Innholdsfortegnelse for 2024-05-08 i Cape Argus

Seasoned South African actress Pam Andrews, pictured, has taken to social media to open up about her decision to give up acting. The 39-year-old, whose industry breakthrough came back in 2001 on the reality TV singing competition, Coca-Cola Popstars, has also starred in Backstage as well as in Rhythm City, Tshisa and Triomf. She is yet to return to the screen and is currently living in London in the UK with her son, CJ. In a recent TikTok video, Andrews spoke about her mental health struggles which stemmed from childhood trauma. “I started going to group therapy because I’ve got stuff going on with me, some trauma that happened that disrupts my life and I’ve had to give up so many things because of it.” “For example, the hardest thing…

AS THE 34th person was pulled from the debris of the collapsed building in George last night, there was rapturous applause, high fives, and hugs from rescue workers. Seven people have died and 41 remain unaccounted for after the building, in Victoria Street, collapsed on top of 75 construction workers just after 2pm on Monday. At the scene last night, there was a feeling of pride among emergency personnel as they retrieved another man’s body from beneath the rubble, more than 24 hours after the tragedy. About 200 emergency personnel from the City of Cape Town, Worcester, Breede Valley and volunteers assisted in finding the trapped workers. Teams of three are working in rotation around the clock to save the lives of workers buried under the rubble. The building consisted…

Comedian Leon Schuster revealed that he was “not in a good place” following a second surgery after he fell at his house while still recovering from the first surgery. Schuster, known for his pranks, underwent his first surgery in August 2023 after falling from a van and injuring himself while filming Mr Bones 3. After the surgery, the 72-year-old veteran entertainer went through extensive physiotherapy to learn to walk again. Schuster reportedly said his recovery went through a major setback after he fell a second time. “I’ve been through a rough patch, man, through absolute hell. I’m a bit depressed. This thing has been going on too long – it’s almost 10 months since my first back surgery,” he said. He said the second fall happened after he woke up…

In Europe, Britain and the US you can have as many abortions or sex changes as you can manage. You can abuse alcohol and drugs and walk naked in the name of freedom. You can degrade the religious beliefs of millions of people and promote LGBTQI activity with “pride” and without fear. However, do not say “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”, otherwise you are measured as an anti-Semite and will soon be dragged to prison. You can deny a Palestinian Holocaust is happening and you can support mass murder in the name of free speech, but do not suggest the International Criminal Court holds Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Zionist government accountable. We have crossed the Rubicon of International Law and specifically what constitutes…

EMPOWERED patient voices play a crucial role in shaping healthcare systems worldwide. Patient experiences are worsening, which puts tremendous pressure on hospital services to listen to patients’ concerns and involve them in improving the quality of care they receive. Countries with exceedingly poor health systems often overlook patient voices, regardless of how loudly patients speak out. They should take note of other countries, such as the National Health Service in the UK, that strive to prioritise patient experience. Trusts collaborate to design projects aimed at understanding the experiences of people and communities within health and care services. The initiatives provide opportunities for leaders responsible for patient experience to share insights and learn from one another. By engaging with members, trusts, medical surgeries and care settings, we create work and volunteer…

Israel sent tanks into Rafah in southern Gaza, seizing control of the border crossing with Egypt yesterday, an operation that the UN said denied it access to the key humanitarian passage. The military’s thrust into the eastern sector of the city packed with displaced civilians came a day after Israel warned Palestinians in the area to evacuate ahead of a long-threatened ground operation. Army footage showed tanks flying the Israeli flag taking “operational control” of the Palestinian side of the border crossing, it said, in a deployment that had a “very limited scope against very specific targets”. UN humanitarian office spokesperson Jens Laerke said Israel had denied it access to both Rafah and Kerem Shalom – the other main Gaza aid crossing, on the border with Israel – with only…

Grammy Award-winning superstar Tyla has joined an illustrious list of celebrities who have graced the cover of Cosmopolitan Magazine. The South African born musician recently took to Instagram to post pictures from her Cosmo cover girl feature with the caption: “cosmo covergurrrlll.” Apart from landing the Cosmo cover, the “Water” hitmaker also did a full length cover feature with the magazine. During the interview, the singer and songwriter addressed some of the misconceptions that has been circulating since her rapid rise to fame. One such rumour was that she had become an “industry plant” and that she has joined the Illuminati. “People already think I’m in the Illuminati? Oh, now, I know some people think that’s the only way, but it really isn’t. God is the centre of everything that…

THE father of 29-year-old electrician, Delvin Safers, who remained stuck under the rubble at the collapsed George construction site, continued to communicate with him via cellphone yesterday. Deon Safers, 62, said his latest communication from his son was after 3.30pm yesterday, when he said his phone’s battery was on 9%; he could hear the people at the top; he’s in a dark place and can’t feel his legs. From Mossel Bay, Safers said his son, who is the father of a 2-year-old boy, told him that he had been working in room number seven when the building collapsed. “I called him every 40 minutes because he was trying to save the battery. He said he was in a dark place and his legs were stuck and that he can’t move…

TWO young women were left seriously injured after a Bolt driver allegedly stabbed them in Table View. Anti-gender based violence movement, Keep The Energy’s Michael van Niekerk, said the suspect attacked the passengers on May 4. He said the driver refused to drop the passengers off at their destination. “A Bolt driver stabbed two female passengers on Saturday in Table View. The driver allegedly refused to drop the group of friends at their requested location, he allegedly started hitting the person in the passenger seat, a fight erupted, the car stopped, and the group of friends ran away. “The driver then allegedly ran after them and stabbed two of the women.” Van Niekerk said they were concerned about attacks on women. “At Keep The Energy, we are incredibly concerned about…

Political parties in the Western Cape have expressed concern over the low number of special vote registrations with the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) in the province, saying more could have been done to increase the numbers. Nationally, the IEC recorded a total of 1.6 million special vote registrations, while in the Western Cape, the commission registered 48 998 home visits and 84 684 voting station visits ahead of the May 29 national and provincial elections. Provincial electoral officer Michael Hendrickse said the commission was happy with the number of special vote registrations. “The IEC in the Western Cape is happy with the number of South Africans who made use of the opportunity to apply for a special vote,” said Hendrickse. The IEC applications for special votes…

I AM a believer in democracy, up to a point. That point is where democracy becomes an abuse of law and order in the guise of freedom of speech. In a democracy one has the right to protest peacefully, but one does not have the right to disrupt even one person’s life. Protests don’t bring about solutions but create more problems. I find it amazing that a small group of about 10% of students can hold a prestigious university to ransom, make ridiculous demands and deprive other students of their right to an education. Protests inevitably turn into violence and then the police are accused of brutality in quelling the violence. The protesters are mostly made up of undergraduates, outside agitators and the usual “radical left loonies”, aka the “bleeding…

In the tapestry of South African townships and rural landscapes, a poignant question reverberates: what is this democracy? Defined by the South African Parliament as “government by the people”, democracy, in its essence, embodies the collective will and aspirations of a nation. However, as the sun sets over the communities, casting shadows on the promises of equality and justice, one can’t help but ponder. Is democracy serving the people it claims to represent, especially after 30 years of its inception? At the core of democracy lies a delicate equilibrium between “might” and “right”. While the state wields immense power, it must be restrained to prevent its abuse. Safeguarding the balance are independent institutions and a constitution that enshrines the rights and responsibilities of citizens. Yet, in the crucible of…

Musician Cassper Nyovest recently did his first interview as a married man. On the L-Tido podcast, the Siyathandana hitmaker shared details about his wedding day. He also rubbished rumours concerning his marriage that have been circulating on social media. The award-winning rapper, who recently embraced his newfound Christian faith, told podcast host, fellow musician L-Tido, that he decided to get married because he knew it was time to change his life. “I just wanted to be an honest man. I was tired of playing games. The last time I was on this podcast, I was a wild boy so it was just time to grow up for me. “Being saved, I saw things in the right perspective and for the first time in my life, I actually wanted to be…

FAMILIES and friends of those still trapped underneath the rubble in Victoria Street, George, could only look on in agony as they waited for positive news at the scene yesterday. Rescue personnel already removed large scaffolding from the site, where 42 people remain trapped, while rubble is removed brick by brick. Bright Kayuni, who spent more than 30 hours at the scene, said yesterday his three women relatives were still missing. “We are devastated by this, we have been here since (Monday). We are just trying to find out where our family members are,” Kayuni said. A local from George, Kayuni said they also checked at hospitals for his relatives. “We don’t know if they are at the hospital or if they are still under the rubble. As the family…

THE Department of Social Development says it was not at fault for failing kidnapped victim, 6-year-old Shasha-Lee November. In a response to the media, they said they had no records of a call for psychosocial support for the minor or her family, prior to and after her disappearance. This week, during an interview, former top cop Dawood Laing, who had been the station commander in Philippi at the time of the disappearance, said social workers had failed the child after concerns of neglect and behavioural issues were reported to their offices by individuals and her school, Belmor Primary, in Hanover Park. Shasha-Lee vanished outside of her home in Groenall Walk, Hanover Park, on May 3, 2015. She would now be 16 years old. Laing, together with her sister, Jasmine Harris…

THE Western Cape has secured 30 new bids for business events worth R1 billion in the past financial year. These events are said to have the potential to boost the economy of the province and create jobs. Western Cape Finance and Economic Opportunities MEC, Mireille Wenger, said for the first time in the history of Wesgro’s Convention Bureau, the economic impact of business events secured exceeds the R1bn mark, reaching an estimated economic impact of R1.029bn. She said these bids will fill the event pipeline for the province into 2029. “This is fantastic news for the province and more so for the many jobs across the hospitality, food, beverage services and tourism sectors that the thousands of delegates attending these conferences and meetings will support,” said Wenger. Conferences scheduled include…

THE pandemonium on social media that has been caused by the DA’s latest elections campaign advert has spilled over to prominent South Africans condemning the main opposition party. This comes with a little more than 20 days to the much-anticipated May 29 elections. The latest complaint comes from former president Nelson Mandela’s great-grandson, Mayibuye Melisizwe Mandela, who called the advert “disturbing” but also “evoking a demonic sentiment” and said the DA was bordering on declaring war. The TV advert shows the burning of the South African flag, with the DA expressing their sentiments on what they think would happen under an ANC, EFF and uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) coalition government. Party leader John Steenhuisen explained it as “a symbolic representation of the future that awaits South Africa if people do…

South Africans on social media, including radio host Anele Mdoda, are gushing over South African Grammy-winning singer Tyla’s look at this year’s Met Gala red carpet event, held at the New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Arts on Monday. According to the Hollywood Report, the Water singer, who was one of the star attractions at the event, arrived in “sand” for her first-ever Met Gala. The dress is said to have been made out of sand. Its creative director, Olivier Rousteing, indicated that it was moulded onto Tyla’s body – she could only wear it once. The singer worked with acclaimed stylist Katie Qian, who styled her in a custom sculpted Balmain look that represented “the sands of time”. “We really wanted something out of the box for this year,…

AS THE election on May 29 draws closer, with the ANC in all likelihood losing its majority in government, disenchanted unemployed, homeless and hungry voters will be deciding where to put their crosses. Do they follow their hearts again and vote for a crippled ANC and decaying country, or do they adhere to the ancient, wise saying that the first sign of madness is when you do the same thing over and over and expect a different result? The same vote will produce the same result! The only way to change things is to vote those responsible for the chaos engulfing the country out of office. It’s called democracy and it works. The age of national coalition governance will begin on June 1, and like a runaway train that can’t…

Regarding the DA’s legal challenge about excessive restrictions applied during the Covid crisis, it was not the brief of the Supreme Court of Appeal to scrutinise the composition of the role-players and the agenda of the intergovernmental committee that was complicit in the decision-making process of then Co-operative Governance Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma (IOL, May 3). But if such scrutiny is made, it would explain why the DA’s demand for Parliamentary oversight was superseded by protocols laid down by the World Health Organization (WHO) and its major funding source, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The role-players complicit in the draconian Covid restrictive measures all have a common benefactor: the Gates Foundation. Not only are the SA Medical Research Council and the SA Health Products Regulatory Authority recipients of Gates funding,…

There was once a “whaling station” on our Bluff, across Durban harbour. It was removed, eventually, by animal activists as it was also found to be financially uneconomical. The station has vanished. The whales are still around. My minnowish writings to the press are only intended to have some fun with punctuation marks, commas, and exclamation marks. Sometimes, in very rare instances, my collection of alphabets transforms into “words” – words that accidentally help to alter some age-old perceptions, most of which tramp on basic human birthrights. I therefore feel so chuffed that some other iconic writers have actually recognised that there are highly innovative media houses, especially from specific directions of the compass that do not point, too much towards east or south. Media that call their own intellectual…

THE burning of the flag by the DA in its latest election ad campaign is divisive, ill-advised and reflective of a party that does not claim its allegiance to the very same country it claims it wants to protect from the ANC, EFF and the MK Party. Why does the DA burn the country’s national symbol if its fight is with the ANC, EFF and the MKP? Why not burn the flags of these three parties? We know South Africa is governed by the Constitution, which allows certain freedoms, including freedom of expression, which many can argue the DA is exercising through the ad and the burning of the flag. We also know this act of desecrating the flag is allowed in the Constitution and carries with it no punishment.…

MIHLALI BALEKA goes down memory lane, looking at the team’s key players in each of the past seven seasons. Percy Tau – 2017/18 The 2016/17 season was a tough one for Sundowns on home soil as they endured a barren run, albeit winning their maiden CAF Champions League crown. But the following season saw the transformation of Tau from a boy to a man as he steered the team back to the pinnacle of domestic football. The little magician waved his wand during the season, with one of his highlights the assist he made for Khama Billiat’s goal during their win over Cape Town City away. From a tight angle, Tau brilliantly used both feet to scoop the ball towards Billiat‚ who volleyed home his sixth goal of the season.…