Índice para 2024-11-13 em Cape Times

The SACP and Cosatu say they were unsurprised by the move of the South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) in KwaZulu-Natal to sever ties with the ANC in the province saying the action demonstrated the growing frustration among alliance partners. Sanco said its decision came as it felt it had been undermined. Both the SACP and Cosatu in KZN said this view was also held by their members especially as no meeting of alliance partners had been held since the elections. Sanco’s secretary Sizwe Cele at the weekend penned a letter to ANC provincial secretary Bheki Mtolo, informing him that the alliance in the province, which includes the SACP and Cosatu, “is dysfunctional, thus non-existent” and it was cutting ties with the party with immediate effect. “The PEC (provincial executive…

WITH former US President Donald Trump returning to the White House for a second term, so many people around the globe are speculating why and how Americans could possibly vote a fascist contemptible demagogue creature like Trump back into office. Americans seem to have forgotten the chaos of 6 January 2021, the fact that Trump was charged for various crimes and convicted, is a racist, misogynistic, genocide supporting psychopath amongst other things. It seems, like local dynamics here in South Africa determined the outcome of our election, in the same way, Americans were upset about their cost-of-living crisis, inflation, the ongoing genocide in Gaza, and other retrogressive policies of the Democratic Party and wanted to punish the Biden/Harris administration for that. However, whoever is in the White House should not…

EVERYTHING in life has a beginning and an end. It is, however, the grey area in between these two extremes that we are measured by … the legacy we leave behind is what counts. The grandfather of our nation Nelson Mandela left a legacy that will be remembered with warmth and affection for his honest integrity, resilience and strength for generations to come. Tyrants like Vladimir Putin, Benjamin Netanyahu and other warmongers will be long forgotten upon their passing, their legacies and misdeeds relegated to the dustbin of history. Palestinians together with future generations of Ukrainians will remember these two destroyers with contempt and dismissal. It’s unlikely that either of them would survive free and fair elections in their own countries right now given their heinous actions. It is…

Barely married for a year to her 90-year-old husband, a woman 30 years his junior has turned to court to overturn a prenup agreement which she claimed she was “conned” into signing. The woman, 60, said she only discovered this year – months after their marriage – that she had signed a document stating that they agreed to be married out of community of property. She said her stance was that they must be married in community of property. The woman turned to the Western Cape High Court, where she asked that the document she signed three days before her wedding be set aside and be declared unenforceable. According to the woman, a document was merely waved before her nose and she signed it, as the attorney who handed her…

The EFF, the political party that brought much hope to those disgruntled with the political spectrum at the time of its formation, is at risk of disappearing into oblivion. Simply put, there appears to be a curse that follows political movements conceived out of displeasure with the ANC. Other examples are UDM and Cope, both of which were launched with much fanfare. It was under the Pretoria sky, at Lucas Moripe Stadium to be exact, that the EFF signalled its arrival on Saturday, June 3, 2014. The occasion was the Tshela Thupa rally, held to lay down the marker ahead of the general election of that year. When the votes were in and counted, the EFF had garnered 25 National Assembly seats, and Julius Malema, fired from the ANC two…

For some Nigerians and their descendants who call Britain their home, Kemi Badenoch becoming the first black woman to lead a major British political party is a source of hope and pride. But not everyone is celebrating. Some fear Badenoch, who was born in London to Nigerian parents but lived in Lagos until she was 16, will undermine progress towards racial equality. The 44-year-old former software engineer represents the right wing of the opposition Conservative Party and was elected its leader on November 2, after it lost power in a July election. A defender of meritocracy, she said she prefers not to focus on her race, arguing she would like the colour of her skin to be no more significant than the colour of her hair or eyes. For Nigerian-born…

MADRID: Flood-hit towns near the eastern city of Valencia were rushing yesterday to clear the sewage system of mud and debris, pile sandbags and cancel school classes as they prepared for another storm. Two weeks after the worst floods in Spain’s modern history killed more than 200 people, the national weather service issued an orange alert, the second-highest, for strong or torrential rains expected today in the same area. As much as 120mm of rain could fall in 12 hours. While the storm is not expected to be as powerful, it could be devastating for the towns that are still recovering. This week, 10 000 tons of furniture, appliances and clothing were removed, almost as much waste as Valencia disposes of in a year. | Reuters…

Brussels: The EU must back Ukraine “for as long as it takes” in its fight to repel Russia’s invasion, the bloc’s designated foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said yesterday. “The situation on the battlefield is difficult. And that’s why we must keep working every day,” the former Estonian prime minister told EU MPs in Brussels. “Today, tomorrow and for as long as it takes and with as much military, financial and humanitarian help as needed.” A critic of Russia, the Kallas, 47, requires a parliamentary green light to succeed Josep Borrell as the bloc’s foreign policy chief, although her confirmation is in little doubt since she was tapped for the role by EU leaders. | AFP…

LONDON: Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby resigned “in sorrow” yesterday, saying he had failed to ensure there was a proper investigation into allegations of abuse by a volunteer at Christian summer camps decades ago. Welby, the senior bishop of the Church of England and leader of 85 million Anglicans worldwide, had faced calls to resign after it was found he had taken insufficient action. Welby’s tenure covered a decade in which he was forced to navigate homosexual rights and women clerics in North America, Britain and Africa. Anglican churches in Uganda and Nigeria said they no longer had confidence in him. His successor’s main challenges will include holding together the fractious worldwide Anglican community.…

The Proteas may have arrived on the Highveld buoyed by their series-levelling victory at St George’s Park, but it is imperative that they learn quickly from their error-strewn performances across the opening two T20Is. In one of their victories, they were hopeless with the ball; in the other, inept with the bat. To prevail in a series against the current T20 world champions, it goes without saying that the need is to get both right, starting at Centurion tonight. The Proteas have worked long and hard to dispel the notion that they meekly surrender when the bowling is of the sort that is slow and turning. However, their traditional weaknesses have recently come to the fore again, firstly on the tour of the UAE where Afghanistan’s mystery spin had them…

JUSTICE and Constitutional Development Minister Thembi Simelane side-stepped a question on whether she thought the allegations of a conflict of interest levelled against her were genuine or aimed at removing her from the Cabinet. “That is a new question. It does not relate to the main question. “I will not be able to respond to that,” Simelane said when responding to a follow-up question from MK Party MP Sibonelo Nomvalo during an oral question session in the National Assembly. DA MP Glynnis Breytenbach had in her main question quizzed Simelane about how she reconciled her duties as a member of the executive in light of the ongoing VBS Bank-related scandal. Breytenbach cited a response by President Cyril Ramaphosa to a recent question where he quoted at length from the executive…

Growing call for government to address key regulatory failures THE Department of Agriculture has ruled out immediate plans to impose a wholesale ban on the use of pesticides. It, however, hopes that its investigation will help confirm the source of and how banned and restricted pesticides found their way onto the streets amid a spate of food-related sudden illnesses and deaths, especially among children. Food poisoning incidents linked to snacks bought at local spaza shops had been reported in parts of Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, and Limpopo. Following an investigation by the Department of Health last month, the cause of death was found to be the lethal organophosphate, a group of substances, which are usually used in agriculture or as pesticides. In the deaths of six of the children,…

YOUR Monday edition “Pay back the money, court orders Nelson Mandela Bay ex-managers” refers. It is wonderful to hear how former senior managers at Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality will have to pay back the more than seven million rand in irregular expenditure. Hopefully we will see more of this in the future and hopefully individuals will take into account that if they are going to wastefully spend money and resources then they might be personally responsible. As we all know, expenditure is very easy if it doesn’t come from your own pocket. If you know that you are going to have to possibly pay it yourself then all of a sudden, people are more careful and don’t wastefully spend the money. The reality is that this is occurring in…

Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille has proposed the creation of a specialised police unit to safeguard tourists. Her proposal has sparked a nationwide debate. While some argue that it would enhance safety, others raise concerns about its implications. De Lille’s proposition is not without precedent. Countries like Brazil, Russia, Thailand and India operate similar tourist police units to ensure the safety of tourists and bolster the tourism sector’s reputation. Many countries, especially developing ones, tend to prioritise tourism because neoliberal economic thinking places the global tourism industry as a major driver of economic growth. As a result, these countries divert meagre public resources towards supporting the industry and even compete against one another to attract visitors, generally from the Global North. However, the efficacy of neoliberal assertions regarding tourism’s benefits…

US President-elect Donald Trump announced new members of his incoming administration this week and was expected to pick Senator, Marco Rubio as secretary of state. Both Rubio and Congressman Michael Waltz, who has been lined up for the powerful National Security Advisor role, have notably hawkish views on China, which they see as a threat and challenge to US economic and military might. The two appointees, both from Florida, would be key architects of Trump’s “America First” foreign policy, with the incoming president having promised to end the wars raging in Ukraine and the Middle East, and avoid any more US military entanglements. The 78-year-old Republican tycoon has vowed his second stint in power will result in a radical shake-up of the federal government. Trump announced immigration official Tom Homan…

European and Asian stock markets slid yesterday on worries of a possible trade war between China and the US when Donald Trump takes over as president, analysts said. Chinese stocks were already under pressure from disappointment about Beijing’s lack of extra measures to boost China’s stuttering economy. The sell-off came despite another record close Monday on Wall Street, fuelled by expectations that Trump will launch tax cuts and other business-friendly policies. Seen as inflationary measures that will keep interest rates high, the dollar was firm again yesterday. Trump’s support for cryptocurrency pushed bitcoin to a record high nearing $90,000 at one point yesterday. The Republican has meanwhile pledged to impose tough tariffs on imports into the US, including as much as 60% on goods from China. Trump’s decision to pick…

London: UK unemployment has jumped more than expected, official data showed yesterday, as firms warn of slowing jobs growth after the new Labour government hiked business taxes in its recent budget. The unemployment rate climbed to 4.3% in the third quarter from 4.0% in the three months to the end of August, the Office for National Statistics said. Analysts’ consensus had been for an increase to 4.1%. Alongside hiking taxes, Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s new government announced plans for higher borrowing that it said would be invested in infrastructure projects to help drive UK economic growth. | AFP…

RAMALLAH: Palestinians in the West Bank commemorated the 20th anniversary of the death of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat on Monday. A speech festival was held at Arafat’s tomb in the Palestinian Presidential Compound in Ramallah, central West Bank, organised by the Palestinian National Liberation Movement (Fatah) and attended by officials and the public. Mahmoud Al-Aloul, Fatah’s deputy leader, said the anniversary came at a difficult time for Palestinians due to the Israeli “aggression”. Other West Bank cities, towns and villages held events to commemorate Arafat. | Xinhua…

WATER and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina has called on South Africans to treat water like a scarce resource and for municipalities to fix the leaks in their water distribution systems. Delivering her executive statement on water security in the National Assembly yesterday, Majodina also warned that water availability could deteriorate rapidly in the country as the demand escalated. “Raw (untreated) water supply is currently approximately in balance with existing demand on a national scale, but there are localised deficits in the supply of water such as in Gauteng and parts of KwaZulu-Natal. “However, water availability in South Africa could deteriorate rapidly as supply contracts and demand escalates due to economic growth, population growth, urbanization, inefficient use, including increasing physical losses in municipal distribution systems, degradation of wetlands, and the impacts…

George deputy mayor and alleged ‘sextortionist’, Raybin Figland, is off the hook after the DA’s disciplinary process against him for misconduct found a “lack of sufficient evidence”. The DA confirmed that Figland’s suspension was lifted. DA spokesperson, Willie Aucamp, said due process was followed and after a six-month investigation, they ruled out the allegations of criminal liability. He said a key witness in the case had refused to testify. Figland was placed on suspension by the DA earlier this year after allegations surfaced that he allegedly blackmailed a matric pupil to provide photographs of a sexual nature. “The panel could not convict Figland due to a lack of sufficient evidence. The fact that he was not found guilty means that he will be able to continue with his duties,” said…

DUGAN Brown is 100% correct in his column “Counting the cost of Trump's return to power”. We in the US have lost our moral core. How so many millions could vote for a man so obviously unfit for the office is beyond me. What is even scarier is his mental health which showed decline in the past six months. Republicans control of the House and Senate means they can do whatever they like for at least two years. Hopefully our 2026 mid-term elections will change this.…

I HAVE to take “Anonymous” to task for the letter in Monday’s Cape Times! He or she makes mention that the medical industry and medical aid funds are all in cohorts to push up medical costs to the benefit of very rich doctors, pharmaceutical companies and directors of medical schemes. I can’t talk for others but the concept of doctors being very rich has long gone! Of course they are not poor, but certainly not very rich. Today they have to pay huge medical indemnities, have huge overheads in their offices, have done a long hard degree with many years toil, exams, late nights, disrupted family times etc, and all this before being let loose on the general public. How he or she thinks by bringing in the…

Dough 1 cup whole wheat flour 1 egg 1 tsp salt ¼ cup lukewarm water Filling: 200g ground beef (90% lean) 1 onion, chopped finely ¼ bunch parsley, chopped finely ½ tsp salt; a pinch of black pepper 1 tsp pepper paste Yogurt Sauce: 1 cup yogurt 2 cloves garlic, mashed; a pinch of salt Butter Sauce: 2 tablespoons butter; 1 tablespoon olive oil 2 tsp red pepper flakes or chili, sweet or hot; 1 tsp dried mint 4 cups water to boil dumplings Make the dough by combining flour, eggs, salt and water until everything holds together. Knead it for 5-10 minutes. It won't be a very soft dough. Knead it well until you have a not very soft dough. You can add extra water or flour to have…

Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga said economic empowerment was incomplete without securing women’s meaningful access to land. Chikunga was speaking during yesterday’s National Assembly debate on 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence and Femicide under the theme, "Marking 30 Years of Democratic Rights for Women and Fostering National Unity to End Gender-Based Violence”. “We are prioritising the transfer of productive land and assets to women for commercial purposes. Working with Transnet Properties, we have identified over 22 land pieces in Limpopo, KZN, and the Eastern Cape. These sites will be leased to women at highly subsidised rates, enabling them to develop sustainable enterprises. We are actively identifying more sites and warehouses across all nine provinces,” Chikunga said. The minister committed to ensure that a…

We often hear people described as “power drunk” in social circles. The harms of being intoxicated by power can have far-reaching consequences. But what exactly does it mean to be “power drunk” and why is it so dangerous? Power drunkenness refers to the state in which individuals, often leaders or people in positions of authority, become overly intoxicated by their influence and control. They begin to wield power without regard for its effects, believing themselves to be infallible or above others. This arrogance, born from excessive authority, not only blinds them to the needs and perspectives of their stakeholders – whether they are employees, partners, or the public – but also inflicts significant harm on these stakeholders. Power, when wielded without restraint, can distort an individual’s sense of self and…

Senegal will have to wait until at least June for a resolution of its lending programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that could lead to fresh disbursements, a source with knowledge of the process has said. There was no immediate comment from the Finance Ministry on the prospect of a delay that will be a test for a government seeking quick support to help it deal with an increasingly precarious fiscal situation. A $1.9 billion IMF programme agreed in June last year has been on hold since a government audit three months later uncovered larger debt and deficit figures than the previous administration had reported, sending yields on the West African nation’s dollar bonds soaring and triggering credit ratings downgrades. Dakar is seeking a new programme with the fund,…

Senior Russian official Sergei Shoigu met with China’s foreign minister Wang Yi in Beijing yesterday, emphasising the urgent need for their countries to counter US “containment” efforts. Since Russia’s military actions in Ukraine, Moscow and Beijing have strengthened their military and defence ties, with Chinese President Xi Jinping being a key ally of Vladimir Putin. Shoigu highlighted the necessity for collaboration against the US’s dual containment policy. Wang affirmed the resilience of China-Russia relations, which have adapted to changing international circumstances. Despite presenting itself as neutral in the Ukraine conflict, China remains a close ally of Russia, while Nato members label it a “decisive enabler” of the war. Both nations’ defence ministers pledged to deepen military co-operation. Shoigu is also expected to attend this week’s Airshow China showcasing Beijing’s civil…

Baku: Azerbaijan’s president, whose country is hosting the COP29 climate talks, yesterday reiterated that oil, gas and other natural resources were a “gift of the God”. Defending his country against “fake news” and a “campaign of slander and blackmail”, Ilham Aliyev said nations should not be judged by how they used their natural resources. Azerbaijan boasts seven billion barrels of proven oil reserves. Since 1991, it has produced 1.05 billion tons of oil and plans to increase natural gas production in the next decade. Oil and gas revenues account for about 35% of its gross domestic product and nearly half its state budget, with 75% of energy exports going to Europe. | AFP…

MOSCOW: Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev accused European leaders yesterday of seeking to dangerously escalate the Ukraine conflict following the re-election of former US President Donald Trump, who has criticised the scale of Western aid to Kyiv. Medvedev, a senior security official, said that European politicians were aiming to “push the conflict with Russia into an irreversible phase” and warned against allowing Kyiv to use Western long-range missiles to fire at targets inside Russia…

Four-time Africa Cup of Nations winners Ghana could see their streak of 10 successive appearances at the tournament come to an end this week as victories in their remaining two qualifiers may not be enough to seal a place at the finals in Morocco. Only Egypt (26) and Ivory Coast (25) have been to more Cup of Nations finals than the Black Stars (24), but Ghana are likely to be out of contention by tomorrow after a woeful qualifying campaign. The top two finishers in each of the 12 groups advance to next year's finals. Ghana are currently third in Group F with two points from four matches. After a strong performance, Angola have already qualified, while Sudan need just a draw from two games to join them in Morocco.…

As Manchester City grapple with their troubled start to the season, questions are swirling around their ability to defend the Premier League title successfully. Following a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion, which marked a stark fourth consecutive loss in all competitions, centre-back Ruben Dias has urged the critics to think twice before counting City out. This recent setback is particularly significant as it represents the first time in Pep Guardiola’s illustrious managerial career that he has faced four consecutive defeats. Adding to the mounting pressure, the Sky Blues have been unceremoniously eliminated from the League Cup by Tottenham Hotspur, intensifying their struggles as they pursue an unprecedented fifth straight Premier League title. Despite the gloomy outlook, Dias welcomed scepticism, stating, "I would say, please doubt us, doubt…