Indholdsfortegnelse for 2022-10-03 i Cape Argus

Project Shelter Wakadogo, which supports vulnerable and hard-to-reach children, has been named as one of the top three schools in the world by World's Best School prizes in the Overcoming Adversity category. The category recognises that adversity will come in many forms for schools, including conflict, climate-related disasters, poverty or a pandemic. It assesses how the school builds character, both individually and as a community, to support the greater resilience of all students. Wakadogo was founded in 2009 in the aftermath of two decades of civil war and violence committed by the Lord’s Resistance Army in northern Uganda, which displaced over a million people. The school, which is located in Pece Acoyo in Gulu District, has grown from two classrooms to serve over 450 students and now has one of…

The Department of Basic Education is on a mission to eradicate pit toilets at schools across South Africa for the safety of pupils. This comes after the deaths of some pupils in school pit latrines in the past. In 2014, 5-year-old Michael Komape fell into a pit toilet at Mahlodumela Primary School in Limpopo and died. A similar incident happened in 2018, in which Lumka Mketwa, a 5-year-old pupil at Luna Primary School in the Eastern Cape, fell into a pit toilet and died. Again in the Eastern Cape, in 2017, Siyamthanda Mtunu died after the walls of a toilet collapsed on him at Dalasile Primary School. In a written parliamentary question to Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga, the EFF’s Babalwa Mathulelwa asked about the dates by which pit…

A political scientist has said there needs to be clarity about what proponents of Western Cape devolution really want, especially given South Africa’s recent history of racial divisions guaranteed by a legal framework that kept people of colour from the levers of political power. Political scientist Shingai Mutizwa-Mangiza was reacting to the establishment of the Western Cape Devolution Working Group by, among others, the DA Federal Council chairperson Helen Zille, Freedom Front Plus and the Cape Independence Party. The parties were joined by lobby groups including AfriForum, the Cape Independence Advocacy Group (CIAG) and the Action Society. He said groups calling for devolution had to be wary of the optics provoked by their language on such an emotive issue. “It is one thing for people to be calling for devolution…

The new mayor of the City of Joburg, Dada Morero, has reassured 130 workers who were dismissed by the DA-led multiparty coalition that the ANC would restore their dignity and relook into their matter. The 130 workers were dismissed after it was discovered that their contracts had been converted from fixed term to permanent by the ANC before leaving office in its previous term. The matter had gone as far as the Labour Court and was also before the Gauteng North High Court in Johannesburg. The return of the workers was one of the first key items looked into by Morero. He was elected on Friday and sworn in over the weekend. Morero is a qualified public administrator who has been known for his gentle leadership style within the region.…

The City is embarking on yet another project to level its facilities with the international market. This time, it has announced that it will be reworking the pitch at the DHL Stadium, combining both artificial and natural grass to create a modern-day event-appropriate stadium. The City said that its pitch revamp would also offer the stadium greater stabilisation with technological upgrades in pitch design to ensure that it is aligned with the international benchmarks for rugby and soccer. Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis said DHL Stadium had become a landmark in Cape Town, with hundreds of thousands of sport and music fans enjoying performances there. “We want to ensure that it is benchmarked with the best in the world, so that it continues to attract the biggest events, and grows our local…

The community of Hermanus was bristling with activity and chatter as its Hermanus International Whale Festival drew to an end yesterday. The whale watching festival – returning to the community’s shores after a two-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic – is said to have drawn thousands of local residents and international and domestic tourists to the town. The town’s local leaders have shared how thrilled they were to host thousands of people at the event, which also kicked off the start of the whale watching season. Western Cape Provincial Parliament (WCPP) speaker Masizole Mnqasela said the Hermanus International Whale Festival was an important spectacle for the global economy. “I cannot express how thrilled and excited I was to see the turnout this weekend,” he said. “Given the contribution of…

Kaizer Chiefs (0) 1 Dolly 61st min AmaZulu (1) 1 Mhango 14th Chiefs and AmaZulu played out an entertaining stalemate in the first leg of their MTN8 semi-final encounter at FNB Stadium yesterday. A 10-man Usuthu scored an important away goal under hostile conditions and held on for a difficult but invaluable result. It was former Orlando Pirates man Gabadinho Mhango who made the breakthrough for the visiting team, scoring what might prove to be an important away goal for the Durbanites in the 14th minute. The Malawi international showed his quality as he evaded his marker, ran in behind the Chiefs defence and, after a great touch, slotted past the on-rushing Itumeleng Khune to score. Chiefs went immediately on the offensive, putting the visitors on the back foot and…

Technology company HP has revealed the results of its first education-focused survey in Africa, which shed light on teachers’ skill sets and how learning experiences for pupils can be improved in South Africa and Nigeria. The quantitative research was conducted in April and May with 802 teachers in South Africa and Nigeria surveyed. The sample group in both countries comprised public primary and high school teachers, as well as private school teachers in Nigeria. Since the focus was not merely on those teaching technology, the study findings reflect educators who teach a wide range of subjects, including languages, maths and other disciplines. The study identified 10 skills as crucial to future-proofing learning. Most teachers surveyed – seven in 10 – agreed that creative, innovative, critical, and entrepreneurial thinking, as well…

BBC Earth’s nature documentary, Dynasties has returned to TV with an exciting new season showcasing wildlife at its best. The show is narrated by the legendary broadcaster, biologist, natural historian and author, Sir David Attenborough, and follows the lives of different dynasties from the animal kingdom. Series producer Simon Blakeney said that the second instalment was more captivating and compelling than ever. “With the new season we’re building on the success of the first series. We wanted to take another six animals, different species and take a similar approach to really embed ourselves and follow their lives over an extensive period of time. “We tell the stories of the unique challenges, solutions and twists and turns in their lives. We want viewers to see the highs and the lows so…

Ukrainian abduction sparks online warning LOCAL authorities have slammed an international security company which has posted a travel alert on its website, warning visitors to avoid “lower-income areas of Cape Town”. Crisis24, which has branches in 11 cities around the world, published the following “advice” on its website crisis24.garda.com: “Consider avoiding non-essential travel to lower-income areas of Cape Town, particularly at night and unescorted. Maintain a low public profile and do not show outward displays of wealth, particularly if traveling alone and in higher-risk locations. Do not discuss plans and routes publicly.” This follows the latest kidnapping of a Ukrainian woman, Anichka Penev, who was snatched outside her husband Simeon’s factory, Nioro Plastics, in Blackheath, on Thursday morning. Weekend newspapers reported that a R5 million ransom had been sought…

DESPITE a legal threat and questions about the credentials of voting delegates, the ANC Boland region elected a new leadership in a heated conference in Worcester at the weekend. In a total sweep, the seventh Boland regional conference, which had more than 150 delegates, elected Patrice Mangena as chairperson, Sebenzile Kiva as deputy chairperson, Charl Jacobs as secretary, Clare Davids as deputy secretary and Anele Paliso as treasurer. The conference was supposed to have taken place in early September but was delayed due to a number of issues, including the threshold of wards and delegates. Voting took place on Saturday night. An email sent on Sunday morning by an independent elections agency official, Busi Ngcebetsha, to senior ANC leaders in the province, including MP Richard Dyantyi, confirmed the regional executive…

There sure are a lot of work-ons, but for Stormers head coach John Dobson, the leadership that shone through in their United Rugby Championship (URC) game against Edinburgh was one of the biggest positives. The defending champions overcame a poor first half and two yellow cards, plus a red, at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday to secure their second bonus-point win in as many matches. In the first half, the Scottish side were in complete control of the game as they dominated territory and possession, while their scrum was also a strength. But with all the good they did in the first 40, the fact that they didn’t fully capitalise on their opportunities was something they will, no doubt, want to address. The Stormers’ sturdy defence played a big part…

Erling Haaland and Phil Foden scored hat-tricks to fire champions Manchester City to a rampant 6-3 thrashing of local rivals Manchester United in the Premier League yesterday. City’s football was slick, incisive and ruthless in its execution as Haaland claimed his third hat-trick in eight league games and Foden netted his first Premier League treble on a humbling afternoon for United at the Etihad Stadium. After a disappointing start under new manager Erik ten Hag this season, with the Dutchman tasting defeat in his first two games, a run of four successive league wins had promised better times ahead, but United were brought firmly back to earth by the neighbours. No City player had scored a hat-trick against their bitter rivals since Francis Lee in 1970 and in the space…

The Department of Education in Mpumalanga has raised concern about the alarming rate of teenage pregnancy in the country. This after it convened a Learner Pregnancy Prevention and Management Policy Workshop in Mbombela this week. Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga said recently in a written parliamentary reply to a question about 91 000 learners falling pregnant last year. The teenage pregnancy rate has been increasing. The department has been trying to work with other stakeholders to identify people who impregnate young girls. Some of the pupils who fell pregnant were between the ages of 10 and 14. The provincial department in Mpumalanga said the rate of learner pregnancy in South Africa was alarming and had become a major challenge at schools as it affected the lives of thousands of…

South Africa’s sweetheart Minnie Dlamini has dipped her hands in many projects over the years, but she is most proud of her production company, Beautiful Day Productions. Dlamini, who spent years in front of the camera, told YouTuber Nono D on her series InShot that she wasn’t afraid of getting her hands dirty when trying to learn everything she could about the world behind the camera. “I’ve always wanted to produce, to create movies and television. I believe that there’s a way we can shape society through art, whether it’s through having conversations that are taboo or enlightening a community about what’s actually going on in a certain space. ”That’s always been my passion, whether I was in front of or behind the camera. I remember when I started out…

A WESTERN Cape High Court judge has ruled that a woman who went to court to prove she was still married to her husband at the time of his death in 2012, may access more than R19 million in maintenance that her now deceased co-wife had tried to prevent her from claiming. Judge Yasmin Meer made the ruling after a complicated trial spanning 19 days and involving 13 witnesses, including Muslim scholars and which involved interpretation of Shariah law as well as civil law. The matter dealt with whether the woman was still married, according to Islamic Shariah law, to her husband when he died in July 2012 and was accordingly a surviving spouse in terms of the Maintenance of Surviving Spouses Act. The court heard that the November 1992…

LED mostly by mothers, Beacon Valley residents are reclaiming their streets through a protest march against unrelenting gang violence in their community. The protest march commenced at the Beacon Valley Community Centre yesterday afternoon and saw approximately 200 people in attendance. Resident Charmaine Marman said it was heartbreaking to see young children armed with guns. The protest march was a strong call for an end to gang violence, with those present calling for much-needed peace in Beacon Valley. “We have a concern because we live in fear. We have gang rivals in our area and we want that to stop because it’s affecting our children. “Children can’t go to schools because most of the shootings happen at the time when the kids are on their way to school or on…

Software giant Systems Applications Product (SAP) has been ordered to pay back the remaining R81 million to the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS). This after SAP disputed the R81m for third party costs incurred. In a new order dated September 29, a special tribunal ruled that the technology company had to pay the department the full outstanding amount of R81m, after an earlier order made against the company of R413m, which was the total amount paid by the department to SAP between 2015 and 2016. Prior to the agreement, the special tribunal also declared the software licence and support agreements between the department and SAP unconstitutional and invalid, and ordered it to be set aside. The matter stems from an SIU investigation which revealed that the department and SAP…

THE City’s safety and security directorate is cautioning residents to seek permission first before buying, selling or discharging fireworks in celebration of either Guy Fawkes, Diwali or New Year’s Eve in the coming weeks. Safety and security Mayco member JP Smith said while the City was cognisant that residents who want to commemorate the upcoming holidays would want to host fireworks displays, it wanted residents to apply for permits to adhere to the National Explosives Act and community fire safety by-laws. Smith quoted chapter 11 of the community fire safety by-laws, which deals with fireworks, saying that the City was a controlling authority in this regard and could set aside municipal land for the letting off of fireworks by the public, subject to conditions that may be determined and indicated…

Liesbeek Action Campaign, the civil society group fighting R4.5 billion development at the River Club site in Observatory, has parted ways with its lawyers, Cullinan and Associates. On Friday, the group said: “Due to a combination of factors, including their own internal capacity, our lack of finances and in the interest of winning a case against the developer, all parties have decided that it is best to part ways and continue with a new law firm better able to handle the various court cases. “Right now we face 10 different legal cases, all brought to court by the developer.” The campaign has managed to raise under R1 million in crowdfunding which they say has been used for legal fees, as their battle to stop the developers of the River Club…

Sergio Perez won a rain-affected Singapore Grand Prix yesterday, meaning that his Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen, who finished seventh, must wait at least another week to retain his Formula One world championship. The Mexican took the chequered flag 7.5 seconds ahead of the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc, whose teammate Carlos Sainz was third in the night race that started more than an hour late because of a storm. Verstappen had a mathematical chance to clinch a second world title in Singapore, but needed to win and have other results go his way. The Dutchman was always going to struggle after starting eighth on the grid at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, but he battled back from a slow start where he dropped to 13th to finish seventh. It means…