Innehållsförteckning för 2024-03-11 från Cape Argus

FORMER Western Cape ANC leader Marius Fransman’s People’s Movement for Change (PMC) and sacked provincial legislature speaker Masizole Mnqasela’s Alliance of Citizens for Change (ACC) are among the organisations gearing-up to contest the elections on May 29, having submitted their supporters’ signatures to the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). For new political parties to contest the election, the IEC required 60 000 signatures, with the deadline for submissions being on Friday. According to the IEC, preliminary indications show that 115 parties made submissions to contest seats in the National Assembly. “Early indications are that all 14 parties currently represented in the National Assembly have made submissions to contest seats in the National Assembly and at least one region. “In respect of provinces, at least 93 unrepresented parties have…

THE National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) has accused outgoing Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan of contributing to the collapse of the country’s leading state-owned enterprises (SOEs). This comes after Gordhan announced his retirement from politics. On Friday, the Department of Public Enterprises confirmed in a statement that Gordhan had “expressed his intention to retire from active politics” when the term of the current administration ends following the elections. Speaking to Newsroom Afrika, Gordhan denied collapsing SOEs, saying these were now in a better position than during the state capture era. Gordhan was among more than 30 MPs who announced their retirement from politics after the elections. They include Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma and Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula. Gordhan said he is happy with the position of the country’s state entities.…

CYCLISTS Kent Main and Tiffany Keep beat the stiff south easterly through Simon’s Town and up Smitswinkel to emerge victorious in the 46th edition of the Cape Town Cycle Tour yesterday. Main slipped off the front of a select group inside the final kilometre and time-trialled to the line, while in the women’s race, Keep edged out S’annara Grove with a bike throw on the line to claim victory by a tyre’s width after a fiercely contested sprint. “I’ve got goosebumps,” Main said. “It’s amazing. It was an amazing race. It was super hard right from the beginning but I think how tough it was actually worked in our favour. It’s amazing to have won it.” At the foot of the famous Chapman’s Peak Drive climb, Grove set the pace…

THERE is no doubt in my mind that the DA needs an ANC to stabilise the South African body politic. Nor is there any doubt in my mind that the ANC needs the DA to deliver it from the multiple service delivery nightmares that its cadres have brought upon it. Yet the two parties each continue to believe that the one can do without the other. Stoking the election rhetoric with insults and sideswipes, both pretend that they can’t stand each other. But behind closed doors, the intensity of their love can no longer be denied. The ANC once married the NNP, also an erstwhile enemy, only to find that the NPP did not have the stamina to keep up with the adventurous prowess of the ANC. This led to…

Upstart Alexandria Procter Melinda Ferguson Books Review: Barbara Spaanderman Some people are born to stand out, not to sit back quietly and meekly waiting for things to happen, but to be out there making a difference, doing, changing, shifting paradigms. By her own admission, Alexandria Procter was a precocious kid with the nice but tame name of Claire, which she changed to Alexandria to reflect her driven personality. Her father is a medical doctor and her mother an advocate, and they live in the Eastern Cape overlooking Jeffreys Bay. Among other things, they have horses. Alexandria’s education was extremely privileged; she wanted for nothing. After matric she embarked on a trip into the the wider world, ostensibly to “discover the meaning of life” and get “to the root of human…

On Saturday, the ever-popular Soweto Derby lived up to its billing as the country’s biggest sporting event. Close to 87 000 fans, including President Cyril Ramaphosa, pitched up at the sold-out FNB Stadium for what was the 180th edition of the famous Soweto Derby between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs. Based on the massive attendances over the years, the Soweto Derby ranks among the world’s foremost football derbies, such as the El Clasico (FC Barcelona v Real Madrid), the Manchester Derby (Manchester United v Manchester City) and the Merseyside Derby (Liverpool v Everton), to name a few. Saturday's 3-2 victory for the Pirates saw the black-and-white half of Soweto claim bragging rights. For the next few days, flashing the skull-and-crossbones sign will be the only way the Pirates faithful will…

Support has been pouring in for South African-born musician Tyla, who was forced to cancel her international tour and festival appearances due to an injury. The Grammy award winner was due to kick off her two-continent Tyla Tour in Oslo, Norway, on March 21, before heading to Stockholm, Copenhagen, Berlin, Cologne, Paris, Amsterdam and London. But after seeking medical advice for an injury she sustained, the Truth or Dare hitmaker was forced to cancel her upcoming European concerts. She will also not be able to perform at the renowned Coachella festival in the US next month. Taking to her Instagram, the musician wrote, “Y’all still gonna see me around Tygers so don’t worry too much … just know when I’m back to performing pain-free, I’m gonna be even more of…

A Potchefstroom magistrate has been criticised by a high court judge for citing his own experience of house robbers while adjudicating a robbery case. The rebuke came during the appeal hearing of a robber against a 25-year prison sentence slapped on him by the magistrate. The North West Division of the High Court, sitting in Mafikeng, warned that judicial officers should not be blinded by their own experiences when sentencing accused. In this case, the high court lowered the 25-year jail sentence to 12 years. This followed an appeal by convicted housebreaker and Mozambican, Alfred Gwambe. He had pleaded guilty and admitted that he and two friends broke into a house and stole goods. In sentencing the accused, the magistrate remarked that housebreaking was very…

A FATHER has voiced his concern over safety at schools after videos showing an assault on his son outside Plumstead High School went viral on social media. In the videos, a violent brawl between two learners is captured, which escalates as several learners then attack and hit one of the learners, Ricardo Theunissen’s 15-year-old teenager. An unknown man is also seen firing a shot in the air as he tries to stop the fight. Theunissen said he was shocked to learn about the assault. He said when he arrived at the school to pick up pupils, learners informed him that his son had been in a fight. “I don’t know if that was the vice-principal standing there but I went for him and told him he was standing there…

CONDOLENCES have gone out to the families of 24 people who were killed in three separate road crashes at the weekend. On Saturday, 13 people, including two children, were killed in a head-on collision between a truck and a bus along the N1 at the Hex River Pass near De Doorns. There were also multiple injuries, including seven patients who were hospitalised in critical condition. The crash followed a three-car pile-up on the R43 near Villiersdorp on Friday night in which six people, four of whom were children, were killed. Also on Friday, a crash involving a car, a bakkie and a bus on the N1 between Prince Albert and Laingsburg killed five people. One person was seriously injured, while none of the 39 passengers on the bus were hurt.…

The Lost Love of Akbar Manzil Shubnum Khan Pan Macmillan Reviewer: Beryl Eichenberger I am astounded by the writing talent we have in South Africa. Shubnum Khan, an author and artist based in Durban, has already made serious waves with her previous books and here she brings a new novel The Lost Love of Akbar Manzil, which will probably be headed for the shortlists. Mystical, ghostly, hauntingly beautiful, this novel, in all its magical reality and Indian colour, will wrap itself around you as you discover the corridors of the crumbling mansion, Akbar Manzil, that was once the most magnificent residence on South Africa’s East Coast near Durban. At its heart in 1932 is the history of the kind and adventurous Akbar Manzil; the building of a mansion, complete with…

With Haiti’s capital spiralling deeper into gang violence, the US said yesterday that it had airlifted non-essential American staff from its embassy in Port-au-Prince and brought in additional personnel to boost security at the compound. Residents of beleaguered neighbourhoods were scrambling for safety on Saturday following the latest unrest, with a UN group warning of a “city under siege” after armed attackers targeted the presidential palace and police headquarters. Criminal groups, which already control much of Port-au-Prince as well as roads leading to the rest of the country, have unleashed havoc in recent days as they try to oust Prime Minister Ariel Henry as leader of the Western hemisphere’s poorest country. On Saturday, dozens of residents were seeking safety in public buildings, with some successfully breaking into one facility. The…

Mercedes would do handstands to have Red Bull’s triple world champion Max Verstappen driving for them but first they need a car worthy of his talents, team boss Toto Wolff said on Saturday. Verstappen has won 19 of the last 20 races and took his second of the Formula One season in Saudi Arabia with an untroubled run from pole position. The Dutch driver’s future has been the subject of some speculation, despite Red Bull being way ahead of the rest, as a consequence of allegations by a female team employee against principal Christian Horner. Horner has been cleared, after denying the accusations, but relations with Verstappen’s father Jos have frozen after the former racer said the team risked being torn apart if the Briton stayed at the helm. “I’d…

The curtain came down on schools cricket in the Cape with Milnerton hosting Wynberg in a 130-over declaration format game. Wynberg won the toss and decided to bat on a wicket that held no fear for the batters and was evenly paced. Milnerton struck in the third over of the game when quick bowler Amr Williams got rid of Shadley Allie (four) with six runs on the board. Benni Hansen (34) and Storme van Rooyen (30) both got starts to put on 65 for the second wicket but both were dismissed in quick succession to bring Milnerton back in the game at 79/3. Unperturbed by the situation, the arrival of Paul James to the crease introduced a sense of urgency in the innings. As he has done so often in…

Jose Riveiro was pleased with his team’s performance in the Soweto derby, saying they must always refer back to it in an effort to close the gap between their best and worst versions of themselves. Orlando Pirates were crowned the Kings of Soweto this season after completing a league double over their arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs in the DStv Premiership. The Bucs beat Chiefs 1-0 in the first instalment of the derby last year, before winning the reverse 3-2 at a sold-out FNB Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Sea Robbers’ triumph didn’t only hand the The Ghost bragging rights, but also keeps the club’s chances of finishing the season on a high alive and well. Pirates are where they want to be in the league – in second spot, holding the…

A BREAKTHROUGH in the murder case of 21-year-old Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) student Asiphe Cetywayo has led to the arrests of two suspects. From Phola Park in Mbekweni, Paarl, Cetywayo’s burnt body was found in an open field on March 4. According to police spokesperson FC Van Wyk, a 28- and 37-year-old were arrested. “A 28-year-old suspect appeared in the Paarl Magistrate’s Court on Thursday on a charge of murder of a woman from Mbekweni whose body was found in the Vlakkeland area in Mbekweni on Monday morning. “The suspect has been remanded into custody until March 14 for a formal bail application.” On Wednesday, police would not comment on the allegations that a suspect had escaped from the police station, however, they have since confirmed the 37-year-old…

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has vowed to work alongside law enforcement agencies to root out corruption and bribery allegedly taking place in some institutions across the country. The firm stance comes after the financial aid scheme came out to condemn reported acts of intimidation and the holding of its officials hostage at the University of Zululand (UniZulu) on Friday. According to the organisation, the incident took place following a meeting held by the NSFAS board subcommittee on student accommodation, and the university’s management and accommodation providers on March 5. During the meeting, it was resolved that NSFAS would send officials to assist both students and accommodation providers in the onboarding process for all qualifying students who were currently residing in various private accommodations. The aim is to…

WHEELCHAIR warrior, Robert Earle, 69, has conquered Chapman’s Peak and Suikerbossie Hill in a bid to raise funds for his ex-colleagues who were flight engineers in the SA Air Force. From Krugersdorp, Earle was involved in a helicopter crash in January 1978 while serving in the Air Force as an engineer. He is confined to a wheelchair, however, that did not stop him from completing the 12.7km route in two and a half hours on Friday. Yesterday, he said his body was doing well – only a little stiff, but no complaints of discomfort. “I had a traffic official who was very helpful and kind who drove behind me all the way. “It got very misty and drizzling. “Through Chapman’s Peak, I drove in the clouds which was very exciting…

UNIVERSITIES as a place of academic expression have come under the spotlight following what has been described as a “knee-jerk” reaction to cancel a pro-Palestine event at Stellenbosch University (SU). The seminar by the Department of Global Health at SU in collaboration with Healthcare Workers for Palestine, which looked into the current state of healthcare in Gaza, eventually took place on Wednesday at the Tygerberg Medical Campus at SU. Healthcare Workers for Palestine has several members within the faculty. Its steering committee member and Public Health Medicine registrar at SU, Masudah Paleker, said before the event that some of the changes she was instructed to make were to remove the term “Israeli Apartheid Week” and the term activist in the bio of one of the speakers. The original flyer by…

Tracker Manual A Practical Guide to Animal Tracking in Southern Africa Alex van den Heever, Penias Mhlongo, Karel Benadie, Ian Thomas Struik Nature Needless to say, this is a must-have book for anyone out in the bush spotting game. With a host of spoor drawings, 200 newly-introduced photographs and featuring an additional 35 species, this updated edition of the ever-popular Tracker Manual is packed with the latest on the art of tracking. Based on information developed by some of southern Africa’s best traditional trackers, Tracker Manual offers even greater guidance and tips on how to identify the spoor of 190 animal species. Individual chapters cover carnivores, large mammals, antelopes, small mammals, primates, hares, rodents, amphibians, reptiles, birds and insects. You’ll find simple, bulleted text on key points of each animal’s…

Set a target of 104 after an impressive bowling display, the Lions made light work of the chase and eclipsed the Northwest Dragons target with 56 balls to spare in their CSA T20 Challenge on Sunday at the JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom. Following the Dragons 13 runs loss to the Titans on Friday, in a match they should have won, the Northwest side were looking to bounce back after a disappointing start to the competition. Dragons’ captain Senuran Muthusamy won the toss and chose to bat and it took 17-year-old sensation Kwena Maphaka only 1.3 overs to see the back of Wihan Lubbe for 10, caught by Ryan Rickelton, to back up his 3/22 against the Rocks on Friday. The wicket of Lubbe opened the flood gates as the…