Innholdsfortegnelse for CA-2021-04-14 i Cape Argus

Philippa Larkin philippa.larkin@inl.co.za INNOVATION and environment are the two key factors that helped Cape Town boost its position to 438 in the 2020 Schroders Global Cities Index, 20 places higher since the publication of the 2019 index. About 900 cities make up the index. The improved ranking was the result of a significant increase in Cape Town’s innovation score from 4.3 to 5.3 points and a strong environmental score of 7 points, Schroders said yesterday in a statement detailing how the Mother City improved its scores. London was first, followed by San Francisco and Boston. The Schroders Global Cities Index is based on four metrics called impact scores: economic, environmental, innovation and transport. Hugo Machin, the portfolio manager and co-head of global cities at Schroders, said: “The Covid-19…

Mwangi Githahu mwangi.githahu@inl.co.za Communicare tenant beneficiaries have written to Human Settlements Minister Lindiwe Sisulu begging her to prevent Communicare from accessing the R600 million Covid-19 rent relief. R300m of the total has been allocated for the Residential Rent Relief Programme (RRRP) to support social housing institutions. The request comes a week after the beneficiaries and Communicare endorsed a petition raised by social justice group Ndifuna Ukwazi, and a number of civil society organisations, urging Sisulu to release the rent relief monies. Beneficiaries spokesperson Neville Petersen said: “Communicare did not assist our tenant beneficiaries during the pandemic. Instead, tenants were offered a three-month holiday period, which had to be paid back with interest. Tenants are now faced with rent arrears and court summonses for evictions. “We are calling on Minister…

Shakirah Thebus shakirah.thebus@inl.co.za THE South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) said it had finalised 37 900 Temporary Disability Grant (TDG) medical assessments in the Western Cape, exceeding the number of appointments booked. This follows the lagging of medical reassessments causing the delay in the renewal of TDG. As a result, long queues could be seen at Sassa offices, with the elderly and sick queuing overnight in an attempt to be seen to. Around 35 332 appointments were made for medical assessments, with 37 900 completed by March 31. After the countrywide lockdown, all lapsed TDG grants were extended until the end of December 2020. The grants were extended to assist those who were unable to reapply and to provide financial respite during the lockdown period. The grant is…

Zainul Dawood zainul.dawood@inl.co.za A GROUP of business forums were concerned that the change of portfolio for Water and Sanitation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu could jeopardise the water supply to the Greater Vaal Region. The Golden Triangle Chamber of Commerce, the National African Federated Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Nafcoc) and Sedibeng Business Forum, representing business in townships and towns within the Greater Vaal region, wrote to President Cyril Ramaphosa. Golden Triangle chamber vice-president, Klippies Kritzinger, said they had a major concern that Sisulu could soon be removed from her position. “Billions of rand worth of projects on hold due to the inadequate and dysfunctional wastewater infrastructure within Emfuleni” Kritzinger said. He said they had made many attempts to rectify this including using service providers such as Rand Water, the SANDF and…

Ruth Maforimbo THE Department of Labou has appointed forensic auditors to verify companies’ Temporary Employer and Employee Relief Scheme (Ters) claims. Ters was part of the government’s Covid-19 relief scheme, which made available about R65 billion for payments to millions of workers. Companies that have received money may be selected for audit. The auditors will perform investigations and examine the authenticity of the claims, analyse the financial records of employers as well as verify whether the money received was accurately paid over to the qualifying employees. Audits began in December last year and are expected to be completed within six months. Many companies have already been audited or are now being audited. Companies that applied for and are recipients of the Ters must have the required information available should…

Mwangi Githahu mwangi.githahu@inl.co.za THE Western Cape Water Supply System (WCWSS), which comprises the six largest dams in the province, has declined by 1.6% since last week, according to the current hydrological report from the national Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS). DWS spokesperson Sputnik Ratau said: “The bulk of Western Cape dams are generally better off than in the past three years.” “Nevertheless, the Gouritz River catchment system is still in a dire state, characterised by low dam levels for the past five years. More rains are required to recharge dam levels significantly in this region.” Ratau said the Theewaterskloof Dam, the largest dam in the province, was enjoying a better yield, currently at over 70%. He said this was directly related to collaborative water conservation efforts coupled with…

Nomalanga Tshuma nomalanga.tshuma@inl.co.za COMMUNITY leaders are calling on the City to clarify its position on providing emergency disaster relief kits to fire victims. This after the City said in a statement that it had rebuilt more than 800 shacks for Masiphumelele fire victims who lost their homes in a fire in December last year. ANC provincial spokesperson on finance and economic opportunities, Nomi Nkondlo accused the City of being disingenuous by initially stating it had no funds to assist fire victims left destitute. Delft community leader Dineo Masui said that currently, 11 families were struggling to rebuild their lives after their homes burned down. Masui said while she wanted to assist the families, she had hit a stumbling block as the City had told her it had no…

Mthuthuzeli Ntseku mthuthuzeli.ntseku@inl.co.za HIGH rates of unemployment which lead to drug and alcohol abuse, lack of income and teenage pregnancy are some of the challenges facing young people. This was the message of a youth dialogue held in Gugulethu yesterday. The dialogue, themed “Help The Future of Tomorrow”, was hosted by Ilitha Labantu, a platform on which young people can engage in discussions about the challenges they confront in society. Ilitha Labantu spokesperson Siyabulele Monkali said the programme hoped to create a greater sense of engagement around the social issues that faced young people. Participant Wam Mqela said young people growing up in townships faced experiences that were hindering them from becoming better citizens. “Challenges that the youth of Gugulethu are facing will mostly be the fact that they…

Stuart Hess stuart.hess@inl.co.za Before the start of the T20 series against Pakistan, stand-in Proteas captain Heinrich Klaasen talked about the home team playing a “positive brand” of cricket with a “street-wise” element built into it. The second half wasn’t a reference to the sponsors, but rather to the way he wanted the players to think on their feet. As for the entire concept, Klaasen couldn’t expand on it, other than to say it’s what full-time skipper Temba Bavuma wanted, and that the players had bought into that style. The batting has very clearly reflected that positive intent. In both matches at the Wanderers, the Proteas have rocketed along at a scoring rate of 10 an over in the first half of their innings. In fact, they took that run rate…

Morgan Bolton morgan.bolton@inl.co.za The aim of the game is to ensure that when the British and Irish Lions do roll in to South Africa later this year, Elton Jantjies will be his best self for the Springboks. Yesterday, the Lions Rugby Company announced that the team's skipper and stalwart flyhalf will be heading off to France to play for Top 14 club Pau as a “medical joker”. The transfer is not a permanent one but rather to afford Jantjies an opportunity to reach peak match fitness for when the touring Lions do eventually invade these shores for a three-match Test series against the Springboks, still scheduled to start in mid-July. As explained by Jantjies in an interview with Independent Media yesterday, the deal starts with immediate effect, and was taken…

Zaahier Adams zaahier.adams@inl.co.za CAPE Town City’s star Dutch goalkeeper Peter Leeuwenburgh is being lined up for a return to his homeland, but will complete the current Premiership season in South Africa first. The 27-year-old, who is in possession of a two-year contract at City, will reportedly join Eredivisie side FC Groningen shortly. Independent Media, however, understands that Leeuwenburgh will play the remaining nine matches of the season for the Citizens. Leeuwenburgh has been City’s first-choice keeper since arriving at the club in 2018 and instantly became a hero in the same year when he brilliantly saved two penalties in the MTN8 final penalty shootout win against SuperSport United. His consistent performances between the sticks for City has even prompted talk that he could switch national allegiances to SA. FC Groningen…

Kelly-Jane Turner African News Agency (ANA) The Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine roll-out in South Africa has been temporarily suspended. This comes after six women in the US, between the ages of 18 and 48, developed a rare blood-clotting disorder after getting the vaccine. One case was fatal and one woman remains in critical care. Health Minister Zweli Mkhize made the announcement during a media briefing last night that the roll-out part of the Sisonke Implementation study would be halted. Mkhize's announcement comes after the US Centers for Disease Control, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended a pause in the issuing of the vaccine over “potentially dangerous” blood- clotting concerns. The FDA said it would investigate these cases, however, until the process was completed, it has recommended…

Nomalanga Tshuma nomalanga.tshuma@inl.co.za WESTERN Cape acting provincial commissioner Thembisile Patekile, has welcomed the sentencing of two Elsies River murderers who were sentenced in the Goodwood Magistrate’s Court for the killing of mother-of-four, Loretta Rubain. Johan Goliath and Jonathan Solomons were sentenced to seven and 25 years’ direct imprisonment on Friday, Police spokesperson FC van Wyk said. Rubain was gunned down in 2019 by gangsters who tried to extort money from her. Police said the 42-year-old, who lived in Springbok Place flats, Elsies River, was called to the front door by an unknown person where she was shot twice in the chest and died instantly. Rubain had recently been paid R2.6 million in a settlement after her four-year-old daughter was run over by two cars, leaving her disabled. Gangsters wanted…

The High Court in Mpumalanga, sitting in Middelburg, has sentenced 50-year-old Jan Lepapiki Mafa from Kloporo near Siyabuswa to 25 years’ imprisonment after he was convicted of killing his ex-girlfriend, Mapula Moremi. National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in Mpumalanga Monica Nyuswa said the murder happened in September 2019 in full view of Moremi’s grandchildren. “Mafa and Moremi were in an intimate relationship since 2004. At a certain stage, Mafa left Moremi and when he returned he demanded the relationship to continue as normal. Moremi objected,” said Nyuswa. “On the day of the incident, Mafa went to the house where Moremi was residing in Mdutjana and found her two grandchildren and her friend.” Mafa instructed Moremi to leave with him, but she refused. |…

Samkelo Mtshali FORMER SAA board chairperson Dudu Myeni is playing her cards close to her chest with her next move remaining a closely guarded secret, this after the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) dismissed her application for leave to appeal against her delinquency verdict with costs. Myeni turned to the SCA after the Pretoria High Court in February dismissed her attempts to appeal the enforcement of the delinquency order that was brought against her by public purse watchdog the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) and the SAA Pilots’ Association (Saapa) in March 2017. In the SCA’s ruling dismissing Myeni’s application, Justices Mahomed Navsa and Thokozile Mbatha said that her appeal was dismissed with costs on the grounds that there was no reasonable prospect of success in an appeal, and…

Kailene Pillay kailene.pillay@inl.co.za As the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture is expected to detail when it will officially issue summons to Norma Mngoma, speculation remains as to why she has chosen to refrain from giving testimony before the commission. The estranged wife of former finance minister Malusi Gigaba was yesterday expected to spill the beans on her husband’s alleged visits to the Gupta Saxonwold compound during his time in high-ranking ministerial positions, but pulled out at the 11th hour. Mngoma said she had “personal concerns with how various aspects regarding her proposed appearance at the commission is being handled, or allegedly mishandled, by the commission”. However, Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo indicated that she would have no option but to appear. Justice Zondo authorised a summons to be issued…

IT IS good news to see that the Covid-19 spread seems, for now, to be reasonably contained. Many hospitals are reporting that they have no new admissions. This good news tends to lead to many people letting down their guard. We are starting to notice crowds of people, with many not wearing their masks or practising physical distancing. People have to understand that Covid-19 has not gone away. It will be with us for many months. Businesses are urged to once again warn their staff that the protocols are very much in place and the breach of the Covid-19 rules and regulations will lead to the spread of the infection and, almost inevitably, disciplinary action. I am involved in no less than a dozen cases where employers have reported and…

Lizle Louw, Shane Johnson and Justin de Wet The Labour Appeal Court (LAC) recently confirmed that it is fair to dismiss employees who carry weapons during a strike and that employers can reasonably expect employees to know that having dangerous weapons at work (or during a strike) is unacceptable and a dismissible offence. The dismissed employees were Numsa members employed by Pailpac (Pty) Ltd (Pailpac), who participated in a protected strike, during which they carried weapons (sticks, PVC rods, sjamboks, and golf clubs). They were charged for "brandishing and wielding weapons during a strike". The employees referred an unfair dismissal dispute to the Metal and Engineering Industry Bargaining Council (MEIBC) for arbitration, where their dismissals were found to be unfair. Pailpac applied to the Labour Court to review the arbitration…

Nomalanga Tshuma nomalanga.tshuma@inl.co.za A GROUP of Elsies River youth who started a non-profit organisation that plants vegetables and maintains veggie gardens in local communities are appealing to the public to support their dream of expanding the initiative. The project, by Geronimo de Klerk, is called Feed The Future For Life, and was launched in April 2020 in response to food insecurity in local communities highlighted by the Covid-19 pandemic. De Klerk said the gardens project hoped to support impoverished communities by affording them a self- sustainable option to keep feeding and providing for the less privileged. De Klerk said that while he had initially been inspired to start the veggie garden as a means to support local soup kitchens struggling to feed the less fortunate in his community when…

Kristin Engel kristin.engel@inl.co.za SPEAKER in the legislature Masizole Mnqasela, and NGOs Youth4Life SA and Samaritan’s Feet SA, have partnered in the Shoes for Hope programme to distribute 600 pairs of school shoes to disadvantaged learners from schools in Durbanville, Bishop Lavis, Philippi, Lotus River, Mfuleni and Gugulethu. Distribution started on April 13 and ends tomorrow. The Shoes for Hope programme, started in 2020, has sponsored over two thousand pairs of school shoes, handed to children at crèches and primary and high schools across the province. The impact of Covid-19 has resulted in most households losing an income, and basic necessities, like school shoes, have become unaffordable in poorer communities. The programme thus assists learners from these communities. Mnqasela said after the positive response the programme had received, they were putting…

Ashfak Mohamed ashfak.mohamed@inl.co.za THE first step in ensuring the Rainbow Cup does take place in full was taken yesterday with the confirmation that the opening three rounds will go ahead as scheduled. The Stormers and Sharks will kick off the tournament at Cape Town Stadium next Friday, while the Bulls take on the Lions at Loftus Versfeld a day later. The rest of the opening weekend is filled with local derbies in Wales and Ireland, while there are two cross-country matches – Edinburgh against Zebre and Benetton against Glasgow Warriors. Allowing the South African teams to play the overseas games from rounds four to six is the major bone of contention at the moment. SA Rugby president Mark Alexander told Independent Media this week that while “no one has cancelled…

For the past five years, general reaction to nearly any British royal happening has been to wonder how The Crown would choose to tackle it on-screen. Such has been the impact of the show on curious American viewers, many of whom only had a passing familiarity with the Windsor family before creator Peter Morgan devised his own version of the royals to present to them. So for a certain subset of Americans, the Prince Philip they were best acquainted with might have been the character from a popular Netflix series - granting the dramatisation an outsized influence on his legacy this side of the Atlantic. From Matt Smith's pouting newlywed to Tobias Menzies' bitterly sidelined husband, fictionalised takes on the Duke of Edinburgh, who died Friday at 99, lent depth…

Sisonke Mlamla sisonke.mlamla@inl.co.za A METRORAIL security guard was injured and taken to N1 City Hospital after a train travelling from Kraaifontein to Cape Town caught fire. Metrorail spokesperson Zino Mihi said the company suspected an electrical fault was behind the fire, which occurred on Monday afternoon. Mihi said there were no reports of injuries besides the guard, who injured his knee. “One motor coach was burnt and one plain trailer partially burnt,” he said. Mihi said an investigation was under way to determine the cost of the damage. Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson Jermaine Carelse said Fire Service crews positioned themselves in Townsend Road, Goodwood, to access the railway line. Carelse said crews from Goodwood, Epping and Milnerton were dispatched to the scene. He said the swift reaction ensured…

Nicol Myburgh THE workplace whistle-blower isn’t a business liability but a window to the organisation’s soul. Stepping up and blowing the whistle on a corporate issue, ethics or behaviour is a brave, bold move for any employee to take. It requires that someone invests their future in the courage of their convictions, taking the risk that they may face harassment or lose their job when they do the right thing. Companies should actively encourage employees to blow the whistle as loudly – and often – as possible because it is of immense value to the business. Whistle-blowing employees have considerable legal protection – the Labour Relations Act and Protected Disclosure Act, and against harassment by the Companies Act. Companies should develop an effective whistle-blowing programme. It’s a superb tool…

Shakirah Thebus shakirah.thebus@inl.co.za AID ORGANISATION Gift of the Givers (GOTG) is gearing up for massive food distribution during Ramadaan. The organisation prepared 10 000 food hampers yesterday for multi-faith communities and institutions to be distributed this week. Founder Dr Imtiaz Sooliman was present at the organisation’s logistics centre where the hampers were packed. The first trucks will depart for the Southern Cape and Saldanha Bay today to provide the much-needed sustenance to feeding schemes, feeding some 6 000 people daily. “Muslims, as part of divine teaching, increase their charitable acts in this month preparing their psyche for perennial service to all of creation unconditionally. Aid and assistance is universal and not restricted to a particular religious grouping or community,” said Sooliman. “The Ramadaan delivery to various sites has already…

Mthuthuzeli Ntseku mthuthuzeli.ntseku@inl.co.za CONSERVATION lobby groups are fuming over the City’s decision to euthanise a baboon named Philemon week after its raiding behaviour put other baboons from the area in danger. The groups questioned whether the protocols had been followed to the letter, attractants dealt with and data collection verified. Baboon Matters founder Jenni Trethowan said authorities had killed nearly 80 baboons on the Cape Peninsula alone and yet baboons continued to seek easy food rewards in human-occupied spaces. She said killing and hurting baboons was not working. “Mayor Plato directed a task team, Minister Bredell directed a workshop – both directives are to resolve the long-standing and ongoing management issues around human/baboon problems. But it seems that the City and Cape Nature managers did not get the message that…

Ashfak Mohamed ashfak.mohamed@inl.co.za HE hasn’t participated in serious competition this year but Ruswahl Samaai is confident he can put “pressure” on the young long jump upstarts at the South African track and field championships in Pretoria this week. The 29-year-old from Paarl, who clinched bronze medals at the 2017 world championships and at two Commonwealth Games, has been working hard on his technique and speed in recent months without participating in any events. Instead, leading the way locally is 23-year-old Cheswill Johnson, who posted an Olympic qualifying distance of 8.26 metres in Pretoria in February, which also placed him second on the 2021 world list behind Jamaica’s Tajay Gayle (8.27m), although it is still early in the season. Two other local athletes have also gone through the eight-metre barrier this…

Ashfak Mohamed ashfak.mohamed@inl.co.za IN this Covid-19-enforced age of daily online meetings, and meetings about meetings, there is one thing that a meeting cannot solve according to Bulls prop Jacques van Rooyen: scrums. A grizzled front-row veteran, Van Rooyen has walked a long path from being a policeman in Pretoria about a decade ago to playing in Super Rugby for the Lions, for English club Bath and Japanese side NTT Red Hurricanes. Now finally back home in the capital, the 34-year-old loosehead prop was a rock for the Bulls in the absence of the injured Lizo Gqoboka in last year’s Super Rugby Unlocked triumph. Following the Currie Cup victory, Jake White’s team have new goals and trophies to aim for, starting with the Rainbow Cup, where they will begin their campaign…

Zaahier Adams zaahier.adams@inl.co.za HISTORY may be on the side of Orlando Pirates, but captain Happy Jele knows that’s its only current form that matters when they meet Mamelodi Sundowns in tomorrow’s Nedbank Cup quarter-final. Pirates and Sundowns have met five times in Cup competitions over the last decade, with the Buccaneers dominating these encounters. The Nedbank Cup, in particular, has been kind to Pirates with the Sea Robbers winning all three previous meetings – all quarter-finals just like tomorrow’s clash. Sundowns, though, have been the dominant team in South African football for a period of time now with the three-time defending champions once again leading the table by six points despite having played two matches less than their nearest rivals. Equally, the Brazilians are a force to be reckoned with…