Indholdsfortegnelse for 2024-02-06 i Cape Argus

LOVE was in the air at the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court yesterday, as alleged 28s gang boss Ralph Stanfield was reunited with his wife Nicole Johnson in the dock. Despite facing several charges, firing their lawyer and having their two bail applications denied, nothing could stop the two love birds from staring into each other’s eyes after being held at different prisons since their arrest last year in October. Wearing matching Under Armour tracksuits, Ralph was seen smiling at Nicole and said: “You still look pretty.” He also held her hand and kissed it as proceedings commenced. Stanfield is being held at Brandvlei Prison, while Johnson is being kept at Pollsmoor Prison. The couple were arrested alongside Johannes “Bal” Abrahams, Denver Booysen and Jose Brand on various charges allegedly linked…

JUST as Cape Town hits the hottest month of the year, swimmers have been dealt a blow. The City of Cape Town has announced that the popular Long Street indoor swimming pool has been closed for urgent maintenance work, and will only reopen next month. The City said roof repairs and an electrical compliance upgrade were needed at the facility, which was scheduled to reopen on March 2. According to ward councillor Ian MacMahon, work is being undertaken on the HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system and replacement of rooftop fans, new ducting and other repairs needed. He said due to the scaffolding and roof top work, the pool will need to be closed, according to The Plainsman. In a statement, the City said while every effort will be…

I have spent the past two weeks trying to find ways of accommodating those who the City is hell-bent on evicting on February 7, not only at the tent city encampment at 3 Anchor Bay but also all over Sea Point and Green Point. The City requested that those evicted may not re-erect structures or sleep in any space in the area that is owned by the City – and it forms part of the judgment. The entire eviction doesn’t sit well with me. After all, what the City has suddenly offered – temporary accommodation in Delft somewhere – is not what was negotiated over the past two years. The City had promised to open a 300-bed Safe Space in Green Point, which was meant to be transitional. Yet, despite…

The DA is giving President Cyril Ramaphosa 5 days to open a case of corruption against his deputy, Paul Mashatile, whom it claims has been involved in many cases of corruption dating back to the time he was Minister of Human Settlement, but continues to have more scandals exposed even now as deputy president of the country. No one can blame the DA, as we all know that Ramaphosa, on becoming President, promised South Africans a clean government free of any form of corruption, and not only that, but that all those who were implicated in state capture would be prosecuted for destroying the economy of the country; and moneys that were lost would be recouped. However, John Steenhuisen should be well aware that there is something seriously wrong with…

ActionSA mourns the recent passing of Professor Mochichi Samuel Mokgokong after a gallant battle with cancer. South Africa has lost an icon of the medical fraternity who was the first neurosurgeon of African descent in South Africa. Professor Mokgokong’s accolades count among others, being co-lead of a 50-member team for a successful 18-hour operation to separate conjoined twins Mpho and Mphonyana, who were joined at the head. Prof Sam Mokgokong embodied selflessness, forsaking the trappings of private medical practice to instead serve in the interest of society by imparting his knowledge and skills with academia both locally and abroad to enhance the development of neuroscience. We have lost a giant and pillar of society.…

With South Africa hurtling towards elections, the Western Cape High Court’s dismissal of the EFF’s bid to overturn sanctions against six party members is more than just a legal footnote. It’s a crucial reminder that a strong democracy requires, as Nelson Mandela said, “the fundamental right to disagree publicly without fear of retribution”. Last year’s tumultuous State of the Nation Address (Sona), where EFF MPs stormed the podium in protest, was not an isolated incident. It’s part of a worrying pattern of the EFF attempting to discredit President Ramaphosa, and previously Jacob Zuma, in Parliament. As result of last year’s chaos, the EFF’s self-styled commander-in-chief Julius Malema, his deputy Floyd Shivambu, Vuyani Pambo, Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, and party spokesperson Sinawo Tambo won’t take up their seats when Ramaphosa addresses a joint…

Tokyo: Heavy snowfall over a wide area in Japan’s Kanto-Koshin region, including Tokyo, was expected from around noon yesterday to today, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). The Koshin region that comprises Nagano and Yamanashi prefectures as well as the mountains of northern Kanto region are expected to see up to 30cm of snow during the 24 hours through to this morning, while 20cm of snowfall is expected in the plains of northern Kanto region and 7cm in the plains of southern Kanto region, Xinhua news agency reported. Tokyo’s 23 wards are expected to see 5cm of snow in the same period, the JMA added, calling on people to be alert for traffic disruptions.…

ROME: Italian police said yesterday they had arrested 14 people after disorder broke out at a detention centre for migrants near Rome following the suicide of a young man being held there. Two police officers and a soldier were injured in the disturbances on Sunday when inmates forced their way out into a car park, having set fire to mattresses and thrown other objects, police said. Officers fired tear gas as they struggled to regain control of the Ponte Galeria holding centre for undocumented migrants, which is close to the city’s main airport at Fiumicino. The trouble was sparked after the discovery of the body of a 21-year-old man from Guinea who had taken his own life. Italy’s Coalition for Freedom and Civil Rights (CILD) said migrants held in such…

The rules of tough love are relentless in their quest to bring sanity to a delinquent party. So too, the ANC has, for the past 30 years, degenerated from a clear-thinking party to a party incapable of controlling its lust for power, money and excesses coupled with an insatiable thirst for corruption. It is akin to addicts who are no longer capable of controlling their urges and will resort to the most heinous deeds to get their fix. The forthcoming election must see the electorate performing the duties of a loving and caring parent. Clamping the wayward ANC will be like placing a hardened addict into rehab, for an extended period, in the hope that the addiction will cease. The ANC is no longer fit for purpose. A new party,…

What a load of nonsense from Vukile Phanyaphanya in his “Open letter to Judge Julia Sebutinde on SA v Israel”. Judge Sebutinde must be highly commended for her independent thought and view of the case. Her approach took a lot of courage in the face of one-sided and biased opinions. Uganda distanced itself from her findings but did not condemn her in any way. Israel was declared a state in 1948; Palestine was not. There never was and never has been an ancient and independent Palestinian state, that existed before the Israelites under Joshua entered the Land of Canaan (the Promised Land) circa 1420 BCE (Biblical record). Interestingly, the Qur’an specifies that “the Land of Israel is the home of the Jewish people” (Sura 5:21). Israel is not the only…

KABUL: Three people have lost their lives and another was injured as an avalanche struck a village in north Afghanistan’s Badakhshan province, the state-run Bakhtar news agency has reported. The avalanche took place in a far-flanged village of Shar-e-Bazarag district over the weekend, leaving three dead and one injured, the state-controlled media outlet reported, without giving details. Parts of war-ravaged Afghanistan, including the capital city Kabul, have received heavy snowfall and rain since Thursday, which led to road closure in some areas. Authorities were able to clean the snow and reopened Salang Pass on Sunday.…

THE South Africa Women’s cricket tour of Australia has taken a sharp turn as the hosts have taken full control of the proceedings once again. South Africa looked like they had finally turned the corner against Australia, beating the hosts for the first time. However, Australia have gone on to win the T20 series 2-1 since then and now lead the ODI series 1-0, with two matches remaining. Here, we highlight where the visitors have gone wrong and what needs to be done heading into tomorrow’s second ODI. WICKETKEEPER POSITION: One of the few things that Proteas women’s coach Hilton Mooreng has probably been criticised for is not rotating his squad and giving inconsistent performers an extended run in the team. Wicketkeeper Sinalo Jafta is yet to make…

A BIG petrol price increase is expected to come into effect tomorrow, putting a strain on household finances as residents continue to recover from festive season spending and stretched budgets. The Automobile Association (AA) said yesterday that unaudited fuel data from the Central Energy Fund showed that 93ULP and 95ULP petrol grades were expected to climb by between 64c/l and 66c/l respectively, while diesel was expected to increase by around 63c/l. Illuminating paraffin was expected to be 47c/l more expensive. “The movement in international oil prices is contributing a significant percentage to the increases while the weaker average rand to US dollar exchange is adding an impactful but smaller margin to the expected increases,” said the AA. Based on the numbers, a litre of 95ULP inland will climb from…

THE lawyer defending the security company boss, alleged to have killed a Bo Kaap father, said his client should never have been arrested on Friday. Cameron Aberdeen, 31, from Cerberus Tactical Security (CTS), made his first appearance in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court yesterday afternoon. This after Moegamat Waleed Abrahams was shot several times during an altercation. Another person, a woman, was shot in the hand. Aberdeen appointed well-known criminal defence attorney William Booth to represent him. The State yesterday asked for the case to be postponed until Thursday for bail information. Booth requested Aberdeen to be detained at the Cape Town Central police station. “The reason for that is that there is concern for the safety of the accused if he is detained at Pollsmoor. “On Saturday he had…

IMPROVING the efficiency and competitiveness of the country’s ports and rail network was crucial for South African businesses to benefit from the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). So said President Cyril Ramaphosa as he recently launched the first shipment from the Durban port, saying the country was working with the private sector on the Freight Logistics Roadmap crafted by Transnet, government and social partners. The AfCFTA is a high-ambition trade agreement that eliminates barriers to boost intra-Africa trade across all sectors of the economy. It is the world’s largest free trade area, bringing together the 55 countries of the African Union and eight regional economic communities. African Development Bank chief economist and vice-president Kevin Urama said there was a need for Africa to focus on infrastructure development on the…

AN ELEPHANT seal named Buffel has made his appearance again, this time leaving residents of Onrus buzzing with excitement along the shoreline as they rallied via social media to protect it from being hunted by people or dogs. The species originate as far as the Antarctic and are on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Buffel has built a friendly reputation on Cape beaches when he is found baking in the sun and sand, known as being in a state of moult (new skin/ hair). Buffel was discovered by residents and beach-goers, almost hidden by the white sand along Onrus beach at the weekend. Images and a video of the rare elephant seal were shared on the Facebook group Vermont, Onrus, Sandbaai and…

ON JANUARY 28, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger decided to immediately withdraw from the Economic Community of West Africa (Ecowas). In a joint communiqué that was published on the website of the office of the president of Niger, three African leaders accused the organisation of betraying its original ideals, such as brotherhood, solidarity, mutual assistance and development. In their view, Ecowas “under the influence of foreign powers has become a threat to its member states and its population”. The organisation did not help the republics in the fight against “terrorism and insecurity”, moreover, it imposed “illegal, illegitimate, inhumane and irresponsible sanctions” against them when they decided to choose their own path of development. Withdrawal from Ecowas was only a matter of time because after the military coups in Burkina Faso,…

The coalition of capitalist and imperialist countries like the US, France, the UK and Germany are supporting one another to protect their ships along the Red Sea – Gulf of Aden – but, sadly, there is no coalition to protect human beings and save lives. The Houthi strikes on ships from some Western countries is in protest of the siege and bombing of Gaza. The Houthis have made it clear that their attacks on ships in the Red Sea will stop only as soon as apartheid Israel’s illegal military attack on Gaza stops unconditionally. The notion Western countries are driving – that the Houthis are “Iranian proxies” – is disingenuous. The Yemeni people, like human rights activists across the globe, are supportive of the Palestinian resistance and the moral struggle…

As WORLD Wetlands Day was commemorated on February 2, it is important that we commit ourselves to protecting and preserving the wetlands in our communities as wetlands are crucial for the well-being of humans and other living creatures. World Wetlands Day is an important day on the environmental calendar as it aims to raise global awareness and understanding of the critical importance of wetlands. This year, World Wetlands Day was celebrated under the theme “Wetlands and Human Well-being”, which highlights the interconnectedness of wetlands and human life and well-being. Healthy wetlands equate to our well-being whether through the provision of clean water, as a source of food, or by protecting us from extreme weather events. Human beings have depended on wetlands for centuries, drawing sustenance, inspiration and resilience from these…

SOUTH AFRICA has a troubled history of religious freedom dating from the Protestant Reformation and the plight of Huguenot refugees fleeing religious persecution under Catholic France. “God Is not a Christian,” said Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, who also said: “When the missionaries came to Africa, they had the Bible and we had the land. They said: ‘Let us pray.’ We closed our eyes. When we opened them, we had the Bible and they had the land.” It was thus colonialism that brought religion to the continent, and for the better part of the 20th century, the struggle was between theocrats in Pretoria – those who believed the Afrikaners were Africa’s equivalent of “God’s Chosen People”, armed with a Covenant literally signed in blood (at Blood River) – and those who…

Male: Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu yesterday forecast the country can attract 2 million tourist arrivals this year, for the first time in the history of the Maldives – since the inception of its tourism industry, according to local media. Muizzu made the statement while delivering his first presidential address at the opening sitting of the last session of the ongoing 19th Parliament yesterday morning. The president said the expansion of Velana International Airport would increase tourist arrivals by 10.3% on average in the medium term, Xinhua news agency reported. Muizzu added his government wants to open 20 new resorts this year, to create 2 827 beds.…

TEHRAN: Iran said yesterday that it “will not hesitate” to respond in the event of US attacks on its territory after the White House declined to say whether strikes on Iran were ruled out. White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said on Sunday that the US will press on with its retaliation against Iran-backed groups in Iraq and Syria. Asked whether the US would rule out the possibility of striking Iran directly, Sullivan told NBC, “it would not be wise for me to talk about what we’re ruling in and ruling out”. “If (Iran) chose to respond directly to the United States, they would be met with a swift and forceful response from us,” he said. Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanani hit back yesterday, saying: “The Islamic Republic…

Seldom is any match defined by the performance of one individual. But in today’s Betway SA20 Qualifier 1 between Sunrisers Eastern Cape and Durban’s Super Giants, it is impossible to ignore the potential impact of the blockbusting Heinrich Klaasen. The Proteas superstar has been prolific for DSG in season 2. Actually, that’s an understatement, because for Klaasen has been phenomenal for all teams he has represented in the past two years. From international cricket to the franchises worldwide, Klaasen has left a trail of destruction and bowling units in despair. DSG opener Matthew Breetzke may have more runs (383), but there is nobody in the competition that has the power to destroy any bowling attack in the way Klaasen has. His impact is immense with his 350 runs coming at…

The news that the Springboks are to continue playing the All Blacks, Wallabies and Pumas every year is good news but there is a drawback to not joining the Six Nations. SA Rugby had hoped to gain admission to the Six Nations for two reasons – it is a far more lucrative tournament than the Rugby Championship, plus full alignment with the northern hemisphere would solve the problem of the players currently not having an off-season. As things stand, the European season takes a break in July, August and September. If South Africa was in the Six Nations, our top players would be off during that period, which is when the Rugby Championship is played in the southern hemisphere. This is the single biggest problem of South Africa having one…

Alex Albon expects to have to adjust his driving style this season as Williams seek to move up a gear after leaping from Formula One’s bottom-placed team to seventh last year. Albon, who is now starting his third season at Williams, scored all but one of the former champions’ points last year and is a target for top teams as Mercedes and Red Bull consider their options for next year. “Coming off the back of a very positive year we’re hoping to build on our progress into 2024, working hard to make some good steps forward in performance,” the Thai said, at a livery launch in New York yesterday. The new FW46 Mercedes-powered car, blue with a red and white pinstripe, will make its track debut on a filming day…