Indholdsfortegnelse for 2024-07-31 i Cape Argus

FIVE cases of child abandonment have already been registered by social workers this year, as the news broke of yet another deceased infant found dumped in Delft yesterday. Police were called to the latest scene in Fairhaven Street, Voorbrug, where the body of the baby was found inside a plastic bag. Crimefighters said they were alarmed by yet another case, and appealed for baby savers at local clinics and hospitals. The Department of Health’s forensic pathology service has yet to confirm how many infants were found deceased this year. Police have since opened a docket and are searching for the mother. Police spokesperson, FC van Wyk, said: “Delft police registered a concealment of birth following the discovery of a baby’s body in a white plastic bag, in Fairhaven Street, Voorbrug,…

THE testimony provided by the only remaining eyewitness in the ongoing Khayelitsha mass shooting trial has been challenged and brought into question. Yesterday the teenager, only known as Mr Z, took the stand again in the High Court sitting in the Goodwood Prison Circuit Court, where he is testifying in the murder trial of Yanga “Bara” Nyalara and Wanda Tofile. Earlier this week, Mr Z testified that he followed Nyalara and Tofile as they allegedly killed 12 people and wounded 6 on May 15, 2021, in Site B. The witness, who was 15 years old at the time, was at a house shop when he and his friends heard gunshots and then decided to follow the group of…

The FW de Klerk Foundation calls on the government to ensure the safety of investigative officers of the court. This comes after the attempted assassination of advocate Coreth Naudé, who was acting for the South African Revenue Service in a high-profile tax inquiry. Earlier this year, the foundation called upon the state to ensure the safety of the judiciary. This was after it was revealed that a third of magistrates were threatened or harmed in 2021/2022. The violent, cowardly acts aim to intimidate legal officers and obstruct the administration of justice. It is an assault on the rule of law and the integrity of our judicial system. The foundation calls on law enforcement agencies to swiftly bring the perpetrators to justice. Recently, Daniela Ellerbeck, the foundation’s manager of constitutional…

THE Preferential Procurement Bill is clearly unconstitutional. Common sense tells us Eskom has to do what’s best for the citizens of this country. It cannot make itself subject to a set of rules that forces it to buy coal from a black-owned company offering coal of a similar quality at a higher price than its competitors. Simply put, the benefit of making a handful of well-heeled black entrepreneurs super rich always has to be weighed against the harm that the taxpayer could suffer. Perhaps it’s time to introduce a constitutional amendment that reminds government officials that it is always incumbent on them to use their common sense/apply their minds? TERENCE GRANT | Cape Town…

British prime minister Winston Churchill once said: “Those who fail to learn from history are condemned to repeat it.” One cannot disagree with that. Wisdom to preserve and analyse the experience of bygone generations is one of the key factors of development of each individual and society as a whole. By contrast, disregard of history leads to the same mistakes and tragic events, as in the past, wars and conflicts among them. Churchill’s words are especially relevant today. European elites are heading towards a war against Russia, and decisions made at the recent Nato summit in Washington DC corroborate that. “Europe is preparing for war. The pro-war train has no brakes, and the driver has gone mad,” Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said (About Hungary, June 1, 2024). In one…

Fresh demonstrations were expected in Venezuela yesterday after one person died when security forces tried to break up protests triggered by a disputed election result that gave Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro a third term in power. Security forces fired tear gas and rubber bullets on Monday at angry protesters challenging the re-election victory claimed by Maduro but disputed by the opposition and questioned by many other countries. Thousands of people flooded the streets of several neighbourhoods in the capital, chanting “Freedom, freedom!” and “This government is going to fall!” Some ripped Maduro campaign posters from street posts and burned them. At least two statues of Hugo Chavez, the late socialist revolutionary who led Venezuela for more than a decade and hand-picked Maduro as his successor, were knocked down by protesters.…

Paris: Massive explosions on the sun have triggered warnings of geomagnetic storms that could create auroras in the northern US, Europe and southern Australia tonight. These storms are caused by coronal mass ejections (CMEs) –expulsions of plasma and magnetic fields from the Sun which take days to reach Earth. At least four CMEs that erupted in recent days are headed towards Earth, the US-based National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said. The storms can mess with satellites orbiting Earth and affect radio signals, GPS positioning systems and electricity grids. | AFP…

Nozipho Ntshangase’s once amazing marriage descended into bitterness, further disintegrating when her husband decided to take a second wife. Opening up about her 17-year marriage on the Love and Marriage Family Podcast with Mo and Phindi, the reality TV star shared her emotional journey. Known for her role on The Mommy Club, the mother of eight has often been in the spotlight. Earlier this year, a video went viral showing an argument between Ntshangase and her husband, Zola, who was demanding the car keys while she insisted she needed them to take their children to school. This incident gave viewers a glimpse into the turmoil that had been brewing since the second season of The Mommy Club. Ntshangase had planned a future with her husband, including studying medicine in Zambia…

The South African wine industry has long been an area dominated by men of a certain age and colour. But not for long, there is a new crop of young, black and ambitious viticulturists on the rise. First-year protégés Lulo Bulo and Nompumelelo Mosaka are two examples of this change hitting Stellenbosch’s wine industry. These two bright women started their winemaking journey in 2019 when they participated in the Cape Winemakers Guild Development Trust’s inaugural Learner Programme. Bulo and Mosaka took part in the four-day educational trip to the Winelands during the June school holidays. The programme offers black female Grade 11 learners an introduction to viticulture and oenology as a potential university degree and, ultimately, winemaking as a potential career path. According to the Cape Winemakers Guild, the criteria…

IN ZIMBABWE, the issue of prison conditions has long been a point of concern for human rights advocates. However, a particularly distressing aspect of this situation is the plight of babies born to incarcerated mothers. These infants, often entering the world behind bars, face an environment ill-suited to their developmental needs and well-being. The inadequate conditions of Zimbabwean prisons pose significant challenges, raising urgent questions about human rights, the welfare of children, and the justice system’s approach to incarcerated mothers. Zimbabwean prisons are notorious for their overcrowded and unsanitary conditions. Cells are cramped, often holding more inmates than their capacity allows, which leads to severe hygiene issues and a lack of privacy. For babies, this environment is particularly hazardous. Limited access to clean water and sanitation facilities means that infections…

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa is the Robin Hood of modern times: he robs the poor to pay the rich. He has no conscience about awarding more than R200 000 a month to his ministers and deputy ministers. Where are the political parties who were vocal about a large Cabinet in the previous Parliament? They are our ministers and deputy ministers. They are conspicuous by their silence in this bloated Cabinet in another world. Why would they object to the large payment, making the poor, poorer by “legally stealing” our money? To the robbed people of South Africa: we must exercise our people power. In order to get the benefit of what the department is doing, as taxpayers, we could demand that all information be printed in free papers. We don’t need…

The 2026 local government elections are around the corner, yet the ANC continues to shoot itself in the foot. Former sports, arts and culture minister Zizi Kodwa resigned on account of corruption allegations; in the same way, ex-speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula disgraced herself out of office. Strangely, Kodwa resurfaced as a Member of Parliament with blessings of the ANC leadership only to resign a month later. This created the impression that there was never a candidate to replace Kodwa, even from ANC Youth League stock. Worse, the step-aside rule appeared to have been applied selectively to render the Integrity Committee a toothless watchdog. Such schoolboy errors of judgement are frustrating to most of us who grew up in the ANC as a political home. Of course, some in the leadership are…

The Fundza Literacy Trust plays an indelible role in encouraging reading and writing, through storytelling, among South Africa’s youth. Its fee-free “library in your pocket” is home to several stories on the topic of relationships, mental health, and love. The love that is spoken about and described in these stories is not limited to the romantic; instead, love of one’s family, love of one’s friends and peers, love of one’s country, and love for the community all shine through. And, just like romantic love, the love written about in these stories is indeed imperfect, but certainly deserving of our attention. The fee-free mobisite is also home to several stories that discuss a number of other issues facing young people today; specifically relating to the value of one’s mental health and…

I was astonished to see the ANC’s Fikile Mbalula and the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture de-campaigning Israel at the Paris 2024 Olympics this weekend. This happened just as the media broke an international headline that 95 Libyan nationals were discovered in an illegal, non-state military camp in Mpumalanga, posing a national security threat to the entire Southern African Development Community region. On Saturday morning, I woke up to the devastating news that eight people were killed in a tavern in the Kanana township, North West. Isn’t this supposed to be the government’s priority? It is increasingly evident that the political leadership does not prioritise the security and safety of impoverished South Africans. More than 84 people are killed daily in South Africa. Between January and December 2023, the…

KOCHI: Landslides swept through tea estates and villages in southern India’s Kerala yesterday, killing at least 108 people, local media reported, after heavy rain collapsed hillsides and triggered torrents of mud, water and tumbling boulders. The hillsides gave way after midnight following torrential rainfall on Monday in the Wayanad district of Kerala, a state renowned as one of India’s most popular tourist destinations. Most of the victims were tea estate workers and their families. Nearly 350 families lived in the affected region, mostly tea and cardamom estates. | AFP…

WASHINGTON: US Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris launched a $50 million advertising blitz yesterday, capitalising on the momentum of a fledgling campaign against Republican rival Donald Trump with a one-minute spot titled Fearless. It was Harris’s first big ad buy since consolidating support for the Democratic nomination after President Joe Biden dropped out of the race. As well as garnering big-money donors, Harris has also drawn young voters. Her campaign’s ad buy dwarfed the $10 million spend by Trump’s campaign. | Reuters…

Rapper Senzo Vilakazi, better known to his fans as Kwesta, will be making his acting debut in the new Netflix film Piano Love, to be released in August. The 35-year-old is renowned for his top-charting music which has cemented his status as one of the top hip hop artists in the country. He has slowed down on releasing hits and has been growing his brand locally and internationally. Fans will now see the Spirit hitmaker in a different light when he stars in the local movie alongside South African actress, TV show host and dancer, Bontle Modiselle-Moloi. She is no stranger to South African screens and has featured in productions such as Jiva!, Hear Me Move and Thula’s Vine. Piano Love, which will be released on the streaming giant on…

AS alarming statistics around the number of Airbnb-listed properties in Cape Town have emerged, there have been increasing calls for regulations to protect local residents to ensure that they are not priced out of well-located areas near economic hubs. According to Inside Airbnb, the Mother City has 23 564 properties listed - more than popular holiday destinations like Barcelona (18 086) Bangkok (20 823) - of which 19 280 or 81.8% of were entire homes or apartments. Urban Policy researcher at land and housing non-profit organisation, Ndifuna Ukwazi (NU), Nick Budlender said: “This means that at least 19 280 homes in the best areas of the city are now effectively removed from the housing market entirely, which has significantly distorted rental prices and increased the number of homes which sit…

A NEW barrage of insults has been levelled against Vice-President Kamala Harris by effervescent Donald Trump. In his first salvo aimed at the emancipated, left-wing libertarian, he has called her “crazy”, “dumb as a rock”, “nuts”, “laughing Kamala bum” and “lying Kamala”. On the other hand, macho man Trump is being revered by his fans as being a truth-teller, emotionally in touch, serene and even spiritual. Will all the unpleasantries and this mudslinging bring votes to the two protagonists or will it switch off the American voters? My money is on Trump, as I fear that giggling Kamala might not be up to the job. However, should she emulate former president Barack Obama, by becoming proficient at reading the autocue with Obama’s conviction, she might come out tops. Either way,…

The 2024 Olympic Games and its shameless organisers have made headlines for all the wrong reasons. The opening ceremony made a mockery of the Christian faith, and the Last Supper with Jesus and His disciples. Drag queens, queer people and even a child could be seen dancing and flaunting all they could to show the proverbial middle finger to those who believe in Christ. A male participant even had his genitalia on full display. How barbaric! How disgusting! Then there was the pale horse imagery, riding into the fray, with Death on its back, as is mentioned in the book of Revelations. The Olympic circus has certainly not disappointed its woke followers. However, due to the large amounts of money and advertising involved in the event, the organisers have issued…

Two weeks ago, I attended a men’s conference in Kagiso. I was late. When I arrived, Lucky Chief, who is a good orator, was on stage. He was relating his personal story, and the audience was in stitches with his jokes. If only his story was a joke. Chief was born out of rape, he revealed. His mother sent him for adoption to save her marriage. The new family did not treat him well. Subsequently, he was adopted by another family, who also treated him badly. When his adopted father passed on, he was forced to leave school and look after the adopted family. He then made a vow that he will never have a child, given his experience as a kid. Later in life, he fell in love…

I AM WRITING to express my deep concerns regarding the trend of inviting foreign pastors to South Africa without proper scrutiny. It is becoming increasingly evident that some of these pastors may be misleading our people and potentially causing harm to our communities. Some claim to be men of God, but are indulging in a life of sin. They often like to pray upon our people and upon laying their hands on our people a lot of spiritual energy is transferred from them. The legality of their presence raises serious questions. Who has ordained them, and under what authority are they operating within our borders? To whom are they accountable? To whom are they answerable in the event of a problem arising as they are not part of a clergy?…

THE rate at which people are going missing or getting kidnapped is alarming. There is a need for intervention from law enforcement agencies. Despite anti-kidnapping teams being set up across South Africa, still more South Africans fall victim. As for the modus operandi of kidnappers, eight out of 10 times, criminals know the victims, or they follow and watch their lives before they pounce. On social media platforms such as X and Facebook, one comes across many people reported as missing. Some are fortunate – they are found – while others, such as Amahle Thabethe, are yet to be found. Amahle went missing in April 2019 in Tsakane, Ekurhuleni. She was 8 years old. Not only rich people get kidnapped; ordinary citizens are also preyed upon. They are used for…

LONDON: British radical Islamist preacher Anjem Choudary, whose followers have been linked to numerous plots around the world, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 28 years yesterday for directing a terrorist organisation. Choudary, 57, was convicted last week of directing al-Muhajiroun, which was banned as a terrorist organisation more than a decade ago, and encouraging others to support the proscribed group. “Organisations such as yours normalise violence in support of an ideological cause, Judge Mark Wall told Choudary at London’s Woolwich Crown Court. | Reuters…

If the Springboks are to defend their World Cup crown in Australia in 2027, the sooner they establish winning momentum Down Under, the better. That was the word from Rassie Erasmus at the team’s media conference in Johannesburg as they prepared for their departure yesterday. The coach said no excuses would be entertained as the Boks look to reverse their generally poor record away to the Wallabies in matches in Brisbane on August 10 and in Perth a week later. “We are certainly well aware that every year we have some kind of excuse for playing badly in Australia and we are not a team that should be looking for excuses,” Erasmus said. “We tend to blame things like unfamiliar venues in Melbourne or Adelaide but that is not good…