Table of contents for 2024-12-30 in Cape Times

Weight management has become a global health challenge, with obesity rates climbing at alarming rates. For many, the struggle to lose weight is not just about willpower – it’s influenced by genetics, lifestyle and underlying health conditions. In South Africa, where Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) like diabetes, hypertension and obesity are on the rise, new medical interventions are offering hope. One such breakthrough is GLP-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) medications, which are proving to be a game-changer in weight management. The most commonly used GLP-1 medication is semaglutide, which is marketed as Ozempic, Wegovy. These drugs, initially designed for managing type 2 diabetes, are now showing remarkable results in helping people lose significant amounts of weight. Understanding GLP-1 medications GLP-1 RAs mimic the action of glucagon-like peptide-1, a hormone released in…

KING Misuzulu kaZwelithini has lost faith in his Prime Minister, Thulasizwe Buthelezi, due to allegations of wrongdoing and actions that threatened to undermine his kingship. This claim comes from highly placed sources within the Royal House, who argue that the removal of the Prime Minister had been building up for some time. Buthelezi was removed as the Prime Minister of the Zulu nation this weekend, almost a year into his tenure. He also serves as the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs. In a press briefing held on Saturday, Buthelezi said the news of his removal had not been communicated directly to him by the king. He mentioned seeing messages circulating on social media regarding his dismissal. Buthelezi said that he would wait for the king to inform him…

30ml cooking oil 1 onion, finely chopped 2 garlic cloves, chopped 1 carrot, finely chopped 1 celery stalk, finely chopped 900g chuck meat 125ml Mrs Balls Jalapeno Chutney 250ml chicken stock 1 x 410g tin All Gold tomato and onion mix 30g fresh basil leaves, plus extra for garnish Salt and pepper to taste 500g Fatti’s & Moni’s linguine pasta Grated Parmesan cheese, for serving. In a large pot, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, carrot, and celery. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened, about 5 – 7 minutes. Add the meat and cook until browned and cooked through, about 15 – 20 minutes. Stir in the chutney, stock, tomatoes, basil and season to taste. Bring the mixture to a simmer and let it…

It was envisioned to be the Mississippi River of South America. The Paraguay-Paraná waterway runs about 2 100 miles (3 380km), connects at least 150 ports in five countries and serves as the most important commercial river route on the continent. In 1992, the five countries – Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentina and Uruguay – agreed to establish the two natural rivers, which meet at the Paraguay-Argentina border, as a transit route for goods, dredging them to allow commercial traffic. Every year, thousands of container ships, barges and other vessels use the waterway’s brown, bustling waters to carry millions of tons of cargo south to Argentina and from there across the Atlantic. But this crucial artery has become a primary route for shipping record amounts of cocaine to Europe. The explosion…

Hostages held in Gaza were subjected to torture, including sexual and psychological abuse, starvation, burns and medical neglect, according to a new report by the Israeli Health Ministry that will be submitted to the UN this week. The report is based on interviews with the medical and welfare teams which treated more than 100 Israeli and foreign hostages, most of whom were released in late November 2023, in a brief truce between Israel and Hamas. Eight hostages were rescued by the Israeli military. The hostages include more than 30 children and teenagers, a few of whom were found to have been bound, beaten or branded with a heated object, according to the report addressed to the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and published on Saturday. Women reported sexual assault by…

Lille: Three migrants died yesterday in an attempt to cross the English Channel from France to Britain, a local mayor said. The deaths take this year’s casualty toll from failed clandestine crossings to 76. The boat that was to take the migrants ran into trouble yesterday near Bleriot-Plage, a public beach in Sangatte, close to the French Channel port of Calais, an official said. People fell into the water trying to board the overcrowded vessel, French maritime services said. About 50 people were given emergency help on the beach, with many in a state of hypothermia. The total number of migrants arriving in England in small boats this year is estimated at 36 000. | AFP…

Kabul: The Taliban’s supreme leader has issued an order banning the construction of windows in residential buildings that overlook areas used by Afghan women and saying that existing ones should be blocked. The Taliban government on Saturday said that new buildings should not have windows through which it is possible to see “the courtyard, kitchen, neighbour’s well and other places usually used by women”. Officials would have to monitor construction sites to ensure it is not possible to see into neighbours’ homes. Since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, women have been erased from public spaces. | AFP…

The Stormers believe they are now firmly back in the mix to make another charge for a United Rugby Championship (URC) title. After claiming a bonus point 24-20 win over the Sharks on Saturday at the DHL Stadium, the Cape outfit find themselves within reaching distance of the top eight teams in the tournament. Thanks to two wins in the local derbies against the Sharks and Lions at home, the inaugural URC champions bagged some valuable momentum going into 2025. They will start the season year with two European Champions Cup matches, before continuing their URC campaign away against Leinster and Ulster. There will be some more concern over youngster Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu. After recovering from a hip pointer injury sustained against the Lions, it took him only 37 minutes to…

AN SABC employee, and an alleged ANC member, has been placed on a no-fly list by FlySafair following a brawl aboard a domestic flight from Durban to Cape Town on Boxing Day. The incident, which involved physical altercations with flight attendants, was spurred by a dispute over the drinks service and has ignited a wave of controversy across social media platforms. In widely circulated videos, the woman can be seen aggressively confronting crew members who were attempting to manage the situation. Eyewitness accounts have highlighted her alleged intoxicated state during the altercation. Kirby Gorden, spokesperson for FlySafair, expressed the airline’s dismay at the passenger’s behaviour, emphasising that “interfering with their duties is a criminal offence”. Gorden confirmed that the passenger was handed over to police upon the plane’s arrival in…

Okuhle Hlati A SUSPENDED Malmesbury detective arrested at the weekend for the alleged rape of a woman in police cells, in yet another gender-based violence (GBV) related crime committed by a cop, is expected to appear at the local Magistrate’s Court today. The 40-year-old was apprehended on Friday after a 41-year-old woman alleged that the accused picked her up from her home on Christmas Day claiming it was in relation to a theft case, according to Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) spokesperson Lizzy Suping. “The complaint further alleges that at the police station the accused officer told her that she was picked up by mistake but encouraged her to drink alcohol with him. When she refused, he allegedly took off his clothes, laid on the cell mattress and pretended to…

A MARRIED couple from Pretoria has been convicted of premeditated murder and fraud after plotting the death of the woman’s ex-boyfriend for insurance money. The Pretoria High Court last month convicted Sibusiso Mahlangu, 34, and Lerato Mahlangu, 33, from Soshanguve, of premeditated murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and three counts of fraud. Prior to her marriage to Sibusiso, Lerato was in a romantic relationship with the deceased, Sibusiso Sithebe, with whom she shares a child. According to NPA spokesperson, Lumka Mahanjana, on the day of the incident on January 2, 2022, the Mahlangu couple lured Sithebe to their house in Soshanguve, where they killed him. Days after the incident, Lerato submitted three fraudulent insurance claims with Old Mutual, where she was employed as a sales consultant. In court, the couple…

In the third year since the passing of Desmond Mpilo Tutu, Israel continued its systematic destruction of anything Palestinian; Russia and Nato appeared intent on reigniting a modern version of the Cold War; and Sudan descended into a hellish space of famine and civil war. These conflicts each led to extreme human suffering that continues today. Collectively, they have unclothed the United Nations, stripping it of its central function to hold nations accountable for injustices and human rights transgressions. What these developments reveal is that, three years after his passing, the lessons Archbishop Tutu taught about equal justice, equal rights and human interdependence retain their relevance and healing power. While Tutu is remembered as a widely revered symbol of post-apartheid reconciliation and forgiveness, he wasn’t so beloved – at home…

US President-elect Donald Trump at the weekend threw his weight behind H-1B visas, taking the side of Elon Musk in the squabble among conservatives over the programme that allows foreigners with technical skills to temporarily work in the US. “I’ve always liked the visas, I have always been in favour of the visas,” Trump told the New York Post. He added: “I have many H-1B visas on my properties. I’ve been a believer in H-1B. I have used it many times. It’s a great programme.” The comments come amid an online clash that has revealed a rift in Trump’s coalition ahead of his January inauguration. Musk and other business leaders see the visa programme as essential for the US tech industry, but anti-immigrant hard-liners such as right-wing activist Laura Loomer…

The Sudanese government yesterday rejected a report backed by the UN which determined that famine had spread to five areas of the war-torn country. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) review, which UN agencies use, said last week that the war between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces had created famine conditions for 638 000 people, with a further 8.1 million on the brink of mass starvation. The army-aligned government “categorically rejects the IPC’s description of the situation in Sudan as a famine”, the foreign ministry said. It said the IPC did not have access to updated field data and had not consulted with the government’s technical team. The Sudanese government, loyal to army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has been based in the Red Sea city of…

ANKARA: The jailed leader of Turkiye’s outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), Abdullah Ocalan, said yesterday that he may be prepared to call for militants to lay down arms, after a key ally of President Tayyip Erdogan urged him to end the group’s decades-old insurgency. Two MPs from the pro-Kurdish DEM Party met Ocalan for talks on his island prison on Saturday, in the first such visit nearly in a decade. Ocalan’s comments came after the leader of the Nationalist Movement Party, Devlet Bahceli, said Ocalan should make a call for the militants to lay down arms. Erdogan described Bahceli’s initial proposal as a “window of opportunity”. | Reuters…

CARACAS: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has called for his supporters to take to the streets “to defend the vote” as he prepares to be sworn in for the 2025-2031 presidential term on January 10. The call came as the opposition coalition Democratic Unity Platform (PUD) claimed that its candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, was the “true” winner of the election and has announced plans to hold his swearing-in ceremony on January 10. The PUD is backed by several Western countries led by the US. Maduro said that the social and political movements supporting his administration “will remain in constant mobilisation”, and that “on January 10, the people’s forces will be present”. | Xinhua…

As every new year rolls around, it brings a fresh wave of fitness trends to inspire us to shake up our workout routines. Whether you're a seasoned gym-goer or looking to dip your toes into something new, fitness trends can offer exciting ways to stay motivated and achieve your health goals. PureGym’s latest Annual Fitness Report has unveiled the top fitness trends for 2025, based on a massive surge in global Google searches. From remote personal training to Hyrox competitions and primal-inspired workouts, here’s what you need to know about the biggest movers and shakers of the fitness world. 1. Remote personal training: The future of fitness Taking the crown as the top trend for 2025, remote personal training has seen a staggering 414 percent increase in interest over the…

Bird strike may have caused the landing gear to malfunction, according to reports The deadliest air accident ever in South Korea killed 179 people on Sunday, when an airliner belly-landed and skidded off the end of the runway, erupting in a fireball as it slammed into a wall at Muan International Airport. Jeju Air flight 7C2216, arriving from the Thai capital Bangkok with 175 passengers and six crew on board, was attempting to land shortly after 9am at the airport in the south of the country, South Korea’s transport ministry said. Two crew members survived and were being treated for injuries. The deadliest air accident on South Korean soil was also the worst involving a South Korean airline in nearly three decades, according to the transport ministry. The twin-engine Boeing…

The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) has welcomed the proclamation of the two Companies Amendment Acts of 2024 by President Cyril Ramaphosa. The department said in a statement that the two Acts which were assented into law by Ramaphosa on July 26, 2024 and were published in the Government Gazette on December 27 and have become operational. "Some sections of the Companies Amendment Act 16 of 2024 and the entire Companies Second Act 17 of 2024 came into operation on December 27, 2024. This is a significant milestone in corporate law South Africa," the DTIC said. "The Companies Amendment Act focuses on the ease of doing business by clarifying, simplifying and strengthening certain sections of the Act. Sections that include 16, 25, 40, 48, 61, 90, 95, 135…

FIRE victims across the city including Dunoon, Langa, Strand and others, are expected to receive emergency housing kits today while firefighters were still working tirelessly to contain multiple wildfires along the Garden Route yesterday afternoon. At the weekend, the City said their assessments indicated that 130 structures had been destroyed in Masiphumelele, 64 in Nomzamo, 143 in Dunoon, and 150 in Langa, based on early evaluations. City Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson, Jermaine Carelse, said they responded to numerous calls after 8.15pm on December 26, of informal structures alight just off Winnie Mandela Street in Langa. “Several fire crews from various fire stations were activated and around 19 frontline fire resources and a total of 80 staff were on scene, including the Incident Management Team. “The fire area was divided…

As the sweltering summer heat blankets South Africa, the allure of water becomes irresistible for many. However, recent alerts from the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) remind us that relaxation in these refreshing bodies of water comes with responsibility, especially with the new moon spring tide peaking on December 31. The spring tide will bring stronger currents and potentially hazardous conditions along our coastline. Coastal communities and visitors alike are urged to carefully assess conditions before venturing into the water. The dangers posed by tides, waves, and underwater hazards become amplified during this period, emphasising the need for a cautious approach to swimming and water activities. However, the need for vigilance extends far beyond coastal areas. Even those in rural parts of South Africa, where picturesque dams offer a cooling…

Georgia inaugurated a far-right governing party loyalist as president yesterday, escalating a political showdown moments after his pro-EU predecessor declared herself the “only legitimate president”. The inauguration of former footballer Mikhail Kavelashvili ratchets up a months-long political crisis that has seen huge pro-EU demonstrations. Outgoing head of state Salome Zurabishvili and protesters had declared Kavelashvili “illegitimate”, demanding a re-run of the October general elections that they say the governing Georgian Dream party rigged. “Our history clearly shows that, after countless struggles to defend our homeland and traditions, peace has always been one of the main goals and values for the Georgian people,” Kavelashvili said after taking the presidential oath in parliament. Georgian Dream has presented itself as the sole guarantor of stability in the country, accusing the West of trying…

N’DJAMENA: Chadians were voting yesterday in a parliamentary election boycotted by the opposition that will likely consolidate President Mahamat Idriss Deby’s power and complete the oil-producing nation’s transition towards constitutional rule. Deby was elected in a disputed vote in May, three years after seizing power when rebels killed his father, President Idriss Deby. Opposition leader Succes Masra’s Transformateurs party and several other parties boycotted yesterday’s legislative election, the country’s first in over a decade. They were also boycotting municipal and regional elections which were being held. Final results are expected by January 31, 2025. | Reuters…

PYONGYANG: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un held a key policy-setting meeting of the country’s ruling party last week ahead of the new year, reports said yesterday. North Korea would launch the “toughest” strategy to counteract the US for its security and national interests, the report said. The alliance between South Korea, the US and Japan has expanded to a “nuclear military bloc” and South Korea has become an “anti-communist outpost” for the US, the report said. The meeting also reviewed the handling of floods earlier this year. Kim called for progress in defence science and technology to bolster the country’s war deterrence. | Reuters…