Table of contents for 2024-09-26 in Cape Times

Auditor-General makes damning findings over extensive irregular expenditure THE Basic Education Department, which is struggling to avert a looming crisis of teacher post cuts, could not prevent nearly R200 million in irregular expenditure being run up during the 2023-24 financial year. Auditor-General Tsakani Maluleke found that no effective and appropriate steps were taken to prevent irregular expenditure amounting to R188 354 000, as disclosed in note 24 to the annual financial statements, as required by Section 38(1)(c)(ii) of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) and Treasury regulation 9.1.1. “The majority of the irregular expenditure was caused by non-compliance with the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act (PPPFA),” Maluleke said. She found that some of the contracts awarded by the department to bidders did not score the highest points in the…

One of the reasons why insurance claims are rejected is because the insured failed to understand the details of the policy, especially what is covered and what isn’t, according to the Ombud for Short-Term Insurance. Many consumers of insurance products ignore the fine print which contains crucial details about exclusions; these are situations or events that are not covered by the policy. These exclusions help insurers manage risk and keep premiums affordable. The Non-life Insurance Division of the National Financial Ombud Scheme reported that during the 2023 financial year, around 40% of all complaints were generated from motor vehicle insurance with the majority of these complaints involving accident-related claims that had been declined on the basis of an exclusion in the policy. The predominant exclusions were a lack of due…

A protection order has serious consequences, a judge said in overturning an order that a wife obtained against her husband, whom she claimed was abusive but it turned out that she had, in fact, been the aggressor. The husband successfully appealed in the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, against the order obtained against him by his wife in the lower court. The appellant (husband) was interdicted from physically abusing, intimidating, stalking or contacting the respondent (wife). The final order was granted after an interim order. Judge Jan Swanepoel said that the preamble to the Domestic Violence Act recognised the undisputed fact that domestic violence was a widespread evil in society. It was unarguable that most victims of domestic abuse were women. The act, therefore, had the laudable purpose of affording victims…

A FAMILY dispute over where the body of a loved one should be buried, turned into a legal dispute when the son of a deceased woman turned to court to obtain an urgent order that his mother had to be buried in the family graveyard, next to the family’s ancestors. While the son and the family of the deceased wanted to transport her remains to KwaZulu-Natal to be buried there, the woman’s high school sweetheart, who said he was married to her, wanted to bury her in Johannesburg. He refused to let the family of the deceased remove her body to take it to KZN. He said as they were married, his ancestors were now part of hers. The Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg, earlier this month, on a Friday afternoon,…

It began with a recurring dream. In it, a border of fire acted as an enclosure without engulfing its witness. From this came the instructing body of work Let the fire lead you home. Winner of the 2024 Blessing Ngobeni Art Prize, which aims to assist young and emerging visual artists to launch their careers in the art industry, Keabetswe Seema is an interdisciplinary artist with a practice that is as concerned with resolution as it is with projection. The Blessing Ngobeni Art Prize, in collaboration with Everard Read is presenting Seema’s first solo exhibition, Let the fire lead you home next month. Seema was born and raised in Johannesburg. In the exhibition following the award, Seema says “home is an unknown place in dreamscape that is calling out to…

THE Basic Education Laws Amendment (Bela) Act is being framed as a legislative leap toward Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) to ensure quality education for all. Positioned as a bold reform to modernise the country’s deeply unequal education system, the act promises to address governance, admissions, language policy, and learner safety. It claims to align South Africa with the global education targets set out by the UN. But the question that lingers is whether this ambitious legislative move is a genuine step toward educational equity or a bureaucratic overreach cloaked in high-minded ideals. South Africa’s education system is, without question, in a state of crisis. Despite the government allocating around 6.6% of its GDP to education – one of the highest levels globally according to the World Bank –…

The son of Bangladesh’s ousted prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, said he was happy with the army chief’s timeline for elections within 18 months, though it was later than expected, but warned that genuine reform and polls were impossible without her party. General Waker-uz-Zaman, whose refusal to stand by Hasina in the face of deadly student protests prompted her flight to India in August, has told Reuters that democracy should return within a year to a year-and-a-half. “I’m happy to hear we have an expected timeline at least now,” said Hasina’s son and adviser, Sajeeb Wazed. “But we have seen this play out before where an unconstitutional, unelected government promises reform and then things only get worse.” He was referring to Bangladesh’s history of coups since independence from Pakistan in 1971.…

London: British property website Rightmove said yesterday that it had rejected a third “unsolicited” proposal, worth £6.1 billion (about R140bn), from REA Group, the Australian peer majority-owned by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp empire. “The board ... concluded that the increased proposal continues to be unattractive and materially undervalues the company and its future prospects,” Rightmove said two days after news of the latest non-binding bid. REA, which first made public its interest on September 2, has noted “clear similarities” between the pair “in terms of their leading market positions in the core residential business”. | AFP…

JUBA: A total of 3 160 suspected cases of measles, including 41 deaths, have been reported in South Sudan since January, the country’s Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO) said this week. They said that in the report released in Juba, capital of South Sudan, a surge in suspected measles cases peaked in March, and no confirmed cases have been reported since July, and that there was a critical need for enhanced surveillance, sample collection, and robust laboratory testing. The WHO said reactive measles vaccination efforts in August have led to county-wide campaigns in 15 counties, with 544 104 (93%) children vaccinated. | Xinhua…

THE king of all-rounders, Jacques Kallis, predicted 20 years ago that fully- fledged multi-dimensional cricketers would become as common as dinosaurs roaming the Earth’s flatlands. “It’s hard work doing both, especially with the amount of cricket being played these days,” he said at the time. “I think the number of true all- rounders is going to get less and less, simply because of that. You’re going to get guys that will bat well and bowl a little bit, or bowl well and bat a little bit. It’s tough.” The demands of T20 cricket in the past two decades have certainly made Kallis look like Nostradamus, with many players being able to “bat well and bowl a little bit, or bowl well and bat a little bit”, but hardly anyone able…

MANTENGU Mining yesterday made board changes, appointing Jonas Tshikundama- lema as chairperson, Alistair Collins as chief legal officer, and Warren Geyer as non-executive director. Listed on the JSE AltX, Mantengu Mining is a mining sector invest- ment company. Tshikundamalema has served on the company’s board since April 2022. His appointment to the chairperson- ship of the board of the company brings “a wealth of experience in engineering, project management, and entrepreneurship, combined with a deep knowledge of the Mantengu business,” the company said. “At Mantengu, we are driven by an entrepreneurial spirit and a commitment to smart, sustainable growth. This leadership alignment is a testament to our dedication to innovative thinking and creating tangible value for our shareholders,” said Tshikundamalema. Collins stepped down as non-executive director and chairperson of the…

DEBT relief package obligations, municipal debt, “correction” of National Energy Regulator of South Africa’s (Nersa) previous decisions and the energy industry undergoing a transition are among the reasons listed by Eskom for its Multi-Year Price Determination (MYPD) Revenue Application for the years 2026 to 2028. The power utility is requesting a 12.74% tariff increase for 2025, 36.15% for 2026, 11.81% for 2027 and 9.10% for 2028. In its application which will be out for public participation, Eskom outlined factors that had contributed to a challenging financial position. “(Financial year) 2023 was a challenging year for Eskom from an operational point of view. Plant availability deteriorated to 56.03% with unplanned load losses rising to 31.92% and planned maintenance at 10.39%. Load had to be curtailed by an estimated 13 476GWh, with…

BASIC Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has requested an urgent meeting with Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana ahead of the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement in efforts to protect services in the education sector faced with a budget crisis. This engagement, along with the National Treasury, is part of immediate interventions that Gwarube is hoping to implement as teacher, scholar transport, school nutrition, textbook and teaching post cuts are looming. Speaking at a media briefing, Gwarube pointed out that the education system was under immense pressure with the learner-to-teacher ratios steadily increasing and will be worsened by further cuts. She said most provinces require between R350 million and R3.8 billion. “It is important to note that no person gets retrenched, but rather vacancies are not filled. Nationally, the number of learners within the…

INTERESTED parties have expressed concern over what they said could be another “tick box exercise” as the public has until October 10 to comment on proposed development plans for the Oude Molen Precinct (OMP). Oude Molen Precinct (OMP) is located within the bigger Two Rivers Urban Park (TRUP) Area. The property is connected via Alexandra Road to the N2 and M5 to the south, and via Berkley Road and the Black River Parkway to the N1 on the north. Consultants held a public hearing for parties to comment on the Heritage Impact Assessment last week. Currently Oude Moulen houses several organisations, small businesses, two schools, the Goringhaicona Kraal and stables, among others in green natural surroundings. In terms of plans for the site, a vision statement mentions “a safe, walkable…

A 27-YEAR-OLD old man has been nabbed by the Hawks in the Eastern Cape for allegedly scamming a hotel owner through a fraudulent speed point machine scheme. The suspect was arrested on Monday on charges of fraud and made his first appearance in the Mthatha Regional Court yesterday. “It is alleged that the complainant, a Tsomo hotel owner, was approached by someone who introduced himself as an employee of Yoco Technology (Pty) Ltd. The person is reported to have sold three speed point machines for R3 500 to the complainant,” said Hawks Eastern Cape spokesperson Yolisa Mgolodela. “The investigations ensued and revealed that the bank account where the sales money was going into belonged to the arrested suspect residing in Kidd’s Beach (outside East London). The transactions worth R1.2 million…

A COUNTRY that embraces its heritage understands the invaluable role artists play in uniting different cultures. It ensures, through the passing of laws, that artists are protected from exploitation and that none of them has to plead poverty during or after their careers. It also makes it a priority that the arts and culture industry is not in the hands of a select few gatekeepers but is open to anyone displaying skills and talents. Deputy President Paul Mashatile’s words are timely: “It is through understanding and celebrating our shared heritage that we can begin to bridge the gaps that divide us and move forward as a united and inclusive society. … Our activists and contributors to our Struggle for democracy include artists and intellectuals who used their creative talent and…

Leaders addressing the General Debate of the 79th UN General Assembly (UNGA) this week called for cessation of the violence that has ravaged the Middle East for months, and some of them directly pointed their fingers at Israel for the “genocide” it committed against the Palestinians. UNGA President Philemon Yang noted the various conflicts raging from the Middle East to Ukraine, and from Haiti to South Sudan. “I take this opportunity to call for an immediate ceasefire for the Hamas-Israel war, the unconditional release of hostages and for all parties to abide by international law, including international humanitarian law, and work towards a just and lasting solution grounded in the United Nations Charter, relevant resolutions and international law, ensuring dignity for both Palestinians and Israelis,” he said. Delivering his 2024…

With less than a month before the BRICS annual summit in Kazan under the Russian presidency, serious informed discussions are raging in Moscow and other Eurasian capitals on what should be at the table regarding the de-dollarisation and alternative payment system. Andrey Mikhailishin, head of the task force on financial services of the BRICS Business Council, has detailed the list of top projects under consideration. They include: • A common unit of account, as in The Unit, whose contours were first revealed exclusively by Sputnik. • A platform for multilateral settlements and payments in BRICS digital currencies, connecting the financial markets of BRICS members: that’s BRICS Bridge, which bears similarities with the Bank of International Settlements-linked MBridge, already in effect. • A blockchain-based payment system that bypasses the US dollar:…

WASHINGTON: Boeing needs to implement significant reforms and change its culture to improve safety and production quality, the head of the US Federal Aviation Administration, Michael Whitaker, said in testimony to a House panel. Lawmakers during the hearing expressed disappointment over Boeing’s dismal safety record. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure chairperson Sam Graves said US aviation has been the gold standard but recent incidents “have called that into question”. Boeing has been plagued by safety failures and criminal charges in recent years. | Sputnik…

ATHENS: Three large Chinese vape companies are researching nicotine-like chemicals they think could serve as a substitute for nicotine in products like vapes, company officials said, but the health implications may still need “years” of investigation. One such chemical, 6-methyl nicotine, made in a lab, has a similar chemical structure to nicotine and is already used in some vapes in the US. But regulators and researchers have warned it may be more potent and addictive than nicotine itself. E-liquid manufacturers Hangsen International Group said more studies were required to determine if such chemicals were safe. | Reuters…

The remains of 49 liberation fighters who died in Zimbabwe and Zambia finally arrived at the Waterkloof Air force Base yesterday afternoon. Among those who have been brought back to South African soil after decades buried on foreign land are ANC stalwart advocate Duma Nokwe, the PAC’s Edwin Makoti, Florence Mophosho and Basil February. PAC president Mzwanele Nyhontso, as the Minister of Land Reform and Rural Development, officially accepted the remains of the country’s fallen heroes and heroines in Zimbabwe while the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, and Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Angie Motshekga received the remains of the 49 former liberation fighters in Zambia. He said this historic repatriation project has brought long-awaited closure to families who lost loved ones during the liberation Struggle…

A TOTAL of 471 civil servants continued to be paid their salaries while on suspension as at the end of July. This was revealed by Public Service and Administration Minister Mzamo Buthelezi when he was responding in writing to parliamentary questions from EFF MP Sixolise Gcilishe. “Information captured on the Personnel Salary System (Persal) as at the end of July 2024 indicates that 288 public servants from national departments and 183 from provincial departments are on paid suspension,” Buthelezi said. He said 54 employees were suspended for a period of longer than one year. “The longest period that a public servant has spent while on paid suspension in the 2023/24 financial year is five years.” Of the 54 civil servants on paid suspension, at least 32 have been suspended for…

THERE is much to like about Parliament’s proposals to beef up scrutiny for new members as it plans to introduce ramped-up screening measures to test the suitability of candidates nominated by political parties to be MPs throughout the five-year term of office as a supplementary measure to the six-day window period for public objections overseen by the Electoral Commission before elections. The Electoral Act sets out procedures for political parties to submit candidate lists to the Electoral Commission before an election and the commission invites public objections to any of the candidates during a six-day window period. The problem is that after the commission declares election results and submits the vetted lists to the legislative bodies, there is no public mechanism to screen substitution candidates by political parties. Yet, public…

Controversial WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange plans to break his post-prison silence in an address to the Council of Europe next week, his organisation revealed yesterday. WikiLeaks said the 53-year-old would travel from his native Australia to Strasbourg on October 1 to testify before a parliamentary legal committee investigating his case. Assange spent most of the last 14 years either holed up in the Ecuadoran embassy in London to avoid arrest, or locked up at Belmarsh Prison. He was released from the British prison in June, after serving a sentence for publishing hundreds of thousands of confidential US government documents. The trove included searingly frank US State Department descriptions of foreign leaders, accounts of extrajudicial killings and intelligence gathering against allies. Assange returned to Australia and since then has not publicly…

Greece and Türkiye will explore whether they can start talks aimed at demarcating their maritime zones, Greece’s foreign ministry said yesterday. Neighbours Greece and Türkiye, both Nato allies but historic foes, have been at odds for decades over issues from airspace to maritime jurisdiction in the eastern Mediterranean and ethnically split Cyprus. An agreement on where their maritime zones begin and end is important for determining rights over possible gas reserves and power infrastructure schemes. Tensions have eased in recent years and both countries agreed last year to reboot their relations, pledging to keep open channels of communication and work on the issues that have kept them apart. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan met in New York yesterday and discussed bilateral ties. |…

KAMPALA: Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni yesterday dismissed three senior officials for what he termed “criminal negligence” after a landfill collapse claimed over 30 lives. Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA)’s executive director, Dorothy Kisaka, her deputy David Luyimbazi, and KCCA public health director Daniel Okello were relieved of their duties following an investigation. “The inspector general of government’s report clearly outlined the severe oversight and negligence exhibited by these officials,” the statement said, noting the president directed the police and other crime management agencies to further investigate the matter. | Xinhua…

WASHINGTON: Democrats have enlisted pop stars and actors to boost Kamala Harris ahead of the November vote. A recent Siena College study shows Republican candidate Donald Trump leading Harris in Arizona and is in a close contest in Georgia and North Carolina – key battleground states for the coming election. Meanwhile, a new study from Harvard University’s Ash Center for Democratic Governance shows that celebrities do sway US voter activity and decision-making. Taylor Swift endorsed the Democrat contender after her debate with Trump by alerting her 283 million followers on Instagram. Billie Eilish and her brother Finneas, as well as Jennifer Lopez and Beyonce, have also thrown their support behind Harris. | Sputnik…