Table of contents for 2021-11-01 in Cape Times

Siphokazi Vuso siphokazi.vuso@inl.co.za A PLETTENBERG Bay political movement is calling on the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to probe the integrity of ballot papers stored in the Bitou municipality - following allegations that ANC leaders were using the municipal offices as their campaign “war-room” over the weekend. Ikhwezi Political Movement (IPM) said they were alerted while campaigning on Saturday that some ANC leaders were campaigning inside the municipal offices. The party yesterday refuted the allegations. IPM president Nokuzola Kolwapi said their biggest concern was that ballot papers were stored in the municipal offices. “The leaders of the ANC are campaigning inside the municipal offices and they are using the municipal offices as their (premises) to run their campaign. This is while other leaders and other organisations are outside. “These things suggest…

Ntombi Nkosi ntombi.nkosi@inl.co.za THE Electoral Commission of SA (IEC) said while they could not guarantee a disruption-free election today, they vowed that all voting stations would be open and that everybody would receive an opportunity to cast their vote. IEC chief electoral officer Sy Mamabolo, speaking at the national electoral centre in Tshwane last night, said they had increased the number of electoral officers and asked police to beef up security in areas where there were disruptions (including protests and threats) over the weekend. On Saturday night, the IEC’s Results Operation Centre had to be evacuated after a power outage, with the commission confirming that this was due to an electrical fault. “We do have generators on site to prevent blackouts, we do have electricians on site and officials…

Rowen Ravera-Bauer NON profit organisation, U-Turn has called on the City to be more “strategic in supporting long term rehabilitative solutions” for the homeless as it says punitive responses have proven historically to be costly and ineffective. This comes, in response to the recently enacted amendments to the Streets, Public Places and the Prevention of Noise Nuisances By-law. The by-law was approved by the City of Cape Town Municipal Council in September and has received a backlash from many civic organisations. U-Turn said: “The Cost of Homelessness Study (homeless.org.za/cost-of-homelessness-in-cape-town) published in 2020, found that 45% of the total cost of responding to homelessness across Cape Town, was on punitive and reactive responses and just 16% on developmental responses. “The majority of this punitive expense is footed by law enforcement,…

Francesca Villette francesca.villette@inl.co.za “WHEN I go to school, I must be accompanied by someone because I am scared on the road. I loved him as an elder brother, and this happened.” These were the heartbreaking words of a girl who was raped by her next-door neighbour in 2014 when she sought refuge from the rain. Mbuyiselo Keva will spend the rest of his life behind bars after the Western Cape High Court on Friday confirmed his conviction and sentence. Keva, 48, had raped the then 7-year-old, and threatened her with a gun not to tell anyone. High court judges, Judge Derek Wille and Acting Judge Adrian Montzinger jointly noted that the victim impact report highlighted how the traumatic crime has influenced the child’s life. “The statement reveals, inter alia,…

Siphokazi Vuso siphokazi.vuso@inl.co.za POLICE are investigating a case of sexual assault against DA proportional representation (PR) councillor candidate Unathi Lasiti, after a woman and former colleague alleged he tried to “force himself“ on her in 2015. Police confirmed they were investigating the matter and said no arrests had been made. “Woodstock police are investigating the circumstances surrounding a sexual assault case. The suspect is yet to be arrested. The investigation into the matter continues,” police spokesperson Wesley Twigg said. The woman, whose name is being withheld for fear of victimisation, said while working as a volunteer for an organisation in Observatory in 2015, Lasiti had the responsibility to pick her up for work and return her home safely afterwards. On the evening of June 28, 2015, she alleged she…

Assessment suggests ANC will struggle to regain power in Joburg and capital city TODAY, the local government elections will be held. This is an anxious moment for all political parties that will be contesting. Undeniably, they were all on the ground campaigning. Some political parties have made metropolitan municipalities their focal point not only because of their massive influence on the socio-political and economic development posture and political socialisation, but also because the ANC has lost some ground in some of these metros. In this article, I contemplate on the possibility of the return of a coalition government in the City of Tshwane given its strategic importance as the capital city of South Africa. There is no doubt that all eyes will be set on metropolitan municipalities in Gauteng. This…

G20 countries have agreed on the need to keep global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, in language tougher than the 2015 Paris accords, several sources said yesterday. Three sources said diplomats had approved language for a final summit communique going beyond what was agreed six years ago, when the landmark climate deal called for capping global warming at well below 2°C and ideally closer to 1.5°C. The new declaration, expected to be released late yesterday, will talk about keeping the 1.5°C target “within reach”, one source said, without elaborating. Earlier drafts suggested that G20 countries were going to fall short of a firm pledge on the 1.5°C figure, but officials worked through the night to toughen up the language ahead of the crucial UN talks on climate starting in…

Japan’s stock market has surged and luxury cars are selling fast in Tokyo after eight years of economic stimulus under Abenomics, but that new wealth is concentrated in a small slice of society rather than broadly, data show. Addressing that divide has become a high priority for new PM Fumio Kishida, who promised to tackle income disparity made worse by the pandemic. But he has offered few clues as to how he will do so. “It’s like everyone has become poor,” said Masanori Aoki, 62, who owns a small coffee shop in a working class district of northeast Tokyo. “With Abenomics, the finance minister talked about wealth trickling down. But there was no such thing, was there? Almost nothing,” said Aoki, who took a job as a part-time kindergarten bus…

MADRID: A man bled to death from his injuries after he was gored at a bull-running festival in eastern Spain, authorities said. It was the first such fatality in the country since such events resumed after Covid-19 curbs were relaxed during the summer. The man, 55, who has not been named, was repeatedly attacked by the bull at the festival in Onda on Saturday. Other participants tried to entice the animal away but their efforts failed. The man died later on Saturday in hospital in the nearby town of Villareal after haemorrhaging blood from a wound in his left thigh that perforated his artery. He also suffered a head wound.…

Washington : A US Air Force bomber escorted by fighter jets from allies including Israel has flown over key waterways in the Middle East where American and Iranian naval vessels have faced off. The B-1B Lancer passed over the Gulf, Bab al-Mandeb Strait, Suez Canal and Gulf of Oman, the US Central Command said. It also flew over the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for a fifth of world oil output at the head of the Gulf that Iran considers a strategic area of influence. “The bomber task force mission was intended to deliver a clear message of reassurance,” Central comand said.…

Dan Biggar and Louis Rees-Zammit are set to return to the Wales squad for their match against South Africa after the Six Nations champions’ thumping at the hands of New Zealand. The All Blacks scored 26 points without reply during a ruthless final quarter in Cardiff on Saturday as they recorded a 32nd successive win over Wales, a sequence stretching all the way back to 1953. The British & Irish Lions pair of Northampton flyhalf Biggar and Gloucester wing Rees-Zammit were among seven Wales players unavailable as the game took place outside World Rugby’s autumn international window. They are now set to join the squad as Wales prepare to face the world-champion Springboks at the Principality Stadium on Saturday. Injuries and illness, in addition to absences caused by the Test…

Herman Gibbs herman.gibbs@africannewsagency.com Coach Eric Tinkler had the foresight to drill his penalty takers for three days, but it went horribly wrong when duty called against Mamelodi Sundowns in Saturday’s MTN8 final penalty shoot. During the two stages of the penalty shoot-out to determine the winner of the MTN8 City’s penalty takers choked with anxiety and pressure, and calmly surrendered their challenge. Sundowns held their nerve, or rather their goalkeeper Denis Onyango did, and they claimed a 3-2 win on penalties after the game had earlier ended 1-1 after extra time. This ended their jinx after losing two MTN8 finals after penalty shoot-out failures. At the post-match interview, Tinkler agreed it was “heartbreak of the highest order” after his team, decided underdogs, came so close in the drama-filled final. “I…

Zayn Malik and Gigi Hadid have reportedly called it quits. The former One Direction star and the 26-year-old model – who have 13-month-old daughter Khai together – are reportedly “not together right now”, after Malik allegedly got into an altercation with Gigi’s mother, Yolanda Hadid, earlier this month. A source told People magazine: “They are not together right now. They are both good parents, though. They co-parent. Yolanda is of course very protective of Gigi. She wants the best for her daughter and grandchild.” TMZ first reported on Thursday that Yolanda was considering filing a police report after Malik, 28, allegedly “struck” her last week. But moments before the story was published, Malik took to social media to post a statement about the incident, where he said he would “not…

Francesca Villette francesca.villette@inl.co.za A SMOOTH process was what over a million South Africans who started the 2021 Local Government Elections by casting their special votes experienced at the weekend. The IEC had approved a record 1 110 257 applications for special votes. This is a 62% increase compared to the corresponding election in 2016. Kraaifontein resident, Annie Barens said the process went smoothly yesterday. “The queue was not that long when I got here, I was in and out. “The volunteers and staff were nice and helpful,” she said. Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu and Leah Tutu were among those on Saturday to cast their votes. The couple voted at home during a brief visit by a delegation of IEC officials. The Archbishop turned 90-years-old this month. For nearly 63 of…

Mushtak Parker FOR a country whose majority population fought for generations to exercise their democratic right to vote in free and fair elections hardly 27 years ago, the 2021 municipal elections – the sixth since the end of apartheid – are as important as that historic poll in 1994, albeit for different reasons. When most of South Africa’s 26 228 975 registered voters make their way to the polling stations today across its nine provinces, I wonder what will be going through their minds. Will they stick to supporting the ruling ANC, long bereft of its imperious icons of yesteryear, on the basis that “it is better the devil you know than the devil you don't?” Or have they had enough of the broken promises, delivery failures and entrenched corruption…

| Pretty Things Delicious Eats Ingredients: For the crust: 160g plain oat biscuits ¼ cup coconut sugar 75g vegan butter For the filling: 400g vegan condensed milk 400ml almond milk 30g vegan butter 2 heaped tbsp flour 3 heaped tbsp maizena 1 tsp vanilla essence Method: In a food processor blend the biscuits with the coconut sugar and butter until combined and crumbled. Transfer to a tart pan and spread over the bottom and up the sides, firmly pressing down. Place the pan in the fridge to harden while you make the filling. Melt the vegan butter in a small pan over medium heat. Once melted, whisk in the flour for around 2 minutes to form a paste. Add in the milk and whisk. Add in the…

Chevon Booysen chevon.booysen@inl.co.za THE CONVICTION of three rape-accused has come as a victory for a male gang-rape victim and the Ceres community. Rodney Beukes, Austin Fritz and Peter John Adams who each faced charges of kidnapping and rape dating back to 2017 – and allegedly affiliated to the notorious Ford Boys Gang in the area – were convicted last week in the Ceres Magistrate’s Court. The survivor, referred to as “M”, had detailed while testifying in camera how he was allegedly raped and kidnapped by Beukes, Fritz and Adams. “M” believed the attack was because he was gay. Activist group, Triangle Project, said this was the “first successful judgment for male rape” and the outcome was celebrated despite the challenges which marred the trial along the way. “We are so…

chevon booysen chevon.booysen@inl.co.za BIDDING farewell to just under four decades of work in the police force, Anti-Gang Unit Head Andre Lincoln, bowed out of service last week. Lincoln, who celebrated his 60th birthday on Thursday, a day before his official retirement, served for decades in various capacities within the SAPS and recently as the Winelands Cluster Commander and Anti-Gang Unit head which was launched by the President of the Republic of South Africa in November 2018. On Lincoln’s retirement, civil activist Colin Arendse said: “That the old guard remnants of the apartheid regime (still present in SAPS) saw fit to fight Lincoln until his retirement is testimony that government has been unable, or even unwilling, to rein in those captured minions who still tarnish the image of the police like…

IN THE run-up to the upcoming 8th Ministerial Meeting of the Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (Focac) in Senegal later this year, the influential 10th China-Africa Think Tanks Forum, which was officially incorporated into the framework of Focac in 2012, was held in Hangzhou, in the dynamic Zhejiang province, last week. Under the theme, “Strengthening Solidarity and Co-operation, Enhancing Innovation and Development to Build Together a China-Africa Community with a Shared Future”, the two- day conference brought together more than 200 political, business, academic, civil society, media representatives from China and 15 African countries, including South Africa, Senegal, Nigeria, Tanzania, Kenya, Morocco, Madagascar and Liberia, for wide-ranging and frank exchanges on the future of Africa and China co-operation, with a strong focus on the proposed Focac meeting in Senegal. Deng Li,…

Khartoum: Sudanese anti-coup protesters yesterday manned barricades in Khartoum a day after a deadly crackdown on mass rallies, as a defiant civil disobedience campaign against the military takeover entered its seventh day. Tens of thousands turned out across the country for Saturday’s demonstrations, marching against the army’s power grab on October 25, when top general Abdel Fattah al-Burhan dissolved the government, declared a state of emergency and detained Sudan’s civilian leadership. The move sparked a chorus of international condemnation and punitive aid cuts, with world powers demanding a swift return to civilian rule and calls for the military to show “restraint” against protesters. Volker Perthes, UN Special Representative to Sudan, said yesterday he had met with detained Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, who is under armed guard by the ruling…

LONDON: A massive “virtual heist” has been carried out on exclusive London-based jewellery firm Graff, with the criminals now demanding a multimillion-pound ransom, according to The Daily Mail. The infamous Conti gang of hackers purportedly claimed responsibility for the audacious attack, wanting the personal details of world leaders, Hollywood A-listers and billionaire tycoons. The raid reportedly targeted a client database containing high-profilers such as ex-US president Donald Trump and his wife, former first lady Melania Trump.…

France and Britain offered wildly differing accounts after their leaders met yesterday to resolve a row over post-Brexit fishing rights that threatens to turn into a full-blown trade war. President Emmanuel Macron’s office was optimistic after the French leader met Prime Minister Boris Johnson one-on-one, without aides, for about half an hour on the margins of the G20 summit in Rome. The leaders agreed to work on “practical and operational measures” to resolve the dispute in the coming days, the office said. They were united on the need for a “de-escalation” with concrete action “as soon as possible” it added. But Downing Street denied any such agreement, and insisted it was up to Paris to back down on a threat to trigger trade reprisals against British fishing catches and other…

London: An Afghan toddler wounded in a suicide bombing near Kabul airport during chaotic international evacuations in August has been reunited with his family in Britain, the government said. Mohammad Raza, 2, who was injured in the August 27 attack that killed scores of people, including 13 US troops, landed on Friday as part of a military airlift from a country that neighbours Afghanistan, Britain’s interior ministry said. He has since rejoined his family, granted a long-term visa to remain in the country. The UK has airlifted more than 15 000 people – British and Afghan citizens – from the war-torn country since the Taliban wrested back power.…

Zaahier Adams zaahier.adams@inl.co.za KAGISO Rabada’s primary discipline is to charge in, bowl fast, deliver yorkers, and take wickets. It’s a straight-forward memo. At the halfway stage of South Africa’s epic T20 World Cup clash against Sri Lanka in Sharjah, Rabada would have felt that he had not executed. He had conceded 32 runs in his three overs with 17 runs, which included a six and two consecutive boundaries leaking off the final balls of his spell. It allowed Sri Lanka to add 48 valuable runs in the last five overs of their innings, which in the context of this gripping encounter was bitterly close to getting them over the line. The fact that it wasn’t is due to Rabada taking his secondary skill much more seriously lately. Having always…

Mike Greenaway mike.greenaway@inl.co.za The Springbok Women left South Africa yesterday for a challenging tour of France, Wales and England where they will be given a reality check of where they stand after having played little rugby. The South Africans play against France in Vannes on Saturday before facing Wales in Cardiff a week later. They then move to England where they will train against the strong English squad before playing a practice match against the England Under-20 side in three weeks’ time. They hope to conclude the tour on a high when playing against the Barbarians at Twickenham in what will be a historic first for the Springbok Women. The chief aim of the tour, though, will be to get their ducks in a row before next year’s World…

England have been tipped as a contender to win the T20 World Cup after their three crushing wins in the Super 12 stage, and legspinner Adil Rashid said yesterday there will be no let-up in intensity when they take on Sri Lanka next. Eoin Morgan’s men have the chance to become world champions in both forms of white-ball cricket, and the side have shown they have what it takes to add the T20 title to the 50-over World Cup win at home in 2019. Asked if it would be a challenge to focus against Sri Lanka within 48 hours of thrashing arch-rivals Australia on Saturday, Rashid said: “Not really. That’s part and parcel of the job. “That is what we’re required to do as cricketers, professional sportsmen. We take each…

Loyiso Sidimba loyiso.sidimba@inl.co.za PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa is scheduled to vote in his home township Chiawelo in Soweto today as millions of South Africans gather to participate in the local government elections. Chiawelo has seen a number of protests after the president promised to sort out electricity issues for residents across Soweto. Ramaphosa is expected to closely watch the results of the ANC’s gruelling campaign to keep the party he leads in power at municipal level. This week, Ramaphosa was at the helm of the ANC’s electioneering drive in various parts of the country. . The ANC has faced numerous challenges during the campaign for the municipal polls. The build-up to the elections has also not been without its fair share of controversy. After the riots in KwaZulu-Natal in July this…

OWN Correspondent ITALIAN photographer Riccardo Marchegiani was honoured with the Grand Prize at the Benjamin Mkapa African Wildlife Photography Awards, presented by the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) during its launch of the 60th year anniversary celebrating AWF’s decades of conservation work on the continent recently. Marchegiani received a cash prize of $5 000 (about R76 235) and a large Shona elephant sculpture for his photograph, Gelada and Baby, shot in the Simien Mountains National Park, Ethiopia. In addition, Marchegiani will be featured with an interview and portfolio in Nature’s Best Photography magazine, as well as a feature in a special edition devoted to the Benjamin Mkapa African Wildlife Photography Awards. Speaking at the inaugural Benjamin Mkapa African Wildlife Photography Awards, named in honour of the late former president of Tanzania,…

Staff writer THE ENDANGERED Wildlife Trust (EWT) and Welgevonden Game Reserve have recently teamed up to come up with the world’s first dedicated wild dog holding facility, which will temporarily hold the animals safely while awaiting relocation to their new homes as part of the Wild Dog Range Expansion Project. The Wild Dog Range Expansion Project, coordinated by the EWT, was established in 1998 to ensure the endangered species’ ongoing survival by increasing the population size, securing new sites, addressing human-wildlife conflict, and ensuring genetic viability of packs. At the time, African Wild Dogs (Lycaon pictus) were already the country’s most endangered carnivore, and the only viable population remaining was in the Kruger National Park. The project works collaboratively with 16 state, private, and community parks across South Africa, Mozambique,…

Chevon Booysen Chevon.booysen@inl.co.za HANOVER Park NGO, First Community Resource Centre (FCRC), is racing against the clock to raise funds to secure payment for a safe house property which will house their orphaned and vulnerable children programme to protect them from the “vicious cycle of destruction”. The NGO needs to raise R65 000 in less than a month following successful fundraising of R95 000 already. FCRC hopes to create an emergency safe space in the Hanover Park community with their new programme, All for One Child, targeted at children between the ages of 0-18 years. Ceasefire NGO founder, Craven Engel said the programme was being supported by a tri-partnership between Ceasefire, Hope And Homes for Children in South Africa and the FCRC. “We had bought the Lansur Road property three…

Odwa Mkentane odwa.mkentane@inl.co.za WHILE having fun with friends in Parkini, Khayelitsha, an off-duty police officer met his untimely death, after he was shot by unknown suspects on Friday. According to witnesses, he was shot just after finishing a call on his cellphone. Police confirmed the matter was being investigated by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) and no arrests had been made “The circumstances surrounding a shooting incident on Friday night at about 23:55 where a 31-year-old off-duty police constable attached to Table View SAPS was shot and fatally wounded is under investigation. “A murder case docket was opened for investigation. According to reports the victim was at a local takeaway shop when he was approached and shot by a unknown suspect who fled the scene and is yet…

MILLIONS of South Africans go to the polls today amid a raging Covid-19 pandemic as the Electoral Commission of SA (IEC) says it has implemented safety protocols to ensure that voters are safe. As thousands of party supporters turned up for final campaign rallies last week, Health Minister Joe Phaahla said he was more worried about the parties’ final weekend rallies becoming superspreader events than the election day itself. The IEC has encouraged people to carry their own pens to voting stations as they focus on minimising contact. IEC national spokesperson Kate Bapela said voters visiting a voting station in person to register or update their details “are reminded that they must wear a mask or appropriate face covering and observe social distancing. Hand sanitising facilities, as well as stationery,…

American Airlines cancelled more than 1 200 flights this weekend, citing bad weather and staffing issues. More than 700 flights were cancelled yesterday, according to flight tracking website FlightAware. A day earlier, more than 540 flights were cancelled. In a letter on Saturday to employees, American Airlines Chief Operating Officer David Seymour said that “these few days to close out October will be challenging”. Two days of severe winds in Dallas-Fort Worth last week reduced arrival capacity by more than half, driving a large number of cancellations, Seymour wrote. “With additional weather throughout the system, our staffing begins to run tight as crew members end up out of their regular flight sequences,” he wrote. “To make sure we are taking care of our customers and providing scheduling certainty for…

Sao Paulo: Brazilian football great Pele remembered his fellow legend late Diego Maradona on Saturday as the mercurial Argentine was recalled across the world on his 61st birth anniversary. Three-time Fifa World Cup winner Pele took to Instagram and wrote: “God gave him the genius. The world gave him its love. Today is Diego’s birthday. Forever, on this day, anyone who loves football will remember what he used to do with the ball. As for me, personally, I have the chance to fondly remember the beautiful friendship we had. These memories are a real gift.” Pele and Maradona had often vied for the title of best footballer in history. The Brazilian and Argentine were jointly named best player of the 20th century by Fifa in 2000. Maradona died on…

Timika (Indonesia): Church leaders in Indonesia’s conflict-wracked Papua region called for calm yesterday as thousands fled to shelters after a 2-year-old boy was killed in a firefight between government troops and independence-seeking rebels. The restive region at the easternmost edge of the Southeast Asian archipelago has seen intermittent clashes for decades in one of the world’s longest-running insurgencies. The boy, 2, was killed in an exchange of gunfire while a 6-year-old was hospitalised for bullet wounds suffered in the midst of a firefight in Intan Jaya district. Fearing more violence, about 2 000 Papuans have taken shelter in church-run buildings.…

KARACHI: A hardline Pakistani Islamist group called off a protest march to the capital Islamabad yesterday after reaching a deal with the government, ending two weeks of clashes that left at least seven policemen dead and scores injured. The Tehrik-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) began the march calling for the release of jailed leader Saad Rizvi and the expulsion of France’s ambassador over publication caricatures depicting the Prophet Mohammad in a French satirical magazine. “An agreement for peace and betterment has been reached,” Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, who represented the government in negotiations with the TLP, said.…

Herman Gibbs herman.gibbs@africannewsagency.com Kaizer Chiefs and Stellenbosch FC, two in-form teams, are on a collision course. Tomorrow, Chiefs will host the Winelands visitors who have been one of the surprise packages in this season’s Premiership after completing eight matches undefeated. Along with log-leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, Stellenbosch is one of only two teams undefeated at this stage in the league. Chiefs appear to be on a path of recovery with a four-match run in which they managed to turn their season around after suffering three defeats. In their latest outings Chiefs have enjoyed back-to-back wins against Chippa United and SuperSport United, with an encouraging aggregate of six goals and one against. Stellenbosch toppled Marumo Gallants 1-0 last week and earlier they were held to draws by Swallows FC and Baroka…