Innholdsfortegnelse for 2022-02-22 i Cape Argus

KEDIBONE Modise kedibone.modise@inl.co.za South African gospel star and television personality Hlengiwe “Hle” Ntombela is making major moves on the international music scene. The star dazzled as the first South African artist to sign an exclusive record deal with the world’s leading Christian music company, Motown Gospel, a division of Capitol CMG/Universal Music Group. The Motown Gospel roster includes Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Tye Tribbett, Smokie Norful, Brian Courtney Wilson, Gene Moore, Ricky Dillard and Kelly Price. Hle said she was overjoyed to be part of this universal brand and could not wait to share her music with the global community. “Motown Gospel/Capitol CMG is a true giant of the industry, known for cultivating some of the world’s greatest artists,” she added. “I’m honoured really. When such a prestigious label recognises your…

Rafieka Williams rafieka.williams@inl.co.za JUDGMENT in the trial of Revticken Patrick Muller, 40, accused of the rape and murder of Bianca Matroos, 37, is expected to be heard in the Circuit High Court in George today. Matroos’s body was discovered in an open field at the George Riding Club on November 17, 2019. She had been raped and murdered. Muller has been charged with four counts of murder, rape, kidnapping and robbery with aggravating circumstances. The State said Matroos was out with her sister, Jacoline Swati, at a nightclub called “Nitro” in George on November 14. There she met Muller, who came to the club with two others, Stefaans Juries and Andries Jakobus. Muller and Matroos spoke inside the club and he allegedly kidnapped an inebriated Matroos when they left after…

As I was preparing to write my weekly column for the Cape Argus on Sunday, which I have been unable to do for the past two weeks after my phone and laptop were stolen, I became aware of the fact a former resident at Culemborg Safe Space 1 was murdered on Saturday night outside Safe Space 2. What shocked me most, however, was I was being inundated with calls throughout Sunday over the body that was still outside the shelter, covered with a blanket. I contacted the Community Services and Health mayco member Patricia van der Ross who promised to “look into it quickly”, and Health MEC Nomafrench Mbombo, whose assistant phoned me back for more information. Unfortunately, despite every effort, I could find no reason or explanation. Captain Ezra…

DESPITE constant concerns about food security, preventable food wastage in Cape Town is on the increase. This commonly occurs at grocery shops; especially chain stores. There are indeed various reasons why stores have specific quantities of a food item in stock. It does not however, make sense that a store always has that particular quantity, whereas it usually sells only half that amount. It is as if sales reports that reflect buying trends are not well-analysed at branch level. Whereas some poor-selling foodstuffs are processed and used as ingredients in other food items, the rest are simply thrown away. Although their prices are commonly reduced, many poor-selling items will however, still end up in the dustbin. If the poor-selling foodstuffs were marked down earlier, ie before they reached the end…

Mwangi Githahu mwangi.githahu@inl.co.za POLITICAL activists allied to the ANC in Cape Town have welcomed the interim provincial committee’s (IPC) dissolution of the Dullah Omar regional executive committee (REC) and said it was the right decision for unity and renewal in the party. Dullah Omar is the party’s biggest region in the Western Cape. Announcing the decision, ANC Western Cape convener Lerumo Kalako said that the IPC working committee had assessed the region and found that “in its current state, it would not meet the deadline for holding a regional conference.” Kalako said there had been no reason to wait for the regional conference to take place before the dissolution. He said the ANC had already decided in December that regions that “had not improved and shown that they were prepared…

Zelda Venter zelda.venter@inl.co.za THE Department of Correctional Services must pay up after a woman fractured her arm when she slipped and fell at the Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Centre in Pretoria. The incident happened as the machine an inmate was using to clean the floor squirted soapy water in her pathway on a veranda. Judge Norman Davis, sitting at the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, ruled the department 80% liable for damages Sandra Kleinhans can prove she had suffered. She was 20% liable for her fall, he said, as she saw that the inmate was cleaning the floor. Kleinhans argued she had no idea he machine would suddenly squirt soapy water in her direction.…

Moscow said yesterday that a shell fired from Ukraine had destroyed a border facility used by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), amid Western concerns of an escalation in fighting in east Ukraine. “An unidentified projectile fired from Ukraine completely destroyed a border facility used by the FSB border guard service in the Rostov region, around 150m from the Russian-Ukrainian border,” the security service said. No one had been injured. Ukraine has been fighting separatists who have had Moscow’s backing since 2014 when Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula after historic street protests in Kyiv. More than 14 000 people have already died in the fighting. Kyiv’s Western allies have warned in recent weeks of a possible sharp escalation in the conflict with Russia massing an estimated force of more than 100…

Wynona Louw wynona.louw@inl.co.za Stormers loose forward Hacjivah Dayimani says the culture within the Cape Town franchise has proven to be the difference in their domestic success in the United Rugby Championship (URC). Coach John Dobson’s side are the top South African outfit in the competition in eighth place on the overall log after a four-match unbeaten streak. On Saturday they will take on Connacht at the Sportsground (3pm SA time kick-off). The squad depart for Ireland tomorrow. Speaking on how he has settled into the squad since leaving the Lions, exciting back-rower Dayimani highlighted the “vibe” in the group as one of the biggest differences. “The one thing that’s different from my time at the Lions and the Stormers is the vibe and the culture, and that makes a massive…

According to Statistics South Africa, the local official unemployment rate reached a new record high of 34.9 percent in the third quarter of 2021. The number of employed persons decreased by 660 000 to 14.3 million in that period. Unemployed persons decreased by 183 000 to 7.6 million compared to the second quarter of 2021. The number of discouraged work-seekers increased by 545 000, a whopping 16.4 percent, while the number of people who were not economically active for reasons other than discouragement increased by 443 000, or 3.3 percent, between the two quarters, resulting in a net increase of 988 000 in the not economically active population. If there is anything we should learn from the above data, it is that we should not be debating about who must…

Mwangi Githahu mwangi.githahu@inl.co.za SMALL, medium and micro enterprises have been the fastest adopters of mobile payment solutions which have become a crucial tool for business growth, especially after the pandemic. A briefing to the standing committee on finance, economic opportunities and tourism on mobile payment solutions heard that the ease of use, affordability and accessibility of such payments were changing the way these merchants transact, giving them access to vital financial services previously out of their reach. Committee chairperson Deidré Baartman (DA) said the point of the briefing was for members to learn how mobile payment solutions were making it easier for small businesses to cut red tape. “Especially for the tourism businesses in the Western Cape, this is important as it cuts costs in terms of banking and fees…

Naushad Omar | Zeekoevlei Thabo Mbeki’s thesis that South Africa will become ungovernable if the ANC fails and that the ANC therefore is too big to fail is laughable if it weren’t true. Both the ANC and the country have already failed and have become ungovernable. The police moved in a week after the malls were looted and burnt. ANC councillors are regularly assassinated to make way for others to feed at the trough whilst ANC employees are still owed a few months’ salary. The ANC bankrupted and hollowed out most institutions under their control over the past 28 years. Most government institutions are captured by one or other faction of the ANC who behave as criminal syndicates. The country’s sovereign credit rating is non-investment or junk grade…

Cllr Yagyah Adams | Cape Muslim Congress MOST of the globe is not autonomous, or free, and does not experience human rights. In truth, much of the world remains colonial outposts that have varying degrees of autonomy and are subject to the ebb and flow of power structures that originate from former colonial powers. For example, as much as we want to believe that Saudi Arabia is independent or the United Arab Emirates is sovereign, they are former British colonies and are firmly under the Imperial American Empire. This was evident when former president Trump told the global media that he had told the King of Saudi Arabia that if the US removed its protection, the king would be toppled within a month. Why is it important to…

Itumeleng Mafisa THE SA Medical Association (Sama) is battling to keep members united following the resignation of its chairperson Dr Angelique Coetzee due to racial tensions. On Friday, the association announced Coetzee’s resignation following a board meeting described as tense. Coetzee had came under fire for remarks Sama described as being hurtful to black people. In an interview with Cape Talk, Coetzee said the admission processes to medical schools were highly politicised; that race played a significant role in determining acceptance to medical faculties, in many instances more than the applicant's matric performance; and that different criteria existed for different race groups with regard to admission requirements. Many black doctors were upset by this statement forcing Coetzee to apologise. In a statement, the Sama board said: “The board is…

Ratidzo Makombe SINCE the invention of Covid-19 vaccines and their administration last year, there has been compelling evidence of vaccine hesitancy across the world, particularly in South Africa. At the current vaccination uptake rate, South Africa will reach its targeted 70% mark in July 2024, according to Covidax Live. Global Covid-19 vaccine uptake has been less among black and brown communities, compared to those of other ethnicities. In the US, many have demonstrated a fear of vaccination because of the history of medical atrocities by scientists against black and brown Americans. Furthermore, restricted access to the vaccine, especially in Africa, has become a challenge for vaccine compliance. Misinformation about the Covid-19 pandemic and vaccines has made it a challenge to educate people about the disease. The use of social media…

Ethiopia began generating electricity from its mega-dam on the Blue Nile this week, a milestone in the controversial multi-billion dollar project. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, accompanied by high-ranking officials, toured the power station and pressed a series of buttons on an electronic screen, a move that officials said initiated production. The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is set to be the largest hydroelectric scheme in Africa but has been at the centre of a dispute with downstream nations Egypt and Sudan ever since work first began in 2011. Abiy described the development as “the birth of a new era”. “This is a good news for our continent and the downstream countries with whom we aspire to work together,” he said on Twitter. Addis Ababa deems the project essential for the…

The Stormers’ United Rugby Championship match against Connacht on Saturday will reveal a lot about the progress the side has made. So far this year, the Capetonians have given South Africans the most to smile about as far as results are concerned. While the Bulls have been the domestic kings over the last couple of seasons – winning two Currie Cup title, Super Rugby Unlocked, and going all the way to the final of the Rainbow Cup – it’s John Dobson’s side that have done the most, in what is still a young 2022. They’ve beaten the Bulls at Fortress Loftus, they’ve outplayed the Sharks at Cape Town Stadium and, most recently, they hammered the Lions at Emirates Airline Park. Their four-match unbeaten run also includes a 20-20 draw against…

AmaZulu’s major problem in the Premiership this season has been their inability to convert draws into wins. So far, Benni McCarthy’s charges have drawn 12 out of their 20 league games this season, which is the most out of any team in the division. The Durban-based club will have to start winning again soon if they want to replicate their second-place finish last season. With the league already virtually won by Mamelodi Sundowns, the best that Usuthu can do is second place as the gap between them and second-place Orlando Pirates is just four points. McCarthy’s team, then, will back themselves to beat TS Galaxy at Moses Mabhida Stadium today. AmaZulu defender Tercious Malepe is aware that the game could be important in terms of determining how his team’s…

Zaahier Adams zaahier.adams@inl.co.za Proteas Women’s coach Hilton Moreeng believes his team’s successful tour of New Zealand in 2020 will stand them in good stead heading into next month’s ICC Women’s World Cup. Although the world may have changed dramatically over the intervening two years, fortunately for the No 2-ranked Proteas, the conditions they will encounter during the World Cup in New Zealand have not. Moreeng’s team, of course, blitzed the White Ferns 3-0 on their last trip to the Land of the Long White Cloud just before their march to the T20 World Cup semi-finals in Australia. It was the first time that the Proteas had won a series in New Zealand. It certainly helps that the vast majority of that squad are back again, although they are notably without…

Morgan Bolton morgan.bolton@inl.co.za The Bulls will arrive in Italy today to take on bottom side Zebre on Friday with a powerful squad, but it will be a team without the services of flyhalf Morne Steyn, a statement by the union said yesterday. The former Springbok was handed a three-match suspension by the United Rugby Championship’s disciplinary committee after being found guilty of contravening law 9.13, which states: “A player must not tackle an opponent early, late or dangerously. Dangerous tackling includes, but is not limited to, tackling or attempting to tackle an opponent above the line of the shoulders even if the tackle starts below the line of the shoulders.” The 37-year-old was found to have contravened the law after receiving a red card in the 11th minute against the…

Given Majola given.majola@inl.co.za BASED on current policy, sin taxes would likely still increase, but not as sharply as previous fiscal cycles when Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announces the Budget this week, says Tax Consulting South Africa head of Tax Technical, Jean du Toit. Last week, the South African alcohol industry called on Godongwana to put forth measures to improve conditions in the sector during his 2022 Budget speech. Du Toit said that sin taxes or excise was a significant contributor to revenue and because it was imposed on inelastic products generally, it was an item where an increase in tax rates resulted in a proportional increase in revenue. “With Covid it might have been the exception with the ban on tobacco and alcohol since the outbreak of the pandemic,” Du…

Rafieka Williams rafieka.williams@inl.co.za THREE people charged with operating a sex trafficking ring in 2017 appeared in the Western Cape High Court, where a State witness testified. Edward Ayuk, 42, his wife Leandra Ayuk, 38, and his brother Yannick Ayuk, 32, have been charged with 40 counts of rape, trafficking, kidnapping, debt bondage, drug dealing and assault. It is alleged that the three worked together to recruit a number of women for the purpose of sex work. The women were allegedly manipulated by Leandra to leave their homes in Springbok under the pretext of finding work opportunities in Cape Town. These women were transported from Matjiesfontein and other parts of Springbok to Brooklyn in Cape Town, where they were used for sexual exploitation. State prosecutor advocate Saarah Buffkins called a witness…

Focus on the illicit financial flows, he’s told Mwangi Githahu mwangi.githahu@inl.co.za FINANCE Minister Enoch Godongwana will be delivering his Budget tomorrow at a time South Africa faces slow GDP growth, a narrow tax base, spending pressures and bailout requests from state-owned enterprises. Analysts said there are worries South Africa faced significant fiscal challenges over the medium term. Senior University of Stellenbosch Business School Economics lecturer Nthabiseng Moleko said Godongwana should look at raising the country’s economic output or GDP as well as at revenue collection. “The government’s focus should be on how to capture the illicit financial flows, which is something that is not usually focused on.” She said this should be done by strengthening the capacity of Sars in effect to tax profit shifting or non-payment of taxes. Political…

Mwangi Githahu mwangi.githahu@inl.co.za LOAD shedding has been listed as one of the challenges facing the City in its efforts to recover Cape Town’s allure for foreign and domestic tourists after the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, including lockdowns and flight bans. Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis told legislature’s finance, economic opportunities and tourism standing committee that the significant impact of load shedding was making the possibility of meaningful economic recovery tougher. “The reputational harm it does to South Africa is quite great among tourists. It has safety impacts for tourists who are trying to walk around the city during times of load shedding and I really do think it had a deleterious effect on our tourism market.” Hill-Lewis was responding to questions from committee members, who wanted to know about the challenges…

Mohamed Saeed | Pietermaritzburg US PRESIDENT Joe Biden signed an executive order to release about $7 billion (R106bn) of Afghan funds held in US banks. He also directed that half of that money go to family members of September 11 victims and the other half into a trust fund to aid Afghans. Together with signing this unjust bill and creating a crisis in the banking system of Afghanistan, Biden also renewed sanctions. More than 20 years have passed since September 11, and the trial of the men arrested still drags on with technicalities – the actual trial has not started. The 9/11 Commission that investigated the attacks, lists Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, born in Kuwait, as the “principal architect” or mastermind of 9/11 and the nexus to al-Qaeda. Furthermore,…

Michael Bagraim | Highlands Estate THE letter, “Vagrants have more rights than hard-pressed taxpayers” (Cape Argus, February 16) refers. I am an ardent reader of the letters from Councillor Yagyah Adams. Often I disagree, but I always enjoy the reading. In this instance, Councillor Adams is outlining a clash of rights between the vagrants and the middle class. This is a perennial problem and experienced all over the world. Those in control of the cities have to be extremely careful when trying to enforce law and order and the clash of rights from different groups. Often these rights impinge upon another group being able to exercise their own rights peacefully. It is correct to say that the poor will always be among us, and it is also correct…

Chulumanco Mahamba chulumanco.mahamba@inl.co.za THE government has announced changes in the country’s vaccination programme including a reduction of time interval between doses, booster shots and the mixing of vaccines. The Department of Health yesterday announced changes with regards to the vaccination programme as part of ongoing efforts guided by scientific evidence to increase uptake of the Covid-19 vaccine in South Africa. From tomorrow, the interval between the first and second doses of the Pfizer vaccine will be reduced from 42 days to 21 days. “First, all individuals who are fully vaccinated with Pfizer vaccine, meaning they have received both doses, will now be eligible for a booster dose 90 days (or three months) after the second dose instead of the current 180 days (or six months) interval,” said department spokesperson Foster…

South Africa’s electricity infrastructure has been degrading the past decade, with both scheduled and unscheduled power outages on the increase. Despite slowed economic activity due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the country had 1 130 hours of planned power cuts last year – the highest ever. This not only leads to anger and frustration among the public, but also clearly handicaps businesses and their productivity. The alleviation of the electricity crisis is therefore a critical precondition for the country’s economic recovery. This is why observers have been watching President Cyril Ramaphosa’s strategy and its implementation with much anticipation. In the 2021 State of the Nation Address, Ramaphosa listed “the rapid expansion of our energy generation capacity” as one of government’s five top priorities. This year, he reiterated that this had not…

Juventus made a splash in the January transfer window when they snatched hot prospect Dusan Vlahovic and Switzerland midfielder Denis Zakaria, but their arrival has yet to provide the hoped-for boost ahead of today's Champions League visit to Villarreal. Massimiliano Allegri's side travel to Spain as the only Italian side with a realistic hope of making the last eight after Inter Milan were beaten 2-0 at the San Siro by Liverpool on Wednesday. However, they go into the first leg of their last-16 tie in unsure form, with results and, above all, performances that have left fans unsatisfied with All egri's first season back in black and white. Vlahovic arrived at Juve to great fanfare after joining from Fiorentina for an initial fee of €70-million (about R1.2-billion), with Zakaria arriving…