Table of contents for 2024-02-26 in Cape Times

INDEPENDENT Media’s Business Report, in conjunction with Cape Times, will be unpacking the socio-economic ramifications in the light of the current jobs bloodbath decimating the mining sector in the next few weeks. Companies such as Sibanye-Stillwater, Impala Platinum, Anglo American Platinum, Kumba Iron Ore and ArcelorMittal South Africa have started stream-lining operations and laying off hundreds to thousands of staff recently, as reported on in Business Report. This has also led to some shafts, mines and smelters being closed amid a downturn in some commodity prices and constraints with electricity and rail as well as port constraints have left South African bulk commodity miners in the lurch. This as each mining employee supports between five and 10 dependants, according to the Minerals Council South Africa. High…

Amid tensions between the US and South Africa over the conflicts between Russia and Ukraine and Israel and Hamas, there is uncertainty over the five-year reauthorisation of the US President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (Pepfar) programme. Pepfar is up for reauthorisation for the 2025-2030 period in South Africa. Siphumelele Duma, a post-doctoral research fellow at the Institute for Pan-African Thought and Conversation at the University of Johannesburg, said there have been recent strong and apparent tensions in US/SA relations. Duma said the relations between these two countries have been on a downward trend since the Russian “invasion” of Ukraine. He said this resulted from South Africa refusing to take a stance against Russia and instead lobbying for a negotiated settlement. “This was not good enough for the US and…

Outcry over proposed sale of Mossel Bay prime property to relative of DA councillor A RELATIVE of a council member in Mossel Bay is reportedly in line to score big from the proposed sale of a municipal-owned property, causing an outcry from opposition parties. The property at Dana Bay in Mossel Bay is reportedly to be sold for R980 000, with opposition parties saying surrounding properties were being sold for R2-R3 million. Freedom Front Plus’s Danie Acker said they opposed the sale and have mobilised the community to garner signatures in a petition – with 1 300 collected so far – in opposition to the sale of the property which would afford its owners, allegedly family of a DA ward councillor, a “360-degree view of the beach for the…

AS LONG as the United States remains a member of the United Nations, we will not see a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, let alone a free Palestine. Apartheid Israel has initiated the most severe collective human trauma, suffering and physical destruction across Gaza, and the US has repeatedly vetoed every attempt for a long-lasting humanitarian ceasefire to be declared. Because of this, I believe that a petition should be sent to the UN Security Council to have the US expelled from the UN in order to free the word of this warmongering bully nation, disguised as a democracy, with powerful military bases all over the globe. The UN is an international body conferred with the obligation to prevent war, protect human rights and promote social justice and harmony. If the…

IT IS heartening to read that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is holding an inquiry into the illegal occupation of Palestinian land following the Six-Day War in 1967. This was when Israel went to war with Egypt, Syria and Jordan, resulting in the occupation of Palestinian territory. The 1967 Six-Day War was nothing short of an Israeli land grab. That the ICJ is holding an inquiry is a direct result of South Africa’s standing up to the Israeli war machine at the ICJ over the destruction of Gaza and the deaths of more than 30 000 Palestinians. The old saying “the chickens always come home to roost” is playing out for Israel, who in the years ahead will, through these pressures, lift the blockade and return…

A THIRTY-eight-year-old mother and 46-year-old father have been sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment for the abuse of their five children. The North West High Court sitting in Klerksdorp convicted the duo of two counts of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH), assault, child negligence and culpable homicide. They were sentenced following their arrest in May and October 2021 for the mistreatment of their five children in Alabama, near Klerksdorp. North West police reported that the mother was attacking and abusing her children, who ranged in age from 3 weeks to 13-years-old, by punching them, pushing them against a wall and denying them food. On May 14, 2021, the father called the police to report an assault. Police responded immediately, and the mother was arrested but freed on…

The special military was caused by the approach of Nato countries towards the borders of Russia Exactly 10 years ago, in February 2014, a coup d’état took place in Kyiv with the direct participation of Western countries. The legitimate president of the country was forced to flee and a nationalist puppet government came to power. It launched a chain of events, as a result of which Russia took back the Crimea to save the Russian people in the peninsula from the bloody massacre. Moreover, hostilities began in the east of Ukraine and their culmination became the beginning of the Special Military Operation in February 2022. I am aware that for many esteemed South African readers the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, especially due to the passage of time and distance, has just become…

Donald Trump’s campaign plans to treat Nikki Haley as irrelevant after he dominated the Republican primary in her home state of South Carolina on Saturday, skipping attacks on her to focus instead on a rematch with Democratic President Joe Biden, advisers said. The former president has easily swept all five Republican nominating contests thus far, winning states in the Midwest, Northeast, South and West and knocking out every challenger save Haley, a former South Carolina governor, along the way. Trump advisers said they plan to ignore their lone remaining Republican competitor to render her campaign an afterthought. That would mark a change in tactics by a campaign that has trained intense fire on Haley in recent weeks, with a barrage of vitriolic online attacks, pressure on her donors to switch…

Filipino protesters marched through Manila yesterday, marking the anniversary of the uprising that ousted Ferdinand Marcos, while vowing to prevent his son from repeating the dictatorship. Marcos jr won the presidency in a landslide in 2022, nearly four decades after a “People Power” uprising ended his late father’s 20-year rule and chased the clan into exile in the US. While Marcos jr remains popular, his campaign to alter the 1987 constitution has proved divisive. Critics warn the effort could lead to the abolition of term limits, with presidents currently allowed just one six-year stint in office. “The theme of this protest is to reject Marcos’s charter change move, which is a move to remain in power... which is basically what happened 38 years ago,” said economist Rosario Guzman, 58. Marcos…

Doha: Qatar yesterday announced new plans to expand output from the world’s biggest natural gas field, saying it will boost capacity to 142 million tons per year before 2030. The new North Field expansion, named North Field West, wou;d add a further 16 million tons of liquefied natural gas (LNG) per year to existing expansion plans, Qatari Energy Minister Saad al-Kaabi said. This would bring Qatar’s production capacity to 142 million tons once “the new expansion is completed before the end of this decade” – a nearly 85% rise from current production levels. Qatar is one of the world’s top LNG producers alongside the US, Australia and Russia. | AFP…

Lisbon: Portugal’s official election campaign began yesterday, with the March 10 legislative vote likely to see a breakthrough by populist parties after an influence peddling scandal brought down eight years of Socialist government. Portugal, which this April celebrates half a century since its “Carnation Revolution” put an end to an almost equally long fascist dictatorship, has avoided the right-wing and anti-establishment parties that have recently scored successes elsewhere in Europe. That exception is expected to end. The Chega party (“Enough” in Portuguese), formed in 2019 by a former football commentator is credited with 15% to 20% of the vote. | AFP…

The Blitzboks arguably had their poorest showing this season at the Canada SVNS in Vancouver after failing to make the play-offs and having to fight for ninth place. After starting the tournament on a strong note against New Zealand, attacking and defending like the Springbok Sevens are known for, they failed to keep up the intensity when they faced Great Britain and Ireland. They underperformed against the European sides and head coach Sandile Ngcobo will not be happy with his troops’ showing in a tournament they usually do very well in. Yesterday evening, they had to play for ninth place against Australia. Their display in Vancouver will see them slip from fourth position on the overall log, and they will have it all to do in Los Angeles, the next…

BYTES Technology Group, which is secondary listed on the JSE and with a primary listing on the London Stock Exchange (LSE), on Friday released more information after its CEO, Neil Murphy, resigned under a cloud last week after failing to disclose share transactions on the LSE. On Wednesday, Murphy notified the board that he had made a number of trades in the company’s shares that had not been disclosed to the company or to the market in compliance with regulatory requirements. Bytes said it understood that Murphy’s current holding of shares was 2.9 million shares and remained unchanged from the position notified to the market on November 28, 2023. In aggregate, Bytes, one of the UK and Ireland’s leading software, security, AI, and cloud services specialists, updated the market…

THE SOUTH African sugar industry is synonymous with the rural economy, and rightly so. The industry operates in deeply rural areas of KwaZulu- Natal and Mpumalanga, where alternative jobs are minimal. The industry, especially the farming element of it, is not seen as being technologically advanced. However, this perception is far from reality. In modern-day farming and milling, even in South Africa, technology is the nexus of the operations, thereby providing the basis for the sustain- ability of the industry. A few examples of technology being embraced include highly sophisticated sugar cane breeding facilities, specialised farming implements, load cells in cane and sugar haulage vehicles, voluminous pieces of equipment in sugar mills and embracing energy- efficient processes to reduce the carbon footprint. And the industry knows that continuous improvement is…

THE concept of self-care can often be clouded by stereotypes and societal pressures, but it’s important to recognise that self-care is a personal journey. One that involves acknowledging your physical, mental, and emotional needs and setting boundaries that honour your self-worth. Many people find themselves struggling to meet the ever-increasing expectations imposed by society. A recent viral video shared by a woman on TikTok has resonated with millions of people who share similar sentiments about societal pressures. In today’s digital age, the idea of self-care can feel overwhelming, especially when bombarded with unrealistic ideals. That often promotes superficial luxuries. However, the essence of self-care lies within oneself. It doesn't have to be complex. Sometimes, it can be as simple as taking a small action now to feel more at…

The SAPS has defended Police Minister Bheki Cele’s use of a police chopper during the weekend’s ANC manifesto launch in Durban, saying he was conducting his constitutional duties. However, security expert Willem Els told the Cape Times’ sister title, The Star, that Cele struggled to differentiate between political office and operational office. Else said Cele needed to allow National Commissioner General Fannie Masemola and his team to perform their duties. Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said it was not true that Cele used the chopper for his personal use as he was there performing his duties as a minister. “The Minister of Police, who’s responsible for the safety and security of all people living in South Africa, was at the time conducting his constitutional responsibility as a minister of police…

PRESSURE continues to mount on the DA to release records of its own cadre deployment after DA federal council chairperson Helen Zille blamed former leader Mmusi Maimane for apparently introducing the practice, which she claimed was done away with when she returned to the party. However, Build One South Africa (Bosa), the party Maimane now leads, has challenged Zille to release the minutes of the Federal Executive (FedEx) meeting in which the cadre deployment policy within the party was introduced by Maimane. Bosa spokesperson Roger Solomons said that when Maimane took office, Zille’s own cadre deployment policy “fit for purpose” was expunged in DA-led municipalities in the Western Cape and the provincial government. “Release all minutes of any FedEx meeting where Mr Maimane was present which directed or dictated which…

WITH the passing (or bluntly put, murder) of Alexei Navalny in Russia, I am reminded of the similarities between Alex Navalny and Nelson Mandela. Both fought passionately against oppression by the state, both got sent to prison for their beliefs, except that Mandela lived and became an important statesman on the world stage, while Navalny is dead. It is axiomatic that serious opponents of Vladimir Putin wind up dead. The number of Putin’s opponents who have jumped out of high-rise windows or somehow come into contact with deadly poisons seems too numerous to mention. Among them, Navalny and Litovchenko. There was the poisoning of Scripal. All these attempted and successful events have been denied by Putin as nothing to do with his government. Not long ago his protégé in Ukraine…

THE Western Cape High Court has dismissed with costs Shaykh Irafaan Abrahams’s bid to set aside the election of the Muslim Judicial Council’s (MJC) new president and council. Abrahams was suspended last year as president amid an investigation into alleged financial irregularities and a new executive council with Sheikh Riyaad Fataar appointed in the position last month. A legal battle ensued and Abrahams approached the court claiming that the election of Fataar was in contempt of a September 2023 order, and there was no disciplinary enquiry. He also claimed that he did not resign from the president’s position but was only suspended. However, the MJC said that they had entered into an oral agreement with Abrahams and the terms included a payment of R350 000, that he would resign…

THE last bhoma (hut) has been burnt in Adelaide, a symbol of a young man coming back home after spending time at the mountain of manhood. During the 2023/2024 summer initiation season, 150 boys climbed the mountain of manhood in Adelaide and there were no fatalities. A circumcision officer in Adelaide, Phindile Njumbunxa, confirmed that all the boys came back alive. Although the Eastern Cape recorded 34 deaths of initiates, Adelaide recorded zero. This is not new. I am turning 42 this year and ever since I became aware of initiation of boys as a rite of passage to manhood, I have never heard of a death of an initiate in Adelaide. When I spoke to one of the elders, Mncedisi Faku, who is a retired ikhankatha (carer), he…

Israeli troops and Palestinian gunmen clashed throughout the Gaza Strip over the weekend, as mediators picked up the pace of talks over a possible ceasefire to free hostages held by Hamas and bring a measure of Ramadan respite to the battered enclave. Prospects for securing any truce looked uncertain, however, with Israel saying it was, in parallel, planning to expand its sweep to destroy Hamas, while the Islamist faction stood firm on its demand for a permanent end to the nearly five-month-old war. Residents said Israeli forces shelled several areas of the enclave as tanks rolled into Beit Lahiya and soldiers and gunmen waged running battles in the Zeitoun sector of Gaza City, both in the north, which had been conquered early in the offensive. At least 86 Palestinians were…

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said yesterday that a decision by the House of Commons speaker to break with procedure due to threats facing some MPs over their views on the Gaza conflict sent a dangerous signal that intimidation works. Parliament descended into chaos last week as tensions flared over a vote on whether to call for a ceasefire in Gaza and the exact language to use. The speaker of the lower house, Lindsay Hoyle, said he broke with usual parliamentary procedure for the vote because of “absolutely frightening” threats against MPs. On Saturday, Sunak’s Conservatives suspended one of their MPs and former party vice-chairperson, Lee Anderson, after he refused to apologise for saying the London mayor was under the control of Islamists. Hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters had gathered outside…

GUWAHATI: India’s Assam state has scrapped an 89-year-old law that allowed marriage involving underage Muslims, against opposition from leaders of the minority community who called it an attempt to polarise voters on religious lines ahead of elections. Assam, which has the highest percentage of Muslims among Indian states, at 34%, has previously said it wants to implement uniform civil laws for marriage, divorce, adoption and inheritance. Nationwide, Hindus, Muslims and Christians follow their own laws and customs or a secular code for such matters. Muslim opposition leaders said repealing the colonial-era law was discriminatory. | Reuters…

Sao Paulo: Brazil’s ex-president Jair Bolsonaro took his legal woes to the street yesterday, calling for a massive show of support from supporters amid accusations he plotted a coup to stay in power. The 68-year-old former army officer has urged his backers to attend a “peaceful rally in defence of the democratic rule of law” in Sao Paulo which organisers hope will draw at least 500 000 people. Bolsonaro has had his passport seized by police as he and his inner-circle face scrutiny over plans to try to remain in power after he lost the 2022 elections to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Bolsonaro has denied the claims and he refused to answer questions during a half-hour interrogation last week at federal police headquarters in Brasilia. |…

Striker Jermaine Seoposenwe has given a breakdown of what Banyana Banyana must do to kill off their Olympic qualifier against Tanzania tomorrow night. Banyana were in beast mode in the first leg of their third-round Olympic qualifier against Tanzania on Friday afternoon in Dar es Salaam, winning 3-0. That result put them in a firm position to progress to the final and last round of the qualifiers where they’ll face Nigeria or Cameroon but the South Africans are not leaving anything to chance going into the second leg at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit. “We need to try and control the game from the start,” Seoposenwe said. “We have the quality, even though it shows up in patches sometimes. “We need to control the match, dictate the play and tempo as…

THE SOUTH African National Energy Development Institute said on Friday that it foresees as much as R300 billion foreign direct investment in the next three to five years by Japanese companies, who want to benefit from South Africa’s green hydrogen economy. Green hydrogen is when the energy used to power electrolysis comes from renewable sources like wind, water or solar. This comes after the Japan External Trade Organisation (Jetro) earlier this month hosted a high-profile Japanese business delegation from more than 30 companies, together with South African private and public sector delegates at a green hydrogen seminar in Johannesburg. The seminar followed the signing of a memorandum of co-operation between Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and South Africa’s Department of Higher Education, Science and Innovation in October…

In an ideal world, our dedication to active living would bring nothing but benefits. However, alongside the positive impact on our overall well-being, our physical activities like workouts, walks, runs, and cycling can also lead to various aches and discomforts. If you’re committed to a daily exercise routine, chances are you’ve encountered strains, sprains, stiffness, and soreness, which can be persistently uncomfortable and even debilitating. This serves as a reminder that whether we’re hitting the gym or spending long hours in front of a computer, the health of our musculoskeletal system is crucial for our wellness. Kevin Oliver, a biokineticist, emphasised that time constraints are a common concern for people leading active lifestyles. He recommended dedicating 10 minutes before starting a workout for preparation work, including ‘fascial release’. Fascia tissue…

Nine people died when a bus transporting ANC supporters from the party’s election manifesto launch in Durban overturned while travelling in Paulpietersburg located in the eDumbe Local Municipality in Zululand yesterday morning. The crash comes after six ANC supporters died in a bus accident in Magoebaskloof near Tzaneen in Limpopo while travelling to Mpumalanga for the party’s January 8 anniversary last month. KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport spokesperson Kwanele Ncalane said the accident occurred at about 5am as the bus was travelling back from the ANC’s Mayihlome Rally at Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium. Ncalane said the accident happened about 7km from eDumbe town. “The law enforcement team confirmed nine fatalities. Scores of other occupants sustained injuries, with four critical. They have all been taken to a local hospital,” he said. According…

Can one imagine the cruelty to these animals who had travelled from Brazil? The biggest livestock carrier AL Kuwait has placed the spotlight on ethics of live animal transportation. We have always known about it but would probably not have done much about it if we hadn’t had such hot weather and the stench reached our shores as this boat came into our waters. How could the people on board breathe one wonders? Can one imagine the cruelty to these animals who had travelled all the way from Brazil destined for Iraq where they would be slaughtered? Hell on Earth. The SPCA were at first denied access but were eventually allowed on board, where the smell from urine and faeces was overwhelming. Can one imagine the misery! Shame on…

Eastern Cape Social Development MEC Bukiwe Fanta expressed her disappointment at the sentences handed down to Enyobeni Tavern owners Siyakhangela and Vuyokazi Ndevu last week. The couple was fined R5 000 each or a 100-day prison term. The East London Magistrate’s Court on Friday found that the State had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt that the couple were responsible for the sale of alcohol to minors. The prosecution argued that Enyobeni Tavern had failed to enforce age restrictions, a violation of the Eastern Cape Liquor Act. Additionally, testimony from neighbours and officials from the Eastern Cape Liquor Board corroborated the prosecution’s case. During a June 2022 celebration known as a “pens down party,” 21 young people lost their lives. Nine girls and 12 boys, aged 13 to 17,…

RECENT reports about the escalation of tension between the ANC and the newly formed Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party in KwaZulu-Natal are deeply concerning. The increased incidence of violence, threats and insults between supporters of these political formations is reminiscent of a dark chapter in South Africa’s history. On Saturday, the ANC intensified its election campaign, culminating in the launch of its manifesto at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban. It is crucial for political leaders from all parties to prioritise peace over violence. KZN has a painful history of political turmoil, with the apartheid government fuelling black-on-black violence that resulted in the loss of numerous lives in clashes between the ANC and the IFP. The wounds of the past are still fresh, and the emergence of new political players like…

The body of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who died unexpectedly in prison nine days ago, was handed to his mother on Saturday in the Arctic city of Salekhard, his spokesperson said, though it was unclear what will happen next to the body. Navalny’s family and supporters have accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of having him killed, an accusation that the Kremlin has rejected. He survived a poisoning attempt in 2020 and years of harsh treatment in prison, including long spells in solitary confinement. Navalny’s team said on social media platform, X, yesterday that his death certificate says he died of natural causes. In a video recorded before the release of the body, Navalny’s widow Yulia Navalnaya accused “demonic” Putin of “torturing” the corpse of a political opponent. Navalny’s allies…

Beirut: A blast from a landmine left by the Islamic State group killed at least 13 civilians foraging for truffles in the Syrian desert, a war monitor said. “Thirteen civilians, including women were killed when a landmine left by the IS group exploded while they were searching for truffles” in the desert in Raqa province, said the Syria Observatory for Human Rights. The desert is renowned for producing some of the best quality truffles in the world, which fetch high prices in a country battered by 13 years of war and a economic crisis. Every February to April foragers collect the delicacies in the area, a known hideout for jihadists and littered with landmines. | AFP…

WINDHOEK: Namibia’s late president Hage Geingob, who died in hospital on February 4, weeks after being diagnosed with cancer, was buried at the Heroes Acre yesterday with thousands of mourners, including 25 heads of state and former presidents in attendance. The burial was on the outskirts of Windhoek following 20 days of mourning. Soldiers gave Geingob a 21-gun salute while K-8 fighter jets flew past. Geingob, 82, Namibia’s two-time prime minister and third president since its independence from South Africa in 1990, has been in charge of the sparsely populated and mostly arid southern African nation since 2015. | Reuters…