Tabla de contenidos para 2024-10-23 en Cape Times

Bitcoin is holding above $67 000 (R1 173 699) after yesterday’s correction after breaching the $69 000 level and rising to its highest level since late July, according to Samer Hasn, a senior market analyst at XS.com. He said yesterday’s correction comes after an upward trend that investors are pushing to continue in light of a set of supporting factors, whether from the massive inflows into crypto-investment products or from more bets on Donald Trump winning the White House again. Cryptocurrency investment products recorded massive inflows last week, reaching $2.2 billion, which represents the highest level since last July, with Bitcoin accounting for most of these flows that went to US spot ETFs, according to CoinShares. Net flows to these funds amounted to more than $294 million yesterday alone, according…

Basic Education (DBE) Minister Siviwe Gwarube has assured Parliament of contingency plans for hundreds of matrics who could not write the Computer Applications Technology (CAT) paper 1 after torrential rain battered Gqeberha and Kariega in the Eastern Cape. The inclement weather created problems with access to schools and power outages yesterday. This comes after Gwarube declared zero incidents following the English paper on Monday where more than 800 000 candidates sat for their very first exam across the country. “We are proud to announce to the members that this logistical feat went ahead with minimal disruptions. However, I was informed that in Gqeberha, learners who are due to write Computer Science experienced challenges. This is due to a storm that caused damage in the area, resulting in damage to power…

Members of the standing committee on public accounts (Scopa) have expressed growing frustration with the management of transport state-owned enterprises (SOEs), particularly focusing on Transnet, which yesterday they described as being on the brink of collapse due to mismanagement. In a heated session with Transport Minister Barbara Creecy, MPs probed the performance of SAA, Transnet, the Road Accident Fund (RAF), and the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa), suggesting the entities were unlikely to meet their performance targets. Scopa members urged Creecy to submit the CVs of Transnet executives, highlighting their belief that incompetence was at the heart of the entity’s management woes. Creecy acknowledged the problematic situation surrounding Transnet, revealing that total irregular expenditure for the 2023/24 financial year amounted to R1.763 billion, a significant but still troubling 37%…

Glued to the television last Sunday, many were urging the Proteas to beat New Zealand in the cricket World Cup final, even by one run or one wicket. Alas, although the match slipped away from them, deserved credit goes to the Proteas who have been in the final in two successive World Cup competitions, a wonderful achievement by any standards. For another significant event last week, dozens gathered at Granger Bay for a well-prepared presentation by the amiable Ivan Heesom-Green and Pieter Coetzer, CEO and Commercial & Project Manager respectively of the Simon’s Town-based South African Maritime Training Academy (SAMTRA). “SAMTRA is expanding!” was their enthusiastic message as they unveiled plans to build further training facilities and accommodation for students following the various maritime courses at the academy. Established…

LAWYERS for a former UCT student allegedly raped by a professor in 2021 are considering their next steps, after the Western Cape High Court set aside her case for damages against the university and the health department with costs, on the basis that it was “vague and embarrassing”. She was given leave to file amended particulars of her claim within a period of one month from the date of the court decision. The former student had approached the court seeking damages from UCT and Health MEC Mireille Wenger, for damages suffered as a result of the alleged rape incident, arguing they had a liability for the alleged crime committed by their employee. Her case was further based on the alleged breach of a legal duty which the university and health…

I choose to write for Independent Media because it empowers marginalised voices As a veteran writer committed to exploring leftist perspectives on social justice as well as feminist, black consciousness, and counter-hegemonic narratives, I have witnessed the systematic marginalisation of alternative viewpoints in South Africa’s media landscape. The consolidation of media ownership has not only homogenised news content but has actively suppressed voices that challenge the status quo. In this context, Independent Media stands out as a citadel of genuine diversity and freedom of expression, providing a critical platform for underrepresented voices. The suppression of views alternative to the liberal-conservative hegemony is not a peripheral issue but a central challenge to the health of our democracy. The media, as the fourth estate, is entrusted with the responsibility of reflecting the…

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in Israel yesterday to push for a ceasefire in Gaza after his administration called for an end to the war in Lebanon “as soon as possible”. It is his 11th trip to the Middle East since Hamas’s attack on Israel more than a year ago triggered the Gaza war, and his first since Israel’s conflict with Hezbollah escalated late last month. He was due to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top officials, as Israel weighs its response to Iran’s October 1 missile attack. In Lebanon, Israel hit an area of south Beirut housing the country’s largest public health facility, killing 13 people, the Health Ministry said. The Rafic Hariri Hospital outside Hezbollah’s traditional strongholds sustained minor damage in the strike that…

China said yesterday that it had reached a “resolution” with India over issues related to their disputed border, after New Delhi said it had struck a deal with Beijing for military patrols along the frontier. China and India, the world’s two most populous nations, are intense rivals and have regularly accused each other of trying to seize territory along their unofficial divide, known as the Line of Actual Control. After a border skirmish in 2020, which killed at least 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers, both sides pulled back tens of thousands of troops and agreed not to send patrols into a narrow strip surrounding the Line of Actual Control. Beijing’s foreign ministry said yesterday that it had given its “positive approval” to a border deal, confirming a similar…

Caracas: Venezuelan authorities have confirmed the arrest of former Oil Minister Pedro Tellechea on charges of committing “serious crimes” that threaten national interests, the Public Prosecutor’s Office said this week. Tellechea was taken into custody on Sunday following an “exhaustive scientific investigation,” according to an official statement. One of the charges alleges that he was involved in “the delivery of the Automated Control and Command System” – which plays a critical role in the operations – of the state-owned oil company, Petróleos de Venezuela S A to a company “controlled by the intelligence services” of the US. | Xinhua…

Maputo: EU poll observers yesterday noted irregularities in the results of Mozambique’s general election, which has been contested by the opposition. On Monday, riot police in the capital Maputo fired tear gas to disperse a crowd protesting against alleged fraud in the October 9 presidential and parliamentary election, days after two associates of opposition presidential candidate Venancio Mondlane were shot dead. The EU observers urged election authorities in the southern African country to conduct the ballot count “in a transparent and credible manner, ensuring the traceability of polling station results”. | AFP…

The key to winning any competition is the ability to peak at the right moments, and Western Province opener Daniel Smith certainly feels they are hitting their straps ahead of the CSA T20 Challenge play-off today. Province have endured a topsy-turvy round-robin phase, with Salieg Nackerdien’s team edging through to the knockouts in fourth place. Province will now face third-placed North West in the Eliminator at the Wanderers today. Last season’s CSA 1-Day Cup champions have certainly shown their ability to win virtual knockout matches by beating both the power-packed Lions and Knights in the final two matches when qualification was on the line. “We knew what was at stake on Friday night, and the boys most definitely executed their game plans with both bat and ball. The way we…

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa yesterday said South Africa saw its BRICS partner, Russia, as a “valued ally” in global trade and geopolitics. Ramaphosa yesterday held a bilateral meeting with his Russian counterpart, President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia. “We continue to see Russia as a valued ally, as a valued friend who supported us right from the beginning, from the days of our Struggle against apartheid up until now,” Ramaphosa said. “So, we are really delighted to be here and to know that we are going to have very important discussions here in Kazan, within the BRICS family.” Ramaphosa arrived in Kazan yesterday morning to lead South Africa’s participation in the XVI BRICS Summit, which is held under the theme: “Strengthening Multilateralism for…

THE George Municipality remains unmoved by attempts to have its deputy mayor, Raybin Figland, accounting for allegedly blackmailing a matric pupil to provide photographs of a sexual nature – allegations he has repeatedly denied. The GOOD Party says it has now turned to the office of the Public Protector to investigate the George municipality’s alleged “cover-up”. Council had resolved not to haul Figland before a disciplinary hearing after an internal investigation apparently found that the evidence presented was inconclusive. The GOOD Party wants the Public Protector to investigate allegations including maladministration and failure to comply with the councillor Code of Conduct. The party also filed a motion to the speaker of the George Municipality to reopen its probe of Figland, who despite being suspended from the DA, continues to serve…

THE letter by Nicholas Woode-Smith (October 17) in which he questions the accuracy of Patric Mellet’s timeline of historical events in the Middle East exposes his bias. His contention that the Jews in Palestine called themselves Palestinians is absurd and irrelevant to the debate. Furthermore, his suggestion that prior to 1948 Jews, Christian’s and Palestinians did not live side by side in peace is historically incorrect. Furthermore, Woode-Smith’s contention that modern Israel today is the freest, most equal and most diverse nation in the Middle East is utter nonsense. Israel exists solely for the betterment protection and future of the Jewish people who are mostly Jewish immigrants from all over the world. The Jewish population in Palestine in 1948 was a mere 600 000. Today it exceeds seven million and…

Two dozen world leaders gathered in Russia yesterday for the opening of a three-day summit of the BRICS group, an alliance of emerging economies that the Kremlin hopes will challenge Western “hegemony”. With the summit, the biggest such meeting in Russia since it ordered troops into Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin is seeking to show Western attempts to isolate Moscow over the two-and-a-half-year offensive have failed. Chinese leader Xi Jinping, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan – all key partners for Russia – are scheduled to join the gathering, hosted in the western city of Kazan until tomorrow. Putin, Modi and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa have already arrived in Kazan, Russian media reported, while Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said Xi had landed. Moscow…

South Korea may consider supplying weapons to Ukraine to counter military ties between North Korea and Russia. Officials accused Pyongyang of sending 1 500 special forces personnel to Russia for training, likely for combat in Ukraine. A senior official from President Yoon Suk Yeol’s office indicated that South Korea is preparing various measures, including the potential supply of lethal weapons if the situation escalates. While South Korea has focused on non-lethal aid, such as demining equipment, the remarks signal a more proactive stance towards arming Ukraine. The National Security Council (NSC) condemned North Korea’s actions, calling it a “criminal organisation” for sending troops to fight as “Russia’s mercenaries.” The NSC stated that if military collusion continues, South Korea will respond firmly with the international community. | Reuters…

Nairobi: The UN expressed concern yesterday over the repatriation of four Turkish refugees from Kenya who rights groups say were abducted and forcibly returned in violation of international law. The four were sent back to Türkiye on Friday, according to the Kenyan foreign ministry. It followed media reports that they had been kidnapped on the street in the Kenyan capital Nairobi along with three others who were later released. UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, called on Kenya’s government “to abide by their international legal obligations and in particular, to respect the principle of non-refoulement, which protects asylum-seekers and refugees. | AFP…

New York: Disgraced Hollywood movie producer Harvey Weinstein has been diagnosed with a form of bone marrow cancer, US media reported Monday, a month after he was indicted on a new sex crime charge. Weinstein is serving a 16-year prison sentence after being convicted on rape charges in California. Weinstein, 72, has chronic myeloid leukaemia and is undergoing treatment in a New York prison. His reported diagnosis comes after a string of health issues for the once powerful entertainment mogul. He also underwent emergency heart surgery last month, after which his representative said he was “out of danger at the moment.” Juda Engelmayer, Weinstein’s spokesperson, said it was “troubling” that his health issues “have become a subject of public discourse.” | AFP…

Anton du Plessis’ dual citizenship said to be at the centre of vetting concerns THE uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party has demanded increased scrutiny over the decision to allow Deputy National Director of Public Prosecutions Anton du Plessis to be appointed after he failed to get security clearance from the State Security Agency (SSA). Sibonelo Nomvalo, the party’s MP serving on the justice and constitutional development committee, told the Cape Times that their chief whip Mzwanele Manyi had written to Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Thembi Simelane wanting answers on the matter. “It will not end there as it is our responsibility to invite the Minister and Deputy Minister and even the NDPP to come and appear before the portfolio committee when the need arises,” Nomvalo said. “Even on this…

When will the public get full certainty and reassurance about the National Health Insurance? Apparently, the government does not realise the extent of the fear that exists. Older people are especially worried. What they understand is that the government wants to take control of all medical services. The same government whose Department of Health has turned some government hospitals into unsanitary dens. Remember the Helen Joseph hospital? The hospital in Tembisa where millions of Rands disappeared? The large number of hospitals where there are serious staff shortages and a lack of essential equipment and medication? The already worried public must now read about court cases by medical practitioners and other institutions, such as Solidarity, to stop the government's craziness. The Minister of Health, Aaron Motsaledi, pays little attention to all…

With the scourge of poverty that is rooted in many communities as a result of a high rate of unemployment, especially among young people, the workplace needs to provide a place of comfort and safety. As many people would say, the politics of the stomach compel to be part of a toxic environment even when it is not conducive. Because the spin-off of employment is better livelihoods, people are forced to absorb undesirable features of their work life even though that presents a threat to their overall health and wellbeing. As an employee spends most of their time at work, the work environment must contribute to their overall well-being and health. Mental Health awareness is important to educate staff on mental health issues that might be considered taboo by others.…

THE East London High Court sentenced two men to life imprisonment for the rape of a pregnant e-hailing driver who later lost her baby. Lloyd King, 29, and Thandobuhle Mndleleni, 20, were convicted of rape and the court further ordered the accused to be registered on the National Register for Sex Offenders. The 25-year-old driver received a request on the e-hailing app to pick up two passengers shortly after midnight in March 2021. According to NPA regional spokesperson Luxolo Tyali, she transported the men to King’s residence in Amalinda, where they forced her inside a house and took turns raping her. “After releasing her, the victim went directly to the nearest police station, reported the attack, and led police officers to the crime scene. Both accused were arrested shortly thereafter.”…

The recent spate of food poisoning cases among schoolchildren has ignited a heated debate on illegal foreign nationals operating businesses in the country. Alarmingly, these incidents have predominantly involved victims who purchased food and snacks from spaza shops, many of which are owned and run by foreign nationals. Finding their way into South Africa appears considerably easy for many citizens from neighbouring countries. Nationals from Lesotho and Zimbabwe often travel across rivers or through less regulated border paths, making their way into the so-called “promised land”. Others simply bribe their way past border control. While a number of these foreign nationals contribute positively to the economy, taking on jobs and tasks that many locals may shun, including informal trading, a concerning trend has emerged. The issues surrounding food safety…

An unprecedented union of pro-Western opposition forces is hoping to win Georgia’s elections on Saturday against a ruling party accused of democratic backsliding and drifting towards Russia’s orbit. Four opposition alliances have agreed to form an interim coalition government to carry out far-reaching reforms before holding new elections, and opinion polls suggest they are poised to secure enough votes. The Unity to Save Georgia alliance is led by the United National Movement (UNM), Georgia’s main opposition force, founded in 2001 by now jailed ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili. The staunchly pro-Western centrist party pledges to revive its sweeping reform efforts, which, during its 2003-2012 tenure, helped transform Georgia from a failed state into a functioning democracy. The party faces significant criticism in Georgian society, as those hasty reforms alienated many who felt…

Kampala: A Ugandan military tribunal yesterday convicted 16 members of an opposition party of “illegal possession of explosive devices and treachery”, according to a defence lawyer. The prosecution alleged that the 16 members of the National Unity Platform, as well as others who are still on the run, were found in possession of explosives between November 2020 and May 2021, while elections were underway. Former singer and Opposition figure Bobi Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, claimed the group had been forced to plead guilty and seek a presidential pardon. The 16 who have spent four years in jail will appear in court today for their sentencing. | AFP…

KINSHASA: Democratic Republic of Congo’s army said yesterday that it had taken back the eastern town of Kalembe a day after it was seized by M23 rebels. Kalembe, a town in Walikale territory in militia-plagued North Kivu, came under M23 control on Sunday morning when rebels seized it from Congolese armed forces and the Wazalendo alliance of pro-government armed groups. The Tutsi-led M23 group has been waging an insurgency in the central African country’s east since 2022. An official from Walikale territory, Kabaki Alimasi, confirmed the army had taken the town back but said fighting continued nearby. | Reuters…

As the clock ticks down to tonight's Betway Premiership clash at the Lucas Moripe Stadium, all signs point towards another goal avalanche for Mamelodi Sundowns as they prepare to host the beleaguered Royal AM. After a resounding 5-0 victory against Golden Arrows in the Carling Knockout's first round over the weekend, the defending champions seem poised for yet another triumphant outing. Despite the emphatic scoreline, coach Manqoba Mngqithi expressed dissatisfaction, lamenting that his team failed to capitalise on numerous goal-scoring opportunities. This is disconcerting news for a Royal AM side that recently suffered a three-goal rout at the hands of Cape Town City in the same knockout competition. The stats paint a daunting picture for the visitors as they approach a fixture against a team brimming with confidence and attacking…