Tabla de contenidos para 2022-05-23 en Cape Times

From page 1 most likely an attempt to conflate unrelated matters with the investigation into Mnqasela. “The DA has a zero-tolerance approach to corruption, and when evidence-based allegations arise, we hold our office bearers to account, without fear or favour. It is telling that certain commentators see the DA taking action against potential fraud as being ‘damaging to its reputation’. The public expects nothing less than the DA’s level of transparency and accountability.” Hawks spokesperson Brigadier Thandi Mbambo said they received the documentation from the DA and were busy evaluating it to determine which mandate it fell under. University of Stellenbosch’s School of Public Leadership’s Dr Zwelinzima Ndevu said the issue with Mnqasela was something that the DA should be dealing with internally so that the directive from the party…

The provincial department of local government, environmental affairs and development planning has identified major risks going into the winter months, including mudslides associated with ongoing wet weather. This is according to the Provincial Winter Preparedness plan. MEC Anton Bredell said some of the risks identified include heavy rains and flooding, low temperatures, informal settlement fires and electricity constraints. Bredell said to address the risks, several proactive steps had already been taken, including an agreement with the SANDF to use helicopters in rescue operations and awareness-raising among people living in low-lying informal settlements. He said the recent flood disaster in KwaZulu-Natal was a wake-up call for everyone that tragedy could strike at any time. “At the heart of this matter is the fact that disasters happen, and it is almost always…

SOCIAL Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu has made a startling revelation that the CEO of the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) Totsie Memela is without a security clearance certificate, three years into her appointment. This apparently also applies to some in Memela’s office. Memela and her staff only submitted their vetting forms for top secret security clearance certificates in the period between 2020 and May this year. At least one official will have to undergo vetting afresh after waiting for five years for the results by the State Security Agency. This emerged after DA MP Bridget Masango wrote to Zulu enquiring whether all staff members at the office of Memela and her office security were vetted. She also asked whether Zulu would furnish her with the security clearance reports. In…

FROM May 10 to 21 last year, Israeli airstrikes and shelling on the Gaza Strip killed 256 people, including 66 children. About 2 000 Palestinians were injured during the bombing, including more than 600 children and 400 women, some of whom sustained injuries resulting in long-term disability such as loss of limbs or eyesight. In Israel, there were 13 deaths and 700 injuries as a result of rockets fired from the Gaza Strip. On May 21 last year, an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire came into effect and the bombings stopped. This trauma – of fearing for your life, of seeing your home in ruins, and of daily economic hardship – has been compounded by events in May 2021. The mental health crisis in Gaza is now even more acute. Of the 2…

THIS incident of a white kid urinating upon a black child’s possessions brings back painful memories. Back in 1989, white miners at President Steyn gold mine in Welkom urinated on our heads in a cage, almost every week. We were so ashamed, we kept quiet about it. We showered the urine away and tried to maintain our dignity as men. Now, 33 years later a white kid does something similar to a black child. What a coincidence if at all? The question that lingers in my mind is why we deserve to be urinated upon while white men who treat black people humanely deserve restorative justice?…

THE Western Cape High Court has ordered an urgent investigation into the care and contact of 6-year-old girl following the minor’s shocking allegations of sexual abuse by her father. According to court documents, the girl’s parents are currently going through a divorce while the girl lives with her maternal grandmother. The investigation was launched after the mother said her daughter told her in September, 2018 that her father had been “touching and hurting her”, and now sought the court to appoint expert forensic psychologist, Dr Leigh Pettigrew to conduct a care and contact assessment. The father has denied the allegations and also launched an urgent conditional application for the appointment of Dr Matilda Smit to conduct the same assessment. Court documents read: “The child informed (the mother) that (her father)…

SAFEGUARDING people’s health relies on resilient health systems that ensure everyone has access to the good quality services they need, without facing financial hardship. The World Health Organization (WHO) calls it “universal health coverage”. In Britain, it is the revered National Health Service (NHS), funded from national insurance contributions and general taxation, but crucially “free at the point of delivery”. In South Africa, the aspiration is that the National Health Insurance’s (NHI) first phase could be implemented by the end of the year. It is contentious because of the alleged lack of transparency in the consultation process and the failure of the Department of Health to say how it intends to fund the NHI. What is considered by billions as a fundamental human right (or at least it ought to…

Kabul: Women presenters on Afghanistan’s leading TV channels went on air on Saturday without covering their faces, defying a Taliban order to conceal their appearance and comply with the group’s austere brand of Islam. Previously they had only been required to wear a headscarf. Earlier this month Afghanistan’s supreme leader issued a decree for women to cover up fully in public, ideally with the traditional burqa. The feared Ministry for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice ordered women TV presenters to follow suit from Saturday. But the presenters defied the order and went on air with their faces visible, only to fall in line with the directive yesterday. |…

Santiago: Popular Pacific Ocean tourist destination Easter Island will be reopened to tourists on August 1, more than two years after it was closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Chilean government has said. The island, located 3 500km west of the coast of Chile, is world-famous for its “moais” – huge stone statues in human form partially buried in the earth. The original reopening date in February did not materialise under the government of former president Sebastian Pinera. The authorities drew up a new plan to reopen the island after leftist President Gabriel Boric took office in March. |…

French President Emmanuel Macron unveiled his new cabinet on Friday, holding on to more ministers from his last government than had been anticipated after he promised a “new way” of ruling following his re-election in April. In total the new government has 27 members with 17 ministries, six ministries delegates and four secretaries of state. Macron named Elisabeth Borne as prime minister on May 16. The new government will hold its first cabinet meeting at the Elysee today, reported French news channel BFMTV. Here is a list of who holds key portfolios: Bruno le Maire, 53, was appoint finance minister. He served as finance minister throughout Macron’s first term, pushing through tax cuts and pro-business reforms before propping up the Covid-19-ravaged economy with unprecedented state support for companies and households.…

Sydney: Australia’s opposition leader Anthony Albanese has vowed to make the country a renewable energy “superpower”, after claiming victory in national elections. Albanese said he would be sworn in as the 31st prime minister today along with four senior party members, before heading to Tokyo to attend a “Quad” summit tomorrow. Australia’s Labour Party will form the country’s next government today, as unprecedented support for the Greens and climate-focussed independents ended nearly a decade of rule by the conservative coalition. |…

From page 1 “When we got back to the residence I told my friends that I think I have been raped. They told me they will run me a bath and we can talk about it in the morning. “When I got into the bath, the blood was covering the water. We reported it to the house manager who then called the police. “It has been a week now. The university has offered me counseling. I don’t know if I am ready yet to open up,” she said. The student’s family said they were battling to cope after the incident. “We can’t cope as we think of the things that our daughter went through. It is very traumatic. We think of our child who is going through so much. We…

JOBURG mayor Mpho Phalatse said she was concerned about her own life following the deaths of at least three mayors in the past year. Phalatse was speaking at the funeral of the late former mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Mpho Moerane, who died at the Milpark Hospital last week, after slipping into a coma following a car accident. His medical team had tried their best to revive him. Speaking at Moerane’s funeral in Alexandra yesterday, the current mayor of the city said there was fear that she would be the next one to die since she was succeeding at least three dead mayors. Some among the mourners murmured and gasped as Phalatse spoke about herself in this way. Phalatse said the city had lost about 18 councillors to death.…

POLICE are investigating the rape of a first-year CPUT student during a social event on campus last week. The 18-year-old, from Oudtshoorn, said she was pulled away from her friends by a stranger who called her name at the event. “On May 14 we got notified that there will be a bash for students at the SS hall behind the residences. My friends and I decided to go. When we got there I wandered off to socialise and met a few new people. I was talking to the new people close to my friends, where my friends could see me. “After a while I headed to my group of friends to ask if we could leave because it was getting really cold. A man appeared out of nowhere and pulled…

THE Israeli-Palestinian conflict seems to be a hard nut to crack. Many have tried but all have failed. We thus cannot blame John Steenhuisen for not getting involved (Mohamed Saeed’s letter on May 10). To be honest, the elephant in the room is religion itself. The Israelis say they have received a revelation from God via Moses. The Palestinians say they have received a revelation from Allah via the Prophet. One god delivering two opposing messages? Impossible! Either one is true and the other false or both are false. To complicate matters, the Christians have their own version. All three theistic religions declare that God/Allah has revealed a special message to a chosen one/few. Rather odd no witnesses were present. Opportunistic followers believed their message and even declared, “I will…

Ingredients Marrow or meaty bones (very important for the flavour) 1 packet of samp and beans 5 carrots grated on the fine side of the grater 2 onions grated 1 cup of chopped celery 4 cloves 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon pepper Method Soak samp and beans in water overnight, rinse and add in a pot with 4 cups of hot water and washed bones and cloves, boil for about two hours or until beans are completely soft. Add carrots, onion and celery, salt and pepper with a further 3 cups of hot water and cook for another hour, stirring occasionally. Serve with freshly baked bread. Optional: you may add some tomato paste, soft-cooked split peas or sugar beans for more flavour.…

WHILE SPORT, Art and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa remains mum on plans to change the name of the Afrikaans Language Museum and Monument (ATM), Western Cape MEC for Cultural Affairs and Sport, Anroux Marais has criticised the proposed move. According to the ATM director, Michael Jonas, Mthethwa mentioned the plans at the annual signing ceremony of the shareholder compact agreement between the department and all heads and chairs of the public entities that fall under his portfolio on March 10. “It is correct that the honourable minister of sport, arts and culture, Nathi Mthethwa, on March 10, 2022 said in Pretoria that the ATM’s name must change” said Jonas. “In response, the institution decided to launch a consultation process to investigate the feasibility of a possible name change.” He added…

CAPE Flats crime activist Roegshanda Pascoe says the deployment of police officers in Manenberg following the recent gang-related violence was not solely the answer. This as 32 additional members from various services, including the Gang and Drug Task Team (GDTT), K9 and the Tactics and Rescue Unit (TRU), were deployed in Manenberg over the weekend to assist police. This also follows a video clip circulating on social media showing a group of men shooting at each other. Pascoe said the people, along with the government, should work hand-in-hand to eradicate gang violence. She said more needed to be done about gangsters accessing guns. “As activists in Manenberg (when we) claimed that they are using automatic weapons, we were always made out as liars. How did the gang come about to…

Need to reprioritise resources to curb hunger in early childhood development centres WHENEVER I hear community elders warning unmarried traditional leaders of the danger of stunting or dying from hunger and starvation if they do not get married soon, I wonder whether this counselling denies the young the freedom of choice on marital issues. Among these leaders are AmaRharhabe King Vululwandle Sandile, iNkosi Zanoxolo Ngwabeni of amaGubevu in Butterworth, and iNkosi Bazindlovu Matanzima of abaThembu in Cofimvaba. Does anyone remember how former president Jacob Zuma once provoked anger by claiming that it is “not right” for women to be single and that children are important to give them “extra training”, in a 2012 TV interview with Dali Tambo? My wondering was rudely interrupted by the shocking revelations in Parliament last…

Kano: An enraged mob went on a rampage in the northern Nigerian state of Bauchi over alleged blasphemy by a Christian resident, the third such incident in days in the predominantly Muslim part of the country, police said on Saturday. Blasphemy is highly sensitive in Africa’s most populous country, which is almost equally divided between the mostly Christian south and the mostly Muslim north. Intercommunal tensions often flare up. On Friday a mob set homes and shops on fire in the town of Warji, 100km from the state capital, Bauchi, following “a blasphemous message posted on social media by one Rhoda Jatau”, state police said. |…

Israeli forces shot and killed a 17-year-old Palestinian militant in clashes in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin on Saturday, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group said. The Israeli military said Palestinian suspects fired on its soldiers and threw fire-bombs at them. “The soldiers responded with live fire toward the suspects. Hits were identified,” the military said. It was not immediately clear whether the teenager killed was one of those suspects. The Palestinian Health Ministry confirmed his death. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad group described the teen as one of its members and said he had taken part in the fighting against the Israeli soldiers. Photos circulated on social media showed him holding a rifle. Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh condemned the killing. “We warn against the consequences of the occupation’s…

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and his US counterpart Joe Biden visited an Air Force operations centre yesterday on the last stop of the latter’s three-day trip to Seoul. The two visited the Korean Air and Space Operations Centre at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, 70 km south of Seoul, and met American and South Korean troops stationed there, reports Yo. The visit underscored the allies’ firm readiness against North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats after Yoon and Biden agreed during Saturday’s summit to expand the scope of combined military exercises. The US and South Korea have also agreed to work more closely on crucial trade and supply-chain issues, the US Commerce Department announced on Saturday. Establishing a US-Korea Supply Chain and Commercial Dialogue, the statement said, would “foster increased…

Los Angeles: Pop megastar Madonna was shocked to receive a notification saying she had “violated community guidelines” when attempting to go live on Instagram. Speaking in a video posted to her Instagram page, Madonna said: “Guys we’re gonna go live. What the f***? We’re blocked from Live? Ew, what’s happening?” The Material Girl hitmaker went on to reference her frequent nude photos shared on the app and joked that at that moment she was fully clothed and was left “speechless” when issued with the warning from the Meta-owned app. Instagram explained that she must “respect” others on the platform and “follow the law”. “We want Instagram to continue to be an authentic and safe place for inspiration and expression. Help us foster this community.” In November 2021, the singer defiantly…

Ilkay Gundogan hailed Manchester City's "incredible" Premier League title triumph as the German midfielder came off the bench to spark their astonishing fightback to beat Aston Villa 3-2 on the last day of the season. Pep Guardiola's side were in grave danger of blowing the title after falling two goals behind at the Etihad Stadium, with a victory required to be sure of pipping Liverpool to the trophy. But German international Gundogan proved City's super-sub as he headed home to give them a lifeline in the 76th minute. After Rodri equalised, it was Gundogan who wrote his name into City's history books with the 81st minute winner from Kevin de Bruyne's cross. City finished just one point ahead of Liverpool, who beat Wolves 3-1 in their last game, and Gundogan…

KHAYELITSHA and Gugulethu are tipped to have new offices constructed to cater for the high number of people requiring the services of the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa). This was according to Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu when responding to parliamentary questions from DA MP Alexandra Abrahams. Abrahams enquired whether Sassa intended to establish more offices and increase staff capacity within the Western Cape in order to keep up with increased demand. She said the Stats SA mid-year population estimates showed that provinces such as Gauteng and Western Cape have the highest provincial in-migration numbers, while provinces such as Eastern Cape, Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal have the highest provincial out-migration numbers. Abrahams also enquired whether Sassa intended to reinstate the regular usage of community halls and civic centres within…

NATIONAL Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula said the restoration of the two buildings gutted by fire in Parliament in January was not yet on the cards. This as the South African Heritage Resources Agency (Sahra) says it will treat Parliament as a priority in efforts to restore the buildings gutted by fire earlier this year. The National Prosecution Authority (NPA) is also set to make a decision on whether the man accused of arson, Zandile Christmas Mafe, will be charged for violating the National Heritage Act. On Friday, Parliament heard that the extent of damage, the cost of the damage and the restoration costs were pending a final report by Coega Development Corporation (CDC). “Restoration process can only be a discussion by Parliament once we have received the final report from…

Senior DA member and provincial legislature Speaker Masizole Mnqasela has defied the party, refusing to step down and claiming he was “ambushed” by members of his party about allegations of fraud and corruption. Stepping down would mean admitting guilt, said Mnqasela, who is among the few remaining senior black leaders in the party in the Western Cape. The DA in the province handed over documents to the Hawks for investigation after whistle-blowers provided DA caucus leader and Premier Alan Winde with submissions relating to subsistence, travel and entertainment allowance claims linked to Mnqasela. The party said the whistle-blowers, who apparently wished to remain anonymous, recently submitted protected disclosures, with documentary evidence, resulting in Winde advising Mnqasela to step down amid the investigation. But during a press briefing yesterday, Mnqasela…

YOUR May 19 edition, “Racial divisions hamper Stats SA in Western Cape” refers: It is unfortunately shocking to read how racial divisions have crept into an exercise such as our census. The reality, however, is properly reflected in the above-mentioned article and is going to be difficult to reverse. I remember from over 50 years ago when the census officials came to my parents’ home and my parents were too scared to tell them that they were Jewish. When I asked why, my dad explained that the early Nationalist government had made many anti-Semitic statements and he was fearful that some sort of action would be taken against the family. Despite me trying to argue with him at the time, he kept referring back to the Holocaust that had swept…

A 2-YEAR-OLD child was killed when a bus carrying a Wittedrift rugby team, staff, supporters and family members, crashed near Plettenberg Bay on Saturday after its breaks allegedly failed. According to information, the bus had travelled on a detour road connecting on to the N2 – because the Saasveld Road near George is closed due to flood damage – and plummeted down an embankment. Police spokesperson, Christopher Spies, said a culpable homicide docket has been opened for investigation after the crash at Wilderness Heights, outside George, at about 6.15pm on Saturday. “A preliminary investigation has revealed that a passenger bus with 35 occupants, including rugby players and supporters from Plettenberg Bay, was travelling from Saasveld. The vehicle left the road, went down a cliff and came to a halt next…

Stellenbosch University has postponed exams for a week following allegations of discrimination, racism and rape on campus. The decision followed an unprecedented and unified request from all student leadership structures, the university said on Saturday. Deputy vice-chancellor of Learning and Teaching, Professor Deresh Ramjugernath said the institution approached the decision by accepting that there had been significant “trauma and discomfort” among students. “I think it's obviously challenging, particularly when you have already made plans. But the events that took place on campus and the challenges that have been faced by a significant portion of our students are such that they are all regrettably going to be affected by it. “This decision is clearly unprecedented and was not taken lightly, but made in consultation and after careful deliberation. We finally came…

CHIEF Justice Raymond Zondo may spend most of his remaining time on the Bench defending himself against allegations that he plays into ANC factional politics. He now finds himself having to answer to a complaint before the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) by ANC national executive committee (NEC) member, Tony Yengeni. Yengeni, who lodged the complaint in his personal capacity, took issue with Justice Zondo’s remarks in his latest State Capture Report that the election of President Cyril Ramaphosa as ANC leader saved the country from “further damage”. He argues that there was no evidence before Justice Zondo as the chairperson of the State Capture Commission to back his claims, and that this cannot go unchallenged. The perception that Justice Zondo seems to be easily drawn into political matters is further…

Moscow: Russia has published a list of 963 leading Americans, including US President Joe Biden, Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg and actor Morgan Freeman, who are banned from entering the country in retaliation for moves by Washington for the offensive in Ukraine. Those named in the list on Saturday on the Russian foreign ministry’s website also include US government officials, lawmakers and other leading figures. Moscow had earlier announced sanctions targeting many of those on the list, in particular Biden’s Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Pentagon head Lloyd Austin. |…

Conakry: Guinean ex-leader Alpha Conde boarded a plane for Turkey at the weekend after the junta that toppled him authorised his travel abroad for medical treatment, officials said. The 84-year-old Conte, who was ousted last year, has been allowed to travel out of respect for his “dignity and integrity” and for “humanitarian reasons”, the junta’s governing body said. Conde had “medical appoint-ments” abroad, the National Rallying Committee for Development said, without providing details about his health, where he would be treated or the length of time he would be out of the country. |…

Global health officials have sounded the alarm over rising cases in Europe and elsewhere of monkey- pox, a type of viral infection more common to west and central Africa. At the weekend, some 80 monkeypox cases had been confirmed and an additional 50 were under investigation in 11 countries, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The risk to the general public is low at this time, a US public health official told reporters at a briefing on Friday. Monkeypox is a virus that can cause symptoms including fever, aches and presents with a distinctive bumpy rash. It is related to smallpox, but is usually milder, particularly the West African strain that was identified in a US case, which has a fatality rate of around 1%. Most people fully recover…

The Russian military said it had destroyed a major consignment of Western arms in Ukraine’s Zhytomyr region, west of Kyiv, using sea-launched Kalibr cruise missiles. The defence ministry said in a statement the strike took out “a large batch of weapons and military equipment delivered from the US and European countries” and intended for Ukrainian troops in the eastern Donbas region where the fighting is concentrated. Reuters could not verify the report, which also said Russian missiles had struck fuel storage facilities near Odesa on the Black Sea and shot down two Ukrainian Su-25 aircraft and 14 drones. In its latest update, the defence ministry also said Russia had struck numerous Ukrainian command posts. The West has stepped up weapons supplies to Ukraine and Russia’s military is trying to intercept…