confirmed earlier test results. The Institut Pasteur in Dakar, Senegal, received samples from two unrelated deceased patients, the WHO said. Both showed symptoms including diarrhea, fever, nausea and vomiting and sought treatment at the same hospital within days of each other. The WHO is supporting a joint national investigative team in Ghana’s Ashanti region and alerting high-risk countries. Marburg is a highly infectious viral hemorrhagic fever in the same family as Ebola. | Washington Post…

A GAUTENG farm owner is among nearly 100 suspects arrested for allegedly running illegal mining operations involving Lesotho nationals. SA Police Services spokesperson Colonel Athlenda Mathe said the suspects were arrested in Heidelberg, Gauteng, on Sunday. “A national multi-disciplinary team, established to clamp down on illicit mining activities, have arrested 97 illegal miners and a 62-year-old farm owner in Heidelberg. “Following an intelligence-driven operation, a team consisting of various specialised units in the SAPS swooped on a farm where the illegal miners had been operating from.” Mathe said the team included members of the National Intervention Unit, Tactical Response Team, Public Order Police, Crime Intelligence, detectives and bomb disposal specialists, as well as private stakeholders. After interrogating the suspected illegal miners, the team seized mining equipment and implements. “The team…

THE United Ulama Council of SA (Uucsa) has defended its position on its controversial fatwa on homosexuality, accusing critics, including the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation of “interfering”. Uucsa, an umbrella body comprising nine major Muslim theological groups including the Muslim Judicial Council (MJC), reiterated the MJC’s seven-point religious decree on same-sex relationships following a backlash. The decree is that Islam’s primary sources of legislation “unequivocally prohibit same-sex actions and, by extension, same-sex marriage”. The Tutu Legacy Foundation and the Tutu IP Trust last week issued a joint statement stating that the fatwa was deeply regrettable. The organisations said the context of scripture should be adapted to modern society. Uucsa secretary-general, MI Yusuf Patel, accused the foundation and the trust of “crossing the line”. “This intrusion in the sacred…

WESTERN Cape residents gave Nelson Mandela International Day their all yesterday, dedicating 67 minutes to doing good works, serving others and making a difference in their communities. Ladles of Love broke the world record for the world’s largest mosaic created entirely out of food cans, with every can collected at the Cape Town International Convention Centre being donated to communities in need. The previous food can mosaic world record, held by Doordash in the USA, stood at 52.39 square meters. The team in Cape Town broke this record with a mosaic that measured at 24.975-meters x 18.92-meters (about 472.5 square meters). Rural development company Casidra, based in Paarl, handed over 180 packs of school stationery to the value R40 000 to the Pebbles Project. The packs were handed over at…

PROLONGED strike action by employees of the SA Revenue Service (Sars) could lead to poor tax collection and cause the economy to take a knock, public service unions have warned. The Public Service Association (PSA) said local exports were already feeling the pinch, with Sars workers being on strike at the borders. PSA spokesperson Reuben Maleka said if the wage stalemate continued, it could have a big impact on tax collection and the economy. Sars employees have been on strike since July 12. Unions in this sector are asking for an increase of the consumer price index plus 7%, but Sars said it could only offer workers 1.39%. Unions are also demanding a R2 000 cash gratuity for a successful tax collection year. “We know that truck associations have already…

Law must allow a plurality of parties and independent candidates to contest elections LAST week, South Africans were greeted by the news that deliberations on the Electoral Amendment Bill by Parliament’s Home Affairs Committee were almost complete. The next stage will consider a reworked bill, which includes all the finalised amendments. While we must commend that the bill is progressively shaping up, questions linger concerning why most political parties continue to push for the proposed retention of the unconstitutional three-month cooling-off period. The cooling-off clause will prevent a citizen from standing as an independent candidate if they have been a political party member within three months of the election they intend to contest. Here is the reason: to prevent those excluded from the party list from competing against their former…

Women who have to wear court- ordered surveillance tags that restrict their movement could struggle to access safe abortions as more US states crack down on the procedure following last month’s Roe v Wade reversal, campaigners say. The overturning of the landmark ruling leaves state governments to decide whether or not abortion is legal, and while some have reaffirmed the right, more than half of states are likely or certain to ban abortion in most or all cases. That means crossing state borders could be the only option for some abortion-seekers – something often impossible for the growing number of women wearing tracking tags while under house arrest, awaiting trial, or ahead of immigration proceedings. “Wearing an electronic monitor, sometimes you can’t even go outside the house, let alone to…

SEOUL: South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin met his Japanese counterpart in Tokyo in the hope that they can repair strained ties. Relations have been fraught for years over the bitter legacy of Japan’s occupation of Korea from 1910 to 1945, with issues ranging from wartime forced labour to export controls. But both nations have the aim to improve relations. Park told Japan’s Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi that he would try to resolve the forced labour issue before a ruling on compensation payments. The US has urged its key North Asian allies to co-operate over North Korea’s nuclear programme. | Reuters…

Bangkok: Dozens of Thai democracy activists were targeted by the controversial Israeli spyware known as Pegasus at the height of intense anti-government protests, according to an international digital rights group report. Massive demonstrations engulfed Thailand’s capital Bangkok two years ago as thousands called for greater civil freedoms, and a loosening of strict lèse-majesté laws that prevent any criticism of the monarchy. The report by Canadian cybersecurity watchdog Citizen Lab in partnership with Thai groups iLaw and DigitalReach, identified some 30 activists, academics, lawyers and NGO workers whose mobile devices were affected. | AFP…

London: British MPs yesterday told the government there was “no clear evidence” that its controversial policy to deport some asylum seekers to Rwanda would stop Channel crossings in small boats. The House of Commons Home Affairs Committee said “much more clarity” was needed on the plan, including the price tag. It said numbers crossing from France in inflatable dinghies had increased since the policy was first announced. It attributed this to “scaremongering” by people-smuggling gangs warning migrants about the law change. Over 28 500 people – mostly young men – arrived in 2021. Some 13 000 arrived this year out of 60 000 expected. | AFP…

The Proteas begin their ODI series against England today. Here, Zaahier Adams looks at what they must do to beat the world champions in their own backyard. STRIKE IN THE POWERPLAY: It might sound like the most obvious thing to take wickets up-front with the new ball, but it is vital against a team like England. Openers Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow not only lay the groundwork, but they are the fulcrum in England’s attacking gameplan. Getting early wickets won’t stop England’s batters from continuing to swing hard, but it will limit the damage at the backend of the innings. TURN THEIR ARMS EARLY: The Proteas won’t be afraid to utilise Keshav Maharaj with the new…