Innholdsfortegnelse for 2025-01-21 i Cape Argus

The correct interpretation of section 187(1)(f) read with section 187(2)(b) of the Labour Relations Act, 1996 (LRA) has been the subject of much debate over the years. In terms of these sections, a dismissal based on age will be automatically unfair (and constitute unfair discrimination), unless it can be shown that the employee ‘has reached the normal or agreed retirement age for persons employed in that capacity’. An ‘agreed’ retirement age may exist where an employee’s retirement date is specified in the employment contract or a separate document, and a ‘normal’ retirement age may occur where there is a standard practice of requiring employees to retire at a particular age. By way of example, where the agreed retirement age is 60 and the employee continues to work, can the employer…

THE police officer arrested for the rape of an awaiting-trial detainee has made his first appearance in the Blue Downs Magistrate’s Court. Constable Naveron Jacobs, 35, was formally charged on Friday, two days after the 41-year-old woman reported the incident to Pollsmoor correctional officers. Jacobs stood emotionless in the dock with his hands behind his back and did not turn to look at the public gallery. Before the court proceedings, the court addressed the media application to take pictures and videos of the accused. The Magistrate made a ruling that pictures taken inside the court should not reveal Jacobs’s face. The State confirmed that Jacobs has no convictions. The prosecutor, Brandon Clacher said the alleged incident was committed while the officer was on duty. Jacobs, an orderly who worked in…

THE Judge’s clerk who claimed that Eastern Cape High Court Judge President Selby Mbenenge had sexually harassed her, broke down in tears as she testified how Judge Mbenenge called her to his chambers and allegedly “fiddled” with the zip of his pants while displaying a “bulge” in his pants. She became emotional while she testified about pornographic pictures she claimed Judge Mbenenge had sent her. She broke into tears when she testified about the day at work when he called her to his chambers. She said she was walking past his chambers when he called her in a soft voice. He was standing at the door of his office, and his secretary was absent. “He asked me, ‘Do you see how much of an effect you have on me?’” According…

AS RESPECTED lawyer, Advocate Jeremy Gauntlett recused himself from the panel reviewing the Anglican Church of SA’s handling of sexual abuse reports against former camp master, John Smyth, alleged victim of molestation, a Wits University academic, has shared his trauma via a social media post. Dr Hylton White, a senior lecturer in anthropology, took to Facebook on January 16, where he said his patience had run out and braved to expose Gauntlett, claiming he had abused him while he was a teenager. Earlier, Archbishop Thabo Makgoba of Cape Town released a statement in which he said he accepted Gauntlett’s offer to step down from the panel. Via the Facebook post, White said he had “no choice” but to make his story known to the public, sharing intimate details of what…

Liverpool extended their lead at the top of the Premier League in dramatic fashion as two late Darwin Nunez goals beat Brentford before Arsenal stumbled at home to Aston Villa. At the other end of the table, Manchester United and Tottenham are looking over their shoulders at the relegation zone after dismal defeats on Sunday. Bournemouth brought Newcastle's winning streak to a stunning halt to further their case for a first ever European campaign next season. Here, we look at three talking points from the weekend's action. Seismic Saturday in the title race After the 90 minutes had come and gone at the Gtech Community Stadium, it looked like Arsenal could close to within two points of Liverpool with victory over Villa. By the end of the day, the Reds…

Orlando Pirates' invasion of Cairo is a clear statement of intent for their domestic and continental aspirations. The capital city of Cairo has a rich history, known as the gateway to ancient mysteries and modern marvels. In the football world, Al Ahly has been a marvel in their own right. With a record 12 Champions League titles and 44 Egyptian league titles to their name, it is no surprise they were named the club of the century by CAF. Goalless in the first leg, the Sea Robbers made the long trip to Cairo having already secured their place in the quarter-finals of the competition that they are attempting to win for the second time following their famous triumph in 1995. It was in the same city, more than a decade…

Traditional financial advice recommends maintaining three months’ expenses in an emergency fund. However, inflation erodes the value of cash, making it challenging to keep pace with rising costs. Some South Africans have considered placing emergency savings in tax-deductible retirement fund vehicles, aiming for potentially higher returns, especially with the flexible access options provided by the new Two-Pot Retirement System (although retirement funds should only be used for retirement purposes). This strategy is risky, I encourage South Africans to think carefully before using market-linked retirement funds for this purpose. During the Covid-19 pandemic, markets saw steep drops, leaving many who relied on their investments for emergencies withdrawing funds at a significant loss. This likely severely undermined the value of this money, causing many to go into debt at a time when…

MTV's Inside Life is gearing up for an unmissable season launch with its latest season subtitled, City Girls Are Up. Premièring next month, the new season promises to be an electrifying exploration into the lives of three trailblazing South African artists, amapiano vocalist Boohle, DJ, dancer and actress, Thee Buhle and singer, Bontle Smith. With their unique styles and indomitable spirits, these females are not just breaking barriers but also redefining the music landscape for the next generation of female creatives. Viewers can expect to see the music queens turn up the volume on what it means to be women in control, as they navigate the highs and lows of a demanding industry. From studio sessions to live performances, the series delves deep into the personal stories behind their personas,…

THE Makhaza Community Policing Forum (CPF) has raised the alarm about the safety of crime fighters following the murder of a neighbourhood watch member. Monwabisi Mkhutshulwa was shot at about 10pm on Friday night while on patrol. He was with nine other members when three unknown suspects opened fire at him. His partner and fellow patroller Boniswa Stoto says: “We left our home and joined other members, we saw a guy walking on the road, he was drunk, so we told him to go home. “And we saw him again and told him the same thing. And the third time we saw him was when we walked through a dark passage and he told us that he was finally going home to sleep. “I was walking in front, Monwabisi told…

THE corruption trial of former National Assembly Speaker, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, could kick off soon if her defence and the prosecution can find common ground on particulars she said she needed in order to prepare for her trial. Mapisa-Nqakula was back in the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, yesterday, where her legal team was due to argue for an application for the further particulars, which were contained in the case docket. But shortly before the proceedings started, both legal teams met with Judge Papi Mosopa in chambers, where it was agreed that they would meet during the next three weeks to see whether they could find common ground on what further details would be supplied to her and which would not. Her team had received part A of the case docket, but…

No South African team will contest the Champions Cup play-offs in May and while this is not a good reflection on the country’s participation in Europe, it illustrates that our locally based players are over-extended. Since South Africa joined the European competitions – while keeping one foot in the southern hemisphere for the Springboks – it has meant that the top players from our major franchises play from January to December. Much talk has been about the travel factor, but that is nonsense because the overseas teams tour South Africa. The simple reason that our teams are failing in the Champions Cup is that the opposition participates at their optimum. At the same time, the SA coaches juggle stressed resources across the United Rugby Championship, the Champions and Challenge Cups,…

Novak Djokovic was at the centre of another Australian Open row yesterday while Jannik Sinner needed medical attention in fierce heat to battle into the quarter-finals and Iga Swiatek won easily. But American teenage qualifier Learner Tien's fairytale run is over after he suffered a thigh problem in a four-set defeat to Italy's Lorenzo Sonego in Melbourne. Five-time major champion Swiatek torpedoed another feel-good story as she thrashed "lucky loser" Eva Lys 6-0, 6-1 to set up a meeting with eighth seed Emma Navarro. Poland's Swiatek, who accepted a one-month doping ban late last year, then learnt that the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) will not appeal in the case. She called it "closure". The 23-year-old has denied knowingly doping, saying non-prescription medication was contaminated. With temperatures rising above 30°C for…

The date for the renowned Cape Town International Jazz Festival was announced today and it will take place on April 25 and 26 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), leaving South Africans abuzz with excitement. The annual gathering, which is dubbed “Africa’s Grandest Gathering”, promises to be a memorable occasion as it will feature over 30 local and international artists. If you’re not yet a jazz aficionado but you want to immerse yourself in the energy and magic of this globally renowned festival, we’ve got you covered. Here are seven steps to dive into the world of jazz: 1. Start with the classics Familiarise yourself with legendary albums that have shaped the genre. Essential listens include: l Kind of Blue by Miles Davis. l A Love Supreme by…

THE Mother City’s status as the world’s best city is reflected in impressive tourist arrival numbers, with Cape Town International Airport recording over 533 000 visitors and significant growth across international, regional, and domestic travel sectors. On the back of Cape Town being recently named the Best City in the World by Time Out, Cape Town Tourism announced that regional travel saw an impressive 22.5% jump, and international arrivals climbed by 3.7%, showing that Cape Town’s reputation as a world-class destination is stronger than ever. They said Cape Town International Airport (CTIA) recorded a 3% year-on-year increase in passenger arrivals in December, signalling growing confidence in Cape Town as a premier global destination. With 533 829 arrivals, the numbers align with forecasted growth, showcasing a strong festive season for one…

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa has outlined a strategic approach to address the nation’s economic hurdles as he prepares for the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) annual gathering in Davos, Switzerland, scheduled from January 20-24. The prestigious meeting of global leaders will serve as a critical platform for Ramaphosa and his delegation to pre-emptively engage on economic issues facing South Africa in the lead-up to the G20 Summit later this year. In his latest weekly newsletter, Ramaphosa affirmed the government’s commitment to collaboration, stating that as his administration took office, it recognised the necessity of partnership across all levels of society to devise solutions to the country’s pressing challenges. “While South Africa has a rich history of dialogue and cooperation, our experience of the Covid-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of collaboration in saving…

WITH universities not having the capacity to absorb many of the country’s matriculants, the spotlight is now on Technical Vocational Education Training (TVET) colleges. Recently, universities revealed that they had received applications up to 30 times higher than available spaces for first-year applicants. However, TVET colleges offer skills-based qualifications that prepare candidates for absorption in the economy. They cater to students who want academic excellence, vocational skills, and to be entrepreneurial savvy. Hlumelo Kwetsube, a recent graduate of Electrical Infrastructure Construction from Lovedale TVET College in the Eastern Cape, is this week heading to Cairo in Egypt, to participate in a 22-day training programme alongside 39 other TVET college graduates from South Africa. The initiative, which aims to equip participants with world-class skills in appliance repair, is led by the…

THE Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) has used Penguin Awareness Day to raise awareness about the critically endangered African penguin, and also encourage support ahead of the forthcoming court case that it is fighting. SANCCOB is a registered non-profit organisation (NPO) with the primary objective to reverse the decline of seabird populations through the rescue, rehabilitation and release of ill, injured, abandoned and oiled seabirds – especially critically endangered species like the African penguin. The NPO said that the species has already lost over 97% of its population, and if “we don’t act now, they could vanish from the wild by 2035”. Together with BirdLife South Africa (BLSA), the two have taken the step to legally challenge the decision taken by the office of the…

MI Cape Town are back on the road tonight following their emphatic victory at home in Newlands this past weekend. They take on Durban's Super Giants at Kingsmead, one of the two grounds in the tournament – alongside Boland Park – that have seen spin bowlers have a considerable upper hand. Having lost at Boland Park last week, coach Robin Peterson's side will most certainly look deep into that loss in an attempt to rectify their mistakes tonight. If anything, their loss in Paarl came down to team selection and execution. Coach Peterson selected only two spinners for that game, while the Royals played three with Joe Root as the fourth spin option. Moreover, while George Linde and Rashid Khan bowled relatively well in those conditions, eight overs of spin…