Indholdsfortegnelse for 2024-07-24 i Cape Argus

THE defendants standing trial for the murder of 12 people in a massacre in Site B, Khayelitsha, have sought to unmask the sole remaining witness in the case. The trial of Yanga “Bara” Nyalara and Wanda Tofile continued yesterday. The duo were arrested in 2022 for the shooting which left 12 people dead and six others wounded. The pair have been charged with murder, attempted murder, illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition. Yesterday their lawyer asked Lieutenant Colonel Victor Gallant about the reason why the witness, and the State, requested he wear a mask in court. Gallant had testified on Monday that two witnesses died during the police’s investigation; another is on the run and police had just one witness left. He said the remaining witness had been attacked…

President Cyril Ramaphosa noted in the Presidency budget vote of 2024 that his presidency, and as such government, would focus on several initiatives that look to drive inclusive growth and job creation. He also said that top of his list of priorities is tackling poverty and the high cost of living. “As the strategic centre of government, the Presidency bears the responsibility for co-ordinating the work of government to ensure that these priorities are implemented,” Ramaphosa said. “At this crucial moment in our country’s history, as we confront many challenges, what South Africans want to see is action. Our job is to deliver on the commitments that we have made as the Government of National Unity.” The president noted that developing South Africa’s infrastructure was another cornerstone of the administration.…

In recent times, President Cyril Ramaphosa's proposal for a Government of National Unity (GNU) has sparked considerable debate among political analysts and citizens alike. Traditionally, a GNU is formed after significant national crises, such as wars or emergencies, where the primary aim is to foster unity and reconstruction by bringing together major political parties. However, in this case, the proposed coalition between the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA) seems less about national recovery, and more about political expediency. This coalition raises significant concerns about the intentions behind such a partnership. The collaboration between the ANC and the DA, often criticized as serving the interests of White Monopoly Capital, appears to sideline the majority’s aspirations for a better life. Smaller parties, many with only a single seat…

Who were the first Africans to compete in the modern Olympic Games? The answer to the question reveals the surprising story of a 1904 marathon – and exposes the history of racism and white supremacy that characterised the Olympics in its early days. The first modern Olympic Games was in Greece in 1896. This was at the height of European colonialism and there is no record of Africans participating. It was only after the World War II, in the late 1940s, that African countries began to join the Olympic movement in significant numbers, as African independence took hold. There exists, however, a little-known story of two black South African runners who competed in the first US-hosted Olympics, in St Louis in 1904. They were Jan Mashiani and Len Taunyane (Tau),…

In the past few days, many political commentators and politicians have accused the ANC of abandoning the class project, no longer being a broad church and being a pro-business party. The reality is that the ANC was never really a socialist party and neither did its policies stand to benefit the masses. The founders were mission educated and their project was not about creating a consciousness class of black people but rather a middle class. Middle class by its philosophical definition is a class between the top and the bottom. The top is the economical elite and the bottom the working class. The ANC was meant to be in the middle of the poor and rich. Parties like the EFF and uMkhonto weSizwe Party have accused the ANC of selling…

A SIMON’S Town Primary School learner who walked 35 kilometres, trekking for around eight hours from his school to his home in Khayelitsha after he was not allowed to board a Golden Arrow Bus Service (Gabs) due to a lost ticket, is on the road to recovery after his gruelling journey. The Grade 6 learner, Lifalethu Mbasana, 11, and his two siblings aged 10 and seven, take the Gabs bus at around 2.30pm to Makhaza, daily. But on Monday, after his siblings boarded the bus and it was his turn to present his ticket, he could not find it and was told by the driver to disembark. When it was obvious that her son did not take a later bus and was not on the last bus home, Xolelwa Siba…

WARRIORS of Hope South Africa has inaugurated its Wellness Centre and Helpline, aiming to provide essential support for individuals grappling with grief and bereavement. Located at 12 Veld Road, Belgravia Estate, the centre operates Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm, while the Listening Hearts Helpline is accessible from 8.30am to 8.30pm, Monday to Saturday. Clinical psychologist and head of the psychosocial division at Warriors of Hope, Mohamed Rawoot, said: “The need for a service like the Warriors of Hope Helpline is particularly urgent in our communities, where grief and bereavement are often compounded by cultural beliefs and misconceptions.” He said unprocessed grief could lead to psychological effects such as depression, anxiety, and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). “This service is vital for anyone struggling with the loss of a…

Listening to Cyril Ramaphosa’s Opening of Parliament Address, and noting the phrases New World Order, Digital currencies, Digital ID and Green Energy, it has again become clear our president is nothing but a puppet on the strings of the World Economic Forum (WEF) and other nefarious communist world leaders. If you think Cyril “Phala Phala” Ramaphosa has turned a new leaf, think again! Do not be fooled. He is always using clever words and catchy statements to capture the most naive of imaginations among us. What he should be focusing on is the eradication of racist Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) policies, cleaning up his over-sized Cabinet, supporting key players such as Ian Cameron, Pieter Groenewaldt and Siviwe Gwarube to fix our broken police and educational system, and stop harping…

ZIMBABWE, a country once heralded as the breadbasket of Africa, has faced decades of economic turmoil, political instability, and social challenges. The question on everyone’s mind is: Will Zimbabwe recover as a nation? Zimbabwe’s economy remains in a fragile state. The country is experiencing hyperinflation, currency instability, and a lack of foreign investment. Unemployment rates are high, and many citizens rely on informal employment to survive. The Covid-19 pandemic strained a struggling country. The political landscape in Zimbabwe is characterised by a lack of genuine democratic processes. Elections are often marred by violence and allegations of fraud. The ruling Zanu-PF continues to suppress opposition and civil society, stifling political reforms and perpetuating a cycle of instability. Zimbabwe faces significant social challenges, including a struggling health-care system, inadequate education infrastructure, and…

Recently, former president Thabo Mbeki lamented the state of our university graduates and I thought it politic to quote him verbatim et literatim: “The matter of the graduates! I was raising this matter at Nelson Mandela University (NMU) yesterday. What are we studying at these universities? The fact that I have got a Bachelor’s degree in sociology, who wants to employ me for what? You have got a lovely certificate, it is correct, you have a BA degree in sociology, and what does it do?” The audience laughed uproar- iously as Mbeki impressed upon them that there was a qualitative difference between a qualification from a university and a qualification of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) from the Further Education and Training College (FET). He argued that sociology led…

Palestinian factions including rivals Hamas and Fatah agreed to end their divisions and form an interim national unity government during negotiations in China that ended yesterday, China’s foreign ministry said. The Beijing Declaration was signed at the closing ceremony of a reconciliation dialogue among 14 Palestinian factions held in China’s capital from July 21-23, according to the readout. Previous efforts by Egypt and other Arab countries to reconcile Hamas and Fatah have failed to end 17 years of power-sharing conflict that have weakened Palestinian political aspirations, and it remains to be seen whether this deal will survive the realities on the ground. The meeting was held amid attempts by international mediators to reach a ceasefire deal for Gaza, with one of the sticking points being the “day-after” plan – how…

That is surprising to see from a prop, but not so much when you hear from the man himself that he played in a number of positions over the years before settling on the No 1 jersey. But as much as Tshakweni wants to operate like a live-wire scrumhalf, he knows that he has to get his primary job right first: dominating scrums. His recent move from the Cheetahs to the Bulls will certainly take him to new heights in that regard, because during practices he will have to pack down against powerhouse Springbok Wilco Louw, who was arguably the best tighthead prop in last season’s United Rugby Championship. In addition, the Bulls’ first-choice loosehead prop, Gerhard Steenekamp, featured against Ireland recently and was included in the Bok squad…

E.tv recently announced that its flagship telenovela, Scandal! will make history by broadcasting seven days a week. The move started on Saturday, July 13. Fans welcomed the decision because it meant that they got to see their favourite characters on screen all week long. However, their excitement is fading along with the exit of some of the soapie’s popular characters. First, it was fan favourite, Romeo (Hungani Ndlovu), and then, Lindiwe (Nomvelo Makhanya). Mathews Rantsoma is the latest cast member to be killed off. He played Nhlamulo Maseko. In the show, as Nhlamulo struggles with being separated from his daughter, Larona, he and his new bride leave for their honeymoon. But an unexpected incident leads to his mysterious death, leaving everyone wondering what happened. With the suspense building, the tension…

WHILE Eskom celebrates 40 years of the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station and being permitted to operate until 2044, many have raised eyebrows at the price tag that has come with it. Eskom’s group executive for generation, Bheki Nxumalo, said on Monday that the station would cost around R21 billion over the next 20 years. Previously, in a parliamentary reply to DA MP Benedicta van Minnen, information received from Eskom was that the total cost associated with the activities needed to support the licence application for long-term operation is projected to amount to R21 billion. Eskom held a media briefing on Monday, attended by Nxumalo, Minister of Electricity and Energy Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, power station manager Velaphi Ntuli and Keith Featherstone, chief nuclear officer. Nxumalo said that Koeberg was a crucial component…

EXONERATED businessman Tuwani Matthews Mulaudzi has bounced back in business after his Luvhomba Group signed a multibillion-rand arms deal with a Chinese company. The deal is two-fold; one being a mining deal in terms of which the Chinese will contribute funding, infrastructure and development as partners. The other is an arms deal in which his company will procure arms (air, land and sea) to supply the continent and the globe. The arms deal is with the Zhejiang Free Trade Zone National Lead Import and Export Company, a subsidiary of the Chinese $135.3 billion (R2.49 trillion) Poly Group. Mulaudzi and the Chinese company signed a memorandum of understanding in June. “The development is for the various mines where we own prospecting rights, mining permits and mining rights,” he said. He added…

Former Intelligence minister Lindiwe Sisulu has laid a criminal complaint against Muhammad Suliman Vawda, known on social media as @Goolammv. Vawda is accused of having used his social media platform to spread hate speech against those opposed to President Cyril Ramaphosa and those in his close circle. The Star has seen an affidavit which Sisulu has deposed through lawyers JG and Xulu Incorporated, dated July 23, through a Rosebank address of the legal firm. In the affidavit, the former minister says she has decided to lay criminal charges against Goolam, who reportedly fled the country after he was unmasked by Independent Media’s investigative journalists. Sisulu accuses the now-Mauritius based Goolam of hate speech, cyberbullying and crimen injuria spanning more than six years on social media. “I am an adult female…

As US Vice-President Kamala Harris begins her campaign to secure the Presidency she could not help her emancipated self, by throwing dung at former President Trump. “I know that type,” she bellowed, stoking up the liberal, lunatic, left wing fringe of American society. Her target audience, thespians, who use their celluloid exposure to make political commentary, and a variety of other libertarians, who have lost their way in this life. Trump will bring back good old fashioned values. Family first. Christian and conservative religious values in schools and allegiance to the flag of a country that has been pulverised by left wing, socialist claptrap espoused by the Democratic Party. Thankfully sense will prevail allowing Trump, a strong leader, to drag America out of a four year long Democratic quagmire. Viva…

CARLOS Mesquita regularly blames the City for not doing enough for the “homeless”, and, while his dedication to his "homeless" is apparent, so is his inability to see the big picture. John Maytham interviewed JP Smith on the recent storm damage in informal settlements and the lawlessness of people building wherever they like having exacerbated the flooding. City teams have to move illegal structures to get to pipes to unblock them. Are these shack dwellers also “homeless” – they seem to settle where they like? The flooding affected over 100 000 people; way more than the “homeless” of Mesquita’s rants, as well as stretching City resources. Why is he not condemning the shack dwellers for diverting attention away from his group? And why is he not tearing into National Health,…