Innehållsförteckning för 2023-12-20 från Cape Argus

Waste management service provider EnviroServ has been successful in the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) against the SA Revenue Service (Sars) commissioner concerning tax laws applied in the processing of hazardous waste at landfill sites. EnviroServ’s appeal related to a judgment by the Tax Court in the Western Cape High Court, which had disallowed depreciation claims by EnviroServ concerning excavation sites called “cells”, in which waste is treated. The commissioner had argued the cells were “akin to dumps or reservoirs”, qualifying them as buildings under the Income Tax Act (ITA). But EnviroServ argued the cells were used to convert hazardous solid material to waste safe for disposal, there- fore classifying it as “plant” or “machi- nery”, which would allow it depreciation claims at the rate of 40% for the first…

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to fight till the end. That is, until Hamas has been eradicated, irrespective of international pressure. He has also rejected the role of “foreign peacekeepers” even if they can be found. The four Arab nations that have normalised relations with Israel are not keen to join the fray, but would “help in the reconstruction of Gaza on condition of a two-state solution, and preventing the return of Hamas”. No Arab troops in Gaza. Fatah, a liberation movement, does not want to achieve unity with Hamas. It has also distanced itself from the Palestinian Authority (PA). Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian National Authority, is “totally ineffectual as a Palestinian leader”. The Arab nations, like Israel, distrust Abbas “who has gained a reputation…

The grant system in South Africa has become a contentious issue, with debates focused on whether they help or hurt the very people they are intended to support. While grants can provide temporary relief to those living in poverty, they have also perpetuated a cycle of dependency on the government that has led to a host of problems, including increased crime rates. As an example, the Child Support Grant has provided a financial lifeline to those living in poverty, helping parents and caregivers provide for their children. However, it has also been a source of controversy, as the number of recipients has soared to more than 13 million from just over 353 000 in 1998. This growth has raised concerns that the grant perpetuates poverty by creating a reward for…

Beirut: Jordanian air strikes targeting drug smugglers in war-torn Syria have killed five people, including two children and a woman, a war monitor said yesterday. The report by the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights came after Jordan’s military said several “drug traffickers” had been killed or wounded in clashes with Jordanian border guards at the northern frontier with Syria since Monday. A statement said a number of drug traffickers had been arrested by Jordanian authorities, including nine Syrian citizens, and large quantities of drugs and weapons seized. | AFP…

With a growing population that’s about to cross the 5 million residents mark, Cape Town is in for a series of extension and upgrade projects as people continue to move their lives and businesses to the metropole. “Our city is increasingly at the heart of national economic growth and will soon overtake Johannesburg as the country’s most populous city, with census data showing we are about to cross the 5 million residents mark,” said mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis. “Cape Town’s success has catapulted a new phrase – ‘semigration’ – into the national lexicon as people move their lives and businesses here. There is confidence in the Cape Town economy and the Cape Town property market, and our intention is to capitalise on that confidence by making Cape Town the easiest…

Cookbook author and celebrity chef Fatima Sydow has passed away, her family confirmed yesterday. Fatima, who recently celebrated her 50th birthday with twin sister Gadija Sydow Noordien, was diagnosed with Soft Tissue Sarcoma in December 2020. The vivacious cookbook author and TV host shared her cancer journey with her thousands of followers on social media up till a few days ago when she posted a photo of herself lying in a hospital bed surrounded by loved ones following fake reports that she had died. Her family released a lengthy statement on her social media platforms, confirming her passing on Wednesday. “It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Fatima Sydow, renowned culinary artist and beloved personality, who left an indelible mark on the culinary world. “Fatima,…

THERE’S a significant parallel between the drivers of the COP28 summit and the construction of the Tower of Babel in the Old Testament. In both cases, the goal of the proponents was and is the achievement of “one people, one language, one government” in a borderless world “for the common good”. In both cases, God-ordained human diversity and the elements with which he purposefully endowed the planet were and are being defied. The Babel champions defied convention by substituting baked bricks for stone and tar in place of mortar. The dissembling globalist COP28 climate “experts” seek to eradicate oil, coal and gas from which 80% of the world’s energy is derived and to rely on sun and wind for energy needs. The Tower of Babel project failed as a result…

In March 2022, Equality Court Judge Mokgoatji Dolamo ruled that there was a prima facie case of racial discrimination in Nedbank’s decision to close the accounts of Sekunjalo Investment Holdings. Sekunjalo, a black-owned group, had argued that Nedbank had exercised double standards by dropping Sekunjalo due to the alleged reputational risk it posed, while the bank retained white-owned clients Steinhoff, EOH and Tongaat Hulett, all of whom had been found guilty of wrongdoing. Judge Dolamo granted an interim interdict preventing the bank from shutting the accounts, and reopening the already closed accounts, of over 40 companies in the Sekunjalo stable, among them Independent Media. In October 2022, Dolamo dismissed Nedbank’s bid to appeal this interdict. In a stunning turn of events, the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) this week ruled…

Israel launched more deadly strikes on Gaza yesterday ahead of an expected UN Security Council vote on another ceasefire demand as concern mounted over the conflict’s impact on global shipping. One of Israel’s enemies, Yemen’s Iran-backed Huthi rebels, in recent weeks launched a spate of attacks on cargo ships in the Red Sea, leading the US to announce an international naval coalition to protect the vessels. The more than 100 missile and drone strikes, while claiming no lives so far, have led several major firms to halt voyages through waters that lead to the Suez Canal, through which about 10% of world trade passes. Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin – who on Monday pledged “ironclad” US support for Israel – joined an online conference on the coalition set to include warships…

Kyiv: Ukraine said yesterday that its military was outgunned in the eastern Kharkiv region, where Russian forces have been pushing for months to capture the regional hub of Kupiansk. Russian troops initially captured large swathes of the eastern Kharkiv region early in the invasion but Kyiv’s forces pushed them back in an offensive around one year ago. Oleksandr Syrsky, head of Ukraine ground forces, said Ukrainian forces were adapting to the situation on the front and ultimately holding the line. The Russian defence ministry said it had repelled eight Ukrainian attacks. | AFP…

The Bulls have opted to utilise a more transparent approach on-and-off-the-field this season, but will be shielding their players from public scrutiny ahead of Saturday’s URC showdown with the Stormers. The Pretoria side initially decided yesterday to not hold any press conferences this week ahead of the Cape Town Stadium clash (7pm kick-off), which is in stark contrast to the way they have done things up to now. The Bulls have provided excellent media access to their players this season, and Bulls director of rugby Jake White has also embraced that positive direction with his selections, rotating his side much more often – which he admitted recently wasn’t always the case in the past, much to the detriment of the team. That has seen them win five out of seven…

Bok lock RG Snyman is set to earn a cool R10 million a season at Irish giants Leinster as the stock of the Springbok World Cup winners continues to rise through the roof. Leinster coach Leo Cullen has confirmed on the club’s website that Snyman has signed and his pay package is rumoured to be a staggering €500 000 a season. Cullen said, “We’re delighted that RG is joining us next season. He is a world-class operator, coming into his prime, and a powerful athlete who will bring more competition to that position for our squad. “He is also a double World Cup-winning Springbok and all that brings in terms of experience, and all our players can tap into that. We are always looking for ways we can improve our…

The taxi boss and businessman who was arrested for alleged violent crimes has appeared in the Athlone Magistrate’s Court for a bail application. Bonke Makalala, 33, was arrested on December 9 in Pretoria where he was allegedly in hiding. He faces six charges, including murder and attempted murder. According to the charge sheet the State alleges that the accused is guilty of premeditated murder. On about December 13, 2019, at or near 2089 Batwali Street, Old Crossroads, Nyanga, the accused is said to have killed Masixole Batwali, an adult man, by shooting him multiple times. Count 2 is one of attempted murder. The State’s case is that on or about December 13, 2019 at or near 2089 Batwali Street, Old Crossroads, Nyanga, the accused attempted to kill Asive Batwali,…

CONTINUING a long-standing tradition of interfaith solidarity, Friday congregational prayers (Jumu’ah prayers) at the Claremont Main Road Mosque (CMRM) will see Christian cleric and activist Reverend Dr Allan Boesak deliver a special Christmas message. The mosque’s Imam Rashied Omar said the mosque has a long-standing tradition of wishing Christian compatriots well over Christmas and has for several years invited a Christian colleague to share a message with the congregation. The mosque has also annually issued a Christmas message and the Imam and some congregants have, for decades now, attended a Christmas Carol service at the St George’s Cathedral to personally convey their Christmas greetings. “Dr Allan Boesak has had a special and long-standing relationship with the CMRM since the early eighties. The former Imam of CMRM the late Imam Gassan…

AT LEAST 60 African penguins are still being rehabilitated after being attacked by sharks and seals at Bird Island in Algoa Bay. The attacks have fuelled concern over the status of the species along the Western and Eastern Cape shoreline, as their numbers continue to decline. The Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (Sanccob) centre manager in Gqeberha, Carl Havemann, said 156 African penguins were admitted to the centre from August to November. Most of the penguins had severe injuries, including broken limbs, fractured bones and gaping wounds. Havemann said injured penguins were being found almost daily. “The injured birds were stabilised on the island by our seabird monitors, before being sent to the Gqeberha facility for further treatment. “To date, 94 penguins have been successfully released…

Jacob Zuma, the perennial litigant, flees from his party and decides to vote for uMkhonto we Sizwe in 2024. A spineless political chameleon who began our nation’s decline and robbed the masses of honour and integrity. South Africa is a mess and it is certain that the ANC will lose its majority, garnering about 40% of the national vote. The deadly danger in this scenario is that the ANC will not concede defeat or hand over the instruments of power to others. ANC stalwart Jesse Duarte predicted chaos if the ANC suffered a monumental defeat. Chaos and anarchy will engulf the land which could lead to a military coup d’état and the suspension of parliamentary democracy. The road to power is paved with hypocrisy and casualties. All the major political…

My word for this week is anecdotal. It refers to any account of an event, experience or opinion that is not necessarily true or reliable, because it is based on personal accounts rather than facts or research. Synonyms are “informal, unreliable, based on hearsay, unscientific”. When the big hitters enter the arena, they use synonyms like “qualitative, circumstantial, unempirical, unsystematic, informal and random”. It doesn’t follow that all discourse must follow strict academic and cerebral formulations to achieve validity. One can rely on human experience, which is my justification for a column that could be said to be entirely anecdotal. I read a report of a woman who was on her way home with her young daughter along Voortrekker Road in Maitland. That was at three in the morning. Somehow,…

Reykjavik: A volcano erupting close to an Iceland power plant shot geysers of molten lava into the dark winter sky yesterday after weeks of intense seismic activity south-west of Reykjavik. The eruption only 3km from the evacuated fishing port of Grindavik on the Reykjanes peninsula began on Monday after an earthquake “swarm” of small tremors, the Icelandic Meteorological Office said. After weeks of warnings from scientists, the authorities built reinforcements around the Svartsengi geothermal plant, which is just 2km from the eruption. It supplies electricity and water to 30 000 people on the peninsula. | AFP…

Athens: The Acropolis in Athens was shut yesterday, with guards at Greece’s top tourist site protesting against plans to assign ticket control duties to private contractors. “This act deprives Acropolis colleagues of an important part of their work,” Greek culture ministry unionists said. The Greek union of antiquity guards said the culture ministry last month finalised a two-year tender for private guards, starting in 2024. The guards staged a 24-hour walkout. The government has gone to court to declare the strike illegal. The Acropolis is Greece’s most popular archaeological site. | AFP…

Day four of the Khaya Majola Week held in Makhanda in the Eastern Cape was marred by rain with all the games having a delayed start. Several games were abandoned and others decided on the DLS method. For the first time the tournament has been played in two sections, with the top sides four sides going through to the semi-finals. Yesterday, the Gauteng Lions were up against the Titans in the one semi-final, while the KZN Dolphins faced neighbours KZN Inland in the other. In the Jukskei derby, reduced to 31overs, the Titans sent the Lions in to bat in heavy overcast conditions. The Titans speedster Tristan Luus, who has been in good form all week, soon had both openers Tshepe Stafa (9) and Lhuan-dre Pretorius (30) back in the…