Tabla de contenidos para 2024-07-03 en Cape Times

The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) has threatened to down tools at Ford South Africa over a dispute concerning bonuses, which could bring production at the vehicle-maker to a halt across the country. Numsa’s national spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola told Business Report yesterday that it was likely that most workers would go on strike from tomorrow given that the union is the only recognised union at Ford SA. “We are asking for a bonus. We are not specifying the amount at this time,” she said. In a statement issued by Numsa’s secretary-general Irvin Jim, the union said yesterday that Ford had “made a fortune” over the past four years globally, and could “definitely afford some kind of bonus”. Citing Macrotrends, Jim said Ford’s gross profit was $25.137 billion…

Every relationship hits those moments when you want to make an occasion extra special, be it celebrating a promotion, marking an anniversary or simply spicing up a date night. For many couples, adding a touch of intimacy can be the perfect ingredient to elevate the celebration. Enter the realm of special occasion sex – a delightful way to deepen your connection and create lasting memories. First, it's essential to alleviate any pressure you might feel about making the moment perfect. Remember, it's not about achieving perfection; it's about sharing a genuine and intimate experience with your partner. Sex is more than just a routine - it's about fun, connection, and communication with your partner. While sticking to what works is fine, exploring new things in bed can add excitement…

SOME parties that are part of the Government of National Unity (GNU) have indicated that they will not abandon their oversight role in holding the new government accountable. Freedom Front Plus leader Pieter Groenewald said his party accepted the Correctional Services Minister post in the cabinet to demonstrate its willingness to fulfil its role in the GNU to facilitate stability and progress in the country. “The party’s participation in the executive authority will ensure that the right policy is implemented to create equal opportunities for everyone in the country. “The decision was also made in order to promote the FF Plus’s policy directions with the sole aim of rebuilding South Africa and getting it back on the right track,” Groenewald said. He said the Freedom Front Plus would always reserve…

While the wind energy sector is optimistic about a positive future under the new Ministry of Electricity and Energy, led by Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, industry challenges remain a concern, particularly ahead of the REIPPPP BW7 submission deadline and the dwindling grid capacity in wind-rich areas. The South African Wind Energy Association (Sawea) said it supported the separation of Mineral Resources and Energy into two separate ministries as it enables the country to prioritise energy security with a special focus on electricity. “Through a concerted effort in forming this new Ministry of Electricity and Energy, led by Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa and Samantha Graham as deputy minister, the association is confident that South Africa’s energy security will be the central focus of unified collaborative efforts under the Government of National Unity,” Sawea…

Riot police fired tear gas grenades and charged at stone-throwing protesters in Nairobi and across Kenya yesterday in the most widespread unrest since at least two dozen protesters died in clashes a week ago. The nationwide demonstrations signalled that President William Ruto had failed to appease a youth protest movement, despite having abandoned plans for tax rises that triggered the unrest last week. Yesterday’s demonstrations began in an ebullient mood but turned more violent as the day wore on. In Nairobi’s downtown business district, police wearing helmets and carrying shields and wooden clubs charged at the protesters, and tear gas bombs exploded in the crowds. A kiosk was set ablaze in the centre of a street. Medics tended to a youth who lay on the pavement with a bloody hand.…

Hurricane Beryl was hurtling towards Jamaica yesterday as a monster Category 5 storm, after killing at least five people and causing widespread destruction in a deadly sweep across the southeastern Caribbean. Although expected to weaken slightly, the hurricane is still on track to slam into Jamaica today as a “near-major” storm, bringing life-threatening winds, storm surge, rain and flash flooding, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) warned. Beryl has already razed parts of the southeastern Caribbean as a Category 4 storm, killing at least three people in Grenada, one in St Vincent and the Grenadines, and one in Venezuela, officials said. The Prime Minister of Grenada, Dickon Mitchell, said the island of Carriacou – which the NHC said took a direct hit from the storm – has been all but…

South Africa’s port, electricity and rail logistical nightmares could be turning the corner for good, ArcelorMittal South Africa (Amsa) said yesterday, citing improvements in Transnet services and ready access to a R1 billion funding facility for its decision to keep its long steel manufacturing business operational. The company’s long steel product operations had been “operationally stable” for the first half of 2024. This at a time when the Vereeniging and Newcastle long steel business operations had been placed under review over the past six months. Despite the stability of the long steel business in the first half of this year, Amsa’s flats steel product operations in Vanderbijlpark had experienced “notable instability-levels” at the blast furnaces in April and May, 2024, due to chilled hearth conditions. Consequently, two weeks of sales…

From sports to music and fashion, South Africa stays winning. Internationally-acclaimed fashion designer Rich Mnisi was among the designers honoured at Paris Fashion Week this season as he was named as a Best Designer at the fourth edition of the Africa Fashion Up competition during Haute Couture Week. Africa Fashion Up is an organisation that focuses on bringing together African creation in Paris by spotlighting young African talents who are shaping the Africa of the 21st century and drawing inspiration from their history and traditions. Mnisi, who has showcased at Paris Fashion Week under the Tranoi show, took to Instagram to express his gratitude. “During Haute Couture Week in Paris, the Africa Fashion Up foundation honoured us with the Best African Designer award, selected by a distinguished committee from @balenciaga,…

Newly appointed Environment, Forestry and Fisheries Minister, DA’s Dion George said his focus will be on creating sustainable job opportunities and working “towards a greener economy over time”. “For the fisheries industry, I want the department to add value as an asset to the economy as well as creating sustainable job opportunities and creation of jobs,” George said. “I am also looking at the just energy transition for the country’s energy sector and the funding for that. There are also plans for the preservation of natural resources, national parks and to create a less wasteful economy and the repurposing of waste,” said George. Civil society organisation advocating for the rights of small scale fishers, Masifundise Development Trust, welcomed George’s appointment. Masifundise’s Carmen Mannarino expressed hope that George will carefully evaluate…

The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party expressed its unhappiness yesterday on not being consulted on the withdrawal from the National Assembly’s agenda yesterday the consideration of designation of the MPs to serve on the Judicial Service Commission (JSC). This comes after the designation of newly elected MPs to the JSC was deferred for consultation among parties. The designations of MPs to the JSC, a body which interviews and recommends judges for appointments and impeachment, was among the three items ANC chief whip Mdumiseni Ntuli asked to be withdrawn from the agenda of yesterday’s sitting. The two others are the election of three House chairpersons and the election of members to represent Parliament in the Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC-PF). “The reason for this withdrawal is to allow for further…

300g beef strips 45ml cake flour 15ml olive oil 15ml margarine 1 onion, cut into thin slices 1 clove garlic, crushed 5ml paprika 1 punnet button mushrooms, sliced 250ml Knorr beef stock pot 80ml water Sour cream Method Toss beef strips in cake flour to lightly coat then set aside. Heat olive oil and margarine in a pan and gently fry the onion and garlic for 5 minutes or until soft. Add the Robertsons Paprika and fry for 2 minutes to release the flavour and smoky aroma. Add the beef strips and fry for 5 minutes until well browned. Add the sliced button mushrooms and fry for 5 minutes to soften the mushrooms. Add the Knorr Beef Stock Pot with the water, stir well and bring to the boil. When…

When adolescents who have experienced maltreatment use alcohol and drugs to cope with their negative feelings, their risk of developing problematic substance abuse is greatly increased. This is according to a new study by UCT’s Psychology Department, conducted in several Cape Town schools by Psychology Master’s student Ayesha Assim and Associate Professor Debbie Kaminer, in collaboration with researchers at the Universities of Exeter and Stellenbosch. Past studies have found that young adults who endured childhood maltreatment are more prone to abusing substances when their use of alcohol or drugs is driven by coping motives – the belief that substances will help them to cope with feelings of anxiety, depression, or distress. By contrast, those who use substances for socialising, pleasure, or conforming to peer pressure face lower risks of developing…

A Northern Cape man has been sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment for attempted murder and a further six years for assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm after an axe attack on his former lover and child. “On December 2, 2023, the accused – Letlhgonolo Sejake – went to the house of his ex-girlfriend, with whom he has two children. “When he arrived at his former lover’s home, fuelled by the rage of jealousy that she had moved on, he started to attack her with an axe,” NPA spokesperson Mojalefa Senokoatsane said. “While attacking the victim, their six-year-old son was also injured in the process,” Senokoatsane said. During the trial, the court heard how the accused, who could not accept that their relationship was over, went on a drinking…

Former nurse Lucy Letby was found guilty yesterday of trying to murder another newborn baby, adding to convictions last year that made her Britain’s most prolific serial child killer of modern times. Letby, 34, was found guilty last August of murdering seven babies and trying to kill six more between June 2015 and June 2016 while working as a nurse in the neonatal unit of the Countess of Chester Hospital in Chester, northern England. She was jailed for life and told she would never be released. Letby denied having harmed any baby in her care. Last month, she went on trial for a second time on one count of attempted murder of a further baby girl, known as Child K, a charge on which the original jury had failed to…

Israeli forces bombarded several areas of the southern Gaza Strip yesterday and thousands of Palestinians fled their homes in what could be part of a final push of Israel’s intensive military operations in nine months of war. Eight Palestinians were killed and dozens wounded, health officials said. Israel’s military said that two soldiers had been killed in battle a day earlier. Israel’s leaders have said they were winding down the phase of intense fighting against Hamas, the Islamist group that has governed Gaza since 2007, and would soon shift into more targeted operations. Later yesterday, 17 Palestinians were killed in Israeli tank shelling of a street in the densely populated Zeitoun neighbourhood in Gaza City in the north of the Strip, medics said. Footage on some Palestinian social media that…

Cristiano Ronaldo has so often been Portugal’s saviour that potentially becoming the villain brought him to tears. The 39-year-old superstar was shown crying after missing a 105th-minute penalty in the Selecao’s Euro 2024 last-16 victory over Slovenia on Monday. Despite multiple attempts at goal and then Jan Oblak saving his spot-kick, Ronaldo could not pierce Slovenia’s sturdy defensive wall and eventually the match finished goalless after 120 minutes, leading to penalties. Taking Portugal’s first spot-kick, this time the former Real Madrid hitman did find the net and his team triumphed 3-0 on penalties after Diogo Costa saved all three Slovenia efforts. Ronaldo is now on a redemption trail and his side face France next in a rematch of the 2016 final that Portugal won in Paris to clinch their first…

The appointment of Nobuhle Nkabane as Minister of Higher Education has been praised as "progressive," but there are high expectations for her to address corruption in all institutions of higher learning. She was among the new ministers announced as part of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Cabinet on Sunday. Previously minister Blade Nzimande had the responsibility of heading both Higher Education, and Training, Science and Innovation. However, this has been separated into two ministries with minister Nkabane taking over Higher Education, which includes the mammoth task of guiding universities and colleges, the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) and SETAs, under the department’s wing. Nzimande now heads the Science, Technology and Innovation ministry. Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) investigations manager Rudie Heyneke expressed optimism about the appointment of Nkabane stating she had…

PAC leader spells out his priorities in crucial portfolio In a country where land ownership remains largely in the hands of minority groups, newly appointed Minister of Land Reform and Rural Development and PAC leader Mzwanele Nyhontso has identified the land reform programme and ensuring access to land as his key priorities when he assumes his role. Speaking during an interview with the Cape Times yesterday, he said: “The people are landless. The people are homeless. People do not have jobs. All their problems originate from the original sin of whites taking our land violently.” The most recent Land Audit Report, commissioned by the Rural Development and Land Reform Department in 2018, showed that whites owned the majority of land at 72%, followed by coloured people at 15%, Indians at…

A great disappointment – and it’s not the world cup defeat, despite the Proteas’ heroic efforts, that troubles me! Several excellent Cabinet appointments are overshadowed by really dubious folks taking up office: Paul Mashatile remains as the country’s 2IC; ageing Blade Ntsimande heads science and technology, and Angie Motshekga, on whose watch basic education collapsed and many school children still use pit toilets, is defence minister, a travesty that will see the defence force decline further. Several crooks – past and present – are MPs, earning fabulous salaries. Despite representations, the president did not create a department of maritime affairs to replace any of several deadbeat government departments. Instead, that vital portfolio remains within the transport ministry whose responsibilities cover the regulation and co-ordination of all types of transport. Inheriting…

The Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) has said it is not purposely impeding the integration of South African doctors who have obtained their medical degrees abroad. The South African Internationally Trained Health Professionals Association (Saithpa), which represents a group of doctors who completed their medical training in various countries outside South Africa, has voiced concerns over the administration of medical examinations for foreign-qualified applicants. As a result of limited spaces in medical schools in South Africa, some medical students travel abroad to obtain their medical degrees and return to South Africa to practise. Upon their return, they have to go through credibility exams to be allowed to practise in the country. HPCSA is the regulatory body that ascertains the competency levels of medical practitioners through theory and practical…

The Sharks management has pleaded with eThekwini Municipality to clean up the Kings Park precinct, warning that the area could embarrass Durban before international audiences expected in the next week. Cape Times sister publication, The Mercury, has seen a letter to the City from the Sharks management, drawing their attention to numerous problems around the stadium precinct. It states that on July 13, the stadium will host an international rugby match between the Springboks and Ireland, adding that the game is sold out with 57 000 people expected to attend. “At least 50% of the spectators are from abroad (especially one of our key tourism source markets of the UK) and other southern Africa cities. The game will also be broadcast to an international audience.” The letter says the Sharks…

SOUTH Africa has a government at last. President Cyril Ramaphosa is pressing ahead and has already called a joint sitting of the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces for the opening of the seventh Parliament and his opening address on July 18. It is thus safe to say that Mzansi is back in business. The opening of the august house will coincide with International Mandela Day. This day is a call to action for individuals, communities, and organisations to take time to reflect on Mandela’s values and principles and to make a positive impact in their own communities. For Ramaphosa and the Government of National Unity (GNU) Cabinet he appointed on Sunday night, this journey into the unknown is a call to action for the benefit of all…

At least 116 people were crushed to death at a Hindu religious gathering in northern India yesterday, with many others injured, a senior government official said. A large crowd had gathered near the city of Hathras for a sermon by a popular preacher but a fierce dust storm sparked panic as people were leaving. Many were crushed or trampled, falling on top of each other, with some collapsing into a roadside drain in the chaos. “The attendees were exiting the venue when a dust storm blinded their vision, leading to a melee and the subsequent tragic incident,” said Chaitra V, divisional commissioner of Aligarh city in Uttar Pradesh state. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced compensation of $2 400 to the next of kin of those who died and $600 to…

Cape Town City’s recruiting efforts keep going at full throttle after they signed well-travelled Angolan midfielder Carlinhos, their seventh new addition to their squad ahead of the 2023/24 DStv Premiership season. The 29-year-old Carlos do Carmo, commonly known as Carlinhos, arrived as a free agent having left Petro Atletico in his homeland following a second spell with the club. He has also played for InterClube and Sagrada Esperança in Angola, as well as top Tanzanian side Young Africans. He offers a wealth of continental experience after playing for Petro in the CAF Champions League and African Football League this past season, making seven appearances combined. City have already unveiled Hasheem Domingo from Raja Casablanca in Morocco; Kayden Francis from Chippa United, Fortune Makaringe from Orlando Pirates, Namibian international Prince Tjiueza,…