Indholdsfortegnelse for 2023-08-22 i Cape Argus

Longevity literacy is critical to help women live confidently and securely when it comes to their wind-down years. South Africa’s gender pension gap sits at 26%, reflecting the average difference in retirement income between men and women. Farzana Botha, Segment Manager at Sanlam Risk and Savings, said that often, women cannot afford to retire as early or as comfortably as men. She believes turning this around should be an imperative. Botha said, “A multitude of factors contribute to the gender pension gap, including the facts that women typically live about five years longer than men, but earn 82% of what their male peers make, for equivalent work. Closing this pay gap will take close to 300 years. Women must be empowered to control what they can. This includes stretching their…

With a career spanning two decades, DJ and Afrotainment owner Mthokozisi Khathi, aka DJ Tira, shows no signs of slowing down. IOL Entertainment got to see DJ Tira in action on the set of the music video for his upcoming single Korobela featuring Murumba Pitch and Q Twins, where he opened up about his longevity in the entertainment industry. “It’s the Makoya Bearings level,” he said when I asked him how he scouted the upper echelon venue in Inanda which works perfectly for the love song video. He is gearing up to release a new album, Malume Way. “I’m trying to do different scenarios because the album has different vibes, from gqom, gospel sounds turned into love songs. “The song (Korobela), is more of an urban, classy song. I’m also…

THE South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) is calling on pupils to apply for bursaries and scholarships. Sanral is accepting applications for scholarships and external bursaries for the 2024 academic year. Application forms can be found on the Sanral website, and will close on September 30. Sanral was founded in 1998, and is a state-owned entity represented by the minister of transport, and mandated to maintain, manage, and develop the expanding national road network within the country. The agency recently hosted an induction for recipients of its scholarship and bursary programme at the Lagoon Beach Hotel in Milnerton. This academic year, the Skills Development Unit is funding 252 scholarships and 95 external bursaries. Sanral’s general manager for skills development, Heidi Harper, said: “The decision to expand our external bursaries beyond…

The imprisonment of former Pakistani leader Imran Khan will disqualify him from politics and thereby drive Pakistan back into authoritarian rule. Pakistan, meaning a land of noble people, is a country where two families and the army have mainly dominated the political system. Regrettably, the Pakistani army generals and other authorities’ vendetta against Khan and his populist Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party might bring an end to Khan and his party’s political ambitions. The extent to which these powers have gone with their hate campaign against Khan conveys that they are not alone in this disgusting scheme. Perhaps the promised benefits that they will receive from their funders and handlers allows them to take such risks. According to many analysts and political commentators, the US administration does not want someone who has…

Our welfare state will soon fall apart if we are not careful, and the poor who are the beneficiaries of social grants will be the biggest losers. When state-owned entities collapse, it results in thousands of jobs being lost, which could have contributed to our tax coffers. With only 5% of the population paying taxes, the brain drain is making this group even smaller. This is a group that the government must give more incentives to stay, as they are big earners who are innovative and who contribute significantly to job creation. However, the government is chasing them away to greener pastures. It is biting the hand that feeds it. Eskom needs hundreds of billions of rand to be fixed. Ever-rising inflation, looting, privately owned businesses closing, and an ever-growing…

The ANC presidency is a very powerful position. This position tames members of the glorious movement into treating the incumbent like a demi-god. Instead of serving the political organisation, members tend to serve the president. Interestingly, the governing party presidents (I am referring to those who served during the democratic era) have proved to have feet of clay. They committed costly mistakes, which warranted them to step down, or step aside. However, they never did. Former president Thabo Mbeki succeeded Nelson Mandela. Mbeki had a very different style to that of his predecessor. He was aloof (although he had denied it) and a back-room operator. In fact, his was referred to as the Machiavellian style. During his tenure, HIV/Aids was ravaging the nation. Developed countries were giving their infected citizens…

The spotlight will be on the BRICS leaders meeting in Johannesburg this week as these emerging nations, accounting for a quarter of the world’s economy, plot a path to galvanise and become a geopolitical force that can challenge the West’s dominance in global affairs. With fundamentally different economies, politics, and, presumably, reasons for wanting to be associated, a common thread among the BRICS countries is growing scepticism about a world order that serves the US’s interests and its rich-country allies who promote international norms they enforce but don’t always respect. The BRICS grouping has emerged over the past few years as one of the world’s most significant gatherings of economic power. A recent Credit Suisse and UBS study showed that the most significant wealth increases last year were recorded for…

There is a dose of experimentation in the Springbok backline to face New Zealand on Friday in London, but the forward pack is at its beefy best as coach Jacques Nienaber concludes his six-match build-up to the World Cup in France. The big talking point is the selection of Canan Moodie at outside centre. The motivation is two-pronged: The Boks have vulnerable depth at No 13 following the injury to Lukhanyo Am, but there is also a desire to see the hugely gifted 20-year-old closer to the ball. Moodie is a rare talent. A natural athlete, he has an instinct for knowing what to do in the trickiest of situations and has the innate ability to make difficult things look easy. When you consider the surfeit of excellent wings at…

Molefi Ntseki took the Kaizer Chiefs coaching job knowing full well that he had to prove to the club supporters that Rome wasn’t built in a day. But such has been the roller-coaster start to their revival plan that Ntseki and the supporters are already at loggerheads as he needed a police escort after their 1-0 loss to TS Galaxy on Sunday. A Brandon Petersen own-goal consigned Chiefs to their second successive loss in the Premiership as they remain in the bottom half of the standings with one point after three games. It was a disappointing result for the club and the supporters who – before they resorted to hooliganism when Ntseki walked down the tunnel – thought they had turned the corner. Chiefs went into the match high on…

TESTIFYING in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial has resulted in his health deteriorating, says State witness Sergeant Thabo Johannes Mosia. Mosia, a forensic officer at the Springs Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management division, was called to testify in court about evidence he collected at the Vosloorus home following the shooting of Meyiwa in 2014. Mosia faced a gruelling cross-examination from the legal counsels of the five men on trial for the murder of Meyiwa. He was even questioned on the veracity of the photographs taken of the evidence he collected. He was also requested to bring the registers of the evidence to court as the legal counsels alleged that some of the photographs taken were unclear. Following the request to bring the register to court, Mosia said he had…

The Western Cape government will soon be concluding its public consultation process over the reburial of human remains housed at the Simon’s Town Museum, while a public meeting is expected to take place over the weekend. The remains, which are not part of the museum’s collection, consists of a Khoi or San skull confirmed by UCT, and several other partial skeletons which may be of European origins (unconfirmed). A public notice by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport, undertaking the public consultation process, says the remains have been housed at the museum “for some time”. The public consultation process opened on July 26, and will conclude on August 26. Simon’s Town Museum manager Cathy Salter-Jansen said the remains were of two groups – one a skull dating back 2…

Criticism of Russia’s withdrawal from the grain deal should not be skewed to project Russia in a negative light. Part of the deal was to minimise the impact of sanctions on the export of Russian food and fertiliser. That part of the deal, according to Russia, has not been honoured by the West, and Russia’s withdrawal from the grain deal must be seen in this context. As the saying goes, a deal is a deal. We had a similar situation with the Iran nuclear deal and Minsk agreement in which the West failed to honour its side of an agreement. Iran was supposed to gain sanctions relief by accepting limitations on its nuclear programme. The deal was ratified during the Obama administration, but the Trump administration unilaterally withdrew the US…

It’s been 126 years since British medical doctor Sir Ronald Ross discovered that mosquitoes in the Anopheles family are primarily responsible for transmitting malaria parasites between vertebrate hosts. Since his discovery, mosquitoes have been found to carry and transmit many other diseases that pose a major threat to public health. Currently, malaria is the most lethal mosquito-transmitted disease. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported an estimated 247 million cases of malaria worldwide in 2021 and 619 000 deaths. Almost all cases and deaths were in African countries. Other diseases transmitted by mosquitoes are also a source of immense human suffering. It is estimated dengue infects about 390 million people annually. And thousands are affected by Zika, chikungunya and yellow fever. Conventional methods to control vector-borne diseases have targeted the vectors,…

Thailand’s divisive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra is expected to return to the kingdom from exile today, threatening fresh instability on the day parliament votes for a new prime minister after three months of political deadlock. Thaksin, 74, is the most influential and controversial politician in recent Thai history, loathed by the pro-military and royalist elites but adored by many in rural areas whose lives were changed by his policies in the early 2000s. His return from 15 years of self-imposed exile comes at a politically charged moment in the kingdom. Thailand has been without a prime minister for three months after the youthful Move Forward Party (MFP) stormed to a shock success in May elections, only to be stymied by the conservative establishment opposed to its promise of change. The…

Eric Tinkler is no David Attenborough, but the Cape Town City coach certainly knows a thing or two about surviving in the jungle that is the Premiership. Tinkler’s team had been playing decently until Friday night’s venture into the unknown Tshwane University of Technology Stadium, where City slumped to a 1-0 defeat to SuperSport United. It was City’s first defeat in the league this season, but more frustratingly for Tinkler was the fact that his team had moved away from their traditional strengths. “If you are a lion, then you must remain a lion,” Tinkler said. “Don’t change your skin and become a leopard. They hunt differently. We must keep hunting the way we hunt. “Yes, the pitch doesn’t help the brand of football that we try to play, but…

Springbok wing Kurt-Lee Arendse has backed his roommate at the Bulls and the Boks, Canan Moodie, to hit the ground running at outside centre on Friday night against the All Blacks. The 20-year-old Moodie was the surprise selection in the Bok team for the last warm-up game before the World Cup as coach Jacques Nienaber looks to add depth to the position following the injury to Lukhanyo Am. “I know what Canan is capable of doing,” said Arendse. “He has grown as a player, he is very competitive and I think he will do really well at 13. I am very happy for him. “When we are in the room, he always says he would like to get an opportunity at 13. Now he has the chance and I think…

Hout Bay police opened an inquest docket after the body of an unidentified man was found in Hout Bay Harbour. Police spokesperson Joseph Swartbooi said reports suggested that the body was found by employees on board a fishing trawler. The ANC’s Johnson Mayeki Branch deputy chairperson Roscoe Jacobs said the body belonged to someone who worked at the harbour. He was not from Hout Bay and the nature of the discovery was rather puzzling. “As far as I know there are securities hired by the Department of Fisheries, and cameras at the harbour, so it is rather concerning how that body ended up in the water with all those measures. Yes, the ordeal is not common in that area, and it should not have happened.” Hout Bay Community Police Forum…

Allegations of corruption against Drakenstein mayor Conrad Poole made by GOOD Party Drakenstein Councillor Keagen Gertse are being investigated. Last week Gerste called for an urgent council investigation into allegations of corruption made against Poole and alleged that members of his mayoral committee were also involved in what he called a “pay-for-job-scheme”. Gerste said: “Poole and his executive oversee a R3.4 billion budget, it is imperative that we confirm their hands are clean.” He said he had written to the council speaker Koos le Roux to request the investigation. “As the council, we have a duty to our electorate to root out malfeasance in the municipality. “If the mayor and members of his mayoral committee are involved in brown envelope dealings, they must face the full might of the law,”…

The Uyinene Mrwetyana Foundation is to host a unity walk against sexual and gender-based violence to remember those killed. The walk will take place at UCT. This Thursday will mark the fourth year since 19-year-old UCT first-year student Uyinene Mrwetyana went missing, before she was found raped and murdered after going to collect a parcel at Clareinch Post Office in Claremont. Her killer, Luyanda Botha, a post office worker, was handed three life sentences in November 2019. Mrwetyana’s mother, Nomangwane Mrwetyana, said at her funeral: “I am sorry that I warned you about other places, but not the post office. I am sorry I was not there to protect you. I promise to take the baton and continue fighting gender-based violence. I promise to establish a Uyinene Foundation and protect…

The tragic accident of a freight train on the territory of Moldova, due to high temperatures and poor-quality railway infrastructure, as well as congestion from grain trucks on the road corridor near the Reni-Giurgiulesti checkpoint, led to a meeting between representatives of the US, EU, Moldova and Ukraine. The purpose of the meeting was to find other routes and accelerate the export of Ukrainian grain to Europe. After the expiration of the grain deal, not a single international structure has taken any real steps to send agricultural products to Africa to overcome the humanitarian crisis. The only humanitarian assistance at the moment comes from Russia. For example, the head of the Russian Ministry of Agriculture recently announced the supply of up to 50 000 tons of grain to the African…

All of England came to a standstill early on Sunday. In the homes and pubs across the country they were glued to the telly to watch the Women’s World Cup final taking place far away down under in Sydney. Many pubs opened early to get the delirious English fans into high spirits before the kick off. Hopes were high in England. If the English Lionesses could beat the host nation, Australia, why couldn’t they bring down the mighty Spanish? Sadly, it was not to be. Spain was a different proposition to Australia. This time, the Spanish Armada proved too strong for the English. Spanish skipper Olga Carmona struck with a clinical finish early in the game to give her country a 1-0 lead over the English rivals. And they held…

The Constitution safeguards our freedoms, including the right of association. According to independent analyst Corrie Kruger, bank rules and laws – such as the summary closing of bank accounts – cannot take precedence over the Constitution, and when banks disregard them, they are violating the law. Kruger said the fact the banks believed they had the right to close an account was based on these companies ignoring the fact that, in South Africa, everyone had free will or a right of association. In law, this meant one could freely make political choices, even campaign for a particular cause – without being penalised – for example. “If you don’t want to associate, you don’t have to is what the banks are saying. But, you can’t just say I won’t relate or…

Stellenbosch FC are looking forward to returning to the comforts of home after a richly-rewarding week on the road. After opening their 2023/24 season with a 1-0 victory over Orlando Pirates at the Danie Craven Stadium, Stellies packed their bags for three consecutive away matches. It could potentially have unravelled after Steve Barker’s team fell at the first hurdle to Premiership newcomers Polokwane City at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium. But Stellies have shown great steel and skill over the course of the last two seasons and hit back with a morale-boosting MTN8 quarter-final win over SuperSport United, also in Polokwane. The winelands-based outfit’s character was, however, really put to the test on Friday evening they trailed Royal AM 1-0 at half-time. After being away from home for such a…