Indholdsfortegnelse for 2021-10-07 i Cape Argus

Siphelele Dludla siphelele.dludla@inl.co.za BUSINESS activity in South Africa expanded for the first time in three months in September as improving economic conditions drove increased activity and customer demand. The IHS Markit Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) rose to 50.7 points in September from 49.9 points in August, buoyed by the easing of lockdown measures to level 2. The index was above the crucial 50 point mark for the first time since May, signalling a marginal improvement in operating conditions. IHS said this was mainly led by renewed upturns in output and new orders, which together account for 55 percent of the PMI weighting. It said the easing of lockdown measures to level 2 supported a slight rise in sales and drove a boost in business confidence to…

Debashine Thangevelo debashine.thangevelo@inl.co.za Grammy-nominated and multi- award-winning Ghanaian Afro dancehall and reggae superstar Stonebwoy has joined forces with South Africa’s Focalistic on a new single, Ariba. Ariba, which means “up” in Spanish is also a play on the Setswana “a re ba (tsene)” meaning “let’s take them on”. The single is an Afrobeat, Afro dancehall and amapiano-infused track that blends two of the biggest musical exports out of Africa currently. “We recorded this single in South Africa. It was inspired by a quest to merge the sounds of South African amapiano music and Ghanaian highlife and dancehall music – which came out perfectly well. “This is a very fresh sound that has never been heard in this way,” said Stonebwoy. The hitmaker described the single as a feel-good track. “In…

Sihle Mavuso sihle.mavuso@inl.co.za A PROMINENT KwaZulu-Natal violence monitor has expressed concern that no action has been taken after a whistle-blower opened a can of worms regarding the alleged illegal activities of some rogue officers of the SAPS Crime Intelligence Unit. Mary de Haas said, historically, brutality, corruption and other problems had been endemic in policing in South Africa since 1994 – and even escalating after 2009. She said there were indications that the Crime Intelligence Unit had long been the chief offender in the corruption stakes, and a recently leaked report confirmed other allegations of intelligence malfeasance. “Like the apartheid state, our police run political hit squads,” De Haas said. The report, leaked in July, made fresh revelations that three police officers (names known), based in the headquarters of…

It IS good to check statistics about the number of learners and teachers in public schools. There are about 2 000 private schools in the country. In many African countries it is not compulsory to attend school due to the lack of resources. In North America and Europe, school is compulsory from Grades 1 to 12 and in China all children must complete nine years of compulsory education from the age of 6. In South Africa 16% of the annual budget is spent on education. Students are guaranteed a supposedly free education from Grades 1 to 9 or until the age of 15. There are 447 900 teachers and 12 million learners at government schools. The government, following in the steps of the apartheid regime, has closed up to…

Nomalanga Tshuma nomalanga.tshuma@inl.co.za FRUSTRATED residents living in Wildwood, Weltevreden Valley, Mitchells Plain, say they are tired of trying to engage with their local councillor, who is seemingly uninterested in their well-being and, instead, focused on keeping up appearances. Resident Dalene Miller said the community is tired of asking their councillor to work with them to close a huge hole in the wall bordering their area, which has been the catalyst for a string of break-ins, property damage and vandalism. “It’s been years that we have been battling due to that broken-down wall. Before approaching the Cape Argus in July, the wall had been lying like that for five years. We have tried to get councillor Joan Woodman to assist us, but nothing has been done. “Our homes have become…

THE World Health Organization is under fire after allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse surfaced last month. More than 50 women accused aid workers from several organisations of crimes that took place during the Democratic Republic of Congo’s 10th Ebola outbreak. In response, the WHO launched an independent investigation. The investigation identified 83 alleged perpetrators, including 21 individuals who worked for the WHO. It detailed failures of leadership by those responsible for the Ebola response and those in charge of addressing employee and partner malfeasance. The WHO case is just the latest in a long list of sexual exploitation scandals within the UN and humanitarian systems since the 1990s. The UN and humanitarian systems, of which the WHO is part, have sought to address the issue for decades. This has…

German Benjamin List and Scot David MacMillan won the 2021 Nobel Prize in Chemistry yesterday for developing tools for building molecules that have helped make new drugs and are more environmentally friendly. They share the 10-million Swedish crown (R1.7bn) prize for work on asymmetric organocatalysis, which the committee said is“an ingenious tool for molecule building”. “Organic catalysts can be used to drive multitudes of chemical reactions,” the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said. | Reuters…

Nearly four years ago, French President Emmanuel Macron made a historic speech in the heart of the Sahel, where he vowed that France would never again interfere in its former colonies. His address at a university in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, was heralded by Paris as the death knell of the decades-old strategy by which France meddled in Africa, often supporting strongmen who backed French interests. But in the run-up to a summit tomorrow, showcased as a reset for French-African ties, some of the 800 students who listened to Macron’s 2017 address say they are disappointed today. “The feeling is one of disillusion. It’s been four years since these much-trumpeted promises, but very few of them have been followed up,” said Lassina Kambou, now aged 23. Doctoral student…

A BOXING sketch in felt pen by the late Muhammad Ali sold for more than $425 000 at an auction in New York on Tuesday of his little-known art works, some of which went for many times over estimates. The sketch, called “Sting Like a Bee” and drawn on paper in 1978, was the most sought-after work among more than 20 paintings, drawings and sketches by the former heavyweight champion that reflected Ali’s interest in religion, social justice and his own career. It carried a pre-sale estimate of $40 000 to $60 000. “Ref, he did float like a butterfly and sting like a bee,” reads the speech bubble from a boxer knocked out by an opponent whose arms are raised in victory. Ali famously used the phrase to describe…

Mark Keohane mark.keohane@inl.co.za KWAZULU-Natal’s Marine’s men and women took to the surf and conquered the elements in winning the Wimpy Surf Boat event at the DHL Lifesaving South Africa National Championships in Gqeberha. The surf boat discipline, which spanned nine heats over three days, is among the most spectacular events in surf lifesaving and the discipline is also among the toughest to navigate, negotiate and master. The aim is to row a fiberglass eight-metre rowing boat through the surf, turn around and catch a wave back to the shore. The first boat back to the beach wins. If it sounds simple or reads matter of fact, it is quite the opposite and it takes a special breed of lifesaver to compete in this event. Speak to the veterans of the…

AT last, Caster Semenya will have her say, in her own words. South Africa’s double Olympic champion in the 800m has announced that she is busy writing her autobiography, which will be published by renowned American publishers W.W. Norton & Company, who are based in New York. Semenya’s rise from relative obscurity in Limpopo to an 18-year-old world champion in 2009, and later claiming gold medals at the 2012 London and 2016 Rio Olympics Games, is sure to be a fascinating and inspirational tale in a book titled Silence All the Noise, which was announced to American media this week, with no release date as yet. “My life has had its struggles, but it has mostly been a joy. Through my example, I want to educate, enlighten, and inform about…

THE INSTITUTE of Directors in South Africa (IoDSA) has sent a list of recommendations to the Zondo Commission on how to improve directorship in the country. In an eight-page letter to the commission, IoDSA chief executive Parmi Natesan told Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo that testimony before him strikingly demonstrated how important a role directors played in creating and maintaining well-governed organisations and how dire the consequences were if they did not discharge this critical responsibility appropriately. She said a failure of boards, both in the public and the private sectors, to understand or practise their governance role or fulfil it adequately lay at the heart of state capture. Natesan is hoping the IoDSA recommendations will form part of the final report, which was due out in October before the…

Kristin Engel kristin.engel@inl.co.za CAPENATURE has appealed to the public to practise fire safety by preventing fires and reporting smoke or veld fires as fire season began after responding to 76 fires, which destroyed 31 198.7 hectares of natural and other veld during the last fire season. CapeNature general manager Petro van Rhyn said people remained the main cause of fire ignitions this year, followed by natural (lightning or rock falls), mechanical and fire operations respectively. “Most of the fires recorded started due to human negligence and not as a result of arson. CapeNature believes if we make people more aware of the dangers of their actions, such as leaving a braai fire unattended or not extinguishing a fire properly, we can reduce the number of fires that start…

Loyiso Sidimba loyiso.sidimba@inl.co.za ACTIONSA’s legal challenge to the Electoral Commission of SA’s (IEC’s) decision not to include the party’s name in the local government elections ballot papers is scheduled to be heard by the Electoral Court tomorrow. Former Joburg mayor Herman Mashaba’s ActionSA has candidates in six municipalities across the country – Joburg, Pretoria, Ekurhuleni, eThekwini, Newcastle and KwaDukuza – but only its logo and not its name appears on the ballot paper prepared for the November 1 municipal polls. The party is taking the IEC to the Electoral Court in Mangaung on an urgent basis to overturn the commission’s decision to exclude its name from the ballot papers. In papers filed in the Electoral Court, ActionSA wants the IEC’s decision to exclude the party from the 2021 municipal elections…

Nomalanga Tshuma nomalanga.tshuma@inl.co.za WHILE not completely satisfied with his tenure as councillor for Kraaifontein’s ward 6, outgoing ANC councillor Simpiwe Nonkeziyama says he did his best to uplift his ward despite working under the authority of the opposition party. Nonkeziyama, who has been a councillor in Kraaifontein for two consecutive terms since 2011, said he would not be running again come November 1 because he believed it was time to hand over the reins to someone new who would continue to work for the greater good. He said despite the current issues affecting his ward and various communities in Kraaifontein, he had done his best to ensure that the communities he was responsible for were developed and provided with essential services. Nonkeziyama said: “Unfortunately, I could not accomplish everything I…

Schools across the country are getting ready for the final term of the year and thousands of young people must be thinking about the great scary world they’ll be entering once their final exams are over. For some lucky ones the future is pretty well planned. They’ll be joining the family firm – or farm – and discovering what dad’s been doing all these years to pay for their school fees, uniforms, skate boards and cellphones. Most, however, are not so lucky and will be stepping into a confusing world of unknown options. If I may be presumptuous, let me drop a few ideas into those young minds. Firstly, find something that interests you, rather than just looking for “a job”. Sure, you may put bread on the table and…

South Africa is in the midst of perhaps the most important national movement since lines of voters formed in the first democratic election in 1994. The vaccination roll-out is a watershed moment. Considering the stakes, this moment in our history has the potential to make or break the future of our country. With more than 1 300 vaccination sites already set up across the country, the need to accelerate the roll-out has never been more crucial than it is at this moment. Now that all South Africans over the age of 18 are eligible to get the jab, we should be well on our way to achieving that fabled “population immunity” our president set our sights on all those months ago. Of course, our government does have a central role…

Several temples in Thailand’s historic city of Ayutthaya were underwater yesterday, as monsoon rains flooded the country. More than 40 temples in Ayutthaya, home to ancient Buddhist temples, ruins, and monuments, have been affected by the floods. At one of the temples, monks paddled small boats through water that ranged from thigh deep to neck level. Tropical Storm Dianmu caused flash floods in 32 the 76 provinces, killing nine people and affecting 300 000 households. A new storm is forecast for next week. | Reuters…

Liam Karabo Joyce liam.joyce@inl.co.za South African Grammy winner Wouter Kellerman and four-time Grammy nominee David Arkenstone have collaborated on a new album. Titled Pangaea, the name of the supercontinent that existed before it broke apart to form the existing continents, the connected symbolism is that the music calls for unity in these divided times and for a culture of valuing the earth and nature. The album comes hot off his SAMA win for Best Classical/ Instrumental Album for his 2020 release, We’ve Known All Times. The duo started working on the album last year, thanks to lockdown. “David and I had been talking about doing something together for a long time, and having live concerts cancelled presented us with the opportunity to start creating together. The world has become such…

Mthuthuzeli Ntseku mthuthuzeli.ntseku@inl.co.za THE body of a 22-year-old woman was found on Monwabisi Beach in Khayelitsha on Tuesday. Police spokesperson Frederick van Wyk said the woman had been identified but her full details had been withheld until her next of kin had been notified. “Police have opened an inquest docket for investigation and anyone with further information is requested to contact the investigating officer, Detective Sergeant Dlomo at Harare SAPS,” he said. Ward councillor Bongile Ngcani said for years the vicinity had been used as a dumping site for crimes potentially perpetrated outside the area. “I have engaged the City on a number of occasions on the condition of the Monwabisi beach which has attracted criminal activities. Visibility of metro police and neighbourhood watches and the general upgrade and…

Sisonke Mlamla sisonke.mlamla@inl.co.za A FAMILY from the Marikana informal settlement in Philippi is devastated after the death of their two sons, who drowned in a nearby dam. Asanele, 13, and Mivuyo Dweni, 11, disappeared under the water while playing with their friends. Police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk said the police had opened an inquest docket after the drowning of two brothers, at about 1pm, in a dam in Symphony Way on Tuesday. According to reports, four boys were playing in the dam on a foam slab when it overturned. “A witness managed to save two of the boys but, unfortunately, the other two boys, who could not swim, disappeared under the water and he could not find them,” said Van Wyk. Van Wyk said members of the police diving…

Kristin Engel kristin.engel@inl.co.za A POLICE captain who has 27 years of service is hoping to serve her community of Wynberg in another capacity after she put up her hand to stand as local government candidate for the National Freedom Party. Ilhaam Karriem has lived in Wynberg for the last 40 years and now hopes to represent ward 63 for her party. She said she stepped into politics after seeing there was no other platform besides the political arena to address the currenty issues of corruption, crime, and degradation of communities. “Being a resident of Wynberg for the past 40 years, I sadly bear witness to the deterioration and rapid decline of Ward 63 – structurally, environmentally and the security of the community. Subways have become drug nets, settlement clusters,…

Shakirah Thebus shakirah.thebus@inl.co.za THE Western Cape has reached an outstanding milestone by administering 3 million Covid-19 vaccines. Over 40% of eligible residents in the province have received either the Johnson & Johnson vaccine or at least one dose of the Pfizer vaccine. This is currently the highest coverage rate in the country, according to the provincial Health Department. Health MEC Nomafrench Mbombo said the province aims to fully vaccinate 70% of those over 50 years by December and 70% of the eligible population with at least one dose. “We are confident that more eligible residents will take up the offer to get vaccinated in the coming weeks. If most people get vaccinated, we will significantly reduce the number of Covid-19 related hospitalisations and deaths during a potential fourth wave of…

Fawwaz Mowlana | Wynberg AS WE draw closer to the 2021 local government elections on November 1, the election vibe is now in the air. In the last few days, the DA has faced criticism for neglecting the townships in Cape Town. I think there are two sides of the story, before we slaughter the DA. The DA is in government in the City of Cape Town and should ensure that all residents are serviced. I believe that they are spending resources wisely to ensure that they can improve the lives of all those who live where they govern. In their posters they are clearly indicating that, “Cape Town works, Let us do more”. To me this is a party that is not shying away from the fact…

Emerging digital fashion stores are tapping into a growing market – digitally generated outfits that stores photoshop onto a customer’s photos or videos to be posted onto Instagram and elsewhere. Soon they are likely to become a way to dress your avatar when interacting in online games and meeting places. Outfits on digital fashion store DressX range from $25 hats to dresses for hundreds of dollars. “Every brand in the future will be on board with digital fashion,” said co-founder Daria Shapovalova. | AFP…

US lawmakers pounded Facebook this week, accusing chief executive Mark Zuckerberg of pushing for higher profits while being cavalier about user safety, and they demanded regulators investigate whistleblower accusations that the social media company harms children’s mental health and stokes divisions. Zuckerberg, hours later in a public Facebook post, defended the company, saying the accusations were at odds with Facebook’s goals. “The argument that we deliberately push content that makes people angry for profit is deeply illogical,” he wrote. “We make money from ads, and advertisers consistently tell us they don’t want their ads next to harmful or angry content. And I don’t know any tech company that sets out to build products that make people angry or depressed.” During a Senate Commerce subcommittee hearing, whistleblower Frances Haugen called for…

By Kieran Canning Premier League matches are once again being played in packed stadiums after Britain’s successful Covid-19 vaccine rollout – but the reluctance of many players to get jabbed is proving a headache for football authorities. The UK has one of the highest overall virus death tolls in the world, at more than 137 000, but more than 82% of over-16s have had two doses of the vaccine, according to the latest government figures. The rapid rollout has enabled the easing of restrictions on large gatherings, with a welcome return of supporters to football grounds. However, although no official figures have been offered by the Premier League, reports suggest only seven of England’s 20 top-flight clubs have more than 50% of their squad fully vaccinated. “It’s low, not just…