Innholdsfortegnelse for 2025-05-08 i Cape Argus

Sabbatical, a homegrown Mother’s Day movie, hits the big screen tomorrow. In an interview with writer-director Karabo Lediga and producer Kagiso Lediga, they discussed how the difficult mother-daughter dynamic in their work captivates viewers, immersing them in a world where personal grounding, not wealth, defines success. The film opens with Lesego (Mona Monyane), a high-flying corporate climber on the cusp of a promotion to CEO at LouwFin. Her life takes a tumultuous turn when she becomes entangled in a financial scandal involving the misappropriation of a miners’ pension fund. As such, she retreats to her childhood home in the township in Pretoria, where she is forced to face the harsh reality of her career being over while being abandoned by so-called friends. She also has to face her mother Doris…

Miss South Africa 2024 Mia Le Roux attended the Metro FM Music Awards, where she made a red-carpet appearance. During her interview on SABC1’s black carpet programme for the music awards, she was asked by presenter Mpumi Mlambo who her favourite artist was. Her answer and the question itself opened up a huge online discussion. In a statement, Le Roux addressed the online talk that has been happening since the awards took place on May 3, revealing that this is one of her “biggest insecurities.” “Within the deaf community, everyone experiences music differently. Some perform entire songs in South African Sign Language (SASL). Others feel music through rhythm and vibration. “Some dance by counting beats. There are deaf musicians and artists which I am in awe of, because I can…

THE Mitchell’s Plain Community Policing Forum (CPF) has issued an urgent call for a commission of inquiry into gang-related violence, following a deadly shooting in Tafelsig that claimed the lives of two teenagers and left another critically wounded. The shooting took place on Tuesday night on the corner of Platteklip Street and Cable Way. According to police reports, the victims – two males aged 18 and 19 – were gunned down while standing in the road. A third person was seriously wounded and taken to hospital for treatment. Police say a Toyota Etios drove past the group and opened fire before fleeing the scene. The attack is believed to be gang-related. As residents of Mitchell’s Plain reel from yet another violent incident, the CPF’s call for structural interventions, accountability, and…

JOHANNESBURG Mayor Dada Morero has unveiled a turnaround plan aimed at revitalising the city’s economy, improving service delivery, and ensuring financial sustainability. The plan, which was presented during the State of the City Address (Soca) yesterday, seeks to address the metro’s challenges through a series of drastic measures. Morero has been under fire in recent months after opposition parties demanded answers for the state of the Johannesburg city center, that has become a shadow of itself with high crime and a state of decay. It has been nearly two years since a gas explosion tore down Bree Street, now known as Lilian Ngoyi Street in central Johannesburg, but it has yet to be fixed, prompting opposition parties to demand answers as to why the street’s rehabilitation has stalled. Morero…

A SCULPTURE of a Cape clawless otter, made from invasive alien plant material, will be unveiled at the Lower Silvermine Wetland tomorrow at 3pm. The otter, made by local artist and sculptor Chip Snaddon, aims to highlight the ecological importance of the wetland and ongoing conservation efforts. Martin Scholtz, a Friends of Silvermine Nature Area (Fosna) committee member, said they wanted to create a fun learning experience while also emphasising the environmental value of the wetland, especially after recent construction to move the power cables running through the collapsed bridge had caused “quite a bit of disruption”. Fosna commissioned the sculpture, and Scholtz said the otter was chosen for its symbolic value. “The otter, often seen as a symbol of joy, playfulness, and adaptability in various cultures, was chosen to…

Meet Dr Thobeka Ntini-Makununika, a third-generation domestic worker who defied the odds to break the cycle of generational domestic work. Ntini-Makununika graduated with her PhD at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) earlier this week. Her PhD study unpacked the hidden power dynamics in South African households in her thesis titled: “Unravelling the Dynamics of Power in the Employer-Domestic Worker Relations in Contemporary South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal: Praxis-Oriented Research”. She explained she carries the sacrifices of generations of women in her family and conveyed this into every chapter she wrote. Along with herself, her late mother, aunt, and late grandmother were domestic workers. “I was raised by Black African women who survived through domestic work. For seven years, from 13 years old, I worked part-time for white families and in holiday resorts.…

Cape Town has long been marred by waves of violence in the minibus taxi industry. Despite repeated interventions over the years, the sector remains engulfed in instability, with bloodshed often spilling into the lives of innocent commuters and communities. In April 2005, then-Premier Ebrahim Rasool established a Commission of Inquiry into taxi violence, chaired by Advocate Dumisa Ntsebeza. The commission was tasked to investigate the underlying reasons for the violence that has plagued the industry; secondly, to identify the people or groups who are instigating or responsible for the violence, and thirdly, to establish the structural and institutional factors that contribute to the conflict. Nearly two decades later, the commission’s findings remain disturbingly relevant. The report revealed a deeply entrenched culture of lawlessness within the industry marked by fear, silence,…

Inter Milan are one victory away from Uefa Champions League redemption after Tuesday's chaotic, mesmerising win over Barcelona, which propelled the Italians into their second final in three seasons. Simone Inzaghi's team had been in a fragile state in recent weeks after their treble bid went up in smoke, surrendering top spot in Serie A to Napoli and being dumped out of the Italian Cup by local rivals AC Milan. But beating star-studded Barca, and the incredible manner in which they did it, has completely changed the atmosphere at Inter, who are now bullish about their chances of being crowned kings of Europe for the fourth time. Inter will take on either Arsenal or PSG in Munich knowing their task will be nowhere near as difficult as it was two…

Kaizer Chiefs assistant coach Cedric Kaze says it’s time for Amakhosi to deliver, as they prepare to face Orlando Pirates in the Nedbank Cup final at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday at 3:30 pm. The final marks Chiefs’ first domestic cup final appearance in six years. Pirates, on the other hand, are chasing a historic third consecutive Nedbank Cup title under head coach José Riveiro. With silverware on the line, pressure is mounting on both benches — but particularly on Chiefs', who are desperate to end their long-standing trophy drought. Kaze, speaking ahead of the clash, used a vivid analogy to describe the team’s long and difficult campaign. “We understand very well the frustrations of the fans and we share those frustrations as well,” he said. “But coming into this…

President Trump’s latest salvo in his trade wars — a 100% tariff on all foreign-produced films — has left even his own base scratching their heads. The move, framed as a defence of Hollywood, may be its death knell. Here’s why this policy isn’t just misguided — it’s dangerously self-defeating. 1. Hollywood’s Self-Inflicted Wound Let’s be real: Hollywood doesn’t need protection from foreign films. It needs protection from its own government’s economic illiteracy. The North American box office is already dominated by US productions — foreign films account for a sliver of the market. Slapping tariffs on them won’t “save” American cinema; it will only accelerate Hollywood’s decline by: ·Crushing indie theaters that rely on foreign art films. ·Pushing more viewers to streaming, where Netflix and Amazon already call the…

THE National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) went nearly R5 billion over its budget for student accomodation in 2024/25, it said, while giving an update to the portfolio committee on higher education and training yesterday. The acting chief executive officer, Waseem Carrim, elaborated on the complexities of managing student accommodation and the steps NSFAS is taking to address these issues. Carrim said there are three levels of accommodation: on-campus institution-owned and managed accommodation, private accredited student accommodation, and private unaccredited accommodation. Carrim said that for the 2025 academic year, NSFAS accredited about 326 000 beds, received around 152 000 applications and 126 000 students have been onboarded in that process. They paid 3 800 extra accommodation providers representing over 100 000 students. To date, the disbursements are about R1.3bn. “If…

THE ANC has met with the Afrikaner Leadership Network, which includes the Solidarity Movement and AfriForum, in a surprise move facilitated by the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC). The meeting on Tuesday night, described as “robust and frank,” aimed to discuss matters of common interest to the country but has left some within the ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) dissatisfied. In March this year, the Afrikaner right-wing groups took a trip to the US, meeting with US President Donald Trump to raise concerns regarding SA’s Expropriation Bill. At the time the organisations claimed that the South African government was ready to commit land grabs from Afrikaner land owners, which was widely seen as spreading disinformation. This was after President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the Bill into law, which led to…

As World Hand Hygiene Day sheds light on the desperate need for clean water in South African early childhood development (ECD) centres, advocates emphasise the importance of addressing this pressing public health crisis, which has severe implications for the nation’s children. Deb Zelezniak, CEO of the Santa Shoebox Project, has raised concerns that SA may be jeopardising the life-saving potential of handwashing unless immediate action is taken to ensure that clean and safe water is available in early learning environments. “Children constantly touch surfaces and objects, picking up germs as they go,” Zelezniak articulates. It is explained that despite an ambitious government pledge of R210 million aimed at upgrading these centres over the next two years, significant gaps in infrastructure continue to put children’s health and development at risk. “Without…

LOSING three consecutive matches is never a good look for any team; however, perhaps in this case, the Proteas women's team could accept it as a learning curve. Having gone on tour without experienced players such as Marizanne Kapp and Anneke Bosch was a big blow and the South African batting unit got exposed. However, the team got to understand the characters of the fringe players, such as the 20-year-old batter Miane Smit, who was calm at the crease on debut for her 39 runs batting at No 3. Losing Laura Wolvaardt due to an illness on Wednesday did not do the side a favour as that meant the likes of Annerie Dercksen, Nondumiso Shangase, and Sinalo Jafta would come in to bat higher up the order than they would…

The Renault-owned Alpine Formula One team confirmed on Wednesday that Argentine Franco Colapinto would replace Jack Doohan for the next five races, starting at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix. Australian Doohan, 22 and son of motorcycle great Mick, failed to score a point in six races this season and one at the end of 2024. "We have come to the decision to put Franco in the car alongside Pierre (Gasly) for the next five races," said executive advisor Flavio Briatore, who is set to take over as team principal after Ollie Oakes resigned on Tuesday. "We continue to support Jack at the team, as he has acted in a very professional manner in his role as a race driver so far this season. The next five races will give us an…

The Sharks recently won two crucial games overseas because of their never-say-die defence, and when they add fluidity on attack, they will be a tough team to beat. That is the opinion of assistant coach Joey Mongalo ahead of Friday night’s home United Rugby Championship match against the Ospreys. It is the Sharks’ penultimate league game before the encroaching quarter-finals, and they urgently need their attacking game to come alive. The Sharks have a world class pack of forwards and a Springbok-studded backline, but key players have only just returned to the team and the sum is not yet bigger than the its parts. “We pretty much played rugby without the ball,” Mongalo said, of the away wins over Edinburgh and Ulster. “Nobody takes up rugby and says, ‘You have…

Throughout history, cities materialise at the nexus of geography, strategy, and vision. Few places exemplify this phenomenon as strikingly as Antalya, the jewel of Türkiye’s southwestern coast, whose origins can be traced back to the ambitious vision of King Attalos II of Pergamon. During the Hellenistic period in 159-138 BC, Attalos famously commanded his soldiers to, "go and find me heaven on earth," a quest that would lead to the foundation of one of the most splendid cities with a vibrant tapestry woven from its rich history. It is here where I find myself, under the sun-soaked skies of this splendid Mediterranean oasis, for the next week. I have been here before, back in late November 2023, when I covered the Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup for Amateurs, which was…

The North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria has delivered a landmark ruling regarding President Cyril Ramaphosa’s signing of the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill into law, finding that it is subject to judicial review. The ruling which was handed down this week requires Ramaphosa to submit a comprehensive record of the proceedings that influenced his decision to enact the NHI Bill. This submission must adhere to Rule 53 of the Uniform Rules of the Court and be delivered within ten calendar days from the date of the ruling. The ruling stems from a legal challenge initiated by the Board of Health Funders (BHF) and the South African Private Practitioners Forum (SAPPF). The groups raised serious questions regarding the rationality of the president’s actions, particularly following widespread dissent and critical constitutional…

AN EXPERT said judge’s clerk, Andiswa Mengo, was embarrassed and in agreement with the sexual conversations between her and the Eastern Cape Judge President Selby Mbenenge. Mbenenge’s counsel, advocate Griffits Madonsela SC, put this to the witness, Dr Zakeera Docrat, a researcher, forensic, and legal linguist, at the Judicial Conduct Tribunal yesterday, held in Sandton. Mbenenge, who presides at the Eastern Cape Division of the High Court, is accused by Mengo of sexual harassment. She alleges several disturbing communications from the Judge President. During the cross-examination, where Docrat described the functions of the emojis used by Mengo in her conversations with Mbenenge, she agreed with Madonsela that Mengo was embarrassed and in agreement with the sexual conversations. However, she disagreed with Madonsela that Mengo did not at any point rebuff…

LAND Reform and Rural Development Minister Mzwanele Nyhontso has defended the new regulation mandating that individuals disclose their race and gender to facilitate property transfers in the country. Nyhontso reassured parliamentarians that the regulation, which will be used for statistical and land audit purposes, would not be used to discriminate against any race. “This regulation is going to be used to understand the land and to understand who owns the land, so that we are able to audit the land in this country. “By the way, even if you are buying a car, even if you are in the bank, you still have a form. Even if you are at the Office of Home Affairs, you are asked this question. Are you an African? Are you white? Are you Indian?,”…

THE historic SAS Assegaai Submarine has officially opened to the public as a museum in Simon’s Town, following a special ceremony last week. The event, held at the new permanent site near the NSRI Station 10 building, celebrated the work of Naval Heritage Trust (NHT) volunteers, the South African Navy, and donors who helped make the project possible. The Assegaai was moved overland in July 2024 – no small feat, considering the submarine is 58 metres long and weighs nearly 700 tonnes. Guests included Vice Admiral Monde Lobese, Chief of the SA Navy, Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis, former and current submariners, donors, and members of the public. Lobese spoke about the importance of submarines in naval history. “From the moment the first submarine was commissioned, naval warfare changed,” he…

CAPE Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has condemned the bomb threat directed at the Al-Azhar Mosque in District Six, describing it as a sinister act that strikes at the heart of the city’s values of peace, tolerance, and religious freedom. The threat was reportedly sent via cellphone, prompting police to open an intimidation case. The City confirmed that it is actively supporting the investigation through its Safety and Security Investigative Unit, K9 Unit, and Disaster Risk Management teams. “My office has been in contact with SAPS who confirmed they are investigating a case of intimidation related to a bomb threat message issued via cellphone to the Al-Azhar Mosque in District Six,” said Hill-Lewis. “I condemn the sinister motives behind this threatening message. Cape Town is a city of peace-loving people, where…

When you have shattered a glass ceiling that had been in place for 122 years, there could almost be a feeling that Everest had been scaled. Particularly in South Africa due to the historical and social significance of the achievement. But for 27-year-old SA Open champion Dylan Naidoo - the competition’s first black winner - it has been a truly life-changing moment. Especially since it elevated him into the elite winner’s category on the DP World Tour, thereby earning Naidoo qualification to the imperious Turkish Airlines Open, starting here at the Regnum Carya Spa and Golf Resort in Antalya on Thursday. "My life has kind of switched on me, you know, done the 360! " Naidoo exclusively told Independent Media. "I've had so much support and so many people reached…

In-form South African sprinter Akani Simbine insists he is no "nearly man", despite missing out on a podium finish in the men’s 100m at the last three Olympics by a combined total of just eight-hundredths of a second. The 31-year-old finished fifth at the 2016 Rio Olympics before placing fourth at both the 2020 Tokyo and 2024 Paris Games. While he was three-hundredths of a second off the pace in Rio and four-hundredths away in Tokyo, he missed out on an individual Olympic medal in the French capital to Fred Kerley by just one-hundredth of a second. His appearances at the World Championships have seen him place fifth (2017), fourth (2019), and fifth (2022) in the 100m. Simbine eventually bagged a global medal by anchoring South Africa to Olympic silver…