Indholdsfortegnelse for 2025-01-13 i Cape Argus

A COMPLAINT of sexual harassment against Eastern Cape High Court Judge President Selby Mbenenge will kick off today when the Judicial Conduct Tribunal is due to hear evidence from a secretary who works for another judge in that division, who laid the complaint against Judge Mbenenge. Retired Gauteng Judge President Bernard Ngoepe, who will lead the tribunal as its president, however, ruled that parts of the hearing will take place behind closed doors. The complainant, Andiswa Mengo, and the SABC, had made submissions that the hearing should be held open to the public. Judge Ngoepe, however, ruled that it is in the interest of justice that parts of the hearing and evidence presented should remain under wraps. Both the complainant and the SABC largely base their argument on the importance…

ON the 113th ANC birthday celebrations in Mandela Park in Khayelitsha, we witnessed an ageing liberation movement that’s suffering from senility. Senility is defined as a weakness or mental infirmity associated with deterioration of the body and mind in the elderly. It’s symptoms and defects are intellectual impairment, progressive memory loss, poor judgement, impaired concentration and confusion. One of the symptoms was displayed by the ANC Deputy president Paul Mashatile, who employed the usual dishonest diversion tactics and claimed that the DA run-up City and province only deliver services to the suburbs and neglects places like Khayelitsha. This is patently untrue. The DA delivers more to poor communities than any ANC government anywhere in the country. We do not steal money and we spend it on what the constitution requires…

Matriarchs, Meze and the Evil Eye – A Memoir Costa Ayiotis Loot.co.za (R245) Melinda Ferguson Books THIS is the prequel to Ayiotis’ first memoir My Big Fat Greek Taverna, where we saw how the former diplomat leaves Johannesburg to take over a run-down pub in Hout Bay. Here we find ourselves flipping the pages of a charming coming of age story of this larger than life man, whose back story wryly and poignantly details growing up in 60s Johannesburg at time when life was a little gentler but none the less fascinating – because like many who came to the City of Gold seeking a better life, so did the Ayiotis family. Like many other members of the Greek community in South Africa, a large proportion found their way here…

AT first glance, Women living Deliciously might seem like another addition to the overcrowded self-help shelf, but Florence Given’s work is not about ticking off her checklist for striving the unattainable perfection. Women living Deliciously is about living unapologetically and reclaiming happiness. Given’s claim to fame with her debut novel, Women don’t owe you pretty was her golden ticket as a fresh voice in modern feminism. She challenges the deeply ingrained belief that hold women back, such as the idea that our bodies are objects to be admired rather than ‘vessels’ to experience life. “For too long, women have internalised the belief that our bodies are things to be looked at – instead of lived in,” writes Given. Born in Plymouth, UK Given has built a career that challenges traditional…

The expression “Only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun” was coined by Rudyard Kipling more than a century ago and it could extend to rugby being played at the height of the South African summer. Folk who watched the Sharks and French club Toulouse labour through a match at Kings Park on Saturday afternoon would agree. It is inadvisable to play any sport in Durban during the high humidity months of January and February, never mind a high-contact sport such as rugby. The players lose up to 5kg when they play in Durban at this time of the year and the medical staff has to carefully monitor the players to ensure they stay hydrated. It has only been since the South African teams joined the European…

MORONI: Voters in Comoros were heading to the polls yesterday to elect the Indian Ocean archipelago’s 33-seat parliament, a year after the re-election of President Azali Assoumani in a poll which the opposition alleged was marred by widespread irregularities. Officials from the ruling party have denied those allegations. Polling stations opened early yesterday and voters, numbering some 338 000 according to the polling body, started casting. Nearly 100 candidates were selected by the country’s Supreme Court to contest the election. | Reuters…

The Stormers will look to rest a few of their top players in their next Champions Cup match in Paris on Saturday, but qualifying for the knockouts is still a top priority for the Cape outfit. After taking Sale Sharks to the cleaners this past weekend in Cape Town, winning 40-0, their next target is Racing92 in the final group clash that could determine their progression in the competition. They are on a three-match winning streak in all competitions and have bagged a maximum of 15 points in those matches. Saturday's five points took them above Sale and Racing in Pool 4. While their fate is still not in their own hands, they need five points in France and a win-favour from the Glasgow Warriors who face Harlequins in the…

Australian fast bowler Jhye Richardson faced an extended period away from cricket as he prepares to undergo surgery later this week to fix his shoulder after a dislocation sustained in November. The injury occurred during a Sheffield Shield match in a freak incident when Richardson dislocated his shoulder while high-fiving a teammate in celebration of a wicket. As a result, Richardson will miss the rest of the Big Bash season but after consultations with medical experts and Cricket Australia, he is aiming for a return next summer, with the Ashes in sight. “Jhye Richardson will miss the rest of the 24-25 season after electing to have surgery this week to stabilise his right shoulder. Richardson made the decision following extensive consultation with Cricket Australia and medical specialists,” Perth Scorchers posted…

ORLANDO PIRATES(0)(2) Mofokeng 20’, Mbatha 61’ CR BELOUIZDAD(0)(1) Benguit 82’ ORLANDO – Orlando Pirates cruised to the clear waters of the Caf Champions League’s quarter-final after beating CR Belouizdad 2-1 in Orlando yesterday afternoon. The Sea Robbers beat the Algerians via goals from Relebohile Mofokeng and Thalente Mbatha – as they top Group C with 11 points. Pirates will face Al Ahly in the last game of the group stage away on Saturday, but that match will serve as a decider for the team that will top the group as both sides are through to the last eight. You see, Pirates will fancy their chances of cruising to Cairo and coming back with a result especially given that they won there in the group stage in 2013 under Roger De…

OPERATIONS by Mining Rescue Services (MRS) have begun to pave the way to rescue the trapped miners in Stilfontein, and it is hoped that the actual rescue of the miners can start in full swing today. Gauteng High Court Judge Ronel Tolmay on Friday ordered that rescue operations had to begin after an urgent plea was made by the sister of one of the miners. The court ordered the State to finalise and send a service-level agreement and letter of appointment to MRS and also mandated the uninterrupted delivery of food, water and medical aid to the trapped miners over the weekend. Various stakeholders, including the police, community workers and Lawyers for Human Rights, which is fighting the legal battle to save the trapped miners have met at the mine…

WHEN Trump takes office the ANC will have to get its house in order, otherwise he will cancel Agoa and this will cost SA thousands of rands and jobs. You cannot be a member of Brics and also the West at same time. Cyril thinks he can belong to both sides,but I’ve got news for him, Trump will walk all over him and SA will be the loser in the end. The ANC is a spent force and we need a new democratic party to govern this country that can fix all the failures that has occured, otherwise we are on a course to self destruction, as I cannot see the GNU solving unemployment and crime. They are only there to enrich themselves and corruption is still the norm. Communism…

BESIDES the outpourings of emotional and environmental horror and compassion at the inferno engulfing large swathes of Los Angeles, focus on the occurrence of these fires and the state of fire fighting preparedness should raise outrage. Predictably adherents of the climate change narrative are citing it as the cause of the fires. But as usual they are dead wrong. Police have arrested arsonists and gang members who are responsible for the devastation. One arsonist, an illegal alien, was in possession of five cell phones and a UN pre-paid debit card. His flame-throwing efforts are believed to be responsible for wiping out 800 acres of the West Hills area of LA. Gangs are setting fire to neighbourhoods and looting homes once the owners have evacuated them. But apart from that criminal…

The Boyfriend Paula Hawkins Loot.co.za (R 195) Poisoned Pen Press Sydney is a thirty-four-year-old accountant who works from home. She is on a dating app called Cynch and she has had her fair share of nightmare dates. Those who have tried to find love on a dating app will be able to relate to her story. Imagine a first date, what could go wrong? Sydney learned that a lot could go wrong after she had been on one of the worst dates of her life. This man showed up looking nothing like his profile picture, he insulted Sydney’s looks and proceeded to leave her to pay the bill for their date. Against her better judgment, she still allows this man to walk her home. This was a big mistake on…

Mathews Phosa released his political memoir Witness to Power on November 5, 2024. The ANC read its January 8th Statement on Saturday (January 11). The former cuts deep into the multiple Machiavellian manoeuvres of an ANC that seemed set on being the fount of all wisdom and the centre of dysfunctional paranoia during the Mbeki years but ended up as a corrupt criminal syndicate during the Zuma years. The latter landed on our ears as a trite remorseful confession, filled with stale promises and recycled commitments of ‘I promise I won’t do it again.’ If you’ve read both, you will know that the schizophrenia in the ANC is at a certifiable level. Hallucinations, delusions and disorganised thinking are typical symptoms of this disorder, and this January 8th speech was full…

MAPUTO: Mozambican opposition leader Venancio Mondlane, whose return from exile last week sparked confrontations between supporters and police in the capital Maputo, has called for three days of protests this week. Mondlane insists he was robbed of victory in last October’s elections, which saw the Frelimo party officially awarded a crushing win to extend half a century of rule. In a Facebook post late Saturday, Mondlane urged a “national strike” as the new parliament prepares to sit from today, with Frelimo’s Daniel Chapo due to be invested as president on Wednesday. | | AFP…

Ten-man Manchester United beat Arsenal 5-3 on penalties after a dramatic 1-1 draw in the FA Cup third round, while Tottenham needed extra time before seeing off non-league Tamworth 3-0 on Sunday. Defeated 2-0 by Arsenal in the Premier League in December, FA Cup holders United exacted revenge on their return to the Emirates Stadium to extend their revival after last weekend's impressive draw at Liverpool. Ruben Amorim's troubled side took the lead through Bruno Fernandes, who smashed a superb strike into the far corner from the edge of the area in the 52nd minute. United defender Diogo Dalot was sent off for a second booking after fouling Mikel Merino nine minutes later. Gabriel Magalhaes grabbed Arsenal's equaliser in the 63rd minute, the Brazilian defender swivelling to hit a low…

Liverpool manager Arne Slot complimented fourth-tier Accrington Stanley for posing a challenge to the Premier League leaders despite losing 4-0 in Saturday's FA Cup third round clash. Accrington, with only just over 21% of possession, tried hard to hold off Liverpool but were left licking their wounds as the home attack found their mark after initial misses. “They are not afraid to press high, they're not afraid to play one-v-one, but then you wonder, will they do this at Anfield as well? But they definitely did. They were not afraid," Slot told a post-match press conference. The Dutchman made eight changes to the Liverpool starting lineup that he fielded in Wednesday's 1-0 League Cup semi-final first leg loss at Tottenham Hotspur. “For us it was all about the players that…

THE false claims made in the “Cape Argus” on 9 January 2025 regarding the reduction in the Basket of Educator Posts in the Western Cape must be addressed. The national government’s decision to not fully fund the 2023 multi-year wage agreement resulted in a massive deficit for provincial education departments. We are not the only province affected, and every province will have to find a way to close the deficit. The claim that 2 407 teachers have been dismissed or retrench is false. We are not retrenching or firing teachers. Some permanent teachers will be asked to move to another school where there is a suitable vacancy, and some contract teachers will not be reappointed after their contracts ended. Around 2 100 educators leave our system each year, for reasons…

IT WAS a momentous occasion for the family of a 69-year-old woman who believed she died after she was estranged and missing for more than 50 years, as they have finally been reunited. This was thanks to the efforts of missing persons organisation, Track n Trace, who used their resources and social media to trace the family of Katriena “Meisiekind” Tieties. Tieties, originally from Prieska, left home at the age of 18 and found a life in Mitchell’s Plain’s “The Farm”. Her relatives believed she was missing and passed away, but were surprised and relieved to have received a Facebook post last week, searching for her family. Tieties’s siblings and parents have since passed away. Chaz Thomas from Track n Trace said they were determined to find her family,…

A FORMER matric learner from a secondary school in Soshanguve had big dreams of pursuing a career in the hospitality industry. However, Puseletso Malobola’s plans were put on hold when her matric certificate allegedly went missing at her school in 2021. The 21-year-old’s situation took a turn for the worse when her school refused to release her matric results and certificate due to an outstanding debt of R650. The debt was related to the School Improvement Plan (SIP), a programme aimed at enhancing learner academic performance. “I couldn’t collect my matric certificate due to financial struggles. So, in 2023 I went to school to collect my statement and matric certificate. They insisted that they can't give me my certificate because I owe them R650,” she said. After much effort, Malobola…

The Dark Wives Ann Cleeves Loot.co.za (R301) Macmillan ‘NOBODY does unsettling undercurrents better than Ann Cleeves’. Never a truer word. This is the eleventh novel in the series featuring DI Vera Stanhope and from the moment you open the book the pull of the Northumbria countryside, the grey looming clouds that seem to touch the horizon across the bleak fells, the pounding of the waves on the distant shoreline bring a sense of foreboding. Cleeves does it so well and I have never been disappointed. That she looks at social issues and then crafts her story around this makes it ever more real. This story was triggered by an investigative piece on BBC 4 about private children’s homes. The word private always strikes a chord. How bona fide – how…

When people watched political debates on Soico TV, one of the most watched private channels in Mozambique, around 2010, they often saw a young forest engineer and bank employee who was able to brilliantly articulate the country’s problems. He was Venâncio Mondlane, a distant kinsman of Eduardo Mondlane, the first president of Frelimo (Front for the Liberation of Mozambique). Venâncio’s family supported the liberation movement that led Mozambique to independence from Portugal in 1975. His biting criticism, however, suggested that his sympathies were not with the ruling party. Today, Venâncio Mondlane finds himself at the centre of the worst political crisis to have shaken Frelimo’s 50-year rule of Mozambique, the resource-rich but impoverished southern African country of 35 million. He claims to have been cheated of a win…

Prague: A restaurant fire in a north-western city in the Czech Republic killed six people and injured eight, rescue services said yesterday. “The fire spread extremely fast after a gas heater was probably knocked over,” the local fire service posted on X. The fire occurred in a restaurant at a housing estate in the city of Most, about 70km north-west of the capital Prague. “Despite all efforts... the fire had tragic consequences for six people,” it said. Eight others were injured, six of them seriously. They were taken to hospitals in Prague . | AFP…

The curtain came down on the Peninsula Cricket Festival with the T20 format on the final day as hosts Wynberg were shocked unfancied Hilton College, who beat them by a comfortable margin of seven wickets. This result marred Wynberg’s unbeaten record for the tournament. The KwaZulu-Natal midlands team who struggled early in the week, ended the tournament strongly with back-to-back victories. Wynberg won the toss and elected to bat. They were rocked on their heels when both openers Ameen Schroeder (0) and Storme van Rooyen (1) were soon back in the hut with only nine runs on the board. But the in form all rounder Michail Tarentaal (41 off 30: 2X2, 2x6) and Moosa Gabriels (29 off 21: 3x4, 1x6) forged a rapid 60 run partnership for the…

Henk Lategan’s overall lead was slashed to 21 seconds as a road book note error caused many drivers at the front of the field to lose their bearings, forcing Dakar Rally organisers to erase any gains or losses for a 20km stretch during yesterday’s stage seven. South African Lategan finished 15th in the 419km special in Al Duwadimi, with his closest challenger in the overall standings, local hero Yazeed Al-Rajhi, coming seventh to throw the championship battle wide open. Lucas Moraes, who lost nearly three hours on Saturday due to a shock absorber problem, bounced back to win the stage, as Mattias Ekstrom finished second to remain third overall. "We didn't have anything to lose today, so we pushed a lot," Moraes said. Five-time Dakar winner Nasser Al-Attiyah was fourth…