Indholdsfortegnelse for 2023-04-12 i Cape Argus

OPERATIONAL costs at facilities partly funded by the Department of Social Development (DSD) have increased significantly following the Covid-19 pandemic, according to MEC Sharna Fernandez. The Institute for Contemporary Research Africa (ICRA) with the DSD yesterday briefed the standing committee on social development on old-age homes in the province. ICRA director Dr Louw Pieterse said the non-profit centre (NPC) had been involved with the DSD since 2015 out of a need for building capacity at care facilities. Pieterse said there were differences between an NPO and an NPC, with the opportunity for corruption within an NPO structure more prevalent due to less stringent controls. At one particular home, its monthly food bill would increase by an additional R8 000 to R28 000 as two staff members were found…

HEALTHCARE workers have been advised to continue to look out for, investigate and test for Covid-19, cholera and measles. Provincial Health Department spokesperson Mark van der Heever said in the Western Cape, 12 laboratory-confirmed measles cases have been reported since the start of the outbreak, with all the cases in the Cape Town metro. “However, most of these have since recovered. Overall, the incidence of measles appears to be decreasing across the country,” Van der Heever said. As of April 3, the province had 23 suspected measles cases, 17 in the Cape metro, two in the Cape Winelands, two on the Garden Route, and two on the West Coast. The Western Cape has not yet detected any confirmed cases of cholera. In terms of Covid-19, there were 467 active cases…

President Cyril Ramaphosa is encouraged to come clean and be honest regarding the alleged theft at his game farm at Phala Phala. Ramaphosa must exercise transparency in respect of the theft. South Africans need to know how and why it took place. It remains puzzling as to the reason for not depositing such a large amount of currency in a bank. No reasonable explanation has been offered and it is unacceptable that the ANC does not want an investigation into the case. It is indicative of the cover-up case during the Jacob Zuma saga. The South African public deserves an explanation from Ramaphosa. If we want to build South Africa as a great nation free of corruption, we need to come clean, and it is imperative that leaders should be…

One of America’s biggest problems, apart from a myriad others, is the South American immigration fiasco. Thousands of immigrants massing at the Mexico/American border and then infiltrating the US illegally. There are also the rampant smuggling networks preying on vulnerable migrants. The Biden administration has announced new enforcement measures to increase security at the borders. It also wants to do away with the Title 42 public health law that allows the rapid expulsion of illegal immigrants. This law has brought about protests throughout the US by the usual bleeding-heart brigade. I have just watched a video of one of these protests; protesters carrying placards stating, “We love immigrants”, “Immigrants are humans”, etc. When a news reporter asked a fair number of protesters if they would take immigrants into their homes,…

In 2020, the World Health Organization introduced a plan to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health threat by 2030. The first step towards the goal is to have 90% of girls fully vaccinated against human papillomavirus (HPV) by the age of 15. How much progress needs to be made, and what hurdles need to be overcome? How big a threat is cervical cancer in sub-Saharan Africa? Cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers in women. Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest cervical cancer diagnoses worldwide. Cervical cancer mortality rates in the region are three times higher than the global average. The burden of HIV in sub-Saharan Africa contributes to the disparity. In 2021, in southern Africa, 63.8% of women with cervical cancer were living with HIV. Most cases…

The Chinese navy continued with “actual combat training” around Taiwan yesterday, state media said, a day after Beijing announced the end of drills and as Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen criticised China for its “irresponsible” behaviour. China began the exercises on Saturday after Tsai returned to Taipei following a meeting in Los Angeles with US House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy. China, which warned the US not to allow Tsai to visit or meet McCarthy, claims Taiwan as its own and has never renounced the use of force to bring the democratically governed island under Beijing’s control. Taiwan’s government strongly disputes China’s claims. Although China said on Monday night the drills had ended, state television said several warships “continued to carry out actual combat training in the waters around Taiwan…

Wayde van Niekerk produced a thrilling display at the South African athletics championships recently, but decided to become a fan himself at the weekend by watching his beloved Liverpool in action. The 400m world record-holder won the national title in a world-leading time of 44.17 seconds in Potchefstroom the previous weekend, and then travelled to the English city to witness the Reds take on Arsenal in Sunday’s Premier League encounter, and it was a spectacle that saw Jurgen Klopp’s team come back to grab a point. Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal ran up a 2-0 lead in the first half through goals by Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus. But the league leaders came unstuck as Mohamed Salah reduced the deficit before half-time, and despite the Egyptian star missing a penalty in the…

A 43-year-old driver sustained injuries after her car rolled 180m down a steep slope on Chapman’s Peak Drive on Monday afternoon. The solo driver, who was heading towards Hout Bay, managed to exit the vehicle before rescuers arrived. A team of professionals and volunteers from Wilderness Search and Rescue (WSAR) were called to the scene to assist other agencies. Arriving at the scene just after 2pm, the teams divided into two groups. One group navigated the steep terrain to the wreck, where they found the patient had mananged to exit the vehicle but was unable to walk any further. She was assessed and treated on scene before being placed on a stretcher. While she was being treated, another group of rescuers up the road rigged up a technical rope system…

RENOWNED media, marketing, sales and business growth expert John Lloyd, who has died of cancer at the age of 64, has been hailed as an extraordinary and inspirational professional. The former advertising and marketing manager at Independent Media passed way at his home in Sunset Beach on April 1. Lloyd started his career in media and advertising as sales supervisor for the SABC in 1986 and was promoted to advertising manager of Radio Active Cape for the SABC, a position he held until 1994. He moved to print at Independent Media. From 1994 to 2003 he held the positions of advertising manager, marketing and sales director and commercial director in the group. Lloyd was marketing consultant to the Mandela Rhodes Foundation and to Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s Kids with HIV Foundation.…

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa’s mooted merger between Brand SA and the beleaguered Tourism SA hasn’t even been discussed at Cabinet level yet, Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille disclosed in a Parliamentary reply. Though SA Tourism falls in De Lille’s remit, Brand SA’s executive authority falls under the presidency’s ambit. Former Tourism Minister Lindiwe Sisulu’s September 2022 announcement of the merger being given the go-ahead by Ramaphosa was met with much fanfare. The June 2022 Cabinet Economic Lekgotla decided to merge the two entities, Sisulu’s communications office said at the time. However, it appears the Cabinet hasn’t even discussed the matter yet – if De Lille’s responses to EFF MP Rosina Komane, as well as two Cabinet statements issued in June 2022, are anything to go by. Komane queried De Lille in…

Dr Nandipha Magudumana’s father and a former G4S employee who allegedly helped Facebook rapist Thabo Bester escape from the Mangaung Correctional Centre have been charged with murder. The two suspects have also been charged with arson, fraud and defeating the ends of justice over Bester’s May 2022 escape from the prison facility. It is understood that the charges of murder relate to the death of the unknown man who was murdered and placed in Cell 35 at the G4S-operated prison facility in Bloemfontein. Police had initially charged both suspects with aiding and abetting a convicted prisoner to escape from lawful custody. The charges were added after Senohe Ishmael Matsoara and Magudumana’s father, Zolile Cornelius Sekeleni, made their first appearance at the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday. Matsoara was arrested in…

To the chagrin of many hateful and vengeful opponents in the US and on Earth, the evil intent on destroying and dehumanising President Donald Trump has lost all strength. If the intention was to make the humiliation of Donald Trump a satisfying spectacle for the whole Earth and the voters in the US, then it surely failed. Rather, the US as a nation is humiliated and exposed naked and has lost all credibility as a so-called “Christian” democracy and leader on Earth. The US of today has become an illegitimate guard against wrong and evil, and is led by satanic influence more than the nations it accuses of immorality, such as Iran and Russia. Does the US still hope that the anointing of God will preserve it and give it…

Henry Kissinger, who sexed up the art of diplomacy in the eight years between 1969 and 1977, will turn 100 next month. Given his age, and his long influence on global affairs, several “anticipatory obituaries” have been written. Some laud Kissinger’s role in the shaping of East-West relations while he was in office as US secretary of state. Traditionally, diplomacy was staid – Kissinger turned it into a site of celebrity, the jet-set and expert opinion. The world watched where he went. Kissinger’s diplomatic achievements were astonishing – the recognition of China (1971/72) by the US was breathtaking. But domestically more important was America’s withdrawal from Vietnam (1973) and the Nixon administration policy of détente (easing of hostility) with the Soviet Union, which led to a series of strategic arms…

Members of the Anti-Gang Unit arrested several suspects in crime prevention initiatives on Sunday and Monday. Collaborative efforts to end the illegal possession of firearms and drugs in communities were conducted in Parkwood, Athlone and Worcester, SAPS said in a statement. In Parkwood, the unit was busy with intelligence-driven operations on Sunday evening following reports of shooting incidents in the area. Following a lead to a certain house, members searched the premises where they confiscated a 9mm pistol, a home-made zip gun and ammunition. Two men were arrested for firearm- related offences, and another two suspects were identified as wanted. They were arrested for attempted murder. In an unrelated intervention, the same members were busy with foot patrols in the Kakgat informal settlement in Athlone when they saw a man…

IT WAS an extra happy Easter for celebrity couple Clint and Steffi Brink, who celebrated the weekend as first-time parents. In a joint Instagram post, Paarl-born actor Clint, 42, and fitness model and former Miss Namibia Steffi, 31, announced the birth of baby daughter Arielle Harmony Brink. The post read: “Thank You Jesus for new life. Without you we are void. When we are weak, You are our STRENGTH. When we feel lost and afraid, You are our FORTRESS … We will sing of the goodness of God. “Gratitude fills our hearts for your love, support, thoughts, and prayers. We appreciate every one of you. Arielle Harmony Brink. Born: 06/04/23. 06:43.” The couple, who married in 2016 and live in Johannesburg, declared Arielle’s arrival as a product of their love…

Considered not only a music legend in South Africa, but of skateboarding too, Errol “Bong” Strachan’s death continues to be felt and mourned dearly. In a social media post, the reggae, dancehall and dub band The Rudimentals shared the heartbreaking news of the passing of the bass guitarist. Strachan joined The Rudimentals in 2005 and remained with the band until his death at the age of 61. He also started the Sons of Selassie reggae band about 38 years ago, and played in bands Roots Rockers, Blunt and Braindead. He died at Groote Schuur Hospital last Thursday. “The day before he was to be released back to me,” his partner, Wendy Acton Burnell, said. Strachan had received biopsy results last month showing that he had cancer. “Mesothelioma was the…

I will again, as I am wont to do, start my column by telling a story. “The force that through the green fuse drives the flower…” sits just beneath the text I am presenting. It insists our element is time, and we can achieve what we desire if we trust and use that force (in my case, literacy). Larkin, the British poet, was of the same opinion regarding time. But I cannot house the homeless, or feed the hungry, or employ the needy or do any or all of the things that have gone wrong since the advent of our country in 1994. We have sunk into a morass, and we are still sinking. An organisation to help people afflicted with substance abuse claims the sufferer has his moment of…

The US liberal left, the Democratic party, the woke fraternity … all those left of centre in America are calling for Trump’s head. The Democrats seem to have forgotten they appointed a number of “man whores” to the highest political office in their country, after winning some elections. JF Kennedy, Bill Clinton, Bobby and Edward Kennedy … seriously, the list is long. That two-faced, left-wing collective should reconsider their stance towards America’s comeback president in 2024; the American political landscape will be swathed in red. Never mind that Trump got caught in an intoxicating storm and almost lost his mind. Ja nee.…

The Thabo Bester and Dr Nandipha Magudumana scandal has laid bare the level of corruption that goes unnoticed within the country’s political echelons. This level of palm-greasing tactics cuts through the country’s body politic to the country’s moral and social fibre. It is clear that as a country, we have allowed money to be used to corrupt our systems, especially when it involves rich people who continue to use money and connections to avoid facing the music for transgressions. Some of those who have been fingered in corrupt deals include our very own President Cyril Ramaphosa, who is hell-bent on using his power and influence to evade answering for his Phala Phala farm scandal in which millions of American dollars were reportedly stolen out of his couches. The case involving…

Napoli’s Victor Osimhen has been ruled out of this week’s Champions League quarter-final first leg against AC Milan after failing to recover in time from a thigh injury picked up on international duty. Napoli’s star player and Serie A top scorer had been in a race against time to play in tonight’s fixture at the San Siro. The Nigeria striker did not take part in team training yesterday, doing individual work in the morning session, and he was left out of the squad announced before Luciano Spalletti’s outfit travel to Milan. Taking Osimhen’s place could be Italy international Giacomo Raspadori, who did participate in yesterday’s training. He is Napoli’s only fit striker as Italy’s champions elect also announced yesterday that Giovanni Simeone had suffered a hamstring injury. Simeone had come…