Table of contents for 2024-07-22 in Cape Times

Trade agreements between the US and African countries, such as the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa), could undergo significant reforms after the November elections in the US, particularly if the Trump administration wins a landslide victory. This is according to US foreign policy expert Professor Michael Walsh – a senior fellow in the Africa Programme at the Foreign Policy Research Institute. Agoa allows more than 30 African countries to export 1 835 types of goods to the US consumer market, and in turn affords the US access to critical minerals, product value chains, and investment opportunities in Africa. It is scheduled to expire in September next year, but there is a new bill seeking to extend the preferential trade agreement by 16 years, pushing out the programme’s expiring…

US President Joe Biden ended his re-election campaign last night, clearing the way for Vice-President Kamala Harris to run at the top of the Democratic party ticket, the first black woman to do so in the country’s history. Biden’s decision came after fellow Democrats lost faith in his mental acuity and ability to beat Donald Trump, leaving the presidential race in uncharted territory. Biden, in a post on X, said he would remain in his role as president and commander-in-chief until his term ends in January 2025 and would address the nation this week. Biden’s announcement follows a wave of public and private pressure from Democratic lawmakers and party officials to quit the race after his shockingly poor performance in a televised debate last month against Republican rival Trump. “It…

THE portfolio committee on police has lauded the dismissal of a senior instructor accused of raping a younger female trainee at the SAPS training academy in Philippi. The 50-year-old cop, who is out on warning, was arrested by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) on April 21 on a charge of rape and has appeared in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court. Ipid spokesperson Phaladi Shuping said the incident allegedly occurred on March 31 when the instructor called the 30-year-old trainee to his office. “It is alleged that the instructor locked the door once the complainant was inside, and raped her. She was allowed to leave after the alleged rape, but she did not report the incident immediately,” said Shuping, adding that the incident was reported days later. New portfolio committee chairperson…

In the quest for economic growth and poverty alleviation in South Africa, a critical factor that cannot be overlooked is the urgent need for traditional banks to step up and start funding black businesses. The establishment of a Government of National Unity (GNU) provides a unique opportunity to address the disparities that have long hindered the progress of black entrepreneurs in the country. The recent remarks by Vivian Reddy, chairperson of Edison Power Group, at the reSurgence Conference in Durban shed light on a deep-rooted issue in South Africa’s economic landscape – the lack of support from traditional banks for businesses led by black entrepreneurs. Reddy’s revelation that he did not receive a single cent from local banks for his ambitious R2 billion Oceans Mall and Radisson Blu Hotel…

China released a policy document yesterday, outlining known ambitions, from developing advanced industries to improving the business environment, with analysts spotting no sign of imminent structural shifts in the world’s second biggest economy. The 60-point document’s publication follows the closed-doors meeting of the Communist Party’s Central Committee, led by President Xi Jinping, which takes place roughly every five years, and is known as a plenum. It was held from July 15-18 as China verges on deflation and faces a prolonged property crisis, surging debt and weak consumer and business sentiment. Trade tensions are also flaring, as global leaders grow increasingly wary of China’s export dominance. These challenges have led some economists to urge Beijing to shift focus to boosting consumer demand and away from a debt-fuelled, investment-led model that funnels…

Sydney: A pram carrying twin 2-year-old girls rolled into the path of an oncoming train in Sydney yesterday, police said, in an accident that killed one of the children and the father who dashed to their rescue. One of the little girls survived after she landed between the rails when the pram fell off a platform, police said. She was “largely untouched” by the train that passed above her. The parents had taken a lift down to the station platform and as they exited, they took “their hands off the pram”, police said. It rolled in the direction of the train lines. The mother and surviving daughter were taken to hospital, and were in a stable condition. | AFP…

Beijing: Thousands of rescue workers and local volunteers are searching for people still missing after their vehicles plunged into a flooding river when a highway bridge collapsed in China’s Shaanxi Province. Aided by 205 vehicles, 63 vessels and 82 drones, authorities said the number of professional rescue workers at the site had increased to 1 630 by yesterday, more than a day after the collapse that has already left 12 dead and another 31 missing. More than 1 500 local residents have also joined the search. A 40m section of a bridge in Yanping village came down on Friday after a heavy rainstorm triggered a flash flood. | IANS…

It would be hasty to say that Manie Libbok’s days in a Springbok jersey are numbered but he has almost certainly been overtaken in the flyhalf pecking order by Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu. Handre Pollard will also be looking over his shoulder after Feinberg-Mngomezulu delivered a masterclass in the second half of the defeat of Portugal in Bloemfontein. And if the 22-year-old continues on his current trajectory, it is not a stretch to suggest he will be the first-choice flyhalf at the 2027 World Cup in Australia. Pollard will be pushing 34 in 2027 and while that is not exactly ancient ‒ Johnny Sexton was 38 at the last World Cup for Ireland ‒ Feinberg-Mngomezulu will be in his prime at 25. At the Free State Stadium, the TV cameras regularly flashed…

ResearcherS from the Faculty of Engineering at Stellenbosch University (SU) have found that using an indoor fireplace can result in the release of harmful particles that can be dispersed in the air and cause health problems when inhaled. Some particles can settle in the lungs, while others can even enter the bloodstream. The researchers point out that various studies have raised concern about poor indoor air quality in informal settlements, where fires are made indoors as a necessary measure for heating. However, its impact in formal housing, where fireplaces and indoor braais are commonly used as amenities, has not been investigated. “Our results show that the levels of harmful substances released during indoor fireplace use exceeded the recommended guidelines and standards of the World Health Organization (WHO). “The WHO recommends…

TWENTY-four farms in the Eastern Cape have reported foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks - 23 in Humansdorp and one farm in East London. This is according to the Department of Agriculture following assurances by Minister John Steenhuisen last week that the agriculture departments both nationally and in the Eastern Cape were finalising action steps to stop the spread of the disease. FMD is a highly contagious viral disease of cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs that causes sores in the mouth and/or around the feet. FMD outbreaks were reported in April this year and last week the Western Cape provincial government raised the alarm about concerns about the disease moving closer to the province, leading to a ramp up in animal health checks at certain entry points. “Locations…

ESKOM’S chief nuclear officer, Keith Featherstone, expressed appreciation for the contributions of all present and past Koeberg Nuclear Power Station staff and contractors in maintaining nuclear safety, operational performance and environmental stewardship over four decades. Yesterday marked 40 years of safe nuclear operation of Koeberg’s Unit 1 reactor. In a statement, Eskom said the National Occupational Safety Association (NOSA) has recognised Koeberg’s commitment to safety by bestowing upon it the NOSCAR status on over 14 occasions. Construction at Koeberg began on July 1, 1976, and Unit 1 was synchronised to the grid on April 4, 1984. On July 21, 1984, Unit 1 completed the commissioning tests at 100% power and entered into commercial operation. Unit 2 followed later and entered commercial operation on November 9, 1985. “With most of South…

4 cups milk 1 cup sago 1⁄2 teaspoon salt 1⁄2 teaspoon ground nutmeg or 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1⁄2 cup sugar 5 tablespoons butter 1 teaspoon vanilla 4 eggs 5 tablespoons apricot jam 1⁄2 cup sugar (extra) Preheat the oven at 160 °C Grease a large pudding dish lightly. Heat milk to nearly boiling, then add sago, salt, and nutmeg or cinnamon. Simmer over very low heat until sago is transparent. Add the 1/2 cup sugar, butter and vanilla, and stir in well. Remove from heat. Separate the eggs, and whisk the yolks. Add yolks to the sago mixture, whisk or mix through well, and pour the mixture into the prepared oven dish. Put blobs of the apricot jam all over the pudding mixture. Whisk the egg whites until stiff, and…

THE National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) is expected to add cybercrime-related charges to the string of charges faced by three Gauteng men who allegedly targeted gay men through a popular dating app. Mlungisi Mbutu, Bongani Zulu and Zwelakhe Ngwenya appeared in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on Friday after a man from Camps Bay was able to identify them as the men who allegedly kidnapped and forced him to pay R100 000. The trio from Soweto are facing kidnapping, extortion and robbery with aggravating circumstances. The accused were arrested on June 14 in connection with the kidnapping of a 50-year-old man who was rescued at an Airbnb that they allegedly rented. This bust, led by the Hawks, brought an end to their alleged rampant catfish operation with more victims from around…

SHORTLY after Professor Puleng LenkaBula was appointed as the University of South Africa’s (Unisa’s) first woman principal and vice-chancellor (VC) in 2021, she initiated a research-led project to identify catalytic niche areas (CNAs) that would not only activate and enhance Unisa’s academic agenda, but also strengthen academics’ experiences as engaged scholars who refuse to be academic pies in the sky, scholars who will care to address the needs of our society. Ten such CNAs were identified and introduced to Unisa’s epistemic community at a Lekgotla in March of that year, and approved by Council in June. Implementation is now well under way across colleges with some CNAs running across several colleges. The 10 CNAs and the colleges in which they have so far been adopted are: • Marine Studies –…

The death toll from an Israeli strike on Yemen’s rebel-held port of Hodeida climbed to six, Houthi health authorities said yesterday, with firefighting teams battling a blaze at the harbour. Saturday’s strike on the port, a key entry point for fuel and humanitarian aid to war-ravaged Yemen, is the first claimed by Israel in the Arabian peninsula’s poorest country, about 2 000km away. It killed six people and injured 83, many of them with severe burns, the rebel-run health ministry said in a statement carried by Houthi media. It said three others remained missing. Earlier, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the rebels’ “response to the Israeli aggression against our country is inevitably coming and will be huge”. Israel said it carried out the strike in response to a drone…

French security services rejected more than 4 000 applications for Paris 2024 Olympics accreditations, including over espionage and cyberattack concerns, the country’s caretaker interior minister said yesterday. Gerald Darmanin said French authorities have so far checked close to 1 million accreditation requests for the Games that kick off on July 26 and had rejected 4 340 people, some over radical Islamist connections or suspicion of being foreign spies. Close to 100 were rejected over espionage fears or concerns they were agents trying to get an accreditation using a different profession. “They are probably not there to carry out attacks. But in addition to intelligence and traditional espionage, there is the possibility of accessing entry points into computer networks to carry out a cyberattack,” Darmanin told the weekly Journal du Dimanche.…

Nairobi: Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga insists “justice” is a prerequisite for any talks with the government after deadly clashes, as President William Ruto warned unrest could “destroy” the country. Initially peaceful rallies that started last month against planned tax rises descended into violence, with dozens killed after some marchers stormed parliament. Ruto shelved his tax reform and proposed a national dialogue. Odinga demanded “compensation for every victim of police brutality”. Rallies have continued across the country and the opposition has called for more. A court last week suspended a police move to ban protests in central Nairobi. | AFP…

Moscow: A man wielding a sledgehammer decapitated a statue honouring Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin in a city near Moscow, at the weekend. Video taken in the city of Zvenigorod showed the suspect staggering around the statue before knocking its head off in what appeared to be one swoop and walking away. The man also damaged a bust of Soviet founder Vladimir Lenin before fleeing, media reported. He is being sought by police. Stalin’s statue in Zvenigorod was erected by activists last year. It faced demolition after officials accused them of installing it without permission. The decision was later reversed. | AFP…

THE sunglasses are on, as they always are, despite the fact we are indoors. The walk is a swagger as usual and when he speaks, an uninformed observer would be mistaken for thinking they are listening to an American. Ryan Mphahlele has just taken to the stage, and just as he does on the track, he commands attention. Mphahlele will compete in the 1500m at Paris 2024 and while his character is the kind you’d expect smack talk from – like the American boxers – the lad from Tembisa delivers a sensible message as he speaks of participating in his maiden Games. “For me, it is just a matter of going through the rounds (heats) and if I made the final, it will be an opportunity to medal,” the 26-year-old…

President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Opening of Parliament Address offers a vision for South Africa to set itself on the path to growth and a better life. But if the government fails to deliver on its progressive calls, it risks alienating an already sceptical nation. Cosatu welcomed the president’s unequivocal statement that the ANC-led 7th administration would respect the country’s progressive labour laws, protect workers’ hard-won rights and seek to uplift their working and living conditions. This needs to be accompanied by resourcing the CCMA and overhauling the struggling Unemployment Insurance and the Compensation of Occupational Injuries and Diseases funds, stamp out corruption and ensure monies due to workers reach them quickly. The government has allocated a massive R943 billion for infrastructure investments over the next three years. If spent well and…

Former president Jacob Zuma set foot in Parliament on Friday for the first time since he was forced to step down from office by the ANC six years ago. Zuma’s appearance in the parliamentary corridors took place during the debate on the Opening of Parliament Address (OPA) delivered by his successor, President Cyril Ramaphosa. He snubbed the opening of Parliament just as he had done with the State of the Nation Addresses since Ramaphosa took the reins in 2018. Zuma’s attendance at the debate was not without drama though. uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party) MP France Mfiki sang his praises on seeing him and shouted: “Msholozi, welcome to the House.” This was as the OPA debate was under way with Correctional Services Minister Pieter Groenewald on the podium and National…

Banele Ginindza Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi has confirmed that investigations have been launched into private sector corruption manifested through medical aid fraud, inflated prices for procedures and supplies, and fraudulent medico-legal suits of malpractice against the state which took away money that could benefit the public healthcare system. Motsoaledi was speaking exclusively in an interview with Business Report following the Department of Health’s budget vote in Parliament. During his budget vote speech, Motsoaledi faced strenuous opposition to the scheme, with critics saying it would be a drain on public resources as the healthcare sector was riddled with corruption, poor management, and poor maintenance of infrastructure. Motsoaledi said while this was acknowledged by his department, there were similar concerns with the private sector. “Are we saying corruption does not happen…

Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) says it does not have any policies or procedures that discriminate against any passengers or airport users on the basis of gender, race, cultural beliefs, religion, or place of origin. This after a Gqeberha airport came under fire for what some described as an ill-worded and offensive security notice, making particular mention and singling out Muslim women’s headdress. The Eastern Cape city’s Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport announced via Facebook that as part of security measures, people wearing any kind of headgear – including head wraps, hijabs, burkas or niqabs – would undergo a physical search. It further added that searches can be conducted in an enclosed area, on request. In a statement yesterday, Acsa said it noted reports on security screening and searching of…

THERE was no sign of two young men who went missing at Lagoon Beach, Milnerton, yesterday despite an extensive search. According to the NSRI, a 19-year-old and 20-year-old, reportedly part of a local soccer team playing soccer at the beach, went into the surf before being swept out to sea in rip currents. NSRI Melkbosstrand, NSRI Table Bay, NSRI Bakoven Milnerton lifeguards, and Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services launched five rescue craft to assist in a search operation with emergency services and police. “An extensive search was conducted for a 19-year-old and a 20-year-old who went missing at Lagoon Beach, Milnerton,” the NSRI said. “The EMS/AMS Skymed rescue helicopter and a Metro rescue squad drone team joined in the extensive air, sea and shoreline search. “NSRI rescue swimmers, lifeguards…

AI is not just a technological advancement, it’s a legal and cultural battleground UNDERSTANDING artificial intelligence (AI) has never been more crucial than in the age of algorithms and robots. News media stands as a vital bridge to achieving this, translating the complexities of AI for the public, shaping societal perceptions, and ultimately influencing how society interacts with these technologies. This is because news media, encompassing traditional outlets like newspapers and television, as well as online platforms and social media, directly reaches a vast and diverse audience, making it a primary source of information for many people. Further, the various news media narrative frames of AI present these technologies through specific lenses, emphasising certain aspects over others, a feature that shapes how the public perceives AI. But there’s a catch:…

Bangladesh’s Supreme Court yesterday scrapped most of the quotas on government jobs that had sparked nationwide protests by students that have killed at least 114 people in recent days. Dismissing a lower court order, the Supreme Court’s Appellate Division directed that 93% of government jobs in the country should be open to candidates on merit, Bangladesh Attorney General A M Amin Uddin said. “Students have clearly said they are in no way part of the violence and arson that have taken place in Bangladesh since Monday,” he said by phone. “I am hoping normalcy will return after today’s ruling and people with ulterior motives will stop instigating people,” Amin Uddin said. “I will ask the government to find out the culprits behind the violence and take strict action against them.”…

Ukraine needs long-range weapons to protect its cities and troops on the frontline from Russian bombs and drones, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said yesterday after a massive overnight drone and missile attack. Russia launched its fifth drone attack on Kyiv in two weeks overnight, with Ukraine’s air defence systems destroying all the air weapons before they reached the capital, Ukraine’s military said. Ukraine’s air force said that its air defence systems destroyed 35 of the 39 drones and two cruise missiles that Russia had launched overnight. The weapons, the air force said, targeted 10 of Ukraine’s regions. There were no casualties and no significant damage reported, Serhiy Popko, head of the Ukrainian capital’s military administration, said. Zelenskiy renewed his call for Western allies to allow long-range strikes on Russia on…

WASHINGTON: Former president Donald Trump said at the weekend that nobody warned him of a problem in the lead-up to his rally in Pennsylvania when a would-be assassin shot him in the ear. “How did somebody get on that roof? Why wasn’t he reported?” Reports said US Secret Service top officials rejected requests from Trump’s security detail for more manpower at events before the assassination bid on July 13. The agency reportedly denied these requests, saying it lacked resources. Secret Service director Kimberly Cheatle will testify at a hearing today on the shooting. | Reuters…

Washington: During a campaign rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan, US Republican vice-presidential candidate JD Vance has criticised Vice-President Kamala Harris. “Kamala Harris said something to the effect that I have no loyalty to this country,” Vance said. “Well, I don’t know, Kamala. I served in the US Marine Corps and built a business. What the hell have you done other than collect the cheque?” Harris had posted a 45-second video on X, criticising Vance for supporting a national abortion ban and voting against protecting In Vitro Fertilisation. Vance added: “She did serve as the border Czar during the biggest disaster open border that we’ve ever had in this country.” | IANS…