Table of contents for 2023-03-07 in Cape Times

AFRICAN Rainbow Mineral (ARM)'s shares took a knock yesterday despite a 40% increase in its interim headline earnings as it was boosted by thermal coal prices. The shares dropped by 1.84% to close at R258 on the JSE yesterday. In its interim results for the six months ended December 31, 2022, the group reported that headline earnings per share was R26.38 in the reported period from R18.87 per share the prior year. It declared an interim dividend of R14 per share, an increase from R12 a year earlier. Anchor Capital investment analyst Seleho Tsatsi said while ARM reported strong earnings growth,unfortunately, there was unit cost pressure. “That is a theme that we’re seeing across the mining sector. There was generally double digit unit cost pressure across ARM’s businesses. “If we…

from page 1 Action Task Force (FATF),” the EFF said. Stellenbosch University School of Public Leadership Professor Zwelinzima Ndevu said: “This is a setback for the president on the Phala Phala issue as it will mean that the transaction was made from money that was not declared to Sars by the buyer. “The president has no control on whether a person declares the money when they enter the country. The big question is whether the president informed Sars of the foreign currency transaction? If not, then it could have implications for his position and role in the country and his party.” Political analyst Professor Sipho Seepe said Ramaphosa could not run away from the fact that he kept money that was not properly brought or processed by the relevant authorities.…

SCORES of Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) returning and first year students, some of whom were allegedly promised accommodation as they relocated from other provinces, have been forced to sleep illegally in halls and corridors on campus due to a shortage of living spaces. Tondai Phokoane from Middelburg in Mpumalanga, who is among the group of about 50 or more students, said she applied for university placement and accommodation last year. The National Student Financial Aid Scheme(NSFAS) first year beneficiary student said she was accepted to further her studies while her accommodation remained pending. “Classes commenced for the academic year and I was still waiting at home for accommodation. “On Facebook there was a student page and there were other students in my position requesting for advice. “It…

AFTER nine years of debate, Anglican bishops in Southern Africa are still unable to reach consensus on blessing same-sex unions and have ruled out church marriages for same-sex couples. The LGBTQIA+ community says this discriminates against them. Archbishop Thabo Makgoba yesterday said the bishops had agreed at a meeting last week to prepare formal prayers suitable for providing pastoral care to couples in same-sex civil unions. He noted, however, that the bishops were unable to reach consensus on blessing same-sex unions. The Synod of Bishops met last week for its first in-person meeting in three years, and published the results of its deliberations on Sunday. At the meeting, the bishops considered a proposal to allow local churches to conduct formal blessings of same sex unions. “On one side of the…

A BRIGHT red rockfish, spindly long-legged stone crabs, grenadiers with rippling tails and enormous eyes, and cutthroat eels sporting prehistoric jaws and serpentine bodies. These are among the finds made by researchers onboard a dedicated cruise to deepen offshore research capacity in South Africa. With funding provided by the One Ocean Hub, the research cruise comprises members of the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB) and UCT. The primary intention of the voyage is to harness the potential of local scientists and facilitate a greater understanding of South Africa’s oceans. Along their journey, the team has witnessed a pioneering voyage to the depths of the region’s ocean canyons, with the advent of new technology in South African waters. “The use of remotely…

DIASPORA bonds have been successfully tapped by many developing countries. These are long-term financing instruments issued to attract investments from expatriates. Such financing instruments have been used to raise funds for building dams, education, and even war. Israel, for instance, has used them to raise as much as $32 billion since 1951. India has raised over $11.3bn – mostly for infrastructural projects. Diaspora bonds have helped both avert a balance of payments crisis. In 1998, expatriate funds helped India buffer the impact of international sanctions imposed after it ran a series of surprise nuclear tests. Now Ukraine is mulling the issue of bonds to its large diaspora to fund its war efforts. So why should African governments consider issuing diaspora bonds? For one thing, it is a low-cost instrument…

South Korea has announced plans to compensate victims of Japan’s forced wartime labour, aiming to end a “vicious cycle” in the Asian powers’ relations and boost ties to counter the nuclear-armed North. Japan and the US welcomed the announcement, but victims’ groups said it fell far short of their demand for a full apology from Tokyo and direct compensation from the Japanese companies involved. Seoul and Tokyo have ramped up security co-operation amid growing threats from Kim Jong-Un’s North Korea, which is expanding its nuclear weapons programme in defiance of UN sanctions. But Seoul-Tokyo ties have long been strained over Tokyo’s brutal 1910-1945 colonial rule of the Korean peninsula, when around 780 000 Koreans were conscripted into forced labour by Japan, Seoul data shows. This does not include Korean women…

Islamabad: Pakistan TV stations have been banned from broadcasting speeches by former prime minister Imran Khan, the latest hurdle facing the politician as he campaigns for early elections. Khan was routed from office in a no-confidence motion last year and has been pressuring the fragile coalition which replaced him with daily speeches, regular rallies and allegations of corruption. The 70-year-old former cricketing superstar has been tangled in a slew of elaborate legal cases. He is accused of failing to declare gifts received during his time in office or the profit made from selling them. | AFP…

Tehran: Iran’s Supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, yesterday said those behind the poisoning of schoolgirls in recent months should face “severe punishment”. In total, several hundred cases of gas poisoning have been reported in more than 52 schools across Iran since the end of November, according to an official count. Female pupils have reported suffering symptoms such as shortness of breath, nausea and vertigo after detecting “unpleasant” or “unknown” odours, sparking calls for authorities to act. Judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei said that individuals arrested for poisoning the schoolgirls would be put on trial. | AFP…

MEXICO CITY: Four Americans were shot at by gunmen and then kidnapped in Mexico after crossing the border, the US Embassy in Mexico said. The four unidentified Americans were in a white minivan with North Carolina licence plates when they entered Matamoros, Tamaulipas, on Friday, the embassy said, seeking the public’s help in identifying the alleged kidnappers. The armed men allegedly fired on the passengers shortly after their vehicle crossed into Mexico and then herded them into another vehicle before fleeing. The FBI is offering a $50 000 (R911 520) reward for the return of the victims and the arrest of those involved. | Reuters…

AS SOUTH Africans – especially small business owners – grapple with daily load shedding, online retailer Takealot said yesterday it has seen a record volume of search queries and orders for alternative energy solutions. Since the start of 2023, every day of the year has seen power disruptions, causing frustration for consumers and operational pressures on most businesses. “Our data tells an insightful story about how South Africans are becoming intentional in how they adjust to load shedding,” said Fredrik Zietsman, CEO of takealot.com in a statement. “On our platform, we’ve seen a surge in sales of load shedding mitigation products, such as generators, inverters and uninterrupted power supply units. “In fact, ‘UPS’ was the third most-searched term on the Takealot platform in 2022,” he said. Takealot had prioritised sourcing…

from page 1 The president shifted some ministers to other portfolios and also made new appointments in others. Minister in the presidency Mondli Gungubele has swapped his former portfolio with Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, who was previously communications and digital technology minister. Zizi Kodwa, a former deputy minister in the presidency, will take over from Mthethwa, while Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma escaped the axe as she was moved to Ministry for Women, Youth and People living with disabilities. Taking over her former position will be Thembi Nkadimeng. Also elevated to a full minister is former Transport Deputy Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga, who fills the position previously held by Fikile Mbalula, who is now full time ANC secretary-general. Patricia de Lille has taken over from Sisulu while ex-KZN premier Sihle Zikalala takes her previous public…

THE ANC caucus in the West Coast has welcomed the resignation of Matzikama municipal manager, Gerald Seas, who was arrested on a charge of drunk driving on Friday morning. Seas tendered his resignation yesterday after he was arrested and released on written notice. A source close to the municipality claimed he was seen driving while under the influence. Police spokesperson captain FC Van Wyk confirmed the arrest. “The SAPS on Friday received a complaint of a person driving a car who is probably is under the influence of alcohol. “The complaint was followed up and a 49-year-old male person was arrested in Church Street on a charge of drunken driving. “He was charged accordingly and released on a written notice to appear in Vanrhynsdorp Court on June 3,” he said.…

WHILE Sars has now confirmed it had no record of the US dollars concealed in couches at President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm, the Hawks appear to be nowhere near completing their investigations into the matter. Asked about the progress of their investigations announced nearly a year ago, Hawks spokesperson Thandi Mbambo would yesterday only say all investigations pertaining to Phala Phala “are still ongoing”. Sars confirmed yesterday it had no record of the money, despite the alleged Sudanese buyer claiming he had declared it upon entry at OR Tambo International Airport. This emerged after DA leader John Steenhuisen on December 7 2022 submitted a Promotion of Access to Information Act request to the revenue service to obtain the relevant currency declaration forms. “Sars confirms that it has responded to…

DESPITE active attempts to recruit and promote women, they remain a minority in combat and senior posts and the military in general across the globe. For example, less than 11% of women in Nato member nations’ armed forces are on active duty. Few countries have reached a critical mass of 15%, necessary to move beyond the token effect. South Africa is a notable exception, with 25% of women on active duty, and about 15% having served on peacekeeping operations in Africa. Yet despite this numerical increase, they have not been able to shift gender norms or regender the military. The military remains a highly-gendered organisation in terms of opportunity and occupational structure. On International Women’s Day, March 8, we need to ask the question: Why is this the case? There…

Animal rights activists have raised concern with the Joint Task Team’s Draft Strategic Management Plan (DSMP) that deals with the welfare of baboons and how to keep them out of residential areas. This comes as the City’s contract with Nature Conservation Consultants (NCC) to keep baboon troops out of residential areas on the urban edges of Table Mountain National Park ends in June. The draft plan was released for public comment last month. It was drafted by SANParks, Cape- Nature and the City of Cape Town. According to baboon activists group Baboon Matters, the participants of a recent meeting expressed concern about the lack of substance in the action plan put forward by the task team. They expressed concern over the increased time baboons were spending in urban areas, as…

RESIDENTS of Macassar, Eersteriver, Croydon, Faure and areas southeast of Baden Powell Drive, among others, say they are at their wits end over Eskom’s failure to provide electricity to the areas for days on end. This, as a Mitchells Plain activist bemoaned the impact of load shedding that has endangered the lives of poor and indigent people, following the death of three family members when a candle caused their house to catch fire during load shedding. “The whole community is affected by this tragedy … This is no way to live between having to choose whether to buy a loaf of bread or a candle to light up the house due to the blackouts, and the crime that occurs during this time. “It’s too much,” said community worker Wihdaad Williams.…

China’s core stance is to promote peace through direct dialogue It has been one year since the full-scale escalation of the crisis in Ukraine, with the conflict showing a trend towards protracted and expanding severity. Countless people have suffered greatly, and the spillover effects have been increasingly pronounced, making the situation deeply concerning. Over the past year, China has maintained an objective and impartial stance, actively promoting peace talks and negotiations. President Xi Jinping has put forward four principles, called for joint efforts in four areas and shared three observations on Ukraine, which have pointed the way towards easing tensions and resolving the crisis. Recently, China released a document titled “China’s Position on the Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis”, which elaborates on China’s propositions, incorporates the legitimate concerns of…

Four jihadists have escaped from prison in Mauritania after a shoot-out left two guards dead, the interior ministry said yesterday, a rare event in a nation spared the insurgency sweeping through the Sahel. “The National Guard has tightened its control over the prison and immediately started tracking down the fugitives,” the ministry said in a statement to the official news agency. Two other guards were lightly wounded, it said. The identities of the escaped prisoners were not revealed. According to a military official, two of the prisoners had been sentenced to death, while the others were awaiting trial for membership of a terrorist organisation. The official, asking not to be named, said their vehicle had been found north-east of the capital Nouakchott, site of the central prison. The death…

London: Former UK prime minister Boris Johnson has put his father Stanley forward for a knighthood, according to a report yesterday slammed by the Labour opposition as “outrageous”. The Times reported that the former Conservative leader, who left office last September, had nominated Stanley as part of his resignation honours list. The list reportedly includes the nominations of several allies for membership of the House of Lords, where Johnson appointed his younger brother Jo in 2020. “The idea that Boris Johnson is nominating his dad for a knighthood – you only need to say it to realise just how ridiculous it is,” Labour leader Keir Starmer said, querying what Stanley Johnson had done to deserve a knighthood. Stanley Johnson would be a controversial pick also because of accusations of sexual…

ABUJA: Nigerian presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar yesterday led hundreds of supporters in a peaceful protest over the electoral commission’s handling of last month’s disputed vote which the commission says was won by ruling party candidate Bola Tinubu. Atiku and senior members of the opposition People’s Democratic Party led supporters during a march to the offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec) in Abuja, where they handed in a petition. Inec’s results showed that Tinubu won the February 25 election with 37% of the vote against Atiku’s 29%, while the Labour Party’s Peter Obi polled 25%. | Reuters…

Not in a long time has the Nedbank Cup been this significant to Soweto giants Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs. The Sea Robbers and Amakhosi – along with Mamelodi Sundowns – are expected to win matches season in and season out. But such has been the disappointing run of Chiefs and Pirates in recent years, that they’ve been playing bridesmaid to the Brazilians, who are on course to win a record sixth Premiership title in a row. So, with Sundowns all but guaranteed another league crown and a return to Caf Champions League, Pirates and Chiefs can only follow suit via finishing second on the log. But that’s easier said than done. They both face stiff competition from SuperSport United who have been holding onto second spot in the past…

JSE All Share Index gains for second straight session, lifted by industrials SOUTH African markets started the week in divergence as the rand remained subdued while stocks were in the green, but investors were unmoved by the prospect that the appointment of an electricity minister would solve the protracted energy crisis. President Cyril Ramaphosa last night named a new deputy president after the Presidency announced David Mabuza’s resignation, and announced the new position of electricity minister. The rand fell 0.6% to R18.23 against the dollar yesterday, after stabilising over the past week when it was supported by a resurgence in global risk appetites. The rand has been struggling to gain momentum, falling 5.2% month-on-month in February against the dollar, bringing its year-to-date decline to 7.2% against the greenback. The domestic…

HULAMIN saw its shares surge on the JSE yesterday by more than 6% after announcing its normalised annual headline earnings per share and revenue had increased and that 2023 “commenced with solid customer demand”. The shares had increased by 9.43%, to reach R2.90 by the JSE close yesterday, despite the Pietermaritzburg-based aluminium product manufacturer not declaring a dividend. In its results for the year ended December 31, 2022, normalised headline earnings per share increased by 28% to 105 cents per share. Revenue increased to R15.93 billion despite sales volumes declining 4.6% to 211 328 tons. The group said that the principal difference between headline earnings per share and normalised headline earnings per share was the metal price lag, which is the profit or loss arising from the timing…

A RED Ferrari California, which was almost split in half and damaged beyond repair when it hit a lamp-post, was the subject of a legal wrangle between the insurer of the car and the owner after the insurer refused to pay out. It accused the driver of the Ferrari of speeding along William Nicol Drive in Joburg during rainy conditions. The owner of the Italian vehicle, Sashin Govender, turned to the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, to force Guardrisk Insurance Company to honour its contract with him. Judge Anthony Millar ruled in favour of Govender and ordered the insurer to pay R1 827 500 plus interest and legal costs. The court was told that on the night of February 22, 2019, Govender lost control of the vehicle and it hit…

FORMER public protector Thuli Madonsela’s affidavit to the impeachment inquiry into the fitness for office of her successor Busisiwe Mkhwebane became a sticking point during her testimony yesterday. This after Mkhwebane’s legal counsel, advocate Dali Mpofu SC, said they were confused whether her written statement was an affidavit. Madonsela said there was one version of her statement. “That version was sent on March 25 with a very tight deadline because of quibbling between lawyers of advocate Mkhwebane and myself,” she said. Madonsela said nothing had changed in her statement except the correction of typos in an affidavit submitted on March 28. Madonsela had not consulted with Mkhwebane’s team and evidence leaders, and instead deposed her own affidavit. Madonsela said the questions Mkhwebane’s team had indicated they wanted to ask her…

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa’s loyalists were the biggest winners in last night’s Cabinet reshuffle with Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe and Police Minister Bheki Cele, among others, who avoided the axe. Paul Mashatile will finally replace David Mabuza as deputy president, while the long-awaited Minister of Electricity in the Presidency position was assigned to Kgosientso Ramokgopa, Ramaphosa’s confidante. Ramaphosa also announced ANC second deputy secretary-general Maropene Ramokgoba as the new minister in the presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation. He has axed former tourism minister Lindiwe Sisulu and Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa, and Minister of Women, Youth and People living with disabilities Maite Nkoana- Mashabane. To page 2…

Levelling the playing field in forestry, women are being empowered to build sustainable careers as chainsaw operators in Knysna. Forestry has historically been a male-dominated profession, and while women may work in a management capacity, there has been little opportunity for them to work in the field. The driving force behind the empowerment initiative is Pam Booth, who heads up Knysna Municipality’s environmental planning. Enabling more women to work in forestry has always been something that has interested her, but she previously never had the opportunity to turn this into a reality. “A large portion of our departmental budget was being spent on buying and maintaining chainsaws, so I thought it was only fair to senior management and the operators to see for myself what was involved,” said Booth. “This…

The active involvement of parents or guardians in their children’s education is one of the most effective ways to eliminate the ill-discipline of pupils in our schools. There is no doubt teachers are battling to deal with the bad behaviour of pupils, due to reported cases of violence in schools in which the lives of teachers and fellow pupils have been threatened. The dramatic rise in indisciplined acts by pupils has raised concerns about the safety of the school population. Several incidents of violence perpetrated by pupils have been reported in the media in recent months, including instances in KwaZulu-Natal where pupils torched a school because they were denied certain privileges. According to the SA Journal of Educ-ation, ill-discipline is a serious problem in schools. In some cases, pupils are…

The head of Russia’s Wagner mercenary force has warned that Russia’s position around the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut was in peril unless his troops got ammunition, the latest sign of tension between the Kremlin and the private militia chief. Ukrainian military officials and analysts also reported leaders of Russia’s 155th Brigade fighting near the town of Vuhledar, south of Bakhmut, were resisting orders to attack after sustaining severe losses in attempts to capture it. For its part, the Russian Defence Ministry on Sunday said Russian forces had hit a command centre of the Ukrainian Azov Regiment in south-eastern Zaporizhzhia region. The ministry did not elaborate. Reuters could not independently verify the battlefield accounts. Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin said Russia’s front lines near Bakhmut could collapse if his forces did…

At least 15 people were killed and dozens feared missing after torrential rains and landslides battered one of Indonesia’s outermost islands bordering the South China Sea, disaster officials said yesterday. Pictures provided by the national disaster mitigation agency (BNPB) showed mud and debris from the landslides had inundated houses near a cliff on the remote Serasan island. Bits of metal torn off roofs and fallen trees were visible. The remoteness of the village where the landslide struck in the Natuna region of Riau province, combined with poor weather and downed communication lines, complicated rescue efforts, according to officials. “We’ve been updated that 50 people were missing, 15 dead people were evacuated,” Natuna Search and Rescue Agency’s head Abdul Rahman told AFP, revising an earlier toll. Riau Islands Disaster Mitigation Agency’s…

ATHENS: Greek rail workers went on strike for a sixth day yesterday to protest over safety conditions following the train crash last week that killed 57 people. The busy rail route that connects the capital Athens with the northern city of Thessaloniki has been suspended pending investigation into the February 28 disaster, when two services on the same track were involved in a head-on collision. A rolling strike by rail workers since the crash has brought passenger and freight rail services to a standstill across the rest of Greece. Railway workers’ unions and drivers have extended their strike until tomorrow, saying safety systems have been deficient for years. | Reuters…

ALEPPO: The Syrian government and Türkiye-backed rebels have blocked more than 100 trucks carrying humanitarian aid from entering two zones in Aleppo province hit by last month’s deadly earthquake, Amnesty International said yesterday. The aid – food, medical supplies, tents and fuel – was sent by Kurdish authorities, the rights group said. It said the Syrian government had prevented 100 trucks from entering Kurdish-majority areas of Aleppo city. To the north, rebels blocked 30 trucks from entering Afrin. So far, most aid to opposition-held areas of Syria has come via border crossings with Türkiye. Aid into government-controlled zones has come in by plane, truck and sea. | Reuters…

Fielding at short-leg Tony de Zorzi has the best seat in the house. Being so close to the heat of battle, he can almost feel the sense of fear setting into the opposition batters when Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje are charging in. De Zorzi, and the Proteas, won’t have that pleasure this week at the Wanderers with Nortje being ruled out of the second Test against the West Indies with a “mild groin discomfort”. However, the Centurion debutant will certainly not forget the adrenaline rush that burst through his veins after his first Test cricket experience. “It was exciting, obviously it was much better because we ended up winning,” the stylish Western Province top-order batter said. “I was telling friends afterwards, to be that close to see KG take…