Table of contents for 2023-06-02 in Cape Times

In an important judgment concerning environmental law, the Supreme Court of Appeal again confirmed that although a mine has stopped its operations, it remains responsible to do all it can to prevent harm to the immediate environment until the mine is certified closed by government. The court endorsed a previous Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, order that the Ezulwini Mining Company had a continued obligation to pump extraneous water from its underground mining area. This is in spite of the fact that it stopped its mining operations years ago. The mining company turned to the Supreme Court to appeal the earlier high court order. It once again lost its case as the Supreme Court ruled that it had to continue pumping the underground water until the Minister of Mineral Resources and…

THE Red Cross Children’s Hospital has seen nearly 200 children who were admitted in the first five months of the year either due to negligence or violence. A clear indication that more action is needed to identify children at risk and implement interventions, Red Cross Hospital’s CEO Dr Anita Parbhoo said. According to the hospital its Child Protection Services (CPS) treated 183 children between January 1 and May 26, 2023. These cases relate to different types of abuse. Physical abuse cases were 69, neglect 50, sexual 25, child-at-risk 29, gunshot six, physical-neglect three and neglect-abandonment one case. Mostly involving male children. More than 40% of the children were between the ages of 1 to 5 years. In one trauma and graphic case presented, a 9-year-old boy was admitted with multiple…

Remembered as a committed welfare vet, the Cape of Good Hope SPCA’s Animal Hospital said the legacy of Dr Natheem Jacobs will forever be part of the work that they do. Jacobs had worked for the SPCA as a vet. The vet, who would have turned 28 on Tuesday, was stabbed to death outside his Garlandale home in March when he tried to stop criminals from stripping his car. His suspected killer, Javon Williams, 38, appeared in the Athlone Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday. However, his bail application was postponed to June 7. Williams will remain in police custody until then. He had handed himself over to the police this week. National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said the State would oppose bail. Jacobs’s family and friends had gathered in…

Manenberg residents are reeling after four people were shot and killed in two separate incidents on Wednesday night. Police said they were investigating the circumstances leading to the murders. According to police spokesperson Andre Traut, at around 7pm two vehicles with unknown assailants opened fire on a group of three men standing on the corners of Jordan and Silver Stream roads. An 18-year-old was killed, while two, aged 41 and 48, were wounded. “Ten minutes later four suspects driving a white unknown vehicle fired several shots at three male victims on the corners of Klipfontein and Jupiter roads in Surrey Estate, fatally wounding all three, aged 19, 20 and 28. “In both incidents the suspects fled and are yet to be apprehended,” he said. Surrey Estate Neighbourhood Watch member Ebraheem…

Winnie & Nelson – Portrait Of A Marriage Jonny Steinberg Loot.co.za (R245) Jacaranda One of the most celebrated political leaders of our time, Nelson Mandela has been written about by many biographers and historians. But in one crucial area, his life remains largely untold: his marriage to Winnie Madikizela-Mandela. During his years in prison, Nelson grew ever more in love with an idealised version of his wife, courting her in his letters as if they were young lovers frozen in time. But Winnie, every bit his political equal, found herself increasingly estranged from her jailed husband’s politics. Behind his back, she was trying to orchestrate an armed seizure of power, a path he feared would lead to an endless war. Jonny Steinberg tells the tale of this unique marriage –…

IT IS unfortunate that you have men and women who played with the freedom that was hard-earned. Many suffered from sacrificing for the freedom we are “enjoying” today. Yet, the likes of Mama Rahima Moosa never tasted it after paying dearly for it. One of the wonderful people who sacrificed and suffered is Mama Rahima Moosa. Before departing this life, Mama Rahima Moosa made sure that her children would continue to make contributions in our society. The question is, are they doing that? Why? How is the ruling party feeling about it? Do they check on her family and others who made such wonderful contributions to the Struggle that led to the driver’s seat they find themselves in today? As much as she was neither the first nor the only…

US lawmakers voted this week to raise the national borrowing limit as a crucial first step to averting a catastrophic default, greenlighting a pact struck between Washington’s warring parties after weeks of brinkmanship and fraught backroom deal-making. Hammered out between Democratic President Joe Biden and the Republicans in the House of Representatives, the measure suspends the debt ceiling through 2024, slightly cutting government spending next year. “Passing the Fiscal Responsibility Act is a crucial first step for putting America back on track,” said Speaker Kevin McCarthy, the top Republican in Congress. “It does what is responsible for our children, what is possible in divided government, and what is required by our principles and promises.” Biden hailed the 314-117 vote as a “critical step” to protecting the country’s post-pandemic economic recovery…

Riots broke out in Senegal’s capital Dakar yesterday after a court sentenced a leading opposition politician, Ousmane Sonko, to two years in jail for corrupting youth, undermining his chances of running for president next year. Sonko, 48, was accused of raping a woman who worked in a massage parlour in 2021, when she was 20, and making death threats against her. He denies wrongdoing and says the charges are politically motivated. A criminal court cleared Sonko of rape, but found him guilty of a separate criminal offence described in the penal code as immoral behaviour towards individuals younger than 21. This could prevent him from participating in February elections, according to Senegal’s electoral law. The rape case has triggered violent protests in the country since 2021. Sonko’s supporters denounce the…

KHARTOUM: The US yesterday imposed sanctions on companies it accused of fuelling the conflict in Sudan, stepping up pressure on the army and a rival paramilitary force to stop fighting raging in Khartoum and other regions. The US Treasury Department said it targeted two companies linked to Sudan’s army and two companies tied to the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces . The conflict has killed hundreds and forced more than 1.6 million to flee. Fighting continued in northern Omdurman and southern Bahri yesterday. The US and Saudi Arabia are leading ceasefire talks, but both sides have breached truces. | Reuters…

BERLIN: German prosecutors said yesterday authorities had secured some items during a search of a reservoir in Portugal in the 16-year-old hunt for missing British girl Madeleine McCann which would be evaluated in coming days and weeks. “Whether some of the items actually relate to the Madeleine McCann case cannot yet be confirmed,” prosecutor said. German authorities, who have named a suspect in the case, last week helped Portuguese crews comb the remote area inland from the Algarve coastal resort where McCann - then aged three - went missing from her bedroom during a family holiday in 2007. | Reuters…

PROTEAS Women’s superstar Laura Wolvaardt has no ambitions just yet to captain the national team, although she admits she will be open to leadership positions in the future. The Proteas have been hit by a string of high-profile retirements over the past 12 months, which includes former long-term captains Dane van Niekerk and Mignon du Preez. Fellow senior players Shabnim Ismail and Trisha Chetty have also called time on their international careers, which has left the Proteas with a vacuum of experience. All-rounder Sune Luus took over the leadership reins from Van Niekerk - initially on a temporary basis - before being installed permanently until the the conclusion of the T20 World Cup in South Africa earlier this year. Cricket SA director of cricket Enoch Nkwe was also non-committal after…

AKANI Simbine just smiled when world champion Fred Kerley was asked about his cap, which sported a picture of a goat, during a press conference yesterday ahead of today’s Diamond League event in Florence, Italy. “I have been wearing this hat this year, and my ultimate goal is to be up there with all the greats before me – the greats of America and the greats of the world. “They left a legacy for all of us, and we are reaching for the stars,” US star Kerley said as South African ace Simbine watched on. But for now, Kerley is looming large in today’s showdown, with the US speedster having beaten Simbine just last week in Rabat in a time of 9.94, with the SA star finishing second in 9.99.…

CORRUPTION has been named as a reason for municipalities’ over-reliance on consultants as Auditor-General (AG) Tsakani Maluleke found in her 2021-2022 audit report that councils had spent more than R1.6 billion on consultants. At times, these consultants were employed to do very basic tasks, such as VAT and tax returns, even though the municipalities had staff to do this, Maluleke said. She said 62% (137 municipalities) of financial statements submitted for auditing included material misstatements in areas of consultant work. Among the reasons why consultants were ineffective included work not being adequately reviewed, inadequate or no records and documentation, non-delivery and poor project management. Her report released this week shows that 216 municipalities paid R1.55bn to consultants. Their costs equalled 13% of total financial reporting costs of R12.36bn. Municipalities…

THE State intends to oppose bail when the driver of the bakkie involved in a horror crash which claimed the lives of five schoolchildren applies for it in the Mitchells Plain Magistrate’s Court where he made his first appearance yesterday. Scholar driver Mninikhaya Mvuli will appear in court again on Monday for a bail application, which is opposed by the State. National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said Mvuli faces five counts of culpable homicide and one of reckless driving. “(The matter) has been postponed to Monday at the Mitchells Plain Magistrate’s Court. “The 56-year-old has indicated that he will apply for bail, and the State has stated that it will oppose his bail application. “He is charged with five counts of culpable homicide and a count of reckless driving,”…

Fire Rush Jacqueline Crooks Loot.co.za (R264) Jonathan Cape A DEBUT about dub reggae, love, loss and freedom, Fire Rush is a state-of-the-nation novel and an unforgettable portrait of black womanhood. Yamaye lives for the weekend, when she can go raving with her friends at The Crypt, an underground club in the industrial town on the outskirts of London where she was born and raised. A young woman unsure of her future, the sound is her guide – a chance to discover who she really is in the rhythms of those smoke-filled nights. In the dance-hall darkness, dub is the music of her soul, her friendships, her ancestry. But everything changes when she meets Moose, the man she falls deeply in love with, and who offers her the chance of freedom…

Author Cindy-Lee Jacobs from Diep River has launched her first children’s book, Where dreams meet reality, with 8-year-old Mbalentle Mavuso, who is a pupil of Jacobs at Star of the Sea Convent in St James. The book delves into the power of little dreamers who have the courage to pursue their aspirations. Readers meet Hannah, the adventurous protagonist – a young girl who discovers the magic of dreaming in ordinary places. Through her journey, the book aims to inspire young children, emphasising that one doesn’t require extraordinary surroundings to dream. It serves as an uplifting and inclusive read for children of all backgrounds, irrespective of socio-economic challenges they may face. The book leaves one with a profound message – your dreams are not only free and valid, but are also…

Behind the disturbing figures are human beings THE latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey results are out and the numbers are not looking good at all. The unemployment rate in South Africa stands at a towering 32.9% in the first quarter of 2023. This latest figure shows a 0.2 percentage point increase from the fourth quarter figures of 2022. The unemployment rate, possibly in the subsequent quarter reporting, is predicted to increase again. Given the current energy crisis the country faces, expect more job losses and an increase in unemployment. Behind these figures, though, are human beings. These are men and women from all walks of life facing a common scourge. They are the young, those in the mid-stages of their career, and even those faced with the daunting decision to…

Moscow said yesterday it thwarted a Ukrainian attempt to “invade” its south-western border as Russia pounded Kyiv with missiles, killing three people including a child. The Ukrainian capital has faced nearly nightly air raids last month, including an unusual daytime attack this week that sent residents running for shelter. As Kyiv deployed its air defences against a fresh volley of Russian missiles, Moscow said it thwarted an attempt by Ukrainian troops to invade its south-western Belgorod region. Moscow used jets and artillery to repel the attacks and prevent Ukrainian troops from crossing over into Russia, it added. The Belgorod region, which saw an unprecedented two-day armed incursion last week, has come under intensified fire in the past days. Regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said eight people were wounded in “uninterrupted shelling”…

Tesla Inc chief executive Elon Musk departed Shanghai yesterday, wrapping up a two-day trip to China in which he met senior Chinese government officials. On a visit to Tesla’s Shanghai factory, the automaker’s biggest production hub, Musk praised employees for “overcoming so many difficulties and challenges”. Earlier in the trip, Musk met with China’s foreign, commerce and industry ministers in Beijing and dined with the chairman of battery supplier Contemporary Amperex Technology. He also met with Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, the sixth highest-ranked leader in the Politburo Standing Committee, the top governing body led by President Xi Jinping. Musk also met with Chen Jining, Shanghai’s party secretary, who welcomed Tesla to increase its investments and expand businesses in the city, the municipal government said yesterday. The US billionaire was…

LEPOSAVIC: Nato said yesterday it was ready to send more troops to an ethically divided region of Kosovo where dozens of people were injured in violence this week, while Pristina and Belgrade accused each other of fuelling tensions there. Unrest intensified in the area after April elections that were boycotted by ethnic Serbs, handing victory in four Serb-majority mayoral districts in the north to ethnic Albanian candidates. Ethnic Albanians make up 90% of Kosovo’s population. Their installation last week despite a 3.5% voter turnout drew criticism from the US. Washington scrapped Pristina’s participation in a Nato exercise as a result. | AFP…

Geneva: The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) voted yesterday for Argentina’s Celeste Saulo to become its first woman leader and steer the WMO’s global role in tracking climate change. Saulo, 59, a WMO vice-president who has headed Argentina’s weather service since 2014, won a landslide vote at the UN agency’s congress in Geneva. “My ambition is to lead the WMO towards a scenario in which the voice of all members is heard equally, prioritising those most vulnerable,” she said. She will take over from Petteri Taalas in January, when the Finnish meteorologist’s term ends. | AFP…

DID you know that the last time Western Province beat Griquas in the Currie Cup was in 2018? That 38-12 victory came at Newlands, and since then, it’s all gone in the favour of the Northern Cape outfit. Since 2019, Griquas have won six games in a row over their more illustrious opponents – 27-23 (home), 46-25 (home), 30-28 (away), 43-41 (away), 22-20 (home) and 32-12 (away). That’s why it’s no wonder that coach John Dobson opted to pick a nearly full-strength team yesterday for this afternoon’s encounter in Kimberley (3pm kickoff). Most of the Stormers who featured in last week’s United Rugby Championship final defeat against Munster made the trip up north, except for Springbok squad members Damian Willemse, Manie Libbok, Herschel Jantjies, Evan Roos, Marvin Orie, Frans Malherbe,…

DEFENDING champion Iga Swiatek overcame a minor blip to secure her spot in the third round of the French Open with a 6-4 6-0 victory over American Claire Liu yesterday. The world number one, looking to lift the Suzanne Lenglen Cup for the third time in four years, started strongly before briefly struggling on Court Philippe Chatrier. With several sponsors seats empty in the middle of the afternoon, the Pole picked herself up quickly to end Liu’s campaign in brutal fashion. “It’s not easy when you play with the wind and change sides to play against it. I’m happy I raised my level in the second set,” said Swiatek, who turned 22 on Wednesday. “Patience is important, especially on clay.” Swiatek raced to a 3-0 lead on a sunbathed court…

HIGH levels of adversity are increasing children’s risk of developing mental health problems. “We cannot claim to be making any real progress until all children have equal access to opportunities. It is sad that children from Gugulethu, Manenberg and Khayelitsha are exposed to incomprehensible scales of violence and expected to lead a healthy and fulfilling life,” said Ilitha Labantu spokesperson Siyabulela Monakali. This comes as multiple child protection and wellness institutions have launched a petition calling for urgent intervention, noting with concern that more than one in 10 children in South Africa have a diagnosable and treatable mental disorder. This includes depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder; conduct, learning and substance-use disorders; and neurodevelopmental disorders such as ADHD2 and autism. The Children’s Institute (UCT), Centre for Public Mental Health (UCT), Centre…

HUNDREDS of informal settlements in Khayelitsha have been flooded following heavy downpours over the past week. The South African Weather Service (Saws) has issued further severe weather alerts for today. According to local ward councillor, Khaya Kama, “hundreds if not thousands” of families sweeping water out of their homes due to the rains. Kama said he had visited a number of residents from Taiwan informal settlement to assess the damage caused by the rains. “It’s a crisis, that’s the only way to describe it. It’s nothing new in the area, it’s been like this for many, many years and the only solution in my view is to upgrade the informal settlement because it’s extremely bad. “Elderly people and young children are among those affected. “On Tuesday I reached out to…

Drowning: The Rescue of Flight 1421 T.J. Newman Simon & Schuster T.J. Newman faced a nearly impossible task. Her first novel, Falling, was one of the most successful publishing stories of 2021. Second novels are notoriously difficult, from both a commercial and a creative standpoint. For Newman, the stakes and expectations are even higher. Newman’s second thriller, Drowning, serves as proof that the expertise displayed in her first book was no fluke. Her story about a plane that crashes in the Pacific Ocean a mere six minutes after its departure from Hawaii is ruthlessly suspenseful, guaranteed to remain in a reader's mind long after the last page is turned. Newman -- a former flight attendant – tells her story through a multitude of perspectives, ranging from the crew to the…

MANY wise biblical words also apply to normal human life, irrespective of one’s religious convictions. One such quotation can be found in Revelations 3.15 and 16: “I know all about you: how you are neither cold nor hot, but since you are neither, but only lukewarm I will spit you out of my mouth.” A secular version would refer to a fence-sitter. The general perception is that this would appear to be an apt description of the attitude of President Cyril Ramaphosa. On most occasions, his words and deeds do not match. Because there is a deep split in the so-called “broad church” of the ANC, a split that appears to be irreconcilable, our fence-sitting president seems to be unable to take a clear leadership stance. Therefore, he…

The 16 DStv Premiership clubs will have a two-month long break to huddle up and assess the season that’s just concluded. Mamelodi Sundowns were crowned champions of the land for the sixth time in a row this season, continuing their scary dominance on the domestic front. The Chloorkop-based club steam-rolled their would-be adversaries on their way to claiming the title with a 15 points buffer from their closest rivals Orlando Pirates. The Buccaneers have proven to be the nearest side to Sundowns this season having beaten them in cup competitions on their way to being crowned MTN8 and Nedbank Cup champions. Although Jose Riveiro’s debut season at Pirates is worthy of huge plaudits, his biggest achievement will certainly be laying the groundwork for what is expected to be a campaign…

The heir to Jordan’s throne married amid much fanfare yesterday, in a glittering ceremony that the country’s leaders, long backed by the West as a stabilising influence in a volatile region, hope will reinforce local and global alliances. The 28-year-old Prince Hussein, named as heir by his father, King Abdullah, in 2009, tied the knot with Saudi architect Rajwa Al Saif, 29, who hails from a prominent family with links to her country’s ruling dynasty. Jordan has long relied on Western support to shore up its economy, one of the world’s biggest per capita recipients of US and European aid, and observers hope the wedding will also bring it closer to the regional powerhouse on its southern border. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attended the wedding and the banquet…

Washington: While cases of Covid-19 and respiratory syncytial virus were decreasing across the US, infections of another respiratory virus (RSV) human metapneumovirus (HMPV), were on the rise, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The percentage of tests positive for HMPV rose to 17.5% for antigen tests and 9.6% for PCR tests in late March. During the four years before the pandemic, the weekly percentage of HMPV positive tests never reached higher than 7.7%, data revealed. Discovered in 2001, HMPV is in the Pneumoviridae family with RSV. HMPV can cause upper and lower respiratory disease. Symptoms include cough, fever, congestion and breathlessness. | IANS…

Paris: Five French environmental charities are suing the French state for its alleged negligence in regulating the use of pesticides, with a first court audience taking place yesterday. The five organisations have accused the state of being indirectly responsible for the sharp decline in insect, bird and other animal populations which a body of scientific research shows is linked to pesticide use and intensive farming. In its complaint, the five French groups cite figures showing that insect populations have fallen by 75% and wild birds by 30% in France over the last 30 years. The French state said that the EU was responsible for regulating pesticides.| AFP…

NEW YORK: A trove of Freddie Mercury’s previously unseen handwritten draft lyrics for some of Queen’s biggest hits went on show yesterday in New York, ahead of their sale in London later this year. The manuscripts include working drafts for Bohemian Rhapsody – which Mercury initially planned to call “Mongolian Rhapsody”– Don’t Stop Me Now and Somebody to Love. “In scope, quality and exceptional provenance, the collection of lyrics together afford an unprecedented glimpse into the creative mind of one of the 20th-century’s most influential songwriters,” said Sotheby’s, which is staging the auctions in September. More than 1 500 items from Mercury’s private collection, including costumes and unique objects as well as the draft lyrics, will feature in the eventual auctions in London and online. Left largely untouched at his…

IN an article spanning 1 784 words on the World Rugby website this week, in an interview with All Black great Richie McCaw, “South Africa” was mentioned once – in a reference to their shock 2015 Rugby World Cup defeat against Japan. The New Zealand stalwart was asked about a wide range of issues to mark the 100-day countdown to France 2023, including his farewell to the game with victory in the 2015 final against Australia at Twickenham, which saw the Kiwis go back-to-back after the 2011 triumph. “You knew finishing at a World Cup was either going to be extremely happy or extremely disappointing, no middle ground. It was a great way to sign off,” McCaw said. “The final had a bit of everything. I think for the first…