Índice para 2024-08-16 em Cape Times

■ In this week’s Personal Finance Saturday Page, we look at the real-life effects of fraud. Cisca Kaasjager, a registered professional accountant, had her identity stolen. She recounts the numerous hoops she went through to try to have the resultant issues with her credit record resolved. ■ Life Insurer Liberty said it paid R9.14 billion in insurance claims in 2023. The group said the top five claim conditions in 2023 were spread across cancer, cardiac and cardiovascular diseases and disorders, respiratory disorders, strokes, and traumatic injuries. ■ It’s election time, we consider the question: Should investors be worried? ■ If you have questions on investment, tax, and insurance matters, we have experts from PSG to answer these questions for you. ■ For all your…

As the new government seeks economic growth, it is self-evident that it needs to withdraw policies, like the sugar tax, that stymie it. President Cyril Ramaphosa recently said that the drive for inclusive economic growth is at the heart of the Government of National Unity’s agenda. Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen similarly said the agricultural sector should work to enable farmers to flourish, and for small farmers to become self-sustainable and productive as fast as possible. SA Canegrowers strongly supports this approach as small-scale growers are at the heart of our industry. SA Canegrowers is an industry association of sugarcane growers that represents over 24 000 small-scale growers and 1 200 commercial growers. But to fully realise this inclusive economic growth, the government will need to create a cohesive, forward-looking…

With the implementation of the two-pot retirement system in September 2024, experts are urging employers to apply a gender-sensitive lens to their employee engagement strategies to ensure equitable outcomes for all employees. “Treating all people equally doesn’t necessarily result in equal outcomes. Traditional gender roles and societal expectations can exacerbate the pressure on women to prioritise family needs over their own financial security,” says Samantha Jagdessi, head of advice and best practice at Old Mutual Corporate Consultants. “Employers have a key responsibility to educate women employees on the new system and to understand the social nuances and potential implications for women.” Reports suggest that women are more likely than men to use their retirement savings to support their families in emergencies. During the Covid-19 pandemic, for example, Australian women were…

Women dominate the South African property market, outnumbering men as property owners. This is according to a recent report by Lightstone, which provides data to the property and vehicle industries. In its latest research, Lightstone found that women-only buyers account for 2 154 000 (38%) properties and that women co-own 1 883 000 (33%) properties. Men-only owners account for 1 694 000 (29%) properties. Ten years ago, Lightstone reports, mixed-gender couples buying property outnumbered both male-only and female-only buyers. In 2016, female-only buyers surpassed male-only buyers and the number of female property owners has steadily increased, while the number of male property owners has remained relatively unchanged. In 2022 female-only buyers surpassed couple buyers too. However, although more women are buying property, the research shows they are doing so at…

THE NSPCA has called for the closure of a government-backed fish farm specialising in Mozambican tilapia in Mpumalanga. A recent visit uncovered what the organisation described as alarming conditions including a mass casualty event after the facility was apparently without power for days.On arrival, the NSPCA said its inspectors initially faced resistance from the farm owner, who refused entry and cited his constitutional rights. “However, undeterred, our inspectors returned with a warrant and local SAPS assistance, allowing them to gain lawful access to the premises,” the organisation said in a statement. “The state of the facility was deeply concerning. A significant portion of the building was exposed to the elements, adversely affecting the health and well-being of the fish. Notably, the absence of heating systems left water temperatures far…

As South Africa marks the anniversary of the Marikana massacre today, which claimed the lives of 34 miners 12 years ago, a legal tussle is looming between the government and a public interest law centre representing the families of the miners. The Socio-Economic Rights Institute of South Africa (Seri), which is representing the miners’ families, is gearing up to institute a civil claim suit for constitutional damages. Scores of some of the miners families are yet to be compensated. This week, Seri said the Office of the Solicitor-General had claimed to have settled about R71 million in loss of support to 34 of the families, but of the 315 claimants, about 129 people have received nothing. The R71m formed part of the R330m the Solicitor-General reported to have been paid…

A WOMAN who threw a bag of groceries at her father-in-law was vindicated after the KwaZulu-Natal High Court, sitting in Pietermaritzburg, overturned her conviction for assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm. The court said the incident was so minor that Sadia Rahim should not have even been convicted of common assault, let alone assault to do grievous bodily harm. In fact, the judge said, the matter should never even been in court. Rahim successfully appealed her conviction and subsequent sentence of a R5 000, 00 fine or five months’ imprisonment, wholly suspended for five years. The basis of the charge was an incident which occurred on December 24, 2019, during which her father-in-law sustained an injury in the form of swelling to his right ankle. The evidence was…

WHILE the national Health Department said the status of the mpox virus was still under control in South Africa, it appealed to the public to be vigilant and present to the nearest health facility if they experience mpox-like symptoms. Those with chronic conditions such as HIV, tuberculosis and diabetes were also urged to adhere to treatment as per the instructions to keep their immunity stronger against other emerging diseases like mpox. This comes after the World Health Organization on Wednesday declared mpox a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) amid an upsurge of mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and a growing number of countries in Africa that had never reported mpox before. According to the Africa CDC, suspected cases across the continent were now well…

In Transit Cas de Villiers Poetry, once a staple of literary expression, has recently returned to the mainstream. My recent return to poetry feels like discovering a new kind of art and love language. In Transit by Cas de Villiers is a collection that brings poetry back into focus. In Transit is a collection of poems that look at life’s ups and downs – the transitions we all go through. De Villiers uses simple but powerful words to capture moments that are often hard to put into words. Poetry can sometimes feel distant or hard to connect with, but In Transit is direct and easy to follow. Unlike novels or memoirs that you can finish quickly, poetry needs a different kind of attention. You have to take your time and…

Killing Karoline Sara-Jayne King Loot.co.za (R279) Melinda Ferguson Born Karoline King in 1980 in Johannesburg South Africa, Sara-Jayne (as she will later be called by her adoptive parents) is the result of an affair, illegal under apartheid’s Immorality Act, between a white British woman and her black South African employee. Her story reveals the shocking lie created to cover up the forbidden relationship and the hurried overseas adoption of the illegitimate baby, born during one of history’s most inhumane and destructive regimes. Killing Karoline follows the journey of the baby girl, categorised as “white” under South Africa’s race classification system, who is raised in a middle-class corner of the south England by a white couple. It takes the reader through the formative years, a difficult adolescence and into adulthood, as…

He is only 18 and in matric, but Bayanda Walaza has been the toast of Mzansi following Team South Africa’s silver-medal performance in the 4x100m relay at the Paris Olympics. The celebrations continued yesterday as Walaza was given a rapturous welcome by his school, Curro Hazeldean in Pretoria, where he was honoured by his fellow pupils. Also present was Walaza’s mother, Tholiwe, as well as Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube, who first placed the silver medal around the mom’s neck before handing it over to the sprinter. Earlier in the week, Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie was also part of a welcome party at OR Tambo International Airport for Walaza, relay teammate Bradley Nkoana and swimming queen Tatjana Smith, who won a gold and silver in the 100m and 200m breaststroke…

Mobs vowing to guard Bangladesh’s student-led revolution roamed the site of a planned rally for ousted premier Sheikh Hasina yesterday, beating up some of her suspected supporters with bamboo rods and pipes. Hasina, 76, fled to neighbouring India by helicopter last week as student- led protests flooded Dhaka’s streets in a dramatic end to her iron-fisted rule of 15 years. The interim government replacing her, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, has invited UN investigators to probe the violent “atrocities” that accompanied her ouster, which saw hundreds killed by security forces. Yesterday, was the anniversary of the 1975 assassination – in the midst of a military coup – of Hasina’s father, independence hero Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, a date her government had declared a national holiday. Huge rallies around Bangladesh…

Moscow: Russia said yesterday its forces had captured Ivanivka, a front-line village about 15km from the Kyiv-held transport hub of Pokrovsk in east Ukraine. The Russian defence ministry said its army had “liberated the village of Ivanovka” in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, using the Russian name for the village. Meanwhile, the UN rights office said yesterday it had asked Moscow to allow it to visit Russian regions affected by a cross-border attack by Ukrainian forces. “I can confirm that the UN Human Rights Office has sent a request to the Russian authorities to facilitate access by the office to areas of the Russian Federation affected by the hostilities, including Belgorod, Bryansk and Kursk regions, further to our human rights monitoring and assessment mandate,” Liz Throssell, a spokesperson for the Office…

Sydney: The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra said yesterday it had made a mistake in cancelling a performance by a celebrated British-Australian pianist over remarks criticising Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. At a Sunday concert, British-Australian pianist Jayson Gillham dedicated a piece to “the journalists of Gaza” – some of whom, he said, had been the victims of “targeted assassinations” by Israeli forces. The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra said the use of their stage “for expressing personal views” was inappropriate. After a fierce public backlash, it apologised for its “error” in “asking Jayson to step back from his performance”.…

IN the world of combat sports, confidence and self-belief are at the core of any athlete’s success. The slightest signs of doubt in the world of mixed martial arts will get exposed inside the octagon. From the moment Dricus du Plessis, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight champion, set foot in the octagon, he has displayed the utmost confidence in his skill-set. And now, going into his first title defence at the RAC Arena in Perth on Sunday against the two-time middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya, Du Plessis believes he will come out on top. The South African has adopted a slightly different mental approach to the fight, one he believes will see him emerge victorious this weekend. “In my mind, I’m going to fetch that belt. I’m not going out…

Pension funds play an important role in securing the futures of minor beneficiaries of members who die prematurely. This is the view of Danie Hattingh, principal officer of the Building Industry Bargaining Council’s (BIBC’s) Pension and Provident Fund, who says a pension fund is so much more than saving for retirement; it is also a crucial vehicle for ensuring the minor children of employees who pass away have a solid financial platform able to meet their daily living requirements. However, he says that where pension funds were once viewed as part and parcel of most employment agreements, this is no longer the case for many South Africans. A survey of more than 5 000 employees last year established that only 36% of respondents were able to access a retirement fund.…

WITH housing viewed predominantly as a commodity, poor and working-class people are being “priced out” in the Western Cape, which registered the largest price increases in March 2024 compared with March 2023, rising on average by 7.7%. The sentiment was expressed by activist organisation and law centre Ndifuna Ukwazi (NU) following the release of the Stats SA Residential Property Price Index (RPPI), which shows that residential property price inflation is on an upward trend. The RPPI aims to measure the rate at which the prices of residential properties purchased by households change over time. It measures this rate at national, provincial and metropolitan municipality levels. The RPPI measures the change in prices for all dwellings, including houses, town houses and flats that are purchased by private individuals. Its findings for…

Marinade: 1 kg rump steak, cut into pieces 2 tsp steak and chops spice (masala) 2 tsp ground red chillies (or to taste) 3 dessert spoons paprika 1/2 tsp black pepper 1 tsp crushed garlic 1/2 tsp crushed ginger 2 Tbsp oil Enough white vinegar to make a paste (add a little at a time) Mix all the above ingredients into a thickish paste Taste for salt as the steak spice has salt Add to meat and marinate for 2 hours in the refrigerator 2 Tbsp cooking oil 2 large onions, peeled and sliced 1 large tomato, chopped Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large saucepan. Braise 1 & 1/2 sliced onions until golden brown. Add 1 large chopped tomato and cook for 10 minutes. Add marinated steak and cook…

THE ANC has described the new coalition which booted it out of governance in the Theewaterskloof (TWK) Municipality as “selfish and self-centred, focusing on a few politicians”. The GOOD party terminated its coalition agreement with the Patriotic Alliance (PA) and ANC, joining forces with the DA and the Socialist Revolutionary Workers Party (SRWP) to form a new coalition. This follows motions of no confidence at a special council meeting in Caledon on Wednesday, leading to the removal of the PA’s Mary Liebenberg as mayor, and the ANC’s Derick Appel as speaker. The DA’s Lincoln de Bruyn received 14 votes in favour of his appointment as the new mayor, and GOOD party’s John Michels was elected speaker after getting 15 votes. The SRWP will assume the municipal public accounts committee…

Belonging Alison Jessica Weihe WoodRock “Belonging is not just about finding a place; it’s about finding yourself within that space." – Alison Jessica Weihe. Weihe’s Belonging: Finding tribes of meaning is a deeply personal memoir that dives into themes of acceptance and self-discovery. Through her own journey, Weihe explores how essential it is to find where we fit in the world, highlighting the crucial role of community and connection in fostering a sense of belonging. Before I started Belonging, I expected a story about self-acceptance, based on what I knew about Weihe and the book’s premise. I was looking forward to a narrative that would delve into personal growth and offer some motivational insights. The book takes readers through key moments in Weihe’s life, including her struggles with identity, her…

Coaches are thrown in the deep end and do more than what is expected of them AS WE celebrate Women’s Month, we should also reflect on the strides our women rugby players are making and the different challenges they face. Recent achievements such as the Women Boks winning their third Rugby Africa Women’s Cup and the Springbok Women’s Sevens team finishing in 11th place at the Paris Olympics are commendable. Over the past seven years, we’ve witnessed remarkable growth and international development of the sport, signalling a major shift towards recognising women’s voices on the global stage. While this is laudable, there is still a pressing need for continued progress, especially in women’s rugby in South Africa. The ongoing, and somewhat unfair, comparisons of women rugby players and their male…

A new round of Gaza ceasefire talks was underway in the Qatari capital Doha yesterday, an official briefed on the meeting told Reuters, with Israel’s spy chief joining his US and Egyptian counterparts and Qatar’s prime minister for the closed-door meeting. The talks, an effort to end 10 months of fighting in the Palestinian enclave and bring 115 Israeli and foreign hostages home, were put together as Iran appeared on the point of retaliating against Israel following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31. With US warships, submarines and warplanes dispatched to the region to defend Israel and deter potential attackers, Washington is hoping a ceasefire agreement in Gaza can defuse the risk of a full-out wider regional war. Hamas officials, who have accused Israel…

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said yesterday he wanted to press ahead with a national common civil code of law, a proposal bitterly opposed by Muslim activists as an attack on their faith. India’s 1.4 billion people are subject to a common criminal law but rules vary on personal matters such as marriage, divorce and inheritance. The proposed civil code would standardise laws across all religious communities but has been bitterly opposed by Muslim activists and liberals as an attack on the largest religious minority. However, the Hindu nationalist leader said during an annual Independence Day address that the different laws divided the nation. “Those laws that divide the country on the basis of religion, that become reason for inequality, should have no place in a modern society,” Modi said.…

DALLAS: A Texas woman forced to leave the state for an emergency abortion is urging other voters to back Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential candidate, and will advocate for her at the party’s national convention next week. After the state of Texas denied Kate Cox the right to an abortion in December, she had to travel to New Mexico to receive the procedure, having learnt her baby had a life-threatening genetic condition. Her doctor warned that if she carried the pregnancy she might not be able to have other children. The 32-year-old Dallas mother of two is now five months pregnant with a healthy baby boy.…

The Hague: Cases of bluetongue, a viral disease affecting sheep and cows, have shot up in the Netherlands according to official figures published yesterday, as the virus spreads also in France and Germany. Bluetongue was registered at 3 807 locations in the Netherlands, a rise of nearly 1 000 since the last report on Monday, according to the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature. That was the fastest half-week rise since the virus was first reported in the country in September. The last time the virus appeared in the Netherlands before that was in 2009. Bluetongue is an insect-borne disease that affects sheep and cows but not pigs or horses.…

Jason Smith belongs to an elite group of players in South Africa. The Dolphins all-rounder was part of the Aiden Markram-led South African side that raised the ICC Under-19 World Cup trophy in Dubai a decade ago. Markram and fast bowler Kagiso Rabada, who led the Junior Proteas attack, have enjoyed stellar careers with the senior national team since, and many had expected Smith to follow in a similar vein. Blessed with long levers, the Capetonian stands tall at the crease, and seemed to possess all the ability when he struck a maiden List A half-century on his 1-Day Cup debut for the Cape Cobras all those years ago. The expectation proved too much for the former Wynberg Boys’ High School prodigy, as he struggled to live up to the…

This is the final article in a series that summarises findings from Just Retirement Insights 2024, a tracking study conducted by retirement income specialist, Just SA. The findings of Just Retirement Insights 2024 indicate a very real need for income certainty in retirement. When asked what they would most like from their retirement income, respondents showed a strong preference for retirement income that will last throughout their lifetime, keep pace with inflation, and be minimally impacted by market volatility. Interestingly, these features are characteristics of most types of life annuities. A life annuity provides a regular monthly income stream in retirement for the rest of your life and doesn’t require you to manage the underlying investments year on year. This steady passive income can protect a retiree from some of…

ZULU king Misuzulu kaZwelithini’s Traditional Prime Minister and Cogta MEC, Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi, yesterday announced that Prince Mbonisi Bhekithemba kaBhekuzulu will be one of the members of the conflict mediation panel to resolve the succession disputes in areas under amakhosi. Buthelezi called a media briefing yesterday to announce the conflict mediation panel, which consists of Prince Mathubesizwe kaBhekuzulu, who will lead the team, Prince Mbonisi kaBhekuzulu, Prince Vulindlela kaBhekuzulu, Prince Mxolisi kaBhekuzulu, Princess Lindi kaBhekuzulu, Prince Thuthukani kaMcwayizeni kaSolomon, Inyosi uBuzetsheni Mdletshe, Reverend Canon Hamilton Mbatha and Reverend Canon Daniel Mthembu. The traditional prime minister did not take any questions from the media on the disputes between Prince Mbonisi and the king or within the royal family. Prince Mbonisi, half-brother of the late king Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu, and Prince Simakade…

Deputy leader tires of playing second fiddle to Malema’s hardline leadership EFF President Julius Malema’s style of leadership appears to have come back to haunt him after his deputy, Floyd Shivambu, quit the party that he co-founded to join Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP). Malema himself acknowledged that some more EFF members might follow Shivambu to the MKP. Shivambu announced his resignation during a press briefing at Winnie Madikizela-Mandela House in Johannesburg yesterday after submitting his resignation letter to Malema, 11 years after forming the party with him. On Monday, former EFF MP Mzwanele Manyi also left the party for the MKP. The Cape Times’ sister publication, The Star, reported that Shivambu’s resignation was fuelled by infighting with Malema over the party’s upcoming elective conference in December. An…

DRIVEN by the mission to break the cycle of poverty, Survé Philanthropies has opened applications for the Dr Iqbal Survé Bursary aimed at first-year students pursuing studies in health/medicine, education and science for the 2025 academic year. Established in 2015 and led by Dr Iqbal Survé and the Survé family, the organisation remains deeply committed to transforming the lives of underprivileged South African communities through education. In a country where poverty often curtails dreams, Survé Philanthropies is driven by a mission to break this cycle and create a future where every individual has the opportunity to rise above their circumstances. Education is not merely a pathway out of poverty; it is a beacon of hope. By providing access to educational opportunities, Survé Philanthropies seeks to ignite potential, inspire critical thinking…

Patient 12A Lesedi Molefi Loot.co.za (R260) Pan Macmillan ‘PATIENT 12A’ is Lesedi Molefi’s absorbing memoir, reflecting on his time spent in a psychiatric clinic in 2016. Molefi reflects on the moments, large and small, that led him there. In ‘Patient 12A’, Molefi allows himself to filter out the noise in his head to find the truth, however uncomfortable that may be. Molefi is a Soweto-born writer, documentary filmmaker, photographer and copywriter. Here’s an extract of the book: WHAT are you in for?’ Kevin asks me, ignoring the group discussion. ‘Depression and anxiety,’ I respond, shifting nervously. ‘Do you have a lighter for me?’ I continue, hoping to go unnoticed by the larger group. ‘Tshwara.’ He quickly reaches for a lighter on the table and extends it to me. The group…

But Tasha Coryell’s thriller is a book that makes you want to finish the 316 pages in one sitting. Love Letters to a Serial Killer had me on tenterhooks from the very first page – the heading “Undisclosed Location” was already a mystery. The novel screams, “Do not skip this beginning!” The real twist is in who the true killer turns out to be. Don’t be fooled by the pretty pink cover and the promise of an unconventional love story; instead, be prepared to look over your shoulder once in a while. I was curious about Hannah, the main character, who seems lost in life – no career ambition, no future plans and is looking for something to change her life. When she learns of the brutal murders of…

THE concept of a green economy, which emphasises sustainability, resource efficiency and social inclusivity, has gained traction globally. In South Africa, transitioning to a green economy is seen as a pathway to sustainable development, addressing environmental challenges while promoting economic growth. However, the gendered dimensions of this transition are often overlooked. The rhetoric surrounding the green economy in South Africa is infused with promises of sustainable development, poverty alleviation and gender equality. Policy frameworks and international agreements emphasise the need for an inclusive approach, recognising women as key stakeholders in environmental management and beneficiaries of green growth. Governments and international bodies frequently highlight the potential of green jobs to empower women, reduce gender disparities and enhance equity. Despite the rhetoric, the reality for many women in South Africa tells a…

The US special envoy for Sudan said he wanted “tangible results” from talks on ending the devastating war in the country despite the Sudanese government staying away. War has raged since April last year between the Sudanese army under the country’s de facto ruler Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo. The RSF delegation is taking part in the talks on securing a ceasefire which began at an undisclosed location in Switzerland on Wednesday. However, the Sudanese armed forces are unhappy with the format arranged by Washington and are not participating. US special envoy for Sudan Tom Perriello said on X yesterday that the second day of the talks was under way. The US again urged Sudan’s army to…

Kenyans poured scorn and ridicule yesterday on a statue of Olympic running icon Faith Kipyegon, among several erected in the world-renowned running hub of Eldoret to fete the nation’s victorious Olympians. The crude painted figure of a female athlete, wearing a top emblazoned with the Kenyan flag, was hastily removed after residents complained, media reports said, but not before images went viral. Social media users described it as a statue of Kipyegon, with radio station NRG mocking it as “hideous” while others branded it a “disgrace” to Kenya’s athletics queen and some called for the sculptor to be arrested. Kipyegon made history at the Paris Games when she became the first woman to win three consecutive Olympic 1 500m gold medals, crossing the line in a new Olympic record…

ATHENS: Investigators suspect a faulty power cable may have caused Greece’s worst wildfire this year, said sources speaking about the blaze that killed one woman and torched 10 000 hectares near Athens, covering an area about the size of Paris. The blaze, which began on Sunday, broke out in a forest outside Varnavas town, 35km from the capital and in Athens’ northern suburbs. The authorities questioned Varnavas residents. A 76-year old man said a wooden electricity pillar outside his home, which had a loose cable fastened to it with a hanger, could have triggered it, officials said.…

Boulouris-sur-Mer: France commemorated the 1944 Allied landings in Provence yesterday, an event overshadowed by the Normandy landings two months earlier, but key to the WWII endgame in Europe. Six African leaders attended, and President Emmanuel Macron singled out the contribution of soldiers recruited – often forcibly –in French overseas colonies, notably in Africa. It took decades for France to highlight the role of non-white soldiers in the fighting. Macron led the commemorations at the Boulouris necropolis, but much of the event was cancelled because of storm warnings.…