Table of contents for 2021-12-06 in Cape Times

Banele Ginindza banele.ginindza@inl.co.za A R2.9 BILLION shot in the arm from the state to arms manufacturer Denel has not helped its situation as it still has to struggle with the disposal of its assets, timed for early next year, to meet its financial obligations, largely interest payments on debt, chief executive Willliam Hloakoane says. A large part of the R2.9 bn subvention announced by Finance Minister Enock Godongwana in his Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement is being used to reduce interest payments on debt while it negotiates with interested buyers for the sale of some assets, including properties, by January next year to stabilise its finances. This as the United Association of South Africa (Uasa) is pushing legal action on two fronts against the state-owned enterprise (SOE), with Public…

Machine Gun Kelly once accidentally stabbed himself while trying to impress Megan Fox. The 31-year-old musician – whose real name is Colson Baker – is currently in a relationship with the Jennifer’s Body actress, and has said that while he was in the process of trying to win her over, he managed to puncture himself in the hand with a knife as he was showing off. Kelly admitted he was playing around with an engraved knife given to him by Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker when the incident occurred. He said: “Travis got me this knife that had an engravement from the new album on it and I was like, ‘Check this out, this is sick’, and I threw it up and it came and stuck in my hand.” And though…

Staff writer IN THE last two weeks, no fewer than 80% of admissions to the Steve Biko Academic and Tshwane District Hospitals (SBAH/TDH) Complex for Covid-19 were below the age of 50. This along with the increased number of SARS-CoV-2 positive admissions among children aged 0-9 may reflect higher rates of community transmission for the Omicron variant, compared to previous waves, that is not translating into higher admission rates for a primary Covid-19 diagnosis. This is according to Dr Fareed Abdullah, the Director of the Office of AIDS and TB Research at the SA Medical Research Council and a part-time HIV Clinician at the Steve Biko Academic Hospital. Since the beginning of the pandemic he has worked as a member of the Covid-19 clinical team through the first three waves…

MASHUDU SADIKE THE Pretoria Society for Advocates has given its students an ultimatum to get the Covid-19 vaccination and present a vaccination certificate before the beginning of classes next year or risk losing their right to attend lectures. In a letter seen by the Cape Times sister Paper, Pretoria News, dated December 1, 2021, titled “Urgent letter to all 2022 pupils at the Pretoria Bar”, the law school chairperson, advocate Marc Leathern, raised concern over the coronavirus fourth wave and informed new pupils that vaccination would be mandatory. He further stated that everybody was expected to vaccinate before 2022 classes for the protection of pupils, co-pupils, members, attorneys, clients and judges. “We require that you present us with proof that you have received at least one vaccination by the…

Herman Gibbs herman.gibbs@africannewsagency.com NETBALL South Africa (NSA) has confirmed that four people from its OR Tambo district in the Eastern Cape have died en route to Cape Town in a bus accident early yesterday morning. The bus was transporting two teams and officials to Cape Town for the 2021 Spar National Championships, which starts in Bellville today. Yesterday evening, NSA president Cecilia Molokwane issued a statement saying NSA was deeply saddened by this news. “Losing lives is never an easy thing to deal with. “We are devastated by the news and we would like to send our deepest, sincere condolences to the families who have lost loved ones. “We are all in mourning. The people who passed away are part of netball, and we are heartbroken by all of this.”…

Ellen Fedele | Plumstead A FRIEND of mine who lives in Capricorn suffered the loss of his home which housed his mom, dad, brothers, sister and himself. It has been devastating because he is the only wage earner. It's disheartening to learn first-hand that when the fire broke out on Thursday evening two weeks ago, the ward councillor came in with someone taking pictures and raised the hopes of the people that something would be done, to no avail. My source on the ground, speaking on condition of anonymity, will show pictures of how desperate people are, simply putting up perimeter signs around what was once their home grounds and sleeping nightly at the taxi rank only to be told to leave at 4am the next morning because…

Staff writer THE Northern Cape’s Tamelyn Bock has been crowned the official winner of the inaugural Miss Wheelchair SA 2021 during a glitzy ceremony at the Artscape Theatre centre. Bock will represent South Africa at Miss Wheelchair World in Mexico in October next year. Miss Wheelchair South Africa in partnership with Universal Accessibility Hub (UAHub) was held on Thursday night with the aim to create awareness around “Beauty without Barriers” and changing the perception, narrative, and image of disabled women in South Africa. While 25-year-old Bock was shocked when her name was announced, she was ready to take on the journey to remove barriers facing people with disabilities. She explained that she was “overjoyed to be the voice” for Miss Wheelchair South Africa. During her victory speech, Bock stated…

Chevon Booysen Chevon.booysen@inl.co.za TEMPERS flared when a group of desperate locals allegedly invaded units and stood against authorities in the Forest Village Housing Project. Police confirmed they are investigating cases of malicious damage to property after a group of about 150 people allegedly invaded unoccupied units in the housing project on Friday. Representative of the Social Liberals for Backyard Dwellers (SLBD), Godfrey Luyt, said both provincial and national governments have “failed our people when it comes to housing issues”. “This issue is so much more than people invading units or land illegally. Our people are desperate and at their wits’ end. Government has the land, resources and money to give our people homes. We have people who have been on waiting lists for decades and are nowhere near owning their…

Chevon Booysen Chevon.booysen@inl.co.za POLICE are investigating the circumstances leading to a fire that claimed the lives of two children, aged 6 and 3, when it ravaged through informal structures in Wallacedene yesterday morning. The 3-year-old boy and 6-year-old girl were the only fatalities in the fire, the cause of which is yet to be determined. The City’s fire and rescue department spokesperson Jermaine Carelse said they were alerted to the fire just before 1am in Sikhobongela Street, Wallacedene. “Crews from Brackenfell and Kraaifontein were dispatched to the scene. They found a house and several informal structures burning, with a strong wind fanning the fire. “Community members reported that not everyone was accounted for and when the premises were searched, the bodies of the children were found. One dwelling was partially…

AVOIDING crowded indoor spaces, wearing masks, sanitising hands and maintaining a social distance have been crucial to the personal responsibility aligned to staying safe during the Covid-19 pandemic. As the Omicron variant takes its toll on the country and infection numbers grow, the vaccine is still seen as the most effective measure to protect fellow citizens from the severest effects of the pandemic. Since Friday at least 46 000 people in Gauteng have received their vaccines, and in the Western Cape the number was more than 22 000. Several hospitals that have seen a large number of Covid-19 admissions are reporting that most of those patients had not been vaccinated. The debate over mandatory vaccination rages on, but experts and doctors have backed vaccination as the most effective method…

The US and a group of Western countries including Germany, France and Britain have expressed concern over reported killings and disappearances of former members of the Afghan security forces after the Taliban took power in Afghanistan in August. The 21 countries plus the EU at the weekend referred to reports of such abuses documented by Human Rights Watch and others. “We underline that the alleged actions constitute serious human rights abuses and contradict the Taliban’s announced amnesty,” they said. “Reported cases must be investigated promptly and in a transparent manner; those responsible must be held accountable, and these steps must be clearly publicised as an immediate deterrent to further killings and disappearances.” Taliban spokespersons could not immediately be reached for comment. The Taliban have declared a general amnesty on members…

Marine debris including Styrofoam, plastic bottles and discarded fishing gear has been washing ashore on Okinoshima island, a World Heritage site about 60km off Kyushu. Although the island belongs to the city of Munakata, Fukuoka Prefecture, access is restricted because it is regarded as a sacred residence of Shinto deities. The job of cleaning up this debris has fallen on priests from the Munakata Taisha shrine on Kyushu. However, they have been finding that garbage is accumulating in between the tetrapod concrete blocks that prevent erosion and protect the island’s harbour, which is complicating the problem. There is abundant fishing in the waters around the island because of the warm Tsushima Current, but the large amount of marine debris is threatening this ecosystem. “The beautiful ocean has now become an…

Amman: A Jordanian court has sentenced to three years in jail the director of a state hospital over the deaths of 10 patients at the facility which treated coronavirus patients. Abdel Razak al-Khashman and four aides were convicted of “causing the deaths” at the Salt state hospital where the patients died after it ran out of oxygen. The verdict can be appealed against within 10 days. The deaths in March sparked public anger in Jordan and led to the resignation of health minister Nazir Obeidat. After the tragedy King Abdullah II visited the state hospital where hundreds of people rallied outside to vent their wrath.…

CHANGSHA (China): A total of 57 tombs dating back to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) have been excavated in central China’s Hunan Province, shedding light upon funeral customs in southern China during that period. The tomb complex in Yangtian Village under Hengshan County, received approval for archaeological excavation as a result of an expressway construction. The excavation lasted from August to November, unearthing 105 pieces of pottery, copper ware and glassware. Many tombs have niches with pots containing rice. Storing grain in tombs had been a burial custom since the Han Dynasty.…

Smiso Msomi smiso.msomi@inl.co.za It’s not often teams get it right against an all conquering Mamelodi Sundowns outfit but Stellenbosch FC coach, Steve Barker, lauded his side’s tactical application as the two teams played out a 1-1 draw at the Daven Craven Stadium on Saturday night. Stellies went into this encounter with their attacking exploits in the spotlight as they tried to breach a stingy Sundowns defence that had conceded just twice in 12 matches in the league. But Barker believes it was their defensive foundation that set up their danger on the counter. “Obviously, the conditions didn’t make it easy for either team but I thought structurally and tactically, I thought we set-up really well. We defended sort of narrow, didn’t allow them the pockets of space that they pride…

Siphelele Dludla siphelele.dludla@inl.co.za The OUTLOOK for South Africa’s business activity remained strong in November after private sector sentiment recovered to growth territory not seen since May. This has signalled a modest recovery in business conditions after a two-week strike by the biggest metal workers union disrupted activity in October. The IHS Markit Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) released on Friday rose to a six-month high in November, driven by output, new orders and employment. The PMI jumped to 51.7 index points from contractionary levels of 48.6 index points as the metal workers’ strike cost the economy R600 million and R300m in salary losses. IHS Markit said the latest data indicated only a slight uplift in business activity midway through the final quarter, following a sharp downturn in…

Thobile Mazibuko thobile.mazibuko@inl.co.za Multi-award-winning actress Gabrielle Union-Wade stole the limelight at the 2021 British Fashion Council’s Fashion Awards that recently took place at London’s Royal Albert Hall. Union-Wade wore a neon Valentino Haute Couture showstopper and her stylist Thomas Christos Kikis wanted to showcase joy and glamour. “We wanted something very celebratory and representative of the designer we were going to wear. When it comes to fashion awards like the Met Gala and the BFAs, the focus is the designer as much as it is Gabrielle,” he told Vogue. Public figures like Munroe Bergdorf, Jillian Mercado, Billy Porter, Ana Beatriz Barros, Priyanka Chopra, Adut Akech, and Ella Balinska walked the red carpet in ravishing assembles, showing off their sense of style. Balinska, who attended the Fashion Awards for the first…

Nicola Daniels nicola.daniels@inl.co.za AFTER receiving authorisation from the Angolan government, repatriation flights between Johannesburg and Luanda were allowed for yesterday only, while United Airlines’ announcement of flights between New York (Newark) and Cape Town has been welcomed. This after many nations including the UK, EU, US and some states in Africa, imposed travel bans on South Africa following its discovery of the Covid-19 variant Omicron. Angola had closed its borders to South Africa, Namibia, Mozambique, Botswana, eSwatini, Zimbabwe and Tanzania. Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla last week confirmed that South Africa had officially entered the fourth wave of Covid-19 infections, with an increase in cases reported in all provinces. Airlink said it had applied to operate a number of repatriation flights to assist people stranded in Angola. “Airlink, the…

Siyavuya Mzantsi siyavuya.mzantsi@inl.co.za THE son of Cradock Four martyr Fort Calata, Lukhanyo Calata, says they have been caught by surprise and left “deeply disgusted” by the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) failure to announce whether the State would prosecute those behind the murders of his father and his comrades Sicelo Mhlauli, Sparrow Mkhonto and Matthew Goniwe. The State Attorney, in a letter to the families’ legal representatives dated November 9, stated that national director of public prosecution, advocate Shamila Batohi, undertook to make a decision whether or not to prosecute no later than December 2, said the Calata Foundation. Justice Minister Ronald Lamola had also told the inaugural Fort Calata memorial lecture in Cradock, Eastern Cape, on November 5 that a judge would be appointed to look into why the…

MICHAEL BAGRAIM | Highlands Estate YOUR Thursday, December 2, 2021 edition: “City braces for boisterous exam-end celebrations”, refers. It is good to hear that some of these Rage events have been cancelled. We saw last year they were super-spreader events, and already problems have arisen this year. All businesses should also take note that the end of the year parties, Christmas events and gatherings should probably be put on hold until next year, in order to avoid all the negativity that comes with the spreading of Covid-19. In the past alcohol at these parties has created all sorts of problems. It has also has led to many disciplinary hearings in the new year. I have been involved in literally dozens of these disciplinary hearings, where staff have not been able…

Staff writer “I DREAM about doing a world tour by the age of 12. I play for the love of it and to share this love with others.” These are the words of 9-year-old “Minor Mozart” Andrew Willicott from Melkbosstrand, whose fingers move light as a feather across the piano keys. His father Gary said he realised his son had a gift when he played Oh When The Saints Go Marching In to perfection on his first attempt from memory. Shoppers at Cape Town’s Table Bay Mall might even have seen Andrew sitting at the piano in one of the forecourts. He also had an opportunity to play at a Rocco de Villiers concert earlier this year. “I want to bring healing to people through my music,” the young muso…

Staff writer TWO child rapists were recently handed hefty sentences in the Paarl Sexual Offences court. Police spokesperson Novela Potelwa said coinciding with 16 Days of Actvism for No violence against women and children campaign, provincial police welcomed the sentences meted out to child rapists aged 34 and 31. The Cape Times is not naming them as they are related to the child victims. The 34-year-old, was handed two life sentences for two counts of rape and four years for sexual assault. “The court found the accused had raped the 12-year-old daughter of his girlfriend between 2018 and 2019 on Mooi Kelder Farm in Paarl. (He) was sentenced on 26 November 2021,” Potelwa said. In Wellington, the 31-year-old was convicted for the rape of the 15-year-old sister of his…

SA bearing brunt of new wave of infections, as malaria and Aids deaths in Africa spike AS IF being clobbered by yet another Covid-19 variant, Omicron, is not enough, once again South Africa, where only 24% of the population is fully vaccinated, is bearing the brunt of a new wave of infections, especially in Gauteng. Never mind the new wave of infections in Britain, Germany, Switzerland and India, etc. That southern African countries have been subjected to international opprobrium and slapped with arbitrary travel bans is as misplaced as it is ill-informed. “The resurgence of the pandemic and the latest variant, Omicron,” warns the International Monetary Fund (IMF), “have sharply increased uncertainty around global economic prospects.” South Africa’s world-class scientists have received plaudits for identifying and sequencing Omicron, a wily…

ATHENS: Pope Francis yesterday returned to the island of Lesbos, the migration flashpoint he first visited in 2016, calling the neglect of migrants the “shipwreck of civilisation”. The pope has long championed the cause of migrants and his visit comes a day after he delivered a stinging rebuke to Europe which he said was “torn by nationalist egoism”. “In Europe there are those who treat the problem as a matter that does not concern them,” the pope said as he spent two hours at Lesbos’ Mavrovouni camp where nearly 2 200 asylum seekers live. On the second day of his visit to Greece, he met dozens of child asylum seekers and relatives standing behind metal barriers and stopped to embrace a boy called Mustafa. “I am trying to help you,”…

TOKYO: Japan’s Princess Aiko, the only child of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, yesterday celebrated her coming of age birthday at the Imperial Palace in central Tokyo, after turning 20 on Wednesday. Aiko, who is not eligible to ascend to the Chrysanthemum Throne, limited by law to men, wants to become an adult who can be of service to others, she said in a statement released by the Imperial Household Agency on her birthday. “I am deeply grateful to all who have been involved in my journey to this day,” Aiko said.…

The man expected to be the main candidate to take on Angola’s President Joao Lourenco in polls next year has been re-elected as leader of the biggest opposition party after he was ousted by a court. Adalberto Costa Junior was the president of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) until October, when the Constitutional Court annulled his 2019 election as party leader. Costa Junior at the time accused the court of “an attack on democracy” without legal basis. The court’s decision came on the very same day that UNITA formed a coalition with two other groups to increase its chances of defeating the long-ruling MPLA in elections due in August 2022. However after a three-day party congress in the capital Luanda he was re-elected as the…

Rabat: Moroccan police have foiled an attempt to smuggle 8.99 tons of cannabis near Casablanca, the police said. The drugs were carefully hidden in large blocks of marble of about 10 tons each, intended for export to an African country, it added. The operation occurred at a warehouse located in the village of Moualin El Oued near Casablanca, it said, adding that large sums of money and two cars with fake licence plates were also seized, Xinhua news agency reported. Five people were arrested for their alleged involvement in the international trafficking of drugs.…

Philippa Larkin philippa.larkin@inl.co.za IN A VICTORY for problem-plagued Eskom, the power utility said on Friday that the North Gauteng High Court had ordered the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) to process its application and to make a revenue decision for the 2023 financial year, which begins on April 1, 2022. The revenue decision would be based on the application made by Eskom to Nersa on June 2. This followed an urgent application by Eskom to overturn Nersa’s decision to reject the Eskom revenue application on the basis that a new pricing methodology was needed, a move the state-owned enterprise argued would create a regulatory vacuum for the electricity supply industry. Eskom also argued adapting to the new application process might take longer, jeopardising its financial status through…

From page 1 Earlier yesterday Molokwane announced that national champions, Tshwane, have withdrawn from the week-long championships. After Covid tests were conducted on players and management, two players tested positive. Over the past few days, players started showing Covid-19 symptoms. Consequently, the Tshwane Netball executive advised its mother body, Gauteng Netball, of its decision to withdraw the team for fear of compromising the event, and for the safety of individuals. The Tshwane contingent has been advised to isolate and monitor for further symptoms. Riana Bezuidenhout, the president of Gauteng Netball, said it was deeply disappointing that Tshwane would not be able to defend its title. However, she felt that safety and health should never be compromised.…

MASHUDU SADIKE THE DA in Limpopo has won the mayoral position in the much-sought after Modimolle-Mookgophong Local Municipality through a coin toss last week. The DA’s Marlene van Staden won the coin toss during Thursday’s council sitting after the voting reached a stalemate of 14-14 for the fifth time. In an event of a tie for mayor’s position after two attempts the electoral law allows the mayor to be chosen by lot (or coin toss). The coin toss is provided for in the Municipal Structures Act under Schedule which states: “If at the further meeting held only two candidates are nominated, or if only two candidates remain after an elimination procedure has been applied, and those two candidates receive the same number of votes, the person presiding at such…

Siphokazi Vuso siphokazi.vuso@inl.co.za THREE senior Cederberg municipal officials and the owner of a private company have been arrested and charged by the Western Cape Commercial Crime Investigation Unit over allegations of personal protective equipment (PPE) fraud and corruption. Following their arrest on Friday, the accused appeared at the Clanwilliam Magistrate’s Court and were granted bail of R5 000, with strict conditions. Police said the matter was postponed to March 1, 2022 “for the tracing of a further suspect and to have the matter transferred to the Commercial Crimes Court in Bellville”. This after intensive investigations by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) in the municipality. The SIU had initially raided the municipality’s offices in September last year attaching laptops and cellphones to investigate allegations of corruption and maladministration in the procurement…

JF Phillips | Paarl WITH reference to Mr Nyembezi’s comment on seismic surveys, there seems to be a misunderstanding regarding this sensitive topic. Mr Nyembezi mentions “noise from these blasts can disturb, injure or even kill animals across the entire marine ecosystem”. For the past 70 years seismic surveys have been done in all the oceans of the world, especially in the Gulf of Mexico and the North Sea and to a lesser extent on the East and west coasts of Africa and Southern Africa. At no stage have any marine life deaths been recorded. Whales, dolphins and fish simply move away when these 200 decibel plus blasts occur, and move back when the noise abates. Of course there are much higher decibel sounds in the ocean lightning strikes…

Siphokazi Vuso siphokazi.vuso@inl.co.za STRUGGLE icon Japhta Masemola earned himself the title “Blacksmith of Robben Island” because he was tasked to work with the tools used in the stone quarries, doing repairs and sharpening. This afforded him the opportunity to construct the infamous master key from a wet soap mould created by Sedick Isaacs and Vusi Nkumani. Masemola also attempted to break through the prison bars using an ordinary car jack that he built. “There are also stories of a raft that he constructed for the purpose of escaping that was discovered hidden under sand in the quarry. Masemola, together with Vusi Nkumani, created highly artistic sculptures to decorate one of the prison courtyards, which was actually a decoy to be used during prison escape attempts,” according to Robben Island Museum…

Nicola Daniels nicola.daniels@inl.co.za WHILE environmentalists lost their urgent application in the Makhanda High Court to stop Shell from starting its seismic survey on Friday, activists are still expressing their opposition to the operation, with protests held in various coastal areas. Protesters gathered at Central Beach in Plettenberg Bay and at Surfers Corner in Muizenberg yesterday. The seismic survey is scheduled to last for about four months, targeting a specific area within the Exploration License Area on the Wild Coast where it is believed there may be potential oil or gas deposits beneath the ground surface. Protestor Julie Anderson said: “We have to show support for those fighting the good fight on behalf of the oceans, to put a stop to seismic surveys and all future fossil fuel extensions from the…

Chevon Booysen chevon.booysen@inl.co.za AN alleged fraudster has been dealt a blow in the Western Cape after it turned down his bid to have his bail conditions relaxed in order to visit his daughter, who recently turned 21 and his elderly parents in the Netherlands. Martin Korver, who faces a minimum prison sentence of 15 years if found guilty, faces a number of charges including fraud, theft and money laundering. He is out on R100 000 bail. Judge Ashley Binns-Ward last week said the circumstances Korver had referred to as exceptional to relax his bail conditions were insufficient. “One of the primary motivations given … was the appellant should be able to be with one of his daughters by a previous marriage when she celebrated her 21st birthday, which he regarded…

THE existing strong relations between China and Africa have been significantly enhanced by two momentous events recently which indeed auger well for future co-operation. The Chinese government released its first comprehensive and constructive White Paper on China and Africa co-operation, titled “China and Africa in the New Era: A Partnership of Equals” on November 26, 2021, which reflects the successes of China-Africa co-operation over the past few decades and maps out the way forward regarding collaboration. The White Paper reaffirms an unwavering commitment on the part of China to continue to pursue a strengthened strategic partnership with Africa based on the principles of sincerity, friendship, good faith and real results towards the greater good and a shared future. This was followed by the productive 8th Ministerial Conference of the Forum…

The reluctance of the US to lift all sanctions on Iran is the main challenge to reviving a 2015 nuclear pact, a senior Iranian official said yesterday, as Western powers questioned Tehran’s determination to salvage the agreement. Indirect talks between Washington and Tehran on reinstating their nuclear pact broke off on Friday, with both sides saying they would resume the following week, as Western officials voiced dismay at sweeping demands by the Islamic Republic. “It is now clear Washington’s reluctance to give up sanctions altogether is the main challenge to the progress of the talks,” the unnamed official was quoted as saying by Iran’s Tasnim news agency. “We believe a deal is within reach if the US government gives up its campaign of maximum pressure and the European parties show…

NEW YORK: TV host Chris Cuomo, fired by CNN at the weekend for helping his brother, Andrew, defend his reputation amid sexual harassment accusations, has himself been accused of sexual misconduct, The New York Times has reported. The newspaper said prominent lawyer Debra S Katz last week informed CNN about a client of hers, who came forward with accusations against the TV presenter. The woman, who worked with Cuomo at another television network, alleged sexual misconduct against Chris Cuomo, she said. Katz said the woman decided to speak out against the TV host because “she was disgusted” by Chris Cuomo’s remarks earlier this year, while speaking about the sexual harassment claims against his elder brother Andrew Cuomo, the former governor of New York. “I’ve always cared very deeply about these…

JAKARTA: At least 13 people died and 98 were injured after Mount Semeru in Indonesia’s East Java erupted, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) said yesterday. “Two bodies have been identified, while others are still in the process,” according to the BNPB’s spokesperson Abdul Muhari. Meanwhile, 902 people have been evacuated to a village hall, a school building, and houses of worship. Volcanic ash has buried a number of houses, roads and a bridge. Officers are digging up the ash covering the road using heavy equipment, while evacuating and searching for missing persons.…

MEXICO CITY: A court in the Bocas del Toro Province of Panama has sentenced seven people to 50 years in jail for killing six children and a pregnant woman in a sectarian ritual, the province’s attorney general Humberto Rodriguez Batista said. The religious massacre took place in January 2020. Police were alerted by three people who had escaped the ritual of the religious sect known as The New Light of God that saw indigenous residents tortured and beaten by 10 lay preachers to make them repent their sins. The victims of the cultists were five children, their pregnant mother and their 17-year old female neighbour. The leader of the sect was the childrens’ grandfather.…