Innholdsfortegnelse for 2022-02-25 i Cape Argus

Khotso KD Moleko | Manguang, Bloemfontein We all know there is freedom of expression in South Africa, but that should not always warrant a response of insults and disrespect to those views different from one’s own perspective, particularly when the commentator is a former president like Thabo Mbeki or a distinguished jurist like Mogoeng Mogoeng. It should not matter that you simply do not like someone. Your human emotions and taste mean nothing in the face of facts. If you have not walked a certain route, you should ask those who know the way. In this regard, there is no sane reason we should always be reminded about Thabo Mbeki’s views on HIV/Aids every time he suggests what is not in line with our sacred desires. If the…

Ghalied Geduldt | Maitland WE NEED to understand that Russian president Vladimir Putin’s recognition of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions in eastern Ukraine as independent states has a context that is more complex than a Russian invasion of Ukraine. Since the end of the Cold War, Nato has gradually expanded eastwards towards Russia by including former Soviet states as members of Nato. The expansion has reached Ukraine, which is not a member of Nato. Ukraine is on the border with Russia, which means that the presence of Nato troops and weaponry and an anti-Russian government in Ukraine is a direct threat to Russia’s security. Russia has engaged with Nato by articulating its concerns with regard to its security, vis-à-vis Nato expansion and Ukraine, and has proposed steps that…

Matthew Petersen matthew.petersen@inl.co.za THE Kenilworth Racecourse looks forward to welcoming guests to the Seafood and Jazz, Racing Festival tomorrow. The event is the final one of the racing season. Attendees can expect some of the finest seafood from food trucks in the seafood village, the best live jazz entertainment from local talents, entertainment for the little kids and, of course, high-adrenalin horse racing. Some of the highlights of the races include the Jonsson Workwear grade 1 derby and the Khaya Stables Jockeys versus Work Riders Challenge, with plenty of chances to win with high stakes involved. Jimmy Nevis will headline the event with excellent supporting acts from Nobuhle Ashanti Trio and Thandeka, and the Cameron Ward Band. Cape Town Racing marketing director Donovan Everitt said his group was working hard…

Nomalanga Tshuma nomalanga.tshuma@inl.co.za In a move set to please pro-Palestine activists, the host organisation of the International Public Arts Festival (IPAF) Baz-Art has cut its ties with the Israeli Embassy in South Africa, stepping back from association with the country. The five-day street art festival which had returned for its fully-fledged sixth edition this year, under the theme “Humanity” had seemingly been organised without a hitch before it received threats of a boycott over its association with Israel. Responding to the mounting pressure for it to disassociate with Israel, Baz-Art said on Tuesday evening that it denounced ties with the state after engagements with its stakeholders and the Israeli artists after noting the effect of its decision to facilitate sponsorship from Israel. Baz-Art spokesperson Denis Mol-ewa said: “After consulting with…

Global markets tumbled steeply yesterday as Russia launched a military assault on Ukraine, with investors bracing for a period of turmoil and energy-related disruptions. Most major Asian stock indexes fell about 3%, and markets in Europe dropped just as sharply in the early hours. For many indexes, it was the steepest decline since late last year, when the Omicron Covid-19 variant sparked fears of another dark phase in the pandemic. In the US, Dow futures sank more than 700 points. Although the Russian incursion is just beginning, signals yesterday, including strikes across Ukraine, suggested a wide-ranging military offensive that would trigger deep sanctions from the US and EU, hurting not just the Russian economy, but the whole world’s. The price of Brent crude oil surged past $105 a barrel for…

ESHLIN VEDAN eshlin.vedan@inl.co.za SPEAKING ahead of his team’s Champions League game against ES Setif of Algeria at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban today, AmaZulu FC coach Benni McCarthy bemoaned the congestion of fixtures his side face as they compete in the Premiership and in Africa. The Usuthu coach feels that the Premier Soccer League (PSL) should better plan league fixtures to allow teams to prepare for continental competition. “It’s been difficult to prepare under the circumstances,” McCarthy said. “We faced a marathon in December and then had to play (in the Champions League) last Friday before playing in the league on Tuesday. “We face another complicated game against Setif. Our opponents had a match postponed so that they could focus on this game. We are accumulating games. It disturbs our…

A month ago, Manchester City’s trip to Everton on Saturday looked like a game which would just be one more step on Pep Guardiola’s side’s inevitable march to the Premier League title. But a series of results in recent weeks makes the game not only a vital one for City, whose lead over Liverpool has been cut to just three points, but also has left Everton in desperate need of points in their battle for top flight survival. New manager Frank Lampard has no illusions about the difficulty of the task his team face at Goodison Park after defeat at Southampton last week dragged the Toffees further into the struggle at the foot of the table. “There is no magic wand to change things instantly and you need to work…

Sisonke Mlamla sisonke.mlamla@inl.co.za TAXI operators say the closure of route B97 between Mbekweni in Paarl and Bellville is hurting their pockets . The route was closed from July 26, after concerted efforts to stop violence between operators affiliated to the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association and the Congress of Democratic Taxi Associations failed. Since then, Transport and Public Works MEC Daylin Mitchell has been extending the months to reopen the route for the associations, with the last extension dated November 26, extended for a further three months. These end tomorrow. However, Mitchell’s spokesperson, Ntomboxolo Makoba-Somdaka, said Mitchell and the Department of Transport and Public Works (DTPW) were still exploring legal options for extra ordinary measures to be declared on route B97. Makoba-Somdaka said Mitchell would make an announcement on the…

Mayibongwe Maqhina mayibongwe.maqhina@inl.co.za DEPUTY President David Mabuza said yesterday that traditional leaders should never be limited to ceremonial and cultural responsibilities only. Mabuza also said the traditional leaders should be seen in the broader context of daily struggles of ordinary people in the search for a better quality of life, access to economic opportunities, improved infrastructure for service delivery as well as quality health and education outcomes. “Traditional leaders should therefore see themselves as catalysts and agents of change to bring about better development outcomes in areas under the jurisdiction of traditional leadership,” he said. Mabuza made the statements when he addressed the opening of the National House of the Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders in Cape Town. According to Mabuza, the government would continue to build and sustain strong collaborative…

The recently released crime statistics contextualise the overwhelmingly negative impact gender-based violence (GBV) has on the lives of thousands of women, girls, men and boys as it continues to be a barrier to society’s overall well-being and socio-economic development. Therefore, the Department of Social Development has increased its efforts in mitigating and addressing these issues. According to the UN, it is estimated that 736 million women – almost one in three – have been subjected to physical or sexual intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both at least once in their life (30% of women aged 15 and older). Moreover, these figures do not include sexual harassment. The latest crime statistics for October to December 2021, indicate that more than 14 188 incidents of sexual offences were reported, of…

Michael Bagraim | Highlands Estate WITH reference to Racial Tensions divide Sama (Cape Argus, February 22). The issue with regard to admission processes at medical schools can be very quickly resolved by asking every medical school to publish the criteria and the structure that is taken into account with regard to their admission policy. An open policy will take away all the suspicion and nasty allegations. I challenge every single medical school around South Africa to openly publish in the Cape Argus their criteria so that every applicant can see that they are judged equally.…

Matthew Petersen matthew.petersen@inl.co.za FORMER South African paralympian swimmer Achmat “Sharkboy” Hassiem is in a coma following complications after routine back surgery. The post-op complications left him on life support in the ICU. He was admitted to hospital in September last year for the initial operation. Hassiem grew up in Cape Town and attended Bergvliet High School. He was an unfortunate victim of a shark attack, which caused the lower part of his right leg to be amputated. The attack earned him the nickname “Sharkboy”. Hassiem represented South Africa at the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Paralympic games. He won the bronze medal in the 100m butterfly event in 2012. His condition in hospital since his operation seems to have gone from bad to worse and his family have provided updates on…

If you are doing the bidding of a government that wants to bully its opponents into silence to deflect charges that it is racist, most of the South African media are your friend. Readers, viewers and listeners have been told over the past few days that the Constitutional Court ordered Bongani Masuku, a former Cosatu official, to apologise to the Jewish community for remarks attacking supporters of the Israeli state. One outlet went further, publishing a sanctimonious opinion piece by a supporter of that state that wagged a finger at Masuku and droned on about the evils of hate. If you did see this, you probably don’t know that it thoroughly misrepresents the judgment and its importance. To explain why, some background is needed. The case centred on a verbal…

A son wept over the body of his father amid the wreckage of a missile strike in a residential district in the eastern Ukrainian town of Chuguiv as the country woke up yesterday to a Russian invasion. “I told him to leave,” the man in his 30s sobbed, next to the twisted ruins of a car. Nearby a woman screamed curses into the wintry sky. A missile crater, some four to five metres wide, was scoured into the earth between two devastated five-storey apartment buildings. Firefighters battled to extinguish the remains of a blaze. Several other buildings on the street were seriously damaged, their windows shattered and a door frame hanging in the frigid morning air. It was among the first reported damage after Russia launched an invasion of Ukraine…

WHEN Anthony Elanga rescued Manchester United with a late strike that salvaged a 1-1 draw at Atletico Madrid, the visiting English fans serenaded their new hero by singing ‘Came from Scandinavia, he’s United’s saviour’. It was hard to disagree. The Swedish teenager had not only pulled United back into a tie that was in danger of slipping away, but he has also emerged as a thrilling prospect for the Premier League club who are struggling for long-term solutions in attack. Marcus Rashford has had one of his worst seasons and was desperately poor against Atletico, while Cristiano Ronaldo’s goals and influence have started to wane. Anthony Martial was shipped out on loan to Sevilla last month, while Mason Greenwood is still suspended by the club after being arrested on suspicion…

PETER Shalulile has not become a bad striker overnight. That he’s only managed to score once in his last seven outings must be read as a sign of fatigue – and not his decline. After 30 games thus far this campaign, he has played 29. Granted, it’s every striker’s duty to score consistently, but the reality is that even top athletes need a break. However, it’s unfortunate that at Sundowns you are not afforded that luxury due to their heavy schedule. In the early stages of the season, Shalulile appeared fired up and ready to pick up where left off last season by doing what he does best: scoring goals. And that was a good sight for the footballing fraternity. Before Shalulile is a footballer, he’s a human being –…

Rafieka Williams rafieka.williams@inl.co.za THE Western Cape High Court has dismissed an application by a man who sought the review of a decision by the Clanwilliam Magistrate’s Court which implicated him in the death of his wife. Sean Todd sought a review from the high court regarding an inquest that was held at the Clanwilliam Magistrate’s Court following the death of his wife, Theresa Todd. The application states that in the early hours of January 14, 2016, while the couple were at a holiday resort in Cederberg, they took their mountain bikes and cycled on a trail. They stopped to take photos and after Todd snapped his wife, he walked off and left her behind. Todd said that he suddenly heard a scream, and when he turned around he saw her…

Sisonke Mlamla sisonke.mlamla@inl.co.za ONE month after the suspension of Community Safety MEC Albert Fritz, the ANC in the Western Cape is demanding an update from Premier Alan Winde on the progress of his investigation. Fritz was suspended by Winde late last month after sexual misconduct allegations were levelled against him. Soon after his suspension four more Western Cape government officials involved in the scandal were also suspended. Advocate Jennifer Williams was appointed as the independent legal counsel to conduct an external investigation, which was ongoing. Odette Cason, from the office of Premier Alan Winde, said Winde was due to meet with advocate Williams once her report was finalised. “We expect this to occur soon and will communicate further once a report is made available to the premier,” Cason said. She…

STARTING to study at a higher education institution is often something celebrated by learners and their families. It is a dream come true for disadvantaged and poor South Africans. However, some students intending to access higher education are met with various administrative issues that limit their capabilities. The start of the academic year is an anxious time, especially being unable to register on time and homeless to a certain extent. Many are faced with a tale of either student housing nightmare, registration challenges, funding problems or fighting for re-admission to academic programmes. A study conducted at a historically black university in the Western Cape in 2020 and 2021, demonstrated that provisions to access higher education are made possible by the government as per the Bill of Rights outlined in…

Current incidents of global and local importance reveal a growing patience with domineering rather than democratic politics. Public figures declare truths and defend their actions increasingly with performances of unwavering conviction, such as last week when the EFF’s Julius Malema declared in court that he would be president of South Africa. Analyses of geopolitics increasingly focus on the conduct and strongman statements of individual heads of state, such as to focus on s presidents Vladimir Putin and Joe Biden, to analyse Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Judicial institutions must defend themselves increasingly against individual challengers, as illustrated by Justice Raymond Zondo’s application to the high court for more time to finish the commission’s report and prepare for legal challenges by senior political leaders that will follow its release. As in previous…

Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine yesterday, killing dozens and forcing hundreds to flee for their lives in the pro-Western neighbour. Russian air strikes hit military facilities across the country and ground forces moved in from the north, south and east, triggering condemnation from Western leaders and warnings of massive sanctions. Weeks of intense diplomacy failed to deter Putin, who massed over 150 000 troops on Ukraine’s borders in what the West said was the biggest military build-up in Europe since the Second World War. Russia this week officially recognised the independence of the separatist Donetsk and Lugansk (Donbas) regions of Ukraine and urged Kyiv to stop the bloodshed there. However, Ukrainian forces continued attacks and Putin ordered a special operation which he said…

LIVERPOOL boss Jurgen Klopp said he was more concerned about his side remaining on the front foot than how big the gap was between them and leaders Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table after Wednesday’s thrashing of Leeds United. City’s unrelenting form had seen the champions look on course to comfortably seal their fourth league title in five seasons, but Liverpool have kept pace, waiting for Pep Guardiola’s side to slip up. A surprise defeat to Tottenham Hotspur at the weekend opened the door for Liverpool, who grasped the opportunity with both hands, putting six goals past a hapless Leeds and closing the gap on City to three points - the closest the Reds have been to the champions since Christmas Day. “We honestly don’t chase…

HERMAN GIBBS herman.gibbs@gmail.com FIVE-TIME champions Mamelodi Sundowns will host ABC Motsepe side Mathaithai FC in the Nedbank Cup last-16 round opener at the Lucas Moripe Stadium, Atteridgeville, on March 8. Fixtures will commence that Tuesday and end on Sunday, March 13, when Premiership strugglers TS Galaxy and Baroka FC clash at the Mbombela Stadium. On March 9, Marumo Gallants will host eight-time champs Orlando Pirates at Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane. Of the remaining teams in the Nedbank Cup at this stage, Pirates are the most successful team. On Friday afternoon, March 11, Venda Football Academy and the University of Pretoria will battle it out at Thohoyandou Stadium. Later that day, Swallows FC and Royal AM will play in an evening kick-off at Dobsonville Stadium. The next day, Mthatha Stadium…