Innehållsförteckning för 2024-02-14 från Cape Argus

Cape Argus|2024-02-14

World-first concept promises to be an ‘illuminating experience’

This “month of love” can also be a commemoration of culture, the arts and the finer things in life and there is a range of theatre productions in Cape Town this week for people of all tastes to enjoy. Theatre in the Dark Load shedding negatively affects individuals, businesses and society as a whole. In a bid to shine a spotlight on the devastating impacts of the continuous power cuts in the country, Theatre Arts – one of Cape Town’s foremost theatres – will be staging a world-first theatrical experience in South Africa. This will entail productions that will give attendees a chance to experience 10 days of experimental theatre that creates intimate imaginary landscapes in an Eskom-free season. Theatre in the Dark will stage 11 productions. This is the…

3 min

Cape Argus|2024-02-14

FIC ruling a ‘significant victory’ in Sekunjalo Group’s battle with banks

IN A landmark victory for the Sekunjalo Group of Companies (Sekunjalo), Western Cape High Court Judge Daniel Thulare yesterday ruled that the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) must hand over all documents pertaining to Sekunjalo, its subsidiaries, as well as those pertaining to EOH and Tongaat Hulett. Sekunjalo Investment Holdings chairman Dr Iqbal Survé said: “Sekunjalo welcomes the decision by the high court in favour of compelling the FIC to provide the documents we have been asking for. “This is a significant victory for us as we have maintained from the beginning that there has been no basis for any of our accounts to be closed, as there is no wrongdoing by any of our companies. “The decision to close our accounts has been motivated by political interference and is tantamount…

2 min

Cape Argus|2024-02-14

Bongani Ntanzi says police lied about his arrest, ammunition

ONE of the murder-accused in the Senzo Meyiwa trial, Bongani Ntanzi, has told the court that several police officers lied about the circumstances of his arrest. Ntanzi, who is the second accused, took to the stand in the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, yesterday. The court heard a trial within a trial to determine the admissibility of Ntanzi’s confession statement, which was made shortly after his arrest on June 16, 2020. Two of the five accused – Ntanzi and Muzikawkhulelwa Sibiya – claim they were severely assaulted and forced to confess to the murder of the Orlando Pirates goalkeeper. Ntanzi was cross-examined by State prosecutor, advocate Ronnie Sibanda, yesterday, who asked whether ammunition was found when police searched his place in Freedom Park, North West. “I was not there when they…

2 min

Cape Argus|2024-02-14

UNION TALKS Bus companies warned of a possible strike

THE National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) has warned of a possible bus strike if companies failed to improve their offer in response to the 10% wage increase demanded by employees in the sector. This followed protracted negotiations which deadlocked at the SA Road Passenger Bargaining Council. The union took part in the first round of wage talks from February 5 to 9, but the negotiations stalled. According to Numsa spokesperson, Phakamile Hlubi-Majola, they asked bus companies, including Putco, Algoa, and Great North Transport, for improved primary healthcare allowances as well as a 10% salary increase. Numsa general secretary Irvin Jim said that the trade union was shocked at the lack of commitment from the employers during the week of negotiations. “We were taken aback by the employers’ response…

2 min

Cape Argus|2024-02-14

education

Bela Bill facing tough opposition More submissions were made by different organisations and concerned citizens at the public hearings on the Basic Education Laws Amendment (Bela) Bill held yesterday in Ixopo, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). The purpose of the bill is to bring laws dealing with schools in line with important developments in the law, related to the right to basic education, that have taken place over the last decade, stated Sesethu August, spokesperson for Equal Education (EE) and the Equal Education Law Centre (EELC). The National Council of Provinces (NCOP) has resolved to extend the public hearings on the Bela Bill for two weeks until February 29. The deadline was January 31. August said that EELC welcomed the “belated” update to education law. “However, EELC remains concerned that the bill unjustly…

2 min

Cape Argus|2024-02-14

Education body to challenge collaboration schools in court

EDUCATION bodies have approached the Western Cape High Court to appeal a judgment concerning the Provincial Schools Education Amendment Act, arguing that it gave “unelected people or private actors a seat at the table” to govern schools. This comes after the high court ruled in favour of the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) on July 17 last year. The Western Cape Provincial Schools Education Amendment Act introduces collaboration schools, donor-funded schools, and intervention facilities. Equal Education Law Centre (EELC) candidate attorney Ebrahiem Daniels said collaboration schools allowed, for the operating partner or donor, 50% of voting rights at school governing bodies. This could be further increased by the Education MEC. This, he said, undermined Section 23 of the South African Schools Act, which stated that parents, teachers, learners and staff…

2 min

Cape Argus|2024-02-14

Honest politicians rare to find

Our nation is in preparation for a general election in 2024, an event whose trajectory is frightening to accept. The once impregnable ANC will garner 40% of the votes, the DA will be ousted as the official opposition, getting 19%, and the EFF will become the official opposition, gathering 22% of the national vote. EFF leader Julius Malema, will become the president in a marriage of convenience with the ANC. Our country is in the throes of an escalating crisis as political skeletons are displayed to a stunned populace. Honest politicians have become a rare commodity. When a society loses sight of the distinction between fact and fiction, truth-telling and lying, what happens is that truth, critical thought and fact-finding, as conditions of democracy, are rendered trivial and reduced to…

1 min

Cape Argus|2024-02-14

Ramaphosa is just a spin doctor

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa is a smooth talker and an accomplished spin doctor. For two hours he stood in Parliament spinning his yarn about how wonderful life has been under the ANC. At every few words his boot- lickers clapped and applauded him. But it was a hollow speech, “all sound and platitudes, signifying nothing”. Of course, the unemployed masses who feed on the fodder dished out so generously by the government would be impressed by the president’s Sona and would reward him with their vote. But try as he might, he cannot pull the wool over everyone’s eyes. There are many discerning people in the country who have unmasked this scamster and laid him bare. No matter how he tries to worm himself out of the mess the ANC has…

1 min

Cape Argus|2024-02-14

Sona was theatre to project fairy tales

The creative writing of our Pres is to be admired. He weaved a fairy tale, a fable of a young South African who was ultimately saved by the benevolence of “The Party”. It made for riveting viewing, as the Pres broke character … showing a bit of emotion. Reality was reawakened the following morning as the harshness of daily life hit us squarely between the eyes. When a State of the Nation Address becomes a theatre to project fables, half-truths and innuendo, then it is as clear as daylight that the government of the day is no longer fit to govern. The time is now for level heads and clear thinkers to assert the view that the country desperately needs a political party to impose a new adventure to realistic…

1 min

Cape Argus|2024-02-14

SA is in need of new leadership, and fast

When young and unemployed doctors are forced to take to the street to beg for jobs, when you wake up to no lights, go to lunch with no lights and sleep with no lights, you must know that things are bad and South Africa is in need of change. It can’t be business as usual when the country’s youth remain unemployed, helpless and hapless while an uncaring government fiddles with their future. The ANC has failed to provide a better life for all, ensuring a better life only for themselves and their families. When we are sold the story of non-existing Tintswalo and social grant ice cream entrepreneurs year in and year out, we must know we are in deep trouble. With the elections around the corner, South Africans have…

2 min

Cape Argus|2024-02-14

Bid for Gaza truce deal

US, Egyptian, Israeli and Qatari officials were meeting in Cairo yesterday to seek a truce in Gaza as more than a million civilians crammed into a southern corner of the Palestinian enclave were waiting in fear for an Israeli assault. Amid growing international concern over the plight of civilians, Israeli tanks shelled the eastern sector of Rafah city overnight, residents said, although the anticipated ground offensive did not appear to have started. The Israeli military said its forces killed dozens of Palestinian fighters in clashes in the southern and central Gaza Strip over the last 24 hours, including 30 in Khan Younis, a city close to Rafah on the coastal enclave’s border with Egypt. Gaza health officials said an Israeli strike on a house in Nusseirat refugee camp in central…

4 min

Cape Argus|2024-02-14

Proteas Women out to forge own WACA Test legacy

The Proteas have an unblemished Test record at the WACA since readmission. They have played four Tests, won three consecutive matches, and drawn the first one way back in 2005. The most memorable was, of course, the 2012 win that sealed the series, while the last one in 2016 was also special with the Proteas producing a monumental comeback. Much of the success has been attributed to the WACA pitch having the same traits as the Wanderers back home in Johannesburg and the fact that Perth boasts the largest South African expatriate community Down Under. But that was all the work of the Proteas Men’s team. It’s now the turn of the Proteas Women’s side to forge their own legacy at the storied venue in the one-off Test against the…

3 min

Cape Argus|2024-02-14

Spirit of cricket’s back in SA, says Smith

Every cricketer will tell you that the second season is the hardest. Every little flaw that was previously unknown has been identified and analysed. Mistakes are also not forgiven so easily. And that’s why Graeme Smith feels that what the SA20 has achieved in its second edition is even bigger than its successful maiden sojourn last year. “By all accounts, throughout this season I think we’ve grown and for us I think the season was a success,” Smith said in a post-tournament wrap yesterday. “There were a lot of questions building into season 2 about whether we could recreate or get stronger and I think we’ve done that. “Building into the season a lot of people were saying, ‘Were you a one-hit wonder? No, we’re not. We’ve established ourselves that…

3 min

Cape Argus|2024-02-14

Bad luck and spin wizardry stifles Proteas

Proteas coach Shukri Conrad has shown his hand early on in the second Test against New Zealand at Seddon Park in Hamilton, although his batters are once again doing their best to stifle his plans. And then there was some wretched bad luck. The Proteas ended the first day struggling to climb to 220 for six, while all-rounder Rachin Ravindra continued to bolster New Zealand with 3-33. Against his gut feeling, Conrad opted for the rather conservative route for the first Test in Mount Maunganui where only one spinner was picked and a traditional batting opening pair of captain Neil Brand and Eddie Moore was trialled. In Hamilton, Conrad ripped up the prep book. Moore has been given the axe and will most likely never play Test cricket again, to…

3 min

Cape Argus|2024-02-14

The Bala family mourns the death of their stepfather Tatu Jafta

The Bala Family have announced the death of their stepfather, Sebenzile Jafta. The famous music family announced the news on their various social media platforms over the weekend. Jafta is the stepfather of the musical group The Bala Brothers, which is Zwai, Loyiso and Phelo, and their sister Thozama “Pinky”. In a post on X, Kwaito legend and television personality Zwai revealed that Tatu Jafta died on February 10. “As the Bala family, it is with a heavy heart to announce the untimely passing of our father, uSebenzile Jafta, early this morning (February 10). “He was admitted to hospital on Thursday evening, and despite the family’s hopes, he didn’t return home. “As amaVala, amaZangwa and maNgwevu (Bala clan names), we would like to say ‘may his beautiful soul rest in…

1 min

Cape Argus|2024-02-14

rules violated End of road for 58 Comrades race cheats

Fifty-eight athletes hoping to run this year’s Comrades Marathon have had their entries squashed after they were found to have cheated. In a statement on Monday, the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) said subsequent to the running of the 2023 race, the CMA identified 58 athletes whose entry to the 2024 marathon were rejected after they violated CMA race rules. “The entries of 16 athletes have been rejected after it was discovered that they had asked another athlete to run their 2023 qualifying marathon on their behalf, while three athletes were found to have ran the qualifying marathon, used by another entrant, to enter the 2023 event and 27 runners lied about their qualifying times when they either didn’t run or finish the marathon or ran slower than the qualifying time,”…

2 min

Cape Argus|2024-02-14

Schoolkids injured in taxi crash

A GROUP of school children was left traumatised yesterday after two taxis crashed into their scholar transport, leaving them with minor injuries. The crash on the corner of Govan Mbeki and Duinefontein Roads in Manenberg saw police and rescue workers hurry to the scene to assist the learners, who were on their way to schools in Hanover Park. According to an eyewitness, it was suspected that the two taxis were racing each other before the crash. “It looked like they were dicing because they crashed into the car that was transporting the children. “The children were asked by the officers what happened but all they could say was that the two taxis boxed their car in. The one taxi landed on the island and the street sign was still on…

1 min

Cape Argus|2024-02-14

Opposition accuses ANC of betraying Tintswalo’s dreams

OPPOSITION parties said the ANC had reversed all the gains made in the first few years of democracy. Speaking during the debate of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address yesterday, IFP leader Velenkosini Hlabisa said the economy grew above 5% during the Government of National Unity, but it had since declined. Hlabisa urged Ramaphosa not to sign the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill because it was a “disaster waiting to happen”. “Stop looking for the pen to sign the NHI Bill. The NHI is a recipe for disaster. South Africa is on auto-pilot,” said Hlabisa. He said the ANC presided over state capture, load shedding, and millions of people were unemployed. “The ANC only serves the ANC,” said Hlabisa. DA leader John Steenhuisen said the ANC government…

1 min

Cape Argus|2024-02-14

Blind musician’s desperate instrument appeal

A BLIND saxophonist from Hanover Park who relies on his beloved eight-year-old instrument to help him make ends meet has appealed for help to buy a new saxophone. Kenneth Herman, also known as Kenny, 54, has been busking in Camps Bay for the past 10 years. His ageing saxophone is currently held together with an elastic band, which he desperately tries to salvage everyday in the hope of making it last so he can make enough money to buy a new one. But with barely making enough money for his taxi fare to and from Camps Bay, Herman has appealed to the public to help him get a new alto saxophone. Herman says he wakes up early from Wednesdays to Sundays to catch a taxi from Hanover Park to the…

2 min

Cape Argus|2024-02-14

Assault threat: brother of FF+ councillor in dock

Freedom Front Plus (FF+) City councillor Paul Jacobson’s brother Martin is out on a warning after making his first appearance in court for allegedly threatening to rape and kill a woman and her family. Martin Jacobson briefly appeared in the Strand Magistrate’s Court yesterday where the case was postponed to April 5 for further investigation. He faces a charge of threatening to assault. In support of Cassia Souza, who lodged the complaint against Martin, the EFF’s Nazier Paulsen said: “I accompanied Cassia and her husband to Strand police station to lay a charge against him. The comment was made on Paul’s Facebook page and Paul gave the comment a thumbs up instead of admonishing his brother. Cassia is a pious and introverted person. She and her husband, Reza, have since…

2 min

Cape Argus|2024-02-14

Sona claims a far cry from our lived reality

The State of the Nation Address (Sona) by President Cyril Ramaphosa was pedestrian with recycled promises. It was loaded with an oft-repeated narrative of state capture, whose beneficiaries wriggled Ramaphosa out of impeachment. That’s why they’re re-appointed in his blame-shifting administration. The renewal project never saw the light of day. The so-called “new dawn” remains a rhetorical device. Ramaphosa smuggled in faint praises for Tintswalo to illustrate a life experience of an ordinary black child. But most of our youth languish in poverty and unemployment. Corruption is the real enemy, amid skewed priorities for “a better life for all”. The Sona has a budget, but rural schools, none; pupils suffer from the trauma of witnessing a fellow learner drown in a pit toilet. That’s the reality of the past 30…

1 min

Cape Argus|2024-02-14

Voters should be spoilt for choice

I FIND it interesting that many citizens do not know which political party to vote for in the forthcoming elections. Yet there are more than 300 parties in this country. Voters should be spoilt for choice. The opposite is true. The other day I went to the local Checkers in Kagiso. While in the queue to pay for my items, the teller was holding an interesting political discussion with some customers. They were also complaining about load shedding and poor service delivery. When I was next to pay, the teller told the other customer she’s going to vote for the DA. I politely asked why. “Because I am tired of the corrupt and inept ANC,” she responded. I assured her I was not trying to dissuade her but wanted to…

1 min

Cape Argus|2024-02-14

SACP condemns ‘genocidal’ Israel

The SACP condemns in the strongest terms possible, the latest genocidal act committed by the colonial and apartheid Israeli state in the Palestinian city of Rafah in southern Gaza. On Monday, Israel launched a new round of attacks focusing on Rafah in the Gaza strip, killing at least 67 Palestinians. Today a home to almost half of Gaza’s 2.3 million citizens who fled there, in addition to the 280 000 people who already lived there, the city of Rafah is regarded as the last standing refugee camp from which the Palestinian people have nowhere to run amid heavy bombardment by Israel. Israeli authorities have continued to push for more military attacks on Palestinians in Rafah. The settler state’s killing machine continues to wipe out more Palestinian lives a mere 17…

1 min

Cape Argus|2024-02-14

Would Tintswalo survive corporate world?

During his State of the Nation Address (Sona), President Cyril Ramaphosa brought a hypothetical figure called Tintswalo to the attention of the nation. Tintswalo was born in 1994 where she tasted the nectar of success, thanks to the progressive policies of the ANC-led government. Tintswalo reminds of Snow White. The best part of Snow White is how much her mother loved her, even before Snow White was born. The worst part of Snow White is that the mother dies when she is born and an evil stepmother raises her. I bet whoever wrote this story had an evil stepmother. People loved the ANC even before the inauguration of Nelson Mandela as president. The worst part is how conscience has died under the leadership of the ANC when it comes to…

4 min

Cape Argus|2024-02-14

Pochettino praises ‘priceless’ Gallagher

Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino described midfielder Conor Gallagher as “priceless” after he helped the club rally from a goal down to beat Crystal Palace 3-1 in the Premier League on Monday. The England international scored twice after Chelsea had fallen behind to Jefferson Lerma’s opener, before Enzo Fernandez’s 94th-minute goal sealed the victory. Gallagher, who has been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge in the past two transfer windows, has missed only one of Chelsea’s 24 league games this season when he was sidelined due to suspension. He has made more than 30 appearances in all competitions and Pochettino said he was a player with “great commitment” to the team. “Always trying to compensate every situation in an offensive and defensive situation and that is priceless to have…

1 min

Cape Argus|2024-02-14

Mbappe fit to face Sociedad

Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique said yesterday that he expects Kylian Mbappe to be unhindered by a recent ankle knock when his side face Real Sociedad in first leg of their Uefa Champions League last-16 clash. Mbappe was rested for PSG’s Ligue 1 win over Lille at the weekend to make sure he was fully fit for tonight’s clash against Real Sociedad at the Parc des Princes. “When a team has a player at the level of Kylian Mbappe, the more he plays, the better it is for the team,” Enrique said. “He could have played four days ago but it wasn’t worth the risk.” PSG are bidding to avoid a third consecutive last-16 exit from the Champions League. Mbappe has scored 30 goals for the club in all competitions…

2 min

Cape Argus|2024-02-14

Stedman not thinking about Henco

The Bulls have produced four of the four-try bonus points in this season’s United Rugby Championship, which is the joint third most behind Glasgow’s six and Leinster’s five. Yet, there is a nagging feeling that it could have been a few more across their nine matches, even though they have dotted down the most tries in total – 43 – in the tournament. It’s something that has been zoomed in on during their fortnight off, having held off the Lions 30-28 at Loftus Versfeld on January 27. They will face their Gauteng rivals once more, this time at Ellis Park, on Saturday (3pm kick-off), where they will try to entrench their current fourth spot on the log. But the Lions have the firepower to pounce on the Bulls’ missed opportunities,…

3 min

Cape Argus|2024-02-14

Squatting cput students ejected Bellville campus says the more than 100 people removed from emergency accommodation are not registered students

SUITCASES and blankets lined the entrance to the Cape Peninsula University of Technology’s (CPUT) Bellville Campus yesterday after more than 100 students were ejected from temporary emergency accommodation at the university’s student centre. They were forced to haul their belongings outside the main entrance gates, where they remained in the scorching heat for the rest of the day. Around 300 students, who had been staying at the student centre for about two weeks, were reportedly ejected from it by a large group of campus security staff during the early hours of yesterday morning. Video footage shows a student being aggressively bundled into a campus security vehicle, but yesterday CPUT insisted that those who had been removed from the student centre were not registered students, instead referring to them as “squatters”.…

3 min

Cape Argus|2024-02-14

parents pROTESt Learner stabbed, hit with a brick near school

A learner from JG Meiring High is recovering in hospital after he was hit on the head with a brick and stabbed outside the Goodwood school on Monday. The attack happened as the 16-year-old Grade 11 learner was boarding his school transport on the corner of Dingle and Elize streets. The incident was alleged to have been instigated by a former female learner who had called her boyfriend to assault the learner. Some learners took the victim back to the school after he was stabbed, where they waited for the ambulance to arrive. Yesterday morning, about 20 parents demonstrated outside the school. Their protest followed an earlier one, three weeks ago, during which they called for the removal of the principal for alleged lack of communication with parents. They described…

2 min

Cape Argus|2024-02-14

Big petrol and diesel increases likely for March

MOTORISTS and commuters could be in for more hard times in the coming months, with the latest data pointing to yet another significant petrol and diesel price hike in March. The latest unaudited data from the Central Energy Fund (CEF) showed that 95 Unleaded petrol could go up by around R1.35 cent per litre next month, with 93 Unleaded rising by R1.31c/l. The outlook was even more bleak for diesel, which looked set to rise by between R1.44c/l (500ppm) and R1.58c/l (50ppm). The mid-month predictions and any movement in the local currency and international oil prices in the coming two weeks could push those figures higher or lower. Should these predictions prove to be accurate, South Africans will end up paying R23.87 for a litre of 95 ULP at the…

1 min

Cape Argus|2024-02-14

‘DA has been good to me’

FORMER City mayor and a veteran DA politician, Dan Plato, sent shock waves through the political arena when he yesterday resigned from the party to join ex ANC leader Marius Fransman’s People’s Movement for Change (PMC). Plato made the surprise announcement in the Waves Theatre Cafe in Long Street, Cape Town during a press conference, alongside Fransman. The reason for his resignation from the party was not made clear, however, he put his confidence in his “new political home”. “I have officially resigned from the Democratic Alliance as a member, and I have decided to join PMC. “That’s what I’ve done. I haven’t signed any membership documents yet. That will follow. “But I am not going to say anything wrong or bad about it. “The DA has been good to…

2 min

Cape Argus|2024-02-14

More peanut butter brands pulled in wake of aflatoxin find

FOLLOWING the recall of Pick n Pay’s No Name and Eden Crunch Peanut Butter last week, the National Consumer Commission (NCC) has now called for urgent tests by all producers in the wake of even more products showing higher than acceptable levels of aflatoxin. The retail giant had announced the product recall, as it explained the discovery of higher than regulated levels of aflatoxin, which may constitute a health risk. As a result, they requested customers who had peanut butter products to return them to their stores for a full refund. Aflatoxin has been reported to lead to health complications, not limited to nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In what has rung similar to the 2018 outbreak of listeriosis in South Africa, which claimed over 200 lives, the NCC has…

2 min

Cape Argus|2024-02-14

‘Mini-library’ on a cellphone may create better access to literature

PHYSICAL libraries play a vital role in our communities, offering a wealth of knowledge and resources. However, they come with inherent challenges that can restrict access for many individuals. The distance to the nearest library may be prohibitive, travel conditions unsafe, transportation costs burdensome, or they might not be open to fit in with young people’s schedules. Considering there are only 1 809 public libraries nationwide, the infrastructure places considerable strain on resources, with more than 11 000 young individuals potentially relying on a single library. Recognising the challenges associated with traditional library access, we must turn towards the use of technology. Digital, mobile applications that serve as a “library in your pocket” represent a groundbreaking advancement in South Africa’s mission to elevate literacy rates and enhance our youth’s critical…

1 min

Cape Argus|2024-02-14

Healthcare crisis must be urgently solved before NHI

Last year, more than 700 nurses in Limpopo had their contracts abruptly terminated because of a lack of funds. The very fact that nurses are employed on a contract basis is strange. Those who apply for overseas jobs have every reason to be on renewable contracts for obvious reasons, but that does not mean it is a new trend that must be adopted. So the Department of Health is not only failing to train more health professionals but can’t employ enough because the country has no money – in a country that cannot wait to implement universal healthcare coverage. As I watched doctors protesting on eNCA on Monday, I could not believe that the health ministers actually encouraged doctors to go into private practice or emigrate. Only well experienced doctors…

1 min

Cape Argus|2024-02-14

Sona – the party is over for the ANC and they know it

WaTCHING the audience’s reaction to Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address in the Cape Town City Hall was instructive. The ANC ministers and MPs all did their best to look upbeat. They pretended to smile and laugh. Some even managed to applaud as Cyril ploughed on interminably. “Listen to this one,” he called out, as if telling jokes while doing stand-up comedy. Their taut, pale and worried faces gave them away as they tried valiantly to drown out the incredulous laughter, groaning and heckling from the rest of the gathering. They know that it’s all disinformation and lies. The ANC MPs know that they’re in serious trouble. Cabinet ministers and backbenchers alike were trying to calculate their pension payouts as their boss droned on about patients loving government hospitals…

1 min

Cape Argus|2024-02-14

Defunding UNRWA a collusion in terror drive against Palestinians

The withdrawal of funding for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) by the US and other imperialist countries like the UK, France, and Germany represents their direct collusion with apartheid Israel in the terror campaign against the Palestinians with impunity. Such punishing withholding of life-saving funds would amount to an act of collective punishment both to UNRWA and to more than 2 million Palestinians, over half of whom are women and children. Due to apartheid Israel’s continued indiscriminate bombardment and deliberate denial of aid in Gaza, the Palestinians face hunger, starvation, imminent famine and outbreak of diseases. Why is the US and its allies suspending funding to UNRWA based on apartheid Israel’s accusations? According to reports, there is no established or official involvement between UNRWA and…

1 min

Cape Argus|2024-02-14

Gaza: the West must take a moral check on conflict

The US has consistently sought to police human rights in countries as far apart as Iran, South Sudan, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Nicaragua and China just to mention a few, yet its policies in the Middle East, and direct support for Israel in its conflict with Palestine is fuelling unprecedented possible genocide. A press release by South Africa’s Department of International Relations on January 26 2024 says the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has determined that Israel’s actions in Gaza are plausibly genocidal and has indicated provisional measures on that basis. Media reports on February 1 2024 widely reported on findings by a US court indicating that Israel’s campaign in Gaza “plausibly” amounts to genocide. Yet, two US Congressmen, John James and Jared Moskowitz, who are from the Republican and Democratic…

6 min

Cape Argus|2024-02-14

Dobson wants physicality and speed at Shark Tank

Stormers coach John Dobson’s voice may have been a bit creaky yesterday, but he was upbeat about a “nice boost in resources” ahead of Saturday’s United Rugby Championship clash against the Sharks in Durban. Despite seeing his team go on a five-match winning streak across all competitions before their nearly month-long break, they will have some serious conundrums to solve at Kings Park (5.05pm kick-off). The first revolves around the selection of the matchday 23. Springboks Manie Libbok, Damian Willemse and Deon Fourie are still out of the mix because of resting protocols – although Fourie is already back in training “because he didn’t want to stay at home” – but Bok tighthead Frans Malherbe is back in full training, although the Stormers must still decide what role he will…

3 min

Cape Argus|2024-02-14

Plumtree convinced ‘Sharks can make up deficit’

It was a refreshed John Plumtree that faced the media yesterday after a month’s leave tending to family business in New Zealand and he is defiant that all is not lost for the Sharks in the United Rugby Championship. The Sharks host the Stormers on Saturday at Kings Park and the big Kiwi believes this game can see his team begin a long climb up the ladder. “It was lovely seeing my boys and my wife after six tough months away,” he said, referring to an unfortunate start to his return to the Sharks. His team — bereft of 11 Springboks — won one of nine URC matches to languish in 16th place. “I bought my son his first car and he got his licence two days later, so that…

2 min