Índice para 2024-06-28 em Cape Times

President Cyril Ramaphosa is scheduled to deliver his Opening of Parliament Address (OPA) after his inauguration in just three weeks time. This emerged yesterday when the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) held its first programming committee meeting. Briefing the committee’s meeting, NCOP Secretary Modibedi Phindela took the MPs through the House’s programme for the first term, ending on August 2. Phindela said the OPA, which is a joint sitting of the NCOP and the National Assembly, will take place on July 18. He said the National Assembly also has OPA in its programme on the same date, and that they have also scheduled a debate on the OPA. “Our view, chief whip, for now is that it may not be necessary to debate OPA. “That will be a ceremonial sitting.…

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has reacted with anger after a top government official in the provincial agriculture department terminated the contracts of 6 000 “EPWP green army” employees without consulting him. Lesufi took to social media to insist the contracts had not expired and that the letter by Khululekile Mase, acting head of initiative at the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, was issued without his permission. “This letter was written without my consent or approval. The intentions are clear to undermine the authority of the 7th administration. This will not be allowed,” he said. In the letter, Mase said the contracts of the Extended Public Works Programme Green Army would come to an end on May 31. Mase added that the employees would be paid for days…

THE formation of the Government of National Unity (GNU) appeared to have hit a brick wall last night and was on the verge of collapse as the DA and ANC remained divided over Cabinet positions. President Cyril Ramaphosa, in a letter to DA leader John Steenhuisen, accused the party of being a chameleon in the GNU negotiations and jeopardising the formation of a unified government. The DA had initially demanded 12 ministerial positions, including that of deputy president. However, the ANC resolved to give the DA six ministerial portfolios. This decision was also communicated through a letter. The portfolios offered included Home Affairs; Basic Education; Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC); Public Works and Infrastructure; Communications and Digital Technologies; and Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment. However, Steenhuisen wrote to Ramaphosa, stating…

A MAN who alleged that he was electrocuted by open Eskom cables and seriously injured 16 years ago when he was still a child, told the court that he had only become aware last year that he could institute a damages claim against the electricity giant. Odwa Mbhiyozo turned to the Eastern Cape High Court, sitting in Mthatha, to hold Eskom liable for the injuries he had suffered as a 13-year-old orphan in 2007. Eskom, however, raised a special plea and argued that Mbhiyozo’s claim had long since lapsed. It argued that in terms of the law, he had three years from the date of the incident to issue summons for damages against Eskom. Mbhiyozo’s counter argument was that he was only a child when the incident occurred, and he…

Sociopath Patric Gagne Loot.co.za (R280) Pan Macmillian A Memoir is at once a jaw-dropping tale of a life lived on the edge of the law and a moving account of one woman's battle to gain a deeper understanding of people who, like her, are sociopaths. Ever since she was a child, Patric Gagne knew she was different. Although she felt intense love for her family and her best friend, David, the connections were never enough to make her be “good” or reduce her feelings of apathy and frustration. As she grew older, her behaviour escalated from petty theft through to breaking and entering, stalking and worse. As an adult, Patric realised that she was a sociopath. Although she instantly connected with the descriptions of sociopathy, she also knew they didn’t…

Pistola: The Homecoming Hilary Prendini Toffoli Self published Pistola: the Homecoming, by Hilary Prendini Toffoli is like watching a big pot of authentic Italian Ragu simmering on a slowly burning stove. Smelling the delectable aromas wafting across the room and sifting into every corner as your brain is filled with Italian deliciousness. Turning the heat up at times to thicken the sauce, turning it down to ensure no sticking, and finally allowing the ripe and lush taste to burst on your tongue. In short, the book is one to be savoured, every page a delightful journey, splashed with lashings of Italian words, cooking adventures, passion and chatty narrative that takes you right into Pistola’s world. Toffoli continues her story of the young Pistola from the tiny village of Campino…

Audiobooks have their own charm, especially when done right. This week, I decided to explore the world of audiobooks. But I must admit there is nothing quite like holding a physical copy of a book and finding your favourite reading nook at your home to become totally engrossed in a story. I wanted to see how the story unfolds through an audio book. For those who love audiobooks, Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies by Catherine Mack is a witty read. Reading the book in its physical form and listening to the audiobook offer two distinct experiences. In the physical book, Dash’s footnotes are placed at the end of each chapter, allowing the reader to go back and forth to solve the mystery and in the audiobook, the…

AFTER 32 years of disappointment the Proteas’ Men’s team have a date with destiny tomorrow in Barbados when they line-up for their first-ever appearance in an ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final. It’s a seminal moment for the sport in this country. After a tumultuous period that saw Cricket South Africa lose its premier sponsors due to misadministration and racial allegations against former players, the Proteas have restored the respect and dignity to the sport. The Proteas Women’s team paved the way last year with their trailblazing run in the home T20 World Cup that led to an amazing final at Newlands in Cape Town. Now the Men’s team, under the astute leadership of captain Aiden Markram, have followed in their footsteps. It is even more significant considering the heartbreak…

Tensions soared yesterday between supporters of Emmanuel Macron and the French far-right after its longtime leader Marine Le Pen cast doubt on the president’s ability to act as head of the armed forces after legislative elections. The far-right National Rally (RN) is tipped to win the election, potentially giving Le Pen’s party the post of prime minister for the first time in its history in a tense “cohabitation” with centrist Macron. Three days before the first round of the vote on June 30, Macron’s centrist alliance is battling to make up ground. But polls suggest it will come third behind the RN and the New Popular Front (NFP) left-wing coalition. The party chief of the RN, Jordan Bardella, 28, would have a chance to lead a government as prime minister.…

KINSHASA: Authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo have approved the use of two mpox vaccines to try to tackle an upsurge in cases and a dangerous new strain spreading in the country. Congo has seen 20 000 cases and more than 1 000 deaths from mpox, mainly among children, since the start of last year. The disease is a viral infection that spreads through close contact, causing flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions. Most cases are mild but it can kill. This week, the World Health Organization (WHO) and scientists warned of a new, more deadly strain spreading in Congo’s South Kivu province. The regulator has issued an emergency use authorisation. | Reuters…

ABUJA: West Africa’s regional bloc needs up to $2.6 billion (R48bn) annually to establish a 5 000-strong security force to combat terrorism, according to one of the options being considered by defence officials yesterday. Defence and finance ministers from the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) were meeting in the Nigerian capital Abuja to decide on the size of a potential force and how much would be required to fund it. Coup-hit West Africa is grappling with a raft of political crises that have hurt regional co-operation. In January, military-ruled Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali decided to exit the 15-member union. | Reuters…

PROVINCIAL organisations aimed at missing persons and anti-gender-based violence-related matters have joined hands in a collaborative effort. The Collective was launched in Tafelsig, Mitchells Plain, this week where the Cape Flats Safety Forum, Philisa Abafazi Bethu, together with Lentegeur and Strandfontein SAPS announced their multi-faceted approach to pool resources for missing person searches and engaging on topics relating to gender-based violence and child protection. Cape Flats Safety Forum chairperson Abie Isaacs said the plan to join organisations has been “long in the making”. “To this end, organisations have much been operating in silos despite them being there for the same purpose. “We have a heart for the communities we work in and The Collective is an initiative and organisation that has been brought together to tackle the same issues we…

One of the recommendations the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) has proposed to the new Government of National Unity (GNU) to strengthen the SAPS is to reduce the high murder rate by addressing firearm crime and violence. Gareth Newham, head of the Justice and Violence Prevention Programme at the ISS, was speaking at a seminar yesterday aimed at helping the government to make practical changes in five areas of policing that could set South Africa on a positive safety trajectory. Newham said the recommendations, which include the strengthening of police capabilities to investigate crime; reducing police corruption and criminality; 21st century policing with a modernised, digitised and skilled SAPS and a clear direction with effective management structures, are what should and could be done at an institutional level with the…

Two pensioners, Daniel Madumo, 92, and Jeremia Mmatli, 75, have both died while being held in custody over the murder of another pensioner, aged 80. Earlier this month, Madumo and Mmatli were remanded in custody when they appeared before the Brits Magistrate’s Court for a bail application, after the murder of Godfrey Thema Motsepe. The incident happened in an old-age home in North West. In an update, Department of Correctional Services spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo confirmed that both the murder-accused pensioners died within days of each other. “The department can confirm the death of Daniel Madumo. He was charged together with the late Jeremia Mmatli for a case of murder at an old-age home in North West. They were both admitted on June 3 to the Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Centre…

Residents and travellers are urged to be cautious when visiting the Western Cape coastline after the recent confirmation of rabies in Cape Fur Seals. Anyone bitten by a seal in the last six months, has also been advised to seek medical evaluation from a general practitioner or hospital immediately. “The incident will be assessed for the necessity of post-exposure prophylaxis. This is irrespective of whether you previously received medical attention for the bite. Rabies vaccine and immunoglobulin is available at strategic public hospitals, emergency centres at private hospitals, travel clinics and selected pharmacies,” the provincial Department of Health and Wellness said. Individuals who frequently come in contact with seals or using coastal areas for recreational activities, such as: surfers, divers, water sports enthusiasts, and those in the fishing industry particularly…

Breaking the dark Lisa Jewell Loot.co.za (R279) Century Meet private investigator and retired superhero based in Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan, who goes from job to job as a hard living, rough talking, loner, Jessica Jones. A wealthy Upper East Side woman pays her a visit. Amber Randall is concerned about her twin 16 year olds, Lark and Fox, who have acted and looked very different since they returned from spending the summer with their British father in the UK. She tells Jessica that her children have unnaturally perfect skin for teenagers and have lost all the tics and habits that made them who they were. They are not Lark and Fox, she tells Jessica. Something has happened to them. To find out more, Jessica travels to Essex to talk to their…

It Ends with Us Colleen Hoover Loot.co.za (R199) Simon & Schuster LILY hasn’t always had it easy, but that’s never stopped her from working hard for the life she wants. She’s come a long way from the small town where she grew up – she graduated from college, moved to Boston and started her own business. And when she feels a spark with a gorgeous neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid, everything in Lily’s life seems too good to be true. Ryle is assertive, stubborn, maybe even a little arrogant. He’s also sensitive, brilliant and has a total soft spot for Lily. And the way he looks in scrubs certainly doesn’t hurt. Lily can’t get him out of her head. But Ryle’s complete aversion to relationships is disturbing. Even as Lily finds…

ISRAELI forces ordered residents to evacuate the Shejaiya suburb of Gaza City as Palestinian media reported intensified strikes in the area yesterday. “You are in a dangerous combat zone,” the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) wrote in a statement in Arabic for residents of Shejaiya and nearby areas. “The IDF will act forcefully against terrorist organisations in your areas.” The IDF warned people to “evacuate immediately south on Salah al-Din Street”. Videos shared on social media showed crowds of residents walking through the streets and riding bicycles, apparently heeding the evacuation orders. Shejaiya was heavily targeted in fighting between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants last year. The densely packed neighbourhood was where Israeli forces accidentally shot dead three Israeli hostages in December. The IDF declined to confirm that an operation was…

Bolivian armed forces pulled back from the presidential palace in La Paz late on Wednesday and a general was arrested after President Luis Arce slammed a “coup” attempt against the government and called for international support. Earlier in the day, military units led by General Juan Jose Zuniga, recently stripped of his military command, had gathered in the central Plaza Murillo square, home to the presidential palace and Congress. A witness saw an armoured vehicle ram a door of the presidential palace and soldiers rush in. A few hours later, a witness saw soldiers withdraw from the square and police take control of the plaza. Bolivian authorities arrested Zuniga and took him away, though their destination was unclear. Inside the presidential palace, Arce swore in José Wilson Sanchez as the…

New Delhi: Elon Musk’s SpaceX has won a $843 million (R15.5 billion)Nasa contract to prepare for the safe and responsible deorbit of the International Space Station (ISS) in a controlled manner after the end of its operational life in 2030. SpaceX will develop and deliver the US Deorbit Vehicle that will provide the capability to deorbit the space station and ensure avoidance of risk to populated areas. While SpaceX will make the deorbit spacecraft, Nasa will operate it throughout its mission. In addition to the space station, it is expected to destructively break up as part of the re-entry process. The ISS is in its 24th year of continuous crewed operations. | IANS…

LONDON: An alliance of church leaders threatened to split from the Church of England over plans to let gay couples hold standalone services in churches, saying it would be a departure from the institution’s teaching on marriage. The dissenting group said the plans were “clearly contrary” to its own doctrine affirming that marriage is between a man and a woman. The church, which does not allow same-sex marriages in its 16 000 churches, in 2022 decided to let priests bless same-sex couples. Those blessings are permitted only as part of regular services open to the public. | Reuters…

BAFANA Bafana stand-in head coach Helman Mkhalele was upbeat despite his side dropping points in their Cosafa Cup opening match against Mozambique. The South African national side missed out on an opportunity to take early control of Group A in the competition as they let slip a lead in the second half to share the spoils against the Black Mambas in Gqebera. With the other sides in the group, Botswana and Eswatini, also playing out to a goalless draw earlier in the day, it means all four nations are sitting on one point after the first round of matches. Like they’ve done in the past, Bafana have assembled a 23-man squad consisting of several under-23 players as well as prospects on the fringes of national team coach Hugo Broos’ plans.…

from page 1 “It has two implications in that it may lose Gauteng and the limited control of KwaZulu-Natal. Gauteng is extremely problematic if the DA gets out of the GNU.” The third option was jumping to a left-leaning party in an attempt to get support to replace the DA. “The most likely candidate is the EFF. I don’t see the MK Party in that framework as they go for the head of Ramaphosa.” The fourth scenario was a combination of factors that would create instability to the government and head for another set of elections. Duvenhage said there could be a real chance of pressure within the ANC and its alliance partners and the leagues on Ramaphosa. He noted that the SACP and Cosatu had felt that the…

Markram’s side on the brink of history as South Africans hold their breath “I'm so glad we’ve made them proud.” This was Proteas’ Men’s T20 captain Aiden Markram’s feelings after his team made history by progressing to an ICC T20 World Cup final for the first time yesterday. A full generation of Proteas teams have fallen short since South Africa’s return to international cricket from isolation all the way back in 1992. No Proteas’ Men’s team had advanced any further than seven previous semi-finals across the two white-ball formats – ODI and T20 – with Markram’s Class of 2024 breaking the curse with an emphatic nine-wicket win over Afghanistan in Trinidad and Tobago. The nature of the World Cup semi-final defeats, most notably in Birmingham (1999), Trent Bridge (2009) and…

IN SOUTH Africa, young people have consistently played a prominent role in politics, starting with the establishment of groups that fought against apartheid to spearheading mass uprisings against apartheid institutions. In spite of the significant contribution of young people in resisting governmental persecution, the situation, even after 30 years and the ambitious goals of the National Planning Commission, remains uncertain. The government has implemented several national and provincial programmes aimed at addressing social exclusion, yet the youth in post-apartheid South Africa still face marginalisation, which is hindering their role as the future of the country. Given that youth unemployment continues to be a persistent and important issue in South Africa, the exclusion undermines the concept of youth as the guardians and successors of a more promising future. The South African…

ESKOM has assured customers they will not be affected by the closure of the Bellville and Khayelitsha walk-in centres as they will open pop-up offices. This is after the Mayco member for energy, Beverley van Reenen, expressed concern about the permanent closure plans and impact on customers in areas the power utility supplied following their quarterly bilateral meeting. Van Reenen said: “It is our expressed view that the permanent closure of service hubs without adequate measures in place for all communities will affect access to electricity services for many Cape Town residents, particularly for the most vulnerable communities who rely on Eskom’s frontline services. “The City was informed that Eskom intends ramping up public education on its Alfred chatbot for fault reporting and that there would be a USSD code…

AUDIOBOOKS, at their most simple, are the audio narration of the written word. Whether done for works of fiction or nonfiction, the narration of texts remains a popular medium for disseminating information and stories to people beyond your own social circle. Be it for educational purposes or as entertainment (or both), the outcomes are the same – a widening and deepening of one’s relationship with the world. Then there are the myriad of benefits offered by audiobooks – for one, they can match the beneficial effects of reading, as both mediums stimulate the same cognitive and emotional areas of the brain. Secondly, despite the fear that audiobooks stop people from reading, the evidence shows that the inverse is true: they not only improve literacy (through comprehension and decoding), but actually…

Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25 Richard Paul Evans Narrated: Fred Berman Simon & Schuster The start of an action-packed teen series by author Richard Paul Evans holds great promise. To everyone at Meridian High School, 14-year-old Michael Vey is nothing special, just the kid who has Tourette’s syndrome. But in truth, Michael is extremely special – he has electric powers. Michael thinks he is unique until he discovers that a cheerleader named Taylor has the same mysterious powers. With the help of Michael’s friend, Ostin, the three of them set out to discover how Michael and Taylor ended up with their abilities. Their investigation soon brings them to the attention of a powerful group who wants to control the electric teens – and through them, the world. Evans…

THE recently-released Sustainable Development Report 2024 confirms that efforts to achieve sustainability through the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are already off the mark, and most have either stagnated and/or regressed since the Covid-19 pandemic. While the average SDG progress in BRICS countries (Brazil, the Russian Federation, India, China, and South Africa) has been above the world average, the gap between rich and poor countries continues to widen almost unabated. This requires innovative and transformative models for natural resources management, global finance and partnerships. The grand challenges facing humankind today revolve around water, energy and food. The three are central to sustainable development as they are vital for socio-ecological, socio-economic, human and environmental well-being. They are central to climate change adaptation and mitigation as they link the climate system, natural resources,…

Kenyan police fired rubber bullets and tear gas at demonstrators in Nairobi, as protesters returned to the streets despite President William Ruto scrapping contentious tax hikes after deadly clashes. The protests, led largely by young Kenyans, caught the authorities off-guard, as Ruto’s government ricocheted between taking a tough line on the unrest and calling for dialogue. Dozens of protesters gathered in Nairobi’s central business district, with soldiers deployed and police in anti-riot gear blocking access along roads leading to Ruto’s office at State House and parliament, according to AFP journalists. Officers fired rubber bullets and tear gas at small groups of protesters and arrested at least seven people, with scuffles erupting as some demonstrators threw stones at police, AFP journalists saw. “The youth will not rest,” said Lucky, a 27-year-old…

Two hardline candidates dropped out of Iran’s presidential election yesterday, a day ahead of the landmark vote, and called for unity among forces supporting the country’s Islamic revolution, state media reported. Iranian’s tightly controlled election today follows Ebrahim Raisi’s death in a helicopter crash last month, with the outcome expected to influence the succession to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the top decision-maker in the clerically-ruled state. Tehran’s mayor, Alireza Zakani, and head of the Martyrs’ Foundation Amirhossein Ghazizadeh-Hashemi exited the race, state media said. They were expected to win just 1.7% and 2% of votes respectively according to a poll. Their departure leaves four presidential candidates and Zakani urged the two most prominent hardline ones to join forces to prevent moderate Masoud Pezeshkian from winning. | Reuters…

London: The number of people sleeping on the streets of London has hit a record high of nearly 12 000, the latest figures showed yesterday, as the impact of the UK’s cost-of-living crisis bites. Britain, the world’s sixth-biggest economy, saw decades-high inflation in 2023 and a shortage of affordable rental properties over recent years. About 11 993 people were seen rough-sleeping in the capital in the year to March – up 58% in a decade and the highest number in a single year, according to Homeless Link. In 2013-14, there were 7 581 sleeping on the streets. UK nationals made up 45% of those sleeping rough, said Homeless Link. Of the rest, about a third came from Africa, Asia, the Americas and Australasia. | AFP…

LONDON: A lawyer acting for Rupert Murdoch’s UK newspaper arm accused Prince Harry yesterday of being forced “kicking and screaming” to disclose emails and carry out searches of material that might be relevant in his lawsuit against the media group. Harry, 39, and more than 40 others are suing News Group Newspapers (NGN) over accusations of unlawful activities by journalists and private investigators from the mid-1990s to the mid-2010s. A trial focusing on some of those claims is due to begin in London in January next year. NGN’s legal team has sought an order to force Harry to disclose any relevant information, accusing him of creating an “obstacle course” on the issue. | Reuters…

The Proteas Women team in Chennai, India, just like many fans back home in South Africa, woke up early yesterday to watch the men’s team create history and progress to their first-ever World Cup final in Tarouba in Trinidad. Captain Laura Wolvaardt said it was amazing to watch the men’s team progress to the final in spectacular fashion on Thursday, and added that they will also do the same to watch them play in the final tomorrow. “Most of us woke up early to watch the game,” Wolvaardt told the media yesterday. “We woke up early to watch them chase 56, which was crazy. “But it was amazing to watch and absolutely incredible to be over there and we’re definitely going to be watching that final and cheering them on.”…