Innholdsfortegnelse for 2025-09-17 i Cape Argus

Sustaining the Wild Coast (SWC) NPC claims Shell and Impact Africa will be allowed to ignore community voices in their exploration rights extension process and the current litigation before the Constitutional Court. Yesterday, the Constitutional Court heard arguments on whether the Supreme Court of Appeal’s (SCA) order suspending the setting aside of an exploration right was just and equitable. Judgment was reserved. According to the marine conservation body SWC and other applicants, they were denied their right to be heard in the consultation process. The group argued that Shell cannot simply dismiss local interests – which includes a spiritual and cultural connection to the ocean – while pursuing its seismic survey application to explore for gas and oil reserves along the Wild Coast. They further submitted that the order by…

Irate residents from Overcome Heights chained themselves to the gates of Parliament yesterday in the hopes that their plight will be heard due to the ongoing gun violence and murders in their communities. Resident and community leader Karen Mentoor said the spate of shootings was caused by one gang which was locked in conflict and is calling for the deployment of the SANDF. “The situation in Overcome Heights is very bad, we have almost three to four bodies going out of the community everyday. Our children are writing exams and can’t even study in peace; they are scared to go to school. We do not sleep.” “There is an in-fight among one gang and innocent people are losing their lives as well. There is no police visibility and the police…

ANC deputy secretary-general Nomvula Mokonyane finds herself potentially at odds with the party’s leadership after publicly declaring her candidacy as president for the ANC’s 2027 elective conference. This pronouncement directly contravenes a directive from top ANC officials advising members against making such declarations until after next year’s local government elections. Mokonyane’s declaration, made during a recent interview, has sent ripples of discontent through Luthuli House, the ANC’s headquarters. A senior member of the ANC’s National Executive Committee (NEC), who wished to remain anonymous, expressed the sentiment of many within the party. “What you do on the left you have to do on the right… the DSG would have to face the music… and apologise to the party as this was stressed at our previous NEC meeting that we cannot be…

The City of Cape Town says that its takeover of the Gugulethu Infill housing project has fast-tracked the delivery of more than a thousand new homes for families who have waited years for formal housing. The development will provide 1 004 housing opportunities, including 570 homes in Gugulethu and 434 in Mau Mau, Nyanga. City officials said the direct takeover has allowed construction and handovers to move faster, with more families expected to receive keys in the coming months. Mayoral committee member for Human Settlements Carl Pophaim said the City’s direct management of the project has “accelerated delivery, ensuring that more residents move into their homes at a faster pace”. “This handover represents our teamwork and hard work, and we look forward to handing over more homes soon,” he said.…

CapeNature has confirmed that a summons has been issued by the courts relating to two gin traps used to ensnare animals after a young leopard was killed in Heidelberg in July. In response to this, CapeNature said they were not at liberty to discuss the matter further but revealed the following: “At this stage all we can add is that the summons has been issued by the court, with the first appearance set for October 20 .” They did not confirm who the summons was issued to. In July, CapeNature confirmed the young leopard’s death after receiving a call to assist in a rescue operation in Heidelberg, near the World Heritage Site of Boosmansbos. Officials discovered a young 13kg male leopard, estimated to be around six months old, ensnared in…

UWC Professor John-Mark Iyi promised his older brother, Godwin, that he would complete his PhD before getting married and starting a family. He kept that promise and worked hard to achieve academic success that far exceeded his family’s expectations. On September 23, Professor Iyi will deliver his inaugural lecture at UWC titled, “Beyond Crisis and Credibility in International Legal Reform: Africa at a Critical Juncture”, promising a bold and timely interrogation of the global legal order and Africa’s place within it. According to UWC, Professor Iyi’s academic contributions include his book Humanitarian Intervention and the AU-ECOWAS Intervention Treaties under International Law: Towards a Theory of Regional Responsibility to Protect (Springer, 2016) and co-editing Boko Haram and International Law: Mapping the Legal Terrain for Accountability (Springer, 2018)”. He is also a…

Questions exist about the long-held belief that the United States is a democratic nation. The assassination of political activist and conservative influencer Charlie Kirk last week has raised questions about American pride as a democratic and politically tolerant country. Before the killing of Kirk, experts had warned about the US sliding into autocracy. Scientific American published a critical opinion piece about Donald Trump’s autocratic traits, claiming he meets all the warning signs of a dictator. Last September, the publication warned of Trump’s “nonsensical conspiracy fantasies,” that he “ignores the climate crisis” and has a fondness for “unqualified ideologues,” whom he would appoint if he became president again. This is one of the examples cited about Trump. Even his deputy, Vice President JD Vance, appears to share similar views. Vance has…

ZakithI Nene stormed into the final of the men’s 400m on Day 4 of the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo yesterday, the South African one-lap star maintaining his composure after two restarts, but compatriot Lythe Pillay failed to advance to tomorrow’s decider. Nene looked relaxed before and during the first semi-final, which he won in a fast time of 44:20, despite coasting over the final 100m. Lee Bhekempilo Eppie of Botswana finished in second in a time of 44.51. Pillay, the reigning World University Games champion, could only manage sixth place in the second semifinal in a time of 44.82. Young Collen Kebinatshipi of Botswana was the surprise winner in a remarkable time of 43.61while pre-championship favourite Jaccori Patterson of the US faded badly to finish fourth, and only…

Manenberg police have reported an alarming rise in incidents of sexual violence within schools situated in their precinct, urging action and heightened attention from the community. According to a recent statement, these occurrences have made educational institutions in the area key sites for sexual harassment. Police spokesperson Captain Ian Bennett described the trend as “deeply disturbing” and warned of its impact on children. “It has been alarming. This disturbing trend threatens the safety and well-being of our children and will not be tolerated,” he said, adding that vigilance and collective action from parents and the community is needed. Bennett said this year alone has seen high rates of teenage pregnancies among school students, all of whom are underage. He urged parents to take necessary steps by laying charges, as such…

A State witness in the R320 million Durban Solid Waste (DSW) tender fraud case has been accused of misleading the Durban High Court by claiming that the Hawks requested assistance from a forensic company, when it was allegedly the witness who made the request. Zandile Gumede, the former mayor of eThekwini, and her 21 co-accused are charged with fraud and corruption related to this case. The State witness, a former member of eThekwini’s City Integrity and Investigations Unit (CIIU) management, denies suggesting or mandating Integrity Forensic Solutions CC (IFS) to assist the State in preparing this matter for litigation and concluding any subsequent legal processes. The IFS was contracted by the CIIU to probe irregularities in the R320m DSW tender. The witness has also denied signing a letter that initiated…

FEMALE university graduates in South Africa face nearly double the unemployment rate of their male counterparts, highlighting how deeply entrenched gender bias remains in the job market despite educational achievements. Statistics South Africa’s latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey reveals that even a degree offers no protection from the country’s gender employment divide, with female graduates recording a 15.0% unemployment rate compared to just 8.9% for men in the second quarter of 2025. An employment gap persists across all education levels, shattering the myth that qualifications level the playing field for women seeking work in Africa’s most industrialised economy. Women with only a matric certificate face the worst odds, with unemployment hitting 39.3% compared to 31.7% for men – a crushing 7.6 percentage point difference that represents the widest gender gap…

Cape Town residents are invited to have their say on a proposed compulsory heavy vehicle stop on Kloof Nek Road, aimed at reducing the alarming rate of truck and lorry accidents. The City of Cape Town is proposing the compulsory stop, approximately 150m downhill from the pedestrian signal at Tafelberg Road. The comment period for submissions opened on Monday. Mayoral committee member for urban mobility Rob Quintas invited residents and stakeholders to join the project team for an information session today from 3pm and 6pm at the Council Chambers in Wale Street. They will have the opportunity to ask any questions. “We aim to implement the most effective measures to improve safety along this busy access route between the CBD and the Atlantic Seaboard,” he said. The proposed changes along…

Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Andries Nel, in collaboration with the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security( JCPS) Cluster, is exploring technology-based and infrastructure solutions as regular oversight visits are set to continue at vulnerable courts. Nel carried out a recent visit to the Athlone Magistrates’ Court following a shooting which left a man facing assault charges dead and said they were committed to modernising safety systems. Police have since arrested a suspect. This includes infrastructure at the Wynberg Magistrates’ Court following a murder inside the courthouse earlier this year as concerns were also raised about non-functioning security devices such as scanners. MEC for Police Oversight and Community Safety, Anroux Marais said she also met with Premier Alan Winde, the provincial police commissioner, and others to enhance judiciary…

The South African community has become desensitised to the ongoing crisis of teenage pregnancy, despite alarming statistics. In 2024 alone, 68 813 births were recorded among teenagers. Of particular concern, 1 424 of these births were to girls between the ages of 10 and 14. This means that, on average, nearly 365 adolescent girls give birth every day in South Africa, with approximately 10 of them being under the age of 15. These figures underscore the urgent need for renewed attention and action to address this societal challenge. On Saturday, June 29, Africa Unite, in partnership with the Western Cape Government, Cape Town Museum, and the Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Response Fund, hosted a dialogue at Rosendaal High School in Delft, Cape Town. This youth-led event focused on empowering learners…

Stellenbosch FC face a tough challenge as they aim to rediscover their winning form when they visit AmaZulu for their Betway Premiership clash at the Princess Magogo Stadium tonight (7.30pm kick-off). The 2025/26 season has started poorly for Stellies, who have managed only one victory in their first five league matches. While the MTN8 offered some positives amid their slow start, attention now turns back to the league as they look to regain momentum ahead of their CAF Confederations Cup campaign starting in a couple of weeks. Steve Barker and his side will be eager to bounce back against an AmaZulu team they overcame 3-2 in extra time to reach the MTN8 semi-finals earlier this season. Stellies also secured two league victories against the KwaZulu Natal side last season, but…

For around seven million South Africans, Afrikaans plays a defining role in identity, community and culture. But what happens when that same language also carries pain, alienates people and raises questions about belonging? These are the questions at the heart of Jou MASE taal, a new documentary series that starts on Sunday at 8pm on kykNET (DStv channel 144). The series explores the complex relationship black and coloured Afrikaans speakers have with the language: how they live it, how it makes them feel, and whether they embrace or reject it. Romantha Botha, the content producer of the series, got the idea from her frustration with the way people talk about Afrikaans, especially among black and coloured South Africans. “If I had to hear one more time: ‘Wow, you speak Afrikaans…

THE Presidency has identified failure by supply chain management officials to subject themselves to polygraph tests and submit financial statements to the State Security Agency (SSA) as a challenge when they are vetted in line with a decade-old Cabinet directive. Briefing the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) on the vetting of officials in the supply chain management per the 2014 Cabinet directive, Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation senior official Jonathan Timm said the SSA has reported some challenges that contributed to delays in the vetting of officials. He said some of the prominent challenges were non-compliance by vetting subjects and failure to submit required documents, mostly financial statements. The officials were also not submitting the vetting forms and failed to honour or postpone appointments, especially polygraph tests. There…

Another attempt to prosecute President Cyril Ramaphosa over the theft of $580 000 in cash from his Phala Phala farm has failed and proved costly for the Society of the Protection of Our Constitution. The society had summoned Ramaphosa to appear before the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court in terms of the Criminal Procedure Act (CPA). The organisation had sought an order compelling the Director of Public Prosecutions, Sibongile Mzinyathi, and National Director of Public Prosecutions Shamila Batohi to secure Ramaphosa’s attendance at the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court by way of summons as contemplated in the CPA on charges relating to the theft. The society’s case against the president was withdrawn in July 2023, as he believed that the application was not competent. However, the society could not satisfy Gauteng High Court, Pretoria,…

After more than four years of illegal squatting in Vasco Park, Brooklyn, the City has stepped in with a clean-up operation targeting nearby Kuala Street, where many of the displaced people have relocated in recent months. Ward 55 councillor Fabian Ah-Sing led the operation last week, supported by Law Enforcement, Social Development, the Displaced Peoples Unit, cleansing teams, and the City’s legal department. Ah-Sing said the aim was not only to clear illegal structures but to offer support. “We are here to offer the people assistance, helping them get into a safe space and to join various displaced persons programmes. Vasco Park became a home for the homeless during lockdown. At its peak, more than 10 families, including children and the elderly, lived in makeshift shelters. But once restrictions were…

The issue of climate change and its associated impacts, especially on African cities, is a critical topic that demands urgent attention. Every day, Africa faces the consequences of something it did not cause. While 7 out of the 10 world’s most climate vulnerable countries are in the African region, Africa only emits about 4% of greenhouse gases, and in terms of historical contributions, the continent ranks even lower – according to the World Meteorological Organization’s State of the Global Climate report 2022. Heatwaves, heavy rains, floods, tropical cyclones, and prolonged droughts, which are some of the effects of climate change, are having devastating impacts on communities and economies, with increasing numbers of people at risk across the continent. Africa’s rapidly expanding cities are hotspots of this vulnerability and impact. According…

Stephen Fleming has seen it all. The former New Zealand captain is one of the most successful franchise coaches in the world, having guided the Chennai Super Kings to five IPL titles. So, what motivates the 52-year-old Kiwi to pack his bag and spend his festive season in South Africa, coaching the Joburg Super Kings in SA20? “I was really keen to watch an All Black Test in South Africa,” Fleming joked after the recent Season 4 auction in Johannesburg. “No, seriously though, it's part of my DNA. It's a privileged job to be able to travel to places like this and be part of competitions that each have their own personality. “It's at the cutting edge of the game, and to still be involved in the game after years…

Five minutes before the end of the Springboks’ record-breaking win over the All Blacks, I told my wife I wasn’t going to bother hanging up the washing. As an All Black supporter from Namibia, she thought I was being smug about the ongoing trouncing in Wellington. But, as André Esterhuizen bumped Beauden Barrett into the stands for the Boks’ sixth try of the match, I explained to her that if I did hang up the washing, we’d be going to work on Monday smelling of boerewors and chops marinated in Six Gun Spice. Yep, as a veteran braaier myself, I knew the country’s finest kameeldoring would fill the air with smoke when scrumhalf Cobus Reinach kicked the ball into touch to put the All Blacks out of their misery. A…