Table of contents for CT-2021-03-26 in Cape Times

Siphelele Dludla siphelele.dludla@inl.co.za THE INCLUSIVE Society Institute (ISI) has warned that unemployment in South Africa could rise above the 40 percent mark by 2023 if the economy grows less than 2 percent in the next few months. ISI said that its economic modelling showed that the current high level of unemployment was threatening to cripple any significant economic recovery, and vice versa. According to the ISI model, a weak gross domestic product (GDP) growth from 2021 to 2029 could see unemployment continue to linger at around 42 to 43 percent. ISI said at 2 percent sustained GDP growth over the next decade, the expanded definition of unemployment could be reduced to at least 38 percent by 2029. The reworked unemployment projections of the institute, based…

GIVEN MAJOLA given.majola@inl.co.za VARIOUS key representatives in the retail, petroleum, oil and gas sectors of the South African fuel retailing industry have come out strongly in support of the recent establishment of the Public Petroleum Products Act Compliance Forum by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy. The forum was a means to clamp down on the sector’s non-compliance. Gadibolae Dihlabi, managing director of the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association of South Africa (LPGSA), said they were concerned about the unacceptably high number of traders who were illegally filling or selling cylinders. “The consequences are dire and can lead to serious accidents. Collaboration is key, because it allows us to share information and strategies with other stakeholders, including the SAPS and the fire department,” said Dihlabi. She said that the more…

Siphokazi Vuso siphokazi.vuso@inl.co.za THE Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (Deff) says the massive washout of fish and shellfish on shores of the West Coast and False Bay is likely a result of adverse water conditions. This as the City urged beachgoers and dogwalkers to steer clear of toxic pufferfish that washed up on Muizenberg and Fish Hoek beaches last week, with its solid waste department so far removing approximately 70 bags of fish weighing 200kg. Deff spokesperson Zolile Nqayi said sardines, harders, white stumpnose, cuttlefish, octopus and pufferfish were among the animals that had washed up on the coastline. “Over the past week large fish and shellfish aggregations, in the shallow nearshore, as well as mortalities and washouts, have been observed in three different parts of the coast from…

Okuhle Hlati okhule.hlati@inl.co.za PRESSURE is mounting on Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande to resign following his comments comparing student protests to US soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful. The SA Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) has become the latest organisation calling for Nzimande’s head for “belittling genuine” student struggles. Nzimande had earlier this week expressed concerns that the already short 2021 academic year was being affected by the nationwide fees protest across the country, and the predicted third wave of Covid-19 infections might cause further delays. He was addressing Parliament’s higher education and training portfolio committee on Tuesday about the challenges in the higher education sector. Nzimande appealed to students to end their national shutdown over registration at universities, claiming protests had become a regular feature. “Every year, it’s…

Staff writer AFTER the Garden Route Game Lodge (GRGL), near Mossel Bay, released its first cheetahs into the 3 000-hectare reserve in 2007, it was to be another five years before the first litter of cubs would arrive. Since then, there have been many born at GRGL, and last month the lodge announced the arrival of the eighth litter. GRGL wildlife manager Abri Olivier had noticed that one of the female cheetah’s GPS tracking collar readings indicated she had not moved for several days. Searching the veld, he discovered another litter had been born, six healthy cubs that were well-camouflaged in thick fynbos. On Wednesday, the mother led them out into the open for the first time, to the delight of guests and rangers who were out on an…

Nicola Daniels nicola.daniels@inl.co.za A PEEK into the vulnerability of the nation’s everyday heroes, doctors, from the experiences of medical school and what they go through in practice, is offered by final-year medical student Ashiq Pramchand, 23, in his first book, The Great Medical Student Odyssey: Tales and Adventures in Medical School. The 194-page book illustrates the adventure and harsh realities of medical students in South Africa through Pramchand’s experiences at UKZN’s Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine. “When I started medical school, I could not find a book offering the student perspective of our experiences, said Pramchand. “We see incredible stories in the wards, meet fascinating patients and in the first three years there’s navigating through social and financial challenges that arise. “The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that it’s…

Chevon Booysen chevon.booysen@inl.co.za A MEMORIAL service for Struggle stalwart Cecyl Esau tomorrow in Worcester will be among a number of Covid-compliant events to celebrate his life and legacy. Esau, 66, died earlier this week at his Table View home due to natural causes. Family spokesperson Tamara Snow said they were overwhelmed with the outpouring of support. “The family would like to express their heartfelt appreciation for the support they received as they mourn the loss of their father, brother and grandfather. Cecyl was many things to many people – a mentor, a friend, a Struggle hero and like the bright light that he was, he touched countless lives. The family is humbled by the outpouring of love for him. “To celebrate Cecyl’s life, a number of events have been arranged,…

Okuhle Hlati okhule.hlati@inl.co.za TWO City employees had a narrow escape in Samora Machel as they prepared to carry out a community outreach initiative when armed robbers allegedly fired a shot before taking their cellphones. According to mayoral committee member for community services and health Zahid Badroodien the women were among four staff members who were tasked on Wednesday morning to assist Ward 33 councillor Sithembiso Mzobe with a ward allocation linked to older persons at the Weltevreden Hall. Badroodien said just before leaving the premises, the two women were approached by armed teenage boys who robbed them. “The matter was reported at the local SAPS, and all staff who were present at the incident have been offered support, including counselling. “The City condemns this incident and we appeal to the…

Reviewer: Julian Richfield IT’S NOT ABOUT THE BATS Adam Cruise Loot.co.za (R225) TAFELBERG ADAM Cruise is an investigative environmental journalist and travel writer and his new book, It’s Not About the Bats, is topical, powerful and important. He suggests that although Covid-19 is suspected to have originated in bats, the fault was not theirs. “It’s common knowledge that human behaviour towards the natural world has triggered what scientists and commentators now refer to as the Sixth Mass Extinction event in the history of the Earth. The Covid-19 pandemic has put the spotlight on how human expansion on Earth has led to the increase in zoonotic viruses jumping species.” Only yesterday in the media there was an article about how scientists fear another coronavirus could jump from animals to humans. “It…

THE joint decision to forge ahead with plans to stage the British and Irish Lions tour as scheduled in South Africa is a brave call which will hopefully turn out to be a big boost for the game and for the economy of our country. A Lions series against our world champion Springboks in the UK, or Australia for that matter (as had been mooted), would just not have felt right. The four Home Unions – England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales – touring together as a team, taking on the Springboks, All Blacks or Wallabies, is one of the most cherished sporting events across all codes. The Lions only tour every four years, which makes it an even more celebrated occasion. As Jason Leonard, former England prop and current chairperson…

A container ship blocking the Suez Canal like a “beached whale” may take weeks to free, the salvage company said, as officials stopped all ships entering the channel yesterday in a new setback for global trade. The 400m Ever Given is blocking transit in both directions through one of the world’s busiest shipping channels for oil and grain and other trade linking Asia and Europe. The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) said eight tugs were working to move the vessel, which got stuck diagonally across the single-lane southern stretch of the canal on Tuesday amid high winds and a dust storm. A total of 206 large container ships, tankers carrying oil and gas, and bulk vessels hauling grain have backed up at either end of the canal, Egypt’s Leith Agencies said,…

The US and Britain imposed sanctions on military-controlled conglomerates in Myanmar yesterday as security forces were reported to have killed five more pro-democracy protesters in an unrelenting crackdown on dissent. Thousands of people held protests against last month’s coup in the commercial capital Yangon, central Monywa city, and several other towns yesterday, according to witnesses. “Are we united? Yes we are,” protesters shouted in Monywa. “The revolution must prevail.” Myanmar has been rocked by almost daily protests since the military overthrew Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government on February 1 and installed a junta led by generals. Suu Kyi and other members of her National League for Democracy (NLD) are being held in detention. At least 286 people had been killed in the subsequent crackdown as of Wednesday evening,…

Zaahier Adams The Proteas Women’s team arrived home from India yesterday full of smiles. And they had every reason to. No South African cricket team has ever enjoyed as successful a tour as they just experienced. Six victories from eight starts is almost unbelievable, but that’s Hilton Moreeng’s side magnificent record over the course of the ODI (4-1) and T20I (2-1) series. From the moment they arrived in Lucknow, not knowing what to expect from “bubble life” in India, they have been on the mark, and Moreeng claims its all down to how everything begun. “We knew we were playing against a team that prides itself on playing well in its own conditions. It was very important that we started well. The first ODI was the most important game of…

Loyiso Sidimba and Baldwin Ndaba FORMER president Jacob Zuma was yesterday accused of waging a malicious political campaign against the Constitutional Court, the entire judiciary and the Zondo Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture. The apex court heard the commission’s arguments in its urgent application to have Zuma jailed for contempt of court for ignoring the January 2021 order compelling him to honour the inquiry’s summons and directives. Advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi SC, for the commission, told the Constitutional Court that Zuma was not even represented in the matter to complain about the possible infringement to his freedom of speech for the claims he made against the judiciary. ”He is quite happy that he has made his remarks because they fall into the category of political campaigns,” he argued.…

Sihle Mavuso, Viasen Soobramoney, Nicola Daniels and Rapula Moatshe THE resignation of Professor Salim Abdool Karim as co-chairperson of the Covid-19 ministerial advisory committee (MAC) on Covid-19 ahead of the much-feared third wave has been met with surprise, with the health sector lauding his dedication and leadership in the global fight against the pandemic. Karim’s resignation from the committee tasked with advising Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize and the Cabinet on how to contain the spread of Covid-19 became public knowledge yesterday. He has been co-chairing the committee for a year and provided leadership when the country first went into a hard lockdown in March last year. The Health Ministry said Karim indicated his desire to leave the position during a meeting held last week Friday. In the resignation…

Staff Reporter LARGE Typewriters, an imposing large-scale work by celebrated South African artist William Kentridge, was one of the stand-out lots at Bonhams Post-War and Contemporary Art sale in London this week, achieving an impressive £682 750 (R13.9 million) – a new auction world record for a drawing by the artist. The top lot of the sale was Girl With Ice Cream on Palette by Banksy, which sold for £1 102 750. The 30-lot sale made a total of £4 080 025, with 97% sold by value and 87% sold by lot. Ralph Taylor, Bonhams global head of Post-War and Contemporary Art, said: “Large Typewriters is a perfect example of Kentridge’s practice. “We are delighted that it achieved such a wonderful price and set a new auction record for a…

Staff writer PUBLIC assistance has been sought as the search continues for 18-year-old Emile Smit, a pupil at Landbou High School in Paarl. Police spokesperson Andrè Traut said Smit was reported missing at the Paarl police station on Wednesday. “Emile is a Grade 12 learner at the Landbou High School in Paarl and was last seen at around midday in his school uniform on a gravel road on the school’s property. He resides at the school’s boarding house. A search of the area comprising SAPS, Farm Watch and community members was unsuccessful last night and resumed (yesterday),” said Traut. There were no further updates regarding Emile’s whereabouts at the time of publication and his disappearance was still under investigation. Anyone with information on Smit’s disappearance can anonymously contact Crime Stop…

Odwa Mkentan odwa.mkentane@inl.co.za SEVEN people were arrested in ongoing service delivery protests in Kraaifontein and Delft yesterday. The protests over lack of basic services, including sanitation, is being led by the Intlungu yaseMatyotyombeni Movement (the pain of people living in informal settlements) and began on Tuesday in Khayelitsha, Mfuleni and Eerste River, with vehicles being torched and stoned and a number of roads barricaded by rubble and burning tyres. A Golden Arrow Bus Service (Gabs) bus was stoned in the early hours of yesterday on the R300 near Delft, six passengers were injured. Two people were arrested during Wednesday’s unrest. Police spokesperson Andrè Traut said the suspects will appear in the Blue Downs Magistrate’s court once they have been charged. “Public Order Police members have been deployed in areas…

Hidden Karoo Patricia Kramer and Alain Proust Loot.co.za (R349) STRUIK IF like me, you revelled in the delights of Alain Proust three books in his ‘Hidden’ series: Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Pretoria, you are in for an even bigger treat with the series’ new volume, Hidden Karoo. “One of the central themes of the Hidden series of books is that, amid the constant change in the country, our built heritage remains under threat and in need of preservation. “Like its companion titles, Hidden Karoo aims to uncover the hidden architectural treasures of the Karoo against the background of the region’s awe-inspiring landscapes and the buildings that occupy them.” Proust’s jaw-dropping photography, combined with Palaeolithic Archaeologist, Patricia Kramer’s historic and cultural narrative, provide a book in which every one of…

Military attacks against jihadists, to prevent them from raiding communities, have failed All the efforts to neutralise jihadist groups in the Sahel over the past eight years have had little effect in ridding the region of the Islamic State and al-Qaeda-linked groups. Ironically, the situation has got worse, and escalating levels of violence have raised alarms both in North Africa and in European capitals. The failure to effectively stem the growth of Jama’at Nasr al Islam wal Muslimin – al-Qaeda’s affiliate in the Sahel, and the Islamic State in Greater Sahara, is evidence of a flawed counterterrorism strategy. The time has come to shift from a reliance on a heavy-handed military approach to dealing with jihadist groups to one that prioritises the need for good governance in the region…

BRAVE Struggle hero Charm Govender passed away. He has done his deed, living his life to the fullest and inspiring a multitude of South Africans. The best we can do to honour his tireless efforts is promoting social and political justice in our land and to continue exposing the injustices that exist and call for a renewed sense of quality for the masses. Charm gave all that he had to redeem South Africa’s unmet promise of equality and justice for all, and to create a place for us to build a more perfect society together. It was stalwarts like Charm, who fought to lift the yoke of apartheid tyranny. His passing reminds us to take time and pause and express gratitude for the contributions men and women made during the…

BOULDER: A judge in Boulder, Colorado, yesterday ordered a 21-year-old man accused of fatally shooting 10 people at a supermarket to be held without bail while he undergoes a mental health assessment requested by his lawyers. Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa faces 10 counts of murder and an attempted murder charge stemming from the rampage on Monday at King Soopers grocery store in Boulder. Appearing in county court in Boulder, Alissa affirmed he understood his rights and that he would be held without bail. Defence lawyers requested that he undergo a full mental health assessment, which would likely delay his preliminary court hearing a couple of months. | Reuters…

EU leaders met yesterday to navigate a common path out of the Covid-19 pandemic as infections surge in many of their countries, seeking agreement on how to ramp up supplies of vaccines after a slow start to immunisations. With distribution of shots uneven across the bloc and member states divided over whether to take a tougher line on vaccine exports, French President Emmanuel Macron spelt out the frustration over inoculation programmes that are running far behind those of Britain and the US. As of March 23, Britain had administered nearly 46 vaccines for every 100 people, compared with under 14 per 100 in the 27-nation bloc it left last year, according to figures compiled by website Our World In Data. Europe’s roll-out, beset with administrative and logistical delays, has led…

Welcome to SPORTS DRIPS. Its month end and I will be giving you some cool tips on where to find the best online deals for sportswear. E-commerce has thrived during this horrible pandemic as it was so easy to buy from the comfort of your home and the goods are delivered directly to your door. If you did not like the product that you saw online or it did not fit you could return it with no extra cost … so convenient. If you were like me, I was very wary to buy off any site as there is fraud and I could lose my hard-earned cash or my bank account could be hacked so I started very late in the game with regards to online shopping. Today I will…

Siphelele Dludla siphelele.dludla@inl.co.za THE MARKET dove into the red yesterday with the JSE falling the most in almost two months dragged by the decline in retailers and banks after the SA Reserve Bank (SARB) raised its inflation forecasts for this year. The JSE All Share Index fell 0.73 percent to 64 783 index points, its lowest level since February 5, as fears over renewed lockdown restrictions will weaken the momentum in economic recovery. The rand also pared early gains while stocks traded at a near 2-month low, weakening 0.2 percent to R15.06 against the dollar by 5pm as the looming third wave of Covid-19 infections and possible tighter restrictions drove traders to the dollar. Analysts forecast that an appreciating collar could push the rand towards R15.17 and R15.35…

Sandile Mchunu sandile.mchunu@inl.co.za THE SHARE price of Sabvest Capital (Sabcap) leapt by more than 14 percent on the JSE yesterday morning, despite the investment group reducing its dividend for the year to the end of December for the first time in 20 years as it decided to preserve cash due to the lingering Covid-19 threat, as well as for share buyback programmes. The share closed 9.07 percent higher at R38. Sabcap has interests in nine unlisted investments and three listed investments. Its listed investments include a 1.6 percent stake in Transaction Capital, 11.1 percent in Metrofile Holdings, and 7.3 percent in Corero Network Security, a cyber-security group listed on the London Stock Exchange. Sabcap’s unlisted investments include a 44.8 percent stake in Apex Partners, a 25 percent interest in Classic…

Siphokazi Vuso siphokazi.vuso@inl.co.za Stellenbosch University (SU) has welcomed a South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) probe into allegations that students at the institution were being prevented from communicating in Afrikaans, as the institution’s own investigation continues. SAHRC spokesperson Gushwell Brooks said the commission had received a number of complaints alleging students were banned from communicating in selected languages, specifically Afrikaans. “The commission seeks to understand the extent of this alleged prohibition. The ban has allegedly been enforced by prohibiting the use of Afrikaans in private spaces, including residences, bedrooms, digital platforms such as WhatsApp and even on park benches in front of students’ residences. “The commission’s investigation at this stage relates to alleged violations of a number of rights, including the right to equality on the basis of language, race…

OWN Correspondent THE Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) collaboration – which produced the first image of a black hole – has revealed a new view of the massive object at the centre of the M87 galaxy and what it looks like in polarised light. This is the first time astronomers have been able to measure polarisation – a signature trait of magnetic fields – this close to the edge of a black hole. The observations are key to explaining how the M87 galaxy, which is located 55 million light years away, is able to launch energetic jets from its core. The study involved more than 300 researchers from multiple organisations and universities worldwide, and the findings were published this week by the EHT collaboration in two separate papers in The Astrophysical…

Nicola Daniels nicola.daniels@inl.co.za THE WESTERN Cape Museums Ordinance Amendment Bill has been officially adopted with the intention of reducing the financial burden of annual audits currently conducted by the auditor-general on province-aided museums. Changes to the provincial bill were open to the public via a virtual hearing before the standing committee on community safety, cultural affairs and sport, where no objections were received. The provincial Department of Community Safety, Cultural Affairs and Sport said the auditor-general was responsible for auditing province-aided museums. “This costs the province-aided museums upwards of R100 000, which is an exorbitant fee for the small entities to pay. To alleviate the strain, the amendment bill was formulated,” the department said. “The main purpose is to free up the R5 million annually spent on auditor-general costs, a…

Athandile Siyo athandile.siyo@inl.co.za THE Silvermine Dam area in the central section of Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) has been closed to the public as the search continues for missing hiker Michael Riley, 69. Riley, a regular hiker, went missing on Sunday. TMNP spokesperson Rey Thakuli said: “The SAPS Diving Unit, Metro Rescue Unit, TMNP rangers, and Working on Fire (WOF) team are currently conducting a search operation in and around Silvermine. The teams have been unsuccessful thus far and will continue with the search extending to other areas of the park too.” Police spokesperson Andrè Traut said Riley was reported missing on Tuesday. “The disappearance of Michael Riley is being investigated after he was reported missing at Kirstenhof police station. It is suspected that he went for a swim in…

Red Island House Andrea Lee Loot.co.za (R480) Scribner ANDREA Lee’s superb fiction often describes the collisions between people who hail from different cultures. The protagonist of Red Island House is – like Lee herself – an African-American woman married to an Italian and living in Italy. The fictional Shay holidays several times a year with her husband Senna in a flamboyant beach house in Madgascar. Her assigned role as the “chatelaine of a neo-colonial pleasure palace” discomforts her because it smacks of presiding over a plantation in the antebellum South. An academic by training, Shay attempts to maintain an anthropologist’s distance from the strange society she’s periodically immersed in. Nonetheless, over a span of two decades she’s enchanted and eventually repelled by the beautiful, disturbing environment of this remote corner…

Mark Keohane THE coronavirus pandemic has turned the world upside down but it doesn’t seem to have altered the way of life, economically and financially, when it comes to football and footballers. Something is very wrong with our world when 6 500 migrant workers from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lank die in Qatar in the 10 years since the country was confirmed as the 2022 Fifa Soccer World Cup hosts. I am an avid reader of news, arts, sports and whatever else my time allows. Among the stories that grabbed my attention this week was The Guardian’s investigation into labour rights and the 2022 Fifa World Cup in Qatar. The investigation quoted Nick McGeehan, a director at FairSquare Projects, whose company specialises in labour rights in the Gulf. McGeehan…

North Korea launched two suspected ballistic missiles into the sea near Japan yesterday, underscoring steady progress in its weapons programme and ramping up pressure on the new US administration as it reviews the North Korea policy. The apparent tests were reported by authorities in the US, South Korea, and Japan, and coincided with the start of the Olympic torch relay in Japan. They would be the first ballistic missile tests by North Korea in nearly a year and the first reported since US President Joe Biden took office in January. Analysts said the latest missile tests did not mean denuclearisation diplomacy was dead, but they highlight an inconvenient truth for the US administration: Pyongyang’s arsenal is advancing, posing new threats and increasing its potential bargaining power should talks resume. “Every…

MOGADISHU: At least four civilians were killed and nine others injured in Somalia yesterday by mortar shells that were likely targeting peacekeeping force Amisom’s base at the airport in the capital Mogadishu. The mortar shells fell short of their likely target, striking homes just outside a compound that houses both the Amisom base and airport, according to witnesses. There was no claim of responsibility. Somalia’s Islamist group al-Shabaab has, in the past, conducted similar attacks on the base and airport. Among those killed were a man and his son, while the man’s two other children, a 3-month-old baby girl and 4-year-old boy, and their mother were injured. | Reuters…

MOSCOW: Allies of jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny said yesterday that they wanted proof he was healthy after his lawyers were denied access to him and the Russian prison service said his health was satisfactory. Leonid Volkov, a close Navalny ally, said Navalny began to experience serious back pain last week, felt a numbness in his leg and been unable to stand on it. He was given two Ibuprofen pills for the pain, Volkov said. Navalny said through his lawyers that he was being prevented from sleeping by prison guards. He had asked prison authorities to let a civilian doctor visit him, but had been refused. Nearly 160 cultural figures published an open letter demanding that he be held in normal conditions. | Reuters…