Table of contents for 2025-01-10 in Cape Times

THE KwaZulu-Natal Department of Public Works and Infrastructure is calling for an investigation into the awarding of contracts valued at over R1 billion to a single company. The MEC for Public Works, Martin Meyer, plans to enlist the Hawks to investigate how this company managed to secure multiple tenders worth more than R1 billion from the department. The unnamed company has been providing professional consultancy services, among others. “It is not just one contract involved; there are many contracts. This has been happening over a period of time. We are going to be calling on the Hawks to investigate the matter, to look at what has been happening with this company and what has been happening in the department,” said Meyer. This issue came to light as the department conducted…

The fate of Charity Nzuza, the embattled CEO of the Legal Practices Council (LPC), hangs in the balance as an ombudsman investigation into her alleged misconduct is scheduled to commence on February 3. Nzuza faces serious allegations including the refusal to conduct lifestyle audits for LPC staff and the improper handling of disciplinary cases. The inquiry, spearheaded by Judge Siraj Desai, the Ombud for the legal profession, aims to scrutinise the operational practices of the LPC and the integrity of its decision-making processes. This investigation comesafter a formal complaint lodged by a former Risk and Compliance manager of the LPC, who had also appealed to the Office of the Legal Services Ombud. In response, LPC spokesperson Kabelo Letebele confirmed that the organisation has initiated steps to cooperate fully with the…

We Solve Murders Richard Osman Loot.co.za R 488 PENGUIN THIS is not your average crime thriller. Although centred around exactly what the name says – solving murders – Richard Osman has created a humorous and emotional novel which is still jam-packed with action and great investigative work. Amy Wheeler is a no-nonsense bodyguard contracted to High Impact Solutions. She has been tasked with protecting a famous author Rosie D’ Antonio from a Russian man who put a hit on her for using his name in her latest book. The two become unusual but close friends. Amy is very close to her father-in-law Steve, she talks to him regularly, more often than she speaks to her husband. Three social media influencers who use High Impact Solutions for personal security services have…

Newlands stood as one to salute Proteas captain Temba Bavuma when he reached his century in the second Test against Pakistan last week. It was an emotional moment, as it was just his fourth Test hundred – having scored 24 half-centuries in 63 matches. The normally measured and reserved Bavuma celebrated with unusual gusto himself, lapping up the applause of the packed day one crowd. And it was fully deserved, as the 34-year-old came up with one of his finest knocks. Bavuma played some terrific shots, and brought up his 100 shortly before the close of play on day one. But that record of four tons and 24 fifties doesn’t tell the true story of his contribution to the South African batting line-up, especially in recent years, where he has…

Mozambique’s main opposition leader on Thursday returned from more than two months in exile saying he was ready to take part in talks over disputed election results that have led to weeks of deadly protests. Venancio Mondlane, who claims the October 9 election was stolen from him, arrived at Maputo’s main airport from an unknown location and was greeted by a large crowd of journalists. “I’m here in the flesh to say that if you want to negotiate... I’m here,” Mondlane told reporters in a message to the authorities. At one of several barriers erected around the area, security forces shot and wounded a man among a group of about 200 people, a reporter at the scene said. Mondlane claims the election was rigged in favour of the candidate of…

THE World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) is facing a crisis after the US government refused to make a $3.6 million (R68m) contribution to the global watchdog’s annual budget amid an ongoing row over a doping scandal involving Chinese swimmers. Wada said on Wednesday the US had missed the December 31, 2024 deadline for payment and as a result US representatives would be barred from the global anti-doping watchdog’s foundation board or executive committee. The chief executive of the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), Travis Tygart, said his organisation “fully supports this decision” by the US government “as the only right choice to protect athletes’ rights, accountability and fair competition.” “Unfortunately, the current Wadaleaders left the US with no other option after failing to deliver on several very reasonable requests, such as an…

A Sri Lankan court jailed a politically influential, firebrand Buddhist monk yesterday, putting him behind bars for a second time for insulting Islam and stoking religious hatred in the island nation. Galagodaatte Gnanasara was sentenced on Thursday to nine months for his anti-Muslim remarks, which date to 2016. He was previously jailed last year on a similar charge of disparaging Sri Lanka’s minority Muslims, who account for just over about 10 percent of the 22 million population. He was on bail while appealing that four-year sentence. The monk is a close associate of former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who made him the head of a panel to reform Sri Lanka’s legal system to ensure religious harmony in 2021.…

Despite the looming Saturday deadline for King Khoisan SA and his followers to vacate the Union Buildings, King Khoisan SA has made it clear that they intend to resist removal by authorities. The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure approached the Gauteng High Court, seeking for the removal of a group of the Khoisan community from the Union Buildings, which is deemed a heritage site where no temporary structures are allowed. On December 11, 2024 the court granted the department an eviction order, giving the Khoisan 30 days to vacate the premises. Since 2018, the small group of Khoisan community members has been camping in tents just metres from the towering statue of former president Nelson Mandela. They are demanding a meeting with President Cyril Ramaphosa to address their grievances,…

As South Africans basked in the welcome relief of lower fuel prices in late 2024, new forecasts have cast a shadow over this reprieve, suggesting a steep increase on the horizon. The Central Energy Fund’s latest data point to upcoming petrol price hikes of approximately 64 cents per litre for 95 Unleaded and 68 cents for 93 Unleaded, while diesel is projected to rise by between 70 cents and 72 cents, depending on the grade. Despite these impending increases, there is a glimmer of hope for consumers: petrol will still be more affordable than a year prior, with coastal 95 ULP costing R22.52 in February 2024. This slight relief may offer solace, but the broader picture remains grim as the January forecast suggests that further volatility is ensured. Contributing to…

With 33 confirmed diphtheria cases reported in Cape Town, health officials have urged parents to ensure their children's vaccinations are up to date before schools reopen. The Western Cape Health and Wellness reported that as of January 6, there were 33 confirmed people with the bacterial infection, mostly in the Cape Metro and the West Coast. In December, an elderly woman died from diphtheria in Riemvasmaak informal settlement. Health and Wellness spokesperson, Byron La Hoe, said of the total cases reported in the province since January 2024, 24 have been in adults over 20 years of age. “For every case, a public health response has been initiated. Public health response includes the swabbing of close contacts, isolation of at-risk contacts, provision of prophylaxis and vaccination of contacts,” he said. Meanwhile,…

Master of Me Keke Palmer Loot.co.za (R440) Orion KEKE Palmer thought she knew who she was. What it means to be a good person and what it takes to be a success. It all seemed so simple, until she realized the challenges she would have to face to prove to herself who she wanted to be. From feeling alienated to having to restart her career after ten years in to becoming a single mother just months after her son was born, everything she worked for in life that she felt granted her what she wanted now also reminded her that “life is going to life” and throw curveballs regardless of what you deserve. She found herself asking, Where do I find my power? How do I master myself? In her…

AS I reflect on the books that made up my reading journey for 2024, I’m struck by the impact they have had on my mindset, habits, and my understanding of the world around me. These ten reads challenged me and inspired me to change, they left me with lessons I’ll carry into 2025. Through these books, I had access to wisdom that has shaped how I plan to approach this year. Marc Zao-Sander’s Timeboxing challenged me to change how I structure my days. The idea of allocating specific time blocks to tasks has improved my focus and intention. He wrote, “Time is your most precious resource; spend it with intention.” This has become my mantra to remind myself to spend my energy on what truly matters. Jessica Maguire’s Nervous System…

A host of countries have taken steps to reform the terms under which people can access their retirement benefits. South Africa is the most recent. In 2024 it introduced changes that allow access to some retirement savings while ensuring that most of the money is still preserved for later. Policymakers have considered this an avenue that offers financially distressed fund members the flexibility to access their retirement funds while still supporting long-term retirement savings. Retirement funds are also often the only sizeable savings that fund members have. A recent report by South Africa’s Discovery Corporate and Employee Benefits, which represents 3 000 employers that provide pension and provident funds for just over one million employees, found that people aged between 35 and 45 made the most claims to access the…

Lebanon’s lawmakers yesterday elected army chief Joseph Aoun as president after a two-year vacancy in the position, in a step towards lifting the war-battered country out of financial crisis. Aoun, who turns 61 on Friday, arrived inside parliament to swear his oath to general applause, wearing a dark suit and blue tie instead of his usual military uniform. “Today, a new phase in Lebanon’s history begins,” he told the chamber. Aoun faces the daunting tasks of overseeing a ceasefire in south Lebanon and naming a prime minister able to lead reforms demanded by international creditors to save the country from its worst economic crisis in history.…

BERLIN: Volkswagen vehicle deliveries fell 1.4% year-on-year in 2024, the German carmaker said yesterday, dragged down by fierce competition in China. The VW brand, part of the larger Volkswagen group which includes Audi and Lamborghini among others, sold some 4.8 million vehicles last year, it said in a statement. Deliveries rose around 20% in North and South America but shrunk 1.7% in Europe, the brand’s second-largest market by volume. In China, VW’s most important market, sales plunged by 8.3%. “2024 was a tough year worldwide, with a weak economy, political challenges and tough competition – particularly in China”, VW executive Martin Sander said. In December, Volkswagen reached an agreement with unions to cut 35 000 jobs across Volkswagen’s German locations by 2030.…

COPENHAGEN: The US has no current plans to increase its military presence in Greenland, the US embassy in Copenhagen said yesterday, following renewed interest by incoming President Donald Trump in acquiring the Arctic island. Trump, who takes office on Jan. 20, said this week that US control of the strategically important Arctic island was an “absolute necessity” and did not rule out using military or economic action such as tariffs against Denmark to make it happen. “There are no plans to increase the United States’ current military footprint in Greenland,” the spokesperson said. “We will continue to work closely with Copenhagen and Nuuk to ensure any proposals meet our common security needs.” Greenland is crucial for the U.S. military and its ballistic missile early-warning system, since the shortest route from…

Sekunjalo Investment Holdings said although the Competition Tribunal dismissed the company’s interim application compelling Nedbank to reinstate its banking facilities while the hearing into the prohibited practices complaint against the bank is concluded, the bank still has a case to answer. In responding to the ruling against it, Sekunjalo stressed that this was only an interim ruling and the matter is far from over. In noting the tribunal’s finding made on Thursday, the group said: “It is important to clarify that this ruling pertains solely to the interim application and should not be conflated with the ongoing Competition Commission case where several banks, including Nedbank, acted in concert to terminate banking services to Sekunjalo unlawfully.” It said this matter is still to be heard together with the matter before the…

THE research team behind the Project Blue report are standing by the findings of their investigation into the water quality at select Cape Town beaches. They have been under mounting criticism from the City and the DA. The citizen-driven investigation found that several sampled beaches exceeded safety limits for E. coli and Enterococci; after testing was conducted between November 4 and December 6, 2024. “Exceedances were noted in 42% of the sample dates for the Table Bay side of the survey, while for the False Bay side the exceedances occurred for 38% of the sample dates. The exceedances on the Table Bay side occurred primarily, but not exclusively on non-South-Easter prevailing wind days. The one particular stretch of beach in The Strand where the Soet River flows into the sea…

THE Western Cape High Court has dismissed a couple’s efforts to overturn a previous decision regarding their legal aid representation, highlighting the critical importance of full financial disclosure in government assistance applications. The case arose when the couple, who claimed to be indigent, sought legal aid from Legal Aid South Africa (LASA). Their applications, however, were complicated by undisclosed financial interests that rendered them ineligible, revealing crucial gaps in their declarations that ultimately led to their downfall. The couple had previously exceeded the income means test by R8 976.79 and had not accurately disclosed ownership of several companies and properties during the application process. According to court documents, the husband’s application was denied due to his failure to reveal the transfer of a property to his daughter and the fact…

The secret war of Julia Child Diana R. Chambers Loot.co.za (R319) Sourcebooks Landmark BEFORE she mastered the art of French cooking in midlife, Julia Child found herself working in the secrets trade in Asia during World War II, a journey that will delight both historical fiction fans and lovers of America’s most beloved chef, revealing how the war made her into the icon we know now. Single, 6 foot 2, and thirty years old, Julia McWilliams took a job working for America’s first espionage agency, years before cooking or Paris entered the picture. The Secret War of Julia Child traces Julia’s transformation from ambitious Pasadena blue blood to Washington, DC file clerk, to head of General “Wild Bill” Donovan’s secret File Registry as part of the Office of Strategic Services.…

Russian firefighters on Thursday battled for a second day to put out a blaze caused by a Ukrainian drone strike on an oil depot. Kyiv hit the depot in the city of Engels, some 500 kilometres (310 miles) from the two countries’ border, in Russia’s southern Saratov region on Wednesday. Moscow has said that two fire firefighters died trying to extinguish the blaze. Hours after the drone strike, Russia bombed the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia, killing at least 13 people and wounding more than 100. “Specialists say that it will take some time to complete the burnout. Busargin said there was “no threat” to residential buildings. Russia declared an emergency situation in Engels on Wednesday. Images on social media showed a giant plume of smoke rising over the city,…

American singer and songwriter Peter Yarrow, who found fame with the 1960s folk music trio Peter, Paul and Mary, died on Tuesday aged of 86, his publicist said. Yarrow died at his New York home surrounded by family following a four-year battle with r cancer, publicist Ken Sunshine said in a statement. “Our fearless dragon is tired and has entered the last chapter of his magnificent life,” Yarrow’s daughter Bethany said in a statement. “The world knows Peter the iconic folk activist, but the human being behind the legend is every bit as generous, creative, passionate, playful, and wise as his lyrics suggest.”…

LA PAZ: Rainy season downpours have claimed at least 16 lives and impacted more than 16 000 families in Bolivia since last November, authorities said on Wednesday. Heavy rains from November through the first week of January have wreaked havoc in the South American nation, sparking deadly floods and mudslides, Juan Carlos Calvimontes, Bolivia’s deputy civil defense minister, said at a press conference. According to the official, some 36 municipalities have seen substantial damage. In the municipalities of Apolo, La Asunta and Luribay, all in western La Paz department, authorities have declared a “state of disaster” to deal with the aftermath. Eight of the country’s nine departments have reported weather-related problems and damage, with the only exception being Oruro.…