Table of contents for 2022-05-16 in Cape Times

ESKOM’s windfall announced on Friday that it will be able to short-circuit Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) procurement processes which are likely to help the utility to move faster, but there remain concerns that continuing corruption and the need for extensive maintenance may take more power off the grid for longer. Eskom announced on Friday that the National Treasury’s relaxation of some procurement and supply chain management rules and processes contained in the PFMA will assist it in speeding up critical and urgent procurement. The amendment, which is outlined in an instruction note that became effective in April, will also empower it to engage directly with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and maintenance suppliers. This is as Eskom, which has long bemoaned that it needs at least 77 days…

GLOBAL and domestic financial markets continued their nervous volatile movements last week, as the Russia-Ukraine conflict continued, US inflation remained a threat for interest rates and the Covid-19 lockdown in China put resource prices under pressure. The Ukraine-Russia conflict has kept the oil prices (Brent) above $111 (R1 793) a barrel, fuelling cost-push inflation, especially in the developed world. The US inflation rate for April 2022 came in at 8.3 percent, against market expectations of 6.1 percent. The figure immediately put share prices around the globe under renewed pressure, as further hawkish interest rate hikes by the US Federal Reserve now loom. In the US, equities were subject to another week of hammering. The Dow Jones Industrial shares lost another 2.14 last week, and the index is…

REPORTS submitted to Unisa’s council have revealed allegations of violations of university rules and policies, and the laws of the country, which resulted in the loss of millions through over-expenditure at the institution. The reports were submitted to the university council by Unisa Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Puleng LenkaBula, who indicated in February that she was submitting the reports ahead of the council’s special expo and meetings. In a letter addressed to the chairperson of the council, LenkaBula stated that the reports had not been submitted to the management committee, as was normal procedure, due to some of its members being implicated in them. She said the submission of the reports had been delayed for a number of reasons, the first being due to the serious nature of the issues…

“IT'S LIKE I am in a dream. I just can't believe it” This is how Phozisa Gqomfa reacted to the deaths of five relatives including two children who died when a fire destroyed their shack in France informal settlement, Khayelitsha, yesterday. Those killed were Nosimphiwe Tafeni, 58, Zakhele Matshikiza, 30, Apelele Tafeni, 17, Nkazimlo Tafeni, 5, and 3-year-old Melokuhle Tafeni. It is believed that the family was asleep when the fire started about 4.30am. Detailing the horror, Gqomfa said they heard children screaming for help. “When we went out to see what was happening, we saw a fire blazing. We tried to extinguish it using buckets but the fire (grew). I was worried about the little ones because I could hear them crying. We could not save them because…

1. The water and crisis caused by the floods is bigger than you think Due to the extraordinary infrastructural devastation, hundreds of thousands are still without drinking and domestic water. Tongaat to the north of Durban, a peri-urban community of over 50 000, will be without water for up to half a year, and perhaps more worrying is the fact that densely populated settlements like KwaDabeka and Ntuzuma to the west of Durban, where hundreds lost their homes and are sheltering in halls, tents, or with friends and family, remain dry. “We have seen water return to the taps of some areas where many are homeless, such as Dassenhoek and KwaNgedezi, only for it to disappear again. Clearly, it will be a long time before consistent flow can be achieved,”…

YOUR Friday edition “No bribes were paid – Mabuyane” refers: To even say this shows that there was an expectation of bribes being paid. This is the norm in South Africa today. Unfortunately, the governing party seems to expect that bribes will be paid or have been paid. One was shocked to read “they will give you money, they will give you money. They are part of the establishment. They are the haves. They have been in power in the ANC for 12 years. If they bribe you, you must take the money and do the right thing, comrades”. In essence it is common practice within the ANC to pay bribes for support. How disgusting is this!…

MEMBERS and supporters of Operation Dudula took to the streets of the city centre during the movement’s launch in Cape Town at the weekend. The controversial organisation was first formed in Gauteng and says it is on a nationwide campaign to root out undocumented migrants. The group’s leadership says it will be collecting data across all townships around Cape Town. Operation Dudula provincial coordinator Solly Tsolwane said its leadership would meet during the week. “We are happy that we have finally launched this movement in the province because we represent people’s views when it comes to social issues. “The issues we are facing here are everywhere, and they need to be attended to because our people are suffering on the ground. Our country has a different constitution from other African…

Like the rest of the world, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) is battling the negative effects of colliding crises. Chief among these crises are the Covid-19 health and economic pandemics, deglobalisation from unipolarism, and the neutering of multilateral organisations. The threat of nuclear war from the Russia-Ukraine imbroglio has exacerbated these colliding crises further by hurting global economic growth and driving up prices for basic consumer goods like food and energy. In this maelstrom of both man-made and natural crises, one question that comes up concerns identifying the response of the world’s second largest economy. The PRC’s strategic response – namely the New Development Philosophy (NDP) – is noteworthy for its clarity, relevance and transparency. What are its constituent elements and why should we be interested to know about…

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has told his Finnish counterpart, Sauli Niinistö, that Finland scrapping its military neutrality would be a “mistake”, the Kremlin said. “Putin stressed that the end of the traditional policy of military neutrality would be a mistake since there is no threat to Finland’s security,” the Kremlin said in a statement on Saturday after a phone call between the two leaders. Helsinki is expected to announce its bid for Nato membership. “Such a change in the country’s political orientation can have a negative impact on Russian-Finnish relations developed over years in a spirit of good neighbourliness and co-operation between partners,” the statement said. Both leaders also touched on the situation in Ukraine, Putin informed his counterpart on the status of Russian-Ukrainian talks, which he said had been…

Ukraine’s forces were fighting off a fierce Russian onslaught on the east of the country yesterday. In the north-east, outside Kharkiv, police investigators drove – past neighbourhoods in ruins, destroyed Russian military, a field littered with blast craters, and plumes of dark smoke rising a few kilometres in the distance, where fighting was taking place between the Ukrainian and Russian forces. The Ukrainians expelled Russian forces from the town of Tsyrkuny, near the border last week – part of a Ukrainian counter-offensive that has reclaimed a significant swath of territory in the Kharkiv region this month. Now the police investigators were eager to visit the village, where they had a report of two civilian bodies lying on the side of a dirt road. The women had been killed by a…

Stuttgart: Agriculture ministers from the Group of Seven industrialised nations have condemned India’s decision to ban unapproved wheat exports after the country was hit by a punishing heatwave. “If everyone starts to impose export restrictions or to close markets, that would worsen the crisis,” German agriculture minister Cem Ozdemir said. India, the world’s second-largest wheat producer, on Saturday banned wheat exports without prior government approval after scorching temperatures hit production, in a blow to countries affected by supply shortages because of the war in Ukraine. |…

Private chef Selim M’nasri used to cook for wealthy Russians on the French Riviera, but he says it has been “radio silence” from them since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. Covid-19 and now Western sanctions on Moscow over the Ukraine war have kept rich Russians away from the French Riviera, one of their favourite foreign destinations. The pandemic caused an 80% drop in the number of Russian tourists, said Francois de Canson, the head of the local tourism committee. After Paris, it is the second most popular French destination for Russians. And it is a historic hot spot, too – Russian visitors have stayed here in “villas since the 19th century”, de Canson said. |…

The Blues crushed the Reds to tighten their grip at the top of the Super Rugby Pacific table, while the Crusaders inflicted a rare defeat on the Brumbies at the weekend. Coach Leon McDonald’s red-hot Blues have now won 11 on the trot, unbeaten since narrowly losing their season opener 32-33 to the Hurricanes. They blitzed the Reds at Eden Park with five second-half tries to win 53-26 and reinforce their championship credentials. The win moved them seven points clear of the Brumbies and Crusaders after round 13. In Canberra, the sublime Crusaders prevailed 37-26 to hand the Brumbies only their second defeat of the campaign. The visitors went to the break with a 25-5 lead and withstood a powerful second-half fightback to secure the win and move level with…

THE Department of Water and Sanitation has revealed that it recovered R270 million and saved R622m over a period of eight years from cases of corruption and financial misconduct. But MPs say the amount is not enough, considering the billions of rand lost in the department over the years. This emerged when the department briefed the water and sanitation portfolio committee on disciplinary cases instituted against some officials. “R270m has been recovered, and an additional R622m has been saved by the department since 2014 as a result of civil, legal and criminal actions resulting from cases of corruption and financial misconduct,” head of department, Sean Phillips, said. Phillips said there were 147 financial misconduct cases involving its employees since 2013, with 118 cases finalised and 29 others being processed as…

AFTER being released on R1 000 bail, Springbok flyhalf Elton Jantjies is set to appear in the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court today. Jantjies was arrested at OR Tambo International Airport (ORTIA) yesterday morning after an alleged in-flight incident between Dubai and Johannesburg. Police spokesperson Colonel Athlenda Mathe said: “SAPS can confirm that the 31-year-old man who was arrested for malicious damage to property has been released on bail. “The man was arrested upon arrival at ORTIA yesterday at 8:50am. “The suspect was on an international flight from Dubai to South Africa when he allegedly damaged property belonging to the airline,” Mathe said. “He is expected to appear before the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court tomorrow.” A spokesperson for SA Rugby said the body was investigating. “We have been informed of Elton’s…

TOGETHER with the cold- blooded murder of Al-Jazeerah journalist, Shireen Abu Akleh, the violence that erupted at Abu Akleh’s funeral procession needs to be condemned in the strongest possible terms. The Israeli forces’ disgraceful attack on pallbearers that violates all values, norms and international laws will be remembered forever. The Israeli violence against the funeral procession resembles the apartheid-era police actions in South Africa and highlights the brutality of the Israeli occupation. How much more suffering and pain must the Palestinians endure? Repeatedly it has been recorded that the Israeli military operates with impunity in Palestine, not only targeting and persecuting Palestinians, but also other aid workers, journalists and human rights activists, without justification or reason. When will Israeli soldiers or military officials be held accountable for their evilest and…

60g (150ml) pecan nuts 100g dates, pitted 30ml cocoa powder 20g (60ml) desiccated coconut 45ml maple syrup 90g coconut oil, melted 80g dark chocolate 150ml maple syrup 100g (110ml) smooth peanut butter 150g (375ml) raw cashew nuts, soaked in warm water for 1 hour, then drained 250ml coconut cream 5ml vanilla essence or vanilla seeds from 1 pod 1ml salt 80g dark chocolate 90g (100ml) smooth peanut butter Chopped peanuts, for decoration (optional) Combine all the crust ingredients in food processor until they clump together to form a dough. Grease a 20cm loose-bottomed cake tin, then spoon mixture into tin and press evenly onto bottom of the tin. Place in refrigerator while you make the filling. To make the filling Melt coconut oil, chocolate, maple syrup & peanut butter in…

FAMILY and friends laid to rest 38-year-old Candice Robertson, who was allegedly strangled to death by her boyfriend, during an emotional funeral service on Friday. Robertson was allegedly killed by her boyfriend Ethian van de Merwe at the Jambo Guest House on April 30. Van de Merwe, 50, was arrested the same day and appeared in court on Friday. Some family members and supporters attended proceedings at the Cape Town Magistrate’s court, and said they would be back this Friday when Van de Merwe is expected to appear again. They have also started a petition calling for no bail. Robertson’s friend Karen Kwalie said: “The family tried their best to make the funeral very dignified but it was a very intimate and a sad proceeding. “We are hoping that someone…

SHOTGUNS, revolvers, pistols and ammunition were among the array of weapons SAPS confiscated from suspects across the Western Cape at the weekend. Detectives also arrested 623 wanted suspects related to murder, attempted murder, assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm, house robbery, burglary, sexual offences and possession of drugs. SPAS Western Cape spokesperson FC van Wyk said an intelligence-driven operation in Durbanville landed a suspect behind bars for the possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition on Friday. Members attached to the Anti Gang Unit, Crime Intelligence and FLASH executed search warrants at the premises and found firearms such as shotguns, revolvers, pistols and ammunition. A man aged 43 was arrested. On a farm near Philadelphia, SAPS members found ten boxes containing dagga, fifty dagga plants, two scales, three…

THE omens are not encouraging for the finance ministers of Africa’s 54 countries and 1.4 billion population. As policymakers, they have been effectively overseeing siege economies over the past two years, forced to react to the Covid-19 pandemic and exacerbated by the impact of Russia’s military conflict with Ukraine, including unsustainable rises in global energy and food prices and their concomitant pressure on inflation. For Africans, the reality of food and energy poverty has been piling up. The Rome-based International Fund for Agricultural Development (Ifad) last week launched a Crisis Response Initiative to ensure that small-scale farmers in high-risk countries can produce food over the next few months to feed their families and communities, while reducing the threat to future harvests. “The disruption to global markets is shaking food systems…

Africa’s economic recovery from the combined brunt of the Ukraine war and the Covid-19 pandemic is taking centre stage at a flagship economic development conference. The 54th session of the Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development is under way in Dakar, Senegal. Experts, who met last week to set the tone for the ministerial session taking place today and tomorrow, urged countries to explore creative ways to finance the continent’s recovery. The executive secretary of the UN’s Economic Commission for Africa, Vera Songwe, urged participants to share their experiences and ideas to “break the cycle of solely donor contributed aid”. “As we look at the gains we have made in the last decade and the gains that have been taken away by the Ukraine crisis, we…

SAN FRANCISCO: The saga of Elon Musk’s bid to acquire Twitter took a turn that many long suspected: the Tesla CEO tweeted something declaring the deal was in jeopardy. Musk tweeted on Friday that the deal was “on hold” as he looked into the extent of Twitter’s bot problem. That sent Twitter’s stock plunging 25%. But Twitter’s bots and fake accounts have been around as long as the 16-year-old media service. He later said he was committed to the deal. Analysts generally interpreted Musk’s messages as an attempt to pull out of the deal or to try to force a lower price. |…

THE G7 nations said on Saturday they would not recognise the borders Russia is trying to shift by force in its war against Ukraine and pledged enduring support for Kyiv. “We will never recognise borders Russia has attempted to change by military aggression, and will uphold our engagement in the support of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, including Crimea, and all states,” the G7 foreign ministers said in a statement after three days of talks in northern Germany. The ministers, who met in Wangels, also vowed to expand sanctions to include sectors on which Russia is dependent and keep supplying Ukraine with weapons to help it repel Russia’s invasion. |…

LONDON: The oldest underground rapid-transit system in the world - the beloved, smelly, iconic, clanking, overstuffed Tube – is about to undergo its biggest expansion in decades with the opening of the super-speedy and library-hushed Elizabeth line, which promises to transform the city for commuters and visitors alike. The new line boasts sleek carriages zooming along tracks laid 10 storeys below streets, through climate-controlled tunnels. The opening coincides rather nicely with the Platinum Jubilee of its namesake, Queen Elizabeth II, who is marking 70 years on the throne. |…

THE kidnapping of 21-year-old Huzaifa Sange from his family’s takeaway business in Newfields near Hanover Park has highlighted the increased targeting of cash-based businesses by “copycat gangs”. Huzaifa Take-Away, well-known for its chicken tikka, is Sange’s brother’s business but the 21-year-old works there as he lives with his sibling and sister-in-law. At about 8pm on Friday, four armed men allegedly went to the family home in Lodewyk Street where the business operates, under the pretext of being customers, before they robbed them and fled with Sange. Police spokesperson FC Van Wyk said the case was still under investigation, with no arrests yet made. “According to reports four unknown males entered the house and threatened the occupants. The suspects made them lie on the kitchen floor, ransacked the house and took…

THE letter from Mohamed Saeed dated May 10 in the Cape Times refers. If Mr Saeed is co concerned about John Steenhuisen’s trustworthiness about visiting Israel and the adjacent countries why doesn’t he go and visit there himself? He will find it easy to travel to Israel. He would be able to get first-hand information on the issues he raises … such as allegedly suffering communities and alleged human rights abuses and the non- existence of an “apartheid state” in Israel. Would he report his findings honestly? Then one may really and quickly assess who is the hypocrite, Saeed or Steenhuisen? Enough of this stirring of hatred and bigotry……

THERE are many blacks who would like to relieve whites of all their possessions (and drive them into the sea). However, most blacks realise that this could result in the international community imposing sanctions, which could – and probably would – have a devastating effect on the economy. Consequently, theft is, for all intents and purposes, in the process of being legalised. Which is evident to anyone who takes a look at what is happening to the owners of the River Club, who were recently alerted by Judge Patricia Goliath to the fact that they have to obtain the blessing of the indigenous community “come hell or high water”. This is due to the indigenous community’s so-called right to be consulted “adequately”, which, in the opinion of the…

MORE than 800 current and former employees of a Limpopo government-owned bus company have been left high and dry after R300 million of their pension funds vanished. This comes after Great North Transport (GNT) Pty Ltd failed to pay their contributions to the pension fund administrators, or made short payments, for 17 years even though it had made monthly deductions from their salaries, in breach of the Pension Fund Act (PFA). The money was evidently used as cash-flow by the cash-strapped bus company. Despite holding quarterly board meetings between 2000 and 2017, the GNT board of trustees also failed to report non-compliance by the bus company to the pension fund registrar as required by the PFA, according to a draft forensic report by global firm BDO. The board was obliged…

A Northern Cape woman, suspected of having conspired to have her husband kidnapped and killed, has been arrested. SAPS Northern Cape spokesperson, Captain Olebogeng Tawana, said a joint operation by members of the Provincial Organised Crime Unit and Kimberley Crime Intelligence led to the woman’s arrest yesterday. She was nabbed at the Indian Centre in Kimberley during a set-up. “Following a week of intelligence gathering and surveillance, the team executed the arrest. “This was done with the assistance of agents who posed as hitmen. "It is alleged that the woman wanted the hitmen to kidnap and kill her husband. “She allegedly promised to pay them a substantial amount after the supposed hit. "The woman was intercepted and arrested while negotiating with the hitmen. “She is expected to appear in…

A NATIONAL dialogue should be held immediately to come up with innovative ways to respond to the current water challenges being experienced in various parts of the country. Not too long ago, South Africa had the distinct honour of being one of the few countries in the world in which people could drink tap water without any fear of getting sick. However, a lack of maintenance, the exodus of experienced engineers to run water treatment plants, and falling standards of service delivery have changed that. Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality in Gqeberha is experiencing its worst water challenges to date, with authorities urging residents to “boil the water before consuming it” because of contamination. The authorities have also expressed fears that the municipality will run out of water due to an…

British medical journal The Lancet has warned that US Supreme Court justices would have “women’s blood on their hands” if they strike down the nationwide right to abortion. In a hard-hitting editorial, the renowned scientific publication condemned a leaked draft decision to override the landmark 1973 Roe v Wade ruling that enshrined the right to abortion in the US. “The fact is that if the US Supreme Court confirms its draft decision, women will die,” the publication said. “The justices who vote to strike down Roe will not succeed in ending abortion, they will only succeed in ending safe abortion. “Alito and his supporters will have women’s blood on their hands,” it concluded, referring to Justice Samuel Alito, who authored the draft majority opinion of the court that was leaked.…

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, pictured, is losing friends. The steady friendship between Hungary and Poland, who for years gave each other cover as they defied the EU over the rule of law, has frozen over since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The rift risks weakening Orban, the champion of “illiberal democracy” who has waged a bitter fight with EU leaders over a bloc-wide Russian oil embargo, the erosion of independent judiciaries and media freedoms. Without his line to Warsaw, Orban’s effort at an alliance against the EU is fading. The tension is over Orban’s refusal to make a clean break with President Vladimir Putin, according to officials familiar with the Polish government’s thinking. Warsaw has brought political dealings with Budapest to a halt, they said, on condition of anonymity. “The…

LONDON: The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) politicians lived up to their threat and blocked a power-sharing government in the Northern Ireland Assembly when they abstained in a vote on the appointment of a speaker. Unless the DUP changes its mind, it could take up to six months before fresh elections would be held. Sinn Fein won majority support in elections last week, and the right to choose the administration’s first minister. Under the rules, the assembly and its executive cabinet cannot function unless a speaker, a first minister and a deputy first minister are all in place. |…

The Sharks’ Currie Cup destiny is still technically in their own hands but that means little if they cannot turn around their wretched form. The Sharks have had a disappointing fortnight, losing badly to the Pumas in Durban and then at the weekend they were outclassed by the Cheetahs 44-15 in Bloemfontein. The Sharks have two remaining fixtures before the play-offs, a home game against the Lions on June 4 and then they finish away to Western Province a week later. They are currently third on the table but are descending into a dog fight with Griquas and the Pumas for the two spots that are available — the Cheetahs and Bulls can’t be caught at the top of the table and have booked home semi-finals already. After the Sharks…