Table of contents for 2022-03-08 in Cape Times

Okuhle Hlati and Siphokazi Vuso AS THE world observes International Women's Day today calls have increased for the implementation of laws to ensure gender equality in all spaces that would also curb Gender-Based Violence (GBV). In 1977, the General Assembly of the UN officially designated March 8 as International Women’s Day. This year, it is celebrated under the theme “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow”, and calls for climate action for women, by women. “Women and girls experience the greatest impacts of the climate crisis as it amplifies existing gender inequalities and puts women’s lives and livelihoods at risk. Across the world, women depend more on, yet have less access to, natural resources, and often bear a disproportionate responsibility for securing food, water, and fuel,” UN Women said…

Chevon Booysen chevon.booysen@inl.co.za THE spotlight has once again turned on the Western Cape departments of Social Development and Community Safety, with a request for them to look into whether they had “inherited“ any staffers who may be implicated in ”sex-for-jobs” allegations while disgraced former MEC Albert Fritz was in charge. Good Party secretary-general and MPL, Brett Herron, yesterday urged premier Alan Winde to appoint an independent investigation into both departments, which Fritz headed. “After allegedly running a sex-for-jobs scheme at the Department of Social Development, with several of his victims receiving jobs at Child and Youth Care Centres in the province, when Fritz moved to the Department of Community Safety, in 2019, he insisted that one of the political appointees assume control of hiring and firing in the department,” Herron…

Siphokazi Vuso siphokazi.vuso@inl.co.za COMMUNITY activists in Langa and Khayelitsha say they are hopeful following the visit of the Public Protector to inspect service delivery issues yesterday. Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane and her deputy Advocate Kholeka Gcaleka visited the areas to conduct inspections relating to drain blockages as a result of ageing infrastructure and rising population density, poor road infrastructure and sinkholes. Public Protector spokesperson Oupa Segwale said: “The visit to the Western Cape is part of a nationwide Stakeholder Roadshow, a flagship outreach programme of the Public Protector South Africa (PPSA) during which the office interacts with parties interested in its work in fulfilment of its constitutional mandate to investigate, report on and remedy alleged or suspected improper conduct in all state affairs and to be accessible to all persons and…

The world is once again in the midst of the run-up to an enormous calamity as it was in the thirties of the last century, when another world war was on the horizon. Throughout history, all over our planet madmen have come up like flowers, become drunk with power, caused countless millions of innocent people to perish, then, just like the dog chasing and never catching the elusive proverbial bus, would wilt into oblivion only for others to try it again and again. Wise folks would turn to their holy scriptures to seek answers to these hazardous developments. Firstly, Christ himself proclaimed to Pilate that no man would be endowed with power unless it came from his Father in heaven. Secondly, again Christ warns in two distinct instances that…

At least two soldiers and two UN peacekeepers were killed in separate attacks in Mali yesterday, the army and the UN mission said. Militants attacked Malian troops posted in the northern region of Gao early in the morning, the army said, three days after another clash left at least 27 soldiers dead and 32 wounded. The army said it was pursuing the assailants and had killed nine so far. Hours later, a convoy of the UN peacekeeping mission Minusma hit an improvised explosive device north of the city of Mopti, the mission said. The blast killed two peacekeepers and wounded four others, it added. Mali has been battling an Islamist insurgency for a decade, with groups linked to al-Qaeda and Islamic State expanding their reach in recent years despite the…

BELLINZONA: Former Fifa Secretary General Jerome Valcke and Qatari sports and broadcasting executive Nasser Al-Khelaifi went on trial yesterday in the appeals court of Switzerland’s federal criminal court, in a bribery case involving World Cup media rights. Valcke, who was secretary general of the world soccer body from 2007 to 2015, was cleared in 2020 of accepting bribes and aggravated criminal mismanagement, but Swiss prosecutors have appealed the ruling. Valcke was sentenced at the time to a suspended monetary penalty for forging documents. Al-Khelaifi, chairperson of Qatar-based media group BeIN Sports and of Paris Saint-Germain Football Club, as well as a third defendant, a Greek businessman, were cleared of inciting Valcke to commit aggravated criminal mismanagement – a verdict prosecutors also appealed. The advantages Valcke allegedly received included the rent-free…

Manila: The Philippines has raised the age of sexual consent to 16 after amending a near century-old law, a move child rights activists said yesterday would help protect youngsters from rape and abuse. The Catholic-majority nation had one of the lowest ages of consent in the world, allowing adults to have sex with children as young as 12 if they agreed. Under the revised law signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday and made public yesterday, sex with a person under 16 will be illegal, with a maximum penalty of 40 years in jail. Exceptions will be made for teenage couples so long as their age difference does not exceed three years and the sex is consensual.…

Baghdad: Iraq’s National Museum reopened yesterday to visitors after a three-year closure due to the Covid-19 pandemic and political unrest. Treasures dating back 2 500 years to the neo-Assyrian empire alongside 9th century Islamic antiquities went back on display, including two winged bulls from the Nimrud site in the palace of Assurnasirpal II (883-859 BCE). “We’ve waited a long time to come here,” said Tijen Kayralci, 65, part of a tour group from Turkey. “It’s beyond my expectations, these are priceless,” she said. Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi said that the museum had undergone extensive renovation.…

Mayibongwe Maqhina mayibongwe.maqhina@inl.co.za The public have been given three months to make submissions on the draft National Labour Migration Policy and Employment Services Amendment Bill. The draft policy says there is a need to provide guidance to the Department of Employment and Labour, the Department of Home Affairs and other government departments on the desired policy framework applicable to labour migration impacting on South Africa, among other things. “In a range of related areas such as recruitment, data requirements, and labour migration to and from South Africa, policy frameworks are either insufficient or absent. An evidence-based and labour migration policy, which takes into consideration labour market needs, is required to deal with these concerns.” In a statement, the department said the policy sought to address South Africans’ expectations on access…

Nicola Daniels nicola.daniels@inl.co.za THE Grange Treatment Centre, a drug, alcohol and behavioural addiction treatment centre aimed at Dutch clients, continues to operate unregistered in Simon’s Town. The centre opened its doors in Cape Town in May 2017 and was set up by Changes GGZ, a Dutch non profit organisation. The provincial Department of Social Development (DSD) said it was aware of complaints, and has since engaged the facility and was in the process of “assisting them to register”. Former financial and human resources manager at the facility, Deidré Fidler, said she had been trying to “expose” the centre since 2019 but to no avail. “The Dutch medical aid would not pay if there were no Dutch counsellors.However, the challenge with the counsellors was getting them registered with the Health Professions…

Staff writer SOUTH Africa’s rich biological record provides a unique competitive advantage to heritage-related scientists and practitioners from the country and around the world. This was the sentiment shared as the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) and the National Research Foundation (NRF) Centre of Excellence in Palaeosciences, known as GENUS, said it was fast-tracking research support, knowledge generation and network expansion in 2022. Apart from driving inclusivity across diverse palaeo networks, communities and ecosystems in South Africa, GENUS is raising awareness of the past and driving groundbreaking discoveries to give meaning to the future for researchers and citizens alike. “Genus” is a term used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms. Project director Dr Christine Steininger said this reflected the vision to become a network leader of…

Okuhle Hlati okhule.hlati@inl.co.za A MALMESBURY teacher who sought relief regarding alleged unfair treatment after he was not considered for promotion to the position of Departmental Head at Liebenberg Primary School has lost his case. The Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC) found that the Western Cape Education Department did not commit an unfair labour practice by not appointing Henry Marais. Marais, a Grade 6 teacher, has been employed at the school since 2009. The position was advertised and he applied, as he thought he was a suitable candidate because he had experience in teaching in the intermediate phase, arguing that his experience should count for something. Arbitrator Marlon Plaatjies said Maries testified under oath that he attended an interview but after no feedback was given, an email from “e-recruitment” then stated…

Odwa Mkentane odwa.mkentane@inl.co.za A KHAYELITSHA medical doctor was evicted from the premises yesterday, amid fierce community support in her defence. The office space apparently belongs to the Red Cross Society. They could not be reached for comment yesterday. According to residents, a group of men said they were ordered by the sheriff of the court to evict Vuyelwa Nongogo, allegedly over unpaid rent. All Nongogo’s items were placed outside in the yard. Ward Committee member Nosicelo Ncoko said the community demanded to see the court order. “As the leadership we were called around past seven in the morning and we were told that Dr Nongogo is being evicted. When we arrived there police officers were trying to calm down the residents. “All the items were thrown out of the…

THE Ukrainian conflict has brought into sharp focus the inconsistent treatment of refugees from Europe, as opposed to those coming from other war-torn countries in Africa and the Middle East. The invasion of any sovereign state, including Ukraine, should be condemned. The ongoing bombardment of Ukraine by Russian President Vladimir Putin will bring about untold suffering to the rest of the world. We believe that both parties should give peace a chance by removing all the impediments for negotiations. However, it has been very disturbing to witness the racial undertones emerging from the Ukraine conflict. When the invasion of Ukraine started, the world was shocked to learn that African nationals, mostly students, were being prevented by security forces from getting into trains and crossing to neighbouring countries such as Poland.…

A growing number of US officials are calling for a ban on Russian oil and gas imports to pressure that country’s economy despite concerns that such a move could raise already high gas prices for American consumers. Officials including US Secretary of State Antony Blinken; Marco Rubio, Joe Manchin Adam Schiff, called for a US ban as part of the ongoing bid to hinder the Russian economy over its invasion of Ukraine. Blinken told CNN host Jake Tapper that the US is talking to allies about “the prospect of banning the import of Russian oil while making sure that there’s still an appropriate supply of oil on world markets.” He noted in Sunday morning’s “State of the Union” interview that the discussion was taking place “as we speak.” As recently…

In a tiny classroom in a migrant camp in Greece, 18-year-old Roya Rasuli teaches a bustling group of young girls how to paint. For Rasuli, it’s also a lesson in women’s empowerment. “What is your message for women, for girls?” Rasuli, who was born in Iran to Afghan refugees, asks her class. “To be strong!” one of the girls shouts. Hanging on the blue wall behind her is some of Rasuli’s own artwork, including a painting of the green-eyed “Afghan Girl” whose iconic 1985 photo in National Geographic in a red headscarf became a symbol of Afghanistan’s wars. Rasuli painted her without a mouth. “I wanted to show how women are in Afghanistan because they cannot speak, nobody listens to them and they don’t have rights,” Rasuli said, her fingers…

LONDON: Charles, Prince of Wales, the heir apparent of the British throne, is providing a greater part of the estimated £12 million (about R243m) in the sex abuse deal agreed upon between Prince Andrew and his accuser, Virginia Giuffre, reported The Sun. Queen Elizabeth II is also purportedly chipping in to cover the out-of-court settlement, with no public cash being used. “There were family discussions about how to ‘take a little from here and a little from there,” a source was cited as saying of the decision to loan Prince Andrew the money. The source added: “He has no income or money to repay a bank loan so the family is the only way.”…

sana’a: Yemenis are riding on the roof or hanging out the sides of taxi vans as severe fuel shortages in the capital Sana’a and other Houthi-held areas raise demand for public transport, with people queuing for days to fill the tanks of their cars. University students Amjad al-Amari and Ahmed al-Mutahar complain the fuel crunch is further disrupting their education in the war-torn country. “When we arrive for lectures, we arrive late. We miss half and the professor considers us absent,” said al-Amari. “We can’t even find (taxis) and (the ones we get) are overcrowded.”…

Dr Baptiste Dungu and Lindiwe Mabena. SEVERAL false statements have been made by the current Board of Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP) on the reasons and outcome of my and Lindiwe Mabena’s suspension, disciplinary process and outcome that led to the termination of our contracts as chief executive (CEO) and the manager in the office of the CEO, respectively. During the debate on the State of the Nation 2022, the Minister of the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, the Honourable Thoko Didiza, stated that my departure at OBP was linked to the GMP project, which is the facility upgrade project at OBP, for which the organisation received in 2014 close to R500 million. (The Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), is a certification that will allow it to enter…

Odwa Mkentane odwa.mkentane@inl.co.za THE Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) is investigating a SAPS Flying Squad officer who allegedly shot and wounded his girlfriend near the Lingelethu West police station in Khayelitsha on Sunday night. The officer, Musawenkosi Mbophi, is alleged to have been with his girlfriend, Nosicelo Mkhosana, at a local pub, Rands, when they had an argument over another girl. They both got into the car and it is alleged that they drove to the open field behind Lingelethu-West SAPS. “It is alleged that the victim (girlfriend) was assaulting the suspect (officer) the whole time while they drove. “When they stopped, the suspect then took his firearm and shot the victim,” a SAPS alert read. “After the shooting the brother of the suspect came and took his car and…

Bongani Nkosi THE Constitutional Court is set to have the final say in litigation intended to have the Copyright Act declared unconstitutional insofar as it made it hard for the blind to access books. Blind SA, a non-profit organisation promoting the interests of visually impaired people in the country, has for years been fighting the Copyright Act. The organisation identified the act as a stumbling block for the blind to access copyrighted published works in formats such as Braille, audio versions, and copies in large print. It is now heading to the apex court to put to bed the fight it is waging against the State, citing the ministers of Trade and Industry and International Relations and Co-operation as the main respondents. “At its core, this application concerns the failure…

Staff writer AFTER missing out due to the Covid-19 restrictions on travel, the Kruger National Park (KNP) is once again playing host to scientists, researchers and Protected Area managers from around the world. The 19th Annual Savanna Science Network meeting began at the Nombolo Mdluli Conference Centre in Skukuza yesterday and ends on Saturday. “Due to some countries and institutions still having travel bans, the meeting will be slightly smaller than previous years, but will still host 155 delegates representing 60 different scientific and conservation organisations from 14 countries,” SANParks said. The meeting will also be streamed live on YouTube. KNP spokesperson Isaac Phaahla said the programme will include 101 platform presentations and 18 poster presentations. “The meeting has grown from one encouraging scientific networking and knowledge sharing with academic…

Robin-Lee Francke robin.francke@inl.co.za A 15-year-old has been arrested after a man and his wife were shot and killed in their Brackenfell home. Tributes have been pouring in for Warren and Arlene Lucas, both 37, who were murdered on Sunday. Warren is the brother of South African singer Craig Lucas. In a social media post, family spokesperson Brigette Brukman confirmed the Lucas family’s loss. “The family have experienced a grave tragedy and loss. “At this time they ask that you respect their privacy as they deal with the death of Warren and Arlene,” the post read. Brukman told IOL that no further comment was available but once advised a press release would be sent out. Provincial police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg confirmed the shooting incident. “The circumstances surrounding a shooting incident…

A whole class of broad-spectrum antivirals is not being used to save lives It seems incredible in this age of pandemics that a dozen broad-spectrum antiviral drugs have been largely ignored in the fight against Covid-19. This class of drugs works by inhibiting a critically important human protein called nuclear-factor kappa-binding – NF-kB for short. NF-kB exists in the cytoplasm of every cell and does two main things related to disease. When it is released from its inhibitor I-kB, it increases both inflammation and viral replication. That is why cells carefully restrain it. Cells lock it safely away in the cytoplasm to prevent it from causing these two negative effects that occur when it is released and moves from the cytoplasm into the nucleus. When its inhibiting bond with I-kB…

WARSAW: Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Szymon Szynkowski vel Sek said yesterday that Nato’s decision to establish a no-fly zone over Ukraine would provoke a direct conflict with Russia. On Saturday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a video address heavily criticised Nato’s reluctance to announce a no-fly zone over Ukraine and refusal to deliver fighter jets to the Ukrainian military. “It is evident that there is no such opportunity (to establish a no-fly zone over Ukraine). Today we can see that many member countries are being sceptical of the matter. The implementation of the decision should follow the decision itself, the making of this decision. “In practice, this would mean a large-scale military operation beyond Nato’s borders. It is difficult to imagine today. It is difficult to imagine that the North Atlantic Alliance…

LOS ANGELES: Regina Hall is “excited and nervous” about hosting the Oscars. The 51-year-old actress is set to take the helm of the 2022 Academy Awards with Wanda Sykes and Amy Schumer later this month and she’s looking forward to their “historic” night as the first three female stars to front the ceremony. She told Entertainment Tonight: “I think it’s exciting, like, it’s Women’s History Month, it’s quite historic, like all of us together. “I’m kind of excited and nervous and everything! But I think it’s gonna be a fun night.”…

The family of a Sri Lankan woman who died in Japanese immigration detention have sued the government in a high-profile case that has reignited calls to reform conditions in the system. Wishma Sandamali, 33, died a year ago while detained for overstaying her visa after seeking police protection, reportedly to escape an abusive relationship. She had allegedly complained of stomach pain and other symptoms for weeks, and a government probe into her death concluded she received inadequate treatment as her health deteriorated. Her death at a facility in Nagoya prompted the justice minister last year to apologise and pledge to improve medical provision to detainees. Sandamali’s family sued the national government on Friday, their lawyer’s office said. Local media reported the family was seeking 156 million yen (about R20 million)…

SEOUL: The leader of South Korea’s governing party was admitted to hospital yesterday after being attacked while campaigning for this week’s presidential election, a race already overshadowed by controversy and in which early voting has been marred by irregularities. Democratic Party leader Song Young-gil was attacked in Seoul by a man wearing a traditional robe who approached him from behind and struck him on the head with a small hammer, a video uploaded to YouTube showed. Party officials said Song was in a stable condition, and a suspect was in police custody. About 44 million South Koreans are eligible to vote. | Reuters…

Wynona Louw wynona.louw@inl.co.za We’re way past the point of having to ask when we will be able to see more than 2 000 fans in attendance at rugby matches. Last October, rugby’s governing body in South Africa announced that fully-vaccinated supporters would be allowed to attend club and professional games while observing the Covid-19 health guidelines. Since then, 2 000 fans have been allowed at matches, and now, around five months later, we’re still sitting on the same number, and for the bigger part of the last two years, fans weren’t allowed at stadiums. So, what gives? With an exciting Test season coming up, one can only hope that things change from what seems to be nothing more than an arbitrary number barring more fans from live games in open…