Indholdsfortegnelse for 2022-03-17 i Cape Argus

E-COMMERCE service provider Yumbi, a food ordering platform, has added a critical delivery component solution for multi-location quick service restaurants (QSRs) through integrating its offering with Eats and using the Uber Direct services. Yumbi’s custom-branded ordering apps and websites let customers place orders directly with the restaurant, eliminating the costs and losses of control associated with using third parties. Yumbi managing director Chris Sweidan said leveraging its 10 years of industry expertise, the firm had partnered with multi-location QSR brands to ensure they delivered the high-quality ordering experience customers had come to expect. “With Yumbi, brands have complete control over their platform, ordering ecosystem and customer relationships. They are able to engage directly with customers and gain critical insight from usage analytics,” Sweidan said. Pedros Flame-Grilled Chicken said it had…

Government preparing for R24 per litre Mwangi Githahu mwangi.githahu@inl.co.za DON’T pack up that home office just yet – the government is recommending working from home as an energy saving measure if, as looks likely, the price of fuel gets to R24 per litre as a result of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. International oil prices have soared to record levels in recent weeks because of the conflict and concerns over Russian oil supplies. Russia is the third top producer of crude oil and the conflict is being reflected in increased oil prices. Department of Mineral Resources and Energy deputy director-general Tseliso Maqubela said the government thought companies that can have their people work from home would be saving their workers from rocketing transport costs as South Africa would be…

The EFF’s Student Command (EFFSC) is furious with the alleged constant victimisation, intimidation, and concomitant action demonstrated by the private security company used by the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN). Student Thanduyise Ngobese was allegedly shot by a Fidelity Security guard and lost an eye. EFFSC national spokesperson Xola Mehlomakulu said it was shocking that the company was still contracted by the university. It is alleged that on February 15, this year, Ngobese was one of the students who took part in a demonstration for financial clearance, the scrapping of permits to gain access to the institution, and the return of staff to work on campus. Fedility Services Group CEO Wahl Bartmann said it was important to note that there were several parties involved in the exchange of gunfire and unfortunately…

Sihle Mavuso sihle.mavuso@inl.co.za Zwelinzima Vavi, the founding secretary-general of the South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu), the labour federation he helped found in 2017, two years after his expulsion from Cosatu, is facing the chop from a leadership position. This came after Saftu, on Tuesday, served him with a letter that said he must motivate why he should not be suspended. Vavi has to plead his case today and state why he should not be placed on precautionary suspension while an investigation is taking place. In the letter, signed by the federation’s president, Mac Chavalala, on behalf of national office bearers (NOBs), Vavi is accused of breaching the constitution of the labour movement as well as its finance policy. “Please be reminded that during the said meeting, at which…

Cllr Yagyah Adams | Cape Muslim Congress Structural stupidity is a process where stupid people who lack knowledge and experience are placed into positions of authority, where others can use them to advance an agenda of self-enrichment. More than a billion rand was spent on the Zondo Commission, yet nobody important is in prison. Since the looting and ruin of Kwazulu-Natal and Gauteng, nobody important is in prison. Two years ago, people stole and sold the matric exam question papers, nothing happened. The list of neglect and stupidity must be considered as organised crime. When unqualified persons are hired, disaster is a question of time. This is one of many reasons why South Africa cannot progress. We refuse to rise above conditions. It is as if we are…

Ebrahim Essa | Durban It HAS come to my attention that my notice-deposits will now incur a fee of R45 if I place notice. I find this a real bizarre situation as I get closer to the age of 76, having been with Absa even before United changed to Allied Building Society almost 55 years ago. How can any bank actually charge what amounts to a penalty for placing notice? Bank deposits are maintained from young, so that one day when life becomes more difficult for old people they have something to survive on. Instead of giving some extra incentive for loyal customers, banks are showing ultra capitalistic greedy trends that border on criminality. You are helping yourself to money that belongs to the client. When a…

As we celebrate Human Rights Week, we will do well to reflect on our heroes and heroines – men and women who dedicated their lives to fight for the human dignity of the people of African descent in Africa, in the diaspora and all over the world. They lived in much more difficult times than we have to contend with today, but they had a calling in their lives to pave the way for us. In a foreword to the book, They Are Africans by Barrister Dudley Thompson, (OJ, QC, an internationally renowned barrister), with paintings by Barrington Watson, (Jamaican master painter), former UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, says: “While all these leaders would have continued to struggle for Africa's future, I believe they would have been prouder still of the…

In the 60 years since Algeria won independence from France, it has gone through multiple crises with its former occupier, often fuelled by domestic politics. Yet experts say the two sides had surprisingly good relations for four decades, and it was only in the 1990s that things started to fall apart. “Generally, despite appearances and criticism, there has been a stable, very balanced relationship,” said Luis Martinez, a Maghreb researcher at Sciences Po university in Paris. That is despite the devastation caused by the eight-year war of independence that finally ended after the signing of the Evian accords on March 18, 1962. French historians say half a million civilians and combatants died – 400 000 of them Algerian– while the Algerian authorities insist 1.5 million were killed. Under French General…

Mihlali Baleka mihlali.baleka@inl.co.za THE South African Football Association (Safa) has reported that they are “on a sound financial footing” after receiving financial backing from various entities, including their sponsors and Fifa, over the years. “We have long-term sponsorship contracts with most of our partners. The average term of our contracts is four years and these contracts are renewable,” Safa said in a statement yesterday. The statement details how the monies received are distributed, but it is not clear why the statement was released. Safa has long-term sponsorships with various companies including SA Breweries, Sasol and the SABC. These sponsors are responsible for backing Bafana Bafana, Banyana Banyana or both teams. With Safa a member of the world governing body, the association also benefits “through a programme known as the FIFA…

Rafieka Williams rafieka.williams@inl.co.za THE family of a Strand woman who was raped and murdered in 2020 have questioned why the State took so long to bring the accused, Ashwin Hammers, to trial after the matter was postponed to August 29 this year. The rape and murder of Faranaaz Mentor, 31, has left her family not only distraught, but also worried about the outcome of the court case. Mentor’s sister, Melissa Palmer, said: “It’s been difficult because every time he appeared in Strand (Magistrate’s Court), there were always postponements. We thought the case would go nowhere. We didn’t have much hope of getting justice for my sister because there are many cases like this going on for more than three years.” She said although the matter has reached the Western Cape…

Luke Akal | Three Anchor Bay For a visible sign of the ANC in the Western Cape’s support of Russia in Putin’s war, one need only look at the windows of the party’s office on the fourth floor at the provincial legislature building. For all to see, the Russian Federation and the former USSR flags have been on proud display since the invasion began. Just four days after Russia began its illegal invasion of Ukraine, the leader of the opposition at the Western Cape Provincial Parliament, the ANC’s Cameron Dugmore, and the party’s Shadow MEC for Education, Khalid Sayed, attended the 30th anniversary of Russian-South Africa relations. While Putin was firing cluster bombs at civilians, Sayed labelled the occasion an “honour and privilege” to attend the Russian-hosted event.…

J M Chipkin | Bantry Bay Regularly readers vent their spleen against Israel, which is the only democracy in the Middle East. Jews, Muslims, Christians and Druze live side-by-side in peace. People are so worried about the Palestinians, omitting the fact that had the Palestinians accepted the existence of the State of Israel in May 1948, there would be no cause for the fighting which has raged for 74 years. The United Nations in 1947 mandated the partition of Palestine after the British left, into two states, a Palestinian and a Jewish state. A Palestinian state could have been a thriving entity by now, living in peace with Israel. Instead, 4 000 rockets are fired at Israel at intervals and the flames of violence fanned without cease. Not…

Sizwe Dlamini The Lonmin Marikana Massacre in 2012 killed 34 people and injured 78 mineworkers for fighting for their right to receive better wages. It was perhaps democratic South Africa’s Sharpeville moment. The similarities are striking – ordinary black South Africans fighting for dignity. Instead they were mowed down in a hail of bullets by police. The “reputational risk” to Lonmin, the SAPS and the country itself was significant. The devastation and impact on the families of the victims – unquantifiable. Yet this “reputational risk” did not provoke so much as a peep out of the banks. No bank dreamed of terminating Lonmin’s bank accounts. Yet major banks are liberally using the reputational risk phrase to terminate companies under the Sekunjalo Group umbrella. The “risk” factor arising from innuendo contained…

HERMAN GIBBS Comment THE two squads in the recent Soweto Derby revealed there were only two players who were 21 years and younger, and one of those was a foreign-born player. Both Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, starved of success for many years, had an average age of just over 28. It pointed to the generous use of experienced players, many of whom produce conscientious performances week in and week out but can no longer hold down a national team berth. Many of these experienced players no longer command regular match-winning performances to ensure these two storied clubs win more matches. In stark contrast, a club like Stellenbosch FC, with nine players younger than 22 years in their squad, have run them close on the Premiership standings. Bafana Bafana coach…

Nomalanga Tshuma nomalanga.tshuma@inl.co.za AN INCREASED police presence in Manenberg, which is in the middle of a gang war, is already bearing fruit with several dangerous weapons confiscated. This after eight people were killed in separate incidents last week, prompting calls for stronger policing from residents, who were granted a meeting with Deputy Police Minister Cassel Mathale earlier this week. After the meeting, additional forces, including officers attached to the Anti-Gang Unit (AGU), metro police, law enforcement, Leap and traffic officers, were deployed to assist the Manenberg Policing Precinct quell the ongoing gang violence. Police spokesperson Frederick van Wyk said that following their deployment, the additional officers apprehended nine suspects between 25 and 39 years old who were brought in for questioning regarding the murders of opposing gang members. “Through this…

Sisonke Mlamla sisonke.mlamla@inl.co.za The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) says the Western Cape has the highest number of active rights cases in the country. The commission released its annual trends analysis report (Tar), which indicated that in the 2019/2020 financial year the province had 1 592 complaints. The SAHRC revealed that while the number of complaints received annually had increased, there had also been an increase in hearings, inquiries and improved success in securing redress for complainants. Khensani Motileni, head of research and policy for Social Justice Coalition, said the rise of cases was exacerbated by human rights violations in poor black and working-class communities. Motileni said people would occupy land, because of lack of basic service delivery, which then further led to their homes being demolished unlawfully, without…

Matthew Petersen matthew.petersen@inl.co.za RAISING awareness of people living with mental disabilities is important, especially in making sure everyone has an equal opportunities for getting jobs. Cape Mental Health’s Trading Workshops Unlimited (TWU) held its annual Trolley Race yesterday. Spokesperson for Cape Mental Health, Barbara Meyer said: “The event is to raise awareness of intellectual disability, and help break the stigma about people living with mental health conditions.” TWU is a life and work skills development project that runs four workshops in Mitchells Plain, Athlone, Khayelitsha and Retreat. The programme aims to ensure that persons with intellectual disability have equitable access to life-long learning, training and capacity building and can participate fully and equally in the mainstream of the economy. Meyer said ran a tuckshop at the event, with all the…

THE NSRI is to become the beneficiary of a 7.5km swim from Robben Island to Big Bay that fitness enthusiast Liezel van der Westhuizen will undertake next month. “So far, the non-profit National Sea Rescue Institute has impacted the lives of more than 3 000 children and many communities through their water safety programmes, and I wanted to do my part in helping lower the figure of 29% of fatal drownings occurring among kids under 14,” said Van der Westhuizen, who has already taken on the likes of Ironman triathlons, endurance competitions, and sports challenges such as tandem cycling the Himalayas with a blind athlete. During her latest conquest – taking on a challenging swim – she will be accompanied by a group of NSRI volunteers. The swim in the…

Matthew Petersen matthew.petersen@inl.co.za An exhibition, solely dedicated to the life and teachings of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, is to be showcased at the Apartheid Museum. The Desmond Tutu Legacy Foundation, in partnership with the Apartheid Museum, came together to hold the exhibition called Truth To Power: Desmond Tutu and the Churches in the Struggle Against Apartheid. According to the Legacy Foundation’s acting CEO, Phumi Nhlapo, the exhibition is a first in being dedicated solely to one of the country’ icons, showing what Desmond Tutu stood for and how he was able to inspire others. “As a foundation, our reason for being is to have the legacy of ‘The Arch’ available to the world. We want people, young and old, to learn from his example. We didn’t just want to erect a…

Khotso KD Moleko | Mangaung Deep down in the inner-selves of many South Africans, there is a deceptive conviction that no matter how much we blunder, things will still turn out fine. The belief is that some form of fortune will always absolve us of the consequences of our mistakes and things will always turn out fine. As a nation, we should get rid of this fallacy and learn to deal with issues as they are and find lasting solutions. The same notion drives xenophobia. Deep down, many black South Africans think that we can do all we want to other black Africans, and they will not pay us back and there will be no consequences from the rest of Africa. After all, South Africa is…

In education all over the world people must look after their resources. We have seen in times of conflict that there is a tendency to destroy school buildings. During the Struggle against apartheid we had seen how physical buildings were set on fire because of the anger generated by the apartheid authorities. I have always said that in the new South Africa, the government must listen to the demands of the people in education. We do not seem to have learnt from our past experiences, especially in the field of education. In my 38 years in a government school the administering of schools from the apartheid time to the present has not changed much. The late Neville Alexander, a political analyst who had so much to offer South Africa as…

Ukraine said yesterday it wants its security to be guaranteed by international forces and rejected proposals pushed by Russia for it to adopt a neutral status comparable to Austria or Sweden. “Ukraine is now in a direct state of war with Russia. As a result, the model can only be ‘Ukrainian’ and only on legally verified security guarantees,” its top negotiator, Mikhailo Podolyak, said. He called for a legally binding security agreement, signed by international partners, who would “not stand aside in the event of an attack on Ukraine, as they do today”. The Kremlin earlier yesterday said that a neutral Ukraine along the lines of Sweden or Austria was being discussed at talks with Kyiv to end three weeks of fighting in Ukraine. “This is an option that is…

SMISO MSOMI smiso.msomi@inl.co.za THE opportunity to lead one of the biggest clubs on the continent is one that should never be taken lightly. The demands and levels of expectation associated with such a pivotal position exceed the normal rigours of a footballer. Kaizer Chiefs have had inspirational characters leading the line in the past. The likes of Ryder Mofokeng, Neil Tovey, Patrick Mabedi, Cyril Nzama and Siphiwe Tshabalala piloted Amakhosi to numerous titles and cups. The Naturena-based club have an interesting predicament on their hands this season, however, as club captain Itumeleng Khune continues to watch from the stands. The veteran goalkeeper hasn’t seen much game time in a Chiefs shirt and this has left most of his on-field captain duties to experienced teammate Bernard Parker. Parker recently turned 36,…

EVERTON are in crisis on the field, and relegation looks like a genuine prospect this season. Along with the big guns of the English top flight, the Toffees are one of the teams to have never been relegated in the Premier League era. When Rafa Benitez was sacked by the Merseysiders in January, Everton were six points clear of the relegation zone. Under Frank Lampard, there have been no clear signs of improvement so far. They head into their game against Newcastle United today only just above the drop zone on goal difference. Was it a mistake by Everton to appoint Lampard? It remains to be seen. Lampard is still a young manager who lacks experience. His only previous stints were with Derby County in the Championship and with his…

Stuart Hess stuart.hess@inl.co.za CRICKET South Africa (CSA) hopes that restoring trust with sponsors, players and various other stakeholders will be accelerated now that it has finally appointed Pholetsi Moseki as permanent chief executive. Moseki, who has agreed a five-year contract, had been acting CEO since December 2020, and takes up the position at a challenging time for all sports from a financial perspective. In CSA’s case, those issues are exaggerated by problems the organisation created for itself, chiefly by previous occupiers of the position. “In five years’ time I do hope there will be a farewell party attended by everyone. I won’t be chased away by lawyers before my time ends as has been the case with some of my predecessors,” Moseki quipped. Gerald Majola was removed as CEO in…