Indice dei contenuti per 2023-07-14 in Cape Times

THE Council for Medical Schemes has been ordered to hand over the complete record containing its decision-making process. It is a first-step victory for the Board of Health Funders in its legal quest to overturn the moratorium which prohibits medical schemes from providing low-cost benefit options to the public. The Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, ordered the Minister of Health and the Council for Medical Schemes to provide all of the papers asked for by the Board of Health Funders within 10 days so that this representative body for medical schemes can take its main case forward. In the main application, it will fight the moratorium, which, in effect, prevents members of the public who cannot afford full medical scheme membership from obtaining low-cost benefit options. The Board of Health Funders…

THE National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has resolved that it will investigate allegations involving the new direct-payment system after students raised issues including a delay in payments, as well as disappearing allowances. Students have also raised their concern over excessive fee charges, inaccessibility of service providers and lack of clarity on how to access funds. NSFAS introduced the direct payment, partnering with banking service providers including eZaga, Tenetech, Coinvest and Norraco, to ensure its accountability on student allowances and to establish a better co-ordinated system of the transfer of funds to students. This is a five-year contract to directly pay student allowances through a compulsory bank account. The scheme and service providers met the South African Union of Students (Saus), where a number of demands were made. Saus…

Findings were made as a result of a mental illness diagnosis, says judge THE man charged over torching Parliament was unable to appreciate the wrongdoings of the act and could not follow court proceedings in order to make a proper defence. This emerged in the Western Cape High Court yesterday when Zandile Mafe appeared before Judge Nathan Erasmus. The proceedings got off to a rough start when Mafe delivered verbal outburst, with threats to burn Parliament “even more”. “I burnt it intentionally. Me, Christmas Zandile Mafe, I will burn it even more if it does not move to Bloemfontein or Pretoria. The service (delivery) protest which is happening outside is about my release. It must move from the racist right-wing DA. The DA must not be in the…

Beyond the Story -10 Year Record Of BTS Myeongseok Kang Loot.co.za (R889) Pan Macmillan Published in celebration of BTS’s 10th Anniversary, stories that go beyond what you already know about BTS, including unreleased photos, QR codes of videos, and all album information. After taking their first step into the world of music on June 13, 2013, BTS will celebrate the 10th anniversary of their debut in June 2023. They have risen to the peak as an iconic global artist, and during this meaningful time, they look back on their footsteps in the first official book. In doing so, BTS nurtures the power to build brighter days, and they choose to take another step on a road that no one has gone before. BTS shares personal, behind-the-scenes stories of their journey…

The Messenger Megan Davis Loot.co.za Zaffre Rosamund Lupton meets Lupin in this accomplished debut from an eclectic, cut-throat new voice in thriller writing. Wealthy and privileged, Alex has an easy path to success in the Parisian elite his father mingles with. But the two have never seen eye to eye. Desperate to escape the increasingly suffocating atmosphere of their apartment, Alex seeks freedom on the streets of Paris where his new-found friend Sami teaches him how to survive. But everything has a price – and one night of rebellion changes their lives forever. A simple plan to steal money takes a sinister turn when Alex’s father is found dead. Despite protesting their innocence, both boys are imprisoned for murder. Seven years later Alex is released from prison with a single…

THE Social Housing Regulatory Authority (SHRA) has completed its probe into alleged maladministration at Communicare. “The forensic investigation has been concluded/finalised by the appointed service provider. The information is still being processed internally by the SHRA and the next step will be the communication of the findings to the complainants. The outcome of the investigation will be made public by communicating the outcome to all complainants. The complexity of the matters (dating back around 1929) made the investigation take a long time to complete,” said SHRA. The allegations include that properties were being sold by Communicare to its CEO Anthea Houston’s private company before being resold to private buyers. This despite a pending land claim, and questions about proof that Communicare are the owners of the properties and that evictions…

RECENT headline events have brought into focus the importance of freedom of expression, including freedom of the press. The importance of free speech and expression as a valuable characteristic in a democratic society cannot be underestimated. In their efforts to provide the public with information about controversial yet important events, journalists in South Africa face constant intimidation – sometimes brutal, deadly assaults – which constricts their ability to convey truthful information about cardinal and pivotal issues. It was Sir Winston Churchill who, in 1949, offered these profound words: “A free press is the unsleeping guardian of every other right that free men prize, it is the most dangerous foe of tyranny. Under dictatorship the press is bound to languish. A vigilant press will continue to be the fourth estate, the…

YOUR July 5 editorial, “Pay dispute highlights need for change”, refers. In South Africa, we have a world-class institution known as the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration. The CCMA is specifically set up for labour disputes between employers and employees. Professional sports teams are not employees. However, the CCMA has the expertise and ability to settle wage disputes and pay disputes far more complicated than the one with the women’s national soccer team. The senior commissioners the CCMA employ full time are highly qualified to tackle almost any dispute. Just recently, a vitriolic dispute occurred between the government and trade union Solidarity. The dispute seemed almost impossible to tackle. After much talking, the parties were able to put pen to paper and have the resolution made an order of…

IN SPEAKING about the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technophobes might consider it a coup d’etat of robots as seen in movies. The world’s first ATM was launched on June 27 in 1967 at the Barclays Bank in Enfield, England. At the time, it permitted only £10 withdrawals. In the past 56 years, the banking industry has evolved, from the card-imprint machine to payment terminals, writing cheques to EFTs, and online shopping. When I was at school learning how to write cheques, I could never envision that I would make payments on a computer or mobile phone. “Skilling teachers, trainers and youth for a transformative future” was this year’s theme on World Youth Skills Day on June 15. Our youth must learn the skills needed in the digital age. New…

In a world of competing conflicts, Sudan ranks low when it comes to getting the outside help its population so badly needs. Three months into factional fighting that has upended life – shutting hospitals and schools, emptying shelves and banks – foreign donors have coughed up only half the funds Khartoum called for to weather the crisis. Aid workers say daily life is getting worse, and deteriorating fast, as international attention wanes now that its embassies have emptied. Left behind, they say, is a nation in tatters. One in two Sudanese now depends on some form of aid. Three million of its people are on the march. Thousands are dead and the living are traumatised – with the weakest stuck at home without food, electricity or water. As agencies focus…

Flooding in parts of New Delhi forced the city’s management to close all education institutions in India’s capital yesterday and advise people to work from home, while warning that there would be water rationing after the Yamuna River broke its banks. Since the rainy monsoon season began on June 1, Delhi has recorded 113% above-average rainfall, the India Meteorological Department said, and the rains in the hilly states to the north have fed the river’s floodwaters. Video footage showed submerged roads downtown, with water half-way up the sides of parked cars. “Due to closure of water treatment plants, the supply of water will be affected by up to 25%,” said Delhi’s chief minister Arvind Kejriwal. The city of 20 million people has ordered the closure of all schools, colleges and…

ATHENS: Southern Europe sweltered under a fierce heatwave yesterday, with a warning that temperatures could hit record highs for the continent next week. Weather alerts were in place across Spain’s Canary Islands, Italy, Cyprus and Greece, with the Greek authorities expecting temperatures to reach as high as 43°C or 44°C today and tomorrow. Research this week said that 61 000 people may have died in Europe’s sweltering heatwaves last summer. There are concerns about the impact on those working outdoors in Italy after a 44-year-old man who was painting road markings in the northern town of Lodi collapsed and died this week. | Reuters…

Paris: French prosecutors said yesterday they had opened an investigation after the discovery of a severed fingertip in a letter addressed to the presidential palace. The gruesome find was reported by staff working for President Emmanuel Macron at the beginning of the week, with police called in to investigate. The fingertip is believed to belong to the sender of the letter who suffers from psychiatric problems, a source close to the investigation said. Between 1 000-1 500 emails and letters are addressed to Macron each day and they are monitored and scanned by a 70-strong team working from offices away from the main Elysee Palace. | AFP…

The current SA Cricketers’ Association MVP and 4-Day Player of the Season, Beyers Swanepoel, has blossomed upon arriving at the Gqeberha-based Warriors and he reckons that coach Robin Peterson’s backing is the reason behind it all. It is difficult to deny the talent that has emerged from the Warriors in the past couple of seasons. Apart from Anrich Nortjé, there has been a number of youngsters in the Warriors team who have come through the ranks in spectacular fashion and gone on to dominate domestic cricket. Warriors batter Matthew Breetzke played all his cricket in Gqeberha and was at his best last season, finishing top-run scorer with over 700 runs in the 4-Day competition. Year-in and year-out, the Warriors keep producing quality cricketers like Tristan Stubbs. Last season, youngsters Jordan…

AS THE Constitutional Court yesterday delivered a devastating blow to suspended Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane in her fight against the inquiry into her fitness to hold office, Parliament is pushing ahead with the search for her successor. The national Legislature on Wednesday asked members of the public and organisations to submit comments and objections to the 38 hopefuls. This after the Ad Hoc Committee to Nominate a Person for Appointment as Public Protector received 70 nominations and applications for the position. Acting Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka was nominated by 17 people and has accepted the nomination. Also nominated was former CEO of the South African Human Rights Commission, Advocate Tseliso Thipanyane, as was former Property Practitioners Regulatory Authority CEO Mamodupi Mohlala-Mulaudzi. Candidates who vied for the deputy public protector position…

A South African-born Auckland barber took a stab in the dark a couple of weeks ago and messaged Springbok winger Cheslin Kolbe about cutting his hair when the team arrived in New Zealand for their rugby Test with the All Blacks. It was a long shot, but little did Aaron Monsinger know that just over a week later, in one of the teams’ biggest Test weeks, he would be at the Bok hotel to cut the hair of four players and a member of management ahead of their Test against the All Blacks at the Mount Smart Stadium tomorrow. Yesterday, Monsinger, who hails from Rocklands in Mitchells Plain, told the Cape Times from Auckland that he had decided to take a chance by messaging Kolbe when he arrived as part…

Masters of death Olivie Blake Loot.co.za Pan Macmillan The book is about an estate agent. Only, she’s a vampire, the house on sale is haunted and its ghost was murdered. When Viola Marek hires Fox D’Mora to deal with her ghost-infested mansion, she expects a competent medium. But unbeknown to Viola, Fox is a fraud despite being the godson of Death. As the mystery unfolds, Viola and Fox are drawn into a quest that neither wants nor expects. And they’ll need the help of a demonic personal trainer, a sharp-voiced angel and a love-stricken reaper. It transpires that the difference between a mysterious lost love and a dead body isn’t nearly as distinct as you’d hope. Masters of Death can be pre-ordered from Exclusive books.…

FIVE youngsters from Delft have defied the odds through their hard work and talent by qualifying for the International Sport Aerobic and Fitness World Championships in Belgium this year. They are now appealing to the public for help to make their dream of representing South Africa on an international stage in October, a reality. Hayley Petersen, 11, Ravonte Heuvel, 9, Hayley Louw, 15, Zeah Snyders, 14, and Naylon Kinnear, 16, qualified in the sport aerobic junior duo category, sport aerobic cadet duo category and the individual men youth category respectively at the 2023 South African sport aerobic, fitness and hip hop championships last month. Expenses to attend the world championships will amount to an estimated R28 800 per person including flights, accommodation, visas and registration fees. Coach and athlete Lauren…

THE purchase of what was to be a family home turned into a nightmare for a local mother who says she had to leave the property following threats against her life. Celiwe Dlula had purchased the then one-bedroom RDP house in Capricorn near Muizenberg in 2009 from a woman who sold it to her for R22 000. “After seeing it I thought it would be a great home for my family and asked how to go about buying it. I was referred to the police who told me they no longer do affidavits for RDP house purchases, but they then referred me to a lawyer who assisted me with the deed of sale, which I have, but I never got the title deed. The owner and myself both signed and…

A REAL man must work and provide for his family. A real man must be able to defend, support and protect his own family. Is that all men are good for? Must we only be able to protect and support? Are we not allowed to cry because the world has labelled a man that shows his emotions a weak man? He cannot be called a real man, because he is weak in the sense that he can not keep his emotions in check. I ask again, are we not allowed to cry? A real man must be financially stable and know what he wants in life at an incredibly early age. Is that fair? More men have taken their lives than women, because of the pressure and the fear…

THE National War Memorial Health Foundation, a registered Association Not for Gain, was founded in 1946 as a living memorial to honour the 12 000 South Africans who lost their lives in World War II. The foundation has for the past 76 years, in accordance with it’s manifesto and programme of principles, provided community assistance where needed to all people in the Western Cape with the emphasis on the development of children at preschool level enabling them to advance mentally, physically, spiritually and socially, integrating children with special needs or disability alongside their peers and preparing them to cope with their role as the adults of tomorrow. The foundation has invested extensively in early childhood education for more than seven decades and has an immense footprint in socially marginalised and…

UK Prime minister Rishi Sunak yesterday urged unions to call off strike action, warning that the government would no longer negotiate on higher salaries. The government said it had accepted recommendations from independent pay review bodies for salary increases of between 5% and 7% in the public sector. “Today’s offer is final. There will bew no more talks on pay. We will not negotiate again on this year’s settlement,” Sunak said. “No amount of strikes will change our decision.” The announcement comes as hospital doctors below consultant level in England began a five-day strike over pay – the longest in the 75-year history of the state-funded National Health Service (NHS). Consultants are preparing to walk out next week, heaping fresh pressure on the under-staffed and under-funded service, which is battling…

Hollywood actors went on strike yesterday, joining writers in the first industry-wide shutdown in 63 years after last-ditch talks failed, with nearly all film and television production likely to grind to a halt. The Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA), which represents 160 000 performers including A-list stars, said negotiations late on Wednesday had ended without a deal on their demands over dwindling pay and the threat posed by artificial intelligence. Its negotiators have unanimously recommended a strike to its national committee, who were expected to vote. The vote opens the door to a “double strike” with writers, who have already spent 11 weeks on the picket line, which would trigger the first Hollywood shutdown since 1960. Popular series set to return to television this year would face lengthy delays. And, if…

Washington: The US drug regulator approved the first over-the-counter birth control pill in the country, it said yesterday, widening access to contraception for women as the US grapples with reproductive rights. The medication, Opill, will become available in pharmacies and supermarkets as well as online early next year, manufacturer Perrigo said. Many countries already allow contraceptive pills to be sold over the counter. But in the US, the measure comes as the right to abortion is under renewed assault from conservatives and is now banned in several states. Almost half of the 6.1 million pregnancies in the US each year are unintended. | AFP…

LONDON: Actor Kevin Spacey, 63, said yesterday he was “crushed” when he was accused of sexual assault, as he began giving evidence in a London court. He told jurors that he could not believe that one of the complainants, who alleges Spacey assaulted him on up to 12 occasions, would “stab me in the back”. He is facing a dozen charges of sex offences against four men between 2001 and 2013. Spacey has pleaded not guilty to all 12 charges. His lawyer Patrick Gibbs said that the complainants had reimagined consensual encounters “with a sinister spin”. | Reuters…

Organisers of the ‘F1 in Schools’ competition say the Netflix ‘Drive to Survive’ effect is reaching the classroom, with a record number of teams entered in this year’s finals in Singapore in September. The global not-for-profit programme, which aims to encourage students into science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects, offers university scholarships and future work opportunities with F1 teams. “Drive to Survive has definitely helped the whole sport,” the programme’s founder Andrew Denford told Reuters, referencing the docu-series credited with a rapid rise in the sport’s popularity. “At the primary final, I asked the kids who likes Formula One and all their hands went up when four, five, six years ago, maybe only half of them (did).” The school teams must raise sponsorship, draw up a business plan, design…

POLITICAL parties in the Western Cape are set to go head-to-head to contest by-elections in three crucial wards in the George Municipality next week. The much-anticipated by-elections in ward 16, Ward 20 and Ward 27 will be held on Wednesday. The vacancies in the wards were caused by the resignation of the previous ward councillors, who are all from the GOOD party. GOOD party national campaign manager, Grant Pascoe said the party would once again ask voters to support GOOD with their votes and should the party prove disappointing, to vote them out at the next opportunity. “Vacancies were declared in the first two wards when councillors Neville Louw and Theresa Jeyi betrayed the wishes of those who elected them as GOOD ward councillors, and joined the DA. “Councillor Richard…

THE Constitutional Court yesterday set aside the Western Cape High Court ruling that found President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to suspend Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane last year was unlawful. In a unanimous ruling, Deputy Chief Justice Mandisa Maya upheld Mkhwebane’s suspension and found no conflict of interest by Ramaphosa in suspending her while investigating the Phala Phala saga. Mkhwebane sought court relief after being suspended two days after she informed Ramaphosa that she was probing the theft of dollars on his farm. The high court ruled in her favour when it declared the decision to suspend Mkhwebane invalid and set aside her suspension, but the DA and Ramaphosa appealed the ruling. In upholding the appeals, Maya said: “The full court should have dismissed the Public Protector’s application in its entirety.” Maya…

Prison Child - The story of Vanessa Goosen's daughter Felicia Goosen, Deonette de Kock Loot.co.za (R189) Lux Verbi MOST people will remember the story of the former Miss South Africa semi-finalist Vanessa Goosen who was incarcerated in Lard Yao women's prison in Bangkok in 1994 for more than 16 years. The young woman claimed to have been duped into carrying four engineering books, which were found to have compartments in the front and back hardcover and spine containing 1.7kg of heroin. Aged 21 and pregnant, she was arrested and tried on drug trafficking charges. She was sentenced to death, but her sentence was commuted to life. Through two appeals – one of which was rejected – and a process of amnesty from the king of Thailand, Goosen eventually was released…

Onwards Karen Dudley Loot.co.za (R260) Penguin KAREN Dudley is a chef and restaurateur best known for her iconic Woodstock, Cape Town deli and restaurant, The Kitchen – yes, the one Michele Obama visited – and for her cookbooks. She was also presenter of a superb video series, I’ll Bring the Wine. (You’ll find it on YouTube.) “Looking at the pile of beaten pots, bowls and the well-seasoned baking trays, a little solo sob echoed around my quiet shop. In the slightly stale air, my vintage crockery and wobbly tables seemed to have lost their meaning. The street outside was quiet. No hooting taxis, no car guards, no cars jostling for parking. I understood that our lives would never be the same.” Dudley’s new book, Onwards, details the food journey she…

THE pre-trail of a George lawyer who allegedly defrauded a law firm he was employed at of more than R100 000 is expected to start in September. Clayton Sampson, currently out on warning, appeared in the George Commercial Crimes Court where his case was postponed for the State to provide the defence with further particulars and for pre-trial. Sampson is charged with 39 counts of fraud after he allegedly placed funds into his private accounts with money which was supposed to be deposited into the bank account of the law firm he worked for. Sampson worked as an attorney at A Chimes & Van Wyk Incorporated, from February 2014 to October 27, 2015. According to National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila, Sampson had five bank accounts with different banks.…

ATHLONE Stadium will today host the final World Rugby U20 Championship match between Ireland and France. Over the past few weeks, the stadium has been at the heart of the World Rugby U20 Championship, hosting nine tournament matches in total. The match will wrap up the 12-team championships, which kicked off on June 24. The first match at 2pm will see Wales U20 take on Australia U20, South Africa U20 vs England U20 at 4.30pm and Ireland U20 vs France U20 at 7pm. City Mayco member for economic growth, James Vos, said they were excited to be hosting more rugby matches at Athlone Stadium. “It has been encouraging to see the turnout at Athlone Stadium for this tournament.”…

THE baboons of Cape Town have an international reputation. We hear about them from as far away as Canada. It seems that the “authorities” want to keep them wild. With so much human encroachment, this might not be the best approach. In Britain some foxes are semi-tame. People leave food out for them and the relationship is sort of friendly. However, they are not pets, nor do they come into the household. In India, Buddhist monks feed monkeys that live near the temples. It is probably best to treat baboons as people. It also might be fair to the baboons to feed them a bit, seeing as humans have decimated their food supply.…

I am writing to bring attention to a critical issue plaguing the marine industry in South Africa and its detrimental effects on the country’s reputation and economic prospects. The recent incident involving the tall ship Europa, which capsized on its side in Cape Town’s synchro lift, serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of a lack of knowledge and qualifications within the industry. It is disheartening to witness European vessels being called upon to conduct maintenance and repairs on our shores, highlighting a clear disparity in expertise. This incident not only reflects poorly on our capabilities, but also raises concerns about the overall competence of our marine industry. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated occurrence, as we have seen similar incidents in the past, necessitating the return of previously…

There is nothing that gets the blood flowing in rugby more than a Springboks vs All Blacks clash. The two heavyweights of the oval ball game will lock horns in Auckland tomorrow morning (9.05am SA time) in the Rugby Championship, with the Boks having beaten Australia last weekend, while New Zealand got the better of Argentina. The fact that there is a Rugby World Cup on the horizon – starting in September in France – makes tomorrow’s encounter at the Mount Smart Stadium even more enticing. Yes, the World Cup champions won’t be decided just yet, but the match will show coaches Jacques Nienaber and Ian Foster exactly where their respective teams stand at the moment. The Boks were outstanding at times in last week’s 43-12 win over the Wallabies…

“The end of Aids” is still possible by 2030, the UN insisted yesterday, but cautioned that the world’s deadliest pandemic could only be halted if leaders grasped the opportunity. “Aids can be ended by 2030,” the UNAids agency said as it outlined a roadmap of investment, evidence-based prevention and treatment and tackling the inequalities that are currently holding back progress. UNAids said that ending the pandemic was, above all, a political and financial choice. “Success is possible – in this decade,” said executive director Winnie Byanyima. The UN first set out in 2015 the target of ending Aids as a public health threat by 2030. Byanyima said the greatest progress on HIV, the virus that causes Aids, was being made in the countries and regions that have invested strongly. She…

Harare: President Ebrahim Raisi received a red carpet welcome in Zimbabwe yesterday on the last leg of the first Africa tour by an Iranian leader in 11 years. Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa greeted Raisi as “my brother” on the tarmac after the Iranian leader’s plane landed at Robert Mugabe International Airport in the capital Harare. The visit comes as the Islamic republic tries to shore up diplomatic support to ease its international isolation. “When we went to war Iran was our friend,” said Mnangagwa, referring to Zimbabwe’s fight for independence from Britain, which it attained in 1980. Zimbabwe’s foreign ministry said several agreements were to be signed. | AFP…

London: The BBC yesterday resumed an internal inquiry after its star news anchor was revealed as the man at the centre of a sex pictures scandal, following days of fevered speculation about his identity. Huw Edwards, 61, was named by his wife, six days after claims that an unnamed presenter had paid a young person £35 000 (R842 000) for sexually explicit pictures. The family of the young person claimed they had used the money to fuel a crack cocaine addiction, but the now 20-year-old dismissed the allegations. Six people have reportedly made complaints to the media about the star in the past week. Edwards has been the anchor of the BBC’s News at Ten since 2003. | AFP…

WASHINGTON: Billionaire Elon Musk said this week he thought China was interested in a co-operative international framework on artificial intelligence (AI), from conversations he had when he visited a few weeks ago. Musk made the remarks in a Twitter Space event with two US congressmen, Democrat Ro Khanna and Republican Mike Gallagher. Musk said that he had advocated for AI regulations and oversight. His remarks came on the day he launched his artificial intelligence startup, xAI, after arguing for months about AI’s potential for “civilization destruction”. Musk’s Tesla electric car company has a factory in Shanghai. He said the Chinese government would seek to initiate AI regulations. Yesterday, China issued a set of interim measures to manage the booming industry, paving the way for its tech companies to roll out…