Innholdsfortegnelse for 2021-09-14 i Cape Argus

Kailene Pillay kailene.pillay@inl.co.za growing opposition to a “vaccine passport” has erupted on social media, with many South Africans calling it a violation of civil liberties. The strong stance online against these “vaccine passports” has now evolved into a call for protests across the country this Saturday. A tweet with posters for the protests in the different cities was published by Lonwabo Mfundisi on Twitter on Sunday night, shortly after President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the movement of the country to lockdown level 2. It read: “It’s time to rise the #VaccinePassport are here. Let’s put down the keyboard and be at these venues. Vaxx or not vaxxed your freedoms are being taken slowly. Retweet.” A vaccine passport is a certification of either vaccination status or immunity following a natural infection that…

Only 50 out of 10 000 officers suspended Tarryn-Leigh Solomons Tarryn-Leigh.Solomons@iinl.co.za More than 2 000 police officers in the Western Cape have been charged with violent misconduct since 2012. Only 50 out of more than 10 000 police officers nationally have been suspended in the same period. Police Minister Bheki Cele released these figures while responding to parliamentary questions from DA MP Andrew Whitfield. The statistics of officers accused of rape, murder and assault for the province showed a jump from 2012/13 at 129 to 147 cases in the 2013/2014 period and then almost tripling in 2014/15 with the number of officers charged at 355. This sudden trajectory saw a steady decline in the following financial year with the figure at 316 and further dropping to 304 in…

Former health official denies involvement Zintle Mahlati zintle.mahlati@inl.co.za A FORMER Gauteng department of health official has continued to distance himself from active involvement in the early stages of the Life Esidimeni project. Dr Richard Lebethe took the stand at the inquest yesterday and detailed what transpired during his tenure as acting head of clinical services when the Life Esidimeni project was undertaken by the government. The inquest, heard virtually in the High Court Pretoria, is investigating whether anyone should be held criminally liable for the deaths of 144 psychiatric patients who died after they were moved to several NGOs in 2016. Lebethe, during questioning, repeatedly distanced himself from active involvement in the project to move the patients. He insisted that he only became involved once deaths were reported at some…

Sihle Mavuso sihle.mavuso@inl.co.za FORMER President Jacob Zuma’s supporters are planning to stage a welcome home rally and celebrate his imminent release on medical parole. Their announcement comes as the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation yesterday maintained that Zuma’s parole should be above board so that it should not be perceived that the law had been bent to accommodate him. The DA has since taken the matter to court, seeking to review the decision by head of Correctional Services Arthur Fraser to grant Zuma parole. In another case, AfriForum has demanded answers from Fraser, giving him until Friday to reveal how Zuma was granted a reprieve from serving his 15-month sentence for contempt of a Constitutional Court order. But all of this has not perturbed Zuma’s supporters, who are already waiting to…

Cllr Yagyah Adams | Cape Muslim Congress A RECENT Argus headline suggested that vigilante activity is on the increase across South Africa. Our law enforcement is in decline. The inherent nature of our society has changed and social values have degraded. It started during apartheid but took a sharp downward spiral during the presidency of Jacob Zuma. Zuma inspired “State Capture” which allowed chaos at the highest levels. This organised corruption worsened issues at many institutions and this “original sin” will not end until genuine justice is instituted. Since our political leadership remains soaked in corruption, maladministration, etc, the overall integrity and value system of the nation will descend into despair and permeate every street corner. Example, learners were inspired to disrespect educators and vagrants and others who…

FAROUK ARAIE | GAUTENG LIKE the annual sardine run, election fever has engulfed the country in a crazy frenzy as the fishermen (immoral politicians) cast the nets to scoop as many fish (the voters) as they can. Chasing the shoals are the primitive predators (EFF, DA and the ANC) hoping to swallow as many shoals as their greedy stomachs can digest. They hope to breed as many offspring as they can before they become extinct: the political climate changes; or educated voter warming is a dire and mortal threat to them. Exercising our right to vote is our sacred duty. No matter what you believe or whom you support, it is your right to exercise your vote. Registering to vote is a legal obligation, exercising your moral obligation…

Bills a step closer to curbing GBV Mthuthuzeli Ntseku mthuthuzeli.ntseku@inl.co.za ADVOCACY and civil society organisations have commended the approval of the three GBV bills as a step closer to curbing gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF). They are the Criminal and Related Matters Amendment Bill, the Domestic Violence Amendment Bill and Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) and the Amendment Act Amendment Bill. The bills, adopted by Parliament last week, are awaiting President Cyril Ramaphosa’s signature. Speaking on Sunday, Ramaphosa said these pieces of legislation would further strengthen the criminal justice system and ensure harsh penalties for those found guilty of gender-based violence. Mosaic Advocacy, Policy and Research Officer Kerryn Rehse said the changes provided for in the Domestic Violence Amendment Bill presented the opportunity for a strengthened protection order…

Lehlohonolo Mashigo lehlohonolo.mashigo@inl.co.za COMMONLY believed to be a childhood disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) can also be found in adulthood. About 4% of adults suffer from ADHD but this number could be higher as, owing to a lack of awareness, it often goes undiagnosed. Psychiatrist Dr Laura Comrie, of Netcare Akeso in Kenilworth, said research indicated that ADHD persisted from childhood to adulthood in 25% to 50% of those diagnosed. “ADHD tends to present more commonly in men, with the hyperactive/impulsive type being most prevalent in that sex. These individuals will often choose a line of work that involves physical activity rather than sitting at a desk,” Comrie said. Inattentive ADHD was commonly found in women and went undiagnosed more often than hyperactive/impulsive or combined ADHD because it was…

Local governments in South Africa were established to assist in addressing past inequalities at a grass-roots level. This sphere of government was, in fact, a major force leading to the national reform process which began in South Africa in 1990. It is the sphere of government that is closest to the citizens. It is municipalities that are best positioned to understand the needs of local people and the hopes and aspirations they have for their locality. They should also be able to identify and unlock local potential, and to mobilise local resources. These characteristics of local government do not automatically equate to a higher quality of service delivery and legitimacy of decisions, but they certainly have the potential to do so. The South African government subscribes to developmental state…

Half a century after a small group of radicals created Greenpeace, the head of the environmental organisation warned that it still had far to go on the climate crisis before it could truly celebrate. Created on September 15, 1971, when a boat of the same name tried to stop a US nuclear test, Greenpeace has become one of the world’s best known action groups with its headline- grabbing stunts. But the organisation’s 50th anniversary is expected to be a subdued affair, said Jennifer Morgan, the executive director of Greenpeace International. “There’s not a lot to celebrate right now. We are in a climate emergency,” Morgan said in an interview at the group’s headquarters in a modest office block on the outskirts of Amsterdam. Morgan said she was “deeply worried”…

THE GLOBAL pandemic, widely touted as a disruption event catapulting the world into a digital future, held a magnifying glass over the inequality fault lines in our society and in many instances, made them worse. There will be no digital future for the majority of South Africans unless we build bridges, and fast. This country is no stranger to sepa- ration, to chasms between the haves and have-nots, which is why there should be absolute urgency to bridge the digital divide. Digital inequality is not regulated, but its effects will result in a society where some will continue to have access to a world at their fingertips, while the rest will be excluded and forced to watch from the sidelines. Digital inclusion, at a high level, is where everyone…

Kedibone Modise The Covid-19 pandemic pandemic has inspired the creative industry to find innovative ways to reach their audiences from anywhere around the world. To make the most of your experience at the upcoming Investec Cape Town Art Fair event, which is being held virtually, we have compiled easy steps for you to access it from the comfort of your couch. 1. Go to investeccapetownartfair.co.za site, on the top of the home page, click on the enter button which will take you to the digital event site. 2. Register by including your name, surname and email address – you can now login. 3. You are now on the homepage where you will see a list of galleries, click on the galleries to see artists and artworks and listed events. 4.…

Mwangi Githahu mwangi.githahu@inl.co.za TWO more people have been charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder in the case where Stellenbosch deputy mayor Nyaniso Jindela, his wife Unathi Jindela and two others are charged with the death of former Stellenbosch deputy mayor Cameron Mcako. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) added the names of Bonisanani Fihla and Phakamisa Nkopo to the charge sheet during a pretrial conference on Friday. All six are set for another pretrial conference on October 22, at which legal representation will be sorted out. The two other accused in the case are alleged gunman Phumlani Sibongo and a friend of the Jindelas, Gladstone Relegu. Sibongo, Fihla and Nkopo are charged with attempted murder and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. At the time of his death,…

Baldwin Ndaba baldwin.ndaba@inl.co.za CALLS are mounting for the government to protect whistle-blowers and to act swiftly against those who commit fraud. Civil Society organisations such as Outa and Defend our Democracy protested yesterday outside the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court and asked the court to deny the bail to suspects in Babita Deokaran killing. A similar protests was led by ActionSA members. Members of the party, led by former City of Joburg mayor Herman Mashaba, carried posters calling for the protection of whistle-blowers and jail terms for those responsible Deokaran’s death. Deokaran, a former chief director of financial accounting in the Gauteng Health department was gunned down outside her home on August 23. At the time of her death, Deokaran was a key witness of the Special Investigating Unit probe into tender…

Sinenhlanhla Zungu sinenhlanhla.zungu@inl.co.za SOUTH Africans have had mixed reactions to the idea of Covid-19 vaccine passports. On Sunday, President Cyril Ramaphosa introduced “vaccine passports” for various purposes, amid resistance by many South Africans to getting vaccinated. But what exactly is a vaccine passport and what will it mean for citizens? Professor Mosa Moshabela, acting deputy vice-chancellor of Research and Innovation in the college of Health Sciences at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, explained: “An electronic vaccine certificate would mean an electronic or digital card with a QR (quick response) code like you have on a ticket. It is a quick mechanism for scanning proof of payment, purchase or in this case vaccination, and generated electronically with a unique barcode, consistent with international standards.” Moshabela said that this would be a reliable…

Ghalied Geduldt | Maitland Guinea is a key exporter of bauxite, which is the metal required to make aluminum. It also has iron ore reserves and mineral resources, including cement, salt, graphite, limestone, manganese, nickel and uranium. The coup in Guinea on September 5 has raised concerns about future investment and access to Guinea’s resources. Resources have played a pivotal role in conflicts in Africa, because either the revenue from these resources is not used to the benefit of local communities, or the revenues are used to sustain conflicts in these resource-rich regions. Coltan is a mineral which is used in the manufacturing of electronic devices. This mineral is found in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) which is still experiencing conflict. Rwanda, Uganda and Zimbabwe became involved…

KEVIN GOVENDER I Shallcross IT IS without a doubt that Middle Eastern countries are home to some of the world’s most beautiful women – silky dark hair, feather-brushed cheekbones and eyes the colour of espresso. Afghanistan is no different. But, sadly, due to religious attire regulations, the world never gets to see this radiance and pulchritude. The implementation of Sharia law under Taliban rule in Afghanistan will see women suffer Kafkaesque degradation and humiliation. They have already separated the different sexes at universities, with males leaving earlier, not to allow any form of mixing. A women’s rights demonstration was thwarted with ease. And not one woman holds a senior post in the newly-formed interim government! The Taliban seeks international legitimacy but behind the verbal placebos and plastic smiles…

Ensure you have a will Shakirah Thebus shakirah.thebus@inl.co.za LEGAL woes should be the last thing a person or family should experience following the death of a loved one. Legal practitioners are encouraging the public to have their wills drafted, free of charge, by a professional this National Wills Week (September 13-17). Hosted by the Law Society of South Africa, National Wills Week aims to increase awareness of the importance of having a valid will, with several firms offering to assist in drafting a will. The Transaction Support Centre (TSC), assisting lower-income clients with property-related issues, said too many South Africans have not drafted formal, legal wills, unaware that this could leave their dependants and families in dire straits should they die. When a property owner dies without a will,…

| African News Agency (ANA) CAPE Town will host this year’s Loeries Creative Week, a festival held across Africa and the Middle East which creates an opportunity for the brand communication industry to network, organisers said. The October 20-22 festival by The Loeries, a non-profit company, will bring together the best innovative minds in the industry, it said in a statement. The partnership with Cape Town, which was awarded the World Design Capital prize in 2014, represents an opportunity to impact the development of the brand communication and allied industries, said The Loeries. “Each year, Loeries Creative Week creates an opportunity for the brand communication industry to unite around a common goal of supporting the industry across AME to create greater positive societal impact,” it said in a statement.…

THE German city of Potsdam on the outskirts of Berlin has also become the arena for a battle for Angela Merkel’s crown in the run-up to September’s election. The leading candidates in the race to replace Merkel are Annalena Baerbock of the Greens and Olaf Scholz of the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) It will be the first time that two chancellor candidates have gone head-to-head in the same constituency. Scholz is leading the race in the constituency, which also fell to his party in 2017. | AFP…

Zaahier Adams zaahier.adams@inl.co.za Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter believes his attacking trio of Keagan Dolly, Khama Billiat and Samir Nurkovic will develop into a potent unit, despite shooting blanks in the 2-0 Premiership defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns at Loftus Versveld. Chiefs were dominant in this pulsating league encounter, and created plenty of opportunities on the night, including a missed penalty from substitute Lebogang Manyama during the final 10 minutes of the game. Dolly’s arrival at Naturena during the off-season has certainly raised the tempo of Chiefs’ play, with the former Sundowns playmaker wasting little time in connecting with his old mate Billiat. The duo share an electrical chemistry on the field with the pair often playing neat small touches between themselves to unlock the opposition’s defence. They have now…

Kedibone Modise kedibone.modise@inl.co.za Africa’s leading art fair, Investec Cape Town Art Fair, is making great strides with its first digital event in conjunction with its sister fair in Milan, Miart International Modern and Contemporary Art Fair, taking place from September 17-19. Under the theme, Connect Through Art from Africa and the World, the cross-continent art fair will expose 40 local and 13 international exhibitors to a global, much broader audience. The director of the fair, Laura Vincenti, says she and her team are delighted to host the first virtual edition of the fair, bringing together a diverse range of global audiences. “The digital event is an evolution we’ve been planning for a while. Finding the right approach to expand into this new space is, as you can imagine, a strong…

Jelena Kecmanovic There is a saying in the Balkans, where I was born and raised, that loosely translates to: “There is nothing worse than finally seeing the light, only to be plunged again into darkness”. As a psychologist, I have observed my patients’ extraordinary levels of stress and anxiety start to ease, only to be replaced by anger, disappointment and despair as coronavirus cases have resurged and the promise of the pandemic’s end has become more elusive. The widespread return to in-person school and the uneven return to offices are further contributing to the sense of being pushed to the limit. This has led many of my patients to ask what they can do in the moment when they feel frazzled, overwhelmed, panicked or tunnel-visioned. Although tried-and-true self-help strategies…

Shakirah Thebus shakirah.thebus@inl.co.za KEY sectors have expressed their support for – and relief at – the easing of lockdown restrictions following the most recent presidential address. Federated Hospitality Association of Southern Africa (Fedhasa) welcomed the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions, which it said had hampered normal operations within the hospitality sector and in some sectors, such as larger restaurants and venues, it had made operating for the past months financially unviable. “We understand the delicate balancing act that the government has had to tread in saving lives and securing livelihoods,” said Fedhasa chairperson Rosemary Anderson. “However, more than 18 months since restrictions to curb the spread of Covid-19 were first introduced to equip our health services so they could cope with the pandemic, the hospitality sector continues to bear the brunt…

PEOPLE become homeless for various reasons. Pressure from high rentals and low pay, or a sudden life event, such as losing a job or family breakdown, can quickly force people into homelessness. But it doesn’t have to be like this. We can end homelessness for good. This doesn’t mean that no one will ever lose their home again, but that everyone facing homelessness gets the help they need quickly. We will soon publish a plan showing the solutions that can end homelessness in Cape Town, including how long it will take and what it will cost. Homeless Action Week – Cape Town was born out of discussions with people in different sectors who wanted to know more about homelessness itself, and why there has been such a huge rise in…

Staff Reporter IT IS with hope and excitement that Pinpoint Stewards will be hosting the “It’s DUE” – Women & Leadership Conference to Develop, Unite and Empower Women in Government, SOEs and Business on September 28 and 29 at the Oubaai Hotel & Spa in George. The organisers’ prayers were answered when President Ramaphosa recently announced that venue capacity woud be increased and this was the lifeline they were hoping for to not have to show delegates away. As a women-owned training and conferencing organisation, they had all the experience in the world to host an event of this magnitude but barriers and restrictions were stifling their progress. Now their “get out of the boat” attitude to hosting a face-to-face event is a reality. They never stopped dreaming, trying and…

Flora Teckie WE ANNUALLY mark International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer on September 16. This is a global call for action for protecting the Earth’s atmosphere, bearing in mind that the future prosperity and the peaceful co-existence of people will greatly depend on responsible interaction with our natural resources. The ozone layer is crucial in protecting our health, and its depletion is caused by human activities that alter the composition of the global atmosphere. It is the Bahá'í view that, “Setting humanity on a more sustainable path to the future involves transformation in attitudes and actions”. It will depend on our unity as humanity: on a globally-accepted vision for the future, based on unity and co-operation among the races, nations, creeds and classes. It is obvious…

SpaceX is to launch four people into space tomorrow on a three-day mission that is the first to orbit the Earth with private citizens on board, as Elon Musk’s company enters the space tourism fray. The “Inspiration4” mission has been chartered by US billionaire Jared Isaacman, the founder and CEO of payment processing company Shift4 Payment. The SpaceX Crew Dragon will fly further than the International Space Station. SpaceX has already given 10 astronauts rides to the ISS for Nasa. | AFP…