Innholdsfortegnelse for 2025-03-27 i Cape Argus

That three-star rating for the new Steven Soderbergh movie Black Bag is a matter of personal preference. Kick it up by half a star if your tastes run to John le Carré espionage thrillers crossed with marital cage matches like Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Dock it the same amount if you don’t like talky, complex, fiendishly intelligent head games. Me? I like it, while also recognising that this is the latest effortless Soderbergh miniature, acted by a game and glittering cast while never breaking a sweat. It’s good, brainy fun but I do miss the days when this director sweated a bit more. After an amuse-bouche of an opening scene, Black Bag settles into a dinner party at which the stakes are discreetly high. Our chef is George Woodhouse…

The detective investigating the disappearance of Joshlin Smith revealed that the child’s mother, Racquel ‘Kelly’ Smith, claimed her daughter was no longer in Saldanha Bay just a week after she went missing. Detective Captain Wesley Lombard testified at the Western Cape High Court sitting in the White City Multipurpose Centre in Diazville, Saldanha Bay yesterday. He said he took over the case a week after the six-year-old was reported missing. Joshlin was last seen on 19 February, 2024, at her Middelpos home. Her mother Kelly, boyfriend Jacquen “Boeta” Appollis and friends Steveno “Steffie” van Rhyn and Lourentia Lombaard were arrested for kidnapping and human trafficking. The state withdrew the charges against Lombaard after she became a state witness. Lombard detailed what had happened when he met with Kelly and her…

THE African region has seen a significant decrease in tuberculosis (TB) deaths by 42% and cases by 24% between 2015 and 2023, due to improved case detection and treatment. However, as World TB Day 2025 highlights the urgent need for action and investment to end TB, challenges such as limited access to rapid diagnostics and the high cost of treatment persist. The World Health Organization (WHO) End TB Strategy aims to reduce TB deaths and cases by 75% and 50% respectively by 2025, compared with 2015 levels. Several African countries have made notable progress, with South Africa achieving a 50% reduction in TB incidence during this period. Mozambique, Tanzania, Togo, and Zambia have also met the 2025 goal of a 75% reduction in TB deaths. Despite progress, limited access to…

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to block the ban on cannabis and hemp-derived foodstuffs was welcomed by the Western Cape Government yesterday, marking a significant step towards regulatory reform in the agricultural sector. Western Cape MEC for Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism, Dr Ivan Meyer, welcomed the decision by Health Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, to withdraw the Regulations under the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act (Foodstuffs Act) prohibiting the sale, importation, and manufacture of foodstuffs containing hemp and cannabis. “This will allow for comprehensive public consultation, ensuring that all voices, including those of business and health experts, are heard,” Meyer said. “This will lead to the development of policies and rules that support the potential of the cannabis and hemp industry to generate jobs, improve public health, and boost economic growth.”…

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has refused to entertain questions surrounding Teboho Mokoena’s yellow-card controversy, which continues to stir up debate in South Africa’s Fifa World Cup qualifying campaign. On Tuesday night, South Africa’s 2-0 win over Benin at the Stade Félix Houphouët Boigny in Ivory Coast marked another crucial step toward qualification for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The victory saw Bafana maintain their lead at the top of Group C with 13 points, five clear of second-placed Rwanda, who are tied on eight points with Benin. However, it wasn’t just the result that had tongues wagging. Mokoena, who was expected to feature, was notably absent from the match-day squad, amid reports about a potential yellow-card scandal. The Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder was booked…

Western Province captain Kyle Verreynne has not given up hope on his team salvaging their 2024/25 season. Province have endured a torrid summer, particularly in comparison to last season, when they cruised to the One-Day Cup title unbeaten and came within a whisker of claiming the Four-Day Series title in the final at the Wanderers. Instead, this season – apart from earning a T20 playoff spot – it has been tough going down at Newlands, with Province surrendering their One-Day Cup title and finishing last in the 50-over competition. This placed Province at the heart of an intense relegation battle, with coach Salieg Nackerdien emphasising “It can happen to WP if we don’t get a wake-up call” ahead of the resumption of the four-day competition. Fortunately, Province – who were…

In the pre-Hugo Broos-era, the idea of back-to-back wins, especially in World Cup qualifiers, was a non-existent topic. Hence, Bafana Bafana last qualified for the global showpiece in 2002 – forget the 2010 qualification by default. For Broos to achieve this rare feat in the recent qualifiers against Southern African neighbours Lesotho and West Africans Benin, he was always going to require some bold individual performances. So, we rated the combined run-on XI, which gives us 14 players. The number 14 comes from the fact that Broos made only three changes in the run-on XI against Benin from the starters who faced Lesotho in Polokwane. Thapelo Morena, Bathusi Aubaas, and Thalente Mbatha replaced Elias Mokwana, Jayden Adams, and Teboho Mokoena. Ronwen Williams | 6 out of 10 Two clean sheets…

Want to up your cooking skills or simply be entertained? You’re in luck! This month, South African television is serving up a feast of culinary delights, featuring both seasoned chefs and enthusiastic amateurs showcasing their talents. Here are three local cooking shows you should add to your viewing schedule. Come Dine With Me South Africa (S10) Wednesdays on BBC Lifestyle, DStv channel 174 at 8pm. Come Dine with Me South Africa follows four people who have never previously met as they snoop around each other’s homes, sample each other’s cooking and pass judgement on one another’s entertainment skills. Each host receives scores out of ten after the gatherings and the stakes are high: the contestant with the best score walks away with a grand prize of R10,000, as well as…

Sporadic shootings have kept emergency workers and police busy, in just a matter of hours after ten people were shot and wounded, with one individual left dead. In a particularly tragic incident, the victims were reportedly members of a family. The first shooting occurred on Mohan Street in Rylands, also known as Pookse Bos, where three family members were shot by gunmen who fled the scene on Tuesday. Police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg said: “Athlone police registered an attempted murder case for investigation following a shooting incident on Tuesday afternoon, in Mohan Street, Rylands, in which a 47-year-old female and two males aged 16 and 48 were shot and wounded. “ The victims were taken to a medical facility for medical treatment. The motive for the attack is yet to…

WITH only a week left for parliament to pass the budget, the Umkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) has reiterated its rejection of Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s proposed 0,5% increase in Value Added Tax (VAT). Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the party’s first high national command meeting after the last general elections in Durban yesterday, the party secretary-general Floyd Shivambu buried any hope that last week’s meeting between the party’s parliamentary representatives and the ANC would result in the MKP backing Godongwana on the VAT hike. Shivambu poured cold water on the meeting, saying it carried no weight, describing discussion where serious decisions, like the passing of the budget, could not be made. “We wish to correct the assertion that our party met with the ANC. It has never…

The People’s Movement for Change (PMC) has kicked back in defence of their member and Elsies River Community Policing Forum (CPF) member who came under scrutiny in recent days after a photograph of her and the son of alleged Sexy Boys gang leader, Jerome “Donkie” Booysen, surfaced. This comes as Provincial Minister of Police Oversight and Community Safety, Anroux Marias, announced a re-election of the CPF. PMC said it was a smear campaign against her, describing it as baseless and a blatant act of political cowardice. They said the DA should clean up their own house following the arrest and charge of former Human Settlements MMC, Malusi Booi, who is facing charges of tender fraud, among others and apparent links to alleged 28’s gang leader, Ralph Stanfield. Marias welcomed the…

Stormers strongman Sazi Sandi says he has soaked up scrumming tips from some of the best in the business in Neethling Fouché, and veterans Frans Malherbe and Brok Harris. The 26-year-old is in line to start against Ulster this weekend because Malherbe has returned to Cape Town due to Springbok resting protocols, while Fouché has joined the squad following the birth of his son. “It’s been awesome to soak up the experience of Frans, Brok and Neethling,” Sandi said this week ahead of Friday’s United Rugby Championship clash against Ulster in Belfast (9.35pm kick-off). “Growing up around them over the last few years has been great. “After a scrum session, there are times when you don’t know what you’re feeling. “They’ll lend an ear and chat with me, and whatever…

Argentina celebrated their 2026 World Cup qualification with a dazzling 4-1 thrashing of arch-rivals Brazil in Buenos Aires on Tuesday night. Julian Alvarez, Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister and Giuliano Simeone sealed an emphatic win for the world champions, who had been assured of their World Cup berth after Bolivia’s 0-0 draw with Uruguay earlier on Tuesday. That goalless stalemate ensured a festive atmosphere at the Estadio Monumental before a ball had been kicked, and Argentina kept the party going with a blistering performance. “We humbly did our job and played a great game. We gave them a show,” Alvarez told reporters. “It was a historic result, winning by 4-1, and that makes us really proud. “I’m so happy for the fans, for helping the team and to see how…

Mornay Smith last played for the Bulls on January 10 before last weekend’s clash against Leinster. The 27-year-old tighthead prop hasn’t had much game-time since the arrival of Wilco Louw in Pretoria, who has been a powerhouse in the scrums for Jake White’s team. But Smith – who has been a regular starter in the No 3 jersey for a number of seasons – finally got his chance last Saturday, and came up with the big play that helped his team clinch a last-gasp victory. Lining up for a final scrum where the Bulls needed to secure a penalty in for a match-winning goal-kick, Smith and his fellow front-rowers Akker van der Merwe and Jan-Hendrik Wessels shoved Leinster off their feed to earn the referee’s decision. Centre David Kriel then…

A SENIOR police officer has been convicted of conspiring to defraud the Road Accident Fund (RAF) of R5 million. The conviction follows a thorough investigation by the Hawks, which uncovered that the officer manipulated official accident reports in East London. Warrant Officer Mandlenkosi Njekanye, 50, and Xolani Somtsewu, 45, were found guilty of fraud and defeating the ends of justice by the East London Regional Court on Monday, following an extensive investigation by Hawks, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation. The fraud dates back to December 31, 2020, when Somtsewu was involved in a crash on the N2 Highway near Komga. He was driving a Nissan NP300 with a passenger who tragically died at the scene. “Police were activated to attend the scene; therefore, the accident was attributed to a…

Alleged underworld kingpin Nafiz Modack has turned on his co-accused claiming they conspired with former Anti-Gang Unit (AGU) boss Major-General Andre Lincoln to gather evidence against him. Modack returned to the witness stand after a two-day break where the state continued to grill him on texts between himself and his co-accused Amaal Jantjies. Jantjies and her former boyfriend, Janick Adonis were catapulted into the limelight in November 2019 after the duo were busted after a foiled grenade attack on Kinnear’s home, allegedly planned with Modack. It is understood that the state contends that Modack sent Kinnear’s home address to Jantjies ahead of the grenade attack but he denies this and instead says he sent his own address as the father of Adonis was set to collect money at his home.…

Artscape CEO, Marlene le Roux is making her voice heard bringing a much-needed spotlight to the challenges facing post-polio sufferers worldwide. March 26 is recognised worldwide by post-polio sufferers as the day when the ground-breaking research of American virologist Dr Jonas Salk (1914-1995) announced his vaccine against the deadly disease in 1953. Polio is a highly infectious disease that attacks the nervous system and can lead to spinal and respiratory paralysis, and in some cases death, mostly affecting young children. Le Roux contracted polio in 1967, at barely three months old. She said her story, like so many others – the majority of whom are found in Africa – “is a testament of the lack of care and empathy experienced by mothers and families who were disadvantaged by a racist…

Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has expressed his satisfaction with his team's performance in their 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifier against Benin on Tuesday in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. The victory significantly strengthens South Africa’s position in the race for qualification to next year’s global tournament in the US, Mexico and Canada. Broos was full of praise for his players, acknowledging their tactical discipline and focused approach throughout the match. The Belgium-born coach has worked tirelessly to blend experience with youth over the years, creating a squad capable of competing at the highest level. One of the most notable aspects of Bafana’s progress under Broos, has been the team’s growing confidence. Broos has instilled a sense of belief in his players, which is reflected in their performances. “We are not…

I was sick to my stomach this week, almost to the point of gagging. And that’s not because I am currently observing the Muslim holy month of Ramadaan, where I’m required to stay without food and drink from sunrise to sunset. No, it was instead due to the embarrassing situation related to Bafana Bafana midfielder Teboho Mokoena’s yellow-card controversy that could see the national football team be docked three valuable Fifa World Cup qualifying points. For the uninformed, Bafana fielded Mokoena in last Friday evening’s 2-0 victory over Lesotho at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, despite the Mamelodi Sundowns star having picked up a yellow card in the previous World Cup qualifiers against Benin (MD1) and a second in the following match against Zimbabwe (MD4). Fifa’s regulations clearly indicate…

IT is time to sink or swim as the final stretch of the 2024/2025 Premiership season begins this weekend, with super tricky fixtures for all the relegation strugglers, who among them, with a great sense of disbelief, include three-time champions SuperSport United. Other teams in this bracket are Magesi FC, Cape Town City and Marumo Gallants, and with 24 points on the board respectively, Richards Bay FC and Lamontville Golden Arrows, even though they are currently standing at No 10 and 11. Independent Media looked at the upcoming relegation battle fixtures as the once-mighty Matsatsantsa a Pitori begin for the second time life after coach Gavin Hunt, who was sacked on Human Rights Day. Magesi FC v Stellenbosch FC, Saturday, 5.45pm With 23 points after the same number of games,…