Innehållsförteckning för 2024-03-13 från Cape Argus

The Drama Factory and The Playhouse Theatre are gearing up to host the highly anticipated Inclusive Arts Festival. The gathering, curated by Storywood Inclusive Arts, will take place from today to March 20. For this week-long festival, venues will be transformed into hubs of accessible theatre which welcome audiences of all abilities. The festival boasts a diverse line- up of theatre productions and arts workshops, as it is meticulously designed to cater to audiences with complex needs. Festival director Margot Wood emphasised their mission to create an inclusive space where everyone feels valued and can embrace the magic of the arts. “We wish to create a safe space for audiences with complex needs who often feel unwelcome or overwhelmed at the usual arts events,” Wood said. The Inclusive Arts Festival…

Long-term lease structure limits bidders THE much-anticipated auction for Cape Town’s Foreshore Tower Block, scheduled at the end of the month, has drawn criticism from the Western Cape Property Development Forum due to its “complicated” long-term lease structure. Positioned next to the Cape Town International Convention Centre, the Foreshore Tower auction has been hailed by the City of Cape Town as a means to boost the economy, while it was anticipated private investment of R1 billion would go into the site. The winning bidder will secure a 99-year lease for a 25 000m2 bulk Tower Block development. The initial lease duration is set at 60 years, with a 20-year renewal option followed by an additional 19-year optional extension. Deon van Zyl, Western Cape Property Development Forum chairperson, said due…

A STAGGERING 589 gunshots rang out in Nyanga at the weekend, leading residents to experience sleepless nights as fear grips. The shocking statistics, revealed by safety and security Mayco member JP Smith, were detected by the Shotspotter gun detection system, which showed more than 400 shots were fired in less than 24 hours. Nyanga Community Police Forum (CPF) secretary Dumisani Qwebe said the community was gripped by fear as heartless gangsters fired callously into the air as part of a gun salute ahead of the funeral of a known gang boss. “We agree that the system could have recorded such a high number of shots because there were widespread concerns raised by residents living in Zwelitha. “We know that one of the big gang bosses who plays a major role…

AFTER almost a month of protests by employees at the University of Pretoria (UP), an agreement has finally been reached regarding the 2024 salary negotiations. Workers affiliated to the National Education Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) at UP have been on strike since February 15, demanding a 7% wage hike, however, the university only offered a 4% wage increase as a result of financial constraints. Among their reasons for being unable to offer workers an increase for higher wages in the current year, the university cited burgeoning student debt, inability to increase fees as a result of restrictions placed by the Department of Higher Education and Training, and costs related to keeping the university running amid load shedding. This offer was vehemently rejected by workers who insisted they would…

FOLLOWING the announcement by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) that it had fired the employee who leaked election candidate lists, political parties have raised concerns about the commission’s capabilities to deliver the upcoming general elections. The ANC and uMkhonto WeSizwe’s (MK) candidate lists were leaked on social media after submissions were made on Friday, before the IEC could make an official announcement. IEC chief electoral officer Sy Mamabolo confirmed yesterday that the implicated official’s contract had been terminated following an investigation. He said aside from the ANC and MK candidate lists, the staff member also allegedly downloaded other political parties’ information. “The (individual’s) computer is being subjected to a forensic analysis. The downloads were not only related to those parties (ANC and MK). There were a whole lot of other…

EDUCATION might not ensure a woman’s path out of poverty but a lack of education will probably impede her chances of accessing economic opportunities. Beyond learning through practical experiences, literacy is crucial to accessing new skills. In South Africa, literacy rates are lagging behind those of the rest of the world – with some reports suggesting that 6.8% fewer girls in South Africa can read at levels comparable to their global peers. Reading broadens the mind by introducing readers to situations and contexts they might not encounter daily, nurturing critical reasoning, and creating learning opportunities. Writing complements this by giving individuals a platform to articulate and document their unique viewpoints, strengthening their voice and influence. It is fitting that organisations like the Fundza Literacy Trust understand the power of reading…

THE US is worried about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. It has embarked on a project to build a port in Gaza so ships can take emergency supplies of food and medical aid to the thousands of starving Gazans trapped by the ruthless Israelites. Doesn’t matter the God-fearing Israelis are merciless against the women and children for there’s always big-hearted Uncle Sam who is ever willing and ready to give a helping hand. He’s so kind-hearted, caring and generous. Strangely, it’s the same big-hearted uncle who vetoed a UN resolution condemning the Israeli government for the killings and asking for an immediate end to the war. Worse still, it’s the same superpower which, without an iota of conscience, supplies the Israelis with all the killing machines to carry out the…

Did you know that South Africa has 1 794 registered political parties? Some 1 414 of them are registered at the municipal level, while 380 are recognised nationally. Does this promote democracy, or merely confuse the voters, while at the same time flattering the vanity of hundreds of one-man band leaders, their dogs and their mothers? Potentially, we could have all the established parties plus several hundred others plus independent candidates on the ballot paper. A two- or three-page ballot paper would, without doubt, confuse many voters and slow down both voting and the eventual counting of ballots. Fortunately, there are some requirements that independents and parties with no representatives in Parliament or the provincial legislatures must meet. Independents must obtain 1 000 signatures before being allowed to contest the…

Haiti’s unelected prime minister, Ariel Henry, will step down once a transition council and temporary replacement have been appointed, he said this week, after leading the Caribbean country since the 2021 assassination of its last president. Armed gangs massively grew their wealth, influence and territory under his administration, prompting Henry to travel to Kenya in late February to secure its support for a UN-backed security mission to help police. However, the conflict dramatically escalated in his absence and left the 74-year-old neurosurgeon stranded in the US territory of Puerto Rico while regional leaders called for a swift transition. “The government that I am leading will resign immediately after the installation of (a transition) council,” Henry said in a late night video address. “I want to thank the Haitian people…

Atletico Madrid host Champions League runners-up Inter Milan on Wednesday are boosted by key player Antoine Griezmann's likely return from injury. Diego Simeone's side stumbled 1-0 in Milan in February in the last 16 first leg clash, with Griezmann spraining his ankle at the San Siro. The French forward missed four games since, of which Atletico won only once; but returned to training and Spanish media say he is set to feature in the second leg. Struggling Atletico face an uphill climb against the runaway Serie A leaders after Marko Arnautovic netted the only goal on Simeone's return to Italy to face one of his former teams from his playing days. The Rojiblancos also have Spanish champions Barcelona's visit on the horizon on Sunday in La Liga, where Athletic…

It seems like hanging out with Oprah Winfrey wasn’t just a casual holiday fling after all! Back in December, the internet buzzed with excitement as Nomzamo Mbatha was spotted rubbing shoulders with the queen of talk shows. And now she’s back in the limelight, shining brighter than before and Mzansi couldn’t be more proud. The multi-talented businesswoman and actress, who sealed the deal with the Creative Artists Agency in 2020, has been on a meteoric rise since September 2022. That’s when she landed the lead role in the much-anticipated series Shaka iLembe, which premiered on Mzansi Magic in June 2023. Not content with just acting, Mbatha also wore the hat of executive producer, proving she’s a force to be reckoned with in the industry. Fast-forward to 2024 and Mbatha…

THE brothers implicated in the murders of Kiernan “AKA” Forbes and Tebello Motsoane – Siyabonga and Malusi Ndimande – will not be brought back to South Africa just yet, as the country has yet to file an application for their extradition from Eswatini. The State was reportedly expected to file a formal application yesterday to have the two brought back to South Africa. The Manzini Magistrate’s Court in Eswatini heard yesterday that no application had been received. The brothers were arrested in Mbabane, Eswatini, last month for their alleged involvement in the February 2023 murders. They face charges of murder, attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder. They were also implicated in the murders of Mntimande Kunene, Nhlanhla Ngcobo and Zamokuhle Mkhwanazi-Ngcobo. At their court appearance last week, State Prosecutor…

THE Bo-Kaap Neighbourhood Watch said it would continue to conduct walking patrols in the area during the month of Ramadaan, as it urged visitors to be vigilant when attending mosques in the area. Neighbourhood Watch chairperson, Ebrahiem Christian, said there were no previous reports of car break-ins during prayer times, but they still wanted to raise awareness around the possibility. “It is not patrols per say, as this is a spiritual month, but Bo-Kaap Neighbourhood Watch guys will be doing routine checks. “We walk around and check for any unfamiliar faces and we speak to the car guards to see if any suspicious guys are walking around. “On Monday we did a route check, with the two guys who park the cars right through the day.” Drivers who parked…

THE SOWETO Derby was good but referee Jelly Chavani spoilt it. He made a lot of mistakes during the game. On two occasions, Orlando Pirates players were fouled in the penalty area of Kaizer Chiefs but Chivani did not award a penalty to Orlando Pirates. Yusuf Maart should have received a red card after he dangerously tackled Monnapule Saleng, but he was given a yellow card. It was not the first mistake Chivani made through performing poorly when handling a big game. In the 2021/22 PSL season in a game between Kaizer Chiefs and AmaZulu in Durban, Chivani incorrectly awarded a penalty to Chiefs. The question we are now asking as soccer fans is why do Chivani’s mistakes always benefit one team? We are not saying referees must be 100%…

Is the Energy Action Plan a newfound privatisation scheme? What stoked my apprehension is Adil Nchabeleng’s column “Ramokgopa, to err is to be human, but tomorrow can you ensure there is light?” (“BR” Energy, March 6). Nchabeleng revealed that the European-based vision generation benefit (VGBe) consortium’s report was reduced to the unmentionable. If indeed a base load power plant can run indefinitely, then why is the government resorting to decommissioning or shutting down coal-fired stations in the midst of load shedding? Nchabeleng shed light on the solution for the rolling blackouts crippling the economy: invest in the generation capacity of coal-based resources as well as rebuilding and overhauling Eskom power plants. That’s cost-effective with considerations for the long-term base load capacity. The Just Energy Transition harbingers seem convinced of the…

The SANDF, which is part of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), suffered its first casualties last month with the death of two soldiers and the injury of three others in a mortar bomb attack. Critics have said that the SANDF is not in the DRC to protect the Congolese or fight rebel groups like M23. They say this is a nefarious operation in which SADC forces have been deployed to fight Congolese citizens. An unnamed South African legislator has reportedly said the South African troops were sent to the DRC to protect mines “so that Cyril Ramaphosa and his cronies could plunder the minerals in the east of the country with ease”. What is more, the SADC seems to be…

Beuran Hendricks believes Western Province will still have enough firepower to overcome North West Dragons in their CSA T20 Challenge clash at Newlands today, despite the loss of star fast bowler Nandre Burger. The Proteas southpaw has been sensational for WP in their first two matches, but will not be available for the rest of the CSA T20 Challenge after leaving to join the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL yesterday. Hendricks, in particular, will miss his new-ball partner with the duo having wreaked havoc all season. Province, however, are in a fortunate position in that they have T20 globetrotter Wayne Parnell back in their ranks, while all-rounder George Linde is also set to return to the squad after a stint in the Pakistan Super League. “Nandre is a massive loss.…

SUSPECTED ATM scammers who targeted a German tourist in the CBD have been busted thanks to a collaboration between law enforcement officers and the Central City Improvement District (CCID). Mayco member for safety and security JP Smith said the dramatic arrest saw the suspects crash into a CCID vehicle in their attempts to escape on Saturday. A common modus operandi by the scammers was to dress up in fake uniforms and tell tourists they needed a permit to walk on a certain street in Cape Town, soliciting a card payment. Smith said as word spread about the German tourist who was scammed, members from the mayoral project and law enforcement responded along with the CCID. “The vehicle used in the getaway was quickly identified and a high-speed chase ensued, with…

AS THE suspects charged with the kidnapping of 6-year-old Joshlin Smith were expected to make their second court appearance today, Police Minister Bheki Cele said young girls in the Western Cape were at constant risk of violent attacks. Joshlin disappeared two days after 15-year-old Ongeziwe Kamlana was reported missing in Gugulethu on February 17. Ongeziwe’s charred remains were found in a burnt shack in Kuils River the following day. She had been burnt beyond recognition and DNA testing had to be used for identification. Her alleged killer is out on R1 000 bail. Smith disappeared from her Saldanha Bay home in Diazville on February 19. Her mother, Kelly, Jacquen Appollis, Stevano van Rhyn, and Phumza Sigaqa were arrested for human trafficking and kidnapping, and were expected to appear in the…

THE hall of the Western Cape College of Nursing was bursting at the seams yesterday, as over 300 students from various programmes were welcomed, and in particular, the first cohort of Postgraduate Diploma nursing students. Health and Wellness MEC Nomafrench Mbombo joined the welcoming at the Athlone Campus yesterday. The college previously offered the programmes at a NQF level 7, however, it is the first time it is being registered at a NQF level 8. From Montana, Kaye Freeman, 19, a first-year student in the Higher Certificate in Auxiliary Nursing programme, said: “I have a passion for nursing. I’ve always wanted to help people and care for them. The Western Cape College of Nursing campus was one of the top nursing colleges in the province. I was nervous in the…

HOW I wish more citizens called a spade a spade in this country, like Harry Sewlall. In Independent Media on March 8, he obviously did not care whether he was labelled a racist for his comments, and he is to be applauded for that because, unless we call a spade a spade, nothing will ever be corrected in the country. It is not easy to answer the question he poses as to whether black governments are unfit to rule: our government, like others in the continent, is fast failing. They all pursue the same illogical ideology even if it has failed all other liberation movements in countries that gained independence decades ago. Take for instance the National Health Insurance. Despite all the arguments raised cautioning the government against the project…

Global leaders are playing a deadly game of nuclear Russian roulette with their utterances on the terrifying conflicts now raging across the world. Senile Joe Biden, brash Emmanuel Macron, reckless Vladimir Putin, deranged Kim Jong-un, dreamer Xi Ping and lunatic Benjamin Netanyahu have crossed the threshold of global tolerance. Fascism has revealed its ugly face in many parts of the globe, many international leaders strut the world stage as advocates of peace and democracy, but beneath the veneer lurks the monster of religious supremacy, racial hatred and a plethora of deadly prejudices. These monsters in democratic garb are prepared to incinerate mankind in an orgy of destruction unparalleled in human history. We are in a comatose state as demagogues fine-tune their weapons of war for the ultimate and final battle.…

2024 CAN BE 1994 for first-time voters and the majority of old dogs who are despondent and have given up on casting their votes and making their voice heard. The establishment of the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party has re-ignited the feeling of hope and thrilled many despairing South Africans who decided to boycott the 2019 national and the 2021 local elections. Many older people came out and pledged their support for the MK Party since former ANC president Jacob Zuma’s announcement on December 16, 2023, that he would no longer be voting nor campaigning for the ruling party, but would be campaigning for the MK Party. This has been seen by your traditional ANC loyalist in the form of pensioners from Limpopo to Vaal who stood firm in their support…

Should Siya Kolisi continue as Springbok captain? That is the difficult question coach Rassie Erasmus is pondering at the moment – and he doesn’t have an answer yet. Kolisi is an icon in world rugby after leading the Boks to back-to-back Rugby World Cup titles in 2019 and 2023. But following last year’s triumph in France, Kolisi joined Racing 92 in Paris, and will be playing his club rugby in Europe for the next three years. The 32-year-old has earned 83 Test caps and is the undoubted leader of the South African team. Although he is not a big talker, Kolisi is not shy to ask for help from his teammates in the heat of battle, and his humility on and off the pitch – as well as his extraordinary…