Indice dei contenuti per 2023-08-04 in Cape Times

Dr TSHEPO Mokoka has been appointed acting CEO of the Petroleum Agency SA (Pasa), effective August 1. Pasa said in a statement yesterday that Mokoka would take the reins from Dr Phindile Masangane, who has joined the private sector. Pasa also said its board was completing the recruitment process for the permanent CEO. Pasa said for several years, Mokoka had been an integral part of its oversight body, the Central Energy Fund (CEF). “He has demonstrated exceptional leadership skills and deep industry knowledge during his tenure as CEF’s chief operating officer. With a track record of successful projects and initiatives, he is well-equipped to steer the company confidently and competently through this transitional period,” it said. In response to his appointment, Mokoka said he was honoured and humbled by the…

SOLUTIONS, and not mudslinging, is what members of the legal fraternity pleaded for yesterday when they faced the Road Accident Fund (RAF) during a National Press Club media briefing in Pretoria yesterday. This followed an earlier memorandum they had issued regarding what they call “a state of emergency” at the RAF. “RAF CEO Collins Letsoalo should come to the party. We are not concerned about egos. We are concerned about members of the public, many of whom are the poorest of the poor who are victims of accidents. Let’s leave egos aside and find solutions,” was the overall message to the RAF. The legal fraternity pointed out that there was simply “a mess” at the RAF. Various stakeholders in the legal fraternity last month pleaded for urgent intervention to…

‘Intended action by Standard Bank is making the lives of ordinary South Africans worse’ UNIONS have thrown their weight behind Independent Media and other Sekunjalo companies following threats by Standard Bank to close the organisation’s accounts, which could potentially have a devastating impact on the livelihoods of more than 1 000 workers and their families. The bank issued a notice to the company, informing it that its accounts would be closed by August 21, following a judgment by the Competition Appeal Court in its favour. Before this, the bank was ordered to keep the company’s accounts running prior to a final judgment. The interim judgment, which was granted in September last year, was due to come to an end in March this year but was extended by six months. At…

Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Minister Thembi Nkadimeng called for intensified efforts and collaboration to create a society where all individuals, regardless of gender, can live free from violence and discrimination. Nkadimeng was speaking at the “End Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) 100-Day Challenges” team virtual media briefing yesterday which covered projects undertaken to address GBVF in communities. Nkadimeng said it remains important to work towards ending the GBVF pandemic, not just during Women’s Day or Women’s Month, but for the entire year. “I take this opportunity to celebrate the incredible achievements and contributions women in our society have made while recognising the challenges they continue to face. StatsSA clearly indicates that, in South Africa, almost 60% of our families are led by women. So women build society and…

God is an octopus Ben Goldsmith Loot.co.za (R299) Bloomsbury Wildlife Struggling to comprehend the shocking death of his teenage daughter, Ben Goldsmith finds solace in nature by immersing himself in plans to re-wild his farm. In 2019, Goldsmith lost his fifteen-year-old daughter, Iris, in an accident on their family farm in Somerset. Iris's death left her family reeling. Grasping for answers, Ben throws himself into searching for some ongoing trace of his beloved child, exploring ideas that until then had seemed too abstract to mean much to him. Missing his daughter terribly and struggling to imagine how he would face the rest of his life in the shadow of this loss, Ben found solace in nature, the object of a lifelong fascination. As Ben set about re-wilding his farm, nature…

It makes a mockery of the adage that ‘the customer is always right’ The UK’s Financial Ombudsman Service received 1 389 complaints about closures of current accounts in 2022 and 2023 but could not provide information on the reasons behind the action. Bank account closures are a global phenomenon. In 2021, for instance, Absa and FNB unilaterally terminated the bank accounts of all business enterprises linked to Sekunjalo Investment Holdings, a 100% broad-based BEE company, ostensibly to avoid reputational damage following allegations about Sekunjalo’s investments with the Public Investment Corporation, which the holding company robustly denied. The arbitrariness belies the fact that it was made as a pre-emptive move without giving due process to any potential court proceedings, and the banks’ seeming moral inconsistency in their choice of corporate clients.…

Hundreds of supporters of Niger’s junta marched in the capital Niamey yesterday to protest against West African sanctions, as regional defence chiefs discussed possible intervention to restore democracy. General Abdourahamane Tiani, the former head of Niger’s presidential guard, confined President Mohamed Bazoum to his residence last Wednesday and declared himself head of state in the seventh coup in West and Central Africa since 2020. The main regional bloc, the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas), has imposed sanctions and said it could authorise the use of force if soldiers did not restore Bazoum to power by Sunday. Ecowas, which said coups would no longer be tolerated in the region following recent military takeovers in Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea, has taken its hardest line yet with Niger, saying it…

COPENHAGEN: Seven Danish opposition parties yesterday voiced objection to the government’s efforts to make it illegal to burn copies of the Qur’an, arguing that legislation would be an unacceptable restriction on freedom of expression. Outrage in the Muslim world over desecration of the Qur’an in front of embassies of Muslim countries in Denmark and Sweden has prompted both governments to take action. But prohibiting burnings would interfere with the principles of free speech in Denmark, the opposition parties said. By giving in to outside pressure, the government could also open the door to foreign countries interfering with national politics, they said. Despite the protest, the government said it would continue to work towards preventing the burning of the Qur’an. | Reuters…

WHILE social media campaigning was allowed, the use of money to lobby for ANC members to be included on the 2024 candidate list to Parliament and legislatures was prohibited. This was the word from the ANC Electoral Committee’s Chief Livhuwani Matsila, when he outlined the criteria to select candidates to stand for elections next year. “No slate of candidates may be organised or promoted through circulating a predetermined list of candidates for branches to rubber-stamp. “This is strictly prohibited,” said Matsila during a briefing on Wednesday. “Anybody found doing that will be taken to task and if candidates are doing that, they will be disqualified for contravening the rules of the organisation,” he said. Matsila said candidates may be promoted on merit and meeting the criteria set out for selection,…

MAYOR Geordin Hill-Lewis says the City will now follow intergovernmental dispute resolution processes after the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) allegedly refused to sign a service level agreement (SLA) on rail services for commuters. Hill-Lewis said: “A formal service level agreement is a legal requirement under section 11(1)(c) of the National Land Transport Act, and the City has repeatedly requested Prasa to comply with its obligation to conclude this agreement with us. Ultimately, this agreement will also form the foundation for the long-awaited devolution of rail to the metro, and all the benefits this will bring for Cape Town residents in desperate need of an affordable, safe, and reliable rail service. “But Prasa has informed us – in late July – that they will not sign and commit…

THE ANC in the province says the provincial government’s ‘Growth for Jobs’ strategy is based on outdated economics and would only entrench inequality. The party expressed its concerns during a debate in the legislature yesterday on the impact the initiative will have on employment. Finance and Economic Opportunities MEC Mireille Wenger said the province wanted breakout economic growth and that the roadmap sets out an economic action plan on what was possible when the government had the foundation for economic growth right, among other things. “The strategy is based on the best data available, research, modelling and experience. It has been worked on with the private sector,” she said. “It is the private sector that creates jobs and it is our job to provide a foundation for economic growth so…

How and why did you get involved with MSF? I was working for the head office of Pep Stores in Cape Town when I stumbled across a two-week-old copy of The Star newspaper’s Workplace edition, a job searching section. I saw the advert for a six-month contract for a logistician in the Khayelitsha MSF project. I had recently lost my brother to Aids-related illnesses and was still grappling with the grief of losing him at such a young age. After seeing the job advert, I read up on MSF and what they were all about and my interest peaked. Seeing the difference they were making in Khayelitsha by showing that it was possible to have people living with HIV thrive and have normal lives made me think of how different…

The suspected gang member arrested for the murder of Mitchells Plain Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (LEAP) officer Toufeeq Williams at the weekend, was being harboured by fellow gang members in the Grassy Park policing area, police said. Williams, 37 was shot dead on the corners of Trampoline and Cadillac Streets in Beacon Valley on Sunday afternoon while walking with his young daughter when they got caught in a gang crossfire. “The vigilance and swift response of members attached to Grassy Park SAPS resulted in the arrest of a suspect who was sought for the murder of a LEAP officer in Mitchells Plain during the weekend. “Investigation led detectives to make an identification of the suspect and that he was being harboured by fellow gang members in the…

Risking Life for Death Ryan Blumenthal Loot.co.za (R189) Jonathan Ball Publishers LOCARD’S Exchange Principle underpins all forensic science and holds that the perpetrator of a crime will bring something to the crime scene and leave with something from it. Forensic experts use this principle daily to catch murderers and assailants. In Risking Life for Death, South African forensic pathologist Ryan Blumenthal offers a masterclass in this singular forensic technique based on real-life case studies. With more than 20 years’ experience in the field, Blumenthal explains how to look for clues and traces, and how what he does not find at an autopsy is often more important than what he does find. In other words, the absence of evidence can sometimes be of greater value than the presence of evidence. His…

WE TOOK note of Mr M Parker’s article “Friends with benefits all want the same thing” published in the Cape Times on July 31. The author tries to estimate the outcomes of the second Russia-Africa Summit held in Saint-Petersburg on July 27 and 28, expresses his opinion on the true goals of “friendship with benefits” between Africa and major global power blocks, and adds his voice to those condemning Russia’s withdrawal from the Black Sea grain deal. Now let’s have a look at the Black Sea grain deal from the non-Western perspective. On July 18, this Initiative ceased to operate. This agreement was aimed at ensuring global food security, reducing the threat of hunger and helping Asian, African and Latin American countries in need, giving Ukraine an access to the…

ActivistS from Greenpeace were arrested yesterday after scaling UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s constituency home in northern England and covering it with black fabric to protest his fossil fuel policy. Sunak this week approved hundreds of new oil and gas licences in the North Sea off Britain’s east coast, angering environmentalists. “We desperately need our prime minister to be a climate leader, not a climate arsonist,” said Greenpeace UK climate campaigner Philip Evans. “Just as wildfires and floods wreck homes and lives around the world, Sunak is committing to a massive expansion of oil and gas drilling.” Greenpeace UK posted videos of four activists climbing onto the roof of Sunak’s mansion in Richmond, north Yorkshire, and covering it with black sheets. It later said that the activists, who spent around…

SEOUL: A man went on a “stabbing rampage” near a South Korean subway station, police said yesterday, with as many as 10 people reported wounded, two weeks after a similar attack killed one person. The attack took place near the Seohyeon subway station in Bundang, about 20km south-east of Seoul, police said. The suspect was arrested at the scene. One person was killed and three wounded in the earlier stabbing attack in the South Korean capital on July 21. South Korea is typically an extremely safe country, with a murder rate of 1.3 per 100 000 people in 2021, according to official statistics. By comparison, the US has 7.8 homicide deaths per 100 000 people. | AFP…

THE Western Cape Cabinet has agreed to proceed with applying to the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) to have a provincial disaster declared due to damages suffered from the severe weather which affected the province last month. After taking into account insured damages, damages not associated with the flooding, and the ability to reprioritise funding within existing budgets, unfunded damages have been calculated to be R703.3million, according to the Cabinet report. Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning MEC Anton Bredell said: “The declaration of a provincial disaster by the NDMC will allow us to approach the National Government for funding support, as the scope of damages is beyond the ability of the provincial fiscus”. Unfunded agricultural damage of R500m is of great concern to the province, Bredell said. The…

A SCIENTIFIC breakthrough has been made in HIV genetic research which may explain the naturally lower viral loads of HIV seen in some people of African ancestry. The discovery was made by a global team of scientists and researchers including academics from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) and Omnigen Biodata Ltd. The global first discovery could lead to the development of new therapeutics and improve treatment options for those living with HIV. The study analysed the genetics of about 4 000 individuals of African ancestry, living with HIV. A variant in the gene CHD1L, found to be specific to populations of African descent, was associated with reduced viral load. This is the first new genetic variant associated with HIV infection identified in almost 30 years and highlights the importance…

WHILE the City claimed it was not declaring war against the taxi industry, mayoral committee member for safety and security JP Smith has proclaimed that they will “proceed with impounding 25 vehicles for every truck, bus, vehicle or facility that is burnt or vandalised”. The City is also seeking an urgent interdict amid mayhem and violence that erupted shortly after the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) in the Western Cape announced their stayaway. Thousands of commuters across the province were affected when Santaco, joined by eight regional associations met in Makhaza, Khayelitsha and resolved to down tools over issues including the impoundments of vehicles. People stood in long queues at bus stops and terminuses, with some stranded commuters, including pupils, telling the Cape Times they remained at the ranks…

Kala Colin Walsh Loot.co.za (R400) Doubleday Six teenagers, perched on their bikes, preparing to hurtle down a steep hill and through a narrow gap at the bottom where the path meets the main road. “The idea is to go cycling down the hill and then pedal blind through the gap, cutting clean and unscathed across the road.” And we think: Oh, no! Something terrible's going to happen! And it is. But not now, not this, and it’s a good long while before we find out what. Kala, Walsh's debut novel, is a masterclass in building suspense. When “the gang” reassembles, two are missing: Kala, who disappeared in 2003, and Aidan, who … well, we don’t know. His funeral is mentioned, and “everything Auntie Pauline went through” with him. Once…

The little French Village Of Book Lovers Nina George Loot.co.za (R249) Michael Joseph From the author of The Little Paris Bookshop comes a tender story about how a love of books is a love of life itself. In a small town in balmy Provence, a dazzling encounter with Love itself changes the life of orphan Marie-Jeanne forever. As a girl, Marie-Jeanne realises that she can see the marks Love has left on the people around her – tiny glowing lights on their faces and hands that shimmer more brightly when the one meant for them is near. Before long, Marie-Jeanne is playing matchmaker in her village. As she grows up, Marie-Jeanne helps her foster father, Francis, set up a mobile library that travels through the many small mountain towns in…

“Wathint’ abafazi, wathint’ imbokodo” (You strike a woman, you strike a rock) was the famous slogan used by the women marching against apartheid pass laws in Pretoria on August 9, 1956, which will be commemorated by Women’s Day celebrations on Wednesday. In many ways, the injustices that those patriots fought all those years ago are reminiscent of Banyana Banyana’s challenges. We all willed on South Africa’s national women’s soccer team in those crazy final minutes of Wednesday’s Fifa Women’s World Cup showdown against Italy in Wellington, New Zealand. And coach Desiree Ellis and her team made history by winning 3-2 for South Africa’s first ever victory at the World Cup, which saw Banyana advance to the last-16 knockout stage for the first time. But the likes of captain Refiloe Jane…

More than 100 medical journals across the world issued a rare joint call yesterday for urgent action to eliminate nuclear weapons, warning that the threat of nuclear catastrophe was “great and growing”. The call comes with Russia repeatedly issuing thinly veiled warnings that Moscow could use nuclear weapons in Ukraine, as well as repeated North Korean missile tests and stalling efforts towards non-proliferation. An editorial published in numerous medical journals called on health professionals worldwide to alert citizens and leaders about “the major danger to public health” posed by nuclear weapons. The editorial, co-authored by the editors of 11 leading medical journals, said: “The nuclear armed states must eliminate their nuclear arsenals before they eliminate us.” Chris Zielinski, of the World Association of Medical Editors, said it was an “extraordinary…

Retired NFL great Tom Brady is now a minority owner of English second-tier football club Birmingham City FC. The seven-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback’s partnership with team owner Knighthead Capital Management LLC was announced yesterday, Brady’s 46th birthday. “I’ve been part of some amazing teams in my day, and I’m looking forward to applying my perspective to create that same success here in Birmingham,” said Brady, who becomes a chairman of the club’s advisory board. A Birmingham City news release said Brady, who retired in February after 23 seasons in the NFL, will apply his “extensive leadership experience and expertise across several components of the club, including working alongside the sports science department to advise on health, nutrition, wellness, and recovery systems and programmes”. Brady won six Super Bowl championships with…