Table of contents for 2023-06-27 in Cape Times

THE NATIONAL Treasury has come to the defence of local municipalities who have been accused of hiking property rates way above inflation and which had slowed the economies in five metropolitan areas. Last week, the South African Property Owners Association (Sapoa) said municipalities had been charging exorbitant commercial property rates that contravene Treasury guidelines. Sapoa said the increases were not only inflationary, as alluded to by the SA Reserve Bank recently, but also threatened the viability of commercial property tenants who form the bulk of ratepayers in most metropolitan municipalities. According to Sapoa, municipalities have regularly increased rates by more than 10% per annum over the past few years, far more than the annual consumer price index, with water and property rates increasing 140% between 2010 and 2021, almost double…

FIDELITY Services Group has committed to working with law-enforcement agencies investigating a controversial multi-million rand security contract at Eskom, allegedly without a competitive bidding process. Fidelity Group CEO Wahl Bartmann yesterday confirmed the group was awarded a R250 million three-month emergency contract to provide “a comprehensive security solution” at Eskom, consisting of a national deployment to cover Generations and Transmissions facilities. According to Eskom, the placement of the security contract was necessitated by information received by management indicating that there was a potential serious security risk to its operations and assets. The contract was established from the period July 2022 to September 2022 with an estimated budget of R500m, but a total of approximately R250m including VAT was spent for the duration of the contract. It was placed under…

INVICTA Holdings was experiencing strong growth in offshore markets and resilient demand from local agriculture and mining customers and the group was cautiously optimistic about its prospects, CEO Steven Joffe said yesterday. The distributor of earthmoving, industrial, automotive and agricultural products, increased earnings a share from continuing operations by 18%, to 481 cents in the 2023 year, which Joffe said in a telephone interview was a strong result considering the challenges they faced. Revenue increased 8% to R7.8 billion. The Singapore-based Kian Ann increased sustainable headline earnings by 58%. The rand’s depreciation resulted in a foreign exchange gain of R439 million. The group also repurchased about 5% of its ordinary and preference shares. The gross profit margin increased from 30.7% to 32.5%. Cash on hand came to…

FAMILIES of the Cradock Four left dismayed by the tardiness of the State in bringing justice to the martyrs, have now turned to the courts to take action. Commemorating the 38th anniversary of the killing of Matthew Goniwe, Fort Calata, Sparrow Mkhonto and Sicelo Mhlauli – the Fort Calata Foundation said it was taking class action against the State after the last surviving suspect, Hermanus Barend du Plessis, died. Son of Calata, Lukhanyo Calata, said they would forge ahead with seeking constitutional damages. “We have instructed our lawyers to begin to draw up papers for a class action lawsuit against the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the government as led by the ANC. “We are of the opinion that both the government and the NPA had at least 20 years…

Premier Lesufi commits to hiring coloured community members The office of the Premier of Gauteng, Panyaza Lesufi, and the MMC for Public Safety Dr Mgcini Tshwaku, have committed themselves to prioritising the coloured community in service delivery and job opportunities. This comes after members of the Westbury community returned to the streets protesting over a lack of job opportunities at some of the key government departments in the area. Two weeks ago, the community, led by Bishop Dulton Adams and Councillor Ronald Harris, marched to the Helen Joseph Hospital, Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital, Social Development’s Westbury Transformation Development Centre (WTDC), South Bekels, the JMPD offices, Shoprite and the Sophiatown police station. Yesterday, the community returned to the same institutions after having han- ded over their memorandum of demands…

AN EXHIBITION showcasing the discovery of early modern human origins and innovations in southern Africa, using multimedia displays, is the culmination of 30 years of archaeological research in the southern Cape. The Origins of Early Southern Sapiens Behaviour has opened its doors at the Cape of Good Hope Buffelsfontein Visitor Centre in the Table Mountain National Park (TMNP), and is presented by SANParks, the University of Bergen’s Centre for Early Sapiens Behaviour (SapienCE) in Norway, and the Evolutionary Studies Institute of the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits). The exhibition was curated by award-winning documentary film-maker Craig Foster and archaeologist Petro Keene, and showcases archaeological research in the southern Cape undertaken by Professor Christopher Henshilwood, Dr Karen van Niekerk, Professor Sarah Wurz, and their research teams at the respective archaeological sites.…

A civilised system of jurisprudence should have no room for any dishonest employee to continue to reap the benefits of any institution funded by the taxpayer, a judge said after an employee of the National Lotteries Commission was found guilty of gross dishonesty, but instead of being fired, got a slap on the wrist. The chairperson of the hearing against her convicted Boitemelo Mafonjo on two charges of gross dishonesty after she shared confidential information with outside parties regarding the commission. She was dismissed, but her dismissal was suspended for 10 years – a sanction the Labour Court sitting in Johannesburg frowned upon. It appeared that the chairperson had felt sorry for Mafonjo when it came time to sentence her. Judge Smanga Sethene gave the chairperson a tongue lashing for…

A YEAR after 21 teenagers died in the Enyobeni tavern, East London, their families are still trying to find closure, and have criticised authorities for not being transparent about their cause of death. On June 26 last year, the bodies of the teenagers, aged between 13 and 17, were discovered by police at the tavern in Scenery Park. The youngsters were believed to have suffocated due to overcrowding inside the tavern, according to media reports, but official results into the cause of death were not made public. The tavern owners, Siyakhangela and Vuyokazi Ndevu, were held on charges of contravening the Liquor Act by selling alcohol to persons under the age of 18, to which they have both pleaded not guilty. The matter was set to continue in the East…

AS AFRICA continues its rapid economic development, the energy sector stands at the forefront, ending energy poverty, driving growth, job creation and technological advancements. However, this pivotal sector is now facing a new threat: foreign disinformation. Foreign actors are increasingly engaging in a dangerous game, disseminating false narratives and sowing seeds of doubt in Africa’s energy landscape. This deliberate misinformation campaign not only undermines progress, but also hinders sustainable development and the quest for energy security. It is high time we recognise this challenge and take proactive measures to combat foreign disinformation in the African energy sector. Foreign disinformation campaigns are aimed at manipulating public opinion, distorting facts and fostering mistrust. In the context of Africa’s energy sector, these campaigns often target key energy projects, such as hydroelectric dams, oil…

South Korea’s government yesterday unveiled plans aimed at curbing the country’s burgeoning spending on private education, which has been blamed for being a major factor behind the country’s declining fertility rate. The move comes as President Yoon Suk Yeol this month criticised college entrance tests that incorporate questions not in the curriculum at public schools, including some that have been dubbed “killer questions” because of their complexity. “We will cut the vicious cycle of killer questions in exams, which leads to excessive competition among students and parents in private education,” said education minister Lee Ju-ho. The ministry also vowed to crack down on private education “cartels” by ramping up efforts to monitor what it termed false and exaggerated advertising by private schools targeting exam preparations. Local media have reported on…

London: Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds, Rob McElhenney and Michael B Jordan are among a consortium that has bought a 24% stake in Formula One team Alpine Racing. Parent company Renault said yesterday the group will invest €200 million (R3.7 billion) for their stake to help Alpine’s “growth and sporting ambitions”. Reynolds and McElhenney have already enjoyed success with sporting investments as owners of football club Wrexham. Jordan also has a stake in Premier League club Bournemouth. | AFP…

London: The UK’s performance on key health metrics is a “serious concern” and lags comparable countries, says a report released to mark the 75th anniversary of the National Health Service’s (NHS). The report compared the health systems of 19 similar countries, and cited Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development data that showed the UK performed worst in fatality rates for strokes. The Netherlands and Canada performed best in the ranking. The report also found that the UK has a “strikingly low number of both nurses and doctors per person compared to its peers”, and was also lagging in terms of capital investment and equipment. | AFP…

WASHINGTON: The top Republican in the US House of Representatives is threatening an impeachment investigation of Attorney-General Merrick Garland over the Justice Department’s criminal probe of President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said that US Attorney David Weiss, the federal prosecutor overseeing the probe, must answer questions about allegations that the Justice Department intervened to protect Biden’s son. Hunter Biden has agreed to plead guilty to two misdemeanor charges of failing to pay income taxes and to enter into an agreement that could avert a conviction on a gun-related charge. | Reuters…

The Currie Cup is far from dead, and the Free State Cheetahs showed their mettle on Saturday defeating the Pumas to claim the crown. They picked up momentum at the right time in the tournament to secure a seventh title in front of their fans in Bloemfontein. Here, Leighton Koopman looks at five moments from South Africa's premier domestic competition that shows it is still alive. Champagne Champions They had a slight hiccup with a few losses but when they finally hit their straps in the last couple of games, there was just no stopping the Cheetahs. It was their team effort that took them over the line with the evergreen Ruan Pienaar and captain Victor Sekekete leading from the front. They came up with some exciting running rugby, especially…

The Blue Bulls Company has mutually terminated the contract of Springbok wing Sbu Nkosi with immediate effect, the union revealed via a statement yesterday. In the statement, chief executive Edgar Rathbone thanked Nkosi, who joined the Pretoria-based side last year, for his service to the team. “I would like to thank Sbu for all that he has contributed towards our campaigns during his time with us,” Rathbone said in the statement. “I know that it wasn’t an easy time for him personally, but I am confident that the support we provided to him was invaluable. Having a Springbok wing of his calibre in our team has been a pleasure. “I know that he now feels as though it is the best time to move on and we respect his wishes.”…

Two-time champions the West Indies face an almighty task to qualify for the World Cup after losing to the Netherlands in a thrilling final group game decided by a super over yesterday. Nicholas Pooran’s second hundred of the qualifiers propelled the West Indies to a commanding 374/6, but Teja Nidamanuru hit 111 in reply and the Dutch needed one from the final ball for victory. Jason Holder took a brilliant catch to deny Logan van Beek as the scores finished tied, but Van Beek blasted Holder for 30 runs in the super over to set up a remarkable win in Harare. Van Beek then restricted the West Indies to just eight off five balls as he removed Johnson Charles and Romario Shepherd with successive deliveries to seal an extraordinary triumph.…

from page 1 “That the general public were offended and that it would open up wounds – not yet healed – for the Hani family, was a completely unintended consequence of the comment, and for that I apologise,” Barlow said in a statement. Hani’s killer, Janusz Walus, was released from prison and placed on parole in December last year. The Polish murderer had killed the uMkhonto we Sizwe chief of staff, in the driveway of his Boksburg home in 1993. His murder is still felt by the communities and his comrades whom he led. The Rational Youth Movement that works to address social issues and advance democracy said the comment was very hurtful. “According to us (Barlow’s) statement was racist and inciting violence against leaders, people who are public…

‘I must do what I believe in. Nobody should be made to sign a document without reading it’ ENERGY and Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe says his refusal to sign a memorandum of understanding relating to a just transition deal had ruffled feathers, with some even calling for his “murder or killing”. “The way they are irritated that they feel I must be killed is fine with me but I must still do what I believe in. “Nobody should be (made) to sign a document without reading it. “That in itself is the biggest mistake you can ever commit because you’ll bind the country/yourself in an issue that you don’t understand,” he said. Mantashe was referring to a Twitter post relating to a story about how he had snubbed an…

WHAT started as a local celebration of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in 2021 grew into a global event in 2022, with the 2023 celebration of MPA Day on August 1 set to be the biggest yet. In preparation for MPA Day 2023, event organisers have shared facts about the safe havens for marine creatures and their homes. “Despite the importance of MPAs to our ocean health – and the health of our planet – very few people are aware of their existence,” said Dr Judy Mann, the founder of MPA Day and the executive of Strategic Projects at the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation. “Through our annual MPA Day celebrations, we’re growing awareness about these vital marine havens and are excited to garner even more support across the globe. In the…

IN AN EFFORT to rid the Zandvlei Nature Reserve of weeds, a specialised weed harvesting boat is on track for delivery by the end of November. The specialised machine that operates like a boat on water with blades underneath, is equipped to gather, transport and upload water plants. It will be the first of three new vessels that will be delivered by the end of 2025. The City said that in Zandvlei, the weed harvester would be used to cut pond weeds and also to remove algae build-up in the marina. This was expected to improve the environmental health of the wetland and make the vlei more navigable and safer for watercrafts, boosting the local leisure economy around the vlei. “This machine will help us keep the vlei cleaner and…

Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin defended his aborted mutiny yesterday as a bid to save his mercenary outfit and expose the failures of Russia’s military leadership, not to challenge the Kremlin. The rogue warlord’s first audio message since calling off his troops’ advance on Moscow was released as Russian officials attempted to present the public with a return to business as usual. Fighting continued in Ukraine, where Kyiv’s forces claimed new victories in their battle to evict Russian troops from the east and south of the country, but in the Russian capital authorities stood down their enhanced security regime. Prigozhin, who did not reveal from where he was speaking, said in an online audio message that his revolt was intended to prevent his Wagner force from being dismantled, and bragged that…

Pakistan’s army has sacked three senior officers, including a lieutenant- general, for failing to avert last month’s violent attacks on military assets by former prime minister Imran Khan’s supporters to protest his arrest, the army’s spokesperson said yesterday. At least 102 people are being tried in military courts in relation to the violence, Major-General Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry said in the garrison city of Rawalpindi. He gave no details regarding how many were civilians or military officials. He also declined to name the senior officers who had been fired. Human rights groups have raised concerns over the military trials of civilians, which they say can’t ensure a fair defence. They have also been challenged in Pakistan’s Supreme Court. In May, thousands of Khan’s supporters rampaged through military installations across the country…

LONDON: Britain’s Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, has urged people to ensure they have checks for cancer after disclosing she has undergone surgery for the disease. Ferguson, 63, the ex-wife of Prince Andrew, had successful surgery after breast cancer showed up in a routine mammogram screening, with her prognosis said to be good. In a podcast yesterday, which she recorded the day before the surgery, Ferguson talked about the importance of having the medical checks, referencing her father who had died of prostate cancer. “I am telling people out here because I want every single person listening to this podcast to go and get checked, go and get screened.” Her spokesperson said she was recovering at her home in Windsor. Ferguson hailed National Health Service staff who discovered the…

ATHENS: Kyriakos Mitsotakis promised to rebuild Greece’s credit rating, create jobs, raise wages and boost state revenues after he was sworn in for a second term as prime minister yesterday following a resounding election win. His centre-right New Democracy party got 158 seats in the 300-seat parliament in a repeat election on Sunday, well ahead of the 48 secured by leftist Syriza which ran Greece from 2015-2019 at the height of the decade-long economic crisis. The 55-year-old former banker has promised to push ahead with reforms to rebuild the credit rating after the debt crisis, boost revenue from the vital tourist industry and increase wages to near the EU average. | Reuters…

The Springboks could be forced to use the “Bomb Squad” sparingly ahead of the World Cup especially after New Zealand managed to decipher the strategy in last year’s Rugby Championship. Despite captain Siya Kolisi and Eben Etzebeth on the injury list, there are still plenty of forwards who can slot into positions to easily allow Bok coach Jacques Nienaber to go ahead with fielding a replacement bench of six forwards and two backs. But the exploits of New Zealand, and Ireland in the November Tests, against the Bomb Squad, could force Nienaber and his brains trust to use the much-talked-about replacements strategy sparingly ahead of the World Cup in France later this year. Take the two Kiwi Tests in the Rugby Championship last year when Faf de Klerk and Jesse…

Boland Rugby Union (BRU) has to over the next week convince its clubs why the proposed deal with Johann Rupert and Patrice Motsepe is a step in the right direction for the region and their professional arm. Rupert and Motsepe, who also own a controlling stake in the Blue Bulls, tabled an offer to buy a controlling 74% interest in the company of the provincial union. The Boland Cavaliers, the club's professional team, this past weekend won the Currie Cup First Division at Boland Stadium in Wellington, and it is their goal to reach the Currie Cup next season. The financial injection that they will receive from the sale of the commercial arm will provide them the opportunity to bulk up their squad ahead of next season. But, the clubs,…

from page 1 Council, Malcolm Campbell. According to Campbell, Arendse’s election was made following a plenary meeting on June 17. Council is composed of 30 members, 60% of whom must be external members, neither staff nor students. Arendse takes the reins from Babalwa Ngonyama who stepped down from the position with immediate effect at the end of May after a scathing interim report. This was issued by the panel led by retired Supreme Court of Appeal President Lex Mpati, made serious findings against her. Ngonyama has since approached the Western Cape High Court regarding the process, nature and extent of the panel’s powers under the revised terms of reference, the Institutional Statute and the Higher Education Act. Campbell said two new members, Reeza Isaacs and Innocentia Pule, had also been…

Ingredients 500 – 600g frozen Calamari rings 2 t Chilli & Garlic Seasoning 2 T maizena olive oil 200g linguine (save ½ cup cooking water) 2 t Lemon & Black Pepper Seasoning Sauce 1 – 2 T butter 2 cloves garlic, finely sliced ½ cup white wine 1 x 25 g Ina Paarman’s Liquid Fish Stock 1 T Sun-dried Tomato Pesto ± ½ cup reserved pasta water ¼ cup chopped parsley freshly ground black pepper Method Defrost calamari in a colander. Shake to dry and spread out on absorbent kitchen towel to remove as much moisture as possible. Decant into a mixing bowl. Mix with Chilli & Garlic Seasoning and maizena. Toss to coat. Leave to marinate for 20 minutes. In the meantime boil the pasta according to…

AS UNISA marked its 150th anniversary yesterday, Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande promised that the government “would not let it fail” after achieving the historical milestone. The embattled institution has been making headlines for all the wrong reasons lately, including allegations of misconduct and mismanagement, and recommendations that it be placed under administration. However, this did not mar the anniversary celebrations in Pretoria yesterday, where the university executives and dignitaries, including former president and Unisa chancellor Thabo Mbeki, and Vice-chancellor Professor Puleng LenkaBula were in attendance. Nzimande said the government was concerned about the strategic direction, quality of administration and academic outcomes of the institution. “One of the key challenges identified by the DHET and also reflected in a Ministerial Task Team (MTT) Report concerns that of the business model…

THE CRACKDOWN on construction mafia that have been disrupting development projects across the country can only work if the police start arresting and prosecuting those behind the illegal practice. Speaking in Durban last week, Minister of Public Works Sihle Zikalala promised that the government would crack down on the illegal activities of these gangs, saying their activities could not be normalised. Zikalala said a national forum had been set up to co-ordinate the cases in all the affected provinces. He added that according to the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime, the disruption and blockages of construction sites in 186 projects cost the economy more than R68 billion before the pandemic. The invasion of construction sites by the so-called business forums has caused serious economic impact and fuelled criminality and…

At least 14 civilians have been killed in war-torn Sudan’s capital as rival forces are locked in a key battle over control of the Khartoum police headquarters, activists said yesterday. The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which since mid-April has been fighting Sudan’s regular army, announced late on Sunday a “victory in the battle for the police HQ”. “The headquarters is under our complete control ... and we have seized a large number of vehicles, arms and munitions,” the RSF said in a statement, noting the capture of bakkies, armoured vehicles and tanks. If the RSF, led by Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, maintain their hold on the strategic site, it “would have a major impact on the battle of Khartoum”, a former army officer said. Nearly 2 800 people have been…

Forest fires in Canada have left Montreal blanketed with smog, giving it the worst air quality of any major city in the world, according to pollution monitor IQAir. Quebec province’s most populous city had “unhealthy” air quality, as hundreds of wildfires burnt across the country. Environment Canada issued smog warnings in several Quebec regions, saying, “high concentrations of fine particulate matter are causing poor air quality and reduced visibilities”. Outdoor pools and sports areas have been closed and multiple outside events cancelled due to the unhealthy smog. There are 80 active forest fires in Quebec. However, “significant amounts” of rain were expected in the northwest of the province. Tomorrow 119 French firefighters are due arrive in Quebec to relieve their compatriots in the field since early June. Fires have burnt…

Kano: An angry mob in the northern Nigerian city of Sokoto has killed a Muslim man for alleged blasphemy against the Prophet Muhammad, police said. Usman Buda, a butcher at the city abattoir, “was mobbed and attacked by some Muslim faithfuls who inflicted serious injuries on him”, police said. Blasphemy attracts the death penalty under Islamic law, or sharia, which operates alongside common law in a dozen mainly Muslim states in northern Nigeria. The attackers fled when police arrived at the scene. Buda, a Salafi Muslim, was stoned and beaten to death by his colleagues following an argument, fellow butcher Isa Danhili said. | AFP…

New Delhi: About a dozen shackled workers in India were rescued from “torture” in a chain gang digging wells for 12 hours a day without wages, a government rights body said yesterday. The case has shone new light on the practice of bonded labour, dubbed “debt slavery” by rights campaigners, in which debtors are forced to work to pay back borrowed cash while interest keeps mounting. The reports of the 11 labourers from Maharashtra state emerged after one slipped his chains, told police about the use of “torture” and brought them to free the others, the National Human Rights Commission said. Police arrested four people. | AFP…