Innholdsfortegnelse for 2025-04-04 i Cape Argus

The Congolese national arrested in connection with the gruesome torture and assault at the infamous Zanzou nightclub in Pretoria will know next Wednesday whether he will be released on bail. The man, who in terms of a court order may not be identified at this stage, appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court yesterday, where legal arguments were presented in his bail application bid. The State asked the court to deny him bail, as it said he was a flight risk. The defence denied this and said he has a temporary asylum seeker permit which is due to only expire in July. The accused also pleaded for his release, as he said he has to take care of his family. He denied that he was a flight risk. Judgment in the…

THE Eastern Cape Health Department has been ordered to pay damages to the mother of a child who suffered cerebral palsy due to medical negligence at the Madzikane KaZulu Memorial Hospital. The mother had appealed the decision of the Eastern Cape Division of the High Court in Mthatha, in which the health MEC’s plea amounted to a bare denial, denying every aspect of negligence, to the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA). The minor child, born in 2013, suffered a brain injury during the birth process and, according to the court record, this was due to the medical staff’s negligence in not properly conducting observations and could have prevented the injury that caused cerebral palsy. There was uncontested evidence that there was a cord around the foetus’s neck during the birth…

Should the Bulls adopt a more conservative approach in Saturday’s Challenge Cup last-16 playoff against Bayonne? That is the major issue that the Pretoria side will have to grapple with at the Stade Jean Dauger (1.30pm start). On the one hand, a ‘knockout rugby’ style often dictates that teams must be wary of chancing their arm in case of making an unnecessary mistake that could cost them the game. But what about the type of rugby that got you to the playoffs? Shouldn’t that be the blueprint for success all the way? Well, for someone like Bulls fullback Devon Williams, you would think that he would want an all-out attacking game-plan against Bayonne on Saturday. The 32-year-old has been in excellent form for the Bulls this season, making vital incursions…

From the world of entertainment to real-life struggles, this week’s trending celeb and entertainment news has it all. Catch up on how celebrities are saying enough is enough to South African children in crisis, supporting 7-year-old Baby Cwecwe to the intriguing costume of US singer Erykah Badu. Here are the top 10 trending news: Rachel Kolisi and Siya Kolisi Foundation The founder and former CEO has initiated legal proceedings against the organisation by filing a complaint with the Commission of Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) on March, 25 2025 for “constructive dismissal”. Rachel alleges that the foundation’s board created an intolerable work environment that forced her to resign. ​ Selena Gomez and boyfriend, Benny Blanco shade Justin Bieber in new music Selena Gomez released an album on March…

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has filed papers in the Western Cape High Court to challenge the legality of the 2025/26 National Budget process, focusing on the planned Value-Added Tax (VAT) increase scheduled for May 1. This comes after the 2025 fiscal framework was passed on Wednesday with support from the African National Congress (ANC), Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), the Patriotic Alliance, and ActionSA. The DA, Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), and the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party) voted against it. The party is seeking an interdict to prevent the South African Revenue Service (SARS) from implementing the hike, claiming it will unfairly burden South Africans with higher costs of living. In a statement, DA Federal Council Chairperson Helen Zille emphasised the party’s position, stating: "We are taking this fight to court…

THE State was left with egg on its face after Judge Nathan Erasmus slated it for ‘sloppy’ evidence gathering. Yesterday, the State called Captain Philip Seekoei from the Western Cape Crime and Investigation Services. His core function is as a Detective Court Case Officer (DCCO) at Wynberg Magistrate’s Court. Seekoei was called to the stand after he completed the alleged confession made by Steveno van Rhyn. The court is currently in a trial within a trial as van Rhyn and Jacquen ‘Boeta’ Appollis claimed to have been assaulted and tortured by police on March 4 and 5, 2024. Earlier in the day, Colonel Eddie Clark testified that he started to take the alleged confession of van Rhyn. Van Rhyn complained that he was hungry and needed to take medication, and…

The Department of Land Reform and Rural Development has, through the office of the Chief Registrar of Deeds, announced the launch of the Electronic Deeds Registration System (eDRS) this week. This is said to be a significant advancement for South Africa’s land registration system as well as the provisioning of deeds registration information to clients and the public. The Department said the Electronic Deeds Registration Systems Act 19 of 2019 is in full operation. “It provides for the Chief Registrar of Deeds to develop, establish and maintain the electronic deeds registration system by using information and communications technologies for the preparation, lodgement, registration, execution and storing of deeds and documents,” it said. Land Reform and Rural Development said the aim of the eDRS is to replace the manual registration processes…

In a surprising turn of events, Jose Riveiro has made known his intention to step down as head coach of Orlando Pirates when his contract expires in May, at the end of the current season. Pirates publicly made Riveiro’s intentions known on Thursday afternoon, raising questions about the timing of the announcement since the Buccaneers are navigating multiple important competitions, both domestically and on the continent. The timing of the announcement is particularly noteworthy. Pirates are entering a frenetic stage of the season, with each match carrying significant weight. There is bound to be speculation that the announcement will galvanise the squad or lead to distractions. The team have several high-stakes encounters over the next few weeks. Riveiro shared his feelings with Pirates’ website on Thursday, as the announcement sent…

The Blitzboks cleared the air after last week’s mishap in Hong Kong, and have set their sights on finishing strongly at the Singapore Sevens with a fresh focus. Ninth place in the first Far East tournament was not up to the standards of the Springbok Sevens, and with a sudden-death group stage in Singapore with Great Britain (7.26am start) and Argentina (10.44am) on Saturday, they know there is no room for error. The South Africans face Britain on Saturday morning before taking on the defending series champions and current log-leaders Argentina, knowing that one loss could derail their plans of making a comeback. According to veteran Siviwe Soyizwapi, they want to put in performances that do justice to the team, country and the badge on their chests. “Each tournament has…

AN appeal application by the Western Cape Provincial Government relating to security services to various sites in the province has been dismissed by the Supreme Court of Appeal as the matter to be ruled on was moot. The application, deemed dead in the water, was due to the previous tender having reached its lifespan by the time the matter was heard by the SCA; a new tender process is already under way for security services at various sites. The new tender bidding process is expected to be concluded by June 2025. The matter came after the provincial Health Department (DoH) challenged the interdict applications by private security companies that were aggrieved at not being selected for the renewal of tenders at 258 hospitals. SCA judge Yvonne Mbatha said that the…

Minister of Trade, Industry, and Competition, Parks Tau, has pledged to engage with the United States government for clarity regarding the 30% tariff imposed by President Donald Trump. This decision follows an announcement by Trump of reciprocal tariffs affecting various countries, including South Africa, which will come into effect on April 9. Speaking with the media at the Gauteng Investment Conference yesterday in Johannesburg, Tau expressed confusion over the method used by the US to calculate the tariff adjustments. He stated: “We are all trying to work out how the US arrived at 60% discounted to 30%, as the tariffs that we are having, and therefore the discount.” The South African government currently imposes much lower tariffs on US goods, averaging around 7.6%, in stark contrast to the 30% tariffs…

When Stellenbosch FC were drawn against Egyptian giants Zamalek in their first-ever CAF Confederation Cup quarter-final it immediately set in motion the “David vs Goliath” match-up. In the maroon corner was Stellies. A team still in diapers finding its way in the local Betway Premiership with a single Carling Cup trophy on its honours board. At the other end in white and red corner were the Kings of Africa who had been previously crowned five-times CAF Champions League winners and the current holders of the CAF Confederation Cup. Legacy is not the only chasm between the sides. Despite hailing from the picturesque winelands in the Western Cape, Stellenbosch have been the gypsies of the continental competition being forced to play their home matches all around South Africa in Pretoria and…

Sometime this afternoon, the contenders for the TotalSports Two Oceans Marathon title will gather at a hotel in the Mother City, not too far from the start line of the flagship 56km race, to share their state of readiness with the media. Gerda Steyn will take most of the spotlight, and she will, as she always does, flash that famous smile of hers and expertly avoid talking up her chances at what would be her sixth successive victory in the race. Her potential opponent and now teammate at Hollywood Athletics Club, Irvette van Zyl, will giggle and say ‘Ja’ at the start of almost all her sentences, which she will litter with her desire to beat Steyn. It is once again going to be a two-women race, as it was…