Inhoudsopgave van 2024-02-09 - Cape Times

It’s commonly thought that debt problems are more prevalent among lower earners, but a recent survey shows that people taking home more than R35 000 a month may be in more trouble when it comes to their debts than is generally recognised. Last year, 2023, may have been the worst year financially for South African consumers at least since the 2008 global financial crisis. A combination of interrelated factors created a perfect storm: a stagnant post-Covid economy characterised by crippling load-shedding and crumbling infrastructure, near-zero wage growth, high inflation and high interest rates. One way of telling how well consumers are coping financially is by looking at their debt levels and, more pertinently, their ability to service that debt. In a media presentation this week to coincide with the beginning…

THE Road Accident Fund (RAF) has expressed its disappointment with the R60 000 fine given to an East London man found guilty of submitting a fraudulent RAF claim for R5 million. The RAF was concerned that the lenient sentence sent the wrong message to would-be fraudsters, spokesperson McIntosh Polela said. This week, Tubalomthandazo Butshingi, 32, was convicted and sentenced in the East London Magistrate’s court for misrepresenting information on the claim he submitted to the RAF. He lied that he had fractured his ankle in a hit and run in September 2020. The RAF’s Forensic Investigation Department and hospital records revealed he had slipped and fallen, and the case was referred to the Hawks. Butshingi was given the option by the court of paying the fine or serving three years…

A LAST-DITCH attempt by the EFF to petition the Constitutional Court on how the National Assembly dealt with President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala matter “could trigger an early election”. Ahead of the State of the Nation Address (Sona) last night, the EFF confirmed it had filed papers in the Constitutional Court to declare Parliament’s decision not to adopt the independent panel’s report on Phala Phala “irrational and unlawful”. The panel led by retired Chief Justice Sandile Ngcobo found that Ramaphosa may have violated his oath of office in relation to the Phala Phala saga. However, that report was shot down when the ANC used its majority, meaning Ramaphosa was not compelled to be probed further on the matter, denying him an opportunity to clear his name. In their notice of…

The result achieved in the country’s highest court over the rand/dollar manipulation scandal will confirm whether or not the Competition Commission has botched this particular case, which could put the credibility of its work in question, a mercantile law expert has said. This comes as the Commission approached the Constitutional Court for leave to appeal a Competition Appeal Court (CAC) judgment handed down last month, which upheld an appeal by majority of the respondent banks accused of rand/dollar currency manipulation for at least six years. In June 2020, the Commission had referred the case to the Competition Tribunal against 28 local and foreign banks alleged to have colluded with one another to fix the foreign exchange rate in respect of the US dollar and the South African rand (USD/ZAR) currency…

Ndima Ndima Tsitsi Mapepa Loot.co.za (R235) Tsiti Mapepa’s debut novel explores the lives of four sisters and their mother - a matriarch, who carried her daughters and community, navigating through challenges of drought and violence in Harare.From the red soil of her garden in Southgate 1, a crowded suburb of Harare, Nyeredzi watches the world. She knows not to venture beyond the grasses that fence them off from the bush, where the city’s violent criminals and young lovers claim the night. But on this red soil, she is sovereign. It is here where she learns how to kill snakes, how to fight off a man, and how to take what she is due. It is here where Nyeredzi and her three older sisters are raised, and where they will each…

PARLIAMENT’S portfolio committee on health is visiting parts of the Western Cape this weekend to conduct public hearings on new legislation that it is planning to introduce. Unfortunately for people in those areas, it’s not legislation that will stop crime, deal with homelessness, create jobs or address poverty. Nor, even though the MPs are members of the health committee, will they be discussing legislation to build clinics, provide primary health care, recruit more doctors or ensure that there are more ambulances for emergencies. No, this group of MPs will be talking about … smoking. To be specific, they’ll be conducting public hearings in Ceres and Paarl over the weekend on the proposed Tobacco Control Bill (TCB). As a member of the board of South Africa’s tobacco industry body, I have…

Glowing lava spewed yesterday from a new fissure on Iceland’s Reykjanes peninsula, the third eruption to hit the area since December, deepening worries about the area’s viability for towns and villages. Live video images of the crack in the Earth’s surface, stretching an estimated three kilometres, showed the fissure illuminating plumes of smoke rising under the dark sky that was visible from the capital of Reykjavik. The site is around 40km south-west of Reykjavik, in the same area as two previous eruptions, the first on December 18 and the second on January 14 – near the fishing village of Grindavik. “At 5.30am this morning an intense seismic activity started north-east of Mt Sylingarfell. Around 30 minutes later, a volcanic eruption started at the site,” the Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) said…

Dakar: A collective of Senegalese civil society groups called for mass mobilisation yesterday against the delay of this month’s presidential poll as the country faces a political crisis. “We invite all citizens concerned by the preservation of democratic gains to mobilise en masse throughout the country and in the diaspora to prevent this seizure of power,” said the newly formed platform Aar Sunu Election (Let’s protect our election), which includes unions, citizens’ and religious groups. President Macky Sall, pictured, is likely to remain in office until 2025. |…

MADRID: Spanish farmers drove tractors through city streets yesterday, disrupting traffic as they stepped up their protest against soaring costs, bureaucracy and cheap competition from outside the EU. The protests, which started spontaneously on Tuesday after spilling over from other EU countries, are backed by the country’s three main farmers’ associations. Dozens of tractors surrounded the regional parliament in Barcelona after their drivers spent the night in the city centre. Farmers disrupted traffic in smaller cities all over the country. |…

Paris: The medals awarded at this year’s Paris Olympics and Paralympics will feature a hexagon-shaped piece of iron taken from the original Eiffel Tower in their centre, organisers said as they unveiled their design yesterday. All 5 084 medals for the Paris Games, designed by French jewellery house Chaumet, will feature the six-edged metal medallion which will be set like a gemstone. “We wanted to offer to all medal-winners at the Paris Olympics and Paralympics a piece of the Eiffel Tower from 1889,” said the local organising committee head, Tony Estanguet. The medals were “a combination of gold, silver and bronze, with the most precious metal in our country, from this treasure that is the Eiffel Tower”. |…

The IFP says it is concerned about the recent murders of its members ahead of this year’s elections, with two killed in this week. An IFP ward councillor and two pupils were killed in Nongoma, northern KwaZulu-Natal, on Wednesday afternoon prompting national police commissioner General Fannie Masemola to deploy the national task team responsible for investigating political killings to search for those responsible. This was after the IFP interim secretary in Estcourt, Mthokozisi “Nguqunguqu” Sithole, was shot dead in Weenen on Saturday. IFP provincial chairperson Thami Ntuli said the acts were a direct attack on the country’s democratic values. “The IFP in KZN demands that law enforcement agencies leave no stone unturned in decisively dealing with this matter, ensuring that the perpetrators responsible are apprehended and swiftly brought to justice.…

The four controversial fintech companies – Tenet Technology, eZaga Holdings, Noracco Corporation and Coinvest Africa – will continue with direct disbursement of billions of National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) student allowances this year. This was confirmed by acting CEO Masile Ramorwesi yesterday, stating that the entity could not provide a time frame on when the contracts with the companies would be terminated. “The termination of the contracts of service providers is a commitment that the board is still looking to undertake. It will be affected, but we must understand that this is a process that must also be presented before the courts. “Only then can termination be officiated. “The board has received legal advice on how to approach this. As we are speaking, the four service providers are still…

AN ACTING judge has expressed his concerns over whether it is ever justifiable in a constitutional democracy to “arm” the rich and to disadvantage the poor in their ability to turn to the courts. The issue was sparked by a family feud over land in which several female members of the family took on various other family members, mostly men, following the death of the patriarch of the family. In defending the land dispute litigation, the respondents, some of whom are the brothers of the female applicants, wanted the applicants in the matter to first issue security for costs before they were permitted to proceed with their application. That, they said, was just in case the applicants lost their application and would be faced with a cost order against them…

Smoke Kings Jahmal Mayfield Loot.co.za (R436) Melville House In fiction, revenge is often reduced to its simplest form – a hero has been undeniably wronged and must seek retribution. In Mayfield’s thrilling debut, Smoke Kings, the novel tells the story of four diverse young friends who, after a hate crime results in the murder of a loved one, decide to form a secret group called the Smoke Kings and enact revenge. But their vengeance takes a unique form, as they decide to kidnap the descendants of past perpetrators of hate crimes – sometimes, over a century past – and force them to pay reparations to a community fund. It’s a fascinating premise and an intentionally uncomfortable one that fits into discussions of race – the concept of reparations; the necessity…

Child of the Ruins Kate Furnivall Loot.co.za (R381) Jonathan Ball The aftermath of war is a terrible thing. For the vanquished even more so. For Berlin in 1948 peace was an uneasy bedfellow – a city divided, where the Russians were taking their spoils and humanity from every citizen. Their blockades had forced the Allies in the West to mount the Berlin Airlift bringing supplies to the starving inhabitants. Berlin spelled darkness, danger and violence where murder, rape and looting were rife. “The war was over but the unspoken war of whispers, of midnight arrests and tortured body parts rages on unseen.” Kate Furnivall in “Child of the Ruins” has written a heart-stopping novel, a mix of historical fiction, mystery and thriller. It is a story that is taut…

While we all know Bafana Bafana’s battles with qualifying for the Fifa World Cup over the years, they haven’t always been in attendance at the Africa Cup of Nations either. Even at the greatest heights of South African football, when Mzansi hosted the 2010 World Cup, Bafana didn’t make it to the Afcon tournament in Angola that year and in 2012. The 2013 event was hosted by South Africa, who reached the quarter-finals. They made it to the 2015 Afcon, but weren’t able to qualify for the 2017 affair won by Cameroon, who were coached by Hugo Broos. In 2019 in Egypt, Bafana beat the hosts in the second round, but lost to Nigeria in the quarter-finals – and missed out on qualifying for the 2022 tournament. So, Wednesday night’s…

Russia’s election commission has blocked pro-peace politician Boris Nadezhdin, 60, from running in next month’s presidential election yesterday, the candidate said in a social media post. President Vladimir Putin is set to secure another six-year term in the March 15-17 contest, in which all major opposition politicians have now been barred from running. Only three other candidates – all from ceremonial opposition parties that are backed by the Kremlin – now are registered to stand in next month’s election. “The Central Election Commission refused to register my candidacy for the post of president of the Russian Federation,” Nadezhdin said, adding that he would appeal against the decision at Russia’s supreme court. “Participating in the 2024 presidential election is the most important political decision of my life,” he said on Telegram.…

Paris: President Emmanuel Macron has appointed a former minister, Jean-Marie Bockel, pictured, as a “personal envoy” to Africa, according to a letter seen by AFP this week, in a change of style for French diplomacy after a series of setbacks on the continent. French troops engaged in anti-jihadist operations have quit Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger following military coups over the last years. Bockel has been tasked with “explaining” to other key nations “the reasons for and methods of the adjustments” to be made to its deployments, according to a letter from Macron. The countries include Senegal, Ivory Coast, Gabon and Chad, all key countries in French-speaking Africa. Multiple sources have told AFP that France plans to reduce its troop numbers in former African colonies, while Macron has long trailed…

MOSCOW: Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said yesterday that Germany’s plans to confiscate shares of Moscow’s energy champion Rosneft would have negative consequences and undermine investors’ confidence and Europe’s investment attractiveness. Germany’s Economy Ministry informed Rosneft earlier this week that it was considering expropriating shares in the company’s German assets, the Russian oil giant’s law firm in Germany said, adding that it would take all measures to protect shareholders’ rights. |…

A junior coal miner from eSwatini who attended the Mining Indaba for the first time said his confidence in the direction his company is going has been boosted while possible opportunities with investors awaited him. Wandile Hlatshwayo, the managing director of Magomba Mining, was among thousands of delegates from across the world who attended the four-day conference, which ended yesterday. The meeting of mining giant companies, policymakers, government officials and junior miners marked its 30th anniversary. “When I got my licence for mining in coal last year, coming to such a great platform was my goal. This was in order to get an understanding about the value chain and what it entails. I was also looking for opportunities to identify technologies that are now available, funding opportunities and systems that…

Eskom’s power cuts dampen president’s pledge moments after crucial speech WHILE Eskom continued to plunge South Africans into stage 3 load shedding last night, President Cyril Ramaphosa claims the “worst is behind us and the end of load shedding is finally within reach.” Ahead of Ramaphosa’s remarks during the State of the Nation Address (Sona) last night, Public Enterprises Deputy Minister Obed Bapela told reporters that by 2025 load shedding will be history. “We will definitely see an end around 2025. For now, we will keep it lower to Stage 1 and 2. Stage 3 will only arise here and there, but in the main (we want) to keep it between stages 1 and 2 so that it is predictable and that people can plan their lives knowing that…

SOUTH Africans have continued to show solidarity with the people of Palestine, with several initiatives set to take place this weekend, including the ‘Soles of our Souls School Shoe Drive’ in honour of children, and the much-anticipated Football 4 Humanity (F4H) match at Athlone Stadium featuring the Palestinian national soccer team on Sunday. F4H is an initiative by grass-roots organisation Sports Stepping Stones and the South African Football Association: Cape Town. It is part of the umbrella programme Sports 4 Humanity, which uses various sporting codes as vehicles to unite and celebrate common humanity. Palestine Solidarity Campaign Western Cape co-ordinator, Professor Usuf Chikte, said: “The F4H ... is an indication of our commitment to use sport as a factor which will bring communities together and highlight the plight of…

Budget Air-Fryer Cookbook, the new book from Jenny Tschiesche, has a range of nutritious and budget-friendly recipes made with everyone’s favourite kitchen must-have. In a time when South Africans are looking to cut costs wherever possible, the air-fryer offers an efficient, cost-effective solution to cooking every day, due to the strength of the air current inside. The recipes in this book cater for a wide range of tastes and needs, exploring ideas for using tins, jars and tins, cooking from frozen, using up leftovers, using cheaper cuts of meat, grains and pulses, vegetable-based dishes and much more. ½ x 400g can of refried beans ¼ teaspoon garlic powder ¼ teaspoon onion powder ½ teaspoon ground cumin 100 g tortilla chips ½ x 200g can of sweetcorn/corn kernels, drained 1…

Some magistrates asked for a transfer to other courts, for safety reasons OH SOUTH Africa, South Africa, you who continued to kill, harm, threaten and corrupt a third of magistrates in 2021/2022. How often I have longed to see your mobilised community voices working together as advocates of administrative justice rights. As patriotic citizens, you should gather and speak with one voice against crime and corruption in our lower courts but you are not willing. Look, your magistrate’s courts are left desolate. It is the second time since the Democratic Governance and Rights Unit (DGRU) at the University of Cape Town’s law faculty released its magistrates’ perception survey on their work conditions. The survey captured the nature of threats to magistrates by asking about the harm or threats they experienced…

Israel’s reported destruction of all buildings along the border inside Gaza with the aim of creating a “buffer zone” is a war crime, the United Nations rights chief warned yesterday. In a statement, Volker Turk pointed to reports that the Israeli military is working inside the Gaza Strip to destroy all buildings within a kilometre of the border fence with Israel with the objective of creating a “buffer zone”. “I stress to the Israeli authorities that Article 53 of the Fourth Geneva Convention prohibits destruction by the occupying power of property belonging to private persons, except where such destruction is rendered absolutely necessary by military operations’,” he said. Turk warned that the objective of creating a buffer zone for general security purposes did “not appear consistent with the narrow ‘military…

Millions of Pakistanis voted yesterday in an election marred by rigging allegations, with authorities suspending mobile phone services throughout the day and the country’s most popular politician in jail. Pollsters predicted a low turnout from the 128 million eligible voters following a campaign overshadowed by the jailing of former prime minister Imran Khan, and the hobbling of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party by the military-led establishment. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz is expected to win the most seats in the elections, with analysts saying its 74-year-old founder Nawaz Sharif has won the blessing of the generals. The authorities announced before polls opened that they had suspended mobile telephone services across the country “to maintain law and order” after two blasts on Wednesday that killed 28 people and wounded 30. Nighat Dad, a…

Goma: Civilians facing bombs, thousands forced to flee and lost children – aid organisations have sounded the alarm over the impact of escalating violence in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where intensified fresh fighting erupted yesterday. Clashes between M23 rebels and pro-government forces that have gone on for more than two years have intensified in particular in North Kivu province. In recent weeks “the increase in civilian casualties and the use of heavy weapons in populated areas, including in camps for displaced people, are alarming”, International NGO Forum in DRC said in a statement. |…

Addis Ababa: Ethiopian lawmakers yesterday approved the appointment of intelligence chief Temesgen Tiruneh as deputy to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, in a shake-up that followed the ouster of the long-serving Demeke Mekonnen. MPs also endorsed Taye Atske Selassie, Ethiopia’s former ambassador to the UN and an adviser to Abiy, as foreign minister. Abiy’s office described the cabinet changes as a “step towards strengthening the nation’s leadership”, in a post on social media platform X. The roles of foreign minister and deputy prime minister had been held by Demeke. |…