Table of contents for 2024-05-16 in Cape Times

THE LONG-TERM viability of platinum group metals (PGMs) in South Africa has come into question after Anglo American announced plans to spin it off its PGMs assets on the back of rejecting the multibillion-rand takeover bid by BHP. The global mining company with a portfolio that spans diamonds, platinum, copper, iron ore and more, this week said it would spin off Anglo American Platinum (Amplats), which produces a third of global platinum, amid a bid for Anglo from BHP. Anglo American said that following its February announcement that it was reconfiguring Amplats, it would be separating from the company in which it holds a 79% stake, adding that its portfolio and structure were simpler without Amplats. This, it explained, was because retaining it would limit “the ability of both Anglo…

from page 1 Health Minister Joe Phaahla said the NHI Act marked a historic milestone and would guarantee that every South African would have a right to comprehensive healthcare service. Phaahla said the new law was not just a policy but a promise of a better, healthier future for every South African that affirmed that the long wait had indeed been worth it. Phaahla said there would be challenges on the journey to the future. DA chief whip Siviwe Gwarube said contrary to popular belief, NHI would not equalise the healthcare system. “In its current form, it lacks the necessary investment to provide accessible and quality healthcare as mandated by our Constitution,” she said. Cosatu said it remained convinced that South Africa’s myriad of healthcare challenges required the creation of…

Political and administrative leaders seem to have lacked the appetite and know-how to instigate the urban land reforms required to change spatial patterns. This emerged in a report by the Development Action Group (DAG) with the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) and the National Association of Social Housing Organisations (NASHO) titled: “Releasing Municipal Land for Affordable Housing – Documenting the Experiences of Cape Town, eThekwini, Johannesburg, and Tshwane”. The report, which aimed to unpack the release of well-located public land for affordable housing, states that the public sector owns a sizeable amount of vacant and underused land with good access to economic opportunities and social amenities. However, it said that there had been “considerable inertia” in state programmes relating to land and housing, and no compelling vision put forward for…

THE City has condemned attacks on enforcement service officers this week, saying incidents of interference and resistance by people breaking the law, but also by bystanders, was becoming commonplace. Mayco member for safety and security JP Smith said six officers had come under attack in the execution of their duties. In Hout Bay, a group of men assaulted two law enforcement officers on Monday, while they were issuing a fine for an Amaphela taxi found to be obstructing traffic. Late on Tuesday afternoon, four traffic officers were taken to N1 City Hospital for medical treatment after an incident in Milnerton that resulted in the arrest of two suspects. “Two of the officers were conducting enforcement operations in the area, when they spotted an overloaded Toyota Quantum, just after 5pm. “The…

It needs people with strong values, clear vision and genuine commitment to its people GROWING up in Nkandla, in the heart of the Zulu Kingdom, in a time of political oppression and hardship, I always found it easy to distinguish real leaders from those who were in it for themselves. The greatest leader at that time, and for many years thereafter, was Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, the chief minister of the KwaZulu government and the founder of Inkatha yeNkululeko yeSizwe. I became a teacher because Prince Buthelezi taught us that education was the most powerful tool of liberation. I learnt from him how to lead with integrity, how to listen to the people, how to empower individuals and assist communities, how to develop potential and how to stay true to my…

President Emmanuel Macron moved yesterday to declare a state of emergency in France’s Pacific territory of New Caledonia after a second night of rioting that left three dead and hundreds wounded, his office said. Anger over constitutional reforms from Paris boiled over again after the lower house of parliament overnight backed a hotly-disputed voting reform that the representatives of the indigenous Kanak population say weighs against them. Despite heavily armed security forces fanning out across the capital Noumea, and the ordering of a nighttime curfew, rioting continued overnight virtually unabated in the worst violence there since the 1980s. New Caledonia, which lies between Australia and Fiji, is one of several French territories spanning the globe from the Caribbean and Indian Ocean to the Pacific that remain part of France in…

Thailand may have to consider relocating its capital, Bangkok, because of rising sea levels, a senior official in the country’s climate change office said yesterday. Projections show that low-lying Bangkok risks being inundated by the ocean before the end of the century. Much of the capital already battles flooding during the rainy season. Pavich Kesavawong, deputy director-general of the government’s department of climate change and environment, warned that the city might not be able to adapt with the world on its current warming pathway. “I think we are beyond the 1.5°C already,” he said, referring to the increase in global temperatures from pre-industrial levels. “I imagine Bangkok will be under water already, if we stay in our (current) circumstance.” Bangkok’s city government is exploring measures that include building dykes, he…

Ottawa: Up to 6 600 residents have been evacuated in Canada’s western province of Alberta because of a raging wildfire, reports said. The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo issued the evacuation order after declaring a state of local emergency. Local roads and highways were choked with vehicles on Tuesday as residents fled south. According to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre, a total of 134 fires were actively burning nationwide, 43 out of control. The government warned that above-normal temperatures nationwide could lead to greater wildfire risks. Canada’s wildfire season in 2023 was the most destructive on record. | IANS…

KYIV: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken took to the stage with a Ukrainian band at a bar this week during a surprise trip to Kyiv, drawing applause from the audience but some criticism online from people who felt the performance was “tone-deaf”. The mixed reaction reflected Ukrainians’ recognition of the key role US support plays in the war against Russia as well as growing concern over mounting battlefield losses and intensified Russian missile and drone attacks. Blinken performed Neil Young’s Rockin’ in the Free World. Yesterday, he said the US would provide Ukraine with $2 billion (R36bn) in foreign military financing, | Reuters…

enX GROUP, the JSE-listed company that provides branded equipment, products and services to a range of industries, said yesterday that headline earnings per share increased sharply by 110% to 61 cents in the six months to end-February 2024. Pre-tax profit increased by 70% to R141 million. Revenue from continu- ing operations increased by 5% to R2.12 billion. Revenue was supported by increased volumes of polyethylene and speciality chemicals and components products, with increased generator sales and related services primarily to large data-centre customers. While volumes of toll-blending were up considerably, average selling prices were down due to the pass through of lower base oil pricing. The comparative period ended February 28, 2023, was restated due to the classification of enX’s leasing and fleet management business, Eqstra, as…

THE five murder accused in the Kiernan “AKA” Forbes and Tebello “Tibz” Motshoane murders had their bail applications denied in the Durban Magistrate’s Court yesterday. Delivering his judgment, magistrate Vincent Hlatshwayo said the evidence linked all five suspects to the murders and it would be “reckless” and “irresponsible” to release them on bail. The five suspects – Lindokuhle Thabani Mkhwanazi, 30; Lindani Zenzele Ndimande, 35; Siyanda Eddie Myeza, 21; Mziwethemba Harvey Gwabeni , 36; and Lindokuhle Lindo Ndimande, 29 – denied involvement in the murders and started applying for bail in March 2024. Rapper AKA and entrepreneur Tibz were shot and killed outside a Durban restaurant last year. Hlatshwayo said the accused had raised concerns about the investigating officer obtaining information from witnesses. “It is not for the court…

THE Nyanga policing precinct will receive 29 new police officers in July to boost police visibility in areas such as Browns Farm which Police Minister Bheki Cele has described as “hell”. Cele acknowledged it was high time to take a different strategy in dealing with protection fee or extortion matters, stating tougher actions were needed. He was speaking at an imbizo yesterday at Linge Primary School, Nyanga. The precinct recently saw two mass shootings. In one incident four men, aged between 27 and 35, were killed and five others wounded in Browns Farm, Philippi. Five people were also shot in the Lloyd informal settlement on Govan Mbeki Road. One person survived. Residents told Cele and other top police officials of hearing gunshots every day, increasing robbery and hijacking spots, and…

Throughout the world there are approximately 285 million people living with partial or complete blindness. Hein Wagner is one of them. He was born in Cape Town and was shuttled off to Worcester's Pioneer School for the visually impaired at the age of 5, leaving behind his sighted friends in Durbanville. Attending a school for the visually impaired showed him countless realms of possibilities. It was then that his spirit of adventure kicked in. Starting off with riding a bicycle blind and racing with sighted neighbours during school holidays. By the age of 16 he had climbed Table Mountain six times. Wagner went on to do the Cape to Rio yacht race, played for the African Blind Cricket team, completed the Iron Man challenge, did the Cape Town Marathon, cycled…

AUTHORITIES are continuing the search for missing Pierre Lotter, 23, from the Northern Cape, and three Dachshund dogs at the Bloubergstrand shoreline. The last known description of Lotter’s attire indicated he was wearing a cream-coloured shirt. Additionally, he can be recognised by tattoos on his inner arm. NSRI Melkbosstrand station commander Hein Köhne said at about 7.30pm on Tuesday, NSRI Table Bay was alerted by concerned relatives of two men and their dogs, who were last heard from at around 6.30pm, after going fishing in the Bloubergstrand area on Kids Rock in the afternoon. NSRI Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) and NSRI Melkbosstrand were alerted. “It was determined that the two men, aged 47 and 23, from Kathu, Northern Cape, and their three Dachshund dogs had been fishing at Kid’s Rock,…

A DIRECTOR of two companies belong- ing to well-known Nigerian Pastor Joshua turned to the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, in a bid to set aside a summons directing him to appear before an enquiry where he is required to answer questions relating to an alleged pyramid scheme. Two of Pastor Joshua’s companies were earlier placed into provisional liquidation following claims that the companies had received more than R6 million from a pyramid scheme operating in KwaZulu Natal. One of the directors of the companies, Prince Ndamase, was summoned by the liquidators of SNS Holdings Proprietary Limited to give evidence before them regarding “donations” the church had received. He asked the court to set aside the summons (subpoena) issued by the liquidators directing him to appear as a witness at the…

SOUTH Africa’s youth aged between 15 and 34 are the most vulnerable in the labour market. Of the 10.3 million youths, the number of those unemployed increased by 236 000 to 4.9 million in the fourth quarter of last year. About 35.5% were not in employment, education or training. The same group is the most targeted by politicians who want to either make their way to Parliament for the first time or those who already know the comfort of being an MP. These grim statistics should confront every politician who visits our communities to ask for votes. They should explain to the youth how they are going to practically change this for the better. These alarming figures point to a crisis that the ANC-led government is clueless on how to…

US President Joe Biden was to address a large gathering of police officers yesterday as he tries to prevent rival Donald Trump from capturing high-profile endorsements from their unions in the coming weeks. The speech at the National Peace Officers’ Memorial Service, an annual event at the US Capitol honouring slain officers across the country, offered Biden an opportunity to speak directly to law enforcement as he competes against Trump in the November 5 presidential election. Sixty officers were killed in the line of duty in 2023, one fewer than the previous year, according to FBI data. The three-year period ending in 2023 had the highest total number of law enforcement deaths, 193, out of any such three-year period in the past 20 years, the data shows. Some Biden campaign…

HARARE: More than half of Zimbabwe’s population will need food aid this year following a drought that led to widespread crop failure as humanitarian organisations seek funding to save many from hunger, the country’s cabinet heard. About 6 million people in rural areas and 1.7 million in urban areas will require assistance, says the Zimbabwe Livelihoods Assessment Committee. Zimbabwe is among the worst hit countries by the El Niño induced drought in southern Africa. This is Zimbabwe’s worst drought in 40 years, the government said. A local consortium of private millers plans to import 1.4 million metric tons of white and yellow maize from Brazil and other countries to cover the food deficit. | Reuters…

TUNIS: A Tunisian judge yesterday ordered the imprisonment of two prominent journalists pending trial, their families and lawyers said, reinforcing fears of a widespread campaign aimed at silencing dissent and curbing free speech. IFM radio journalists Mourad Zghidi and Borhen Bsaiss were detained on Saturday over political comments made on the radio, their lawyers said. The Public Prosecution said the two were suspected of publishing news that included personal data and false news. Their trial is at the end of this month. The detentions raise the number of jailed journalists to five, while the Journalists’ Syndicate says many others are facing persecution. | Reuters…

The Bulls finally seemed to have settled on a first-choice centre combination of David Kriel and Stedman Gans this season. But Gans recently sustained a serious knee injury that coach Jake White says will keep him sidelined until the Currie Cup, which is set to start in July, after he had an operation. Kriel, though, misses his partner. “First point is, I do miss Stedman. Stedman has a lot of different attributes to any other centre partnership that I had this season,” the 25-year-old said ahead of Saturday’s crucial United Rugby Championship clash against Benetton at Loftus Versfeld (2pm kick-off). “So, obviously I do miss him, and he’s a player with X-factor. The good relationship comes through on and off the field stuff – we get along quite well off…

IN CELEBRATION of artistic resistance, the Centre for Creative Arts at the University of KwaZulu-Natal has announced South African theatre stalwarts and founders of the Sibikwa Arts Centre, Phyllis Klotz and Smal Ndaba, as joint recipients of the 4th annual Artfluence Human Rights Award at the six-day festival in Durban earlier this month. “For nearly half a century, Smal Ndaba and Phyllis Klotz have been at the forefront of producing original theatre productions that courageously confront social injustices. “Their collaborative efforts have created an important historical archive, showcasing how culture has contributed to South Africa’s liberation struggle,” said Centre for Creative Arts director Ismail Mahomed. “Their post-apartheid work continues to make a dynamic contribution by building a critical and engaged citizenry. This work celebrates the vital role the arts play…

The ANC pushed through the resolution of the portfolio committee meeting to concur with amendments passed by the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) to the Basic Education Laws Amendment (Bela) Bill despite opposition parties’ concerns. Yesterday, the education portfolio committee met to consider the amendments and adopt a report for submission for the passing of the bill in the National Assembly after it was sent back by the NCOP. The meeting spent much time on issues of procedure in the processing of the bill, with opposition parties complaining about the report on their concurrence to the NCOP amendments and adopting it the same day, among other things. ACDP MP Steve Swart was booted out of the meeting after exchanges with committee chairperson Bongiwe Mbinqo-Gigaba. This was after Swart, who is…

Signing the bill signals determination to realise the right to access to health care THE UN’s office in South Africa has hailed the signing into law of the National Health Insurance (NHI) bill. It said it was convinced that the signing was a step in the right direction. President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the bill yesterday despite a wave of objections and threats of litigation from opposition parties and health and civil society groups. UN Resident Coordinator in South Africa Nelson Muffuh said: “In line with our Cooperation Framework and advocacy interventions with government, the UN believes that the implementation of the NHI law stands as a beacon, guiding us towards the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 3.8, which aims to achieve Universal Health Coverage, including financial risk…

The South African fraud landscape has steadily increased over the past five years, making this one of the top risks South Africans face daily. Evidence of this risk was clear for all to see with the recent hacking of the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) and the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF), the Southern African Fraud Prevention Service (SAFPS) said. “South Africans are becoming increasingly easy targets for fraudsters and scammers who are highly motivated to find their next victim,” said SAFPS CEO Manie van Schalkwyk. Van Schalkwyk said this was why the two-day Fraud Summit, which kicked off yesterday, was important as it highlighted the current fraud landscape, including current modus operandi as well as key interventions to combat fraud. According to the 2021 Interpol African Cyberthreat Assessment…

COMMUNICARE has forged ahead with its plans to auction a number of its properties, including the Huis Alleyne Retirement Home, citing financial sustainability. This is despite some residents in Ruyterwacht and Bishop Lavis objecting to the decision and voicing their opposition through pickets. “The auction went ahead as planned. Communicare will now review the bids. “We are aware of a picket that was held outside our offices today,” said Makhosi Kubheka, Communicare rental property management general manager. According to the auctioneers’ website, Aucor Property, the auction was on Tuesday at the Houghton Golf Club, Johannesburg. Huis Alleyne Retirement Home was advertised as having 69 units with shared bathrooms, erf size 2 991m² and zoning that allows for place of assembly, worship, hospital or clinic. Kubheka has emphasised that the…

Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) is a pivotal moment for the world to reflect on the strides made towards inclusivity for people with disabilities. As a woman who navigates the world from a wheelchair, GAAD holds profound significance in my life. It is a day that highlights the importance of inclusivity in public spaces, shedding light on the barriers that persist and the progress yet to be made. For individuals like myself, accessibility is not just a convenience; it’s actually a fundamental right that is often overlooked. Every ramp and every widened doorway is a gateway to independence and participation in society. Global Accessibility Awareness Day serves as a catalyst for change, urging communities to prioritise inclusivity and accessibility in every facet of life. Inclusive design benefits everyone, not just…

Tens of thousands of civilians fled heavy fighting in Gaza as Palestinians yesterday marked 76 years since their mass displacement during Israel’s wartime creation which they call the Nakba or “catastrophe”. Israeli forces have battled and bombed Hamas militants around Gaza’s far-southern city of Rafah, but clashes have also flared again in northern and central areas which Israeli troops first entered months ago. The upsurge in urban combat in besieged Gaza has fuelled US warnings that Israel risks being bogged down in a counterinsurgency operation for years as guerrilla fighters stage hit-and-run attacks. US President Joe Biden has threatened to withhold some arms deliveries over Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu’s insistence on attacking Rafah, the last Gaza city so far spared a ground invasion, which is packed with civilians. But Biden’s…

India granted citizenship yesterday to a first batch of 14 people under a controversial law that has been criticised for discriminating against Muslims, midway through general elections in which religious divisions have taken centre stage. The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) grants citizenship to Hindus, Parsis, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, and Christians who fled to India from Muslim-majority Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan before December 31, 2014 because of religious persecution. Enacted in 2019, the law was not at first implemented due to strong protests and sectarian violence in New Delhi and other places that resulted in the death of scores of people. India implemented the act in March, weeks before the ongoing elections in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are seeking a rare third…

KABUL: The emergency in areas of Afghanistan hardest hit by flash floods that killed hundreds of people “remains critical”, the World Health Organization said, with authorities yesterday predicting more bad weather. Taliban authorities and the World Food Programme said more than 300 people were killed at the end of last week when flash floods ripped through several provinces. Destruction of roads and swollen waterways have hampered rescue efforts and made it difficult for aid teams to reach many of the worst-affected areas, with northern Baghlan province hardest hit. “The flood emergency remains critical,” the WHO said. | AFP…

SINGAPORE: Singapore’s Lawrence Wong was sworn in yesterday as its fourth premier since independence, promising to lead the wealthy city state his own way. Wong, 51, comes from among a crop of so-called 4G leaders, a new generation of politicians hand-picked by the long-ruling People’s Action Party to take over the reins of the key Asian trade and financial centre. He is the first Singaporean premier born after its independence in 1965. Wong will retain his position as finance minister and takes charge of a country led for two decades by Lee Hsien Loong, 72, the son of Lee Kuan Yew, the founder of modern Singapore, who stayed in politics until his death in 2015. | AFP…