Table of contents for 2022-04-05 in Cape Times

IT IS NO secret that we live in extraordinary times in South Africa. No day goes by without further revelations about the plight of poverty and poorly- managed institutions that have blighted our country. The daily suffering of many South Africans has manifested itself in xenophobic attacks and civil unrest in the recent past. Who knows what’s next if the challenges that are perpetuated by a non-inclusive economy and limited access to financial services by the majority of the citizens are not addressed once and for all? As the chief executive of Ithala SOC Limited, I have always maintained that strong institutions can help build strong, inclusive economies. And it is driven by this belief that I have dedicated a significant amount of my life to working with other reputable…

from page 1 The Billboard Music Chart tweeted: “@RealBlackCoffee becomes the first South African producer to win and be nominated for best dance/elecronic album at the #GRAMMYs.” Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa, along with President Cyril Ramaphosa also congratulated Black Coffee. “Black Coffee has made us all extremely proud. It is the first time a South African artist has won an award in this category and we are honoured that he has represented us as a nation so well,” said Mthethwa. South African musicians are usually nominated in the Best Global Music Album, which has been won by Ladysmith Black Mambazo on five occasions and twice by the Soweto Gospel Choir. Flautist, Wouter Kellerman has also won a Grammy for Best New Age Album. Benin’s Angélique Kidjo won her…

THE justice department has launched an investigation to identify the core factors behind a worrying spike in the number of children accused of rape. Its 2020/21 annual report on the implementation of the Child Justice Act highlighted that the total number of rape charges brought against children increased by 55% year-on-year. This figure accounted for those who appeared for preliminary inquiries after the laying of charges by accusers and not necessarily those who were finally charged. Preliminary inquiries were held in terms of the Criminal Procedure Act to determine appropriate action when anyone under the age of 18 is accused of a crime. The department’s report showed that in 2020/21, 53% of the children who appeared at preliminary inquiries were referred to the child justice courts for plea and trial.…

AFTER more than 750 days, South Africans will no longer be under a National State of Disaster. The pandemic will now be managed in terms of existing legislation and regulations, together with the measures currently being contemplated in terms of the National Health Act. In his address last night, President Cyril Ramaphosa said the draft Health Regulations hade been published for public comment and once the period for public comment closed on April 16, the new regulations would be finalised and promulgated. “Since the requirements for a National State of Disaster to be declared in terms of the Disaster Management Act are no longer met, Cabinet has decided to terminate the National State of Disaster with effect from midnight tonight (Monday). Certain transitional provisions will remain in place for a…

APARTHEID carved a hole in the heart of South African literature. Alex La Guma strides into that gap with the force of a colossus. But who was this literary genius, who was hounded, tortured and driven from his home country, who won countless awards all over the world, and who lies buried in the Heroes Acre of a Cuban cemetery, having died in Havana while being the ANC’s chief representative for Cuba and the Caribbean? Dance of the La Gumas, Revolution, Rumba & Romance– starring Rehane Abrahams and Elton Landrew – tells the story of a heritage the apartheid state tried to bury by imprisonment, banning orders and eventual exile. It tells the story of a dedicated couple, Blanche and Alex La Guma, who committed their lives to the liberation…

THE future of the historic 6 Kloof Road building in Sea Point is now in the hands of the provincial Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport’s Independent Tribunal, which is expected to decide on the matter next month. Heritage and ratepayer organisations have been fighting for the protection of the more than eight-decade old building which is said to be located in one of the most iconic civic spaces in the area. The battle for its preservation started last year when a developer applied to Heritage Western Cape (HWC) – the provincial body responsible for protecting Western Cape’s built heritage, to demolish it. HWC approved the demolition of the structure. Sea Point, Fresnaye, Bantry Bay Ratepayers and Residents Association (SFB) Planning Committee member, Gordon Metz said they approached the HWC…

THE Family of Sisipho Mayile, whose decomposed body was discovered in the bush near Camphill Bridge in Hermanus, was supported by the community yesterday as they marched to the court to demand the case be prioritised. Zwelihle residents and faith leaders participated in the march to Hermanus Magistrate’s Court to hand over a memorandum of demands to Provincial Police Commissioner Thembisile Patekile for the case to be prioritised. Patekile was there to receive it. Mayile, a 21-year-old matric pupil at Qhayiya Secondary School went missing on January 14, seven days before her decomposed body was discovered. Mayile’s stepfather Zukisa Fono said the family had been waiting patiently for a police report on the case. “We need to let the police do their work but they should not relax because we…

NOW that the dust has settled in the trial of “NSFAS millionaire” Sibongile Mani, it is time for the Department of Higher Education to let the public know about the punitive measures that were taken against those found to have been negligent in this whole fiasco. Mani, a student at the Walter Sisulu University, made headlines after R14 million was erroneously deposited into her student account. According to the National Prosecuting Authority, she went on a 76-day spending spree, splurging more than R800 000 on several prohibited items that included 11 blankets, nine bath sheets, various shorts for men, a variety of alcoholic drinks, cigarettes, 24 jackets, and handbags. Mani was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment last week in the East London Regional Court. However, her legal team…

A group of migrants travelling by foot from southern Mexico to the US disbanded on Sunday, after Mexican authorities agreed to expedite immigration procedures following clashes. The travellers, mostly from Central America, had left the southern Mexican city of Tapachula, which borders Guatemala, on Friday, but were stopped hours later by a roadblock set up by security personnel. Scuffles broke out when they tried to ram their way through several rows of National Guard agents blocking their path with riot shields. Activist Luis Garcia Villagran, who was accompanying the group, said authorities agreed to transfer about 200 people – mainly from Venezuela, Colombia, Cuba and Nicaragua – to southern Mexican states for their paperwork. He had earlier blamed immigration authorities for causing the exodus by being too slow to process…

Kenyan motorists endured another day of major fuel shortages yesterday, with hours-long queues and strict rationing at petrol stations as pumps across the country ran dry. The government blamed hoarding and panic buying for the snaking lines that worsened over the weekend, but oil dealers said they were owed outstanding subsidy payments from the state. “If you know any gas station in your area that has fuel, comment with name, location, available fuel,” the Motorist Association of Kenya said on Twitter in a public appeal to ease congestion at pumps. “Help spread this message, help a stuck motorist.” At many locations in Nairobi and elsewhere, motorists able to find petrol after many hours in line with cars, motorcycles and minibuses were limited to a rationed amount. The crunch began last…

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa dropped his brother as finance minister yesterday after disbanding the government and calling for a unity administration, as protests over the country’s economic crisis focused on the ruling family. The debt-laden country, run by Rajapaksa and several members of his family since 2019, is struggling to pay for imports of fuel and other goods amid a scarcity of foreign exchange, leading to hours-long power cuts and a shortage of essentials. Police dispersed protesters outside Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa’s private residence. Mahinda is the president’s brother. Protesters demanded the total ousting of the Rajapaksas. | Reuters…

UN climate experts released a definitive guide to halting global warming yesterday in a report that lays out how societies and economies must transform to ensure a “liveable” future. The latest report from the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) will also be an important resource for nations seeking a rapid transition away from Russian oil and gas. The IPCC has published the first two instalments in a trilogy of mammoth scientific assessments covering how greenhouse gas pollution is heating the planet and what that means for life on Earth. This third report will outline what to do about it. | AFP…

from page 1 adults hade been fully vaccinated. “This means that 44% of the adult population is fully vaccinated,” said Ramaphosa. This percentage rises to 62% for people over the age of 50, who were most vulnerable to severe illness or death. “The end of the National State of Disaster is an important milestone in our fight against the pandemic. It is a sign of the progress we have made together and a reminder of what our nation has endured. The end of the National State of Disaster is a firm statement of our determination to live our lives and rebuild our country even as this virus remains in our midst. “Although the pandemic is not over, and although we continue to remain cautious, we can be confident that we…

SENIOR officials at the N16 plant of Rheinmentall Denel Munition (RDM) in Somerset West where eight employees were killed during an explosion have denied there was pressure in the production of the CBI propellant. Testifying during the final sitting of the Department of Employment and Labour-appointed inquiry into the events that occurred on September 3, 2018, Louis Minnaar, who was employed as the plant’s head of site at the time, said he “didn’t know details of the order” as he had returned to the site on the day of the explosion, resuming duty as head of site after three months working in Boksburg at another site. According to Minnaar, the N16 plant was not under production pressure. “The plant was not under load at the time and I did not…

THE Baxter Zabalaza Theatre Festival, now in its 12th year, has 32 new productions from across the Western Cape, showcasing the best in dynamic and original developmental theatre. Until April 8, the award-winning festival is this year, for the first time, the product of hybrid mentorship programmes that included scriptwriting mentorship for writers, as well as mentorship workshops for directors to produce the best in cutting-edge developmental theatre. The 32 productions on the main festival, with performances at 9.45am, 11am, noon and 7pm daily, were selected from the mini festivals which were held over two weekends at the end of January at the Delft Rent Office, Kraai4theatre in Kraaifontein and the Makukhanye Art Room in Khayelitsha. The gala awards ceremony takes place on April 9, when productions and artists will…

RESIDENTS from the Ethembeni informal settlement in Khayelitsha will be able to live in peace this winter thanks to a Good Samaratin who has gifted them with new homes in time for the colder months. Founder of The Shackbuilder, Quinton Adams, and his team yesterday started building the first of 250 new shacks for families who live in harsh conditions. “We are not only giving them a new place to stay, but we are helping them with aid and relief during the winter when there is flooding as well as food and clothing distribution. “The reason for these shacks being damaged is due to it being built with waste material which is not suitable for human habitation. This will cause a lot of sicknesses and diseases. “We have decided that…

SHOULD former Western Cape DA leader and Transport MEC Bonginkosi Madikizela accept the role as senior advisor to the premier’s cabinet, he will be appointed in a level 3 salary bracket as opposed to level 4, which would have paid him just over R2 million per annum. This comes as Public Service and Administration (DPSA) Minister Ayanda Dlodlo sanctioned his appointment for level 3, which pays just over R1. 7million per annum and not level 4, which Premier Alan Winde had proposed. This decision has been welcomed by the opposition in the provincial legislature. Winde’s spokesperson, Cayla Murray, said they noted the decision and no appointment had yet been made. “We have received advice as per the regulatory processes through which we applied, that Madikizela is eligible to be appointed…

THE African Development Bank (AfDB) has shown that it means business when it comes to women empowerment during a recent event organised by African Development Bank Group president Dr Akinwumi A Adesina. Adesina told women at a conference in Pretoria that they were part of a revolution that was building across Africa. The head of Africa’s premier development lending institution was speaking at the virtual Women Heads of State Initiative, a new cross-media initiative. The summit recognises serving and past women presidents and prime ministers in Africa. One of its highlights is strengthening the capacity for emerging female leaders on the continent. Adesina lauded the accomplishments of women in Africa. Unlike women in other parts of the world who have had to break through glass ceilings, he said “women in…

The International Space Station (ISS) is set to become busier than usual this week when its crew welcomes aboard four new colleagues from Houston-based start-up Axiom Space, the first all-private astronaut team flown to the orbiting outpost. The launch is being hailed by the company, Nasa and other industry players as a turning point in the latest expansion of commercial space ventures collectively referred to by insiders as the low-Earth orbit economy, or “LEO economy” for short. Weather permitting, Axiom’s four-man team is due to lift off tomorrow from Nasa’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, riding atop a Falcon 9 rocket furnished and flown by Elon Musk’s commercial space launch venture SpaceX. If all goes smoothly, the quartet, led by retired Nasa astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegria, who is also Axiom’s vice-president…

Hong Kong’s leader Carrie Lam announced yesterday that she would step down in June, ending a divisive term that saw democracy protests squashed and strict pandemic curbs plunge the business hub into international isolation. Lam said she would not seek a second term when a committee made up of the city’s political elite chooses a new leader next month. “I will complete my five-year term as chief executive on June 30, and officially conclude my 42-year career in government,” she said. Lam, 64, said China’s leaders “understood and respected” her choice not to seek another term and that she wanted to spend more time with her family. There is little clarity on who will be the next leader. The chief executive position is not popularly elected, something that years of…

South Sudan President Salva Kiir and his vice-president, Riek Machar, have agreed to resume talks about integrating their rival forces under a unified command after weeks of escalating conflict between the sides. Kiir and Machar’s forces signed a peace agreement in 2018 that ended five years of civil war. But implementation has been slow and the opposing forces have clashed frequently over disagreements about how to share power. Fighting has increased. Machar’s Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition suspended its participation in the peace deal’s oversight mechanisms on March 23, citing attacks by government forces. | Reuters…

A Rwandan appeals court yesterday upheld a 25-year jail sentence for Paul Rusesabagina, who was portrayed in the movie Hotel Rwanda sheltering hundreds of people during the 1994 genocide, rejecting a bid to extend it to life in prison. Rusesabagina, 67, was convicted in September on eight terrorism charges related to the activities of an organisation opposed to President Paul Kagame’s rule, and is being held in a Rwandan prison. He has denied all charges and refused to take part in the trial, which he denounced as a politically motivated sham. He was not in court in Kigali yesterday to hear the decision from judge Emmanuel Kamere. | Reuters…

AS South African banks wage war against the Sekunjalo Group, its executive chairperson Dr Iqbal Survé and related entities, the matter of banks’ discrimination has come to the fore. Survé has stated numerous times that there were about 20 companies, including Steinhoff, Tongaat Hulett and EOH, that have been found to have engaged in accounting fraud, and some in money laundering, yet their bank accounts and those of their directors remain open. The banks say the companies mentioned by Survé had made some reparations by disciplining or firing their corrupt executives. However, the banks have largely ignored the fact that Survé and Sekunjalo adhered to the recommendations of the Mpati Report and appointed former Judge Willem Heath to further investigate the allegations made in the Mpati Report and subsequently a…

CONGRATULATIONS have continued to pour in for super music producer Black Coffee, as he made South African history at the Grammy Awards to confirm his status as one of the best dance DJs in the world. Born Nkosinathi Maphumulo, Black Coffee bagged the Best Dance/Electronic Music Album Grammy in Las Vegas for his critically acclaimed album, ‘Subconsciously’. Wearing a cream suit, he accepted the award at the Grammy Awards in Las Vegas accompanied by his eldest son, Esona. “I want to thank God for the gift of music and being able to share it with the world and heal some souls and help people go through whatever they are going through in life. I want to thank everyone who is on the album, from Msaki in South Africa, to David…

UN member states at the UN Environment Assembly (Unea-5.2) recently agreed to develop a legally binding treaty to end plastic pollution, making it one of the world’s most ambitious environmental actions since the 1989 Montreal Protocol which effectively phased out ozone-depleting substances. The adopted UN resolution outlines the development of a robust treaty that allows for global rules and obligations across the full life cycle of plastic. This will hold nations, businesses, and society accountable in eliminating plastic pollution from the environment. The WWF said it welcomed the decision and urged the world’s governments to seize momentum for eliminating plastic pollution and act just as strongly and decisively in developing the full content of the treaty by 2024. “WWF commits to support the work of Unea’s Intergovernmental Negotiation Committee in…

REFUGEES at Paint City in Bellville have yet again urged the government to consider their health and dignity by returning portable shower cubicles, after toilets that were removed, were returned. Hundreds of people living at the site had to find alternative means to relieve themselves after about 20 mobile toilets were withdrawn on Friday following the expiration of the contract to provide them. “We’re totally disappointed by the level of abuse and neglect at Paint City refugee camp that we are being subjected to. “Just like last year, no advance warning came in any form, and we later learned it was due to an expired contract so the government should have tried to prevent this from happening again. “We just saw workers coming to remove all the ablution facilities, leaving…

POLICE have launched a manhunt following a triple-murder in Delft on Sunday night. Provincial police spokesperson Novela Potelwa said three men were shot and killed in Delft South just before 9pm. “Police were called out to the Jerusalem informal settlement in Delft South where they found three men, one aged 22 and two 32 years of age, with gunshot wounds. The victims were declared dead by paramedics on the scene. “Reports allege that yet-to-be identified gunmen opened fire on the three victims at about 8:50pm on Sunday evening and fled,” Potelwa said. Meanwhile, police have arrested a suspect in connection with the alleged gang-related murder of a 39-year-old man in Parkwood at the weekend. Police spokesperson Andrè Traut said on Saturday night that at around 7:10pm the man was shot…

What went wrong? We needed this one badly FOR the whole month of March our country’s hopes and aspirations were firmly resting on the shoulders of our women’s cricket team in New Zealand, as they had to face the best in the world for hopefully our maiden honours in the Women’s Cricket World Cup. It’s amazing that the Women’s World Cup started in 1973, two years before the men’s. It was the 20-year isolation period when all our teams, and especially white teams, were barred from taking part in any sport because of the country’s inhumane apartheid system. We were ranked second for this one after Australia, the hot favourites. It was as if we just had to turn up; the cup was already ours! We know very little about…

EU officials said yesterday they were weighing new sanctions targeting Moscow in response to alleged atrocities against Ukrainian civilians by Russian forces that sparked a wave of international outrage. Despite Russian denials of responsibility, condemnation was swift, with Western leaders, Nato and the UN all voicing horror at images of bodies in Bucha, northwest of Kyiv, and elsewhere. Local authorities said they had been forced to dig communal graves to bury the dead accumulating in the streets, including one in Bucha found with his hands bound behind his back. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called Russian troops “murderers, torturers, rapists, looters” and warned in his nightly video message that “concentrated evil has come to our land” . EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the bloc was urgently discussing a newround…

Shanghai will remain under lockdown as it reviews results of an exercise to test all of its 26 million residents for Covid-19, authorities said yesterday. The city began its two-stage lockdown on March 28, initially in Shanghai’s eastern districts, and later expanded to cover the whole city. The curbs, which have massively disrupted daily life and business operations in China’s financial hub, were initially scheduled to end today. The country sent the military and thousands of health-care workers into Shanghai to help carry out Covid-19 tests for all of its 26 million residents yesterday, in one of the country’s biggest-ever public health responses. Some residents woke before dawn for white-suited health-care workers to swab their throats as part of nucleic acid testing at their housing compounds, many queuing in their…

TESLA boss Elon Musk revealed a 9.2% stake in Twitter yesterday, likely making him its biggest shareholder and triggering a 23% rise in its shares. Musk’s move comes on the heels of his tweet that he was giving “serious thought” to building a new social media platform, while questioning Twitter’s commitment to free speech. A filing showed Musk owns 73.5 million Twitter shares, valuing his passive stake in the company at up to $2.9 billion (about R42bn) based on the stock’s Friday close. They are held by the Elon Musk Revocable Trust. | Reuters…

An Indonesian teacher found guilty of raping 13 students at an Islamic boarding school, impregnating at least eight of them, was sentenced to death yesterday. Herry Wirawan, 36, had been sentenced to life in prison in February, in a case that drew national attention to sexual abuse in the country’s religious schools. But prosecutors, who had requested the death penalty and chemical castration, filed an appeal. “We accept the appeal of the prosecutors,” read the judge’s statement, published yesterday. During his trial, it was revealed Wirawan had raped the female students over a period of five years. | AFP…