Innholdsfortegnelse for 2022-01-12 i Cape Argus

Banele Ginindza banele.ginindza@inl.co.za E-commerce buying, helped along by lockdown restrictions in 2020 to become a more than R30 billion industry, needs honing in the current year to scale new heights. Major improvements likely to catapult online-buying forward include more payment options, augmented reality (AR), environmental concerns, the introduction of voice search to e-commerce platforms, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), which are expected to play an even bigger role than they have already. In a note yesterday, Bidorbuy marketing manager Anne-Marie Green said more than R30 bn in online sales was recorded in 2020, driven in the main by Covid-19 lockdowns that moved people away from traditional in-store purchasing. “The pandemic has already transformed the shopping habits of South Africans, and its future trajectory will directly impact on e-commerce…

Shakirah Thebus shakirah.thebus@inl.co.za THIRTY-ONE people were injured in a multi-vehicle collision in Athlone yesterday morning. ER24 spokesperson Russel Meiring said two taxis and a car collided on the N2 near Jan Smuts Drive. Emergency medical services arrived at 7.20am and found two taxis and a car parked on the side of the road and the passengers seated nearby. “Medics assessed the patients and found that 31 people had sustained minor to moderate injuries. Fortunately, no serious injuries or fatalities were found,” Meiring said. Patients were treated on the scene and taken to nearby hospitals for further care. Several others were transported privately to nearby hospitals, he said. “The details surrounding this incident are unknown, but local authorities were on the scene for further investigations,” Meiring said. Police spokesperson Frederick Van…

Sisonke Mlamla sisonke.mlamla@inl.co.za WESTERN Cape Police have exclusively released a list of their top 10 most wanted suspects to the Cape Argus. The nine men, and one woman, are wanted for a range of offences including murder, rape, business robbery and being in the possession of unlicensed firearms. The suspects, classed as “high harm”, are being sought for serious crimes. They are: Malibekho Boqwana, 31, wanted for murders perpetrated in Milnerton during October and December 2019; Thembalethu Taleni, 40, wanted for a murder perpetrated in Kraaifontein during December 2017. Sindile Mkentani, 39, wanted for a murder perpetrated in Kraaifontein during November 2014; Duran Williams, 29, wanted for a murder perpetrated in Lentegeur during February 2017; Rowan Fortuin, 26, wanted for a murder perpetrated in Kraaifontein during September 2017. Cecil Sithole,…

PRESIDENT Ramaphosa had a Cabinet reshuffle ostensibly to cut down on Cabinet members. In this reshuffle the Department of Labour had another function added to it. The idea was to add the word “employment” to ensure that the department would concentrate on creating an environment for job creation. It appeared that at last government had recognised that since 1994 employment had dwindled and that the environment in South Africa had not been conducive to job creation. At the time of the reshuffle, almost 5 million were unemployed. The idea was to look at the economics of job creation and to see what government could do to turn the tide. Since that name change we have seen no evidence whatsoever of job creation or a change of the…

The Communist Party of South Africa was formed in July 1921. To mark its centenary last year, renowned South African historian Tom Lodge published Red Road to Freedom: A history of the South African Communist Party, 1921-2021. It is a welcome addition to the literature about the oldest communist party in Africa. Most of the existing literature on the party is about its early history until 1950. In the last two decades, a number of publications about the party or leading members appeared. But policy analysis and exegesis are in most instances largely absent. A good example is what the party meant by “colonialism of a special type” – still a major ideological pillar of the party. But its ideological and strategic implications are not explored. This includes explaining how…

Edward West edward.west@inl.co.za PROPERTY market fireworks don’t appear on the cards this year, but the industrial property market is expected to remain firm, the residential rental market is likely to turn for the better, while the Western Cape could see a new surge in “semigrants”. This is according to John Loos, property sector strategist at FNB Commercial, who yesterday outlined key themes for the property market in 2022. He said the rising trend in the All Property Vacancy Rate was expected to continue in 2022, moving into double digits, with expectations of an improved GDP level insufficient to stall this trend as yet. The MSCI’s All Commercial Property Vacancy Rate has been on a multi- year rising trend, from 4.3 percent in the second half of 2015 to 9.7 percent…

Mwangi Githahu mwangi.githahu@inl.co.za OVERTIME pay has been approved for six Master of the Supreme Court offices across the country in a bid to address the backlogs which were worsened by the recent ransomware attack on the Justice Department’s information and communication technology systems. Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola wrote this in a parliamentary response to the DA’s justice and constitutional development spokesperson, Glynnis Breytenbach. She had written to the minister to ask for the details of the steps his department was taking to attend to the backlog of matters at the Masters offices. Lamola said it was difficult to ascertain the exact backlog because many of the clients were walk-ins who could not be assisted when the systems, but that since the systems were restored, officials were doing…

Nomalanga Tshuma nomalanga.tshuma@inl.co.za ABOUT 4 000 Eskom customers in Khayelitsha, Macassar and Harare were left in the dark after vandals torched and destroyed essential power lines. The households were left without power for up to two days while Eskom technicians repaired the vandalised infrastructure. Eskom spokesperson Kyle Cookson said: “About 4 000 Eskom customers in Khayelitsha were without electricity supply for the greater part of Sunday and Monday due to a cable fault. Our operators were on site digging trenches today (yesterday) and will commence with repairs to the damaged infrastructure.” Several communities across the city are battling with cable theft which often leaves consumers without power. Khayelitsha CPF secretary Phindile George said: “Yesterday several households between Khayelitsha and Macassar were without electricity due to cable theft, one…

Rafieka Williams rafieka.williams@inl.co.za Zandile Mafe, the man charged with starting a fire which gutted the two houses of Parliament, has gone on a hunger strike. This comes after the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court ruled that he be referred to the Valkenberg Psychiatric Hospital for observation. For his second court appearance, the State amended the charges against him from “damaging or destroying essential infrastructure” to charges related to terrorism – a Schedule 6 offence. In addition he has been charged with two counts of arson and two counts of housebreaking with intent to steal, and theft. He has also been charged with discharging explosives. According to public prosecutor Helene Booysen, Mafe’s evaluation at Valkenberg will determine whether he has the mental capacity to stand trial. This is after a district surgeon…

FAROUK ARAIE | GAUTENG THE fire that almost consumed Parliament bears an uncanny resemblance to the one that engulfed the German Reichstag on February 27, 1933. That event increased the popularity of the Nazis who were lagging at 33%. The ANC’s popularity is at its lowest at 46% since the advent of our democracy. Many aspects of the fire defy logic and a rational explanation of the chain of events. What followed could be classified as a comedy of errors or it could be an enactment of a sophisticated conspiracy to strike at the heart of our parliamentary democracy. If it involves a conspiracy, then multiple factors and players are undoubtedy involved. The message is sinister and clear – any attempt to dislodge the ANC will be…

I wish all readers of the Cape Argus in particular, and the country in general, all that is good and wholesome and empowering for the year so that we may at least slow down our descent into Third World status. Sensitive readers will be aware of the irony embedded in that opening sentence. The civilised world has been warned often enough that those who forget their past are destined to repeat it. That is a dire admonition for us to take stock and prevent the catastrophe towards which we are headed. On home grounds, the most pressing matter continues to be the Covid pandemic that shows no signs of abating, followed closely by the response to the Zondo report. I am not positing new year resolutions. I am suggesting a…

The US and Russia remained deadlocked after crisis talks this week over Moscow’s desire to block any future Nato expansion to the east, but officials agreed to continue discussions on other high-stakes security issues that the Biden administration hopes can avert another invasion of Ukraine. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman said US negotiators put forward suggestions related to the scope of American military exercises and the placement of US missiles in Europe, cautioning that the bilateral discussion in Geneva, the first of a series of talks this week on Russia’s military build-up around Ukraine, was only the start of a potentially lengthy process. “We were firm, however, in pushing back on security proposals that are simply non-starters for the US,” she said after the seven-hour meeting. “We will not…

MANY moons ago, the Proteas could field three outstanding all-rounders in their Test team: Jacques Kallis, Shaun Pollock and Lance Klusener. While the latter two were both bowling all-rounders, they were good enough with the bat to score centuries. Pollock and Klusener contributed a number of half-centuries too, and were able to play to what the situation required – blazing strokes to set up a lead or unsettle the bowling, or to be patient to take the sting out of the opposition’s attack. Very few cricketers can compare with ‘King Kallis’, who was one of the finest batters in the world, and was also an outstanding slip fielder. As a bowler, Kallis was capable of bowling a ‘heavy ball’ that rushed on to batters quicker than expected, and was also…

Johann van Niekerk THE Covid pandemic’s various mutations, each hitting countries with different strengths and symptoms, have triggered a “Great Resignation” in its wake, as people re-evaluate their lives and opt for a different future of employment. The Great Resignation will come in various formats, with the South African variant more of a “Great Reset” affecting a small number of highly skilled and experienced workers; but they are the ones who keep our companies and economy going. Denialists claim South Africa is immune to this outbreak in the working world because our crippling unemployment rate means people are afraid to quit their jobs. But just as with Covid itself, no population is immune. The shift has already begun, with numerous industries losing key professionals who are confident there is enough…

Bang Showbiz Netflix have announced that the Kanye West documentary jeen-Yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy will premiere on 16 February. The streaming service has described the film as a “once in a lifetime three-week global event” and it will chronicle the entirety of the rapper’s colourful and at times controversial career. “Act 1” of the series will also be released in cinemas on 10 February and will feature never-before seen footage of Kanye in the studio and performing. The film is directed by Coodie and Chike, who are responsible for many of West’s music videos including Jesus Walks and Through the Wire. A newly released trailer for the documentary shows Kanye in the studio back in 2002 embroiled in an argument about whether he is a genius or not. The teaser…

Nomalanga Tshuma nomalanga.tshuma@inl.co.za POLICE arrested several suspects yesterday for crimes including housebreaking, kidnapping and the possession of illegal firearms and ammunition. In Khayelitsha, City Law Enforcement Advanced Plan (Leap) officers rescued two men who had been kidnapped by unidentified suspects in Endlovini early yesterday morning. Law enforcement spokesperson Wayne Dyson said: “Officers were on patrol in Kuyasa, Khayelitsha, when they spotted a white car travelling at high speed.” When pursued, two men abandoned the car and fled. In the boot, officers found two bound and gagged people who had been abducted from an Endlovini shop. The pair would not lay charges. In De Doorns, police arrested four armed robbers while a fifth suspect died when his getaway vehicle overturned in Paarl during a high-speed chase by police. Police spokesperson FC…

Sisonke Mlamla sisonke.mlamla@inl.co.za EDUCATION activists say the Department of Basic Education (DBE) is not ready for the reopening of schools next week because many learners have still not been placed. Education activist Hendrick Makaneta said the placement of all learners was key if they were to talk about the state of readiness in the terrain of Basic Education. “We have noted that there are many learners who have yet to be placed, particularly in Gauteng and Western Cape provinces. The problem recurs every year, hence the department was called on to review the current application system with a view to make improvements,” Makaneta said. This comes after Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga held a media briefing on the state of readiness for the opening of schools for the 2022 school…

Sinazo Alungile Novukela | Lugangeni Location, Mount Frere PENETRATING the market as a subsistence or rural farmer is difficult, yet not impossible. It is difficult because the commercial markets come with a lot of demands that rural farmers are often not skilled to achieve. Before a rural farmer plants, they should have identified the type of market they want to supply, know the requisite good agricultural practices of the market, and have relations with role players in the market one wants to supply after harvesting. Culturally, rural farmers in the Eastern Cape, for example, plant maize in abundance because maize is also its staple food. Throughout the summer into autumn, fields are brimming with maize that would be in surplus supply because it cannot be consumed by subsistence…

Peter Bachtis | Benoni I RECENTLY read a post which read “When God blesses you financially, don’t raise your standard of living … raise your standard of giving”. In these turbulent times of financial uncertainty, and a world where despondency, depression and anger have set in, it is incumbent on those who have been graced with material wealth to consider those less fortunate. There are so many. Giving does not come easily to some yet a moment of quiet meditation will no doubt give a perspective that will help make that difficult transition in becoming a giving human being without expecting anything in return. Once all is said and done, our time on Earth is over in the blink of an eye and we take nothing material with…

Eshlin Vedan eshlin.vedan@inl.co.za FORMER Kaizer Chiefs and Bafana Bafana star Siphiwe Tshabalala is not planning to retire from football, according to his agent Jazzman Mahlakgane. The 37-year-old spent last season on the books of AmaZulu FC. However, he was used sparingly by the Durban-based club, and it was unsurprising that coach Benni McCarthy’s side opted to release him at the end of last season. The fact that the veteran has remained without a team since has led to speculation that he has retired. Mahlakgane, however, is adamant that Tshabalala still wants to play professionally. “He has not retired. I don’t want to start any conversations about Tshabalala at the moment because I might get distracted, as we are currently busy working on something for him,” Mahlakgane is reported to have…