Indholdsfortegnelse for 2021-11-25 i Cape Argus

TODAY’S world is moving toward greater multipolarity, economic globalisa- tion and cultural diversity and is becoming increasingly information- oriented. Acceptance and recognition of cultural diversity through innovative media and information and communications technologies is conducive to dialogue among civilisations and cultures, respect and mutual understanding. Three-quarters of the world’s major conflicts have a cultural dimension. Bridging the gap between cultures is urgent and necessary for peace, stability and development. Cultural diversity is a driving force of development concerning economic growth and leading a more fulfilling intellectual, emotional, moral and spiritual life. This diversity is captured in the cultural conventions, which provide a solid basis for promoting cultural diversity. Cultural diversity is thus an asset that is indispensable for poverty reduction and the achievement of sustainable development. To meet our everyday…

Nomalanga Tshuma nomalanga.tshuma@inl.co.za Cape Town Improvement Districts (CCID) are urging the public to be wary of criminals who may be shadowing them. Both the Voortrekker Road Corridor Improvement District (VRCID) and the Cape Town Central City Improvement District have warned the public to take extra precautions tomorrow in anticipation of the flurry of activity at local shopping centres. The VRCID covers the stretch between Parow shopping centre and the Bellville CBD, areas which experience the most footfall in the city. VRCID CEO Derek Bock said: “As people come out to do their shopping on Black Friday, we are expecting to see more people walking around in the areas we cover. People tend to carry large sums of cash on them and relax their guard, allowing criminals looking to take…

Mwangi Githahu mwangi.githahu@inl.co.za ENVIRONMENTAL and indigenous groups are using the Black Friday shopping rush to put a spotlight on Amazon, the world’s biggest online retailer, and the building of its African headquarters on the banks of the Liesbeeck River, regarded by many as “sacred” ground. World-wide, protesters from more than 70 trade unions, civil society organisations and tax watchdogs across 26 countries will highlight the company’s employee practices and working conditions. Several groups of protesters, led by members of Goringhaicona Khoi Khoin Indigenous Traditional Council…

Mwangi Githahu mwangi.githahu@inl.co.za ENVIRONMENTAL and indigenous groups are using the Black Friday shopping rush to put a spotlight on Amazon, the world’s biggest online retailer, and the building of its African headquarters on the banks of the Liesbeeck River, regarded by many as “sacred” ground. World-wide, protesters from more than 70 trade unions, civil society organisations and tax watchdogs across 26 countries will highlight the company’s employee practices and working conditions. Several groups of protesters, led by members of Goringhaicona Khoi Khoin Indigenous Traditional Council and the Liesbeek Action Campaign, will tomorrow afternoon descend on the site of the River Club redevelopment in Observatory to show their opposition to the building project. In a campaign titled #MakeAmazonPay, the groups will be taking action on Amazon’s Black Friday sales to demand…

Mwangi Githahu mwangi.githahu@inl.co.za PREMIER Alan Winde, who this week marked the halfway mark of his term of office, has said that while the Covid-19 pandemic and the impact it had on people and the economy remained the worst aspect of his term so far, it had also been a spur to work harder. “The pandemic has affected my vision of improving safety and creating new jobs in the province. As the provincial government, we had to shift our focus to saving lives and retaining livelihoods in an unprecedented time. “After speaking to families who have lost loved ones, battling health-care workers during the peaks of waves and many people who have lost their jobs because of the lockdown, I have been distressed by the horrible impact that Covid-19 has…

Ntombi Nkosi ntombi.nkosi@inl.co.za THE future of the coalitions in Gauteng where the DA is in control is still unclear as there are no coalition agreements in place. DA candidates in the metros of Ekurhuleni, the economic hub of Johannesburg and Tshwane were voted into key positions including mayor, speaker and chief whip with the help of the EFF, ActionSA, the Freedom Front Plus and other small parties. DA Gauteng leader Solly Msimanga was not available to say whether the party was considering giving key positions such as MMCs to parties that made it possible for the DA to clinch the three metros. ActionSA Tshwane caucus leader Abel Tau said from the outset that the party was clear that they were willing to work with any party to unseat the…

AFP LEADING Russian doctors yesterday invited celebrities and politicians with anti-vaccine views to visit Covid red zones in hospitals and see for themselves the dramatic effects of the pandemic. In an open letter published by state news agency TASS, 11 doctors wrote to a dozen public figures who expressed anti-vaccine views to their followers on social media. Russia is struggling with opposition to vaccination. Despite pleas from President Vladimir Putin, only 37% of Russians are fully vaccinated and the country has seen more than 1 000 deaths a day recently. In their letter, the doctors told singers, actors, TV personalities and politicians who had expressed scepticism over vaccinations that they would show them around Covid treatment centres. “We are all somewhat busy, you can probably guess with what,” said…

AFP AFRICAN oil and gas producers are likely to pay little heed to the mounting clamour to scrap fossil fuels, the biggest driver of the world’s climate crisis. Adding to the pressure, the UN climate summit in Glasgow this month called for greater efforts towards a “phasedown” of unhampered coal emissions and “inefficient fossil fuel subsidies”. The call was diluted after hours of tortuous debate, but even so was historic. It marked the first time that a UN text made specific reference to the energy sources driving global heating. But African producer nations may well turn a deaf ear to appeals for early curtailment of fossils. Compared to giant polluters, they are small contributors to the greenhouse gas problem – and many argue that renouncing oil and gas at…

MOHAMED SAEED | Pietermaritzburg WE ARE living through the most serious challenges of recent times. All sorts of social problems – crime, economic and political instabilities, unemployment, and drug and alcohol addiction, family breakups, and Covid-19, just to name a few – are stressing human beings. People are trying to make sense of the happenings around their day-to-day activities and lives. Added to the social ills is what seems to be a rise in kidnappings. Recently, news headlines has been buzzing with alleged kidnappings. Crime, especially against children, instils inexpressible fear. The fact that these criminal activities are being committed in broad daylight makes it even more terrifying. The rate at which crime is increasing is disturbing. It is time the government steps in by improving national security…

Maria Teresa Ferazzoli and Julie Walsh In the early days of the pandemic, many countries closed their borders to stop the spread of Covid-19. International travel has continued to be limited with changing caveats, including “essential” travel only, restrictions on travellers from particular countries and vaccination “passports”. While a necessary public health measure, these restrictions have been especially disruptive to migrant families. For these families, travel is a necessary part of fulfilling familial obligations and maintaining a sense of “familyhood” and belonging across borders. These policies present a new layer of “everyday bordering” for transnational families. The term “every day bordering” describes how policy and media narratives around migration affect migrants’ everyday lives and define who “belongs” in a nation-state. In the UK, these borders amplify the state’s “hostile…

Social Democrat Olaf Scholz yesterday agreed to a coalition deal that aims to modernise Europe’s largest economy, accelerate its green transition and end the Angela Merkel era. The centre-left Social Democrats presented an agreement with the ecologist Greens and the libertarian Free Democrats in Berlin. The deal installs Germany’s first three-way coalition government since the 1950s and ends 16 years of the Merkel-led conservative government. She was presented with a tree for her garden. | Reuters…

HERMAN GIBBS ORLANDO Pirates came out guns blazing to inflict a 3-0 defeat on previously unbeaten Stellenbosch FC in their Premiership clash at a windy Danie Craven Stadium last night. The Buccaneers went into the match with a solitary win in their last seven matches. But, with a strong wind at their backs, they found their scoring touch with Namibian international Deon Hotto producing a livewire performance on the left wing. Bucs inflicted the season’s first defeat for the Winelands team, who remained second on the standings. Pirates are in seventh place. The fast-paced attacks made for a brisk start, and Pirates were more penetrative down the left flank, where winger Hotto kept the opposition’s defence on their toes. He instigated several sorties deep into the Stellenbosch half and…

Lizo Mnguni THE DEMAND for used cars has exploded since the start of the pandemic, thanks to a global semiconductor and microchip shortage, which has impacted the availability of new cars. This has also led to soaring prices for second-hand cars, and insured motorists could be paying the price. Today’s rocketing car market may pose a problem for your car insurance coverage in the event that you have a major accident, your car is stolen, or your vehicle is damaged. Worse, you could be under-insured, and possibly thousands of rand out of pocket. Old Mutual Insure has noticed a trend of rising second-hand car prices in South Africa, in line with the global phenomenon. The trend is most notable in cars manufactured in 2019 and last year. This is…

THE STAND IN SHOWMAX In this comedy film, comedian Candy Black’s (Drew Barrymore) life comes crashing down when she is charged with tax evasion and is forced by the courts to attend rehab. But what if she could get someone else, a look-a-alike, to do all of that for her? THE RIVER 1MAGIC, DSTV CHANNEL 103, 8PM Things get heated in new episodes of this local telenovela when Zweli does something he’s never done before, and Lindiwe has a big surprise for Mohumi. And later, Mohumi and Lindiwe find themselves at an old familiar place, but this time it doesn’t look like things will end well. THE QUEEN MZANSI MAGIC, DSTV CHANNEL 161, 9PM In new episodes of this original local telenovela, Akhona has a whirlwind of a…

Shingai Darangwa When Chance The Rapper won three Grammys for his 2016 mixtape Coloring Book, it was clear the music business had arrived at a seismic turning point. Here was an unsigned, wildly popular 23-year-old rapper who, to the disdain of major record labels, had built a successful career releasing his music online for free and grabbing headlines on the biggest night in music. Despite his underdog status, Chance’s Coloring Book beat out a handful of big budget, heavily marketed major label releases like Drake’s record-breaking Views, to become the first streaming-only album to win a Grammy. This was made possible a year prior when the Grammys relaxed their criteria which had previously meant the only albums eligible for Grammy nomination were albums released via labels, retail or internet sale.…

Marchelle Abrahams marchelle.abrahams@inl.co.za Becoming a first-time parent is an anxiety-induced journey with no map telling you which path to take. I remember having sleepless nights months before my first-born was due. Do I have enough nappies? What if he doesn’t take to breastfeeding? The questions played on repeat in my head until I fell into an exhausted deep sleep. I’m not a fan of self-help books and manuals; I’m a firm believer in winging it. But when a friend suggested I get a copy of Baby Sense by Megan Faure and Ann Richardson, I thought: “why not, let’s give it a try”. For the next year after my son’s birth, that book became my bible of sorts and a lifesaver. It let me know if he was hitting all his…

Loyiso Sidimba loyiso.sidimba@inl.co.za THE two retired judges who presided over the arms deal commission of inquiry are challenging the law determining them as judicial officers even after their retirement. Retired Supreme Court of Appeal Justice Willie Seriti and ex-Free State Judge President Hendrick Musi have hauled the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola and President Cyril Ramaphosa to the North Gauteng High Court in a bid to evade a misconduct complaint lodged against them. Open Secrets and Shadow World Investigations, which have lodged misconduct complaints against the two retired judges for the manner in which they handled the arms deal commission of inquiry, are also cited as respondents. Their report’s findings were later set aside by the North Gauteng High Court in August 2019. “This…

Mayibongwe Maqhina mayibongwe.maqhina@inl.co.za EMPLOYMENT and Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi has downplayed a dispute over an investigation conducted by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) into the affairs of the Unemployment Insurance Fund (IUF). This after the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) ordered the SIU, the UIF and the Department of Employment and Labour to meet within 10 days to thrash out differences arising from investigations done by the corruption-busting body. Nxesi said the SIU constantly briefed them on progress made in the investigations and outstanding issues. “We are to continue to have this meeting. There is no dispute between us and them, it is just a progress report and updating us on various issues,” he said. UIF acting head Mzie Yawa raised concerns about media reports ascribed to the SIU…

THE Cape Doctor was out in full force that day and the winds of change were blowing in the City of Cape Town. On November 1, 2018, standing in front of the Salt River Market, now GOOD secretary general and member of the legislature, Brett Herron, read out his resignation statement. He was resigning from the DA. Among others and showing the DA manifesto to journalists, Herron said: “This manifesto promises to integrate communities, it is written in the manifesto. “The promise to integrate communities is a lie and I have been wasting my time trying to implement this while, behind the scenes, the insiders have been killing the projects off.” Some reports suggest that Herron went on to describe a “cabal” of influential people, working behind the scenes within…

Mwangi Githahu mwangi.githahu@inl.co.za THE SA Weather Service has advised the Disaster Risk Management Centre that Cape Town will experience damaging winds over the next few days. The forecast predicts strong to gale-force south-easterly to easterly winds of 70 to 80km/h gusting between 90 and 100 km/h. The City has said its services are on standby to deal with any incidents as a result of the poor weather predicted. Any weather-related emergencies can be directed to the City’s Public Emergency Communication Centre by dialling 021 480 7700 from a cellphone or 107 from a landline. Meanwhile, the forecast for Table Bay says that until midnight on Saturday there will be “damaging winds” and has issued a level 4 warning. This means there is a chance of…

Somebody older than me once warned me: “Growing old is not for sissies.” I chuckled and nodded, not taking his warning very seriously. I forget who it was who told me: possibly a parent. Some years later – now that there are very few friends older than me – I realise the truth of that warning. Of all the things I’ve lost over the years I miss my memory the most. I forget how to get to places I’ve known well and visited many times. I recently visited a wine farm in the Helderberg area and lost my way trying to get home. Luckily I had the winemaker’s phone number and called him, describing my surroundings. Wine farmers are kind people and he came to my rescue and insisted I…

It was painful to watch videos of Palestinians celebrating the brutal death of a young South African man, Eliyahu David Kay, 26, who was killed in a terror attack in Jerusalem recently. The South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) said that Kay was a tour guide in Jerusalem and was killed by a Palestinian gunman while on his way to pray at the Western Wall (Kotel). Incredibly, Hamas alleges that Kay was an Afrikaner who came from South Africa to Palestine as a “coloniser”. It is Hamas’ actions that cause Israel, the EU, and the US to regard it as a terrorist group. Although the UK previously had a “no contact policy” with Hamas, they are considering declaring Hamas a terrorist group. It is very likely that…

A NASA mission to deliberately smash a spacecraft into an asteroid – a test run should humanity ever need to stop a giant space rock from wiping out life on Earth – blasted off early yesterday from California. It may sound like science fiction, but the Dart (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) is a real proof-of-concept experiment, the goal of which is to slightly alter the trajectory of the asteroid Dimorphos. The SpaceX rocket carrying the mission spacecraft lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base. “Asteroid Dimorphos: we’re coming for you!” Nasa tweeted after the launch, adding later the Dart spacecraft had successfully separated from the rocket’s second stage. “We’ve received our first signals from #DARTMission, which will continue to roll out its solar arrays in the coming hours and prepare…

ESHLIN VEDAN HIS thousands of followers on social media are not just football fans, but love Keagan Buchanan’s taste for finer things in life. The AmaZulu midfielder’s recent freak goal from a corner kick actually matched his character off-the-field. It is a rare achievement in professional football, let alone in the Premiership as he scored the equaliser directly from a corner in his team’s 2-2 draw with Stellenbosch FC at Danie Craven Stadium last weekend. Scoring directly from a corner is something that only a few players pull off in their careers. Buchanan’s goal was aided by the windy conditions and being a native of Cape Town himself, he attributed his goal to his familiarity with the conditions in the Western Cape. “Being from Cape Town, I am familiar…

Rafieka Williams rafieka.williams@inl.co.za TWO men who allegedly killed an elderly couple in their home appeared in the Western Cape High Court on charges of murder and robbery. Gcinilelitha Ngcobelothe and Lwazi Ntsibantsiba were charged with two counts of murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances, for allegedly killing Rugeya Addinall and Riedwaan Addinall, both 82 years old, on January 5, 2019, in Ottery and taking items from their home. The couple were found dead in their house in Sandown Drive, Ottery. Masar Daniels, a neighbour of the couple yesterday gave testimony with regards to video footage from cameras set up at his home in Sandown Drive. He testified that two hours of footage were missing from the evidence presented to the court. This footage had recorded hours between 12pm and 2pm…

Rafieka Williams rafieka.williams@inl.co.za AS THE 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children Campaign commences, People Opposing Women Abuse (Powa) will be stepping up to the challenge with ongoing support for abused women and children. The organisation has criticised the criminal justice system and said that various actors – including the police, investigating officers, magistrates, prosecutors, judges and others – often failed gender-based violence (GBV) survivors. Powa said that many GBV survivors did not get adequate assistance when complaining at police stations. “In some domestic violence cases, police tell the survivor that it is a family matter and that she should go home and sort it out with her partner instead of dealing with the matter properly. In cases of grievous bodily harm or rape, police should…

Mwangi Githahu mwangi.githahu@inl.co.za CURRENT office infrastructure at the department of Home Affairs (DHA) in the Western Cape does not make provision for people queuing outside and exposure to severe weather. This despite protected client queueing areas being included in norms and standards for the department’s facility specifications. This emerged during a briefing by the Department of Home Affairs to the legislature’s standing committee on the premier and constitutional matters. The main issues discussed were the long queues, under staffing and IT problems that consistently plague Home Affairs offices in the province. DHA provincial manager Yusuf Simons said one of the infrastructure priorities was the Mitchells Plain office. He said the DHA had received several complaints from the public about occupational health and safety issues. He reported that the national Department…

Mayibongwe Maqhina mayibongwe.maqhina@inl.co.za THE SAPS is planning to recruit 10 000 new recruits to bolster its ranks in the financial year starting in April. Deputy Police Minister Cassel Mathale announced the move in Parliament yesterday. Mathale said although there was limited capacity to accommodate the new recruits within the SAPS training facilities, there were discussions with Defence Minister Thandi Modise on the possibility of using the soldiers’ facilities. “We are definitely going to increase SAPS personnel. We don’t want to create a problem by creating another problem,” he said. Mathale made the statement when he was responding to DA MP Andrew Whitfield, who asked why the budget of the VIP police was not slashed to ensure more front-line police. Whitfield noted that the budget cuts had gutted the visible…

Len Bennett | Ottawa, Canada READERS need to know what international law and political posturing are. The British Mandate for Palestine was created in 1920 at the San Remo Accords as the reconstituted homeland for the Jews. Other mandates established at the same time were for Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Iraq. The mandate was ratified by the League of Nations in 1922 and the Anglo-American Accords in 1924. Article 80 of the UN Charter, once known unofficially as the Jewish People’s clause, preserves intact all the rights granted to Jews under the mandate. In summary, under international law, Israel includes Gaza and Judea and Samaria. Only Israel has the right to partition its territory or change its status in any way. The UN can pass whatever it wants,…

The number of children recruited into conflict in West and Central Africa is now the highest in the world, the UN’s children’s agency said this week, a result of the region’s multiple crises and the growing hardships of Covid-19. Over the past five years, about 21 000 children have been recruited by armed forces and groups in the region, from Burkina Faso to the Democratic Republic of Congo to the Central Africa Republic, Unicef said. More than 57 million children need aid in West and Central Africa. | Washington Post…