Innehållsförteckning för 2023-07-13 från Cape Argus

SEVENTEEN youngsters from Langa made their presence felt at Cape Town International Airport yesterday with celebratory songs as they prepared to depart for Sweden to participate in the largest international youth football tournament, the Gothia Cup. The youngsters, aged from 15 to 17, are part of non-profit organisation Project Playground, based in Langa. At the premises, children watched as the boys gathered for one last friendly game. The tournament will take place from Sunday to the following Saturday, in Gothenburg. The team is expected to return on July 25. Captain Abenathi Sigwegwe, 16, said: “I feel very excited and very grateful that they’re giving me this opportunity because being a captain is such a big role. Because now you’re starting to become a leader, starting to become a role model.…

Police Minister Bheki Cele says they have identified 12 people behind the torching of the trucks in the country. Cele said these were co-ordinated attacks organised by the group. He said the National Intelligence Co-ordinating Committee (Nicoc) met on Tuesday to deal with the matter. However, he ruled out the possibility that the torching of the trucks could be linked to the July 2021 unrest. He said the police and intelligence agencies have done a lot of work since 2021 and implemented the recommendations of Professor Sandy Africa’s report. President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed Africa after the unrest two years ago, and she found a lack of co-ordination in intelligence structures. Cele also said to date, 21 trucks have been burnt in Limpopo, KwaZulu- Natal and Mpumalanga. He said no…

Decolonisation is not only about political independence from European colonisers in Africa but also the process of changing something concrete, such as the curriculum, to reflect and acknowledge the cultural beliefs and ideals within that context. In this sense, decolonising the Palestinian issue might be possible from different perspectives, with an emphasis on history and the social movements impinging on it. Perhaps the Ottoman Archive in Istanbul has the richest archival documents about Palestine with its 6 042 files named Palestine. The oldest document is about an Ottoman princess Ishafanshah’s endowment for the madrasah in Jerusalem, which dates back to 1414 AD. The documents prove that Palestine was a peaceful territory until World War I. Today, we have 167 archival files at the South African National Archives regarding Palestinians…

Double Olympic 800m champion Caster Semenya said yesterday the ruling of the European Court of Human Rights that her human rights were violated by courts in Switzerland is “only the beginning” of a new chapter in her legal fight. The 32-year-old said in a statement a day after the ruling she was “elated” by the decision, which “has been a long time coming”. “Justice has spoken, but this is only the beginning,” Semenya said. She appealed to the France-based ECHR after the Swiss Supreme Court rejected her appeal against World Athletics’ rules that she must take medication to lower her testosterone levels if she wishes to continue competing. Semenya, who is classed as having “differences in sexual development (DSD)” but has always been legally identified as female, has refused to…

Kevin Anderson, the seven-time ATP Tour title winner who reached a career-high world ranking of No 5, is set to make a comeback to professional tennis. The South African will begin his return at the Newport ATP 250 tournament, where he has been awarded a wild card, with the tournament starting on Sunday in Rhode Island. Anderson had announced his retirement in May last year, and has not competed since the Miami Open in the same year. His return will take place at the Newport tournament, where he last won a title in 2021. “I’m thrilled to make my return to the Tour in Newport,” Anderson told the ATP Tour. “Winning the Infosys Hall of Fame Open in 2021 was a special moment for me. I couldn’t think of a…

Banyana Banyana have grown since their first Women’s World Cup in France and that’s why they fancy their chances in Australia and New Zealand. The South African women’s team crashed out in the group stage of the 2019 global showpiece after they lost all three of their matches to Spain, China and Germany. Those losses had the potential of deterring them going forward, but the Desiree Ellis-coached team chose to build on the positives instead. Banyana became the team to beat on the continent, winning the Buhari Cup in Nigeria, where they also beat the hosts, while they continued to export more players abroad. Their greatest reward to date, though, was winning the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) for the first time last year to seal their spot in…

Commonwealth War Graves adviser resigns Exactly one year since the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) announced decorated and highly-revered Ghanaian-British architect David Adjaye as creative adviser for its non-commemoration projects, several institutions have publicly cut ties with Adjaye and his practice Adjaye Associates (AA) after allegations of sexual misconduct against him were brought to light. On July 14 last year, Adjaye, 56, was appointed to head up a judging committee that would deliberate over and choose a winning design for a proposed memorial to be erected at the Company’s Garden, in Cape Town. The proposed memorial was set to honour more than 1 600 black South African servicemen and women from various labour units who died during World War I. They are believed to be buried in South Africa and…

The family of convicted businessman Ridwaan Rajah say they plan to appeal his sentence. The Good Hope Construction director was given suspended sentences on various charges. Hawks spokesperson Siyabulela Vukubi said the Department of Public Works awarded Rajah a tender to do internal and external renovations to the Parliamentary Precinct in Cape Town in 2010. “After the work was certified to be finally completed, the Department of Public Works submitted a proposed final account to the accused for the amount of R10.8 million, which was not accepted. “The accused instituted a notice of motion application in the Western Cape High Court against the Department of Public Works seeking an order to include the amount of over R500 000 in the final account. “In his founding affidavit in support of the…

SUSPENDED Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane says the procedures of the Section 194 committee probing her fitness to hold office are flawed and as such there is no reason for her to meet its deadlines. Speaking in a Twitter space hosted on her Twitter profile, Mkhwebane said committee chairperson Qubudile Dyantyi’s remarks about her failure to meet deadlines were just a cover for the committee’s real intention, which was to finish the process without her. “This was the intention of the committee, or whoever is behind this, to finalise the work of the committee and just possibly treat me the way they treated the former president (Jacob Zuma) when he said to (Chief Justice Raymond) Zondo: You must recuse yourself. “When that never happened, they continued, they even ended up jailing…

Media reports of attempts to unseat Deputy President Paul Mashatile are shrouded in mystery and intrigue. A distinct possibility is that Western intelligence agencies are exploiting divisions with the ANC, and are carefully fomenting conflict within the hierarchy of the ANC in a carefully scripted strategy to decide the fate of the party next year. On March 14, 1973, the then assistant secretary of state for African affairs, issued a profound statement, imploring the US “to not get involved in any way in seeking to determine how they are governed and by whom”. Historian Susan Williams, in her widely acknowledged book, White Malice, glaringly reveals Western interference in the destiny of Africa’s affairs.The book captures the arrogance of power and detestable methods to regain control over sovereign states. In…

The City’s Water and Sanitation Directorate has made another bizarre finding while unblocking a sewerage system in Mfuleni and Lavender Hill. A mattress and a bucket of forks and teaspoons were discovered on June 21. Water and Sanitation Mayco member Zahid Badroodien warned residents to be aware of what they do with their waste. Other items have included tyres, rags, clothes, car parts, and even a television. “While the City is taking proactive measures to help reduce overflows, we also appeal to residents and community leaders to use the resources on the City’s website to join in efforts to raise awareness of this issue, and what all of us can do to prevent sewer blockages. “The reality is the City cannot practically police what residents flush down the toilet or…

While some people may disagree with him, the Springboks facing the All Blacks is the biggest rivalry in world rugby, according to flank Kwagga Smith. Playing against New Zealand brings out the best in his game, and that is why he is looking forward to facing the ‘haka’ and running out on Saturday (kick-off 9.05am) at Mount Smart Stadium in Auckland. “It’s my biggest rivalry, playing against the All Blacks,” Smith said yesterday ahead of the Rugby Championship Test. “Playing against the All Blacks is your ultimate test at this moment. Other teams are also bringing it, but the rivalry and history behind it is really big, and that’s what makes it a high-quality game. “Ardie (Savea) and I have played against each other at Under-20, Sevens, Super Rugby and…

The COMPETITION Commission has referred a complaint of excessive pricing of natural piped gas against Sasol Gas to the Competition Tribunal for prosecution after the commission found that the company was overcharging by 72%. Commission spokesperson Siyabulela Makunga said: “The commission found that Sasol Gas extracted mark-ups of up to 72%. The excessive pricing has continued for almost a decade and is ongoing.” This prosecution originates from three complaints against Sasol Gas that were lodged with the commission early last year. The complaints were lodged by gas traders Egoli Gas and Spring Lights Gas, as well as by the Industrial Gas Users Association of South Africa (IGUA-SA), whose members are industrial gas customers. The complainants alleged that Sasol Gas engaged in excessive pricing of natural piped gas in contravention of…

DAYS after Electricity Minister, Kgosi Ramokgopa, said electricity levels were stable and Eskom was working towards reducing load shedding intensity, especially during winter, the power utility has escalated the intensity of load shedding to Stage 6. In a brief statement yesterday, Eskom announced for the first time (since 2) June, it would implement Stage 6 until 5am this morning and then again from 2pm to 5am on Friday, and that the pattern would be “repeated daily until further notice”. On Sunday at his regular briefing, Ramokgopa also said: “We are engaging the open-cycle gas turbines less and less.” Yesterday interim Eskom spokesperson, Daphne Mokoena, said the ramping up to Stage 6 was due to the extensive use of open gas cycle turbines, the inability to replenish pumped storage dam levels…

THE country is facing a crisis of never-seen proportions, and the truck-torching crisis should be a cause for concern for the government, especially considering the state of the economy. In just under a week, it is reported that 14 trucks have gone up in flames. The sad state of affairs is that the country’s economy is now dependent on these heavy load vehicles to transport goods. This has been caused by the ongoing problems in the rail transport sector, and with many railroads having seen unprecedented vandalism and attacks, the rail transport has been cut off in many provinces, leaving the transportation of goods reliant on trucks. The government has been engrossed in unending talks about the importance of reviving rail transport, which was regarded as the most affordable, reliable…

Tunisian Ons Jabeur gained revenge for her defeat in last year’s Wimbledon final when she surged back from a set down to beat third-seeded defending champion Kazakh Elena Rybakina 6-7 (5/7), 6-4, 6-1 yesterday to reach the semi-finals. A year ago, Jabeur looked on course to become the first Arab and African women’s champion before fading to lose in three sets. But the dream is still on in 2023 after the sixth seed mounted a spirited comeback, having been distraught after the tiebreaker went against her. Jabeur upped her game after that, remaining positive and going for the big shots as Moscow-born Rybakina’s big serve faltered and the Tunisian won eight of the last nine games. She will play second seed Aryna Sabalenka in the semi-finals after the Belarusian beat…

Banyana Banyana will be hoping that the players give inspired performances against Costa Rica in Saturday’s international friendly (kick-off 4am) at the Nga Puna Wai Sports Hub in Christchurch, New Zealand. The match against the 36th-ranked Central American country will serve as a warm-up encounter ahead of Banyana’s opening World Cup Group G match against world No 3 Sweden on July 23. Coach Desiree Ellis, Banyana’s three-time CAF Women’s Coach of the Year, is likely to field her best XI in the hope of securing a morale-boosting performance. Three players who have been in good form in recent months are Andile Dlamini, Noxolo Cesane and Thembi Kgatlana, and Banyana Banyana, ranked 57th, will be relying on them to bring their form into the match and lead the charge. Andile Dlamini…