Innholdsfortegnelse for 2025-03-25 i Cape Argus

South Africa’s roads are some of the most congested globally. According to the 2024 INRIX Global Traffic Scorecard, which analyses transportation data and trends among 946 urban areas across the globe, residents in Cape Town lost a staggering 94 hours per year owing to traffic. This makes it the seventh most traffic-congested city in the world. Add to this the high cost of petrol, and the case for carpooling to save money looks increasingly attractive. Apart from combatting the boredom of being stuck in traffic and decreasing your carbon footprint, apps such as JustGo and Ugomyway help you to share a ride with people who are travelling the same way as you are so you can offset some of your running costs. Benefits of carpooling are far reaching, but there…

In an industry often dominated by male voices, Esjay Jones is a powerful force reshaping the landscape of music production. A Grammy-featured record producer, songwriter and entrepreneur, Jones has spent over two decades carving her niche in a sector where women are typically underrepresented. Her impressive resume includes collaborations with acclaimed artists like Dave Navarro, Sean Kingston and Jeffree Star, a testament to her innovative approach to music-making. Born in Durban, her early exposure to music came from her time spent in church, where she learned to play a wide array of instruments. She first tasted success with her band, Stealing Love Jones, achieving chart-topping hits and experiencing both the thrills and challenges of the music industry. In 2009, Jones relocated to the US, diving head-first into music production and…

CRIME intelligence teams together with police have stopped the operations of a heroin lab in Schaapkraal, after arresting a 45-year-old man, who was using a substance to “produce” more of the drug. The suspect, a Tanzanian national, was found at the premises in Kraal Road on March 20, and attempted to destroy the drugs but was found red-handed. An undisclosed amount of money, heroin and producing equipment were confiscated from the scene. According to sources close to the investigation, the foreign national was allegedly found to be in possession of a substance used to produce more drugs. “This product was used to thin the drug out as often it is hard to manufacture heroin in our climate here in the Western Cape,” the source said. Police spokesperson, FC van Wyk,…

A LOTUS River mother took to the witness stand in the Western Cape High Court to relive her teen son’s last moments after he was allegedly shot and killed by a firearm which the State contends was sold illegally by Anderson Padayachee. The Durban arms dealer returned to court yesterday where he is facing over 60 charges relating to the alleged illegal sale of firearms to Cape Flats gangs. According to the indictment, Padayachee was now facing eight murder charges and five attempted murder charges, where the firearms he allegedly supplied were used in gang wars. The cases, which are spread across the Cape Flats, include the murders of several men who were killed in gang shootings in various areas including Bonteheuwel, Kalksteenfontein and Lotus River among others. The court…

KWAZULU-Natal portfolio committee on health chairperson, Imran Keeka, said facility-level and the National Department of Health must answer why there are supplier issues and why ordering of medicines is not done properly. This was after the committee undertook an oversight visit to the Provincial Pharmaceutical Supply Depot in Mobeni last week. “What I think is noteworthy is that tenders for medicines are not decided upon at a provincial level. These are deals that are concluded at national level,” Keeka said. He said provinces inform the National Department of Health of their needs. while procurement and finalisation of deals with suppliers are concluded nationally and signed off by the director-general of health. The provincial health department then pays for those medicines. “We also believe that, and this was a discussion that…

WITH the rainy season not yet in full swing, the City’s Public Emergency Communication Centre has already recorded an increase in motor vehicle accidents. Safety and security mayco member, JP Smith, said 57 motor vehicle and pedestrian accidents were recorded in 48 hours compared to 41 the previous weekend. He attributed this shift to the gloomy weather. “The change in weather combined with poor driving habits and a lack of patience likely all contributed to the increase in motor vehicle accidents. Let’s not forget vehicle defects like balding tyres and brakes, and worn wipers – all things that can compromise safety on the roads. “Please let this be a cautionary tale as we brace for winter and get your vehicles checked timeously to ensure they’re able to deal with the…

BOBBY Sager doesn’t believe in charity the way most people do. To him, real impact comes from being present, on the ground, face-to-face, in some of the world’s most challenging places. For more than 25 years, the American philanthropist, photographer and entrepreneur has embedded himself in war-torn zones, refugee camps, and remote villages. But he doesn’t hand out aids, he helps people rebuild their own lives. “If you think you’re too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito,” says Sager, quoting His Holiness the Dalai lama, one of his longtime collaborators. His work spans Afghanistan, Rwanda, Palestine to name but a few. His philosophy is simple: real change happens when you show up, listen, and help people help themselves. A different kind of philanthropy Sager doesn’t subscribe…

Scrolling through Proteas Women’s star Nonkululeko Mlaba’s social media pages locating a cricket post is like finding a needle in a haystack. Instead, it looks more like an influencer’s Instagram with Mlaba posing in urban hip fashionable attire for the most part. And if it’s not that, she’s showing off her technical sponsor in some new gym kit. It’s therefore no surprise that Mlaba loved the last ICC T20 World Cup in the UAE where she could spend hours in the mega malls of Dubai - the global capital of fashion and designer labels. “I loved Dubai … I was doing my things,” Mlaba exclusively told Independent Media. “I think maybe it was the environment. Or maybe because I was in Dubai. You know, in Dubai I get to meet…

As tough as it is for the Lions and their supporters to hear this, maybe a move away from Ellis Park is what speedster Edwill van der Merwe needs to propel him to greater Springbok heights. The flight-footed winger has been linked with a move for a while now and it looks like the Sharks in Durban won the arm wrestle for his signature ahead of next season. Looking at his World Cup ambitions as a 28-year-old, slotting in with a star-studded team and a backline littered with Springboks just seems like the right decision. I am not saying that the Lions do not possess a backline with plenty of skills, a couple of young Boks, and potential future stars, but what Van der Merwe needs now is to break…

Since the start of the new tax year on March 1, Alexforbes has observed a second wave of interest from retirement fund members in checking their balances and submitting savings pot claims. Fund members may access their savings pots once every tax year, with over 400 000 having done so via Alexforbes between September 2024 and February 2025 during the first wave of withdrawals. With the start of the tax year, an initial four-day surge saw 33 000 withdrawal claims sparking concerns that South Africans were dipping back into their savings pots at a rate similar to the first wave in September. However, the daily volume of claims has since tapered off, with an additional 35 000 claims lodged over the past couple of weeks. To date, Alexforbes has successfully…

FANS of Ed Sheeran have been sent into a musical frenzy following the sensational announcement that the chart-topping artist has completed his eighth studio album. The beloved singer-songwriter recently announced the exciting news, captivating the hearts of his devoted listeners worldwide. In an announcement video posted on Instagram, Sheeran hangs out in the studio with his producer, Ilya Salmanzadeh, listening to an unreleased track Azizam. The singer-songwriter couldn't contain his enthusiasm as he sings and dances along, moving all around the room and bopping his head. “And if love’s just a game, come and play,” Sheeran sings over a carefree dance beat on the track. “Azizam/ Meet me on the floor tonight/ Show me how to move like the water/ In between the dancing lights/ Be my, be my Azizam.”…

Sanitation and access to hygiene products, teen pregnancies and sexual assault are but a few of the barriers to education for girl learners, researchers at the Legal Resources Centre said as it focused on the challenges that girl learners face in South Africa. As part of Human Rights Month, the centre has shone the spotlight on the difficulties that girl learners face, both in the school environment and in accessing education. The discussion shows that the obstacles girl learners face are multifaceted and that, although some progress has been made, the implementation of existing plans to alleviate this has been insufficient thus far. Researchers Amy-Leigh Payne, Charlene Kreuser, and Muyega Mugerwa-Sekwabe found that there have been important developments in addressing the barriers to education for girl learners in South Africa.…

Residents of Bronkhorstspruit, a town in the Tshwane Municipality, find themselves in an alarming predicament. They are forced to consume water that is not only discoloured but potentially unsafe. Many are drawing stark comparisons to the ongoing water crisis in Hammanskraal, where similar issues have led to serious health concerns, including cholera outbreaks. Residents are urging government officials to take immediate action, but the city has indicated that solutions may not be implemented until late next year. Despite repeated discussions with City of Tshwane officials and local councillors, residents express frustration over the lack of adequate action since their concerns were first raised in 2011. One concerned local stated: “The situation is deteriorating, and we’re worried about the impact on our health. To make matters worse, our water bills have…

Energy experts have raised concern about the reliability of Eskom’s energy supply after the power utility unexpectedly implemented load shedding on Wednesday night following the loss of five generation units. This announcement marked Eskom’s fourth load shedding declaration this year, leading to significant disruption during peak energy demand hours. Prof Vally Padayachee, energy expert and former Eskom generation executive manager, said that Eskom had, prior to the last four load shedding declarations, made reasonable progress in their generation recovery efforts. “However, it faced on Wednesday the loss of five generation units before the evening period. The loss of five generating units before and during this Wednesday evening peak period necessitated the implementation of Stage 2 load shedding for 10-and-a-half hours overnight,” he said. Padayachee added that this seemed to be…

Prudence Sekgodiso left footprints where no other South African-born athlete had walked before, securing a gold medal in the women's 800m at the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China, on Sunday. Her triumph was not only the first for a South African female athlete at the championship but also marked a significant milestone in her career, as she secured her first major gold medal following several victories in junior and senior championships across the African continent. The 23-year-old looked stronger with every stride from the heats forward and went on to defeat tough competition from Ethiopia’s Nigist Getachew and Portugal’s Patrícia Silva, setting a world-leading time of 1:58.40 in the final. Sekgodiso had missed out on the final of the women’s 800m at the Paris Olympics last year after finishing…

Three victories from four clashes are not something to scoff at for the South African sides in the United Rugby Championship (URC). Although they were all heart-in-mouth stuff at the death, some brilliant teamwork secured the wins for the Stormers, Bulls, and Sharks. The Lions were their own worst enemies in a clash they should’ve won, looking at how they dominated. Easily the most entertaining match of the four SA sides, the Stormers put up a dazzling backline display with fullback Warrick Gelant at the helm and flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu playing a brilliant supporting role. The return of Damian Willemse also added another edge to the side against the Scarlets. Gelant was magical and had a direct hand in two of their four tries with a host of dummies and…

It was Human Rights Day last week and as South Africans reflect on their rights and freedoms, a critical issue facing millions is the scourge of debt abuse and predatory lending. With an eminent result of over 42% of the country’s 23 million credit-active consumers classified as impaired, the threat is more than a financial statistic. The consistent violation of the Right to Protection from Unfair Lending and Debt Abuse under the National Credit Act (NCA) of 2005 is a serious concern. The scourge of reckless lending Despite the NCA mandating thorough affordability assessments by lenders to prevent reckless lending, many South Africans still end up in debt spirals. The allure of easy credit masks the harsh terms that often come attached, exploiting consumer vulnerabilities and leading to situations where…

AS DAY 15 ended in the kidnapping trial of Joshlin Smith, Judge Nathan Erasmus said today should be the final day of cross-examination of the State’s star witness, Lourentia Lombaard. Lombaard, a former accused turned State witness, has been on the stand since March 13, with some witnesses testifying in between. To date, 18 witnesses have taken the stand. Lombaard was arrested in March 2024, weeks after Joshlin went missing from her Middelpos home in Diazville, Saldanha Bay. The girl, who was 6 years old at the time of her disappearance, was in the care of her mother’s boyfriend, Jacquen “Boeta” Appollis, on February 19, 2024. Joshlin's mother – Racquel “Kelly” Smith, along with Appollis and friends Steveno van Rhyn and Lombaard, were arrested for kidnapping and human trafficking. Lombaard…

INTERNATIONAL Relations Minister, Ronald Lamola, has met with expelled ambassador to the US Ebrahim Rasool, following his return to the country on Sunday. “Following the meeting, a formal report will be submitted to the President for his consideration. “Pending this, the Ministry or Department will not engage in public engagements on the matter,” a statement by the Ministry read. Rasool is yet to submit a detailed report to President Cyril Ramaphosa on his expulsion from the US. Ramaphosa has yet to announce a replacement for the Ambassador position. However, the President has indicated that this decision will not be made in haste. Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magweya, said the president will “apply his mind” and “it does not help for him to rush the process”. He also indicated that the president…

genevieve.serra@inl.co.za EXPERTS are warning that South Africa is on the brink of an avian influenza disaster. This is according to the National Council of SPCA’s (NSPCA), who said if the government failed to act, it could cause suffering for thousands of birds. “The NSPCA warns that without urgent intervention, another outbreak will tear through the poultry industry, leaving millions of birds in its wake and even threatening wild bird populations. “Should AI (avian influenza) ravage through the poultry industry, the fastest and most effective way to stop the spread of the disease is culling infected birds – this prevents further suffering and stops the disease from spreading. However, vaccination could also play a crucial role in reducing outbreaks.” The NSPCA said on November 25, 2024, it urgently called on Agriculture…

For years, Johannesburg has been feeling the effects of a mass migration to the Western Cape, with many South Africans lured by promises of picturesque scenery and a more laid-back lifestyle. However, a recent trend suggests that for some semigrants, the grass isn’t as green as it seemed on the other side. According to Cobus Odendaal, CEO of Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty in Johannesburg and Randburg, there is a growing wave of inquiries from individuals exploring the possibility of returning to Johannesburg to reclaim a foothold in a more affordable housing market. Odendaal notes that the appeal of the Western Cape has primarily stemmed from desires for a lifestyle change and perceived improvements in governance. However, the recent surge in the region’s property prices – soaring by 25% over…

With only the Lions falling short of a victory in the United Rugby Championship (URC), all eyes will be on them this weekend as they bid to close out their overseas journey in the tournament with a win. The Johannesburg side are the only local team outside of the tournament’s Top 8 and will be desperate to claw their way back. For the three other South African teams – the Stormers, Bulls, and Sharks – they’ll hope to continue their winning ways to cement their knockout spots. In the eighth spot: The Stormers P13 W6 L7 Pts33 They replaced the Lions in the final qualifying spot after a last-gasp bonus point win over the Scarlets this past Saturday. A victory will suffice when they take on Ulster on Friday (9.35pm…

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos believes that their Fifa World Cup 2026 qualifier against Benin on Tuesday (kick-off 6pm) could be a defining moment in their campaign, with the potential to either make or break their hopes of qualification. Bafana are currently on a high, sitting at the top of Group C in the qualifiers with 10 points after three wins, one draw, and one loss in five games. Their impressive run of form has seen supporters rally behind them at home, hopeful that they could return to the World Cup finals for the first time in 16 years. A packed New Peter Mokaba Stadium was in full voice on Friday as Bafana comfortably dispatched neighbours Lesotho, taking a major confidence boost into their clash against Benin. Broos' men will…