Table of contents for 2024-04-29 in Cape Times

Brinjal rolls: 2 large brinjals olive oil, for brushing Moussaka filling: 5 ml oil 1 red onion, diced 2 garlic cloves, crushed 200g minced lamb 200g button mushrooms, minced 15ml harissa paste 5ml ground cumin 3ml ground cinnamon ½ jar passata tomato sauce 1 can brown lentils, drained To assemble: 150g fresh ricotta, crumbled 50g thick Greek-style yoghurt 35g Parmesan cheese, grated ½ jar passata tomato sauce Preheat the oven to 160°C. Combine the ricotta cheese, yoghurt and half of the Parmesan cheese in a small bowl. Place a brinjal slice on a work surface and top with a little of the ricotta mixture and a spoonful of the mushroom and lamb mixture. Roll up to enclose filling. Spread the remaining tomato sauce on the base of an ovenproof dish…

THURSDAY’S Cape Times editorial is right on the money. The ANC has become a shadow of its former self, having been eroded by corruption, ineptitude, lack of service delivery, broken promises and poor leadership. Cyril Ramaphosa’s calling for positive press on the eve of the national elections is shameful as there is not much positive to write about. The final straw at this time is that yet another child has died after falling into a pit toilet. This is a national disgrace and sits squarely on the shoulders of the ANC-run government. Pit toilets should have been abolished, outlawed, banned, years ago when promises were made to this effect by the very person who is calling for positive press. Shameful! Election day on May 29 promises to be a watershed…

Government and private sector need to prioritise funding of R&D initiatives I RECENTLY attended the Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium South Africa (Sidssa) in Cape Town hosted by Infrastructure South Africa, where key role-players in the infrastructure investment sector met for a three-day conference to discuss means to accelerate infrastructure development. Over the past few years, strides have been made with regards to establishing initiatives aimed at driving increased investments into the sector. Given the dilapidated state of much of our critical public infrastructure, there is a growing sense of urgency in the government’s approach. This has driven the state to employ creative solutions to financing, such as arranging new financial instruments, blended financing approaches, and renewed efforts at public-private partnerships. These efforts are focused on increasing private sector investment confidence…

Pope Francis presided over mass in Saint Mark’s Square in Venice yesterday, warning of environmental damage and over-tourism in a closely watched visit, the first for the ageing pontiff outside Rome since last year. Fragile health has prevented the 87-year-old leader of the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics from travelling in recent months, his last trip being a visit to the French city of Marseille in September. But under sunny skies yesterday, the pope appeared in high spirits as he addressed more than 10 000 faithful seated in the vast St Mark’s Square, following an earlier visit to a women’s prison and an address to young Venetians. Citing the “enchanting beauty” of Venice, Francis listed the many dangers facing it – climate change, mass tourism and “frayed social relations, individualism and…

Schools in Bangladesh reopened yesterday despite a heatwave continuing to sweep the South Asian nation, with temperatures expected to climb above 40°C in the days ahead. Schools that had closed last week reopened on what is the first day of the week in Bangladesh, despite the latest 72-hour heat alert being extended until April 30. Due to the recent holidays to mark Ramadaan and Eid-ul-Fitr, students received extended leave, including for the heat alert, leading schools to worry about students’ preparations for year-end exams. Daily assemblies will not be held until further notice, and the portion of class activities held outside the classroom and exposed to sunlight will be limited, the education ministry said. Parents are still concerned about the health of their children, however. Scientists say climate change is…

Athens: Greece’s coastguard said yesterday it had found the body of a man believed to have drowned when a migrant boat sank near the island of Samos. It said 25 people it described as “foreigners” were spotted on a “semi-submerged dinghy ... and rescued from the sea west of the South Aegean island”. Four people have been reported missing More than 7 000 people arrived in Greece in January and February, an increase of 18% compared to 2023, according to official data. The islands in the north-eastern Aegean Sea are a gateways for asylum seekers hoping to reach the EU, many fleeing conflict or poverty. | AFP…

New York: Disgraced Hollywood movie mogul Harvey Weinstein was hospitalised at the weekend on his return to New York after the city’s highest court overturned his 2020 conviction on sex crime charges. The 4-3 decision was a shock reversal of one of the defining cases of the #MeToo movement, but Weinstein, 72, will remain jailed on a separate 16-year rape sentence handed down in California. “A myriad tests are being performed on Harvey and he is being kept for observation” said his lawyer Arthur L Aidala. Last week, the city’s Court of Appeals found the trial judge erred in admitting the testimony of additional women who were allegedly abused by Weinstein but who were not named in the charges brought against him, and ordered a new trial. | AFP…

THERE are likely to be other bids for Anglo American, which on Friday rejected BHP’s $39 billion (R738bn) unsolicited all-share buy offer that seemed to be targeted for the Johannesburg and London-listed mining conglomerate’s lucrative copper assets, even though some analysts believe the Australian mining company may raise its offer. BHP’s proposed acquisition of Anglo American, one of the country’s largest listed entities, seems to have courted widespread opposition from business and labour quarters. In an interview with Business Report, Cratos Asset Management portfolio manager Roy Topol said on Friday that this was because under its rejected initial offer, BHP did not want exposure to South Africa, which is suffering operational constraints such as ports, rail, water and electricity inefficiencies. “They (BHP) seemed to be keen on Anglo’s highly-valuable…

THE uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) is not done purging members that it suspects of being “rogues working with external forces” from the newly formed party. This is a promise made by MKP spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela after the party expelled five of its members, including Jabulani Khumalo, who registered it at the Electoral Commission of South Africa. Ndhlela said yesterday that more expulsions could be on the cards. “We will be holding a media briefing to unpack the party’s action and what we have found. We started at national level (with expulsions), and we are still going to be coming down to provinces,” he said. In a statement on Friday, the MKP said attempts had been made by external forces working with people in the party to destabilise it, and as…

Judge Patrick Gamble in George describes Christina Els’s conduct as ‘vexatious’ before dismissing her bid with costs George psychologist Christina Els has failed in yet another attempt to stop the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) from instituting disciplinary action against her. In the latest court bid, sitting at the Eastern Circuit Local Division, Thembalethu, in George, Judge Patrick Gamble described Els’s conduct as “vexatious” before dismissing her bid with costs. Els faces an internal disciplinary process at the conduct committee for the Professional Board for Psychology through the HPCSA. Els was accused of operating outside her mandate as a court-appointed facilitator by personally investigating and coming to a finding of trauma related to severe parental alienation which allegedly impeded her neutrality, objectivity and effectiveness in making decisions in…

IT WAS heartening to read the piece by Thembile Ndabeni on Richard Owen (RO) Dudley in the Cape Times of April 25. Interestingly, Ndabeni refers (unwittingly?) to Dudley as a “coloured,” which would certainly have irked the man himself. This is because RO, as he was widely known, was at the forefront of a lifelong Struggle for non-racialism. It is well-known that apartheid was a form of ethno-nationalism which was underpinned by an exaggerated form of social stratification. Thus, the Struggle for non-racialism was a key attempt to undermine the bastions of ruling-class ideology. As Ndabeni rightly points out, Dudley was an individual of extraordinary personal talent, who chalked up an impressive record of academic achievement. However, his claim to fame was his commitment to education and to the anti-apartheid…

A STORY in Thursday’s Cape Times, “Employers blamed for R7 billion in unpaid pension contributions”, refers. Hopefully we will see numerous prosecutions of those employers who did not pay over the contributions to the pension funds. It’s not enough just to report the matter to the Pension Funds Adjudicator. The monies were deducted from staff members and used for other purposes than paying it over to the pension fund. This, by all definitions, is “theft”. The reality is that many employers across the board deduct pension money, UIF, workmen’s compensation, PAYE and other such deductions and then don’t pay the relevant authorities. We’ve seen this behaviour by the ANC and by large parastatals. It is alleged that even the SA Post Office didn’t pay over monies to medical…

DETECTIVES have seized evidence tied to alleged fraud, forgery, uttering, theft and prevention of organised crime regarding home loan applications. The SAPS investigation continues into an alleged money laundering scheme operating between KwaZulu-Natal, Johannesburg and Cape Town. Provincial detectives from the Western Cape Commercial Crime Investigation unit executed search warrants at two financial institutions in Strand on Thursday. It resulted in the seizure of evidence related to alleged fraud, forgery and uttering, theft, the Prevention of Organised Crime Act 121/1998 Section 4 to 6 relating to money laundering as well as the Cyber Crimes Act 19/2020 Section 8 and 9 charges, police spokesperson FC van Wyk said. “The searches, conducted at two financial institutions in Strand, yielded a significant amount of evidence, including documentation relating to bond applications, financial statements,…

The leadership of eThekwini Municipality has to prioritise service delivery, instead of approving a R25 million budget to purchase top-end vehicles reportedly for mayor Mxolisi Kaunda and his executive. A report tabled before the finance and emergency services committee last week revealed that the City was looking to spend this amount on new vehicles for its Security and Protection Services Unit. Despite fierce opposition from other political parties, the City’s executive committee gave the proposal the nod. All that is left for the proposal to be implemented is for the full council to give its final stamp of approval. While we do not believe that the City’s political leadership should be driven in old and rickety jalopies, we believe that the litany of challenges facing eThekwini right now do…

Tech billionaire and Tesla CEO Elon Musk met in Beijing yesterday China’s number two official, Premier Li Qiang, who promised the country would “always” be open to foreign firms. Musk – one of the world’s richest people – was on his second trip in less than a year to the world’s biggest market for electric vehicles. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said that during their meeting, Li had promised the country would do more to help foreign firms. “China’s very large-scale market will always be open to foreign-funded firms. “China will stick to its word and will continue to expand market access and strengthen service guarantees.” Beijing would also provide foreign companies with “a better business environment” so “that firms from all over the world can have peace of mind while…

KYIV: Fighting in eastern Ukraine has worsened and Kyiv’s troops have fallen back to new positions in at least three places along the front, Ukraine’s top general said yesterday. Russian troops have been steadily advancing in the east, with the focal point of fighting near the town of Chasiv Yar and northwest of Avdiivka, which Russian forces captured in February. Oleksandr Syrskyi said on Telegram his troops had taken up new positions west of the villages of Berdychi and Semenivka, both north of Avdiivka, and Novomykhailivka, further south near the town of Maryinka. Ukraine is expecting a long-awaited a shipment of US military aid which officials say is critical to holding off Russia. | Reuters…

London: UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has again refused to rule out a July general election, amid speculation that a disastrous set of local election results for the Tories could force his hand. Sunak said he would not “say anything more than I’ve already said”, which is that the national poll is likely to be in the second half of the year. Most Westminster analysts take this as meaning October or November, although it could technically also mean July. However, a drubbing in mayoral and council elections this week could either lead to a challenge to his leadership or persuade him that an earlier polling day could be optimal. | AFP…

Five points thanks to five tries saw the Stormers claim the fifth spot on the overall United Rugby Championship (URC) log after a clinical win over Leinster at the weekend. Although the inaugural champions are happy they got their campaign back on track with their 42-12 win, their attention will immediately shift to two important overseas clashes during a mini-tour of Wales and Ireland. The bonus-point win against Leinster will give them plenty of confidence before playing the Dragons and Connacht away from home, but head coach John Dobson also knows they can’t afford any more slip-ups in their quest to reach the play-offs. The Stormers can still qualify for a home knockout match, but that is out of their hands as they need a couple of favours from other…

Birthdays, holidays or just wanting to get dressed up and spend the afternoon with the girls are all perfectly perfect reasons for attending high or afternoon tea. Here are some beautiful spots that the tea-curious should not miss out on. Cape Town Swan Café This year, Swan Café turns 6. They have been voted in the 10 most Instagrammable cafés in the world by Lifestyle Asia, and listed in Inside Guide’s best breakfast spots for four years. The café brings the magic of Paris to Cape Town, serving authentic French crêpes and gluten-free savoury galettes. They also offer aromatic tea blends and artisanal coffee, delicious sexy salads, and brunch all day. Their speciality teas promise evocative aromas and delicate tastes. Located: Corner Buitenkant & Barrack Street, Zonnebloem. Coco Safar Coco…

From Page 1 within a reasonable time,” the PSA said. “The PSA reaffirms its commitment to the principles of non-racialism, non-sexism, and non- discrimination as enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. We remain dedicated to promoting professionalism, excellence, and equality within the legal profession, as well as fostering transformation and inclusivity.” When contacted for comment yesterday, Botes said: “I gave an explanation or interpretation of the judgment based upon the facts before the court. “I did so in my capacity as counsel and not in my capacity as a member of the Bar Council or on behalf of the Bar Council; and I took cognisance of the legal principles applicable in this specific matter.” In reference to his comment he added: “The Bar Council did appoint…

THE ANC is aiming to secure 60% of the votes in the eThekwini region in the upcoming national elections. ANC regional secretary in eThekwini Musa Nciki told supporters at a rally in uMlazi yesterday that the party was aiming to secure the bulk of the votes in the province’s biggest municipality. Yesterday’s rally was part of the Freedom Day celebrations hosted over the weekend. “The chairperson of the province, Siboniso Duma, is coming here to motivate us – to say, let’s go out to the public and urge them to make sure that on May 29, the ANC wins. “We have been given a target in eThekwini that we must secure 60% of the vote. We can’t get that 60% without securing 60% here in uMlazi township (one of the…

POLICE Minister Bheki Cele disclosed that SAPS spent R42.6 million on petrol and diesel for vehicles operated by the VIP protection services in the past six years. Cele responded to parliamentary questions from DA MP Andrew Whitfield after he enquired about the total amount spent by SAPS VIP Services on petrol and diesel from 2018-19 to 2023-24. Cele’s response revealed that the SAPS spent R42 676 117 during the six-year period. The breakdown of cost according to provinces over the period is as follows: National VIP Gauteng raked in R8 689 511. • Mpumalanga, R4 826 007. • KwaZulu-Natal, R4 796 271. • National VIP Western Cape, R4 687 920. • Free State, R3 795 287. • Gauteng, R3…

JUDGE Mandlenkosi Motha is one of the heroes who will be counted as a pioneer in enabling indigenous people to have access to courts for assertion and protection from the perpetual infringement of their rights by the absorption of more black lawyers to work in courts. By briefing black lawyers, one empowers them by exposing them to court work. The old fashioned “fit and proper” concept only protects those who were exposed in the colonial and apartheid system. (For love of country let’s call a spade a spade in April 2024).…

INTERNATIONAL and independent medical humanitarian organisation Doctors Without Borders (MSF) says the first-time release of detailed costs of an individual clinical trial to the public challenges the lack of transparency around drug development. It also provoked the prevailing public and policy narrative that high prices are needed to recoup high research and development costs. At the recent 5th World Health Organization (WHO) Pharmaceutical Pricing and Reimbursement Policies conference, MSF presented the costs of its landmark TB-PRACTECAL clinical trial that helped identify a shorter, all-oral treatment regimen for drug- resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB), which totalled €34 million (about R680m). The MSF study marked a significant first step towards increasing transparency in biomedical research and development costs, which could help shape more equitable models of research and ensure global access to lifesaving…

Equal Education (EE) and the Equal Education Law Centre (EELC) remain resolute in their concerted effort to place all learners at school. The Western Cape High Court struck their urgent application for the placement of pupils in the Western Cape’s Metro East Education District off the roll on Friday. EE and the EELC had earlier hauled the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) to court to declare its “failure to timeously place late applicant learners in schools” unconstitutional, citing planning inefficiencies and several unsuccessful attempts at engagement, among others. On Friday, the organisation said they had moved to set the matter down on the unopposed urgent roll. They promised to be back in the Western Cape High Court today because, “as every day passes, children from marginalised communities like Khayelitsha, Strand…

CIGARETTE filters are among the most littered plastic items on earth, with an astonishing 4.5 trillion cigarette butts littered on streets and beaches each year worldwide. It is also expensive to clean up the cigarette butts. In South Africa alone, it costs an estimated $117 million (R2.2 billion) annually to clean up, a cost shouldered by the taxpayer. This not only drains the already strained public resources but also harms the environment, wildlife, and marine ecosystems. E-cigarettes or vapes are not eco-friendly either. In addition to contributing to e-waste like batteries, and lithium, disposable e-cigarettes are made from non-biodegradable plastics and have been identified as a growing plastic pollution problem. The UK, France, and Germany have all initiated plans to implement a total ban on disposable e-cigarettes…

Diplomatic efforts intensified yesterday to reach a long sought-after truce and hostage-release deal in Gaza, as Hamas said it would travel to mediator Egypt to deliver its response to Israel’s latest proposal. The Israeli government has come under intense pressure to reach a ceasefire from its global allies, as well as from protesters within Israel demanding the release of hostages seized by Hamas during their October 7 attack that triggered the war. A Hamas delegation will arrive in Egypt today to deliver the group’s response to Israel’s new hostage and truce counter-proposal, a senior official of the militant group said. Egypt, Qatar and the US have been trying to mediate a new truce ever since a one-week halt to the fighting in November saw 80 Israeli hostages exchanged for 240…

Success in the fight to wipe out polio is not guaranteed, according to tech billionaire turned philanthropist Bill Gates, whose foundation has poured billions into the effort. Gates warned against complacency in tackling the deadly viral disease as he welcomed a $500 million (R9.3 billion) pledge from Saudi Arabia yesterday to fight polio over the next five years, bringing it in line with the US as one of the biggest national donors. However, there is still a $1.2bn funding gap in the $4.8bn budget for the Global Polio Eradication Initiative up to 2026. The new money from Saudi Arabia will go some way towards closing that. Saudi Arabia has supported polio eradication for more than 20 years, but the significant increase in funding comes amid a “challenging” situation, said Abdullah…

Dubai: Dubai said yesterday that work had begun on a new terminal at Al Maktoum International Airport that will become “the world’s largest” at a cost of almost $35 billion (R657bn). Once fully operational, the airport will “handle a passenger capacity of 260 million annually”. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai and prime minister of the United Arab Emirates, said it will have “the world’s largest capacity” and be “five times the size of the current Dubai International Airport”. The first phase of the project “will be ready within 10 years, with a capacity to accommodate 150 million passengers annually”. | AFP…

Jakarta: The Ibu volcano on Halmahera Island in the eastern Indonesian province of North Maluku erupted early yesterday, according to the country’s Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG). It reported that the volcano erupted for about 206 seconds, throwing ash up to 3 500m above its peak. Standing as high as 1 325m above sea level, the Ibu volcano is classified at the second danger level, below the highest level of IV. The centre called on the public not to have activities within a radius of 3.5km from the crater. Located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, Indonesia is one of the countries with the most volcanoes in the world. | IANS…

TWO-TIME defending world champion Francesco Bagnaia won his third successive Spanish MotoGP, denying home favourite Marc Marquez his first win since 2021 in a thrilling race yesterday. Bagnaia recorded just his second win of the season as he held on on his factory Ducati despite pole-sitter Marquez’s gargantuan efforts on his Ducati satellite Gresini bike. Marquez, whose last pole position was the Portuguese MotoGP in March last year, has had several years of fitness and injury problems. However, the 31-year-old six-time MotoGP champion laid down a marker as he recorded his best finish since being runner-up in the Australian MotoGP in October 2022. Marco Bezzecchi took third – his first podium of the season – while championship leader Jorge Martin crashed out when leading with 15 laps to go. Martin,…