Table of contents for 2024-07-09 in Cape Times

Anglo American has been trading weaker on the JSE in the past seven days, a period in which the diversified resources firm has been rocked by an explosion incident at its Australian Grosvenor coal mine which, according to analysts, it is readying up to dispose of for an estimated $5 billion (R90.5bn). At the end of last month, Anglo American said that it had suspended production at the Queensland Grosvenor steel-making coal mine following an underground coal gas ignition incident on June 29. The group announced plans to break up its assets in May, including divestment of its steel-making coal after BHP withdrew its bid for the London and JSE-listed firm. Anglo American’s plans for the disposal of the steel-making coal assets in Queensland, Australia, had been drawn back by…

Key committees that make up the governance structure in the eThekwini Municipality could soon be led by the opposition parties as part of a working arrangement between the ANC and opposition parties to co-govern the municipality. The ANC has indicated it is willing to relinquish control of some committees. This is part of a deal to vote with the ANC to elect a new mayor tomorrow. The ANC’s Cyril Xaba is expected to be elected as mayor. The City has about six committees – four are chaired by ANC members in the executive committee, one by the NFP and one has a vacancy. Political analysts have singled out two committees, economic development and planning, and the human settlement and infrastructure services (HSI) committees, as the two that the opposition parties…

Ingredients 1 butternut squash, halved lengthwise and cut into 1cm slices 2 red onions, sliced A few thyme stalks Olive oil Sea salt, freshly ground black pepper, red chilli flakes 2 tsp brown sugar 270g filo pastry (7 ready rolled sheets) 50g butter, melted Handful grated cheese Spinach and walnut pesto 100g spinach 30g walnuts, toasted 2 garlic cloves, crushed ½ tsp Sea salt flakes 20 large basil leaves 80ml olive oil 1 tbs lemon juice Method Pre-heat oven to 180ºC. Blitz all ingredients for pesto in a food processor, set aside. Line oven tray with foil, add sliced squash, red onions, thyme, olive oil, salt, pepper, chilli flakes and sugar, mix everything well and cook in oven for about 20-25 minutes until soft and caramelised Meanwhile, start layering up…

A MAN who was suddenly stripped of his South African citizenship by Home Affairs more than three years ago and subsequently lost his job has turned to court for a final interdict to force the department to unblock his ID document. The applicant, only identified as FS, told the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, of the hardships he has encountered after Home Affairs simply took away his citizenship in April 2021, based on unverified claims that he is actually a Zimbabwe national. He said his life has been a nightmare since, as he could not travel, he is now unemployed and he cannot even receive a social grant. This, while FS said he had obtained his smart South African ID card decades ago, he married a South African…

THE woman allegedly raped by a South African National Defence Force (SANDF) navy officer took the witness stand at the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court yesterday where she detailed her trauma following two alleged incidents in 2021. In her continued testimony, the woman told the court that in a text exchange between her and the accused, he had asked her if they could “rape each other again”. The matter was officially reported to police in August 2021. “I was in panic and denial about what had happened. I texted him a lot after the incidents and (messaged) him about taking an HIV test and to get a morning-after pill,” the woman told the court. In her account to the court, the complainant stated that the two were drinking during the evening. She…

IN THE last four months liberal democracy has seen a resurgence in India, South Africa, the UK and France both in form and substance, which simply reinforces the Churchillian axiom that “democracy is the worst form of government – except for all the others that have been tried.” There is a neo-colonialist misconception, erroneously perpetuated over the centuries by largely western cohorts of intellectuals and academia supported by self-serving politicians and interest groups, that democracy is an exclusive western concept at the expense of any other system of government and shaped by prevailing assumptions of the moral and physical superiority of the Semitic and Aryan races, hence the so-called notion of the Graeco-Judeo-Christian ethic. The rubrics of accountability, consultation, checks and balances, civility, public service and delivery in systems of…

France faced an unsettling political vacuum yesterday after snap elections called by President Emmanuel Macron to reshape the political landscape failed to clear a path to a new government. The left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) won most seats in Sunday’s second-round parliamentary vote, beating both Macron’s centrists and Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally (RN). But no group wields an outright majority and no obvious candidate for prime minister has emerged. Many in France were overjoyed by the outcome, and cheering crowds gathered in eastern Paris to celebrate Le Pen’s defeat, but potentially divisive talks on forming a new government were just beginning, three weeks before Paris hosts the Olympics. Prime Minister Gabriel Attal visited the Elysee Palace to submit his resignation to Macron, but was asked to remain in…

Senegalese President and West Africa’s Ecowas facilitator Bassirou Diomaye Faye called yesterday for dialogue and peaceful reconciliation with three countries that recently split from the bloc. The military leaders of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso broke away from the Economic Community of West African States earlier this year and formed a confederation of their own at the weekend. Ecowas heads of state met in Abuja and deplored the “lack of progress in interactions” with Burkinabe, Malian and Nigerien authorities, who came to power in a series of recent coups. The three countries’ decision to leave was fuelled in part by their accusation that France was manipulating Ecowas and not providing enough support for anti-jihadist efforts. Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have called their withdrawals “irreversible”. Ecowas appointed Senegal’s president as…

PARIS: The Ugandan army has provided support to the M23 rebel group operating in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, a UN report said yesterday, as escalating clashes there fuel fears of a new all-out conflict. Uganda denied involvement, saying it was co-operating closely with Congolese government forces. The UN has long accused Rwanda of backing the M23, which has repeatedly seized large parts of eastern Congo, allegations Rwanda denied. Congo has been riven by conflict for years. Uganda and Rwanda invaded in 1996 and 1998 and the Tutsi-led M23 rebels have been waging a fresh insurgency in Congo’s east since 2022. | Reuters…

BELFAST: Britain’s new Prime Minister Keir Starmer promised yesterday to secure an improved agreement with the EU on post-Brexit trading rules and revamp the “botched deal” signed by former premier Boris Johnson. Speaking in Belfast, Starmer said his new government would first need to implement changes under the current agreement to build trust with the EU. Labour has ruled out rejoining the EU single market or customs union but has said it is possible to remove some trade barriers with the 27-nation bloc. Starmer described the British economy as “in a bad state”, saying his new government would bring about change. | Reuters…

The Springboks’ refereeing advisor, Jaco Peyper, has poured cold water on the international criticism that the Springbok Bomb Squad is dangerous and not in the spirit of the game. During the last World Cup, the Boks’ use of close to a second pack of forwards off the bench attracted criticism in some quarters, notably from former Scotland coach Matt Williams, and it has been revived after the Bomb Squad detonated in a set scrum late in the first Test at Loftus on Saturday to earn the Boks a penalty try. Peyper pointed out that Ireland used a similar split between forwards and backs on the bench in this year’s Six Nations. “I think the law is pretty clear you can do it,” Peyper said. “I don’t think that makes it…

Sergio Perez is under more pressure than ever at Formula One champions Red Bull after the Mexican failed to score any points for the third weekend in five races. Perez, overall runner-up last year to teammate Max Verstappen, has taken only 15 points from his past six races and has fallen to sixth in the championship at the halfway point of the season. “Of course he’s under pressure. That’s normal in Formula One and when you’re under-delivering that pressure only mounts,” team boss Christian Horner said after Perez started from the pit lane in Sunday’s British Grand Prix and finished 17th. Triple world champion Verstappen, winner of seven races this year and now 84 points clear of McLaren’s Lando Norris, was second. Perez’s blank meant resurgent McLaren outscored Red Bull…

The ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup kicks off in just under three months and the Proteas Women – without a permanent coach – find themselves on the verge of winning their three-match T20 series away against India. Having won the first match by 12 runs, the no-result in the second match has put them in a great position on the road to Bangladesh. South Africa have lost the ODI series and one-off Test match, and the third and final T20 encounter, set to be hosted at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai today, will be the last match of the tour. There will be a lot on the line for both sides. South Africa have a golden chance to redeem their tour, while India will want a win to draw…

The Public Service Commission (PSC) is calling for stern action to be taken against the heads of departments that deliberately fail to pay service providers for services rendered to departments within 30 days. This comes after the National Treasury released a report last week on late payments of suppliers’ invoices for the 2023-24 financial year. Briefing the media yesterday, PSC commissioner Anele Gxoyiya said the report showed that the number of invoices paid after 30 days by the national departments was 108 917. “You can imagine those suppliers, how they are struggling with late payments and the rand value of those invoices is R4.6 billion as at the end of the financial year,” Gxoyiya said. He said while there was an improvement in some figures, the PSC was not impressed…

THE Wynberg Regional Court has found Hanover Park ward councillor Antonio van der Rheede not guilty of rape and sexual assault. Van der Rheede was acquitted of the two charges by the court on Friday. “The court found me not guilty, I knew this from the start. I am relieved by this outcome but I cannot speak much at this point, I am still consulting and will issue an appropriate statement afterwards,” he said. The councillor made headlines in October 2022 when he was arrested over allegations that he sexually assaulted a young woman in his community under the pretence of promising her a job. It was alleged that the incident had taken place three years ago. As a widow, the woman claimed that Van der Rheede allegedly promised to…

The City of Durban has just wrapped up another spectacular Durban July weekend, showcasing the perfect amalgamation of horse racing, fashion, entertainment and tourism. While at its core, the Durban July is a prestigious horse-racing event attracting top horses and jockeys, it has evolved into a cultural phenomenon that draws fashion enthusiasts, tourists and entertainers from across the country. The Durban July holds a special place in the city’s calendar, shining a spotlight on Durban and all it has to offer. It serves as a catalyst for economic growth, providing a significant boost to hotels, restaurants, BnBs, and businesses that directly or indirectly benefit from the influx of visitors during this period. It is crucial to recognise and protect events like the Durban July, not only for their economic impact…

Israeli forces bombarded Gaza early yesterday and columns of tanks advanced into the heart of the city from different directions in what residents said was one of the heaviest attacks in the Palestinian territory since the start of the war. The Gaza Civil Emergency Service said it believed dozens of people were killed but emergency teams were unable to reach them because of ongoing offensives in Daraj and Tuffah in the east and Tel Al-Hawa, Sabra and Rimal further west. Residents said areas in Gaza City, which lies in the north of the Gaza Strip, had been bombed throughout the night into the early morning hours. Several multi-floor buildings have been destroyed, they added. One Israeli tank thrust pushed people towards the western road near the Mediterranean, residents said. The…

MUMBAI: Heavy rains flooded roads and railway lines yesterday in India’s financial capital, Mumbai, disrupting flights and forcing the closure of schools and colleges. Just ahead of the morning rush hour, 300mm of rain lashed the city of 12 million in six hours, civic officials said. More heavy showers were forecast, accompanying a high tide of 4.4m in the coastal city. Mumbai commuters waded through knee-deep water that partially submerged vehicles in many areas, while traffic clogged the city’s Eastern and Western Express highways. In Bihar state in the east, separate lightning strikes killed 12 people, taking the toll from such incidents to 20 since the start of July. | Reuters…

HOUSTON: Hurricane Beryl made landfall yesterday in the southern US state of Texas, where some residents were evacuated over warnings of flooding and power outages. The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said Beryl hit the town of Matagorda with wind speeds of 130km/h. The National Weather Service issued a tornado alert for parts of Texas including Houston. Several areas of the Texas coast were under hurricane and storm warning. The NHC said rainfall of up to 38cm was expected in parts of Texas, warning that it could cause flash flooding. Beryl left at least seven dead after it tore through the Caribbean and Venezuela last week. | AFP…

Workers at Ford South Africa plants across the country went back to the production lines yesterday following a Labour Court ruling temporarily stopping a strike by the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa). At least 3 000 workers affiliated to Numsa went on strike on Thursday for not having received bonuses, pointing out that Ford globally made substantial profits. According to Numsa’s national spokesperson, Phakamile Hlubi-Majola, the strike brought production at the vehicle-maker which produces more than 700 vehicles a day to a halt. The Labour Court upheld an application to interdict the strike, which meant any further strike action would have been considered unlawful. In a statement issued by Numsa secretary-general Irvin Jim, the union said there would be a further hearing on August 28 to determine…

South African actress Connie Ferguson is expanding her brand, having recently launched a new collection of beauty and hair products. The actress known for The Queen took to Instagram to announce the new collection of Connie products. The brand started with a body lotion and has expanded into body care, haircare, face care, nutrition and activewear. “Haircare made in Africa, for Africa. Connie is proud to bring to you expert haircare products specially formulated to give you great hair and the confidence to go out and do you. “Suitable for wigs, weaves, braids and natural hair, our products contain no harmful chemicals, no chlorines and no sulphites that can cause damage,” reads the statement from the brand. In an interview with True Love, the actress said the relaunch of…

The decision by the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture to publish the names and amount of funds given to South African artists has received support from some corners of the South African music and arts industries. Yesterday, newly appointed Minister of Sport, Arts, and Culture Gayton McKenzie announced plans to publish a comprehensive list of individuals and entities receiving financial support from his department. “I have I have given an instruction that a list be published of all artists, creatives and sportspeople who have been receiving money from the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture be published inclusive of amounts and reasons. The time where only a select connected few benefit is over,” the minister said on X. According to McKenzie, this list will include the amounts disbursed and…

This is the most urgent task that is confronting us, says Ramokgopa THE R78 billion that municipalities owe Eskom is irrecoverable, says Minister of Electricity and Energy Kgosientsho Ramokgopa. Briefing the media on electricity distribution and generation performance yesterday, Ramokgopa warned that the debt owed by municipalities to power utility Eskom could spiral out of hand to R3 trillion in the next 26 years. “I can tell you a lot of this is irrecoverable. There is no possibility under the sun that we are to collect that R78 billion. A lot of it is over three to six months,” he said. Ramokgopa said Eskom needed this money for it to re-invest into its own infrastructure. However, he said municipalities simply did not have the means to pay up. “We…

OUR democracy is facing threats we have not witnessed in our recorded history. We were warned by many, on numerous occasions, of the mortal danger that the deadly quest for power posed to our democracy. We are witnessing political brinkmanship on a frightening scale that will be embedded in our collective memories and recorded in history books for generations to come. The war for truth is now to preserve our democracy. Over the past 27 years, two unwritten norms have preserved our rainbow nation’s political system: mutual toleration, in which parties accept each other as legitimate rivals, and forbearance, in which politicians exercise restraint in using their institutional powers. The defiant attitude of all parties destroyed the sacred accord in an earth-shattering political egg-dance. The role played by those…

Leaders of Nato member states arrive in Washington this week intent on deepening support for Ukraine but will find themselves facing another kind of challenge: how to navigate the possible return of former US president Donald Trump. Host Joe Biden fumbled a June 27 debate, boosting Trump in the polls ahead of a November 5 election that could upend Washington’s foreign policy. Nato leaders also confront political uncertainty in Europe, with paralysis looming in France after gains for left and far right parties, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s coalition weakened after a poor showing in European Parliament elections. The Nato summit, which starts today, was meant to celebrate the 75th anniversary of a Cold War-era alliance that has found new purpose in opposing Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.…

Russia launched a barrage of missiles on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities in a rare daytime attack yesterday, killing at least 20 people across the country and hitting a key children’s hospital, officials said. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the Russian forces fired more than 40 missiles targeting different cities and damaging infrastructure, commercial and residential buildings in different Ukrainian cities. Kyiv city authorities said seven people were killed and at least 25 wounded in the strike on the capital. In Kryviy Rih, the native city of Zelenskyy, 10 people were killed and 31 injured, said mayor Oleksandr Vilkul. Another three people died in Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine when missiles hit an industrial facility, said Donestk regional governor. Russia has denied targeting civilians. Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said the attack on…

WASHINGTON: Boeing said yesterday that it had reached a deal with the US Department of Justice over two fatal 737 MAX crashes, which court papers show would see the aviation giant plead guilty to fraud. The agreement comes after prosecutors concluded Boeing flouted an earlier settlement addressing the disasters, in which 346 people were killed in Ethiopia and Indonesia more than five years ago. Families of crash victims filed an objection to the deal, arguing that it “unfairly makes concessions to Boeing that other criminal defendants would never receive.” Court papers said the company had agreed to plead guilty. | AFP…

NEW DELHI: Indian lawyers and activists are urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government to put on hold three sets of new criminal laws, arguing they will increase litigation in an already overburdened justice system and give excessive powers to police. The new laws, in force since July 1, expand police powers on pre-trial detention of an accused and introduce the death penalty for gang-rape of women aged under 18, among other provisions. They also mandate judges to issue written rulings within 45 days after a trial ends and for charges to be framed within 60 days of the first court hearing in a case. Lawyers fear old cases could drag on. | Reuters…

Springbok attack coach Tony Brown has praised the “amazing” midfield partnership of Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel, with their extreme physicality providing a sound attacking platform for the team. The former All Black flyhalf pointed out that the midfield partnership of Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel is the most-capped in international rugby. “Both are world-class players and as skilful as they are physical,” Brown said. “It is pretty amazing that they are the world’s most experienced midfield combination. I always want to push the players around what they can achieve on attack and they want to soak up more knowledge. “Jesse has worked so hard off the field to get better in every facet of the game and we saw a lot of examples of him being a…