Table of contents for 2024-12-19 in Cape Times

THE Department of Public Works and Infrastructure said work on setting up the dome, which was used during former president Nelson Mandela’s funeral, as a makeshift structure for the National Assembly will take 24 days. This comes after the department’s director-general Sifiso Mdakane conducted the official site handover for the installation of the dome to the contractor in Cape Town on Tuesday. The department said eight 2-metre containers, carrying all the necessary accessories and parts, which were transported from the South African National Defence Force storage facility in Pretoria to Cape Town, were handed over to commence construction. Parliament has been using the Cape Town City Hall and the Good Hope Chamber for some of its sittings after a fire two years ago. In July, National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza…

The Road Accident Fund (RAF) has welcomed a significant ruling by the full bench of the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria, which dismissed Discovery Health’s efforts to compel the fund to reimburse the medical scheme for costs paid to its members involved in car accidents. This decision not only reaffirms the RAF’s obligations but also sets a precedent that may influence future claims and court actions. The case stemmed from Discovery Health’s claim that the RAF, under the leadership of CEO Collins Letsoalo, violated an earlier judgment mandating the fund to reimburse medical expenses for accident-related injuries after paying the medical schemes. The core issue revolved around whether the RAF should cover past medical expenses for road accident victims already compensated by their medical aid schemes. In August 2022, the…

THE Public Service Commission (PSC) has called for National Treasury to conduct a cost-based analysis to understand what the cost of capped leave will be over the next 3 to 5 years as it stood at more than R16.2 billion as at December last year. According to commissioner Anele Gxoyiya, they were finalising a study on the utilisation of specific categories of leave in the Public Service. The Report titled: The Utilisation of Categories of Leave in the Public Service: Facts, Observations and Recommendations is expected to be released in 2025. As at December 31, 2023, the number of employees with capped leave is 189 039, roughly 14% of employees in the Public Service. The greatest cost was within the national government at just under R4bn, followed by the Eastern…

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa needs no reminder that the country’s ongoing challenges of racism, poverty, poor governance, slow land reform and corruption, among others, require more than a “national dialogue” to resolve. He is well aware of where the problems and the solutions lie and that another indaba will be nothing short of wasting taxpayers’ money. Still, he proposed the idea of a national dialogue in his Day of Reconciliation address, as part of a solution to South Africa’s pressing issues. “We can no longer live in a country where some people live in privilege and others face great hardship. Our country is still divided by poverty and unemployment. We will hold a national dialogue next year to enable a conversation among citizens on shaping our country’s future,” Ramaphosa said. Unless…

US President-elect Donald Trump plans to launch a mass deportation operation targeting millions of immigrants living in the US without legal status or with temporary protections once he takes office on January 20, a challenging initiative that could split apart families and affect US businesses. There were roughly 11 million immigrants in the US illegally or with a temporary status at the start of 2022, a figure that some analysts say has increased to 13-14 million. Those with temporary protections are not immediately deportable and many live in “sanctuary” states that limit co-operation with federal immigration enforcement. California was the state with the most immigrants in the US illegally with some 2.2 million in 2022, according to estimates by the Center for Migration Studies of New York, a nonpartisan…

A Syrian civil defence official said yesterday that White Helmets rescuers discovered unidentified bodies and remains in a medicine warehouse in a Damascus suburb, 10 days after Bashar al-Assad’s ouster. An AFP video journalist at the scene said the warehouse strewn with medicine boxes was located just around 50m from the Sayyida Zeinab shrine, a revered site for Shiite Muslims. “We received a report about the presence of bodies, bones and a foul smell at the site,” White Helmets official Ammar al-Salmo said. South Damascus’s Sayyida Zeinab suburb was a stronghold of pro-Iran fighters including Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant group before Islamist-led rebels took the capital on December 8 in a lightning offensive. “In the warehouse, we found a refrigerated room containing decomposing corpses,” Salmo said, adding that some appeared to…

Israeli soldiers removed a small far-right group of Israeli civilians who had crossed into Lebanon, appearing to put up a tent settlement, in what the military said yesterday was a serious incident now under investigation. The Times of Israel reported 10 days ago that the group, advocating the annexation and settlement of southern Lebanon, said they had crossed the border and established an outpost. Yesterday, the Israeli military said they had been promptly removed. “The preliminary investigation indicates that the civilians indeed crossed the blue line by a few metres, and after being identified by IDF forces, they were removed from the area,” said a statement by the IDF, Israel’s military. “Any attempt to approach or cross the border into Lebanese territory without co-ordination poses a life-threatening risk and interferes…

The Automobile Association (AA) said yesterday that mid-month data from the Central Energy Fund indicates a slight increase in the fuel price to kick off January 2025. Eleanor Mavimbela, the AA spokesperson, said current unaudited data from the Central Energy Fund (CEF) showed a mix of increases and decreases in fuel prices for January. Based on the data, ULP95 is anticipated to increase by around three cents per litre, while ULP93 is projected to increase by 11 cents per litre. Diesel prices are expected to drop by approximately three cents per litre, and illuminating paraffin is set to decrease by about 14 cents per litre. Mavimbela attributed these expected reductions to lower international product prices observed at the end of the previous month. “Although the rand has not been performing…

Men urged to seek help for emotional distress after ‘horrific’ murder of young woman KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli has called for the root causes of gender-based violence (GBV) to be confronted and for men to seek help to cope with emotional distress and anger. He was commenting after the brutal killing of 25-year-old Nontobeko Cele in uMzinto just days after the province launched the 365 Days of No Violence Against Women and Children campaign. Cele was stabbed to death by her boyfriend, Sibusiso Lawrence Ntaka, who later took his own life. In a video shared on social media, Ntaka, who appears to have blood on his face, talks about what happened and then shows the body of Cele. Police said Cele’s body was found on a gravel road in Malangeni…

As Capetonians flocked to the Old Biscuit Mill this Monday, little did they know that they were in for a 12-hour music marathon and lifestyle experience that would culminate with them mingling and taking pictures with renowned DJ Black Coffee, Sun El Musician and Culoe de Song until the wee hours of the morning. Musa Keys, Thakzin, Celso Fabri and Younsta CPT were billed as the headline acts for this Reconciliation Day’s instalment of the popular ComUnity Festival – a social entrepreneurship festival that platforms food vendors, fashionistas, artists and DJs. The festival’s founders, Loyd and Sir Vincent, played their cards close to their chests with some acts blurred out from the list of performers. It was on my way out, just after 9pm, when I heard whispers of Black…

South Africa’s history is rich with stories of unity, support, and solidarity. During the dark years of apartheid, many African countries and nations around the world extended their hand to South Africa’s anti-apartheid activists. These countries welcomed our struggle and played a key role in ensuring that apartheid could not continue. Much of our freedom is owed to the international community, and we must continue to create an environment of acceptance and compassion for foreigners today. As Nelson Mandela said: “Let freedom reign. God bless Africa.” These words were not only about South African freedom, but about freedom for all. Our liberty came with the support of the international community, and we continue to allow an environment of inclusivity for foreigners in South Africa. The preamble of South Africa’s Constitution…

China and India took a further step towards easing their long-running border dispute yesterday, with senior officials holding formal talks for the first time in five years and committing to finding mutually acceptable solutions. The meeting in Beijing between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval followed a milestone pact two months ago on lowering military tensions at a contested part of their border. The two officials reaffirmed both sides’ commitment to seek a package of solutions to the dispute that was fair and acceptable for both, a Chinese foreign ministry statement said. They stressed the need to strengthen routine control and management of the border to maintain peace in the western Himalayan frontier area. Ties between the two nuclear-armed neighbours have been severely strained…

ACCRA: Ghana’s Supreme Court yesterday rejected two bids to overturn a contested piece of legislation severely curtailing LGBTQ rights which was adopted by MPs earlier this year. MPs approved the Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill in February, drawing international condemnation. The proposed legislation stipulates jail terms of six months to three years for engaging in LGBTQ sex. The bill sparked criticism from several countries, including the US, as well as concern from Ghana’s finance ministry, which warned of a risk of losing billions of dollars in World Bank funding. | AFP…

Gabon’s ruling junta yesterday lifted a curfew that had been in force since it seized power in a August 2023 coup, to allow for holiday celebrations, an official statement said. The central African country’s military rulers removed “until further notice” a strict overnight curfew imposed by the Bongo dynasty, which they ousted after 55 years in power. Police at the weekend had arrested dozens of young protesters in Libreville for breaching the curfew, with some claiming they had their heads shaved by the authorities as punishment. The decision comes three days after a “crackdown operation” by police that was heavily criticised on social media. The ruling junta has previously shaved a teenager for posting a viral video deemed an “outrage” to coup leader General Brice Oligui Nguema. Young people accused…

The National Consumer Tribunal has fined Braai Block, a supplier of food based in Gauteng, R1 million for contravening the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act (CPA). The National Consumer Commission (NCC) acting commissioner, Hardin Ratshisusu, said yesterday that this was a major ruling as it affirmed the protection for consumers against suppliers that do not disclose accurate information on sales records. “This ruling should serve as strong deterrence to other suppliers from engaging in similar conduct,” Ratshisusu said. In a statement, the NCC said it had received a tip-off from a consumer alerting it to possible violations of various provisions of the CPA by Braai Block. “The consumer alleged that Braai Block did not include the location of its trading address in its tax invoices and secondly, Braai Block…

As South Africans prepare for their traditional end-of-year festivities – from family braais to elaborate Christmas spreads – an uncomfortable truth lurks behind our celebrations. In a country where millions of people experience hunger, our holiday food waste remains disturbingly high. Statistics by the Department of Environment, Forestry, and Fisheries (DEFF) indicate that roughly 10 million tonnes of food is wasted annually, 500 000 tons of which come from consumption waste. This is food that could otherwise feed over seven million people per year – particularly significant in a developing country like South Africa, which is faced with widespread poverty, hunger, and food insecurity. The environmental toll of food waste is substantial. When food decomposes in landfills, it generates methane, a greenhouse gas around 28 times more effective than carbon…

Careless traditional nurses and illegal circumcisions causing septic wounds have been cited as among the reasons for the deaths of 17 initiates during the Eastern Cape summer initiation season. The death toll increased by nine following the Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs’ three-day oversight visit to Alfred Nzo and OR Tambo districts which are historically hotspots for initiation-related deaths. A number of issues, including dehydration and infections, mostly in illegal initiation schools, were cited as major contributors to the incidents. Some deaths were caused by careless traditional nurses. One initiate was burned beyond recognition in his hut near Stutterheim, and another died from lung issues. Eastern Cape Cogta MEC Zolile Williams said in another case in Tsolo, an initiate died after his father removed him from a…

TAXPAYERS have coughed up more than R150 million to secure and pay for the rates and services of more than 10 000 unoccupied state properties across the country between April and November this year. “There are 10 188 unoccupied state properties as at 22 November 2024. The expenditure from April 2024 to date is R150 596 923 on security, rates, municipal services and day-to-day maintenance,” said Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson. He was responding to parliamentary questions from MK Party MP Sanele Mvali. Asked about plans to utilise or dispose of unoccupied state properties, Macpherson said the department has developed an asset optimisation strategy that was intended to ensure immovable state-owned properties were used for public good. The plan entailed the use of state properties through collaboration with…

Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset Concerts have returned to bring music, magic and unforgettable evenings to revellers under the Cape Town stars. The 2024/2025 series of Summer Sunset Concerts kicked off on December 8 with the Cradle to the Cape concert and concludes on March 30 with an unforgettable performance by Ami Faku and Simmy as summer sets on the Mother City. The packed line-up includes acts like Mi Casa, The Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, Jeremy Loops, and more. Unity at Kirstenbosch will usher in the festive season with live performances on December 22. Ahead of New Year’s, Goldfish will ensure that “We come together” with a performance on December 29. The New Year’s Eve Concert sees Will Linley and Lloyiso take to the stage for a memorable start to 2025. Events…

Russia yesterday expanded an operation to clean up thousands of tonnes of oil that spilt into the sea and contaminated almost 50km of beaches after tanker ships were wrecked in a storm. An ageing Russian oil tanker broke up and sank and another ran aground Sunday in a strait linking the Azov and Black Seas, between Moscow-annexed Crimea and southern Russia’s Krasnodar region, known for its beach resorts. Russia’s emergencies ministry said yesterday it was working on cleaning up 49km of beaches from the resort of Anapa north to the port of Temryuk, and patrolling a total of 70km of beaches. The two tankers were carrying around 9 000 tons of oil and satellite monitoring suggests around 3 000 were spilt. Satellite images showed that oil is still leaking out…

France’s highest appeals court ordered former president Nicolas Sarkozy to wear an electronic tag for a year yesterday – first for a former head of state – after confirming his convictions for corruption and influence peddling. It also barred him from public office for three years. The verdict means he could face 12 months under house arrest, depending on what a judge later decides. Sarkozy, 69, who had been found guilty of illegal attempts to secure favours from a judge, will “evidently” respect the sentence, his lawyer Patrice Spinosi told AFP. But he will take the case to the European Court of Human Rights within weeks, Spinosi added. That will not, however, hold up Wednesday’s sanction, Sarkozy having exhausted all the legal avenues in France. Spinosi said it was a…

A British teenager yesterday had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf to charges of murdering three young girls in a knife attack in northern England in July, a crime that horrified the nation and was followed by days of nationwide rioting. Large disturbances broke out in Southport after false reports spread on social media that the suspected killer was a radical Islamist migrant. Axel Rudakubana, 18, did not speak when asked yesterday at Liverpool Crown Court if he was guilty or not guilty of killing Bebe King, 6, Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, 9, who were at a Taylor Swift-themed dance event in the town. Not guilty pleas were also entered over charges of 10 attempted murders, producing the deadly poison ricin and the possession of…

Corbin Bosch could make his international debut on his home ground – and the old stomping ground of his late father, former national team fast bowler Tertius – after earning a maiden call-up to the Proteas Test squad for the upcoming two-match series against Pakistan. The opening match of the series, starting on Boxing Day, will be played at Centurion, before the much-anticipated New Year Test at Newlands. One victory in either of the two Test matches will secure the Proteas’ passage to the World Test Championship final at Lord’s next year. A spate of injuries to the leading fast bowlers in the country, which includes Lungi Ngidi, Nandré Burger, Gerald Coetzee and Lizaad Williams, has seen Bosch being thrown into the mix. Bosch’s late father Tertius – who also…