Índice para 2022-04-13 em Cape Times

WITH MILLIONS of motorists expected to be travelling over the Easter holidays, Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula said the focus would be on the use of safety belts, the roadworthiness of vehicles, fatigue, drunk driving, pedestrian safety and dangerous driving. Mbalula yesterday launched the Easter road safety campaign along the N12 highway in Ekurhuleni. He said the busiest routes this time of year were the N2 from the Western Cape to Eastern Cape, the N1 from Gauteng to Limpopo, the N3 from Gauteng to KwaZulu Natal, the N14 to from Gauteng to the North-West and the N12 from Gauteng to Mpumalanga. “Over the next few days, our national roads will, once again, carry millions of motorists, one of the greatest movement of people over a single long weekend, as people will…

OVER half a million people in the Western Cape have indicated a need for housing, a figure activists say is an under-representation as many had lost hope in the system. The provincial Department of Human Settlements said there were currently about 568 000 residents on the Western Cape Housing Demand Database who had expressed a need to be assisted by the state “for a housing opportunity”. Department spokesperson Nathan Adriaanse said: “The department has 139 projects across the province. These projects are at various stages ie planning, implementation, completion and are being rolled out over a number of financial years.” The City said it had about 347 000 registered applicants on its Housing Needs Register. Mayco member for Human Settlements, Malusi Booi said: “We recommend you register and apply with…

A HAMMARSDALE woman says her family have been left in anguish following the deaths of five members, including her two children. The family were in their house on Monday night when a nearby railway track tumbled onto it due to the heavy rains. The rains battered Durban and other parts of the province, resulting in widespread floods, mudslides and destruction of property and public infrastructure. Cindy Jileka, 38, who lives in Durban, said she received the heartbreaking news on Monday evening from her ailing mother, and travelled to Georgedale, Hammarsdale. “I lost my two kids, Akhile and Zekhethelo. They were my everything, and gave me the courage to get up and look for work every day. It is hard to believe that their lives were taken away just like that.…

I HAVE to disagree with the judge who reduced the sentence of the taxi driver who was driving without being a holder of a permit or operating licence (Cape Times, Monday). The original judge imposed a fine of R10 000 but Judge Sidwell Mngadi reduced it to R4 000. His reason being that “the sentence imposed must focus on dealing with the offender before the court not to address general ills found in the taxi industry”. That is the problem. The taxi driver without licence or permit is the miscreant in all this. Until we stop all the corrupt taxi drivers nothing is going to change. If the fines are heavy, so what? I am sick and tired of their lawlessness on the roads. If I have to pay for…

TAKING its inspiration from one of the earliest recorded performances of Hamlet during Shakespeare’s lifetime, local theatre lovers and Grade 12 learners have one last chance to see Abrahamse & Meyer’s internationally acclaimed Hamlet at the Artscape Theatre this April, before the production transfers to the original setting of Shakespeare’s most revered masterpiece - Kronborg Castle in Elsinore, Demark. Since 1816, Kronborg Castle has been home to the world’s oldest continuous Shakespeare Festival. Over the years some of the world’s greatest actors have played Shakespeare’s moody, Danish prince at the Castle. Stars like Laurence Olivier, John Gielgud, Richard Burton, Christopher Plummer, Kenneth Branagh, Simon Russell Beale and Jude Law have all uttered “To be or not to be” at Kronborg Castle and now Cape Town’s own Marcel Meyer will join…

Lack of rigorous implementation of immigration laws at root of crisis THE past few weeks have seen the never-ending issue of illegal immigrants and the lawlessness accompanying it in our country topping the national agenda and public discourse. Matters seem to be coming to a head with the midnight arrest of a Pakistani national who has made the office of Home Affairs in Krugersdorp his criminal base. There he and his accomplices, including public servants, issued illegal South African passports to undocumented foreign nationals who have entered our country for various reasons that reportedly include committing crime. While still attempting to catch a breath from such brazen criminality, reports point to the gruesome murder of about seven South Africans at the hands of illegal immigrants. This barbarism, callousness and disdain…

Russian troops aimed to take control of the city of Mariupol yesterday, part of an anticipated massive onslaught across eastern Ukraine, as defending forces tried desperately to hold them back. Russia is believed to be trying to connect occupied Crimea with Moscow-backed separatist territories Donetsk and Lugansk in Donbas, and has laid siege to the strategically located city, once home to more than 400 000 people. “It is likely that in the future the enemy will try to take control of the city of Mariupol, capture Popasna and launch an offensive in the direction of Kurakhove in order to reach the administrative borders of Donetsk region,” the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said on Facebook. The Russian defence ministry said its army had thwarted an attempt to…

Mexican drug cartels appear to be shipping high-powered weapons to Colombia to purchase shipments of cocaine, a trade Colombian authorities say is fuelling the deadly struggle between rival traffickers for control of the nation’s drug routes. A bevy of machine guns, assault rifles and semi-automatic handguns are flowing into the country, Colombian law enforcement officials said. Among the weapons popping up in traffickers’ arsenals is the Belgium-made FN Five-seveN pistol, sources said. Nicknamed the “cop killer”, the 5.7-calibre weapon can penetrate bullet-proof vests. Most of the 1 478 long arms confiscated from Colombian armed groups in 2020 and 2021 were foreign-made and imported clandestinely, police say, along the smuggling routes used to get drugs out. Mexican drug gangs have easy access to guns bought in the US and long-term business…

PARIS: Former conservative French President Nicolas Sarkozy yesterday endorsed Emmanuel Macron ahead of the second round in France’s presidential election, in a move that may complicate Macron’s charm offensive with left-wing voters. “I will vote for Emmanuel Macron because I think he has the necessary experience as we face a deep international crisis,” he said. Macron is struggling to convince working class voters to vote for him in the run-off and not far-right candidate Marine Le Pen, who has veered to the left on economic issues. | Reuters…

JAKARTA: Indonesia’s parliament passed a bill yesterday to tackle sexual violence, aimed at building stronger cases and helping victims to secure justice in a country where sexual abuse has often been regarded as a private matter. A majority of MPs backed the bill, overcoming opposition from some conservative groups in the world’s biggest Muslim majority country after six years of deliberation. Critics objected to the bill’s limited scope, with only some sex crimes included and rape omitted. The government said rape is covered in a revision of the criminal code being drawn up. Sexual violence complaints have been rising in Indonesia. | Reuters…

From page 1 them has started, and we thank God that there was no life lost during the ordeal. The MEC for Education in KZN, Mr Kwazi Mshengu, is equally relieved,” Ngcobo said. At a media briefing yesterday, mayor Kaunda said electricity and water supply to several areas had been disrupted due to landslides and flooding. “The city calls on the public to be patient and understanding as there will be delays in restoring services. Numerous areas have suffered water and electricity outages caused by loss of or damage to infrastructure. There are several major high-voltage substations which have been flooded and are currently inaccessible,” Kaundasaid. Meanwhile, Vodacom said the widespread flooding had impacted network infrastructure in KZN, including over 400 towers, largely due to disruptions to electricity supply. “Customers…

THE Khayelitsha Development Forum (KDF) has welcomed the arrest of five suspects in relation to the recent mass shootings in the area. Three suspects were arrested on Monday after the shooting of five people, which left two dead and three injured in Mandela Park on Saturday morning. On Monday evening a suspect was arrested in relation to the shooting last month in Endlovini informal settlement which left five people dead. A suspect, Thando Shuba, 35, appeared in the Khayelitsha Magistrate’s Court on April 4 following his arrest for the shooting of six people in Enkanini on March 20. KDF chairperson Ndithini Tyhido said the community needed to work closely with police. “We encourage all Khayelitsha residents to remain vigilant and not be distracted by criminals,” he said. “We want a…

WITH Easter treats on supermarket shelves, we know the Easter long weekend is in the air and on the skyline. For the first time, after many years, different religious groups will celebrate or observe their religious traditions at the same time. While the protection of citizens, rule of law and the prevention of war and crimes and atrocities against humanity is primarily the responsibility of governmental law enforcement structures and international bodies such as the United Nations, it requires a multidimensional effort by different societal leaders and institutions to play a part to prevent criminal behaviour and lawlessness. Religious leaders, given their spiritual leadership and guidance, have a fundamental role to play to counter incitement to violence, hatred, hostility and human rights abuses against human beings, especially, minorities, that could…

ENGAGEMENT processes are under way between inland small-scale fishers and the Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency (ECPTA), in efforts for fishers to be granted access to historical fishing grounds. The engagements followed protest action by small-scale fishers from the communities of Norvalspont, Gariep, Venterstad and Oviston at the ECPTA offices on March 25. Masifundise project officer, Maia Nangle, said they engaged with ECPTA and after a meeting was held on April 7, the agency agreed to work with fishers to meet demands. ECPTA spokesperson, Oyanga Ngalika, said: “ECPTA received grievances from the members of the Masifundise Org tabling issues they have with the reserve which include not being able to fish throughout all sections of the nature reserve. The Agency is currently in talks with this structure to resolve…

DYNAMIC duo Kopo Jake Nathane and Lethabo Bereng will be bringing the celebratory and painful coming of age story Born Naked to the Baxter Golden Arrow Studio stage for its Cape debut from April 19 to 30. Inspired by many true stories, the play centres on the character Blaq Widow and her impactful relationship with her drag mother, Queen Bling. Travelling in time, it follows Blaq Widow on her journey on trains, to drag pageants, inside back rooms and dressing rooms. It is a complex story layered with the intricacies of two people navigating their way through vibrant, colourful and sometimes violent spaces in South Africa. In 2020 Born Naked made history when it was listed as the first South African queer play to appear in the IEB curricula as…

POST the chaotic violent Trump-Biden elections, there is evidence that the US political system could be rotting from the inside. While Western liberal democracies are propagating, even violently exporting, their political system abroad, at high human and material cost, evidence suggests that typical American-Western democracy is in crisis at home. The US presidential elections made a mockery of democracy with partisan violence and widespread racism denying people of colour the right to vote. Partisan political violence fanned domestic insecurity, which shook both the Republicans’ and Democrats’ political elites. Habitual American proselyting about democracy and sponsored regime change undermines the independent development of stable endogenous democratic rule in other sovereign nations, violating international laws to uphold the sovereign will of other nations. Only citizens of a particular country can legitimately…

Rescuers hampered by mud and rain yesterday used their bare hands and shovels to search for survivors of landslides that smashed into villages in the central Philippines, as the death toll from tropical storm Megi rose to 42. Tens of thousands of people fled their homes as the storm pummelled the disaster-prone region in recent days, flooding houses, severing roads and knocking out power. At least 36 people died and 27 were missing after landslides slammed into multiple villages around Baybay City in Leyte province, the hardest hit by the storm, local authorities said. More than 100 people were injured. Three people were also killed in the central province of Negros Oriental and three on the main southern island of Mindanao, said the national disaster agency. Most of the deaths…

A pregnant woman’s death after she was denied a Caesarean section in hospital in Senegal has provoked outrage in the West African nation, where the president promised to launch a probe. Astou Sokhna died nine months pregnant on April 7 in a public hospital in the northern town of Louga, local press reported, after she repeatedly pleaded with doctors to perform the operation. But the hospital refused her request on the grounds that a caesarean section had not been planned in advance, and threatened to expel her if she insisted on the operation, according to reports. Sokhna and her baby both died after a reported 20-hour wait, provoking an outpouring of anger on social media in Senegal. There has also been intense media scrutiny of the case, which marks the…

NEW YORK: At least 13 people have been injured in a shooting incident at a subway station in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, where “several undetonated devices” were recovered, authorities said yesterday. The city’s fire department gave a toll of “13 injuries at this time”, while police sources as said at least five people were shot in the incident. The police department tweeted that there were “no active explosive devices at this time”. Police were investigating whether a smoke device was detonated. NYPD officials said a man in a gas mask and orange construction vest may have tossed a smoke canister on the platform to distract the rush-hour crowd. | AFP…

SEOUL: The USS Abraham Lincoln strike group is operating in waters off the Korean peninsula, the US Navy said yesterday, amid tension over North Korea’s missile launches and concerns that it could soon resume testing nuclear weapons. This is the first time since 2017 that a carrier group has deployed to the waters between South Korea and Japan, and comes as US officials are increasingly concerned that North Korea could carry out an underground nuclear test. The Japan-based US Seventh Fleet said the carrier was conducting “routine operations” to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific. North Korea has criticised US military drills as a “rehearsal for war”. | Reuters…

THE SOUTH African Reserve Bank (SARB) has warned that consumer prices for food and transport could increase further if the hostilities in Ukraine continue to intensify. SARB lead economist Dr Witness Simbanegavi yesterday said the domestic headline inflation could rise if oil and gas supplies are additionally constrained due to the war. The SARB forecasts headline inflation to average 5.8 percent in 2022, well above the 4.9 percent forecast in January this year, and with risks tilted to the upside. Simbanegavi said the upward drift in inflation expectations and sharply higher producer prices further tilt the inflation risk to the upside. He said higher expected wage growth, a somewhat weaker rand and further advances in global goods prices could exert additional upward pressure on headline inflation. “We want…

STEVE Brookes, the chief executive of Balwin Properties, yesterday stood by the strategic purchase of the group’s new head office as he revealed the mortgage per month would largely be paid for by the placement of Africa’s largest digital signboard on the side of their building. Brookes in an interview yesterday cleared the air after there was a social media backlash with market participants questioning the capital outlay and “flashy” office. “I apologise to shareholders that we did not raise more awareness around the move. “I believe we could have been more pro-active in telling this good story before the news announcement. We have learned a lesson. We have actually disclosed this move before, but people do forget,” the chief executive said. Brookes said they had been pursuing the Melrose…

BOTRIVIER residents are on tenterhooks following a protest that erupted this week as a result of basic service delivery issues. Hundreds of residents participated in the violent protest which forced traffic diversions as parts of the N2 were blocked. A car was set alight and some stoned. Community activist Naledy Mani, said the protest was about basic service delivery in a new housing development, as residents felt their plight was not being heard by the municipality. “We feel like we are not human beings and the municipality that is supposed to service us with basic services, is not taking us seriously. “Residents who are to move to the new Beaumont housing development are angry because following engagements last week with the municipality, we still do not know when…

From page 1 The Municipality said it resolved during a council meeting on Tuesday to appoint a private investigator to look into the allegations against Penxa. The allegations include failure to implement council resolutions and writing false statements to the provincial and national departments. He is also accused of disobeying a direct order from mayor Gideon Pietersen to sign Nyathi’s contract in January. “Council decided to appoint an independent investigator to investigate the allegations. “Then a report must be tabled to council within 30 days for council to consider. “We will only consider a suspension after the report of the investigator has been tabled to council,“ the municipality said. However Penxa said he only heard the outcome of the council meeting through the media yesterday. “I did attend the council…

YOUR Monday edition “93 Robben Island crossing – and heading for 100” refers: Well done to Howard Warrington on completing his 93rd crossing. Reading this brings to memory the late Theodore Yach who swam in excess of 100 crossings for various charities across South Africa. I had the privilege of a friendship with Theodore who was always very humble about his accomplishments and very passionate about plastic pollution in our ocean. I am sure Howard will continue for many years to carry that torch that was initially lit by Theodore Yach.…

“DUE to the high incidence of fraud and driver-offs we will be requesting payment first before dispensing any fuel.” So reads a notice placed at a petrol station along Turfhall Road near Newfields, which a motorist shared via social media. At another petrol station, a notice stated that fuel purchases in the evenings had to be paid for upfront due to many motorists fleeing without payment. The Motor Industry Staff Association (MISA) said it condemned the trend. “The sky-rocketing fuel price is affecting the lives of all South Africans. People have less money to spend on basic needs like food. It can never be used as a justification for stealing fuel. This is criminal, and if caught these criminals must be sentenced to lengthy imprisonment.” MISA said theft incidents like…

THE election of criminally charged ANC leaders to leadership positions is a clear warning by delegates that they won’t accept the selective application of the step-aside rule. ANC delegates took some people by surprise when they elected corruption-accused former Durban mayor Zandile Gumede as the chairperson of eThekwini, the party’s biggest region in the country. Gumede, aligned to the radical economic transformation (RET) camp opposing President Cyril Ramaphosa’s second-term bid, defeated municipal speaker Thabani Nyawose by 210 votes to 181. Nyawose supports the president. Gumede is facing corruption charges related to the awarding of a multimillion-rand waste management contract. The same electoral outcome played out at the recent Mpumalanga ANC conference, which saw double murder accused Mandla Msibi emerging as the provincial treasurer. This prompted a disappointed Ramaphosa to call…

“Compliance with the 30-day payment period plays a key role in ensuring operational sustainability of SMMEs. We are going to ensure that SMMEs thrive and succeed. Therefore, organs of state will be closely monitored on their performance within the 30-day payment period and any non-compliance is viewed as financial misconduct and will be dealt with accordingly.” These were the words of President Cyril Ramaphosa while speaking at the small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs) Programme of the Second South Africa Investment Conference in Soweto in November 2019. The president has on several occasions repeated this sentiment, linking it to job creation and preservation, yet it appears he says the right things only to satisfy outspoken voices and calm concerns about unemployment. It has now become the norm that Ramaphosa speaks,…

Fresh conflict between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian militants rocked the West Bank city of Jenin yesterday as a Palestinian stabbed a police officer in Israel before being shot dead. Israeli troops launched a fourth day of operations around Jenin after an assailant from the flashpoint district shot and killed three people in a Tel Aviv bar last week in the latest of a spate of attacks that have stunned the Jewish state. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, who warned in response that there would “not be limits for this war”, visited the Tel Aviv shooting scene and vowed: “We will not let our enemy stop our lives. We will continue to live our lives and at the same time we will fight where they are located.” The Palestinian official news…

LONDON: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, his wife Carrie and finance minister Rishi Sunak have been notified by police that they will be fined over Covid-19 lockdown breaches, a spokesperson said yesterday. Police said they would issue at least another 30 fines for people who attended gatherings in Johnson’s offices and residence in breach of strict Covid-19 lockdown rules, taking the total to more than 50. The London force investigated claims that Johnson and officials organised and attended at least a dozen boozy events in 2020 and 2021 that violated Britain’s curbs. Johnson has apologised for the parties, which included Christmas celebrations and a drink-fuelled gathering the evening before Prince Philip’s funeral. Labour Party leader Keir Starmer said Johnson and Sunak should resign as they “have broken the law and…

genevA: The World Trade Organization (WTO) has warned that Russia’s war in Ukraine had darkened the prospects for world trade as it sounded the alarm against the global economy dividing into rival blocs over the conflict. The WTO said the war would damage world trade growth this year and drag down global GDP growth as well. “Restricting trade will threaten the well-being of families and businesses,” said WTO director-general Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. She urged countries to work together to facilitate trade amid sharp inflation pressures and supply chain difficulties. “Smaller supplies and higher food prices mean the poor could be forced to do without.” | AFP…

MOGADISHU: Millions of people in Somalia are at risk of famine, with young children the most vulnerable to the drought in the Horn of Africa nation, UN agencies say. “Somalia is facing famine conditions as a perfect storm of poor rain, skyrocketing food prices and huge funding shortfalls leaves almost 40% of Somalis on the brink,” the agencies said. They said “pockets of famine conditions” were likely in six areas of Somalia. Agencies had been able to supply aid to almost 2 million people but the UN warned of a “critical gap” in donor funding, with a 2022 plan seeking R21.5 billion (about R2bn) reaching only 4.4% of the target. | AFP…

NKOSIKHONA Mhlakwana has come a long way since he made that heartbreaking Comrades Marathon debut, which saw him lose out on a top 10 finish in the last 500m. The runner from Howick near Pietermaritzburg in KwaZulu-Natal has won numerous races at multiple distances to establish himself as one of the country’s top athletes. That he has beaten the likes of Comrades champions Bongmusa Mthembu and Edward Mothibi in ultra-marathon races confirms that the 28-year-old has long gotten over that failure, which saw his legs give up on him as he approached the finish line at the Scottsville Racecourse in ninth position – only to be overtaken by two runners to end up just outside the prize-money top 10. Now, he is always considered a potential winner when he lines…

ENGLAND currently don’t have a director of cricket, chief selector nor a national men’s team coach. South Africa are marginally better. There’s no “DOC”, after Graeme Smith opted not to renew his contract at the end of last month, but they do at least have Victor Mpitsang and Mark Boucher. At least for now ... The ever-lasting question remains: for how long will Boucher be at the helm of the Proteas men’s side? Unlike Smith, Boucher’s contract runs until the conclusion after the 2023 World Cup. Theory and results dictate that he will still be in charge until then. Boucher has certainly overseen a dramatic change of fortunes for the Proteas. The Test side are now unbeaten in four consecutive series, which includes triumphs over West Indies (away), India and…