Indholdsfortegnelse for 2023-11-29 i Cape Argus

A COMMUTER who was shoved off an overloaded, moving train, together with another passenger who clung to him for dear life, has been successful in his effort to sue the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) for his injuries. John Davids of Athlone was a daily train commuter in 2017, when he was contracted to do refrigeration work at the Protea Spar in Brackenfell. While on his way home at about 5pm on October 24, 2017, he entered a full train carriage and said he was pushed towards the door where he became squashed “like a sardine”. This happened while the train was moving; the carriage doors never shut. As the train travelled between Brackenfell and Stikland, another passenger, Ebrahim Koopman, who testified that he was only 1.5m in height,…

THE Merchant Shipping Bill 2023 has been hailed as much-needed legislation to steer the country’s maritime industry towards transformation. The portfolio committee on transport yesterday received a briefing on the bill from Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga, who said it was intended to enhance the functioning of the maritime industry. The presentation comes as the country grapples with a congestion surcharge for cargo at its ports. Transnet indicated that the backlog at Durban Harbour had led to a loss of R160 million since September. Chikunga said the Merchant Shipping Act of 1951 has been amended 32 times, which compromised its coherence. As a result, Chikunga said a decision was taken to overhaul the bill. “The Merchant Shipping Bill has been developed to implement maritime and shipping-related matters emanating from the Maritime…

THERE is no one in the world who can save Palestinians from Israel’s genocide. Their only hope is Allah, God Almighty. They have to pray for His divine intervention to save them from His Holy Nation and their powerful allies, the lawmakers of the world. Israel claims it is at war with Hamas, but this looks like a well-planned massacre of the Palestinians in Gaza. The October 7 the Israeli attack by Hamas was part of the plan. It needed to create some sort of war propaganda to justify its invasion of Gaza. This looks like a staged attack. Israel switched off its world-class defence system to allow the attackers to enter. The Israeli hostages are sacrificial lambs. Hamas, like the ANC, is infiltrated by a lot of spies, some…

WE HAVE known for a long time that the police force has been infiltrated by crooks and criminals. What we do not know is how many police officers are criminals. We thought, like any profession, you would find some, probably a minority who are not fit to wear the uniform. But Police Minister Bheki Cele has surprised us. In reply to a question in Parliament, he said 5 489 police officers had been charged with more than 80 crimes. While 5 489 is a large number, the number of crimes (80) seems inappropriate. If we divide 5 489 by 80 we get 68. Could 68 police officers be involved in each of the crimes? It doesn’t make sense. The number of crimes by officers should have been much higher. But…

An attack on Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, for what they call his interference in the political affairs of the state, is unfair. Judge Zondo wears many hats. He is not only a member of the judiciary but also a member of the community, family, church, society and so on. He is free to express his social, political, religious and economic views. Freedom of speech allows him to express his views on any matter. On the other hand, he is the chairperson of the state capture commission. He handed over a report to the state president. The road to releasing the report was not easy. Justice Zondo and others who worked with him made many enemies. The commission was not an end in itself but a means to an end. Those…

South Africa’s National Health Insurance (NHI) fund reforms are intended to transform and re-engineer the health system in South Africa into one that actively benefits the entire population by working towards achieving universal health coverage (UHC). A universal health coverage aims to ensure that all individuals and communities have access to essential health services without facing any financial hardship or encountering catastrophic (poverty- inducing) health care-related expenditure. The NHI, as outlined in the White Paper, seeks to restructure the country’s health-care system to ensure that all citizens have access to needed health-care services without financial barriers, ultimately contributing to the progressive realisation of the right to health as enshrined in the Constitution’s Bill of Rights. Descriptively, the NHI has several central features, including redistribution of existing health-care resources, pooling of…

Thirty years after Manchester United left Galatasaray with their Champions League hopes in tatters on one of the most notorious nights in the club’s history, they will return to ‘hell’ for another do-or-die clash against the Turkish team. United sit bottom of Uefa Champions League Group A and will be eliminated if they lose to Galatasaray in their penultimate fixture tonight. It is a predicament that brings back painful memories for United players and fans, who ran the gauntlet of hate in Istanbul back in 1993. Finally crowned English champions the previous season, United were confident of a long run in their first European Cup campaign since 1969. A surprise 3-3 draw against Galatasaray in the second round, first leg at Old Trafford put that ambition in peril, but even…

AS highly decorated as he is, Pitso Mosimane still has a dream he hankers after – to coach a national team that can win the Africa Cup of Nations and compete at the Fifa World Cup finals. And with Africa set to have nine nations (possibly 10 though a play-off) representing it at the next global showpiece in 2026, the multiple domestic and continental championship winner believes there is an opportunity for him to realise that dream. Now jobless after prematurely parting ways with Al-Wahda of the United Arab Emirates, the former Mamelodi Sundowns coach – who elevated himself to global status with a successful spell at African Club of the Century Al Ahly of Egypt – said earlier this week there is interest in his services from Asia, as…

The supermarket industry is saturated. One on every corner bombarding prospective shoppers with price reductions reflected on glossy pamphlets. The only loyalty that exists today is that as a customer, maximise your buying power by seeking specials. As things stand, supermarkets are amorphous, unfriendly places where the owners are nowhere to be seen. Gather all the pamphlets you can. Decide on what you want. Then, go from supermarket to supermarket and conclude your monthly purchases, picking the “eyes” out of their offerings. If you are diligent, you will probably save as much as 35%. The days of loyalty are dead. Just look after the pennies in your pocket.…

Israel has been lambasted for its heavy handedness in dealing with the attack on its citizens on October 7. The hatred displayed by the Israelis towards the Palestinians makes the proposed two-state solution inevitable, with each nation controlling its own affairs. The two states would bring an end to Israel’s occupation of Palestine and there would be no reason for any Palestinian – not only members of Hamas – to want to attack Israel. Hence, Israel’s obsession with exterminating every aspect of Hamas would come to nought. Does this imply that the about 15 000 Palestinian lives lost were senseless and all in vain? You be the judge.…

In 2017, when Zimbabwe’s late and longest-serving president, Robert Mugabe, was being deposed for his authoritarian conduct, he told the Zimbabwean army that guns should not lead politics. “The principle is that politics shall always lead the gun and not the gun politics,” he said. I was therefore perplexed to see former City of Joburg mayor Thapelo Amad posing with a big automatic machine gun, declaring support for Hamas, the terrorist organisation that attacked Israel on the morning of October 7. In his post on social media platform X which has since been deleted, Amad declared his undying support for Hamas while displaying a flag and a rifle. “We stand with Hamas, Hamas stands with us, together we are Palestine, and Palestine will be free,” he wrote. Amad is one…

A new group of Israeli hostages were set to be freed yesterday in exchange for Palestinian prisoners as Israel and Hamas embarked on a two-day extension of a truce that has paused the devastating Gaza war. The temporary cessation of hostilities and release of captives were hailed as a glimpse of hope after seven weeks of conflict sparked by deadly Hamas attacks that prompted an Israeli military offensive in the Gaza Strip. A source close to the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas told AFP that 10 hostages held in Gaza would be freed in return for 30 prisoners released from Israeli prisons on Tuesday in the first exchanges under the truce extension. “Lists of the 10 Israeli hostages and 30 Palestinian prisoners for the fifth day of the truce were exchanged…

The pressure that comes with representing South Africa on the biggest stage is very different to other countries, purely because of how the Proteas have performed at International Cricket Council events. The recently concluded Cricket World Cup campaign in India was no different in that the South African public made their thoughts and views known through social media platforms. There is one individual who took most of the criticism and that is captain Temba Bavuma. It was not just the normal heat that a skipper has to brace themselves for after crashing out of a World Cup, instead in this instance it seemed personal. It is nothing new for Bavuma, because throughout his career, his spot in the team has always been questioned. Within the team, it is a…

The Pedal Power Association (PPA) has encouraged biking enthusiasts to remember that certain roads and trails were a threat to their safety as perpetrators moved around in larger vehicles and bakkies and targeted cyclists who were alone and in smaller groups. The PPA said perpetrators target cyclists especially around 4:30am to 8:30am, and between 5pm and 7pm. In the latest incident reported to the PPA, two riders were robbed of their specialised bikes at gunpoint in Ottery in the Fernwood Drive industrial area. “It is important for the riders to stay close to one another as the slower riders are usually targeted. “It is vital to pay attention to any human activities ahead and not to wear earphones when cycling,” said Neil Robinson, PPA chief executive. He said cyclists needed…

The fourth accused in the murder case of activist Loyiso Nkohla (Mabandla) was arrested just days after the Hawks made a public plea in tracing him. Mzubanzi Chulayo, 41, appeared in the East London Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning. He was arrested on Monday in Cofimvaba, Eastern Cape. Chulayo is the fourth man to be arrested for the murder of the co-founder of the Ses’Khona People’s Rights Movement. Nkohla was murdered as he was praying at a meeting at Philippi railway station. The shooters left other people injured, including former ward councillor Thembinkosi Pupa and a pregnant woman. It is believed that after the incident the shooters called Mziyanda Mdlungu, who would have been the get-away driver, but when he arrived the shooters had already left. It’s alleged Mdlungu then contacted…

The ANC’s assets, including its treasured headquarters Luthuli House, could still be attached if KZN-based marketing company Ezulweni Investments has its way. The company, through its lawyers, has vowed to continue its bid to sell off the party’s assets to recover more than R150 million owed to it by the governing party. On Monday, Ezulweni Investments obtained a writ order from the Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg, giving the sheriff of the court the go-ahead to attach the ANC’s assets. This followed Friday’s SCA ruling which upheld an earlier ruling ordering the ANC to pay up or face the party’s assets being attached. Dismissing the party’s appeal, Judge Trevor Gorven said the ANC’s version that it had no contract with Ezulwini Investments was “utterly untenable”. This latest order follows two…

There is one negative feature of South Africa’s democracy that indicates that internal party democracy is a sham because of the cancer of domination by one leader. This is ironic as political parties are supposed to be the main structures that promote democratic ideas. Invariably, every political party is led by these strong characters, some of whom have done so for decades. Can you imagine the United Democratic Movement without Bantu Holomisa or the EFF without Julius Malema? Even new parties sprouting all over the place are not immune to this. It is difficult to think about the African Transformation Movement without thinking of Vuyolwethu Zungula. And some parties are suffering from the effects of this. Take the IFP. The party is apparently going to honour its last leader, Mangosuthu…

I am going to tiptoe through the minefield of a column that references the ugly phenomenon of xenophobia. This is not a dissertation, but I shall attempt to dulcify the stark realities that are clearly visible. Dictionary synonyms for the word include prejudice, intolerance, bigotry, insularity, parochialism, isolationism, ethnocentrism, ethnocentricity, racism, racialism, nationalism, and jingoism. The general understanding is that it is the fear or dislike of anything perceived as foreign or strange, threatening loss of national, ethnic or racial identity. A 1997 review essay included elements of a political struggle about who has the right to be cared for by the state and society. A modern Italian sociologist, Guido Bolaffi, called it “an uncritical exaltation of another culture which is unreal, stereotyped and exotic”. My essay is triggered by…

The call to redirect attention to pressing issues has gained momentum on social media, with many calling for fruitful discussions that will aid the stability of the country. This conversation has been sparked by recent news that on Monday, a well-known broadcaster would be hosting the self-proclaimed doctor “Dr Lani”, who used his platform to propagate fake news following claims of being a certified doctor. Many have criticised the radio station, saying it has devolved into populism and mediocrity. Given the station’s reputation as a reliable broadcaster, many assumed it would focus on urgent issues that afflict the country and methods for maximising the use of social media platforms for worthwhile content. Different views have been shared, with followers suggesting issues such as the high rate of unemployment, load shedding…

Sierra Leone information minister Chernor Bah said yesterday that attacks on several locations in the capital Freetown on Sunday were a failed attempt to overthrow the government. Thirteen military officers and one civilian have been arrested following the incident, he said. Gunmen attacked a military barracks, a prison and other locations on Sunday, freeing about 2 200 inmates and killing more than 20 people, said authorities in the country. By Monday calm had returned. “The intention was to illegally subvert and overthrow a democratically elected government,” said Bah. “The attempt failed, and plenty of the leaders are either in police custody or on the run.” Sierra Leone is still recovering from a 1991-2002 civil war in which more than 50 000 were killed. | AFP…

Banyana Banyana’s mentality and experience will be tested in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) qualifiers against Burkina Faso tomorrow and on Monday. Banyana have been the best team in Africa in recent months, setting records by winning the Nations Cup and reaching the World Cup last 16 for the first time. But now that they are top, the challenge is maintaining all that they’ve achieved and doing even better. Sure, they’ve improved already, progressing to the third round of the Olympic qualifiers after beating the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) 4-1 on aggregate last month. However, the last round of the Wafcon qualifiers should pose their biggest challenge yet, with Burkina Faso a potential banana skin. Speaking during the announcement of her 24-member squad at Safa House last…