Innehållsförteckning för 2023-12-22 från Cape Argus

A CONVICTED bogus doctor who has once again been charged with fraud for illegally treating patients will stay behind bars after the Western Cape High Court denied his appeal for bail. Rasheed Mahfouz, 65, from Crawford, was arrested in February after an undercover operation by the Health Professions Council of SA (HPCSA) at the Philippi Medical Centre discovered that he allegedly examined a patient and dispensed medication for a fee. It is not the first time Mahfouz has found himself in trouble with the law. In 2018 he was convicted on two counts of fraud for practising as a medical practitioner despite not being registered with the HPCSA. He received a five-year prison sentence, wholly suspended for five years on condition that he was not convicted of a similar offence…

South Africa has been experiencing uninterrupted power supply, with load shedding kept safely at bay for the last week, but Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa says he cannot make any promises it would remain as such. While the country’s power system has seemed to be on a healthy streak, Ramokgopa reminded South Africans that many large industries were currently shut down for the festive period, reducing the heavy load on the grid. “We cannot really celebrate no load shedding while the South African economy is on a go-slow due to big industries shutting down in this period,” Ramokgopa said. “However, while we are able to, we are accelerating maintenance to ensure that we sustain this positive streak when the big industries return.” Currently, there was about 27 700MW of power available,…

“THINK before you click.” This is the concise yet clear advice by one of the country’s leading cyber- crime experts, Craig Pedersen, as he details how to avoid becoming a victim this festive season. Speaking to the Cape Argus after releasing his second book, Think Before You Click, Pedersen, has developed a simple yet effective guide to how to navigate the murky world of online scams affecting thousands of people each year. Pedersen, the founder of TCG Forensics, has spent the last 20 years investigating cases where victims have lost millions in online scams. The book, part of a trilogy, was completed in 18 months and released this week for sale. Comprising just over 40 chapters, it gives readers insight into the various scams, how victims are targeted, and how…

It’s been over a month since the 20th African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) took place in Johannesburg. In a bid to reflect on the complex agenda presented at Agoa, one ponders on the year ahead and what is likely to arise from the resolutions tabled and agreed to by sub-Saharan African leaders and their US counterparts given the taut atmosphere in global geopolitics. The core mandate of Agoa has been to expand trade and investment relations between Africa and the US, to allow for economic growth as well as to aid in the integration of the region into the global economy. This mandate, one would presume, was established in the knowledge that respective countries would maintain their sovereignty amid the trade pact. In other words, while there has been…

There’s a desire to build on the winning momentum picked up last weekend by the Stormers, and a perfect early Christmas gift will be a triumph over the Bulls tomorrow. Meanwhile, the Pretoria team will look to pick up their first United Rugby Championship win over the hosts at the Cape Town Stadium (7pm kick-off). Rugby writer Leighton Koopman looks at five key players for the Stormers. Mercurial Manie He has lapped up every opportunity to torture the team that let him go several seasons ago. And it won’t be any different for Manie Libbok come kick-off. Although he’s not yet found the rich attacking form that saw him drive the Bok attack at the World Cup and the Stormers last season, Libbok will want to keep turning over…

Liverpool destroyed West Ham 5-1 on Wednesday night to set up a League Cup semi-final against Fulham, easing the frustration of last weekend’s Premier League stalemate against Manchester United. Curtis Jones scored twice and Dominik Szoboszlai, Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah were also on the scoresheet for Jurgen Klopp’s dominant team, who were trophy-less last season. No team has won more League Cups than Liverpool, who lifted the trophy for the ninth time in the 2021-22 season. The Reds had 34 shots against United in last Sunday’s Premier League match without finding the net, failing to win at home for the first time this season. Manager Klopp said he was delighted with his team’s “joyful football” as they once again clicked in front of goal against West Ham. “We were…

HUNDREDS of firefighters, volunteers and members of the public and corporates have been lauded for coming together to respond to a blaze that has ripped through the mountain slopes of Simon’s Town since this week. By late yesterday afternoon, the fire, which broke out on Tuesday morning, was yet to be contained. The City’s Fire and Rescue Services said no property was damaged overnight and there were no further injuries reported. Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) said yesterday the wildfire had burnt approximately 1140 hectares of land across private, public works, and TMNP properties. The firefighting team comprised SANParks, NCC Environmental Services (Pty) Ltd, City of Cape Town, Working on Fire, Volunteers Wildfire Services, South African National Defence Force, and the Disaster Risk Management Centre among others. Approximately 80 day…

MYSTERY surrounds the discovery of a decomposed body buried in a shallow grave along the N7 Highway on Wednesday night. A source said police and forensic experts combed the scene and excavated the decomposed remains of an unknown person, “just as the sun was setting at about 7pm and just before the Plattekloof Road interchange”. The source added, “The cops from Milnerton arrived with the forensics team. You could see the lights of the vehicles as people slowed down to see what was going on. They arrived with a man who is apparently a witness of some sort, but it is not clear if he found the body or if he took the cops to the place where the body was buried. “They called the forensics team but the body…

The national Health Department says it is working with the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (Sahpra), the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) and the manufacturer of a suspected contaminated medical product called Lubri-A, to ensure the product is no longer used and is recalled with immediate effect. The department said it was also working to ensure that all unopened lubricant sachets or batches are returned through the usual distribution channels. Sahpra announced a recall of Lubri-A, otherwise known as Sterile Lubricating Jelly. An independent outbreak investigation conducted by the Western Cape government had revealed earlier this year that clusters of cases at two Cape Town hospitals may have been linked to the use of contaminated batches of lubricating jelly sachets. “This product has been used in public…

A recent survey has shown that almost 18 million unregistered voters in the country are under the age of 40, allowing political parties the opportunity to target this demographic ahead of the 2024 national general elections. The SA Voter Sentiment Report highlights the glaring gap in youth representation within the registered voter base. According to the report: “Less than 20% of South Africans aged 18-19 and only 40% of the 20-29 age group are registered voters. There are almost 7 million unregistered voters under 30 years and close to 11 million unregistered voters under 40 years of age. “This data underscores a substantial opportunity and highlights the urgent need to mobilise the youth vote.” The survey, conducted between October and December 2023, is the result of a collaboration between the…

If THE Stormers opt to not kick the ball into touch for line-outs, they will do so at their peril. This was the warning from Bulls coach Jake White ahead of tomorrow’s massive United Rugby Championship encounter at the Cape Town Stadium (7pm kick-off). The Capetonians have battled in the line-outs this season, after the departure of No 5 stalwart Marvin Orie to French club Perpignan, while newly appointed captain Salmaan Moerat has been sidelined with a knee injury. This has seen Ruben van Heerden and Adré Smith – essentially two No 4 locks – operating in the second row, while coach John Dobson has also experimented with different combinations for certain games, such as the Champions Cup clash against Leicester, where Hendré Stassen and Connor Evans were the lock…

It’S a little too early in the season to start thinking about the ‘I’ word. But it can’t be helped, can it? Not when Mamelodi Sundowns are looking as dominant as they are in the DStv Premiership season. Boasting a 100% record after 11 league matches, there’s every reason to believe they can complete the first half of the 30-match campaign with 15 wins. And given just how much of a scholar of the game he is, bet on Rulani Mokwena to already be aware that this season marks the 20th anniversary of ‘The Invincibles’ – that Arsenal team which won the English Premier League title without losing a match in 38 outings. Sundowns need only do that in 30, which is not too much to ask for a team…

Chaotic and emotional scenes unfolded at the Sigma Connected SA offices in Diep River as staff were seen outside struggling to breathe after toxic fumes entered via the air-conditioning system at the call centre. The incident saw 1 700 Sigma Connected SA staff members evacuate the building. Some of the employees were treated on the scene, while a few were taken to hospital. Life Emergency Services’ Facebook page updated: “Hazmat Incident – Mass Casualty. Leo Street, Elfindale. 1 700 people evacuated after accidental exposure to toxic fumes; 29 patients were treated on scene, 16 of whom were transported to hospital with minor to serious complications.” A witness, who refused to be named, said: “It was quite bad. Around 1pm on Wednesday afternoon, I saw a lot of people walking from…

TWO Atlantis cops, accused of kidnapping and shooting an alleged thief and leaving him to die, have been released on R15 000 bail by the Atlantis Magistrate’s Court. Kevin Tamboer and Stanton van Heerden were arrested by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) on Wednesday after a month long investigation into the near fatal shooting. A source said the duo were arrested inside the station and stripped of their rank in full view of their colleagues. “Tamboer, known for being a car fanatic, alleged that two men had stolen his car battery. While on duty he went to collect both alleged suspects at their homes and (allegedly) took them to the Industrial Area just outside Atlantis and beat them.” The source said the men denied stealing the battery and cried…

THE People’s Movement for Change (PMC), a newly established political party led by Marius Fransman, the former ANC Western Cape leader and deputy minister of international relations and co-operation, has launched an Islamic desk to address issues facing the country’s Muslim community. The party said that the community had been ignored for many years and it was time that they also felt part of South Africa. Armien Albertyn, head of the party’s election campaign, said the fact that Islamic marriages took years to be recognised, underlined how the community was sometimes overlooked. “As much as we represent all South African demographics and religions, we believe that not a single community must be left out of enjoying the freedoms of this country. “The Muslim community is equally oppressed, like any marginalised…

LAW enforcement agencies are expecting to have their hands full as scores of holidaymakers are getting ready to flock to Cape Town’s beaches over the long weekend. With the festive season in full swing, the provincial department of mobility said that patrols on major roads would be in effect. “The deployments include high- visibility patrols on all major routes, integrated roadblocks doing alcohol enforcement and checking vehicle and driver fitness, documentation, driver fatigue and overloading of passengers in public transport and other vehicles. “Our officers are deployed to specific locations on the N1 and N2 that reflect the probability of a crash occurring. “These are incidents due to speeding and reckless and negligent driving based on our predictive analysis system. “This deployment has mitigated and neutralised the situation; we will…

Cape Town Spurs match-winner Ashley Cupido could arouse Orlando Pirates’ interest even more with an impressive display against AmaZulu in tonight’s Premiership clash. Pirates have reopened their interest in the Cape Town-based striker, and he has emerged as a target during the January transfer window. A few months ago, he was on Kaizer Chiefs’ shopping list and during the last off-season Mamelodi Sundowns looked at him as a back-up for marksman Peter Shalulile. Last season, Cupido ranked among the best South African strikers after he finished as the top goalscorer in the National First Division for Spurs. His haul of 16 goals in a single season was excellent, and that sparked the interest in him. Two weeks ago, Cupido was unable to rescue bottom-of-the-log Spurs in the Cape derby against…

The promoters of a Super League announced plans for a new breakaway competition yesterday after the EU’s top court ruled that Uefa had used illegal tactics to stifle a previous project. The European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruling did not constitute an endorsement of the Super League idea, which still faces furious opposition from many football fans and from Europe’s existing national leagues. But it marks a serious legal setback for Uefa and for soccer’s world governing body Fifa, finding that their tactic of threatening to ban future Super League clubs and players from taking part in their competitions broke EU law. And it was seized upon by the promoters of the Super League project, A22 Sports Management. They promoted their vision of a new 64-team tournament that would feature…

The Gauteng Lions are the undisputed champions of the annual Khaya Majola Schools Week that was hosted in Makhanda this week. The Lions team defeated KwaZulu-Natal by 78 runs in the final of the tournament on Wednesday at Graeme College. It was the first time in years that an official champion was crowned. Gauteng were the only side that managed to conclude the week with an unbeaten record intact. Not surprisingly, they had three players included in the SA Schools team – Richard Seletswane, Kwena Mphaka and Esosa Aihevba, all from St Stithians. The team will be captained by Benjamin Hansen of Western Province (Wynberg Boys High). In a T20 game between the SA Schools and SA Colts, the SA Schools team proved too strong, winning their encounter, played at…