Table of contents for 2024-12-03 in Cape Times

THE Border Management Authority (BMA) will deploy additional staff and extend operating hours at some of the busiest ports of entry during the festive season. The BMA will also partner with the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development on the deployment of drones to enhance border security. Briefing the media on their festive season plan, BMA commissioner Michael Masiapato said they have developed a comprehensive plan that has been approved by the inter-ministerial committee, portfolio committee on home affairs and National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure. “During the planning phase we conducted extensive inter-jurisdictional discussions with our immediate neighbouring countries Lesotho, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Namibia, eSwatini and Botswana to streamline border processes and co-ordinate our work modalities during this period. “As a result, we have agreed to adjust operating…

THE DA has yet to indicate whether it will haul a George ward councillor before a disciplinary process after being criminally charged over allegedly assaulting a member of the public following a verbal and physical altercation. Police spokesperson, Christopher Spies, said Uniondale police were investigating a case of assault with the intent to commit grievous bodily harm following an alleged incident on November 9. “Reports available suggest that a 39-year-old was taken into custody in connection with the matter,” said Spies. Councillor Justin Fry appeared at the George Magistrate’s Court following the incident. Approached for comment, Fry said: “As a member of the DA, I respect the rule of law and welcome any process which emanates from it.” The Good Party has called on the DA to take disciplinary action…

1 tbsp sunflower oil 6 chicken breasts on the bone, halved and skin and all fat removed 2 large onions, thinly sliced 1 clove of garlic, finely chopped 1 cm piece fresh ginger, grated 3-4 cardamom pods 1 large cinnamon stick 1 tbsp ground cumin 2 tsp chilli powder or to taste 2 tsp ground coriander 1 tsp each turmeric and garam masala 3 tomatoes, finely chopped 1 tbsp tomato paste 2 cups (500 ml) water or Homemade stock 3 potatoes, peeled and cubed 1 tsp salt ½ cup buttermilk or plain low-fat yoghurt (optional) Heat oil in a large pot and fry chicken until golden brown. Spoon out and set aside. In the same pot fry onions, garlic and ginger for a few minutes. Stir in all the spices.…

THE public has already voiced a clear desire for greater accountability and stronger connections between representatives and voters, with suggested reforms to the electoral system including introducing the ability to recall representatives. This is according to the Electoral Reform Consultation Panel’s (ERCP) discussion paper on electoral reform released last week. The ERCP was established in May in line with the Electoral Amendment Act, to conduct a review of South Africa's electoral system and provide recommendations for potential reforms. The discussion paper serves as a foundational document that comes after an initial round of written submissions. It has now been released with the aim of gathering diverse perspectives, through the next phase of public consultation. The panel will gather views on ideas for reform through a series of events in every…

There is a stark contrast between rich nations’ promises and the needs of poorer countries THE playbook is gratuitously familiar, as if the COP process is set in Groundhog Day stone. The 29th Conference of the Parties (COP 29) under the auspices of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which convened in the Azeri capital, Baku, from November 11 – 22 hosted by President Ilham Aliyev was no exception. Baku was busted on several fronts. Given the lacklustre coinciding G20 leaders meeting in Rio de Janeiro hosted by Brazil’s President Lula da Silva on November 18 and 19 whose prime “achievement” was the launch of the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty, the fate of COP30 in Belem, Brazil, in 2025, even before it has begun, seems to…

The US yesterday launched its third crackdown in three years on China’s semiconductor industry, curbing exports to 140 companies including chip equipment maker Naura Technology Group, among other moves, said two people familiar with the matter. The effort to hobble Beijing’s chipmaking ambitions will also hit Chinese chip toolmakers Piotech and SiCarrier Technology with new export restrictions as part of the package, which also takes aim at shipments of advanced memory chips and more chipmaking tools to China. The move is one of the Biden administration’s last large-scale efforts to stymie China’s ability to access and produce chips that can help advance artificial intelligence for military applications, or otherwise threaten US national security. It comes just weeks before the swearing-in of Republican former president Donald Trump, who is expected to…

New Zealand scientists yesterday began dissecting a whale considered the rarest in the world, a species so elusive that only seven specimens have ever been documented. The dead spade-toothed whale washed ashore on New Zealand’s South Island earlier this year, offering a chance to study a deep-sea mammal that has never been seen alive. Measuring 5m long, the whale was winched off the beach in July and has sat in a special freezer since. Whale expert Anton van Helden said it was the first time scientists had been able to dissect a complete spade-toothed specimen, which belongs to the family of beaked whales. “This is a remarkable and globally significant opportunity,” he said. The dissection will help to fill in gaps about the whale’s behaviour, its diet, and even its…

TBILISI: Georgia’s president, locked in a standoff with her own government, appealed to European countries yesterday to confront what she described as a Russian attempt to impose control on her nation. The Kremlin has denied this. President Salome Zourabichvili was speaking after a fourth night of clashes between protesters and police after the governing Georgian Dream party said last week that it was suspending talks on joining the EU. Critics saw that as confirmation of a Russian-influenced shift away from pro-Western policies, something the ruling party denies. Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev warned that Georgia was “moving rapidly along the Ukrainian path, into the dark abyss”. | Reuters…

ISLAMABAD: Four militants were killed and two policemen injured when police in Pakistan’s east Punjab province repelled a terrorist attack, officials said. The incident happened on Sunday in the Mianwali district of the province where about 20 terrorists stormed a police station. The attack triggered an exchange of fire between the two sides in which the terrorists were killed, it said. Police took custody of the bodies and an investigation is under way to probe their identities. No group has claimed the attack yet. | Xinhua…

THE City of Tshwane has reached a significant milestone in its journey to financial recovery and stability by clinching a deal with Eskom to settle its R6.67 billion historical debt within five years. This was announced yesterday by Mayor Dr Nasiphi Moya during a media briefing at Tshwane House, where she said the two parties' agreement was formalised as a court order on November 26. According to a structured repayment plan, the city will make its first payment of R400 million in December 2024 and has already paid R425m in arrears for October 2024. “A critical condition of this agreement is the timely payment of current accounts within 30 days of billing,” Moya said. She said the settlement marks a turning point, ending years of costly litigation and redirecting the…

A pulmonologist says the results of a UCT study which found the prevalence of South African high school learners vaping increased sharply by grade, reaching 29.5% among matriculants and in some schools as high as 46%, showed the highly addictive nature of vaping products. The study titled, “Electronic cigarette usage amongst high school students in South Africa: a mixed methods approach” also found that 16.8% of learners have vaped in the past 30 days. Researchers used a self-administered brief electronic survey provided to a sample of high school students from January to October 2023 in South Africa. It included questions on vaping usage, initiation, reasons for continuation and indicators of physical and psychological dependence were asked. At least 25 149 students from 52 South African schools completed the survey. “The…

The Home Affairs department has gazetted an official extension to November 2025 for existing Zimbabwean Exemption Permits (ZEPs). Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber said the extension was granted so he could consult the affected ZEP holders in order to comply with the Gauteng High Court order. “I, with the powers bestowed upon me in terms of section 31(2)(b) of the Immigration Act, have decided to extend the validity of the Zimbabwean Exemption Permits until November 28, 2025, in order for me to fulfil the duty placed on me by the Gauteng High Court to consult the affected ZEP holders and all other stakeholders on the future of the current dispensation," he wrote in the Government Gazette. “The reactivation of the Immigration Advisory Board (“IAB”) is currently under way and its…

Two firefighters have been lauded for helping a mom-to-be who arrived at the Mfuleni Fire Station in distress, deliver her healthy baby boy. Joswin Lameyer and Khuselo Blaai were at the station when the woman arrived complaining of obstetric pains at the weekend. Mayco member for safety and security, JP Smith, said they jumped into action and summoned paramedics from Macassar Fire Station. “But the baby was not waiting, and so the two firefighters set about helping the mom deliver her baby, while receiving telephonic instructions from an Ambulance Emergency Assistant. “A few minutes later, a healthy baby boy made his appearance, and Lameyer and Blaai were able to clamp and cut the umbilical cord,” Smith said. The mom and baby were transported to the Site C Community Health Centre…

HEALTH Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has revealed that half of the 3000 clinics and hospitals inspected by the Office of Health Standards Compliance (OHSC) did not meet the expected norms and standards. “The total number of public health facilities inspected is 3092. Of those inspected, 1226 were found to be compliant and 1866 were not compliant since the promulgation of the norms and standards,” Motsoaledi said. He revealed this in a written reply to parliamentary questions from Rise Mzansi chief whip Makashule Gana, who enquired about the number of public healthcare facilities such as clinics and hospitals that met and/or did not meet the OHSC standards. His response showed that the Eastern Cape led the pack with non-compliance at 496 facilities, followed by Limpopo with 326, KwaZulu-Natal 208, North West…

OVER a hundred years ago, my ancestors settled our people, the Bakgatla-ba-Kgafela, at Mmasobudule on the Elands River, within what is known today as the Pilanesberg. It is an area rich in platinum, and brimful of potential. Traditional leaders in South Africa are custodians of cultural traditions and practices, but it’s also incumbent upon us to bridge the past and the future; to celebrate our history, while still providing the leadership, innovative thinking, and commitment to socio-economic transformation that will uplift every individual in our communities. For too long, the role of South Africa’s traditional communities have been overlooked, simply because they exist outside of the larger, built-up zones. We need to address the ignorance, educational disparities and socio-economic exclusion that has pushed us into the shadows, and alert our…

Israeli forces bombarded houses in overnight attacks in the northern Gaza Strip, killing at least 15 people in one of the buildings in the town of Beit Lahiya, Palestinian medics said yesterday. Several others were wounded in the attack and others were missing after a house providing shelter to displaced people was struck, with rescue workers unable immediately to reach them, the Palestinian Civil Emergency Service said. The three barely operational hospitals in the area were unable to cope with the number of wounded, they added. Clusters of houses were bombed and some set ablaze in Jabalia and in Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun, where the Israeli army has been operating for several weeks, residents said. They said Israeli drones had dropped bombs outside a school sheltering displaced families, suggesting…

France’s far-right National Rally will force the collapse of Prime Minister Michel Barnier’s government unless in a “last minute miracle” he yields to their demands on the budget, its president Jordan Bardella said. As the political crisis worsened, investors punished stocks and bonds and sold the euro yesterday, with French borrowing costs rising above those of Greece for the first time on record. The RN, on whose tacit support the fragile coalition government relies, had given Barnier until yesterday to yield to its demands, including on pension hikes, or face it backing a no-confidence motion which would lead to the government’s collapse. No French government has been forced out by such a vote since 1962. If he sees he does not have enough support to get that bill voted, Barnier…

OSLO: Norwegian seabed mining start-up Green Minerals said yesterday it expected a delay of up to 12 months in Norway’s first licensing round after the government had to scrap a planned announcement in return for support for the annual fiscal budget. A small left-wing environmenta-list political party in Norway succeeded on Sunday in blocking plans to mine the seabed at the bottom of the Arctic, by demanding that the government scrap its first licensing round in return for support for the budget. The government said preparatory work would still continue. | Reuters…

WASHINGTON: US President-elect Donald Trump has said that Lebanese American businessman Massad Boulos will serve as senior adviser on Arab and Middle Eastern affairs. Boulos, the father-in-law of Trump’s daughter, Tiffany, met with Arab American and Muslim leaders during the election campaign. Boulos campaigned for Trump to drum up Lebanese and Arab American support. Boulos has roots in both countries, and helped flip some of the 300 000 Arab Americans and Muslims in the state who supported Biden in 2020 but opposed Biden’s policies in Israel, Gaza and Lebanon. | Reuters…

The triumphant coach Steve Barker clocked his 100th win for Stellenbosch FC at Orlando's 'Slaughterhouse' on Sunday, in one of Mzansi's weekend football highlights. It was not a good weekend for Soweto's hordes of footy fans because 24 hours earlier, their hallowed Kaizer Chiefs left them with a sickening feeling after they were held to a 2-2 draw, despite leading 2-0 early in the match. Stellenbosch's win meant that no Premiership team was unbeaten at this stage and this hotly contested clash is one of the takeaways of Mzansi's weekend football. High-flying Bucs ambushed Orlando Pirates had boasted a remarkable start to their Premiership campaign, winning their first seven matches — a feat unprecedented in the PSL-era of the famous club's history. Yet, their momentum was abruptly halted by a…

ANC members have described the recent outburst by ANC provincial secretary Bheki Mtolo, demanding that the party’s president take responsibility for the May electoral setback, as a self-serving attempt to draw public sympathy. A video has been circulating, recorded at the meeting of the party’s Gen Gizenga Mpanza Region, where Mtolo can be heard saying that party president Cyril Ramaphosa and secretary-general Fikile Mbalula should also take the blame for the party's performance. The ANC at the national level has dropped below 40% in the recent general elections and suffered catastrophic losses in KwaZulu-Natal, where it was upstaged by its breakaway party, uMkhonto weSizwe Party. Members said Mtolo’s remark represented a massive fall-out between KZN ANC and national structures, noting that the province had been full of praise for the…

SA marks 30th anniversary of Land Rights Act while over 5 000 claims not settled IN A MAJOR setback for land restitution, the Commission on Restitution of Land Rights has reduced its targets, citing budget constraints, having failed to settle over 5 000 claims. This was contained in a parliamentary response by Minister of Land Reform and Rural Development Mzwanele Nyhontso to questions by ANC MP Cameron Dugmore. Regarding claims lodged by claimants in terms of the Restitution of Land Rights Act, Act 22 of 1994, before 1998 in each province, Dugmore wanted to know the total number of claims timeously lodged and the claims settled. The act was enacted to restore land rights to individuals and communities dispossessed due to past racially discriminatory laws and practices. This act…

While baseline unaudited figures from the Central Energy Fund (CEF) for fuel prices this month indicate a decrease of around seven cents a litre to ULP93 and a slight increase of three cents to ULP95, adjustments to industry margins could see prices for both fuels increase, the Automobile Association (AA) said. While motorists’ travel plans will be dampened by increases, they are unlikely to result in large-scale changes to holiday travel plans of those embarking on long year-end journeys, the AA said. “The Regulatory Accounting System (RAS) – the guidelines for the fuel industry that determines margins for petrol at wholesale, retail, and secondary storage, and distribution levels – could offset any gains and add to under-recoveries for petrol prices,” the AA noted, adding the full impact of the inclusion…

PROVINCIAL education departments must protect teacher appointments as much as possible to prevent deterioration in class sizes, researchers from Stellenbosch University (SU) said. SU’s Teacher Demographic Dividend (TDD) project further found that while the country doesn’t currently have a shortage of teachers, a gap exists between the types of skills needed in the classroom and those produced at teacher training institutions. The Research on Socio-Economic Policy (RESEP) group at SU’s Economics department has spent three years working on the TDD project, generating insights into South Africa’s future teacher needs and current realities. SU said: “While many teachers will be exiting the South African education system during the next six years, fortunately, South African universities have been training enough young teachers to provide replacements for those retiring.” In terms of class…

THE Portfolio Committee on Transport has urged law enforcement authorities to toughen up and arrest transgressors during this holiday season as yet another crash on Western Cape roads claimed a life. One person was killed on the Old R101 N1 road at about 6am yesterday, when two vehicles were involved in a head-on collision with one of them plunging down the bridge. “One fatality was confirmed and another person sustained serious injuries. “The incident is under investigation. Following the temporary closure of the road for authorities to attend to the scene, it has been fully re-opened,” said provincial Mobility department spokesperson Muneera Allie. The incident comes after a bus travelling from Eastern Cape to Cape Town overturned in Worcester on Sunday, killing eight people including six children. More than 20…

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent announcement that he is still awaiting the outcome of deliberations on Clauses 4 and 5 of the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act (Bela), before implementation can go ahead, is both disappointing and misguided. It raises significant concerns about Ramaphosa’s leadership and his commitment to inclusivity in South Africa’s education system. When Bela was made law, it came with an initial three-month delay for these two clauses, which grant greater control to the department over school admission policies and compelling school governing bodies to submit their language policies for approval by the provincial head of department. Ramaphosa’s hesitation over their implementation suggests a lack of commitment to fostering an integrated education system. This delay is not merely a procedural hiccup; it is a significant setback in South…

Romanian centrist and leftist parties looked to have fended off a surge by the nationalist right in Sunday’s parliamentary election, as attention turned to a top court ruling that was to take place later yesterday on whether to annul the results of a presidential vote. Romania, an EU and Nato member, was thrown into turmoil by a shock result in the first round of the presidential vote on November 24. A little-known far-right candidate surged to victory, raising suspicions of outside meddling in the electoral process of a country that has been a staunch ally of Ukraine. Romania’s Constitutional Court ordered a recount of the first-round vote and was due to announce its decision on whether to validate the results of the presidential ballot. If the court approves the result,…

Port Sudan: At least two people were killed when Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) attacked a camp for displaced people in the North Darfur region, activists said yesterday. The Zamzam camp, south of the regional capital El-Fasher, was hit by heavy rocket and artillery fire from the RSF on Sunday morning, said the local resistance committee in El-Fasher. The “indiscriminate” attack killed at least two people and wounded a dozen others. The north-east African country has been gripped by a war between the regular army and RSF that has killed tens of thousands and displaced more than 11 million since April last year. | AFP…

SANTIAGO: The population of Latin America and the Caribbean reached 663 million in 2024, 3.8% short of the figure projected in 2000, according to a report released by the Chile-based Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean last week. The UN agency said that the birth rate had declined more quickly than expected at the start of the century and that the Covid-19 pandemic and migration flows also contributed to the trend. The agency called for “promoting the population’s healthy ageing and ensuring everyone, especially lower-income groups, access to healthcare and social protection systems that would reduce the impact of greater demand for care on families”. In 2000, experts projected that by 2024 the region’s population would reach 689 million. | Xinhua…

The Proteas’ train to London for the World Test Championship final next year may be in express mode after their comprehensive victory over Sri Lanka in the first Test in Durban, but coach Shukri Conrad has plenty to ponder this week in Gqeberha. Much of his thinking will be focused on how he is going to assemble a bowling attack that is able to take a further 20 wickets to close out the 2-0 series victory, which will bring with it the invaluable 12 points that will take the Proteas ever so close to a place at Lord’s. Both all-rounder Wiaan Mulder and fast bowler Gerald Coetzee have been ruled out for the remainder of the series, with Coetzee likely to miss the entire home international summer. Considering the Proteas’…

Being able to select players with an eye on the future and winning in the present is a tricky business. The ability to match promise and potential, and back a hunch is risky when the stakes are high. It could not have been any higher for Ricky Ponting ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction last week in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The former Australian captain was entrusted with a mountainous sum of money to put together a group of players that could win a first-ever IPL championship title for Punjab Kings. Ponting made his intentions clear early on when Punjab shattered the IPL record by signing Shreyas Iyer for $3.18 million (about R58m) – only to see Lucknow Super Giants eclipse the mark a few moments later with the…

As India prepares to face Australia in the second Test of the five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy series this Friday, the cricketing world is abuzz with praise for India’s prolific fast bowler, Jasprit Bumrah. Following a sensational performance that saw him lead his team to a commanding 295-run victory against the Australians in Perth, Bumrah’s stature in the game continues to grow. Australian stand-in skipper Travis Head has now labelled him "one of the greatest fast bowlers to play the game," a sentiment echoed by players and fans alike. Bumrah, 30, showcased his formidable bowling skills in the first Test, claiming eight wickets and effectively dismantling the Australian batting line-up. His remarkable ability to excel in high-pressure situations has made him a key figure for the Indian squad. With regular captain Rohit…

Chelsea midfielder Cole Palmer expressed his satisfaction with the growing partnership he shares with fellow forward Nicolas Jackson after both players found the back of the net in the Blues' impressive 3-0 victory over Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. The win not only elevated Blues' position in the Premier League standings but also marked a significant step forward for the club in their quest for Uefa Champions League football. This latest victory sees Chelsea leapfrog to 25 points from 13 matches, sitting level with Arsenal, although they remain nine points behind league leaders Liverpool. Jackson, a Senegal international who joined the club last season, has steadily found his footing, now joining Palmer in scoring a noteworthy eight goals in the current league campaign. Reflecting on their on-field synergy,…

As the festive season approaches, Australian rugby enters a rare period of optimism following an unexpectedly successful Northern Hemisphere tour. The Wallabies, admirably led by coach Joe Schmidt, have shown resilience and improvement, dispelling the dismal forecasts that had accompanied their departure for the UK. Foreboding predictions suggested a dismantling at the hands of traditional powerhouses, but instead, Schmidt's side managed a memorable victory over England at Twickenham, quickly followed by a commanding win against a struggling Wales. These successes were especially significant, contrasting starkly against the backdrop of last year's disappointing results. However, the tour was not without its blemishes. A 27-13 loss to Scotland at Murrayfield tempered the excitement, and a narrow defeat at the hands of Ireland, where the Australians let a promising lead slip in a…