Table of contents for 2025-07-28 in Cape Times

Merafe Resources’ share price plunged over 9% on Friday after it warned that headline earnings per share (HEPS) for the six months to June 30 would decrease between 45% and 65%. The share closed at R1.20 on Friday, while the price 12 months ago was R1.47. Merafe earns its income primarily through participation in the Glencore-Merafe Chrome Venture, one of the largest ferrochrome producers in the world. Merafe holds a 20.5% stake in the venture. The company said on Friday that HEPS would be between 9.8 cents and 15.4 cents, compared to HEPS of 28.2 cents for the same period a year before. The interim results are expected to be released on August 12, 2025. In a production report, Merafe’s directors stated that their attributable ferrochrome production from the venture…

Joy isn’t just a luxury. According to Dr Judith Joseph, a board-certified psychiatrist and researcher, it’s actually a part of who we are. “We are built with that DNA for joy. It’s our birthright as human beings,” Joseph recently told CNN. Yet for many of us, that natural spark feels buried under work deadlines, family obligations and what Joseph calls high-functioning depression, the silent kind of struggle where, from the outside, everything seems fine. Inside, though, something feels empty. Joseph’s book, High Functioning: Overcome Your Hidden Depression and Reclaim Your Joy, explores why some people appear successful and put-together, yet quietly feel numb. It's a growing topic in mental health circles: research published in Frontiers in Psychology shows that anhedonia, the inability to feel joy, is common, even among high…

IT’S A sad fact that we have one of the highest unemployment figures in the world. It must be soul destroying to wake up every day with a long day ahead of you with no prospects of a job. I see the men on the road waiting in all weathers patiently with the hopes that someone will give them a day's work. And hopefully not scam them and not pay them at the end of a day's labour. Women handing out neatly written details of their phone numbers and job descriptions at the robots. The sad fact as well is that even those who have a degree are not necessarily going to secure a job. The basic problem is world wide there are too many of us all…

A former prosecutor for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) is facing serious charges after allegedly defrauding the State of more than R1.1 million. Luthando Nomandindi, 33, appeared in the Mthatha Specialised Commercial Crime Court in the Eastern Cape facing charges of fraud, forgery, and uttering. The charges stem from Nomandindi's time at Walter Sisulu University (WSU), where he was enrolled in a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree programme from 2010 to 2016. Despite being registered for six years, Nomandindi failed to satisfy the academic requirements necessary for graduation. Police spokesperson Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana said: "Despite this, in 2020, Nomandindi apparently submitted a falsified LLB degree certificate and a bogus Legal Education and Development (L.E.A.D) attendance report as part of his application to the NPA’s Aspirant Prosecutor Programme, which required a legitimate…

All eyes will be on the South African Reserve Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting on Thursday when the MPC has the opportunity to further cut the interest rate, relieving pressure on overburdened consumers. However, June’s consumer price index (CPI) rose to 3%, up from May’s 2.8%, marking the first time in three months that inflation has risen to within the Reserve Bank’s 3% to 6% target range. But inflation still remains low, and economists believe that this gives the MPC enough room to cut the interest rate by at least 25 basis points. At its last meeting in May, when a 25 basis points cut was announced, the MPC said while the inflation outlook appeared benign they considered an adverse scenario. “The scenario showed how a country with some…

Israel declared a “tactical pause” in fighting in parts of Gaza yesterday and said it would allow the UN and aid agencies to open secure land routes to tackle a deepening hunger crisis. The military also said it had begun air-dropping food into the territory and angrily rejected allegations it was using starvation as a weapon against Palestinian civilians. In a statement, the army said it had co-ordinated with the UN and international agencies to “increase the scale of humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip”. The Oxfam aid agency’s regional policy chief, Bushra Khalidi, described the Israeli decision as a “welcome first step” but warned it could yet prove insufficient to resolve the crisis. “Starvation won’t be solved by a few trucks or airdrops. What’s needed is a real humanitarian…

Serving craft beer, playing mahjong, stacking shelves and boxing, the dozens of humanoid robots at Shanghai’s World AI Conference (WAIC) this weekend were embodiments of China’s growing AI prowess and ambition. The annual event is primed at showcasing China’s progress in the ever-evolving field of artificial intelligence, with the government aiming to position the country as a world leader on both technology and regulation as it snaps at the US’ heels. Opening the event at the weekend, Premier Li Qiang announced China would set up a new organisation for cooperation on AI governance, warning the benefits of development must be balanced with the risks. But in the cavernous expo next door, the mood was more giddy than concerned. “Demand is currently very strong, whether in terms of data, scenarios, model…

NEW DELHI: At least six people were crushed to death at a popular Hindu temple in northern India’s Uttarakhand state yesterday, officials said, after a massive crowd surge. The stampede occurred on the stairway leading to the Mansa Devi temple in the Hindu holy city of Haridwar, on the banks of the Ganges river, and left many injured. “Six dead and more than 10 injured are admitted to the hospital,” senior city police official Parmendra Dobhal said. Uttarkhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said relief and rescue operations were under way. “I am constantly in touch with the local administration regarding this matter and continuous monitoring of the situation is being done,” he said in a statement. Deadly stampedes and crowd crushes are a common occurrence at Indian religious festivals.…

Following their WAFCON failures (semi-final and bronze medal), the mood surrounding Banyana Banyana is sombre. Following their Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) semi-final and bronze medal failures, a sombre mood surrounds Banyana Banyana. A once-promising campaign ended in disappointment, leaving supporters and pundits alike contemplating the future of coach Desiree Ellis. The echoes of disappointment resonate not only on the pitch but also in the media, where calls for introspection and potential change have taken centre stage. Following the team’s underwhelming performance at the continental tournament, several media commentators have voiced their opinions with a striking mix of concern and urgency. One stark message directed at Ellis suggested: “Do yourself a favour, jump before you’re pushed.” This honest advice highlights the level of scrutiny the team faces after the…

SOCIAL Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe is set to probe a fraudulent scheme in which hundreds of Worcester and Rawsonville residents, mostly 18-year-olds, were allegedly unknowingly registered for a R370 monthly poverty grant but never received any payments. The alarm was raised by GOOD councillors in the Breede Valley Municipality who uncovered the alleged fraud while working with community activists on a programme to help destitute residents apply for the South African Social Security Agency’s (Sassa) Social Relief of Distress Grant (SRD). “GOOD submitted a complaint to Sassa and the Hawks together with a dossier of 34 separate affidavits from victims of the scheme and a list detailing more than 300 additional victims. “In its submission to Sassa and the Hawks, the GOOD Party suggests that the fraud is being committed…

IN A political environment often plagued by endless consultations and strategic fence-sitting, President Cyril Ramaphosa has done the unthinkable: he fired someone. And not just anyone. The now former Minister of Higher Education, Dr Nobuhle Nkabane, was given the boot just days before a critical budget vote. The timing? Impeccable. The message? Crystal clear: not even a Cabinet chair comes with a lifetime guarantee. Dr Nkabane’s dismissal followed serious allegations that she misled Parliament and tampered with the appointment of SETA board members allegedly playing a game of political musical chairs in favour of ANC aligned allies. The DA may have done the public the favour of shouting the loudest, but Ramaphosa’s swift action shows he wasn’t deaf to the growing chorus of concern. And let’s be honest: we’ve…

THE City of Cape Town uses fixed charges to push long-term capital expenditure costs onto current consumers upfront, creating a guaranteed revenue stream that reduces the risk of funding deficits. This practice shifts the financial burden onto residents regardless of their actual consumption or ability to pay, often locking them into paying for expensive, large-scale projects well before any service benefits are realised. Critically, this approach blurs the line between fair cost recovery and revenue generation: rather than merely covering the costs of services consumed, fixed charges become a tool for pre-financing ambitious—and some argue excessive—capital programs. This can undermine affordability, disproportionately impact lower- and middle-income households, and limit consumer control because these charges are accrued regardless of usage. This raised many questions as to whether it is permissible under…

iN RECENt weeks, we have witnessed an unprecedented explosion of corruption revelations. From Mkhwanazi to disbarred advocate Teffo’s disclosures alleging collusion between police services, investigative bodies, government officials, criminal syndicates, and the judiciary, our nation has been shaken to its core. The response has been paradoxical. On one level, these revelations have been met with unsettling normalcy. South Africans broadly accept that the state is crippled by graft. This resignation reflects a dangerous adaptation to systemic failure. Yet, they have also been treated as incontrovertible truth, bypassing formal institutional processes. Verdicts have been swiftly delivered, at least in the court of public opinion. Herein lies the tension: a public simultaneously jaded by corruption yet eager to condemn, often without trial. The court…

US President Donald Trump is growing impatient with Russia over resolving the Ukraine conflict, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said. Moscow maintains it is open to diplomacy, but has said any settlement must take into account its security concerns. Speaking to Fox News at the weekend, Rubio claimed that while Trump is focused on peace and has done his best to bring hostilities to a close, his overtures to Russia appear to be yielding little result so far. “He’s done everything possible to bring it to an end. I think he is growing increasingly frustrated,” he said. According to Rubio, despite “good interactions with (Russian President)Vladimir Putin and phone calls, it never leads to anything.” “He is losing patience, losing his willingness to continue to wait for the Russian…

ISTANBUL: Two major wildfires in north-western and northern Turkiye triggered mass evacuations at the weekend, with strong winds pushing flames toward residential areas and trapping vehicles on engulfed roads, local authorities said. In Bursa province, an uncontrolled blaze between Kestel and Gursu districts spread rapidly toward villages, forcing evacuations. Videos showed residents fleeing on foot as fire engulfed a main roadway. Meanwhile, a blaze that began last week in Karabuk province remained uncontained, prompting precautionary evacuation of nearly 20 villages. Authorities closed the Ankara-Karabuk highway as residents attempted to relocate livestock from danger zones. Turkish Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Ibrahim Yumakli confirmed at the weekend 76 active fires nationwide – 28 forested and 48 rural, citing extreme heat and “very high risk” conditions. | Xinhua…

WASHINGTON: An American Airlines flight carrying 179 people caught fire on the runway at Denver International Airport prior to takeoff, prompting an emergency evacuation. The incident occurred at the weekend when the Miami-bound Boeing 737 Max suffered a landing gear malfunction that led to a brake fire, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). One person was hospitalised with minor injuries, and five others were treated at the scene, airport officials said. Firefighters quickly extinguished the flames, and the aircraft was taken out of service for inspection. A replacement plane was arranged. Passengers described moments of panic after a loud bang was followed by smoke. “The plane started vibrating and shaking really bad,” Shay Armistead told CNN. Another passenger said she saw “flames coming out from under the plane” before…

The Proteas’ fell just short of stealing the T20I Tri-Series from New Zealand in Harare, but there was plenty for coach Shukri Conrad to ponder about in his first white-ball competition. Independent Media’s Zaahier Adams selects five takeaways from the series. 1. Youth is the future Conrad showed his hand when the white-balls squads for Australia were named prior to the final, but Lhuan-dre Pretorius repaid the faith with an exhilarating knock in the final. After struggling during the early stages of the competition, with the Powerplay actually proving to be the most difficult time to bat in Zimbabwe, Pretorius was moved down to the middle-order. / But he is most destructive at the top, and Conrad shifted him back up for the final and Pretorius responded with a maiden…

Move over, Cristiano Ronaldo and step aside, David Beckham – there’s a new style king in town, and he goes by the name of Thembinkosi Lorch. Whether you know him as “Nyoso” or simply as one of South Africa’s most talented footballers, one thing is certain: Lorch is claiming his spot on the global fashion stage, one fit at a time. If you’re among his hundreds of thousands of followers on Instagram, you already know what time it is – Lorch isn’t just serving skills on the field, he’s serving serious looks off it. As we say in isiZulu, uyawudla ukotini (loosely translated as “this person can dress”). Trendy and dapper, these two words sum up Lorch’s off-field image. Since his move to Morocco to join Wydad Athletic Club (on…

Police have reported no further developments in their investigations into the disappearance of Joshlin Smith, having dispatched a team to Saldanha Bay at the weekend to follow up on ‘new’ information. The six-year-old girl went missing on February 19, 2024 from her home in Saldanha Bay while in the care of now convicted child trafficker Jacquen “Boeta” Appollis. Her mother, Racquel “Kelly” Smith, claimed she was at work at the time. At the weekend police spokesperson Novela Potelwa said: “Western Cape police descended on Middelpos informal settlement in Saldanha Bay on Friday afternoon pursuing emerging information as part of the investigation into the disappearance of Joshlin Smith. “As SAPS previously stated, even though three individuals, including the mother of the child, were sentenced in May 2025 for kidnapping and human…

SOUTH Africa is fast approaching a very high steep cliff when it comes to our business relationship with the US. While we will have to deal with a 30 % tariff hike which at this late stage will be very difficult to forestall, we must plan to have it reversed before irreparable damage is done to our economy and to thousands of jobs. The current US president is very different from his predecessors. This must be understood and acted on accordingly as you would do in business, which it looks like it hasn’t. To appoint Ebrahim Rasool who was always critical of the current president, as our ambassador, and then Mcebisi Jonas, another verbal detractor as our special envoy to the US, have turned…

THE view expressed by Electricity and Energy minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa that electricity is becoming a luxury (IOL, July 22) should mark another milestone in the terminal descent of the ANC into political oblivion. Those milestones are in the ANC’s much revered Freedom Charter. But one by one, the ANC has failed them. “There shall be work and security:” Instead, joblessness has become the norm under the ANC. Rampant crime has made insecurity another norm as the police service has become impotent and corrupt. “There shall be houses and comfort; no one shall go hungry:” Instead, homelessness, hunger, malnutrition and informal settlements are hallmarks of the ANC’s tenure. Now with electricity at unaffordable prices – when it is available - cold comfort is the norm for millions. “The people shall…

GLOBALLY, viral hepatitis remains an unrecognised burden of disease, with the World Health Organisation estimating that in 2022, 254 million people were living with hepatitis B and 50 million people living with hepatitis C worldwide. Six thousand people were newly infected with hepatitis B and C each day, resulting in 3 500 deaths per day. This is despite hepatitis B being entirely vaccine preventable, and treatable with the nucleotide analogue tenofovir costing less than $32 per year. Hepatitis C is now curable with an 8- or 12-week course of direct acting antivirals. The Global Viral Hepatitis response is off-track towards World Health Organisation 2030 goals: 90% of people living with hepatitis B and C should be diagnosed and 80% treated; and 90% of newborns should have received timeous Hepatitis B…

Ethiopia has rejected US President Donald Trump’s claims that Washington funded a multibillion-dollar hydropower dam that the East African country has built on the Blue Nile, calling the statement false and “destructive.” Trump repeatedly said at a White House dinner with Republican senators last Friday that Ethiopia constructed the controversial Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (Gerd) “largely” with US money. “It doesn’t allow much water going into the Nile River. So you can imagine Egypt’s not thrilled because, they live off the Nile River,” he said. The president also claimed in a post on his Truth Social online platform last month that the “massive” dam, “stupidly financed” by the US, “substantially reduces the water flowing” into the Nile River. However, last week, Fikrte Tamir, deputy director of the Gerd Co-ordination Office,…

SYDNEY: Australian police have charged a French national over an alleged attempt to import more than 20kg of methamphetamine in his luggage. The Australian Border Force (ABF) and Australian Federal Police (AFP) said yesterday that the 20-year-old French citizen was stopped by officers on arrival at Sydney Airport on a flight from Amsterdam on July 20. A subsequent search of his luggage by the ABF allegedly found vacuum-sealed bags containing 22kg of a clear crystalline substance. Testing identified the substance as methamphetamine and the man was arrested by the AFP. He was charged with one count of importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug and one count of possessing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug. | AFP…