Table of contents for 2024-06-19 in Cape Times

APPLE has finally, officially, entered the artificial intelligence (AI) race. Some of its upcoming products will be filled with AI. The Apple version of AI will be transformative for Apple products. It will turn some of your Apple devices into assistants that manage your schedule, remind you, guide you and inform you through an upgraded version of Siri. Apple promised to deliver its AI features wrapped in privacy to safeguard your data. This, however, has not convinced some who care about AI. A non-believer is Elon Musk. After AI announcements by Apple, Musk took to X (Twitter) to express his displeasure. Musk said Open AI powered AI for Apple was a recipe for opening the data users to data merchants. Musk may be on point here. Many will remember that…

from page 1 small, large and some interconnected,” said Lamb. He said most kidnappings in the province were in the form of extortion where business people were abducted and then ransom-related fees were demanded. Dr Simon Howell of UCT’s Centre of Criminology said that with kidnapping and extortion crimes there was a category of organised syndicates, immature criminals and copycats who see the hype in the type of crime. “Considering the low ransom rate this incident might be non-organised or just opportunistic criminals. With what has been seen in other cases, high-income net value people, it is usually organised gangs or syndicates. These can be difficult cases to crack. They are very sensitive and require a lot of information and co-operation between police and other stakeholders. “The success of these…

THE Government of National Unity (GNU) entered into between the ANC and the DA in the national government and two provinces are likely to be extended to the local government sphere. This was a hint that came from separate interviews DA federal council chairperson Helen Zille and ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula gave after the signing of the statement of intent on the GNU. The DA and ANC were the first to sign the agreement on Friday while the first sitting of the National Assembly was under way. The signing paved the way for the two parties to vote together with other small parties for the election of the ANC’s Thoko Didiza as the National Assembly Speaker, DA’s Annelie Lotriet as Deputy Speaker and President Cyril Ramaphosa as the country’s president.…

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to take an oath to uphold the country’s Constitution with the Phala Phala farm saga hanging over his head. A section 89 panel established by then National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula found that he may have violated his oath of office over the undeclared foreign currency concealed in couches on his Phala Phala farm. His swearing-in at the Union Buildings today is bolstered by the DA’s support, affirming that it would not support Ramaphosa’s impeachment in Parliament unless “new evidence” emerged. In a recent Radio 702 interview, DA Federal Council chairperson Helen Zille said: “We have not said in future we will never ever do anything but we will not support a motion of no confidence in the President ... that is definitely part…

Three Beaufort West farmers want the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development jailed for allegedly failing to comply with a court order which puts them in possession of a farm they have been farming on since 2017. Represented by the Legal Resources Centre (LRC), the farmers seek to have “undisturbed possession of two farms to the applicants” restored to them. “The application seeks to restore undisturbed possession of two farms to the applicants, following a court order on March 4 that found the minister and her departmental officials had unlawfully deprived the applicants of possession of the farms by placing two former beneficiaries on the land. Despite repeated requests, the minister and department have not taken steps to restore possession to the applicants, leading the applicants to seek…

SO, all the political talk and campaigning of the last months ended last night, literally. This morning, president-elect Cyril Ramaphosa is scheduled to take the oath in Pretoria to become the head of a Government of National Unity. These are unknown waters that South Africa is venturing into. Yes, in 1994, Nelson Mandela’s ANC opted for a Government of National Unity (GNU). However, his ANC had a majority and could have governed on its own. Pursuing a Government of National Unity was purely that; for unity. Three decades on, the ANC of Ramaphosa is unable to form a government without the support of other parties. The likes of the MKP and EFF would have provided meaningful input to the administration and law-making process. But instead, MKP leader Jacob Zuma is…

Boeing chief executive Dave Calhoun was to apologise to families of crash victims yesterday as he faced a Senate grilling following accusations that the plane maker put profits over safety. The hearing, an examination of “Boeing’s Broken Safety Culture”, follows an April session of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations featuring a Boeing engineer who testified that he was punished for raising safety questions about the top-selling 787 Dreamliner and 777. “Five years ago, Boeing promised to overhaul its safety practices and culture. That promise proved empty, and the American people deserve an explanation,” Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal said earlier this month. “Years of putting profits ahead of safety, stock price ahead of quality, and production speed ahead of responsibility has brought Boeing to this moment of reckoning; its hollow…

WASHINGTON: US President Joe Biden announced one of the biggest legalisation efforts in recent history yesterday, offering a path to citizenship to hundreds of thousands of immigrants in the US illegally who are married to US citizens. The election year move contrasts sharply with his Republican rival Donald Trump’s plan for mass deportations. The programme will be open to an estimated 500 000 spouses who have lived in the US for at least 10 years as of June 17, the White House said yesterday. About 50 000 children under age 21 with a US-citizen parent also will be eligible. But faced with record migrant arrests at the US-Mexico border, Biden has barred most migrants crossing. | Reuters…

VIENNA: An heiress who has denounced the absence of taxes on wealth and inheritance in Austria has given the bulk of her money, €25 million (R485m), to 77 organisations, including social and climate groups and left-wing bodies. Marlene Engelhorn, 32, has spent years criticising the birth lottery by which she inherited tens of millions and does not have to give any of it to the state, and calling for change. In January, she said a panel picked by a pollster as representative of the Austrian public would decide how to distribute the sum, without any intervention on her part. The recipients were announced yesterday. | Reuters…

A BORN-and-bred Stormers and Western Province man, it is almost unthinkable that Cornel Smit starred for the Bulls in their epic URC semi-final win over Leinster last Saturday. Now 26, Smit, who hails from Melkbosstrand, used to idolise Nizaam Carr around the famous Piley Rees Field at Bishops when he was still in junior school – and now they are Bulls teammates at Loftus Versfeld. Smit made his way to Pretoria in January, with Wandisile Simelane moving south, but had to wait until last weekend’s play-off to feature for the Bulls. “That’s awesome ... I love Nemo (Carr)! I was in the junior school when he was in high school, so we weren’t actually on the same campus at the same time,” Smit said yesterday, ahead of Saturday’s URC final…

IN World Cups, the term ‘iceman’ has never been synonymous with Proteas players who have time and again crumbled under pressure on the big stage. However, it seems the Proteas have finally found their iceman in international cricket newcomer Ottneil Baartman. Since the inaugural edition of the SA20, the 31-year-old fast bowler has proved himself to be a clutch player the captain looks to when the chips are down. Somehow, Baartman has been able to deliver similar performances in his first tour with the Proteas as he defended seven runs in the 20th over to help South Africa beat Nepal by one run in a T20 World Cup group match. Baartman said yesterday that he relishes being in those high-pressure situations and that his Academy back in Oudtshoorn instilled the…

THE V&A WATERFRONT in Cape Town has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Etana Energy for 43 gigawatt hours (GW/h) of renew-able energy a year, enough to supply 70% of the popular entertainment destination’s energy needs, starting early 2026. V&A Operations Executive Manager, André Theys, said the 10-year PPA with the Nersa licensed electri- city trader Etana, was a landmark in the rollout of the V&A’s sustainability strategy that has as a target commitment to net-zero carbon emissions by 2035. With the addition of the Waterfront’s rooftop solar installations, almost 80% of the neighbourhood’s electricity would come from renewable sources, when the Etana agreement becomes operational. He said 90% of the Waterfront’s emissions was from energy purchases, so the PPA with Etana would make a big contribution to reducing…

The race for the Miss South Africa crown is on. A total of 30 women vying for the crown will be participating in a reality show Crown Chasers facing weekly challenges on why they deserve to win the crown. Every week, someone will be eliminated from the competition until there are 10 contestants left, who will make it to the finals. Hosting this thrilling show is none other than the reigning Miss South Africa, Natasha Joubert. Viewers are excited and cannot wait to see Joubert show off her hosting skills. “So we’re gonna find our finalists on Crown Chasers??? Maybe I’m easily gagged, but guys are beyond iconic actually, no one doing it like Miss South Africa!!!” commented @sungukhosa. The last season of Crown Chasers was hosted by former Miss…

from page 1 the way to several showdowns in the ANC and in all three spheres of government, as he must decisively remove from public office the tainted individuals he relies heavily on to stay in power,” Nyembezi said. Crime and forensic expert Calvin Rafadi said: “This matter will never fade away. There will be criminal cases brought because there is a prima facie case that has to be ventilated in court. He has to answer that. You cannot charge a sitting president but that does not take the crime away. Him being a president just buys time.” He said the DA for now was just “playing politics”. “They want the ministry in the presidency or deputy presidency. They are putting up roses to favour them. We cannot trust politicians,…

NEWLY inaugurated KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli yesterday signalled his government’s intentions to prioritise service delivery by incorporating crime-fighting functions into the premier’s office. Ntuli, who is also the provincial chairperson of the IFP, was sworn in as the premier of the province in a ceremony held in Pietermaritzburg yesterday. He moved swiftly to announce the new provincial coalition government, which brings together former political adversaries. The new premier announced the realignment of departments in his government, which included moving community safety and liaison to the premier’s office. The move was welcomed by his partners in the Government of Provincial Unity (GPU), who said the pre- mier has the responsibility to ensure safety, security and stability in the pro- vince. Ntuli also announced that the Department of Human Settlements would now…

Party pays ransom for Kwankwa who was snatched on way to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s inauguration A TOP Western Cape law enforcement multi-disciplinary task team is piecing together the details of the kidnapping of UDM deputy leader Nqabayomzi Kwankwa, who was released after the payment of a ransom. The 44-year-old was kidnapped yesterday afternoon while on his way to Cape Town International Airport en route to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s inauguration at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, party leader Bantu Holomisa said. His vehicle has since been recovered in Khayelitsha. “A ransom of R10 000 was demanded for his safe return. The UDM paid the ransom, and Mr Kwankwa was safely released, albeit shaken and traumatised. All his belongings, including his vehicle, were stolen. Mr Kwankwa is in contact with the…

THE closure of Stellenbosch University’s (SU) problematic Wilgenhof Men’s Residence would be a progressive step for the institution. This unprecedented move could shake things up and pave the way for a more transformative university. Following the dreadful objects found in the Wilgenhof residence a few months ago, and the university’s proactiveness in establishing a panel to investigate what have seemed to be inhumane practices, the outcomes of this report could have meaningful impact for change. For a long time, students at the university complained not only about Wilgenhof and its shenanigans, but also about other residences where harmful practices occurred. These include acts of racism, discrimination, homophobia and other types of violence and discrimination. The urination incident at Huis Marais in 2022 and a few other few urination incidents that…

Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed yesterday to deepen trade and security ties with North Korea and to support it against the US as he headed to the reclusive nuclear-armed country for the first time in 24 years. The US and its Asian allies are trying to work out just how far Russia will go in support of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, whose country is the only one to have conducted nuclear weapon tests in the 21st century. In a signal that Russia, a veto- wielding member of the UN Security Council, is reassessing its approach to North Korea, Putin praised Pyongyang for resisting what he said was US economic pressure, blackmail and threats. In an article published by North Korean state media, Putin praised “Comrade” Kim, and promised…

CONTROLLING floods in China was becoming increasingly arduous, President Xi Jinping said yesterday, calling for all-out efforts to safeguard lives and property as powerful storms pounded provinces from the interior to the eastern coast. About a dozen people have been reported killed in floods or rain-induced mudslides in recent days with the annual flooding season in southern Chinese provinces in full swing. In the city of Meizhou in Guangdong province, low-rise buildings tilted on subsiding ground next to raging rivers, or lay half-submerged as flood-waters burst the banks, video on social media showed. In Guangdong province, at least five people have been killed and 13 trapped due to flash floods and mudslides, with more than 1 400 houses having collapsed and 8 000 hectares of crops damaged. Xi had called…

SAO PAULO: Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva criticised the central bank yesterday, saying its chief, Roberto Campos Neto, was harming Latin America’s largest economy, while signalling he will appoint a substitute who is not swayed by market jitters. The leftist leader, who’s in his third non-consecutive term as Brazil’s president, argued that the central bank’s interest rate cannot be “prohibitive” for productive sectors. The central bank is expected to pause its easing cycle amid increased volatility in domestic financial markets and unanchored inflation expectations. Policymakers cut the benchmark Selic interest rate in May by 25 basis points to 10.50%. | Reuters…

Paris: Astronomers have been able to observe a supermassive black hole waking up and setting the heart of its host galaxy alight for the first time, the European Southern Observatory said yesterday. The galaxy, 300 million light years from Earth in the Virgo constellation, had been quiet for decades until late 2019, when it suddenly began to shine brighter. The centre of the galaxy – where a supermassive black hole is believed to be squatting – since then has been radiating a variety of rays. Astronomers are analysing data, hoping to determine whether the black hole’s activity is temporary – perhaps caused by a star being ripped apart – or whether it will continue to be active for a long time. | AFP…

VINCENT Koch will win his 50th cap for the Springboks in Saturday’s en- counter with Wales in London – but he is only starting the match because of a gesture of goodwill by fellow veteran prop Frans Malherbe. Coach Rassie Erasmus said the team he announced internally to the squad on Sunday originally had Malherbe starting and Koch on the bench. “One of the senior guys came up to me and said, ‘Do you know it is Vincent’s 50th cap?’” Erasmus said. “I didn’t. I spoke to Frans and made the change because it is important that we properly honour the hard work a guy puts in to get to his 50th cap. “That is what Springbok teammates do for each other,” Erasmus said. Koch and Malherbe are part of…

WITH a combined age of 106, Germany’s three remaining 2014 World Cup winners Manuel Neuer, Thomas Mueller and Toni Kroos are leading the hosts’ charge for Euro 2024 glory. Friends off the pitch, Neuer, Mueller and Kroos are the only players in the 26-man squad to have each played over 100 games for Germany. But not only are they the most experienced members of the squad, they can also remember a time when Germany were on top of the football world. Since a semi-final elimination to France at Euro 2016, the Germans have struggled in major tournaments, with two World Cup group stage exits bookending a last 16 elimination by England at Euro 2020. After a 5-1 romp against Scotland in the 2024 tournament opener – their best performance at…

Heart disease has consistently held the grim title of the world’s leading cause of death. It’s a silent assassin that creeps up on people, often without warning. Understanding why heart disease is the number one killer can help us take the necessary steps to protect our hearts and live healthier lives. What is heart disease? Heart disease, or cardiovascular disease, is a broad term encompassing various conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels. The most common types include coronary artery disease, heart attack, heart failure, and arrhythmias. Coronary artery disease, which happens when the arteries supplying blood to the heart narrow or get blocked, is the most prevalent type. Statistics South Africa reports that in South Africa, deaths due to non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, and…

The V&A Waterfront has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) to source 70% of its electricity from wind and solar. The PPA with Etana Energy is for 43 gigawatt hours (GWh) of renewable energy a year. The 10-year PPA with Etana, a licensed electricity trader, is a key landmark in the roll-out of the V&A’s sustainability strategy, which includes a commitment to net-zero carbon emissions by 2035. Executive manager for operations at the V&A, André Theys, said 90% of the Waterfront’s emissions come from energy purchases, so the PPA with Etana will make a major contribution to reducing the neighbourhood’s carbon footprint. “The V&A’s sustainability strategy is based on a shared value ecosystem in which everyone at the Waterfront – tenants, residents, staff and visitors – works together to make…

ABOUT 400 Media24 employees are set to lose their jobs when the media company shuts down a number of its print publications including Beeld, Rapport, City Press, Daily Sun and Soccer Laduma, as well as the digital (PDF) editions of Volksblad and the digital hub SNL24. While Rapport, City Press and Daily Sun will now be digital-only brands, the company confirmed the sale of On the Dot, the media logistics business, and the community newspaper portfolio to Novus Holdings, subject to regulatory approvals. Media24 chief executive Ishmet Davidson said the consultation process was expected to be completed over the next three months. September 30 has been earmarked as the last day of publication for the affected newspapers. Die Burger and Son in the Western Cape were unaffected by the changes.…

Unaudited mid-month fuel data from the Central Energy Fund (CEF) indicate a decrease in prices for all fuels next month, with ULP93 currently showing the biggest decrease. However, the AA said this may change ahead of the official adjustment by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) at the end of the month. Based on the current data, ULP95 is showing a decrease of around R1.10c/litre, while ULP93 is indicating a decrease of around R1.15c/l. Diesel is edging towards a decrease of 55c/l and illuminating paraffin is showing a decrease of around 45c/l. These decreases, however, will not move the prices of fuel to lower prices seen at the beginning of the year, the AA said. “At this stage of the month, the numbers are more reflective of…

GAUTENG High Court, Pretoria, Judge Nomonde Mngqibisa-Thusi was given a lifeline when she was found not guilty of gross misconduct for not delivering 27 judgments on time. The Judicial Conduct Tribunal, however, did find her guilty of misconduct and being grossly negligent in breach of the Code of Judicial conduct. While she will not be removed from office as she is not guilty of gross misconduct, the tribunal recommended that the Judicial Service Commission subject her to remedial steps. The allegations against Judge Mngqibisa-Thusi arose from a complaint lodged by Judge President of the Gauteng Division of the High Court Dunstan Mlambo. This resulted in the tribunal investigating her fitness to hold office. Judge Mngqibisa-Thusi was appointed to the High Court in Pretoria in 2009. At that stage she was…

Only liberating the land tied up in Parliament’s patriarchal structures can set them free SOUTH Africa is a nation marked by its ever-widening economic disparities and the peoples’ perpetual struggle for liberation and equality. Thirty years after its so-called emancipation from white rule the majority of the nation continue to grapple with deep-seated inequalities and gender disparities. Despite the end of apartheid and the establishment of a democratic government, the South African majority, especially Black women, remain marginalised in all facets of society. This is as a result of neoliberal capitalism, the economic system adopted by the ANC years before it became the governing party. The introduction of neoliberalism into South Africa occurred in the early 1990s. It unfortunately coincided with the end of apartheid and the country’s transition…

Israeli airstrikes yesterday killed at least 17 Palestinians in two of the Gaza Strip’s historic refugee camps and Israeli tanks pushed deeper into the enclave’s southern city of Rafah, residents and medics said. Residents reported heavy bombardments from tanks and planes in several areas of Rafah, where more than a million people had taken refuge before May. Most of the population has fled northwards since then as Israeli forces invaded the city. Israeli tanks were operating inside Tel Al-Sultan, Al-Izba, and Zurub areas in Rafah’s west, as well as Shaboura at the heart of the city. They also continued to occupy the eastern areas and outskirts as well as the border with Egypt and the vital Rafah border crossing. Palestinian health officials said one man was killed in the morning…

Surging cases of bird flu among mammals, including US cattle, offer a stark warning that the world is not ready to fend off future pandemics, a report said yesterday. The bird flu H5N1 has been jumping over to mammals as well as a few humans, prompting fears the virus could spark a future pandemic. “If H5N1 began to spread from person to person, the world would likely again be overwhelmed,” the report’s co-author and former New Zealand prime minister Helen Clark said. While wealthy countries have vaccines that could fight this mpox outbreak, they have not been made available to the central African country, she said. Now two people have died from the mpox strain in South Africa, illustrating how neglect can lead to such pathogens spreading, she said.…

MOSCOW: Russian investigators have arrested three people after more than 120 people in Moscow and dozens in other cities fell sick with suspected food poisoning. Russia’s Investigative Committee said it had arrested the head of a food production company, its director and the head of quality control for a food delivery service. More than 120 people had consulted doctors in Moscow over symptoms of poisoning and suspected botulism, a rare, life-threatening illness that causes breathing problems and muscle paralysis. Nearly 30 people in two cities east of Moscow also have botulism symptoms. Dozens are in intensive care. | Reuters…

Paris: Two women are to be tried this week over false claims that France’s first lady, Brigitte Macron, was transgender, which sparked online rumour-mongering by conspiracy theorists and the far-right. In 2022, Brigitte Macron, 71, filed a complaint for libel against two women who posted a YouTube video in December 2021 alleging she had once been a man named “Jean-Michel”. The claim went viral weeks before the 2022 election. Macron, 46, has lashed out at the false information spread about his wife. The false claim also led to more serious accusations of child abuse brought against France’s first lady, and has even spread to the US where she was attacked in a YouTube video. | AFP…