Indice dei contenuti per 2024-05-23 in Cape Times

JUST SHARE has taken Africa’s biggest bank by assets, Standard Bank, to task for its decision to hold an elec- tronic-only annual general meeting (AGM) on June 20, which the shareholder activism organisation said was a “poor approach to corporate governance and stakeholder engagement”. Writing in a briefing about the bank’s latest climate-related disclosure, Just Share said the reversion to online-only AGMs by some JSE-listed companies, including Standard Bank, after it had held a hybrid annual meeting last year, appeared to be “a deliberate strategy to shut down contestation on crucial issues, including the potential for protests”. At last year’s AGM, there were protests from environmental groups outside the bank’s Johannesburg offices. Just Share said yesterday such protests were effectively managed by companies around the world. Standard Bank said in…

from page 1 union within the bargaining council of the fishing industry, they had addressed the issues. Sea Harvest CEO Felix Ratheb did not respond to some media questions, saying the company had said all it could at this stage. He, however, confirmed that the fishermen had been out at sea for three days before the tragedy. South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi said: “We urge that measures must be taken before boarding of ships to prevent such tragedies from happening again. This should involve tighter regulations for safety purposes, but not to exclude small-scale fishermen from conducting fishing as a subsistence activity. Government must support those small fishermen to meet all the regulatory measures for safety purposes.” Cosatu also went to the Sea Harvest…

The results of an in-depth survey conducted by African Innovation Research SA (AIRSA) point to the country’s future being in the hands of coalitions and raise concerns about voter apathy, especially among the youth. The initial sample comprised some 5 000 participants, of whom 46% confirmed they were either not interested in voting despite being registered or had not registered. The majority of those surveyed by the independent research company based in Cape Town were in the 18–35 age group, a generation who are increasingly disillusioned with how the country is run. The remaining 2 700 participants, who were interviewed from across a broad section of South Africa’s nine provinces, indicated that support for the ruling ANC is in decline, dipping below the 50% mark to 43% overall. The ANC’s…

The Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, has ordered a mother who lived in Australia with her husband, but who two years ago returned to South Africa with their son – soon to be 3 years old – for a visit and never returned, to immediately return the child to Australia. The parents are citizens and permanent residents of Australia. The Central Authority of South Africa and the father demands the immediate return of the child from South Africa to Australia. The mother opposed the application and raised a defence that the return of the child in terms of the Hague Convention would result in a grave risk of psychological harm to the child. She raised a counter application in which she argued that returning the child to Australia would not be…

The Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership (GARDP) has announced renewed funding from the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) to support its work in developing improved treatments for newborn babies with sepsis. The funding will be used to include Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital in Johannesburg as well as Tygerberg Hospital in Cape Town, in Part 2 of a global clinical trial aimed at evaluating much-needed antibiotic combinations for babies with sepsis. The SAMRC is providing R6.4 million in funding for the project and to support staff who are overseeing critical aspects of the study in South Africa over the next two years. “We greatly appreciate the support of the SAMRC in this vital work, which has the potential to provide significant insights for local clinical management and effective…

Captain Veronica Banks, a seasoned detective attached to the Saps’ Serial and Electronic Crime Investigations (Seci) unit in Gauteng, has collectively secured 67 life terms and 782 years’ imprisonment sentences for 22 serial rapists and paedophiles. This year, Saps is observing National Child Protection Week by highlighting the work of its members who go beyond the call of duty to protect children. National Child Protection Week emphasises the importance of protecting children against abuse, neglect, exploitation and violence, and seeks to promote the awareness of children's rights as enshrined in the Constitution. Saps said Banks was attached to the Saps’ Seci unit, a specialised team within the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit. This team deals with cases that involve serial rapes and child pornography. Banks’ career started…

What is happening in Western politics resembles attempts to shift the ‘Overton window’ The wave of statements by high-ranking European and NATO officials of alleged Russian attack on NATO is ongoing. HR/VP Borrell says a high-intensity European war is no longer a fantasy (Financial Times, April 9, 2024), while the Poles claim there is no diplomatic solution to the Ukraine conflict (Europe Renaissance, May 3, 2024). Military and politicians in the West repeat over and over again a war will break out in (…) years and urge their people to get prepared for it. Some accuse their leaders of fear-mongering, others take their warnings seriously, like in Sweden, where people flocked to the stores to stock up on fuel and survival kits after Sweden commander-in-chief Micael Bydén’s words that all…

Israel reacted with fury after three European countries said yesterday that they would recognise a Palestinian state, more than seven months into the devastating Gaza war. Ireland, Norway and Spain said they would formally recognise the State of Palestine on May 28, drawing praise from many countries in the Arab and Muslim world. Israel charged that the move amounts to “rewarding terrorism” after Palestinian militant group Hamas launched its October 7 attack which sparked the Gaza war. Israel said immediately that it was recalling its envoys to Dublin, Oslo and Madrid for “urgent consultations” and also summoned the three European ambassadors for a rebuke. Foreign Minister Israel Katz charged that “the twisted step of these countries is an injustice to the memory of the 7/10 victims”. “They decided to award…

Iran’s Supreme Leader led prayers in Tehran yesterday at the funeral of the late President Ebrahim Raisi, as the clerical establishment hurried to organise an early election that could further erode its legitimacy amid growing public discontent. The June 28 vote to replace Raisi, killed in a helicopter crash on Sunday, will need to galvanise a population that showed little interest in the 2021 ballot that gave the hardline cleric the presidency. This is a role that oversees day-to-day government. Raisi died at a time of worsening strains between the clerical leadership and wider society, aggravated by tightening political and social controls and a worsening economy. Growing numbers of voters have shunned recent elections, a worrying sign for the leadership, which sees turnout as a credibility test for the 45-year-old…

KATHMANDU: A Nepali sherpa guide scaled the summit of Mount Everest for a record 30th time yesterday, an official said, while two climbers went missing descending from the world’s tallest peak. Ordinary climbers are known to take several days to climb the summit of Everest, and it is rare for mountaineers to make multiple ascents in a short time. Kami Rita Sherpa, 54, reached the 8 849m peak by the traditional southeast ridge route, Nepali tourism official Khim Lal Gautam said. Meanwhile, Nepal tourism officials said a British climber and a Nepali guide have been missing since Tuesday, after they slipped and fell near the South Summit. | Reuters…

Geneva: Klaus Schwab, the founder and longtime face of the World Economic Forum, will step away from executive leadership in the coming months, the organisation has announced. The WEF, which hosts the annual meeting of wealthy and influential global elites at the luxury Swiss ski resort of Davos, said this week that its 86-year-old founder would soon “transition from executive chairman to chairman of the board of trustees”. The shift would take place before January 2025. No successor was immediately named. Schwab, born in Ravensburg, Germany, in 1938, was a business professor at the University of Geneva when in 1971 he founded the WEF’s precursor, the European Management Forum. By inviting business leaders, he turned it into a showcase. | AFP…

Two significant works by Gerard Sekoto and George Pemba will go on auction in Johannesburg. For generations of progressive South African collectors, the names Dumile Feni, Maggie Laubser, Esther Mahlangu, George Pemba, J H Pierneef, Alexis Preller, Gerard Sekoto, Lucas Sithole, Irma Stern, Anton van Wouw and Edoardo Villa have represented a rock-solid canon. These collectable modernist artists, many now receiving overdue international recognition, are represented in the catalogues for Strauss & Co’s two-part Day and Evening auction of modern and contemporary art in Johannesburg on May 28. Pemba and Sekoto, who are currently enjoying premier billing at the Venice Biennale, have three and five works apiece in the Evening Sale. Pemba’s 1989 portrait, “Author and Artist” (estimated to fetch R200 000-R300 000/$10 865-$16 300), depicts…

Late payment has cost the African Economic Freedom (AEF) party its opportunity to contest the elections after the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) dismissed the party’s bid to appeal against the Electoral Commission of South Africa’s (IEC) decision. The matter relates to the AEF attempting to pay a deposit of R750 000 to contest the elections into the account of the IEC. Payment was not made from its account but on its behalf by a donor on March 8. In terms of the election timetable, the cut-off time was 5pm that day. According to the AEF, the donor made payment of the R750 000 and proof of the electronic transfer from the donor’s account was forwarded to the IEC. According to the AEF, the IEC then opened the online system…

from page 1 Life to whom the unapproved group life benefit of R1 902 640 was paid. The insurer confirmed that the full amount was paid to the spouse. The spouse was informed that in terms of the Laws of Intestate Succession, the unapproved group life benefit of R1 902 640.00 should have been allocated equally between herself and the six children of the deceased. She was requested to provide information regarding how much each child had received, how the amounts were calculated, and when the payments were paid. As the matter progressed, PFA Muvhango Lukhaimane arranged a hearing of all parties to expedite the matter as the fund had insufficient information to arrive at the decision it did; the spouse had not been forthcoming with information to substantiate her…

Ill-fated vessel MFV Lepanto sank to a depth of 350m after capsizing in minutes Sea Harvest-owned fishing vessel MFV Lepanto has sunk 350m deep into the ocean, not only making it impossible for the boat to be retrieved, but also a challenge for divers to search and find the bodies of 11 fishermen. This was among the reasons the search was called off, according to Forestry, Fisheries and Environment Minister Barbara Creecy, who visited Sea Harvest’s offices to meet some families, survivors and company management. Three vessels were fishing together about 34 nautical miles offshore from Hout Bay when one, the MFV Lepanto with 20 crew aboard, encountered distress. “One of the sister vessels which noted the incident issued a mayday call while the vessel in distress sank quickly. Nine…

TEN of Cape Town’s sewer pump stations across various areas have been fitted with uniquely designed mechanical bar/basket screens to prevent large items from entering the wastewater system to date – at a cost of R8.1 million. This includes installations at the Langa Main, Bokmakierie, Phoenix, Joe Slovo, Grey Road and Koeberg Road pump stations over the last two years. These screens act like sieves, filtering out large objects such as wet wipes, sanitary towels, disposable nappies, clothes, rags and condoms, which should not be in the sewage system. The initiative is part of a collaborative effort between the City’s water and sanitation directorate’s engineering and asset management (EAM) and reticulation branches. The design and contracts team at the EAM branch leads the innovative design and specifications for each screen,…

Members of the newly opened Makhaza police station arrested three suspects for the possession of a hijacked vehicle. While patrolling, the members spotted a white Ford Bantam with its occupants acting suspiciously, said police spokesperson Bilqis Poole. On testing the vehicle, police discovered that the vehicle was hijacked in Harare earlier on Tuesday. “The adult male suspects will appear in the Khayelitsha Magistrate’s Court,” Poole said. In Tulbagh, members of the Crime Prevention Unit were busy with foot patrols in the Riverside informal settlement when they saw two men exchanging money and drugs. “The members chased the suspects and apprehended a foreign national adult man. They found 33 packets containing crystal meth in his possession. He was subsequently arrested for the possession of drugs,” Poole said. Western Cape SAPS yesterday…

Post-election South Africa finds itself at a pivotal juncture with the emergence of a coalition government reshaping the political landscape. Historically dominated by the ANC, the country’s politics have shifted towards a more pluralistic and fragmented system, marked by the necessity of coalition governance. The transformation brings opportunities and challenges, requiring astute analysis and strategic foresight. At the heart of the new political reality lies the diversification of power. With less than a week before the national general elections, it would seem no longer can a single party dictate the direction of governance; instead, coalition politics demands collaboration and compromise among multiple parties with differing ideologies and agendas. While this pluralism can be seen as a positive step towards greater representation and inclusivity, it also introduces complexities that must be…

More than 140 passengers and crew from a Singapore Airlines flight on which one person died during heavy turbulence finally reached Singapore yesterday, with 20 still fighting for their lives in a Bangkok hospital. The London-Singapore flight on a Boeing 777-300ER plane diverted to Bangkok for an emergency landing on Tuesday after the plane was buffeted by turbulence that flung passengers and crew around the cabin, slamming some into the ceiling. A British passenger, 73, died of a suspected heart attack, an airport official said, and Bangkok’s Samitivej Hospital said 20 passengers were in intensive care, nine had undergone surgery, while five more were awaiting surgery. Josh Silverstone, 24 from south London, woke up on the floor of the plane. “I didn’t realise what happened. I must have got…

Russia’s top arms control diplomat dismissed as “fake news” yesterday an assertion by the US that Russia had launched a weapon into low-Earth orbit that was capable of inspecting and attacking other satellites in space. The Kremlin has flatly denied assertions by US officials that Moscow is developing a space-based anti-satellite nuclear weapon. US Space Command pointed to the launch earlier this month of a Soyuz rocket from Russia’s Plesetsk launch site, saying it likely involved “a counterspace weapon presumably capable of attacking other satellites in low Earth orbit”. Russia’s defence ministry said the May 17 launch had a spacecraft on board but gave no details what it was for. COSMOS 2576, a type of Russian military spacecraft, has not gone near a US satellite, but analysts observed it…

Brussels: Europe’s far-right figureheads Marine Le Pen and Giorgia Meloni are hinting they could join forces following this summer’s EU elections, after Le Pen’s French party announced a break with its radical German ally AfD. This indicates a possible reconfiguration of nationalist parties’ alliances after the European Parliament’s June 6-9 elections. Surveys suggest the far-right groups, now fractured, will win about 37% of seats in the next legislative term, up from 30% . Le Pen’s National Rally (RN) said it was splitting with the AfD after the its lead EU candidate, Maximilian Krah, said not every Nazi SS member was “automatically a criminal”. | AFP…

New York: Another sexual assault lawsuit has been filed against Sean “Diddy” Combs, the latest in a string of allegations against the US rapper as he comes under scrutiny for his treatment of women. Former model Crystal McKinney said this week that Combs had forced her to perform oral sex on him at a party in 2003 after she was “pressured to imbibe” alcohol and marijuana, the lawsuit said. Combs is the target of several civil lawsuits that characterise him as a violent sexual predator. | AFP…

SOUTHERN Sun yesterday declared its first ever dividend since listing after wealthy and international tourists helped to drive earnings in the full year to end March 2024, and said that a more certain government policy framework would boost hotel room occupancy. Marcel von Aulock, the CEO of the multinational hospitality group, told Business Report in an interview yesterday there was potential to boost Southern Sun’s occupancy levels from the current 58.6% to around 65% with a better economic environment and more certain policy framework. “We don’t want to be at 58.6% in terms of occupancy; we want to be somewhere in the mid sixties. The economy is in trouble. We need the South African economy to perform smoothly,” he said. Southern Sun reckons that its current occupancy levels reflect “the…

CELEBRATING its 25th anniversary this year, Cape Town Opera presents Gaetano Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor at the Artscape next month. Directed by industry legend and Cape Town Opera’s co-founder and honorary patron Angelo Gobbato, and with Kamal Khan conducting the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, Lucia di Lammermoor is poised to enthral both seasoned opera enthusiasts and newcomers. With its timeless tale of love, betrayal and madness, the opera remains as relevant today as it was when it first premiered in 1835. From the soaring melodies of the famous Mad Scene to the intricate ensemble numbers, Lucia di Lammermoor is filled with raw emotion and musical brilliance, a true testament to Donizetti’s genius and to the enduring power of this thrilling art form. It is fitting that Cape Town Opera has…

THE country’s sixth Parliament, whose term expired at midnight on Tuesday, has been unprecedented, historical, and foundational. “It’s also been a mixed bag with moments of progress, turbulence, controversy, and setbacks.” This is according to a review compiled by the Parliamentary Monitoring Group (PMG), an information service that provides information on all parliamentary committee proceedings. In their report, the PMG’s project manager Monique Doyle and executive director Rashaad Alli said the sixth national legislature found itself contending with Covid-19 at the start of the term and faced criticism for seemingly relinquishing its oversight duty of Cabinet. “Parliament should be commended for adopting as it did, even amending rules to accommodate the ‘new reality’. “Besides obvious drawbacks, virtual/hybrid sittings and meetings have many positive attributes. “These include cost saving, greater participation,…

Olive oil 400g button mushrooms, sliced 4 tbs butter 1 tsp dried oregano 4 cloves garlic, finely grated 750g store-bought pizza dough 50g Parmesan cheese, grated 200g cheddar cheese, grated ¼ cup fresh parsley, roughly chopped Salt and pepper, to taste Preheat the oven to 180˚C. Grease a bundt pan with a little olive oil. Heat a drizzle of the olive oil in a large frying pan. Pan fry the mushrooms until golden brown and they have released their liquid. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Melt the butter, along with the garlic, in a small saucepan. When the garlic smells fragrant, add the oregano and remove from the heat. On a lightly floured surface, cut the dough into golf ball-sized chunks. Dip the pieces of dough in the garlic…

The DA wants Parliament to amend the Constitution in order to establish a new Chapter 9 institution to be called the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). This emerged in a notice DA MP Glynnis Breytenbach published in the “Government Gazette” last month as a way of formality in introducing a private member’s bill for consideration by the National Assembly. Breytenbach in a statement said the ACC will be mandated to investigate and prosecute serious corruption and high-level organised crime. “Currently, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), which is solely responsible for the prosecution of people responsible for serious corruption and high-level organised crime, has been unable to successfully prosecute these criminals, a failing which needs to be addressed through constitutional amendments,” she said. In her notice, Breytenbach said the Corruption Perceptions Index ranked…

Documents being sourced as part of the provincial government’s probe into the George building collapse include construction drawings, planning and approval applications, occupational health and safety reports and site diaries. Last week, Premier Alan Winde and officials received a status update from the team of structural engineers appointed by the provincial government to investigate the cause of the building collapse on May 6. V3 Consulting Engineers is leading the provincial government’s investigation, which comprises several phases. The probe was launched a day after the tragedy. “While we are aware of other investigations that are under way by other bodies, this incident happened in our province and impacted our residents. As premier I have a responsibility to our residents to ensure that we get the answers that everyone is seeking,” said…

THE Western Cape Education Department’s (WCED) attempt to have ex-principal Wesley Neumann’s review application struck from the court roll has failed. This is after Labour Court Judge Robert Lagrange dismissed the department's application on Tuesday. The Heathfield High School former headmaster filed a review application in the court in July 2023 in a bid to overturn a dismissal ruling by the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC). He has been fighting to be reinstated to his position since he was fired in 2022 following charges of defying an instruction to open his school during the Covid-19 pandemic. “Mr Neumann does articulate specific issues which he claims the arbitrator failed to consider as grounds of review. Whether he has made out a cogent case in law for review and can support his…

THE ANC’s reliance on the influence of former leaders, and not solely its government track record, could be the reason it felt betrayed when Jacob Zuma decided to switch tables on the eve of next week’s crucial election to join the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP), which he now leads. ANC leaders, in particular those in KwaZulu-Natal, have come to understand the potential impact Zuma’s decision could have on the party’s fortunes in that province. That could be the reason why the party unleashed the likes of President Cyril Ramaphosa to frequent the province where the ANC faces a prospect of losing considerable support, not only because of the Zuma issue but because of the IFP, which seeks to position itself as the alternative to the ANC and MKP. This background…

Chadian Prime Minister Succès Masra said yesterday that he had handed in his resignation, just over two weeks after his defeat to junta chief Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno in presidential elections. Deby, 40, won the May 6 presidential vote with 61% of the ballot, according to final results, and is due to be sworn in at an investiture ceremony today in the capital, N’Djamena. He was proclaimed transitional president in April 2021 by a junta of 15 generals after his father, iron-fisted president Idriss Deby Itno, was shot dead by rebels after 30 years in power. Masra, also 40 and once a fierce Deby opponent before becoming prime minister four months ago, won 18.5% of the vote, but contested the results. “I’ve just submitted my resignation and that of the…

Lille: A “river of mud” triggered by a sudden storm flooded dozens of houses in northern France, prompting evacuations, authorities said yesterday. The 20 minute “deluge” hit villages in the east of the Somme department, not far from the border with Belgium, late on Tuesday. The storm triggered large mudslides in some places and set loose a “river of mud” in the worst-hit village of Sailly-Laurette. Sixteen vehicles were swept away at Sailly-Laurette, which is on the banks of the River Somme. Eleven homes were flooded, some roads destroyed and 24 people evacuated. Locals were yesterday clearing a thick layer of mud from streets and gardens. | AFP…

HARARE: The UN World Food Programme (WFP) needs $400 million (R7 billion) to feed millions of people in southern Africa following a drought that plunged parts of the region into hunger, the programme said yesterday. The WFP said it needed urgent funding for six months to support drought relief in Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi, after harvests fell as a result of an El Niño-induced drought that has affected 4.8 million people. About 70% of the southern African population that relies on rain-fed agriculture had their harvests “wiped out” by lack of rains, said WFP spokesperson Tomson Phiri. The WFP is looking to buy grain from outside markets. | Reuters…

NOUMEA: President Emmanuel Macron yesterday flew to France’s Pacific territory of New Caledonia on a politically risky visit aiming to defuse a crisis after nine days of riots that have killed six people and injured hundreds. Macron’s sudden decision to fly to the southwest Pacific archipelago, 7 000km from mainland France, is a sign of the gravity with which the government views the separatist strife. Police have arrested more than 280 rioters amid the unrest. Kanak separatists, who have blocked major roads, make up about 40% of the population and oppose a plan to extend voting rights to those who have lived in the territory for at least 10 years. | AFP…

The hitherto unbeaten Mamelodi Sundowns are on the verge of establishing themselves as the ‘Invincibles’ of South African football. With one match left on the DStv Premiership calendar, Sundowns are about to complete an entire league season without losing a game – a feat never achieved before in the annals of local football. This is arguably one of the most impressive achievements a football team can pull off. If Sundowns defeat Cape Town City at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday (3pm kick-off) they will join Europe’s elite six teams who have gone through the league campaign unbeaten: AC Milan (1991/92), Arsenal (2003/04), Juventus (2011/12), Celtic (2016/17), Rangers (2020/21) and Bayer Leverkusen (2023/24). The all-conquering Masandawana have passed several milestones in the past few weeks. On Saturday, they could pass a few…