Indholdsfortegnelse for 2023-05-09 i Cape Argus

South African consumers had to scramble, once again, to readjust their monthly budgets after the price of petrol increased last Wednesday. While some reprieve will be felt by diesel users this month, petrol users will be forced to pay 37 cents more per litre. Petrol prices have jumped from R22.64 a litre for 93 octane petrol and R22.97 for 95 octane petrol in April to R23.01 and R23.34 a litre, respectively. This has added stress for consumers who had to contend with not just fuel prices in recent times but also interest rates increasing and food inflation pushing the prices of basic items up, and also rolling blackouts as the ailing state-owned power utility Eskom battles to provide energy to the country. Analysts have said that while…

It was business as usual at the 17th Metro FM Music Awards, with the familiar what-the-heck-is-going-on bewilderment throughout, the ill-conceived outfit choices and shoddy performances. What was conspicuously absent were the larger-than-life figures of Riky Rick, who famously stole the show last time around with his controversial outbursts that effectively sent the Metros into hiding, and AKA, the supremely talented late rapper who surprisingly dominated the show. Instead, after a five-year hiatus the event returned with the hyped up theme “Black is Back” to subject us to arguably its most underwhelming show yet. Vlogger @sipho_says contextualised it well when he tweeted: “These awards took like a 3 year break, only to return worse than ever. Whack is back.” It should’ve been crystal clear how things would be after how jumbled…

WITH just 80 days to go, several activations are set to take place across not only the Western Cape but throughout the country before the Vitality Netball World Cup 2023. A media briefing by the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Zizi Kodwa, his deputy Nocawe Mafu, and Arts and Cultural MEC Anroux Marais, Netball SA president Cecilia Molokwane, and deputy mayor Eddie Andrews, was held at the Nelson Mandela Gateway, Waterfront, yesterday. The Vitality Netball World Cup 2023 will for the first time be hosted on the African continent and in South Africa, with all games to take place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) from July 28 to August 6 this year. Netball SA was announced as hosts for the 16th edition of the Netball…

The Cape of Good Hope Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) has expressed its disappointment after a man facing animal cruelty charges was given a slap on the wrist. Johannes Schreinder, 70, from Fish Hoek was convicted of animal cruelty after several animals found living in parasitic conditions and suffering from neglect were seized from his property in December 2019. “With worsening conditions noted between the first inspection conducted on December 11 and the follow-up inspection on December 18, we were left with no alternative than to remove all the animals: two dogs, a macaw, three geese, two ducks, a cat, and a tortoise, from Schreinder’s care under a warrant issued by the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court on December 24, 2019. “Almost three and a half years…

The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) with the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) said they were pleased with some progress made to the country’s most revered heritage site, Robben Island, following a fact-finding trip. DSAC Minister Zizi Kodwa, Deputy Minister Nocawe Mafu and DPWI Deputy Minister Bernice Swarts held a media briefing immediately on returning from Robben Island at the Nelson Mandela Gateway, Waterfront yesterday. The briefing also unpacked preparations for the hosting of the Vitality Netball World Cup 2023 to be hosted in Cape Town in July and August. Kodwa said they were happy with the progress made to improve issues of governance at Robben Island. “We can report that there is a lot of progress. There is a strategy to stabilise and we are…

“It’s on its last legs.” That’s how Stormers assistant coach Dawie Snyman laughingly described the playing surface of Cape Town Stadium ahead of his team’s semi-final in the United Rugby Championship against Connacht. And with rain expected later in the week in Cape Town, there will probably not be enough time to try and fix some patches to the outfield to prevent a mud bath ahead of Saturday’s (4pm kickoff) match. But luckily for the defending URC champions, they get to train on the field and have been playing and winning despite the surface not being ideal. After beating the Bulls in the quarter-finals, where they scored some pretty impressive tries with their running rugby despite the situation with the pitch, the Stormers will be looking to do the same…

The Proteas’ ICC World Cup fate may be known today when Ireland take on Bangladesh in the first of three one-day internationals at Chelmsford in Essex. The Proteas are currently in eighth place on the ICC Super League table with 98 points from 21 matches, but new coach Rob Walters’ team have already completed their full quota of fixtures. The Proteas forfeited three ODIs against Australia – and subsequently the opportunity to gain valuable Super League points – for Cricket South Africa to launch the inaugural Betway SA20 in January. This placed the Proteas’ chances of automatic qualification for the World Cup in India later this year in jeopardy, as it has left Ireland with the opportunity to overtake South Africa in the ICC Super League should they complete a…

Every part of the economy is undergoing transformation, which is essential for long-term viability and sustainability. The under-representation of black women in managerial roles is even more lacking in some of these sectors. Studies have repeatedly shown a growing pay gap between men and women, and that women are under-represented in leadership positions. An evaluation of the gender pay gap in the medical schemes industry shows that white CEOs still dominate the medical aid space relative to their black counterparts. According to a Council for Medical Schemes gender pay gap research study, which focused on the CEOs of medical schemes in South Africa, in 50 medical schemes there were 32 (64%) white CEOs and 18 (36%) black ones. Against this backdrop, the study also found that the median pay of…

Alleged underworld figure Nafiz Modack made various requests in the Western Cape High Court. Among them was to be moved to a prison closer to home, and to have a bigger prison cell and laptop access. Modack was dressed in his signature Boss sweater yesterday and shared the dock with his co-accused, his mother, Ruwaida Modack, brother, Yaseen Modack, Bashier Syce, Nadia Sait, Dominique McLachlan, Kulsum van der Schyff, Faried van der Schyff and Layla Bedderson, who are all facing more than 700 charges that involve racketeering, money laundering, fraud, forgery and uttering, and contravening of the value Added Tax Act. The State is set to prove the group registered as value added tax vendors and were e-filing claims for refunds which could not be determined. The Hawks said R46…

A WARD councillor from the North West has landed in hot water after video footage of him allegedly having sex with an underage boy went viral on social media platforms last week. The 40-year-old Klerksdorp-based ANC councillor was arrested on two charges of rape of teen boys and a charge of crimen injuria after he allegedly sent pictures of his genitalia to one of the children. Provincial police spokesperson Sabata Mokgwabone said the case was registered with police on Friday. Mokgwabone said a second case was registered on Saturday by the parents of two boys, aged 15, after a video of a man having sexual intercourse with a boy went viral on social media platforms, including WhatsApp. The charges are two counts of statutory rape. “Investigations into the incidents…

Legislation has been proposed to regulate companies dealing in cryptocurrency, namely Crypto Asset Service Providers. However, the legislative process will have to wait until after next year’s elections. The move, announced at last week’s Crypto Variable summit in Cape Town, follows the passing of a proposal by the DA Federal Council from DA MP Ashor Sarupen, and the party’s provincial spokesperson on Finance, Economic Opportunities and Tourism, Cayla Murray. Murray said: “With multiple recent international financial scandals involving crypto companies, the need for such legislation has become clear.” She said if SA were to escape its Financial Action Task Force grey list status it was crucial that the new wave of financial service providers related to crypto were properly regulated. Murray’s remarks come on the heels of a declaration by…

A property owner whose boundary wall was found by the Western Cape High Court to have encroached on a neighbour’s property has been given until Tuesday, May 16, to demolish the wall voluntarily, or be forced to pay for its demolition by the affected neighbour. Judge Phillipa van Zyl issued an order for the demolition of the wall between two adjacent properties in Langa after she found that the wall, built by the developer of the properties before either owner bought theirs, meant the aggrieved party stood to “lose the increase in the value of her property.” Nomnandi Mbane and Babalwa Gxenya own adjacent properties in Langa’s Gumbi Close, which they both bought in 2005. The properties are physically separated by a vibracrete wall on the western boundary of Mbane’s…

Team principal Christian Horner said Red Bull’s dominance of F1 this season is mainly due to the failings of their rivals Mercedes and Ferrari rather than any big steps forward from his team. Red Bull’s world champion Max Verstappen won his third race of the season with victory in the Miami Grand Prix on Sunday with teammate Sergio Perez finishing second. Red Bull have won all five races and had four one-two finishes so far this season, leading some to worry the sport is becoming too predictable. But while this is Red Bull’s best-ever start to an F1 season, Horner doesn’t want to take too much credit for his team. “We feel that we’ve made a good step from the (previous car) but the kind of step that you would…

Pop music boy band Westlife kicks off The Wild Dreams Tour in South Africa in November this year. The Irish band, formed in 1998, are known for their hit songs Soledad, I lay my love on you, Queen of my heart, I wanna grow old with you and many more. The band consists of Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Shane Filan and Mark Feehily. In 1999, their debut international self-titled studio album Westlife had thousands of ladies around the world swooning, and its no surprise that fans in their late thirties and forties were at it again as they relived their youth when the news of the tour took to social media this morning. martinerae05 wrote: “Prepare for incoming comment spam.. and post tagging. I will not rest until…

Parliament’s inquiry into suspended Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s fitness to hold office has, once again, been put on hold after committee members’ fears about appearing unfair to Mkhwebane, who told them she did not have legal representatives in place. The inquiry, which paused on April 18 to await news about the payment of Mkhwebane’s legal fees, was ready to continue yesterday, after the announcement last week that the Office of the Public Protector (PPSA) had secured R4 million to fund lawyers for Mkhwebane. On Friday, days after acting Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka told Parliament’s justice portfolio committee that the money had been found, committee chairperson Qubudile Dyantyi signalled that the inquiry would continue yesterday. When the committee sat in a hybrid session at 10am to resume its work, Dyantyi outlined…

THE first formal exhibition by Our Cape Town Heritage (OCTH) proved a success as attendees were visibly moved to tears at the captivating and intimate images captured by local photographer Rizqua Barnes of an age-old Cape Malay wedding tradition. Barnes’ first solo exhibition, The Wedding Salawaat, facilitated by OCTH, opened for first Thursdays at the KnexT Art Gallery and ended on Saturday. Non-profit organisation OCTH provides marginalised artists with practical support to showcase their art and cultural works. A heartwarming touch added was the inclusion of a live recital of the salawaat which is traditionally rendered when the bridal couple leaves the venue, evoking similar emotions felt when witnessing this in person. The salawaat refers to praises of the prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him) recited by guests, when the…

Billionaire Elon Musk on Sunday credited his father for teaching him the fundamentals of “physics, engineering and construction”. The world’s second-richest man said the teaching of his father Errol Musk, a retired South African electromechanical engineer, “is more valuable than money”. Musk, who owns several companies like Twitter, Tesla and SpaceX, said he has not “inherited anything ever from anyone”, quashing the long-running rumour which claims his father owns an emerald mine in South Africa and that he had given him financial assistance. Errol Musk had claimed in an interview that he used emeralds from an “under the table” mine in Zambia to finance his son’s escape from South Africa to the US. Musk said nobody has provided him with “a large financial gift” and that his father did not…

Despite a glut of first-half scoring chances, Stellenbosch FC were unable to defeat Sekhukhune United in a closely contested Nedbank Cup semi-final clash at the Danie Craven Stadium on Sunday. Coach Steve Barker said it would have been a major achievement if Stellenbosch had won the match and reached the final. “It’s never nice not to win,” said Barker, a nephew of the legendary former Bafana Bafana coach Clive ‘The Dog’ Barker. “It was also very disappointing not to reach the final, which would have been a massive achievement for the club, and the community. “It was always going to be a tight affair against Sekhukhune knowing the results of the matches between us in the past. “You can see on the (Premiership) log table the two teams are very…

Manchester United’s season is at risk of imploding in spectacular style after they appeared to have turned the corner in Erik ten Hag’s first campaign as manager. The Red Devils, already with the League Cup in the bag and through to the FA Cup final, were hot favourites to secure a top-four Premier League place just a week ago. They are still fourth, but after dropping eight points in their past four games are just a single point clear of fast-charging Liverpool in the race for a Champions League place, albeit with a game in hand. United, who appear exhausted after a long season, are counting the cost of a lack of firepower and a serious defensive crisis. Both issues have shown that the club lack the depth of squad…