Cape Timesの 2023-11-06 の目次

THE merciless killing of civilians in Gaza is a clear violation of international law and a gross violation of the United Nations charter. The grave situation in Gaza is spiralling out of control. The brutal actions of all those involved are a gross violation of international law as set out in the Nuremberg principles. Principles of international law recognised in the charter of the Nuremberg tribunal and the judgment of the tribunal in 1950: Principle 1 Any person who commits an act which constitutes a crime under international law is responsible therefore and liable for punishment. Principle II The fact that internal law does not impose a penalty for an act which constitutes a crime under international law does not relieve the person who committed the act from responsibility under…

AS A naturalised Australian born on the continent of Africa I found it culturally fascinating for Moroccans that Roman-era style ancient ruins have been unearthed at what was once a bustling port city near Rabat, the capital of modern day Morocco. That this fortified necropolis and surrounding settlements near the Atlantic Ocean was first settled by the Phoenicians and then became a key Roman outpost from the second to fifth centuries will certainly provide years of further archaeological investigation which will inevitably boost tourism numbers from both Moroccans and visitors from abroad.…

Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu has identified the unlocking of the bottlenecks that brought the R4-billion Clanwilliam Dam project to a halt, and seeing the project through to completion as the biggest priority for his department. “What we see happening here at the dam construction site is encouraging and there is no stopping until we finish. The dam currently yields about 123 million cubic metres of water and when the project is completed, is expected to yield 343 million cubic metres of water, thus bringing into the system almost double the current yield,” he said. He made the remarks during his recent visit to the project that was marred by delays in the procurement process, forcing the deadline of its completion to April 2027 from March 2023. The department…

Bangladesh police have arrested nearly 8 000 opposition figures in a nationwide crackdown since officers broke up a major rally in the capital a week ago, a report said yesterday. The sweeping wave of detentions comes ahead of a general election due in January. The country’s major opposition, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), and its allies have been staging giant rallies in recent months demanding Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina step down and allow a neutral government to supervise the vote. Hasina has overseen impressive growth in her 15 years of power, but she has been accused of ruling the South Asian nation with an iron fist. The US has imposed sanctions on some of its most senior police figures for widespread human rights violations. More than 100 000 opposition supporters joined…

An armed father who took his four-year-old daughter hostage, forcing the suspension of flights at Hamburg airport, gave himself up “without resistance” yesterday after hours of negotiations, German police said. The 35-year-old man had barricaded himself and the child in his car at the foot of a Turkish Airlines plane on Saturday evening, demanding to be allowed on board after a custody dispute with the mother. He had rammed his car through the security area onto the apron where planes are parked, firing two shots in the air and throwing two burning bottles out of the vehicle, police said. “The hostage-taking has ended,” local police posted on X yesterday afternoon. “The man has left his car with his daughter and been taken for questioning by security forces without resistance,” it…

LUANDA: During a summit meeting on Saturday in Luanda, the capital of Angola, heads of state from various Southern African countries expressed their concern about the security situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), condemning M23 attacks as a “clear violation of the ceasefire”. According to a statement provided by the Angolan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, heads of state and government of the Southern African Development Community at the summit meeting conveyed their worry about the deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in the region. They also expressed concern about reports of the M23 resuming attacks. | Xinhua…

Manila: A radio broadcaster was fatally shot inside his studio in the Philippines yesterday, police said, the latest in a long list of journalists killed in the country. Juan Jumalon, 57, was in his home-based studio on the southern island of Mindanao when a gunman shot him in the head, said Captain Deore Ragonio, police chief in Calamba municipality. Jumalon is the fourth journalist to be slain since President Ferdinand Marcos took office in June 2022, the National Union of Journalists said, condemning “the brazen killing”. Marcos condemned the “murder” of Jumalon and ordered the authorities to “swiftly bring the perpetrators to justice”. | AFP…

CLIENTÈLE Limited’s acquisition of 1Life Insurance was accretive and would result in a combined embedded value of about R7.8 billion, with almost 1.5 million contracts that would improve scale and enhance future value, a statement said on Friday. Clientèle had announced on October 24 that it had entered into an agreement with Telesure Investment Holdings (TIH), for Clientèle to acquire 100% of the share capital of 1Life held by TIH for a purchase consideration that would be settled through an issue of shares in Clientèle. The companies announced the landmark conclusion of the merger agreement on Friday. Clientèle’s share price increased 1.4% to R10.90 on Friday, this after the share had traded in a similar range over the past 12 months. Three years ago the share traded at…

AUDITOR-GENERAL Tsakani Maluleke said her office had found that issuing material irregularity notifications to accounting officers often jolted them into action to address irregularities and transgressions they should have dealt with previously. “In 86% of cases, nothing was being done to address the material irregularities we identified until we issued the notifications. Through the material irregularities process, accounting officers have taken action, leading to financial losses totalling R511.76 million being prevented, already recovered or in the process of being recovered,” Maluleke said. She was briefing the standing committee of the auditor general on Friday on the material irregularities in the local government sphere during the 2021-22 financial year. Maluleke said she was required to report on how she applied powers that were given to her in terms of the Public…

Ngonyama alarmed at release of final outcomes while her court review process was pending One-sided, unverified and untested is how former UCT council chairperson Babalwa Ngonyama has described a report by the independent panel chaired by retired Supreme Court of Appeal president Judge Lex Mpati, which she said has led to the unlawful damage and defamation inflicted upon her dignity, reputation and character. Ngonyama, who was according to the report “placing” UCT at risk, said the panel denied her the right to respond to allegations levelled against her. The long-awaited report which was made public by the university last week recommended that Ngonyama be reported to the appropriate regulatory authorities for “failing to perform her fiduciary duty to UCT”. The alleged failure in her fiduciary duty included not holding former…

OUR Finance Minister now plans to borrow over R500 billion in each of the next three years to subsidise the gap between the country’s revenue and expenditure. Who on earth is going to lend us this money when we already owe trillions? This highly dangerous situation arises because the ANC government has proved to be totally incapable of managing our finances. Our SOE’s are similarly insolvent and rely on treasury support (for how long?) It’s high time for drastic action.If the Finance Minister isn’t willing to take it, he must be replaced immediately. Experienced independent financial consultants should be employed to scrutinise all departmental cost centres to identify wasteful and unnecessary expenditure. As a start, the Parliamentary structure should be drastically slashed. We don’t need 400 members. Their perks need…

FOUR accused cash-in-transit robbers – suspected to be operating as part of a syndicate linked to a corrupt mall security officer as their “inside man” have failed in their bid to appeal against a denied bail application and will spend their time awaiting trial behind bars. Siphelele Ngcobo, Nkosomzi Cuba, Unathi Mooi and Siphumelele Figlan, who are facing charges of the illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, had attempted to appeal against their denied bail application. The four were nabbed following an undercover operation, which was lauded by Western Cape High Court Judge Daniel Thulare, who said the suspects could face further charges as the matter was set to go on trial. According to court documents, it became apparent that Figlan had been in contact with a corrupt security officer…

The Laaiplek community is still reeling in shock following the gruesome find of a woman’s body in an open field near the Laaiplek Harbour. Community activists have joined the police in urging anyone with information to come forward and help identify the woman who was found on October 29 in a shallow grave covered with rubbish. They are also seeking the assistance of the public to locate the family of the unknown woman. According to police, nobody with the deceased’s description was reported missing at Laaiplek SAPS. “The body of an unidentified female was found in a pit in an open field near Laaiplek harbour. The victim’s body was discovered by a passer-by, covered with rubbish, and was only dressed in black jeans along the footpath through the field.…

Eskom's decision to implement a debt relief arrangement for municipalities owing the power utility R56.8 billion is a praiseworthy initiative that could help struggling councils recover their financial stability. Nevertheless, it is imperative for the National Treasury to ensure that these indebted municipalities do not evade responsibility but are held accountable for adhering to the stringent conditions set forth. Finance Minister Enock Godongwana, during his medium-term Budget policy statement in Parliament, unveiled this arrangement, which entails municipalities’ debts being written off over a three-year period, subject to specific criteria such as enhancing revenue collection and expediting the installation of smart meters. These conditions also encompass implementing rigorous credit controls and collecting revenue to cover essential expenses like electricity and water. Municipalities failing to meet these requirements will be obligated to…

China will further expand market access and increase imports, its premier told a trade fair in Shanghai yesterday, amid criticism from European firms who said they wanted to see more tangible improvement in the country’s business environment. Li Qiang told the opening ceremony of the annual China International Import Expo that the country was committed to opening up its economy, and that imports of goods and services were set to reach a cumulative $17 trillion within the next five years. “No matter how the world changes, China’s pace of opening up will never stall, and its determination to share development opportunities with the world will never change,” Li said. China will promote coordinated development of trade in goods and services, protect an international business environment, and relax market access including…

LONDON: A woman who has accused Russell Brand, 48, of sexually assaulting her on the set of Arthur in 2010 felt “used and abused” by him. The unnamed actress filed a civil lawsuit against the actor – hit by rape, assault and emotional abuse claims from 2006-2013, following a joint probe by two newspapers and the TV show Dispatches – in New York on Friday, accusing him of exposing himself to her in full view of cast and crew, then assaulting her in the toilets “as a crew member guarded the door”. | Bang ShowBiz…

PYONGYANG: North Korea has designated a “missile industry day” to mark a test-firing of its Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in 2022, reports said yesterday. North Korea test-fired the ICBM on November 18, 2022, with leader Kim Jong-un declaring that the missile reaffirmed his regime’s acquisition of a powerful and reliable capability to counter any nuclear threats, Yonhap news agency reported. November 18 was designated as the “missile industry day” because it displayed “the might of a world-class nuclear power and the strongest ICBM possessor was demonstrated to the whole world”. | IANS…

MOGADISHU: Flash and riverine floods caused by heavy rains have killed at least 14 people in Somalia, the UN humanitarian agency said Saturday. The UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs said since the start of the 2023 seasonal deyr (October to December) rains, floods have affected at least 405 652 people, with deaths mostly in four federal member states. “The majority of those affected are living within their settlements, but at least 47 000 people have relocated to higher grounds to avoid the risk of flooding,” OCHA said in the latest Flash Update released in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia. | Xinhua…

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) Board has been directed by Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister Blade Nzimande to submit a comprehensive report with explanations to him within the next three weeks. “This must inevitably include close monitoring of the very important service delivery aspects, which include the timeous payment of student allowances, as well as the continued accreditation of student accommodation,” said Nzimande. This comes after a damning forensic report implicated the institution’s fired CEO, Andile Nongogo, in alleged corruption, fraud, and illegal tender dealing. The investigation report by Werkmans Attorneys found Nongogo allegedly had a relationship with one of the companies appointed for the new NSFAS direct payment system. It ultimately recommended that NSFAS subject all bid evaluation committee members who are still within its employ…

I REFER to the article: “King Charles admits colonial abuses”, Cape Times, November 2. Does he have any plans to visit South Africa? He needs to apologise here as well. The actions of the British military during the Boer War were unjustified, appalling, inhumane and an awful example of man’s cruelty to fellow humans. The scorched earth policy and the shocking concentration camps that they created, in which hundreds of Boer women and children died, due to overcrowding, lack of food and decent health facilities will forever remain a South African tragedy. The so-called UK has a lot to answer and apologise for. Such pitiless behaviour from a so-called civilised country! I wonder if they ever will? Long live the King!…

EXPELLED University of Stellenbosch student Theuns du Toit, who was ousted over a urination incident, has lost his legal bid to have his expulsion reviewed. Du Toit turned to the Western Cape High Court for the review and setting aside of the decisions of the Central Disciplinary Committee and the Disciplinary Appeal Committee of the university, made against him. He also wanted the court to find him not guilty of having committed a violation of the university’s code of conduct and its residence’s rules, by reason that he was severely intoxicated at the time of the incident. The court, however, found on Thursday that the procedure followed by the Central Disciplinary Committee was in accordance with the code and was meant to be inquisitorial and informal. The procedure the…

Top US diplomat Antony Blinken made a surprise visit to the occupied West Bank yesterday, meeting with Palestinian Authority president Mahmud Abbas as Israel pressed its war to destroy Hamas – a war that has already claimed thousands of lives. Blinken arrived in Ramallah under tight security one day after meeting in Jordan with Arab foreign ministers angered by mounting civilian deaths in Gaza, where the Hamas-run health ministry said dozens were killed in a strike on a refugee camp. Washington has rebuffed calls for a ceasefire, instead backing Israel’s goal of crushing Hamas militants who staged the deadliest attack in the country’s history on October 7, killing more than 1 400 people and taking 240 hostages, according to Israeli officials. Israel has relentlessly bombarded the besieged Gaza Strip…

Search and rescue efforts after an earthquake in Nepal wrapped up yesterday as the focus shifted to providing relief to survivors awaiting food and shelter, officials said 36 hours after the disaster struck. At least 157 people were killed in isolated western districts of the Himalayan country when the 5.6-magnitude earthquake hit late Friday. Many survivors spent the night under the open sky, their mud houses reduced to piles of rubble. Several people died in the village of Nalgad, in the worst-hit Jajarkot district, where Mahesh Chanare prepared to cremate his father-in-law Sunday. “The rest of my family is safe,” the 34-year-old plumber told AFP. “But the houses have buried everything with them, there is hardly anything to eat,” he added. “No relief materials have reached us. People here desperately…

VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis made an urgent plea for a halt to the conflict in Gaza yesterday, calling for humanitarian aid and help for those injured in order to ease the “very grave” situation. “I keep thinking about the grave situation in Palestine and Israel where many people have lost their lives. I pray you to stop in the name of God, cease the fire,” he said, after his weekly Angelus prayer. The pontiff renewed his calls for a ceasefire and for the release of hostages taken by Hamas during its October 7 attack, focusing on the children, who he said “must return to their families”. A Gaza health official said yesterday that more than 9 770 Palestinians have been killed in the war since Hamas fighters launched a…

New Delhi: Authorities in the smog-ridden Indian capital New Delhi yesterday extended an emergency schools closure by a week, with no signs of improvement in the megacity’s choking levels of pollution. Every autumn New Delhi is blanketed in acrid smog, primarily blamed on stubble-burning by farmers in the neighbouring agrarian states. The city is regularly ranked as one of the most polluted on the planet, with its annual smog blamed for hundreds of thousands of premature deaths each year. As pollution levels continue to remain high, primary schools in Delhi will stay closed | AFP…

BALL: The late Shane Warne delivered a couple of beauties in his hey-day, namely “The Ball of the Century” to Mike Gatting and the ball that left Herschelle Gibbs spellbound in the 1999 World Cup semi-final. But Keshav Maharaj’s delivery to Shubman Gill was on par with either of Warne’s specials. The left-arm spinner drifted a delicate delivery into the pads, drawing Gill forward, before it turned sharply from outside the leg stump to hit the top of off. Gill was so surprised that he asked the umpires for a review to see whether the ball had actually hit the stumps. NERVES: Marco Jansen admitted ahead of the match that he was “nervous” about playing India in such a massive game. It duly showed with the 23-year-old seemingly overwhelmed…