Innholdsfortegnelse for 2025-12-10 i Cape Argus

In a dramatic development that has exposed a chasm between official statements and on-the-ground reality, an urgent, unannounced oversight visit has revealed zero D1 and D7 (rape) kits available for both adults and children at the provincial SAPS supply store. This shocking discovery was made at the SAPS Provincial Supply Chain stores in Epping on Tuesday by Ian Cameron, Chairperson of the Police Portfolio Committee, and Nicholas Gotsell, DA NCOP Member on Security and Justice. The high-stake visit was prompted after the Weekend Argus newspaper broke the story yesterday, detailing widespread claims of severe D1 kit shortages. The publication had received a crucial tip-off from a whistle-blower within the service. Upon receiving the media inquiry and subsequent tip-off, Cameron and Gotsell immediately proceeded to the Epping supply store to conduct…

Nyanga, once dubbed the “murder capital of South Africa” has had a double murder, that of two brothers on Monday night. Police were called to the crime scene in Mtsha Street, Lusaka at 7.47pm on Monday, where the bodies of two men were found. Police spokesperson, Captain FC Van Wyk explained that the victims who were brothers, were targeted inside a wendy house in Phase 2. “Two men aged 57 and 59 were shot and fatally wounded,” he said. Nyanga SAPS are investigating. “The suspects fled and are yet to be arrested.” Anyone with information about this incident can contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or use the mobile application MySAPS. The Nyanga precinct was notorious for its high rate of violent crime. It recorded 289 homicides in the 2018/19…

Chinese celebrity game streamer and influencer, Lan Zhanfei, who has over 24 million followers and is a millionaire, claims he was robbed at knifepoint by two black men who pretended to be fans inside a five-star hotel in the Cape Town CBD on Monday. Social media went abuzz following this announcement, with claims that he faked his own “kidnapping and robbery.” Zhanfei has since refuted this. According to police, a case of house robbery was registered after Zhanfei who uses the handle@lanzhenfei, was robbed and threatened. Police spokesperson, Constable Ndakhe Gwala confirmed the case: “This office confirms that Cape Town Central police registered a case of House robbery yesterday (December 8) following an incident that occurred at a hotel in Cape Town. “The case was transferred to provincial serious violent…

A surge in misconduct findings against teachers, including sexual offences, has intensified concerns over South Africa’s fragmented vetting systems. Teacher union Naptosa warns that even the Western Cape is not immune to systemic failures. This follows a parliamentary disclosure that the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC) recorded 469 allegations nationally between 2018/19 and 2024/25, with 176 guilty findings issued between 2021/22 and 2025/26. The Western Cape accounted for 16 of these cases. Naptosa Western Cape provincial chief executive Riedwaan Ahmed said: “These figures, and related reporting about vetting delays caused by the Department of Justice’s manual NRSO (National Register for Sex Offenders) processes, demand urgent and concrete action to protect learners.” He emphasised that lower Western Cape numbers do not mean the province is protected, adding, “the pattern – a…

A group of residents from Table View and surrounding areas gathered at Erf 1117 on Saturday to protest what they describe as the City of Cape Town’s unlawful and unsafe efforts to advance the Big Bay Local Spatial Development Framework (LSDF). The group of 40 demonstrators held placards along Big Bay Boulevard, raising concerns about nuclear safety risks, environmental change, and what they say is a poorly handled public participation process. The protest was organised by the Community Representation for Blaauwberg (CRB), which has formally challenged the City’s planning process. CRB chairperson Michelle Collins said residents had been forced to escalate the matter. “We have taken this much further on behalf of the community. We have sought legal advice, set the legal foundations, and we are now addressing the city…

The Western Cape has added just over 47 000 hectares (ha) to its conservation estate through the declaration of two new nature reserves and the expansion of two others – a significant boost for threatened species, ecological connectivity and long-term biodiversity protection. All figures, names and details have been verified against the provided release. The declarations increase the size of the Anysberg and Knersvlakte nature reserves by a combined 41 000 ha, while the two newly declared reserves – Waterkloof near Ladismith and Zebraskop in the Gamkaberg area – add a further 6 000 ha. The land was purchased by WWF South Africa using funds raised through the Leslie Hill Succulent Karoo Trust and other sources. The additions provide space for Cape mountain zebras to breed and improves the protection…

The Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) from Stats SA shows that South Africa’s unemployment rate increased by 1.7% from Q1 of 2025 rising to 33.2% in Q2. This might not seem like a very big jump, but when you consider that this amounts to 140 000 people, the impact of even a slight rise in unemployment really hits home. And the youth unemployment numbers, the picture is even bleaker, with close to half of the young people in South Africa (4.9 million) without work. While there’s no doubt that this is a crisis and action needs to be taken, really addressing this situation is about more than just skills development. If we’re trying to alleviate unemployment by giving people skills to do seasonal work, we’re not going to make a…

Equal Education (EE), through the Equal Education Law Centre (EELC), has appealed the Western Cape High Court’s decision to the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA). The appeal challenges the constitutional validity of the Western Cape Provincial School Education Amendment Act 4, specifically addressing issues related to collaboration schools, donor-funded schools, and intervention facilities. EE and EELC said in a joint statement that EE first raised concerns in 2016 against the proposed draft legislation but the Amendment Act was passed in 2018. It said in November 2022, EE challenged the provisions in the High Court, arguing they were vague and violated learners’ rights. After the High Court ruled against EE in July 2023, the decision was appealed. The reasons for the appeal relate to: Collaboration and donor-funded schools grant private donors/entities…

A GRADE 8 Brackenfell teen’s disciplined approach to sport has paid off. Zach Desmore, 14 has been selected for the Western Province Hockey team and will be representing his school in Europe next year. Zach, who lives in Protea Heights and has been playing hockey since he was in Grade 1, is part of the Bellville Hockey Club. “I play for Bellville hockey club and featured in the U14A Fairmont hockey team in the role of captain,” he said. Zach has also been selected to represent The Northern Knights at the Pro Series Indoor (PSI) nationals which starts this week. Three months ago, Zach’s mother, Vera Desmore, began a Backabuddy campaign to raise R70 000 so that he could be part of the European tour in October 2026. Zach’s year…

The Stormers look set to bring back Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Damian Willemse and Cobus Reinach for Saturday’s Champions Cup showdown with La Rochelle in Gqeberha — but their return comes with a challenge. The Bok trio may add star power, yet they’ll need to raise the standard of a team that has been flying without them. The Cape side is still unbeaten this season, riding high after six excellent United Rugby Championship wins and a statement victory in France against Bayonne. That performance in the opening match of the Champions Cup made it clear that the Stormers aren’t just participating in Europe — they’re competing with intent. But the next test is a big one. La Rochelle, a team the Stormers have developed a fierce Champions Cup rivalry with, arrive at…

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe said Nick Woltemade's British sense of humour helped him adapt to life in England, ahead of tonight's Champions League clash in the striker's native Germany against Bayer Leverkusen. Howe yesterday called the 1.98-metre-tall striker "a funny guy - and I meant that in the nicest sense". "I think he has British humour," Howe added. "He came in with a very good way of approaching a transfer. He came in, felt at home, made people laugh. "He has gone in wholeheartedly to the Newcastle way of life and what the team and the city requires when you play for this football club. "He's done brilliantly." Newcastle have won three of five matches in the Champions League this season and sit one point, but six places, ahead of…

David Miller believes the upcoming Betway SA20 Season 4 will form a big part of the Proteas’ preparations for the ICC T20 World Cup next year. The Proteas have only eight remaining T20Is before their T20 World Cup opener against Canada in Ahmedabad on February 9, 2026, starting with yesterday’s clash against current champions India in Cuttack. However, upon the Proteas’ return from India, the SA20 gets underway on Boxing Day at Newlands for a month-long T20 festival of cricket spread across six stadiums around the country. Miller, who captains the Paarl Royals, feels the quality of the competition is of a high standard and will help the Proteas fine-tune some individual skills. “I think the standard in the competition in the SA20 is as high as any other league…

THE local fishing community turned out in numbers last night as anger over the shooting of angler Jody Rademeyer brought long-standing safety concerns to a head. The meeting at Fishermen’s Lane drew a substantial crowd, reflecting a community desperate for action along a coastline many say has become increasingly dangerous. In response to enquiries from the Cape Argus, before the meeting, Western Cape Police Oversight and Community Safety MEC Anroux Marais confirmed that SAPS is investigating the attack and outlined existing enforcement efforts. “Along the coastline where this incident occurred, Muizenberg SAPS, Strandfontein SAPS and the City of Cape Town’s Law Enforcement conduct regular patrols as part of safety operations,” she said. She highlighted new surveillance infrastructure. “A CCTV project along this route has recently been completed, with six…

Correctional Services Minister Pieter Groenewald has dismissed a suggestion that he called for the reintroduction of corporal punishment as an alternative sentence to imprisonment. Responding to written parliamentary questions, Groenewald requested EFF MP Carl Niehaus to go back and listen carefully to what he said in his budget speech and his response in the portfolio committee. “I said I want to open a debate on the use of corporal punishment as a sentence by a competent court of law for youth offenders; I never said I will reintroduce it. “If the honourable member is not in agreement with what I said, it is his right, but I also want to ask the honourable member, what alternative did he (Niehaus) bring forward?” he said. Tabling his budget speech five months ago,…

More than 300 Western Cape traffic officers have been trained to detect and intervene in human trafficking cases as the province steps up efforts to protect vulnerable residents. A21 South Africa, an NPO specialising in counter-trafficking work, partnered with the Department of Social Development (DSD) and the Western Cape Mobility Department to deliver the programme. Since November, 334 law enforcement officers have been trained across modules covering the definition of trafficking, relevant legislation, reporting procedures and trauma-informed approaches when working with potential victims. Traffic officers are often the first state officials to encounter potential victims, as many trafficking operations move along major road routes. Western Cape Social Development MEC Jaco Londt said: “The Western Cape government is always looking at ways to improve safety measures for residents. “Human trafficking is…

The Mission for Inner City Cape Town has unveiled a new walking routes map and a series of public-space upgrades forming part of its 2025 placemaking programme, aiming to boost safety, walkability and activity in the CBD. The NPO’s initiative is described as a long-term effort to transform Cape Town’s Inner City into “a thriving, inclusive, green urban hub – a City of Hope for All”, led by civic leaders, businesses, urban designers and government partners. Its focus includes revitalising public spaces, supporting independent retail and restoring public confidence in the historic core. “Our work is about showing that Cape Town’s inner city is not only walkable but welcoming, inspiring, and full of possibility,” said Tim Harris, co-founder of The Mission for Inner City CT. “As we head into the…

​Five individuals, including three members of the same family, were arrested by the Hawks following an investigation into illegal activities on a farm in Charl Cilliers, outside Secunda. They have since appeared in court facing charges that include contravening the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics, and Disinfectants Act, corruption, fraud, and money laundering. It’s beyond words to imagine that the rotten food was intended for human consumption.The distribution of food unfit for human consumption is a serious offence, comparable to knowingly preparing poison. This incident underscores a critical regulatory gap in the country: any Tom, Dick, or Harry can operate unregistered food production facilities. This country has seen sporadic cases of food poisoning, most notably the severe 2024 outbreak linked to spaza shops, which involved hazardous pesticide contamination and resulted in child deaths.…

1st T20I India: 175/6 (Pandya 59*, Ngidi 3/31, Sipamla 2/38) SA: 74 all out (Brevis 22, Singh 2/14, Bumrah 2/17) w India won by 101 runs, lead series 1-0 WITH the T20 World Cup a mere seven games away, the Proteas produced an uncertain performance in the opening T20I against India yesterday that will have coach Shukri Conrad concerned about where his team is actually going. They went down by a mammoth 101 runs, bowled out for just 74 in 12.4 overs, in response to the hosts’ 175/6, which in short format terms is a proper “snotklap”. It was also the Proteas’ lowest ever total in T20Is. What perhaps mattered more than the defeat was the evidence that tourists are still casting around for a workable method for the tournament…

While this was not a World Cup-winning year for the Springboks — and if there had been a World Cup, they would surely have won it — the year 2025 is right up there in their “best ever” category. If we include the warm-up match against the Barbarians, the Boks played 15 matches, losing just two for an 86% record. That is the best Springbok return in the modern era, but not the best in history. In the first half of the 20th century, up to the famous 4-0 whitewash of the All Blacks in 1949, the Boks almost routinely finished the year unbeaten for a 100% record, but the issue is that they averaged just five Tests per year. Maybe the best way to evaluate how good a year…

It's at times such as these that the discerning soccer fan no doubt misses Pitso Mosimane. As Orlando Pirates sit pretty on the perch of the Betway Premiership table, threatening to bring an end to Mamelodi Sundowns’ domination of the domestic championship, the silence from Chloorkop is deafening. "Jingles" would have been throwing jabs at the Buccaneers. He would be making them feel like they are merely warming the spot. He would be making them doubt themselves, wondering if they are worthy of the championship. Damn, he’d have even insinuated they are at the top because they are owned by the league’s chairman. It's a journalist’s dream — content, as the kids say today. But more than that, he spiced up the championship race. He made our football exciting. Pirates,…