Table of contents for 2023-01-05 in Cape Times

SCORES of security guards have been left counting their losses because they are unable to receive health benefits after firms allegedly masquerading as health insurance companies deducted more than R25 million from thousands of workers since March 2021. Union leaders say at least 30 000 workers are affected and many have been turned away from hospitals and clinics while trying to access health care, because their medical aid cards did not qualify. The workers pay R150 monthly from their salaries on the understanding that the money would go towards medical benefits. The National Bargaining Council for Private Security Services approved health insurance, administered by Affinity Health, in accordance with the main collective agreement which became effective on March 1 last year, following the signing of an agreement with the sector.…

The R77-million upgrade for a section of Jip de Jager Drive, which is expected to alleviate traffic congestion and increase the road capacity, has been met with mixed reactions by road users. The City’s Urban Mobility Directorate announced that the major upgrade would start with the dualling of Jip de Jager Drive in Bellville later this month, and the upgrade construction project was expected to last for nearly two years. Tygerfalls resident Peter van der Merwe said the upgrade was much-needed to address the issues of traffic congestion and its alleviation. “The upgrade is welcomed and will do a lot for traffic congestion, especially since there has been so much more urban development around these areas. It will probably be a thorn in the side for the amount of time…

30ml oil 8 pieces of chicken, skin on (4 thighs and 4 drumsticks) 1 onion, cubed 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped 45ml tomato paste 1 x Royco Butter Chicken Dry Cook In Sauce 125ml cream 125ml water Sides – rice, naan, sambal, raita Fresh coriander Preheat the oven to 180C. Put the oil into a large casserole dish. Heat over a high heat on the stove top. Once hot, add the chicken pieces skin-side down. Allow to colour nicely on all sides then remove from the dish. Turn the heat down to medium then add the onions, fry for 5 minutes, then add the garlic. Fry for a further 2-3 minutes. Add the Royco Butter Chicken, cream and the water. Bring to a simmer then remove from the heat. Add…

Here we go again. Headlines in the paper about the deaths and botched circumcisions at the initiation schools all over the country. I have been writing about this for the last 30 years and nothing changes. We never learn from our mistakes. What country in the world would allow these deaths on a yearly basis without trying to sort this out? I blame the traditional leaders who could stop this, but year after year we have the same sad scenario. I also blame the parents, who should say enough is enough and we won’t send our children to these killing fields. For goodness’ sake, medicine has evolved over the years and there should be no reason for these deaths. The Jews do it and the Muslims do it and we…

Images obtained from Dragonfly’s EOS SAT-1, which recently lifted off from SpaceX’s launch site in Cape Canaveral, Florida, will deliver valuable information for harvest monitoring, application mapping, seasonal planning and assessments that analyse information such as soil moisture, yield prediction and biomass levels. This data will support growers with reducing carbon dioxide emissions and help them to develop sustainable agricultural methods. EOS SAT-1, the first imaging satellite to be built by Dragonfly Aerospace, is one of a seven-satellite constellation in low Earth orbit for customer EOSDA (EOS Data Analytics). The remaining six satellites of the constellation will be deployed over the next three years. EOS SAT is touted as the world’s first agriculture-focused satellite constellation providing the agriculture and forestry industry with high-quality data to support efficient and sustainable practices.…

China has been refining its Covid policies in light of the evolving situation. Recently, China made the decision to manage Covid-19 with measures against Class-B instead of the more serious Class-A infectious diseases. Nucleic acid tests and centralised quarantine will no longer be conducted on inbound travellers upon arrival. Passenger capacity limits on international flights have been removed. The focus of our response has shifted from stemming infection to preventing severe cases and caring for health. This is conducive to a smooth transition of Covid-19 response phases as well as quicker socio-economic recovery in China, and will provide solid support for a full and final victory against Covid. China keeps to the original aspiration and puts the people and life above all else. This has been China’s consistent approach in…

Palestinians are holding urgent talks on their next moves after an extreme-right Israeli minister visited Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa mosque compound, a step so far met with stern words rather than violence. There have been fears Tuesday’s controversial visit by Israel’s new national security minister, firebrand Itamar Ben-Gvir, could spark a war. Palestinian militant group Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, had earlier warned such a move would be a “red line”. Al-Aqsa mosque lies in Israeli- annexed east Jerusalem and is the third-holiest site in Islam. It is the most sacred place to Jews, who refer to it as Temple Mount. Hours after Ben-Gvir’s appearance at the sensitive site, Hamas and other militant groups held emergency meetings to discuss a “proportionate” response, sources within the movement told AFP. Overnight a single…

LONDON: JK Rowling received an £18 million (R369m) payout from her publishing company last year amid the fallout from her transgender rows. The 57-year-old Harry Potter creator, said to be worth around £835m, got the windfall as a dividend for shares in her Pottermore company. Accounts also showed Pottermore, which is JK’s digital publishing firm, made a pre-tax profit of £5.7m on a turnover of £37.8m in the financial year up to March 2022. She said in December any attempts to “cancel” her over her views had led to an increase in her book sales. She said: “The only time I’ve ever made reference to being cancelled, my book sales went up … I do not consider myself cancelled.” She was slammed for liking a tweet that referred to…

MANILA: Efforts by Philippine authorities to crack down on drugs under President Ferdinand Marcos jr are being hampered by the involvement of a few high-ranking police officials in the narcotics trade, the interior minister said yesterday. In the past six months, authorities have confiscated R3bn worth of methamphetamine. Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos appealed for the voluntary resignation of police holding the ranks of colonel up to general to restore trust in anti-narcotics operations after some were suspected of having links to the drug trade. Roughly 300 officers hold the rank of colonel to general in the 227 000-strong police force. | AFP…

ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa will have his hands full this week as he launches his party’s 111th anniversary in a faction-riddled Free State province that has failed to hold its elective conference four times due to divisions within the party. Ramaphosa kicked off the celebrations with a wreath-laying ceremony at the party’s Fezile Dabi region at the gravesite of the Reverend Zaccheus Richard Mahabane, the third president of the ANC, in Seeisosville cemetery, Maokeng, yesterday. This is one of the events marked to drum up support for the main January 8 statement expected to take place at the Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium on Sunday. Ramaphosa later proceeded to lay wreaths at the gravesite of Dr James Sebe Moroka at the embattled Mangaung region before meeting with local ANC structures. The…

SEWERAGE spills at several Cape Town beaches recently come as no surprise, as regular maintenance at pump stations and the replacement of ageing infrastructure would’ve prevented any leakages, an expert and residents claim. Strand beach and Small Bay in Blaauwberg were reopened on Tuesday after being closed on Sunday along with Fish Hoek beach due to a sewage spill. The main bathing section at Fish Hoek between the lifeguard station and Jager Walk remains temporarily closed. “This is a precaution as contact with the water could result in potential gastro-intestinal issues. Any person who enters the water does so at their own risk,” the City said. “The Deep Blue section of Strand beach was closed due to an electrical fault at the pump station, but the issue has since been…

SO CARL Niehaus is planning to establish a new political party? The man’s always been good for a giggle – and fodder for cartoonists – but this time he’ll attract hysterical laughter from a gobsmacked public. On what is he basing his reasons for such a giant and hellishly expensive step? What is his claim to fame, except having established himself as a picketing joker? And who does he imagine will want to join a party (sic) with little or no credentials? Those who do are undoubtedly of the same disconsolate ilk. That the ANC needs to be seriously taken on is a given. But Carl and his motley crew are not the ones to do it. He should join Julius – at least they share similar skewed thinking.…

Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, founder of Gift of the Givers, has been selected as Person of the Year by the Afrikaans magazine Vrye Weekblad. Sooliman accepts his kinship with and responsibility for all human beings in both hemispheres in every universal tragedy, his group’s response is overwhelming. Never in human history has any medical professional contributed such compassion on so large a scale that defies description. This award is for his altruism, reverence for life, and tireless global contributions which has helped make the idea of brotherhood between all nations a living one. The sacrifices that he has made for the safety and welfare of humanity is priceless and deserves lifelong gratitude from all of us. Humanity will always be grateful for what Sooliman has done during unprecedented times rendering medical…

A CONSTITUTIONAL Court challenge against practice directives that place hurdles in the way of the public claiming against the Road Accident Fund (RAF); an application to have specified medical tariffs overturned; and the possibility of the fund’s executives being personally slapped with legal costs in two cases are but a few of the woes facing the RAF this year. Apart from the plethora of claims instituted by road accident victims, the fund also faced various legal challenges regarding its operations. And this year will be no different. The High Court in Mpumalanga is due to deliver judgment in the first court term on whether the fund’s CEO Collins Letsoalo and some senior managers should personally be held liable for the legal costs in two cases. Three judges of that division…

A FRUSTRATED Hout Bay resident has lodged a complaint with the police about a man, who he says is a “pit bull terroriser” and responsible for several attacks in the community. Hout Bay Security manager and officer, and resident, Fareed Hoosen, who was recently bitten by the dog, said the matter has been reported to the police. “This guy used to sell puppies for a time and we brought a stop to that. Now he has the pit bull, which he uses to intimidate people and to force them to give him money,” Hoosen said. “He demands that you give him money and if you don’t he sets the dog on you. We also received information that he was using the pit bull to rob homeless people at night. “I…

Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro’s loss of broad protections from prosecution when he stepped down on Sunday leaves him more exposed to criminal and electoral probes that could lead to his arrest or prevent him from running for office. Bolsonaro, a far-right nationalist, left Brazil for Florida on Friday after losing to leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Brazil’s most fraught vote in a generation. It remains unclear how long he plans to stay in Florida, which is home to his political idol, former US president Donald Trump. Bolsonaro’s US trip insulates him from any immediate legal jeopardy in Brazil, where he is under investigation in at least four criminal probes. Beyond that, his future may hinge on the path charted by crusading Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de…

AT LEAST 35 people have been killed in twin car bombings in central Somalia claimed by al-Shabaab, officials in the Hiran region said. Two cars packed with explosives were simultaneously detonated in Mahas, a town in Hiran where a major offensive was launched last year against the al-Qaeda-linked militant group. The attack was claimed by al-Shabaab, which has been waging a years-long insurgency against the fragile central government, according to the SITE monitoring group. Abdikarim Hassan, a traditional elder in Mahas, said most who died in the blasts were civilians. Another community leader, Mohamud Suleyman, said 52 people were wounded and “most were transported to Mogadishu for treatment”. Security officials and local leaders said two military bases were targeted in Mahas in retaliation for operations against the militants. Al-Shabaab claimed…

Tehran: Iran warned France yesterday that it would respond after “insulting” cartoons depicting Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei were published in the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo. The weekly had published dozens of cartoons on the same day ridiculing the highest religious and political figure in the Islamic republic. The magazine said the cartoons were part of a competition in support of the protests triggered by the September 16 death in custody of Mahsa Amini, an Iranian Kurd who was arrested for allegedly violating the country’s strict dress code. The magazine said the contest aimed to support Iranians fighting for freedom. | AFP…

Jerusalem: A Jerusalem bishop said yesterday he was “dismayed” by the desecration of dozens of Christian graves on the edge of the Old City, as police probed the vandalism. Stone graves lay in pieces with crosses toppled at the Protestant cemetery on Mount Zion, where Christians believe Jesus’ Last Supper took place. “We discovered that more than 30 tombstones and crosses were smashed to pieces,” said Hosam Naoum, an Anglican bishop. Israeli police said they had launched an investigation. Israel’s foreign ministry called for the perpetrators to be prosecuted. Mount Zion lies outside the Old City walls and has drawn pilgrims for centuries. | AFP…

AMAZULU are set on ‘righting’ the wrongs of the first half of the DStv Premiership season. The KwaZulu-Natal based side have had an underwhelming league campaign but did enjoy an impressive run in the MTN8, eventually losing to Orlando Pirates in the final. Usuthu began the campaign under the stewardship of Brandon Truter. Following an accumulation of poor results, he was then replaced by Romain Folz, who is currently in the process of rebuilding the club. After four victories, four losses and six draws in the 14 matches they’ve played, Usuthu are looking to turn the corner in the second half of the season according to captain Makhehleni Makhaula. “As players, we've set ourselves targets for the upcoming five games and we are extremely focused on those. We were…

A MEMBER of the Radical Economic Transformation (RET) faction in the ANC and staunch Jacob Zuma backer has dismissed the announcement by the ruling party that its top brass intends to meet the former president, describing the move as a “hollow gesture” aimed at gaining popularity with party members and the voting public. Nkosentsha Shezi, from ward 41 in eThekwini region, was reacting to reports that the ANC leadership would meet Zuma before the ANC birthday celebrations at Mangaung, Free State, this weekend, where party president Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to deliver the keynote address. ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula had said on Tuesday that there would be an engagement with Zuma. The former president has launched a private prosecution case against Ramaphosa linked to his matter against State Advocate Billy…

IN WHAT has been described as an embarrassment to the Department of Correctional Services (DCS), one of their own was caught red-handed allegedly packaging drugs worth about R1 million. The 41-year-old woman – who was arrested on Tuesday – was allegedly found with mandrax and tik worth about R1.2 million, she was also in possession of R17 800. The DCS official is expected to appear at the Vanrhynsdorp Magistrate’s Court today along with her co-accused, who is her 20-year-old daughter. The provincial department’s top officials are expected to attend the court proceedings. “One of our officials working at Vanrhynsdorp Correctional Centre was caught at her place of residence packaging drugs, being assisted by her 20-year-old daughter. She has been charged for possession and dealing with drugs,”…

WHAT is happening about the power situation? Things cannot be allowed to continue as they are or the country will be ruined. I have not heard any realistic plans for solving the situation. Green energy is all well and good, but because of problems of storage it is not realistic to think that it will solve the crisis. What is needed is firstly to get the existing infrastructure working properly, and simultaneously add nuclear power stations. Getting the army to police the existing infrastructure is a good idea, but is it working? Bureaucratic obstacles such as not allowing Eskom to import its own diesel are retarded. Changing CEOs an average of once a year is crazy. How can there be any continuity? Why did no one in the government stand…

The Police Ministry said the SAPS together with the Department of Health were working to fast-track the testing of newly procured blood alcohol test kits. This comes after concerns were raised about the shortage of alcohol blood test kits during the busy festive season. National police spokesperson Colonel Athlenda Mathe said there was a global shortage of the vials, which were a component of the blood alcohol test kits. The vials contained chemicals to maintain the integrity of the sample until it was tested. Mathe said the supplier had to source the vials from outside the country, but they had been delivered as early as December 1. However, she said these new vials had to first undergo testing before use. “It is important that the newly procured vials, which…

WHEN countless job applications came back unsuccessful, 29-year-old Siphosihle Maseko from Keiskammahoek in the Eastern Cape decided to change his own fate by taking on a job as a taxi driver to raise funds to start farming his own crops. One year later, and he is yielding up to 15 000 cabbages a month, supplying formal and informal markets. “I didn’t want to be a farmer; I wanted to be a forensic pathologist, but due to my marks I was not admitted at Wits. Then my gran advised me to try agriculture and I applied at Nelson Mandela University, George campus, and got accepted. As part of my experiential learning to complete my agricultural management diploma I worked as a supervisor at a place called Rance Rural Development. They were…

THE first test of how much of a boost comes with his re-election as ANC president will be when Cyril Ramaphosa decides who he leaves out in the cold when reshuffling his Cabinet either later this month or early in February. It will set the stage for a tough period before next year’s general elections, where all indications are that the ANC is likely to go below the 50% mark for the first time. That means Ramaphosa’s newly composed Cabinet could also be the last ANC administration to govern this country – quite interesting. Forget his internal foes like Tourism Minister Linidiwe Sisulu and Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, who have openly stated their desire for him to vacate his office over the Phala Phala saga; he also faces a dilemma…

Myanmar’s military government will release 7 012 prisoners under an amnesty to mark the country’s independence day, state broadcaster MRTV reported yesterday, as the junta chief praised some countries for maintaining support for his nation. The country has faced international isolation and Western-led sanctions since the military seized power from a democratically elected government led by Nobel laureate Aung Sang Suu Kyi nearly two years ago. “We are closely working with neighbouring countries such as China, India, Thailand, Laos and Bangladesh. We will work together for border stability and development,” Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said in a speech to mark Myanmar’s 75th independence day. There was a parade in the capital Naypyitaw, complete with flag-waving civil servants, marching soldiers, tanks and a flypast by military jets. Myanmar has been…

LONDON: Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said yesterday he would not offer Britain “quick fixes” after outlining plans to tackle the country’s most pressing problems, including inflation, and grow the economy. “Others may talk about change, I will deliver it. I won’t offer you false hope or quick fixes but meaningful, lasting change,” Sunak said. “I will only promise what I can deliver, and I will deliver what I promise.” Sunak said he aimed to get the economy growing by the end of this year. “We’ll see inflation halving, as I said, by the end of this year,” he said. | Reuters…

The global airline association yesterday criticised decisions by governments to impose Covid-19 tests and other measures on travellers from China as ineffective “knee-jerk” reactions. Countries including the US, Canada, Japan and France have insisted that all travellers from China provide negative Covid-19 tests before arrival. The measures have been imposed as China has been hit by a surge in infections after Beijing abandoned containment measures. IATA, which represents 300 airlines accounting for 83% of total air traffic, argued that Covid-19 was already circulating widely within the borders of countries imposing the tests. | AFP…

SYDNEY: As major flooding continued across the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW), the state’s emergency service agency yesterday said that Menindee, a small town with around 500 people, was releasing 75 000 megalitres of flood water per day. “This is the equivalent of 30 000 Olympic pools and would fill Sydney Harbour in six days,” the NSW State Emergency Service said. As the Darling River level is steady near 10.20m, the agency voiced its concern that further rises to 10.7m are possible at Menindee town gauge from today, which will surpass the 1976 flood record of 10.47m. Ten properties have been evacuated. | Xinhua…

Highly exasperated Swallows coach Ernst Middendorp did not tip-toe his way through Tuesday's post-match presser. Instead, he climbed in boots and all and declared that Mamelodi Sundowns have already won the DStv Premiership title even though the season had only reached the halfway mark. Middendorp's lively media session followed his side's 2-0 defeat at the hands of the defending champions at Loftus. His exasperation would have been fuelled by several refereeing decisions that went against his team, including a strong penalty appeal that was dismissed. “I said it at the beginning of the season, the resources of a team like Sundowns are phenomenal,” said Middendorp. “Let’s not make jokes about it because at the end of the season, and this is a clear opinion, Sundowns will be at least…