Innholdsfortegnelse for 2022-02-09 i Cape Argus

Given Majola given.majola@inl.co.za THE INTERMITTENT load shedding that South Africans have to contend with goes beyond just power-avail- ability and power-security. From city to rural areas load shedding is an economic wrecking ball. Across the country, individuals, families, businesses and communities have to navigate life without various other basic services due to power outages by local power producer Eskom, which can go on for days. In rural areas, the lack of electricity hits communities much harder, some of which do not yet have a power supply. This is because these citizens may have recently built their homes, have problems with their meters or happen to have built a little bit far away from Eskom’s transformers and fall beyond what is called the “in-fills zone”. Some people sit in darkness for…

Asian News American actor Awkwafina returned to Twitter after a two-year absence and responded to long-standing criticism that she uses a fake “blaccent” in her comedy while announcing that she would be leaving the micro-blogging platform. According to Fox News, Awkwafina, born Nora Lum, has long faced criticism for her use of African-American Vernacular English (AAVE). Some have spoken out on social media to accuse the Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings star of doing a voice that’s a caricature of a black person in order to be funny. In a lengthy note on Twitter, the actor addressed the situation. She acknowledged the “sociopolitical context” of the issue and acknowledged the accusation of stealing from or parodying a community that “is disproportionately affected by institutionalized policies and law…

Siyabonga Mkhwanazi siyabonga.mkhwanazi@inl.co.za Parliament is not expecting any disruptions during the State of the Nation Address tomorrow. National Council of Provinces chairperson Amos Masondo said yesterday they hoped President Cyril Ramaphosa would not be disturbed while delivering his annual address. According to Masondo, presiding officers, parties represented in Parliament, officials and all other staff members are ready for the Sona as preparations have been completed. Parliament has set aside almost R4 million for the Sona. Acting secretary to Parliament Baby Tyawa said a report on the actual cost of the Sona would be tabled before the Joint Standing Committee on Financial Management of Parliament, after a reconciliation of the cost was undertaken. She said the money spent could amount to less than R4m. Parliament had spent less on the Sona…

Mwangi Githahu mwangi.githahu@inl.co.za TRADE unions and civic society groups want President Cyril Ramaphosa to provide clarity in his State of the Nation Address (Sona) on what the government will do about the economic and social issues that have left South Africans reeling in a Covid-19 world. Cosatu national spokesperson Sizwe Pamla said: “Workers expect the president to announce plans for his government to move away from economic policies that are suffocating the economy and that have left half the adult working population unemployed.” He said the Zondo Commission into State Capture and Corruption has provided clear recommendations on measures to tackle corruption and that the government needs to act on these, including tabling the necessary legislative amendments in Parliament. UASA spokesperson Abigail Moyo said the president must use the Sona…

Kristin Engel kristin.engel@inl.co.za TOURISM Minister Lindiwe Sisulu has hosted a stakeholders’ engagement meeting with key players and industry leaders in the Western Cape tourism sector in Khayelitsha, where she provided an update on the implementation of the country’s Tourism Sector Recovery Plan. This meeting took place just days after Sisulu was called to appear before the ANC’s Integrity Commission following her opinion piece criticising the country’s judiciary and Constitution, where she would have to explain her remarks and hear the commission’s analysis. The tourism plan, approved and launched in April last year, was implemented under three pillars. In her report, Sisulu said the Protect and Rejuvenate supply pillar saw development and maintenance of state-owned and community-based tourism assets – such as the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA) –…

Readers will recall that as we embarked upon the emergency UIF payments during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Unemployment Insurance Fund failed the workforce of South Africa. After much pushing, the Minister of Employment and Labour eventually suspended UIF Commissioner Teboho Maruping. This was done more than a year ago. During this period Commissioner Maruping has received a full salary while sitting at home on suspension. The cost of this suspension has been an extraordinary burden on the Department of Employment and Labour which has not been able to give a full budget to the Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration, thereby affecting the dismissed employees of South Africa. There has been no explanation as to why the suspension took over a year and who in fact did this investigation. This…

Cllr Yagyah Adams | Cape Muslim Congress The song Mr Red White and Blue, by Coffey Anderson, is an emotive tribute to the American military. In the near future, historians and social activist will analyse such music that inspires patriotic warfare and conquest. With Afghanistan and Iraq as a backdrop, the song inspires sacrifice? What must be measured is the validity of using images of American soldiers marching into foreign lands and equate it, with, for example what Joseph Goebbels did during the German Nazi reign of terror. We must consider if there is such a thing as good and bad propaganda and if those liable for developing propaganda have liability towards the outcome of what they actively support. For example, apartheid was not just about politicians or…

Canada’s capital is long used to hosting protests. But the self- described Freedom Convoy has been an unusual and intimidating presence in Ottawa since it rolled up nearly a dozen days ago with its snowballing list of grievances, from opposition to vaccine mandates and lockdowns to antipathy toward recently re-elected Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Big rigs and other vehicles continue to block crucial downtown arteries, snarling traffic, blaring their horns and fraying residents’ nerves. The protest has had the effect of forcing several businesses to close because of safety concerns. Yesterday, truckers were blocking the busiest crossing with the US yesterday. Canada sends 75% of its goods exports to the US and trucks play a crucial role. The bridge usually handles around 8 000 rigs a day. Ottawa Police Chief…

Stuart Hess stuart.hess@inl.co.za Cricket South Africa’s board chairman Lawson Naidoo told the parliamentary portfolio committee on sport that a detailed plan to implement the recommendations of the Social Justice and Nation-Building (SJN) report will be presented next month. Senior administrative officials from CSA appeared before the committee yesterday to outline how the organisation was dealing with various issues related to the SJN’s findings, including the legal proceedings related to Proteas coach Mark Boucher. CSA informed the committee that the board had assigned various topics highlighted in the report to different sub-committees. CSA’s cricket committee will deal with player remuneration and selection, the social and ethics committee with allegations of racism and racial slurs, and the nominations committee with women’s cricket, with an emphasis on creating a women’s committee. Naidoo said…

DAY two of the Cricket South Africa T20 Challenge got under way at St George’s Park yesterday with the North West Dragons surprising the Lions, while the Dolphins crushed the Knights by eight wickets in the afternoon match. Here, Zaahier Adams picks five ‘Plays of the Day’ from yesterday’s matches… The ‘other’ Jansen Part of Proteas rookie Marco Jansen’s claim to fame is that he has an identical twin brother, Duan, who is also a promising first-class cricketer. Well, they are indeed a spitting image of each other. Duan certainly has plenty of potential too, as he played a match-winning knock of 32 not out off just 18 balls, while also impressing with the ball at the death, to spearhead the Dragons’ victory over the Lions. Youth beats experience Dragons…

AT long last! The All Blacks will travel to South Africa to take on the world champion Springboks in Mzansi for the first time since before the 2019 World Cup. Yesterday’s announcement that the Rugby Championship will see New Zealand playing a double-header against the Boks in South Africa was a welcome development, after Siya Kolisi’s team had to endure a nightmare trip to Australia for the same competition last year, due to Covid-19 protocols. They had to face the Wallabies twice and the All Blacks twice in four consecutive weeks of Test rugby, and despite the two defeats to Australia, the Boks restored some dignity with a two-point loss and a two-point win over Ian Foster’s New Zealand team. So, now we’ll see just how good the Kiwis really…

Rafieka Williams rafieka.williams@inl.co.za THE son of a pastor has appeared in the Western Cape High Court where he is accused of the rape and murder of his girlfriend, Sesi Sibanyoni. Yesterday, Abraham Mtsweni appeared on two counts of murder and the rape of 31-year-old Sibanyoni, who was killed in her flat on July 26, 2019. The State alleged that Mtsweni travelled to Cape Town from Pretoria to visit Sibanyoni on July 25, 2019. Mtsweni allegedly strangled Sibanyoni to death the next day while they were in her Maitland flat. He then allegedly left the body in the apartment, locked the doors and drove back to Pretoria. While travelling back, the accused was involved in a car crash and was admitted to hospital. He was subsequently arrested. The police allegedly…

Shakirah Thebus shakirah.thebus@inl.co.za GRADE 5 female learners over 9 years old will be able to get vaccinated against the human papillomavirus (HPV) at public and special schools over the next two months in an effort to eradicate cervical cancer in women. The provincial Health Department said this was an effective and affordable way to prevent one of the leading causes of cancer among women aged 35 to 44 years old. Cervical cancer is an entirely preventable disease. World Cancer Day was marked on February 4 to raise awareness, encourage prevention, detection and treatment of various forms of cancers. Provincial Health Department spokesperson Byron la Hoe said the HPV vaccinations programme was rolled out in 2014 and formed part of the Integrated School Health Programme. To be fully protected,…

IJ Saks | Table View THE continuing situation of load shedding will cripple the economy of the country, which is already on its knees. We cannot afford this to carry on, and it is about time that Eskom was privatised and fixed up once and for all. The ANC government are pulling the wool over our eyes as Eskom is on the brink of collapse, according to Ted Blom, and are also bankrupt. So we need to put them out of their misery and let qualified technicians and capable managers be brought in to save us, as we cannot carry on like this. We are getting closer and closer to a failed state, and Pravin Gordhan should be held responsible for all our power woes as he is…

The election of Nkosikazi Nosandi Mhlauli as the first woman chair- person of the National House of Traditional and Khoisan Leaders has been one of the most defining historical moments for South Africa. To put this moment into context, the National House of Traditional and Khoisan Leaders has never been under the leadership of a woman since the formal recognition of traditional institutions in South Africa in 1993. This simply means that the traditional House of Leaders has been, for the longest of times, occupied by men and, since its inception, led by men – a demonstration of the extent to which patriarchy continues to entrench itself, not only in our society, but in institutions that govern us. Against this backdrop, Nkosikazi Mhlauli’s appointment comes at a crucial time…

Tunisia’s police have shut the Supreme Judicial Council building, its head said this week, as President Kais Saied vowed non-interference a day after he dissolved the council, accusing its members of bias and corruption. “We don’t know who issued these orders, but we know that they have no legal basis,” said council president Youssef Bouzakher. Saied has been consolidating his powers since last year when he suspended parliament, dismissed the prime minister and said he could rule by decree. He has grown increasingly critical of the judiciary. “I assure everyone in Tunisia and abroad that I will not interfere in the judiciary. I will not interfere in any case or any appointment. I do not want to control all power,” Saied said in a speech, , adding that he had…

Mthuthuzeli Ntseku mthuthuzeli.ntseku@inl.co.za A Mitchells Plain businessman charged with the abduction and rape of a 13-year-old Uitsig girl was denied bail in the Goodwood Magistrate’s Court yesterday. The case was postponed to March 10. Aneez Brandt, who was a friend of the family, was accused of taking the girl, without her mother’s consent, on the afternoon of January 22 under the pretext of fixing her phone. It is alleged that Brandt, after collecting the phone from the girl’s grandfather’s house in Mitchells Plain, stopped at an address in Goodwood where he rented a room and raped her. According to a warning statement brought forward by the State prosecutor yesterday, Brandt’s account of events corroborated with the girl’s affidavit. However, Brandt maintained that he did not force her into the car…

Residents warned not to keep cash in safes Mthuthuzeli Ntseku mthuthuzeli.ntseku@inl.co.za RESIDENTS of the city’s urban edge have been hit by a spate of hijackings, vehicle theft, muggings, and now even brazen house robberies. Durbanville police have warned residents not to keep large amounts of money in their homes or their safes, after several house robberies during which large amounts of money was stolen. In December, the Cape Argus reported a number of motor vehicle thefts in the area after six cars were stolen in the space of a couple of weeks. In the latest incidents, six house robberies were reported, between January 8 and February 7, in the upmarket Durbanville neighbourhoods of Sonstraal Heights, Eversdal, Langeberg Road, Oude Westhof and Ronde Kuil Farm. On Monday, at Sonstraal Heights,…

Mwangi Githahu mwangi.githahu@inl.co.za JUSTICE and Correctional Affairs Minister Ronald Lamola has said that victims of evictions across South Africa will soon have access to Legal Aid services in a bid by the State to provide greater access to justice for all. He was delivering the keynote address at a Constitutional Rights Conference in Cape Town to mark 25 years since South Africa’s Constitution came into effect. “We will soon be expanding the mandate of Legal Aid South Africa to also offer legal services for land justice to the victims of evictions in the various parts of our country and to protect the most vulnerable within our society. This will happen from this financial year,” Lamola said. In March last year, the department announced plans to transfer the Land Rights Management…

I STATE here categorically that the editor of the Cape Argus, Aziz Hartley, had no idea of my life-long love for the English language when he announced: “Argus reader becomes columnist” January 11, 2017. Nor was he aware that I and my doyen, the late great Wally Hammond, had started using the newspaper to make children literate and unafraid to write. Since that first sortie in my first Std 5 (Grade 7) class in 1959, Mr Hammond and I shared a motto: Lift as you rise. He also believed, as I did, that all children could read and write fluently. And so we used the “no-words” comic called Henry as a stepping stone to launch many a career in writing and literacy, including our brilliant Monday columnist, Lorenzo Davids. Mr…

Colin Bosman | Newlands RECOMMENDATIONS to Cyril Ramaphosa in the build-up to the election of a new chief justice seem farcical. There will be those in the nomination process who will have personal reasons for throwing a name into the hat. How many were thinking about the judicial process and the effect the appointment will have on the rule of law? The shouting match between Julius Malema and Minister of Justice Ronald Lamola speaks to the lunacy of this nomination platform. Furthermore, the choice of a female chief justice by majority vote, while taking nothing away from a super-efficient applicant in Mandisa Maya, nevertheless suggests a politically correct choice rather than looking at the experience and wisdom, for example, of a man like Raymond Zondo, who has fought…

Richard Calland After a fraught and fractious week of public interviews that shed heat but little light on the four candidates eligible to become the next Chief Justice, South Africa’s Judicial Service Commission has recommended that President Cyril Ramaphosa appoint Mandisa Maya, who is currently the head of the Supreme Court of Appeal. Legally, the president should ignore the recommendation. But politically, he probably can’t. He should ignore it because the Judicial Service Commission made a number of very serious procedural mistakes that severely undermine the legitimacy and credibility of the appointment process. The commission is a constitutional body responsible for judicial appointments and accountability. It’s composed of a delicate balance of lawyers and politicians. But politically, he can’t ignore the recommendation on two grounds. Firstly, it would delay even…

Mihlali Baleka mihlali.baleka@inl.co.za BANYANA Banyana coach Desiree Ellis says their friendly against Zambia on Saturday will help them to gauge their readiness for back-to-back Africa Women’s Cup of Nations (Awcon) qualifiers against Algeria in the final round. After thrashing Mozambique 13-0 in the second round of the Awcon qualifiers, away and at home, Banyana will be eager to book their ticket to the finals when they face Algeria at home on February 18, and away on the 23rd. Qualifying for the continental showpiece would ensure that the South Africans hit two birds with one stone: They would upstage their men counterparts Bafana Bafana, who failed to qualify for the recent Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in Cameroon; and qualifying for Awcon would mean that Banyana will get a chance to…