Validity of Winelands pay road questioned as Sanral goes ahead with controversial R10-billion project.

Cape Town - The Record of Decision allowing Sanral to go ahead with its controversial R10-billion N1/N2 Winelands toll project may have expired, raising a major question about the validity of the project.

All major construction projects require an environmental impact assessment to be carried out. Based on this, the go-ahead is then given or denied by the Minister of Environmental Affairs in a document called a Record of Decision.

The Winelands toll project received its Record of Decision in 2005. Following objections, it was reissued on February 28, 2008 and signed by the then-Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Marthinus van Schalkwyk.

However, a specific clause in the document could now bring the large-scale project to a halt before it is even off the ground.

To date, no work has started on the project, and the clause states that if work has not commenced on it within four years of the signing of the Record of Decision, it will expire and a new application has to be made. The four-year period ended in February last year.

However, Sanral spokesman Vusi Mona said while they could not comment in detail as they considered the matter sub judice, they did not view the Record of Decision as having expired and would present their reasons in court.

The City of Cape Town is seeking an urgent interdict to halt the project and the matter will be heard in the Western Cape High Court next month.

In 2011, the city declared an intergovernmental dispute with Sanral over the tolls, saying the environmental impact assessment and Intent to Toll processes were flawed.

In October that year, then-Transport Minister S’bu Ndebele placed all tolling projects on hold but, during that time, Sanral continued with the process, subsequently naming the preferred bidder (Protea Parkways Consortium)

.

The city says that despite several requests, Sanral refuses to provide information on what the project will cost, and what the toll fees will most likely be.

Brett Herron, mayco member for transport for the City of Cape Town, said Sanral claimed that it had stalled the expiry of the Record of Decision by starting some of the work itself.

Court papers include a letter from Environmental Minister Edna Molewa dated September 2012, which indicates that a number of activities had commenced.

These include periodic maintenance of the N1 between Koelenhof and the Huguenot toll plaza and the widening of the N1 between the Huguenot toll plaza and the tunnel. This, however, raises further questions.

Sanral has indicated that because the roads have been declared tolls by the minister, they are now “precluded” from using their annual budget to fund necessary work, making the start of the toll project all the more urgent.

But, this begs the question how it has funded the works already completed, totalling R296 million with no concessionaire in place.

“Sanral must have funded or partially funded these works,” the city says.

And, if so, “it can pay for whatever works are genuinely urgent so that they go ahead without delay”, the city adds.

Even if the project does go ahead with the Record of Decision, it could be some time before it gets under way. By Sanral’s own admission, the process of negotiating with a concessionaire could be a “time-consuming and lengthy project”.

In the meantime, the situation presented to the Minister of Environmental Affairs in the original application, could have changed. Some of the specialist reports measuring economic, social, noise, air quality and water impacts available on Sanral’s website are 10 years old.

A second economic impact assessment, drawn up in 2008, is nearly five years old.

Mona said this week that the 2002 documents are still valid. In the reports, no tariffs are suggested and experts have made projections using a general “high toll” figure and a “low toll figure”.

According to these reports:

l The best option to cover the costs would be through the fuel levy. But as money from this levy goes into the general fiscus and cannot be ring-fenced, this is not a viable option. Tolling is the second best option.

l Tolling has “very high benefit-to-cost ratios” where for every rand of expenditure, benefits totalling R7.70 would be reaped in the case of toll plazas and of R10.80 if electronic open tolling (e-tolling) is used.

l There will be some economic “losers”, including certain industries and lower income groups.

l It will affect alternative routes as a result of diversions by those not wanting to pay tolls, causing higher maintenance costs on these roads.

l In most instances, noise impact would be low. However, noise on certain stretches of the road, including land near the N1 between Durban Road and Paarl and near the N2 between Vanguard Drive and Somerset West was already “unacceptably high”. This would need to be mitigated.

l The N1 and N2 are getting to the end of their “design life”, calling for serious upgrades. A recent media release by Sanral states that the roads have deteriorated, with “crocodile cracking” occurring in some areas, which can cause potholes.

A City of Cape Town study of the roads indicates:

l Many cases where Sanral has indicated a need for increased capacity, yet there is no pressing need.

l The Huguenot tunnel south bore equipment, which Sanral says is nearing the end of its design life and creates a safety hazard, should be replaced, using toll fees from the tunnel. Creating a second bore wouldn’t address the problem.

l Sanral refuses to hand over most recent reports for each section of the road, which would detail the extent of deterioration. But the most recent road conditions report published on the Sanral website shows the road quality for the affected sections vary from “fair to good” to “good”.

l The city says crocodile cracking can be addressed through routine maintenance. - Weekend Argus

The family of Sanie “American” Davids believe an explosive device was placed under his car moments after he arrived home.

Cape Town - Alleged gang leader Sanie “American” Davids narrowly escaped a suspected bomb attack on his home in Kensington on Friday night.

Family of Davids believed an explosive device was placed under his vehicle, a white Mercedes-Benz, moments after he arrived home around 8.30pm.

His sister, Faldiela Davids, said she was at the back of the house when she heard a big bang shortly after her brother arrived.

“It sounded like an explosion,” she said. “When we went to the front of the house we could see smoke coming from the vehicle.”

Police spokesman FC van Wyk said the police were investigating and had opened a case of malicious damage to property.

On Friday night, the police cordoned off a section of 12th Street while they combed the scene for clues.

When the Weekend Argus team arrived on the scene, Davids was inspecting the damage caused to his vehicle.

The attack was the second in a week after the Glenhaven house of alleged Sexy Boys gang leader Jerome “Donkie” Booysen was also attacked.

Booysen’s home was petrol-bombed twice and shot at four times during a brazen dusk attack. An Audi R8’s back wheel was flattened and a Volkswagen Polo’s hatch and bumper burnt during the bomb attacks and shooting which took place last Thursday.

Shots were also fired into a garage and gate.

No injuries were reported from the attack outside the house, which is surrounded by surveillance cameras.

The fire brigade was called, but neighbours had doused the flames by the time they arrived. - Weekend Argus

Matt Silver-Vallance has landed safely after floating from Robben Island to the mainland using 200 helium filled balloons.

Cape Town - Matt Silver-Vallance has landed safely after floating from Robben Island to the mainland using 200 helium filled balloons on Saturday.

The navy sounded four fog horns to congratulate him for his achievement.

Silver-Vallance carried out the stunt in an attempt to raise R10-million for the building of the Nelson Mandela Children's Hospital.

He took off from the island earlier on Saturday.

Due to wind conditions, Silver-Vallance had to let the colourful array of balloons go as he was pulled in by sea rescue vessels and rubber ducks earlier than expected.

He fell onto a rubber duck and was not far from his target. He was meant to land beyond the breakers.

He waved when he passed the SAS Umhloti carrying journalists that were tracking his journey.

During the day, the weather remained foggy with a slight drizzle.

Earlier, take-off was delayed because the wind was blowing in the wrong direction and some balloons had popped. - Sapa

Video footage shows a woman being punched in the face after rugby fans came to blows at Newlands. [GRAPHIC VIDEO].

Cape Town - Two video clips are making the rounds on YouTube, revealing how a woman was injured as she tried to stop a fight between spectators at the Stormers and Crusaders match at Newlands at the Easter Weekend.

The beginning of one clip, which was recorded at close range, shows spectators standing as an argument starts between two men.

The woman who was injured in the punch-up that followed tries to intervene and to reason with the hostile parties.

The woman, whose seat is below the two men, stands facing them.

Within seconds, the fight escalates, with more men joining in, coming from all sides.

Pushing and shoving, at least eight men can be seen throwing punches, with one burly man punching from behind.

The burly man hits the the woman in the face as she tries to stop the fighting by pushing him away.

The impact of the blow sees her body bouncing back and her head hits a chair in the Railway Stand, hard.

A woman comes to her aid, but the victim lies motionless.

Later, paramedics put on a neck brace and use a stretcher to carry her away for further treatment.

ER24 spokeswoman Vanessa Jackson confirmed that ER24 had been at the scene, but she was unable to give details on the severity of the woman’s injuries.

Howard Kahn, spokesman for Western Province Rugby, said he was aware of the video clips but was not allowed to comment.

The Cape Argus was unable to reach Western Province Rugby managing director Rob Wagner on Sunday.

His phone was switched off.

Last week, the Stormers were booed as they exited their team bus before the match.

And later, as the post-match presentation ceremony took place on the pitch, the tension in the Railway Stand, where the video was filmed, boiled over into a fist fight between fans.

In the restroom at the stadium, a Cape Town psychologist, who reportedly spoke to one of the Cape Crusaders asking why he supported the New Zealand team, was told: “F*k jou, jou wit n**i.”

The Crusader supporter reportedly continued: “You white f****ers abused us for decades. Now, those black f***ers are doing the same.”

Sharon Poole of Kuils River, who is a New Zealand supporter and who was at the game, said she was mocked and heckled by Stormers supporters for wearing a Crusaders jersey.

She said she had witnessed the fight on the Railway Stand that was captured on the video clip.

natasha.bezuidenhout@inl.co.za

Cape Argus

ANC MP Sue van der Merwe was strangled until she lost consciousness when her Cape Town home was robbed, a report said.

Cape Town - ANC MP Sue van der Merwe was assaulted when her Cape Town home was robbed, according to a report on Monday.

“Two males assaulted and strangled her until she lost consciousness. The suspects fled when her son arrived home,” Captain Frederick van Wyk told The Times newspaper.

Van der Merwe, 58, was attacked in her Rondebosch home just before 9pm on Friday.

The robbers reportedly made off in a silver Hyundai. Bank cards were missing from the home.

The African National Congress MP worked for the Black Sash in Cape Town from 1988 to 1991, The Times reported.

She became an MP in 1996 and served as deputy minister of foreign affairs from 2004 to 2009. She was a parliamentary counsellor to the president from 2001 to 2004. - Sapa

Researchers will start a nine-month study this week to find out who initiated and led the farmworkers' wage strike in the Cape.

Cape Town - Researchers at UCT and an NGO start a nine-month study this week to find out who initiated and led the farmworker’s wage strike.

UCT Centre for African Studies director Lungisile Ntsebeza and Surplus People Project’s Herschelle Milford will lead researchers who are expected to visit farming communities around De Doorns, Citrusdal and Langeberg.

Researchers will start interviews this week and continue until June.

“It had been neglected in media reports how workers organised themselves and really who were the leaders in the trenches,” Milford said.

She said preliminary conversations showed workers were organised in small area forums, who reported back to people each evening after a day of protesting.

Farming towns across the Western Cape came to a standstill between November and February when workers protested against poor wages and their harsh living conditions.

Workers complained they could not live on their R69 daily minimum wage, set by the government.

This led to Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant increasing the daily minimum wage for farmworkers to R105 after inputs by farmers and workers.

The research wants answers to:

* Who initiated and led the strike?

* What were their aims?

* What was the role of permanent and seasonal workers?

* What was the role of farmworker committees, trade unions, individuals, political parties and NGOs?

* And why did the strike happen in some areas and not in others?

The strike had not spread to wine farms, while table grape producing farms saw major disruptions.

Researchers hope to publish their first report in December and will follow conditions on farms over the next three years. Data will be collected through interviews, news reports, footage of the strike and pamphlets distributed during the strike.

The researchers also invited other NGOs to assist with their research.

cobus.coetzee@inl.co.za

Cape Times

The WMA will advise physicians about the risks of working in the UAE, triggered by the legal action against Dr Cyril Karabus. .

Cape Town - In an unprecedented move triggered by the Cyril Karabus case, the World Medical Association (WMA) will advise physicians around the globe about the risks of working in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

It has encouraged its 102 member countries to do the same in a decision made at a WMA council meeting in Bali late last week.

At first, the SA Medical Association (Sama) pushed for the world association to call for health workers to boycott the UAE, but it settled on the advisory instead.

Karabus, 78, the retired Cape Town paediatric oncologist who has been detained there for about eight months, was acquitted of a manslaughter charge two weeks ago, but last week the prosecution announced it planned to appeal.

Since being released on bail about six months ago, Karabus has been staying with fellow South African doctor Elwin Buchel in Abu Dhabi.

On Sunday, in a phone interview with the Cape Times, Karabus said he was set to appear in a UAE court again on Tuesday.

He said he had been told about the WMA advisory and while he hoped it would have an impact, he did not believe it would affect UAE authorities.

“I don’t think they care … I don’t think they’ll take too much notice,” Karabus said.

He believed a call for medics to boycott the UAE would have been more effective and possibly make authorities take note.

At the council meeting in Bali, where scores of physicians from across the world gathered, the WMA passed a resolution saying it believed Karabus was being treated in a manner “which fails to meet international fair trial standards and he should be allowed to return home immediately”.

“The meeting also decided that in the light of this experience, the WMA will publish an advisory notice in the World Medical Journal and on the WMA website advising doctors thinking of working in the UAE to note the working conditions and the legal risks of employment there.

“The WMA will also encourage its 102 member associations to publish similar advisory notices in their national publications,” a statement on the WMA’s website said.

On Sunday, Mzukisi Grootboom, the Sama spokesman who was involved in the resolution and had just returned from the WMA council meeting, said he had been told the association had “never done anything close to this” before.

He was told it was “unprecedented”, he said.

He did not know what to make of the prosecution’s decision to appeal Karabus’s acquittal. “We’re not sure if this is done to spite him,” he said.

Since Karabus’s arrest in the UAE in August, Sama had been calling for the WMA to advise medical workers to boycott the UAE. Since December, Sama had also been writing to the WMA about Karabus’s case.

Grootboom said even though the WMA did not agree to the boycott of the UAE, the advisory to physicians about the risks of working there was a step forward.

The WMA had agreed to:

* Publish the advisory on its website.

* Alert its 102 member countries, spread across North and South America, west and east Europe, Asia and some

African countries, of the advisory.

* Publish the advisory in the World Medical Journal.

On Sunday, Karabus’s South African lawyer Michael Bagraim said he had been receiving e-mails from medical associations “across the globe”.

He said if Karabus was detained even longer, it could seriously impact on health workers travelling to the UAE.

“It looks very strongly that doctors worldwide would boycott going there,” Bagraim said.

Karabus was arrested in the UAE while in transit through Dubai on August 18 and released on bail two months later.

He had been tried in absentia and convicted of manslaughter and falsifying documents after the death of a three-year-old in 2002 at the Sheikh Khalifa Medical Centre in Abu Dhabi, where he had been a locum.

Karabus was sentenced to four years in jail.

caryn.dolley@inl.co.za

Cape Times

A teenage sex worker was kidnapped and raped allegedly by a Cape couple in a terrifying two-day hostage orgy.

Western Cape - A teenage sex worker was kidnapped and raped allegedly by a Cape couple in a terrifying two-day hostage orgy.

The drama began when the 18-year-old victim was approached by a 52-year-old man on Main Road in Kenilworth last week.

He took the girl back to his home where he and his wife had a threesome with her.

But the couple then allegedly refused to let the girl leave – and allegedly subjected her to days of horrific sexual abuse.

The terrified teen eventually managed to escape from the pair at 11am on Friday.

She ran out of the house naked and screaming before a brave neighbour came to her rescue.

“I was at the house next door when I saw the girl running out of the house in the nude,” the neighbour – who does not want to be identified – told the Daily Voice.

“I took her to another neighbour’s house and moments later the other woman came out.

“She [female suspect] said nothing as she looked down the road.

“It seems like she was looking for the girl, but she was already inside another house.

“The girl told us she is a sex worker and she said they did not want to let her go and that she had been there for two days already.

“She managed to escape the first chance she got.”

A second woman who drove the girl to the police station said the teen got hysterical when she saw the man walking in the road while on her way to the police station.

“As we were driving, we saw him walking down the road as if he was looking for her,” said the woman, who also does not want to be identified.

“When she saw him, she started to panic and pointed him out to us.

“She told us she was not from here and she was looking for work when he [suspect] picked her up.”

Police arrested the pair shortly afterwards.

Shocked residents threatened to take matters into their own hands when news of the girl’s horror ordeal unfolded.

Some residents pitched up outside Belhar Police Station demanding that the two be released so the community could “deal with them”.

Police spokesperson Captain Frederick van Wyk confirmed the couple will appear in court on Monday charged with rape and kidnapping.

“She [sex worker] alleged that she had been kidnapped in Kenilworth and then raped at a house in Sampson Street, Belhar,” Captain van Wyk said.

“She identified the house and alleged perpetrators and police then arrested a 52-year-old male and a 38-year-old female.

“The matter was then referred to the Delft FCS and upon further investigation the girl acknowledged that she was a sex worker and that the male picked her up on the Main Road in Kenilworth.

“The girl alleged that she fled after the suspects refused that she leave.”

Sue van der Merwe was recovering well after she was assaulted during a robbery at her Cape Town home, her brother said.

Cape Town - ANC MP Sue van der Merwe was recovering well after she was assaulted during a robbery at her Cape Town home, her brother said on Monday.

“She is recovering well from her injuries and will be returning to her parliamentary duties in the near future,” Gordon Young said in a statement.

He said security company ADT and police responded rapidly to the situation and police were investigating various leads.

Van der Merwe, 58, was attacked in her Rondebosch home just before 9pm on Friday.

According to a report, two men assaulted and strangled her until she lost consciousness but fled when her son arrived home.

However, Young denied his sister lost consciousness.

“No, no, she didn't lose consciousness,” he said.

“Sue van der Merwe and her family are grateful to them (ADT and police) and to the many friends who have offered support.”

The African National Congress MP worked for the Black Sash in Cape Town from 1988 to 1991, The Times reported.

She became an MP in 1996 and served as deputy minister of foreign affairs from 2004 to 2009. She was a parliamentary counsellor to the president from 2001 to 2004. - Sapa

Senior citizens from Cape Town’s Ward 43 have called for councillor Irma Jackson to be given her marching orders.

Cape Town - Residents living in Ward 43 want their councillor expelled for letting down senior citizens.

Last month, the disciplinary committee found Democratic Alliance Councillor Irma Jackson guilty of “bringing a councillor’s name into disrepute”.

She was fined R6 000 and issued a warning after 40 elderly people paid R3 000 for a trip to Durban which did not materialise.

But Baronise Henry, a Strandfontein resident, said the fine was a slap on the wrist.

“Councillor Jackson has not once apologised to the constituents of Ward 43 for her unscrupulous behaviour towards the seniors of the community.

“Did they interview the seniors who were so bitterly disappointed?

“Did they interview the children and/or other relatives and friends of the seniors who had to make several telephone calls and drive up and down after the councillor to recover the monies paid to her?”

Henry said there were still many unanswered questions and that the sentence should not have been so lenient.

“What is the use of a disciplinary committee when disciplinary action amounts to a slap on the wrist, depending on who you are?”

On Facebook, the Proudly Strandfontein group said residents had no faith in their councillor.

“That’s a slap on the wrist! I really do think that we should get the Public Protector to look at this matter because if this were a regular person, they would be charged with fraud, so why should this ward councillor be any different?” wrote Denver Chrystie.

“We, as the residents of Ward 43, have no faith in her.

“She should face the consequences of her actions.”

Gail Small wrote: “I agree with you all and feel she should be removed from her post. How can someone be so dishonest, lead or represent our community?”

Mario Oostendurp, chairperson of the Strandfontein East Ratepayers Association, wrote: “Many residents whom I have spoken to in the Strandfontein East area have requested that the ratepayers association lodge a formal complaint on their behalf.”

Meanwhile, the ANC has written a letter to the Public Protector to investigate the charges brought against Jackson.

In the letter, the ANC asks the public protector to evaluate the due process in respect of objectivity, to evaluate the disciplinary process, to make recommendations and to investigate the conduct of the legal practitioners.

Earlier, Anthea Serritslev, chairperson of the disciplinary committee, said the outcome of the disciplinary hearing had been fair.

She said Jackson had been let down by her travel agent and had not acted for personal gain. - Cape Argus

The Western Cape Education Department is confident it will reach the goal of universal access to Grade R by 2014.

Cape Town - About 88 percent of public primary schools in the province now offer Grade R and the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) is confident it will reach the goal of universal access to the grade by 2014.

WCED spokesperson Paddy Attwell said 1 288 schools (932 public schools and 356 private pre-schools) in the province offer Grade R.

He said a further 50 schools would have to start offering Grade R to ensure universal access by next year.

“The department is confident that we will reach the goal of universal access to Grade R, as defined in White Paper 5, the national policy document on early childhood development.

“According to the policy, education authorities will be satisfied that we have achieved universal access when at least 80 percent of public primary schools offer Grade R, with independent pre-schools largely catering for the balance,” said Attwell.

He said the department had built more than 290 Grade R classrooms over the past four years. A total of 74 779 children were in Grade R this year and the department hoped that 76 000 children would be receiving a Grade R education in 2013.

Attwell said schools had employed 2 284 Grade R practitioners, while the department had employed 192 Grade R teachers. “The department changed its model for financing Grade R about 12 years ago, from employing permanent teachers to subsidising schools per Grade R learner. This made it much easier to improve access to Grade R in poor communities.”

According to the South African Schools Act, parents may enrol five-year-olds who will be turning six (during the year) in Grade R.

Attwell said the department encouraged parents to keep their children in Grade R for a second year if they were younger than the age norm for Grade 1. - Cape Argus

The five winners of Helen Zille’s HIV testing lottery will be announced in Cape Town on Monday.

Cape Town - Five people who took part in a HIV testing lottery in February will win R10 000 on Monday.

Western Cape Premier Helen Zille will be drawing the names of those who have won after the launch of a disability pilot project on Monday morning.

The Get Tested To Win campaign launched by Zille caused controversy last year, when the campaign enticed people with a R50 000 cash prize and five R10 000 prizes, to be tested at provincial testing stations.

The campaign, launched on November 25, 2011, during the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children was slammed by the South Africa Medical Association (Sama).

At the time, Sama’s head of public sector committee Dr Phophi Ramathuba urged the public to resist the temptation of being tested for incentives.

She said at the time that the campaign undermined the poor, medical professionals and all the hard work that had gone into de-stigmatising HIV in South Africa.

Ramathuba said the campaign implied HIV was only a problem among the poor. “We all know that this disease is non-discriminatory,” she said.

But the campaign was well received and Zille said a total of 10 631 people had been tested over 10 days.

“The main focus of the campaign was to start addressing women and children’s vulnerability to HIV infection in a meaningful and substantive way. Key to achieving this is for everyone to take responsibility for knowing their HIV status by getting tested,” Zille said before announcing the winners in December last year.

Following the running of a similar campaign in February this year, Zille will be announcing the five R10 000 winners of the HIV campaign lottery draw at 11.30am at the Provincial Legislature building in Wale Street.

Meanwhile, the disability pilot, which will be launched at 9.30am at the Bardale Hall in Emfuleni, will run for a month and will be in the form of a “comprehensive” household survey in communities.

The pilot is in connection with the Uhambo Foundation, an NGO that helps those with disabilities and their families.

The surveys will help in identifying homes with children or youth living with disabilities and will link them to referral systems, where they and their families can receive support. - Cape Argus

The Department of Agriculture insists its funding of the Black Association of the Wine and Spirit Industry is above-board.

Cape Town - The Department of Agriculture said there was nothing untoward about it funding the Black Association of the Wine and Spirit Industry (Bawsi).

This comes after Agri SA president Johannes Moller called for Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson to explain “the state’s role in the Western Cape (farm) labour unrest” between November and January.

Bawsi’s president Nosey Pieterse, through the guise of an offshoot union the Building and Allied Workers Union of South Africa (Bawusa), played a major role in mobilising farmworkers to strike and demand higher wages and better living conditions throughout the province. The end result of the violent strikes, which saw vineyards torched and the deaths of three people, was a 52-percent increase in the minimum wage for the sector.

Pieterse admitted to the Cape Argus that he had received money after applying for funding from the department in July.

The reporting of this in the media last week lead Moller to challenge Joemat-Pettersson.

Mokutule Kgobokoe, the department’s chief director of Sector Capacity Development, responded to the Cape Argus’s questions about the funding by explaining that a damning 2011 Human Rights Watch report on the “appalling working conditions” of farmworkers in the Western Cape had prompted the department to make funding available for NGOs working with farmworkers.

After studying its profile and proposal, the department was convinced that Bawsi could assist in addressing the plight of farmworkers.

The funding (R4-million for a period of two years) was granted under the condition that Bawsi provided certain predefined services.

Cape Argus

Western Cape ANC spokesperson Marius Fransman has entered the fray over a race-related UCT newspaper article.

Cape Town - The African National Congress in the Western Cape has condemned as offensive a UCT student newspaper article about which race was more attractive.

The article in Varsity News carried results of a student survey which found that when it came to dating, whites were more attractive than blacks, coloureds or Indians.

Varsity editor Alexandra Nagel had apologised last week following outrage on social networks and from students and lecturers.

The article had intended to engage readers about a relevant topic, and was not meant to offend, she said.

ANC provincial chairperson Marius Fransman said on Sunday: “The ANC welcomes the position of UCT as an institution slamming the article and have noted the half-baked apology by the editor of the campus rag.”

Fransman accused the DA of being silent on the issue.

“The DA six months ago actively electioneered, with DA leader Helen Zille at the helm, to take control of the UCT SRC, of which Varsity is a mouthpiece. It is evident that the DA’s tactic is to deepen the divide between people along racial lines to create black gevaar (threat) aversion and take control,” Fransman said.

DA provincial leader Ivan Meyer said he was also shocked by Varsity’s article, which “will deepen divisions we have in our society”.

“Varsity has nothing to do with the DA. UCT does not belong to the DA. It belongs to the people.

“He (Fransman) is starting his election campaign by not saying what the ANC is doing for the people… The ANC has nothing left to fight with, and it seems race is the last thing they use,” Meyer said.

DA SRC representative Tarryn Naude said: “We did release a statement to our constituency rejecting the article. The piece in Varsity was inappropriate and perpetuates race-based thinking.

“We recognise the article was opinion by the writer, rather than fact. The writer surveyed 60 students out of about 20 000, and so that article has no statistical value.” - Cape Times

The cleaners inside the Parliament lift that dropped three floors this weekend thought they were going to die.

Cape Town - One of the women injured after free-falling in a lift at Parliament described hearing a loud bang before the elevator started filling with smoke.

The Labour Department and the national Public Works Department have launched an investigation into the incident.

Nomntu Mbukushe, 35, from Gugulethu was one of 10 contracted cleaners working in the Marks Building at Parliament when the lift they were in malfunctioned and dropped three floors on Friday evening.

The building, which is home to the offices of several opposition parties, was cordoned off until engineers certified the safety of the other lifts this weekend.

The group sustained various back, leg and knee injuries.

“We were going downstairs from our tea break at 8pm. We got in the lift on the third floor, pressed the button to go down and then I heard a big bang. It fell so quickly, we all fell on each other. Everyone was screaming,” Mbukushe said.

Mbukushe said their screams echoed in the tiny space as smoke started filtering in from the roof of the lift.

“We pressed the alarm button in the lift, but the two men who were in the lift managed to open a small gap in the doors for us to get out. We had to help the women with broken legs who couldn’t stand up. I was so scared, I thought we were going to burn to death in there. One of the ladies on the third floor heard the loud bang. She ran down the stairs and when she heard us scream she called for help,” she said.

The mother of three was recovering from knee injuries at Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital on Sunday with three others, including Siphokazi Ntotho, who underwent surgery for a fractured ankle.

The rest were discharged on Saturday.

“I struggled to sleep that night because I was so scared. We’ve used that lift so many times but nothing like this happened before. I never want to see a lift again,” Mbukushe said.

Labour Department spokesperson Musa Zondi said inspectors visited the site on Saturday to establish what led to the accident.

“We can’t speculate the cause at this point. Once the investigation is complete, it will be reported to labour minister Mildred Oliphant. As this also resulted in injuries while on duty, we are looking into issues in terms of compensation,” he said.

Parliamentary spokesperson Luzuko Jacobs said only the double lifts at the entrance of the Marks Building will be grounded while engineers conduct maintenance checks.

The staff lift is still operational, he said. - Cape Times

Western Cape premier Helen Zille has drawn the names of the five R10 000 winners in her HIV testing campaign lottery.

Cape Town -

Over 4 000 Western Cape residents took part in an HIV testing campaign lottery in February, provincial premier Helen Zille said on Monday.

“The data that has emerged from it has been encouraging, making a case for the effectiveness of this kind of focused testing campaign,” she told reporters at the audited draw of five winners in Cape Town.

The province ran a campaign between February 4 and February 22 in each district municipality of the Western Cape and in two sub-districts of the Cape Town metro.

Those who took part stood a chance of winning one of five R10 000 cash prizes.

The winners of the campaign came from Bellville in Cape Town, Wittedrift in the Eden district, Laingville on the West Coast, Kleinmond in the Overberg, and Rondavels in the Central Karoo and Winelands district.

Their identities were not made known.

Zille said that of the 4001 people who took part, 55 percent were women.

“This is very significant, because ordinarily the gender breakdown of those who test for HIV under normal circumstances is 30 percent male and 70 percent female,” she said.

About 17 percent of the group claimed this was their first HIV test.

Three-quarters of the group tested was between the ages of 15 and 44, which is the most-at-risk age bracket.

“Testing is a crucial step in our battle against HIV.... We are hoping it will become a part of people's lives. They go for a dental check-up once a year. They should go for an HIV test (at least) once a year.” - Sapa

The ANC wished party MP Sue van der Merwe a speedy recovery after she was assaulted during a robbery at her home.

Cape Town - The ANC wished party MP Sue van der Merwe a speedy recovery on Monday after she was assaulted during a robbery at her home in Cape Town.

“The office has been in contact with her and can confirm that she is currently recovering at home after being discharged from hospital,” African National Congress Chief Whip Mathole Motshekga said in a statement.

Van der Merwe, 58, was attacked in her home in Rondebosch just before 9pm on Friday.

Motshekga commended police and the security company, ADT, for their swift reaction.

“We are confident that the police will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that the culprits are arrested and face the full might of the law,” he said.

Earlier on Monday, Van der Merwe's brother said she was recovering.

“She is recovering well from her injuries and will be returning to her parliamentary duties in the near future,” Gordon Young said in a statement.

He said ADT and the police responded rapidly to the situation, and that the police were investigating various leads.

According to a report, two men assaulted and throttled Van der Merwe until she lost consciousness, but fled when her son arrived home.

However, Young denied his sister lost consciousness.

“No, no, she didn't lose consciousness,” he said.

“Sue van der Merwe and her family are grateful to them (ADT and the police) and to the many friends who have offered support.”

Van der Merwe worked for the Black Sash in Cape Town from 1988 to 1991, The Times reported.

She became an MP in 1996 and served as deputy minister of foreign affairs from 2004 to 2009. She was a parliamentary counsellor to the president from 2001 to 2004. - Sapa

The Cape Town Stadium cost more than R4-billion to build - but the cost of running it appears to be anybody’s guess.

Cape Town - The real cost of running Cape Town Stadium appears to be a mystery as financial reports purport that the venue, built for the 2010 World Cup, has recorded a loss of nearly R300-million over a period of three years.

But city officials were quick to point out on Sunday that the figures in the report - signed by both executive director for events in the city Anton Groenewald and the mayoral committee member for the portfolio responsible, Grant Pascoe - may be incorrect.

According to councillor Yagyah Adams, who serves on the city’s finance portfolio committee, the stadium - which cost over R4-billion to build - had losses of more than the R44.6-million a year the city initially reported.

Using figures from a report released at a committee meeting held last Friday, Adams calculated that the operating cost of the stadium from the end of 2009 until June 2013 was projected to be more than R300-million. In contrast, the income generated from the end of 2009 to February 2013 was a mere R35-million.

Chairperson of the Green Point Ratepayers and Residents Association, Bob Goebel, said that if the figures were correct, it was “frightening”. He added that he could not comment without confirming the in- formation and consulting other members of the association.

Deputy mayor Ian Nielson’s office has responded by saying the figures were incorrect and should have been withdrawn.

When questioned on what the correct figures were, the office was unable to respond. It was also unable to explain why the incorrect figures were allowed to circulate and why they had not yet been formally withdrawn.

Kevin Jacoby, chief financial officer for the City of Cape Town, said the financial results for the various financial years were presented in a manner that was unclear.

“It is not possible to determine the true operating results from the tables presented. In order to prevent any confusion... I will review the report and present (it) at the next finance portfolio committee (meeting).”

He added he could not confirm the released calculated operating costs.

“The stadium belongs to all the residents of Cape Town. As such we will continue to explore all avenues in order to make it benefit as many people as possible,” he said.

Mayoral committee member for tourism, events and marketing Grant Pascoe, who also signed off the report, was unable to comment at the time of going to print.

According to the director of the 2010 operations at the stadium, Lesley de Reuck, the report was “pulled back in order to make sure all the numbers were correct”.

However, Adams said he was alarmed by the amount of money wasted and how the meeting dealt with the flawed figures.

According to Adams, no formal withdrawal was made to him.

“We have not been told that the figures are incorrect. They said something may be wrong with them, but no resolution or further action was taken.”

The councillor believes that none of the relevant officials read the report before the meeting, as there were no objections until questions based on the figures in the report emerged.

“Based on the fact that the figures were described by the deputy mayor as inaccurate, what evidence is available to suggest that the figures bantered about in the past are correct?”

According to Adams, a senior finance manager publicly stated in the committee meeting that it was “impossible to unscramble an egg”, insinuating that it was impossible to determine what the stadium’s true cost.

Adams, who said he had been requesting the financial report for over a year, expressed concern about how the figures could be so grossly incorrect.

“What is apparent from this and the time that it took to compile the report is that only a few people actually know the true cost of the stadium expenditure,” he said.

* Concerts bring in loot for stadium

On the entertainment side, Cape Town Stadium has brought in a substantial amount of income by hosting many sold-out music events.

Massive sales were recorded for the Lady Gaga, U2, Linkin Park and Red Hot Chili Peppers concerts.

In addition, next month’s Justin Bieber concert is already sold out.

The stadium also hosted the Kings of Leon, Coldplay and Eagles concerts.

In 2011, the stadium showcased Premier Soccer League matches involving Ajax Cape Town, which drew 107 013 spectators over the season.

Bafana Bafana, has played to two full-house matches at the stadium this year, including a 2014 World Cup qualifier.

Other stadium income generators include film shoots and tours.

Cape Argus

A Cape Town pupil accused of firing shots at two fellow pupils appeared in the Wynberg Magistrate's Court.

Cape Town - A Cape Town pupil accused of firing shots at two fellow pupils appeared in the Wynberg Magistrate's Court on Monday, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said.

Western Cape NPA spokesman Eric Ntabazalila said the case was postponed until April 19 for further investigation.

The 14-year-old Oaklands High School pupil, who may not be named, faces two charges of attempted murder and illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.

At a previous appearance, he was released into his father's care on condition he attend a new school, that he not visit the Cape Flats suburb of Hanover Park until the case is finalised, and that he not contact State witnesses.

The court heard on Monday that the boy's guardian had registered him at another school, but that its governing body had intervened and denied him a place.

“The court is now facing the dilemma of ensuring that he is at school and his guardians are busy sorting that out,” Ntabazalila said. - Sapa

Staff Writer

Staff Writer

A nine-year-old girl from the Samora Machel informal settlement at Nyanga who went missing last week, has been found safe and sound.

Yamkela Mtini, pictured, was found in the Kosovo area staying at a friend’s house, police liaison officer Captain FC van Wyk said today.

The child was found after a lengthy and intensive search by police, Nyanga Community Police Forum members and other volunteers.

“The child was found unharmed on Saturday evening and returned to her family,” Van Wyk said this morning. “She had been staying with a friend.”

Yamkela disappeared on Tuesday last week. She was last seen playing outside her home in Samora Machel while her mother, Nomaseni, was at work.

Police questioned friends and neighbours who saw her before she disappeared, but as the search continued, fears for her safety grew.

On Friday Yamkela’s distraught mother said her daughter did not know Cape Town.

“My daughter only moved to Cape Town from the Eastern Cape last year and she is still unfamiliar with the city. There is no family in the area where she could have gone. We truly don’t know what to think, but my husband and I are suffering immensely.”

Mtini said the only irregularity at their house was that the DStv was disconnected and the card in the decoder was missing. Mtini said Yamkela may have disconnected it accidentally and run away because she was afraid of getting into trouble.

Martin Sandile of Nyanga’s Community Policing Forum said 30 volunteers had been mobilised to support police in the search.

Dessie Rechner of the Pink Ladies, an organisation that helps to search for missing people, last week produced a flyer to be distributed.