Innholdsfortegnelse for 2025-05-26 i Cape Argus

In the heart of South Africa’s vibrant film landscape emerges a poignant story that delves into layers of identity, self-discovery and resilience. Die Dekonstruksie van Retta Blom, adapted from Zelda Bezuidenhout’s beloved novel of the same name, invites viewers to share in Retta Blom’s journey. The film charts the life of Blom, played masterfully by Antoinette Louw, who appears to have the perfect life, an adoring husband, a young son and a charming home nestled in a leafy Johannesburg suburb. However, as her meticulous nature begins to expose cracks beneath the surface of her relationships, she embarks on a journey through doubt and introspection, leading her to question the realities of her marriage to Tobias, portrayed by Francois Coertze. “Retta is a middle-aged woman going through menopause,” Louw shares during…

Strandfontein resident Gadija Jaffer, who recently celebrated her 97th birthday, is at the centre of a housing dispute that has persisted for nearly six decades. Yesterday friends and family gathered to honour her milestone, but the celebration was overshadowed by frustrations regarding her long-standing wait for a government home. Jaffer’s daughter, Sharifa Jaffer, claims that city officials have mishandled her mother’s housing application, alleging that a house allocated to Gadija was given to another family. “My mother has been waiting since 1968 for a house, and every time I go to City officials, they place her application backwards,” Sharifa stated during an interview with the Cape Argus. Despite numerous visits to City officials, including ward councillor Elton Jansen, Sharifa expressed her heartbreak over her mother’s plight. “They told me there…

THE Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, also known as the Hawks, arrested a 25-year-old man in connection with the kidnapping of a man who received a R300 000 Road Accident Fund (RAF) payout. The incident took place in Tsolo, on November 3, 2023, according to Eastern Cape Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Avele Fumba. Fumba said the victim was approached by two unidentified men in Tsolo, who allegedly posed as RAF-affiliated doctors offering medical assistance. “Under this false pretense, the victim was reportedly kidnapped and transported over 800 kilometers to Klerksdorp in the North West province,” Fumba said. “While held against his will, the victim’s bank account was allegedly drained, with funds transferred to accounts linked to the suspects.” Fumba said the victim was later located and safely reunited with his…

Not only did scores of people from Cape Town’s Chinese community show up for this year’s "Cultures of China - Cape Town Dragon Boat Festival" celebrations at Battery Park at the V&A Waterfront, but so did locals. Traditionally held on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar, the Chinese Dragon Boat Festival (Duanwu) commemorates Qu Yuan, the devoted statesman and poet from the Warring States period, whose legacy lives on through spirited boat races and the sharing of sticky rice dumplings, or zongzi. Building on last year’s success, several enthusiastic paddlers competed. Competitors battled in 100m and 500m sprints, with a tug-of-war race on the water adding extra excitement. On Saturday, spectators lined the Battery Park shoreline to cheer on the crews and enjoyed cultural…

Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, has ignited a firestorm of criticism following his public endorsement of a policy proposal that seeks to relax Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) requirements for licensing satellite communication services, including Elon Musk’s Starlink. His comments, made on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), have drawn criticism from many who see them as contradictory to his previous commitments. In his post, McKenzie, who is also the leader of the Patriotic Alliance (PA) and a member of the Government of National Unity, expressed optimism about the potential of Starlink to deliver faster and more affordable internet access in a nation grappling with exorbitant data costs. “Your ideology is more important than the very people you claim to serve. Starlink will give greater and cheaper…

AHEAD of the release of the Quarterly Provincial police crime statistics, EMS reveals that more than 2 000 people have been shot with firearms in the Western Cape since January, averaging close to 413 a month and nearly 13 per day, with over 343 victims this month alone. Kraaifontein has seen six more murders in the first three months of this year compared to the same period last year. According to crime statistics released by Police Minister Senzo Mchunu on Friday, murder cases increased by 15%, from 39 cases last year to 45 this year. Kraaifontein ranks in the top five in the province and ninth in the country for murder. It is also third in the province and 18th in the country for rape cases, which dropped by 2%…

While President Cyril Ramaphosa stood shoulder to shoulder with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office on Wednesday, discussing trade and “mutually beneficial partnerships”, millions of South African workers were bracing for a far less glamorous reality: another punishing fuel levy hike. The timing of these two events – one dripping with diplomatic pomp, the other dripping with desperation – paints a stark portrait of a government increasingly out of touch with the daily struggles of its people. The Minister of Finance’s decision to raise fuel levies, effective immediately, is not merely a fiscal adjustment; it is an existential threat to households already teetering on the edge. For workers earning minimum wage, the levy increase per litre means choosing between a full meal and a full tank. For mothers…

Proteas coach Shukri Conrad’s contagious smile will be just a bit broader this week after David Bedingham returned from injury for his English County Championship side Durham. The middle-order batter had fractured his toe at the start of the County season and was in a race against time to be fit for the Proteas’ all-important World Test Championship final against Australia at Lord’s next month. He was in the Durham squad for last week’s match against Nottinghamshire, but had not yet been given the clearance from Cricket SA. However, after a six-week layoff, Bedingham played a full part in this past weekend’s seven-wicket defeat to Somerset. The 31-year-old batted in both Durham’s innings, scoring just 17 and eight. Conrad will not be too fussed with Bedingham’s contributions, but rather the…

Cape Town City’s interim coach Diogo Peral has ridiculed the situation where his team will need to wait until the conclusion of the Golden Arrows and SuperSport United fixture after the conclusion of the regular season to have their Betway Premiership fate decided. City finished on 27 points after a goalless draw against Western Cape neighbours Stellenbosch FC on Saturday at the DHL Stadium. But despite being a point above the relegation zone, they will only know whether they will contest the playoffs after Arrows and SuperSport, who trail City by a point, play 45 minutes of a fixture that was stopped due to loadshedding back in February already. “The reason these games are all played at the same time is so that teams don't get to choose the result…

The Four Seasons fans will get another chance to vacation with their besties when the series returns. Netflix recently announced the renewal of the comedy, despite the show initially being a limited series. After making its debut on May 1, the show quickly climbed to the top of Netflix’s most-watched list, prompting a swift green light for more episodes just two weeks later. The streaming giant teased this exciting news on Instagram, asking fans, “Who’s ready for another vacation?” Starring Tina Fey (Kate), Will Forte (Jack), Steve Carell (Nick), Kerri Kenney-Silver (Anne), Colman Domingo (Danny) and Marco Calvani (Claude), the series has captivated audiences with its relatable exploration of friendship and love in middle age. Adapted from Alan Alda’s 1981 romantic comedy of the same name, The Four Seasons follows…

The City of Cape Town is under pressure following the provisional withdrawal of commercial charges against several individuals, including a former staff member and ex-Mayco Member for Human Settlements, Malusi Booi, and alleged 28s gang boss Ralph Stanfield. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) announced on Friday that the charges were withdrawn pending the finalisation of an investigation based on newfound evidence. In a statement to the Cape Argus, the City confirmed it would respond to the developments in due course, if applicable. Political parties in the Western Cape have expressed their concerns, demanding transparency and accountability from city officials. Eric Ntabazalila of the NPA confirmed that Advocate Nicollette Bell, the Director of Public Prosecutions in the Western Cape, had provisionally withdrawn the charges against Stanfield, his wife Nicole Johnson, Booi,…

POLICE and emergency teams had their hands full this weekend after four people were shot in one incident, alongside a separate case involving a wounded police officer and a murdered security guard.Police were called to Spandua Road in Eerste River just before midnight on Saturday, where they found four teenagers shot. The youngest victim, a 15-year-old boy, was wounded. Police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg said, “Kleinvlei police registered four counts of attempted murder following a shooting incident in Spandua Road, Eersteriver, on Saturday at about 11:50. pm “Police members responded to a complaint of a shooting and upon arrival on the scene the victims were already taken to a medical facility in a private vehicle. “The motive for the attack is believed to be gang related. The suspects fled the…

Dr Iqbal Survé, chair of Sekunjalo Investment Holdings and Independent Media, a visionary entrepreneur and innovator, has been honoured with a special Global Trailblazer Leadership Award. This took place on Thursday evening during the prestigious Future of Jobs Summit, a flagship event of the T20, the official think tank initiative under South Africa's G20 Presidency. In his acceptance speech, he said: “All of us in our journeys are where we are because of the people that we work with and so I want to honour the 8,500 people in our group. I want to thank them for their contribution towards this award. And I think this award is really in honour of them.” He believed the award is a recognition for the role he played within the country and globally…

FOUNDING members of the Visitor Safety Services (VSS) initiative have formally withdrawn from their Memorandum of Understanding with SANParks and Table Mountain National Park (TMNP). This decision comes amid what Friends of Table Mountain have reported as one of the worst years on record for contact crimes in Table Mountain National Park. The VSS framework, established after a proposal to senior SANParks executives in December 2023, aimed to mobilise civil society to support TMNP in addressing safety concerns in the park. According to a statement, the founding members, all volunteers from organisations such as Love Our Trails, Table Mountain Watch, Friends of Table Mountain, and Parkscape, contributed hundreds of hours over two years to help create a safer, more welcoming park. “Despite all efforts and SANParks’ public statements of support,…

THE lack of necessary footwear did not prevent a group of more than 70 children from Nyanga, Cape Town, from participating in their monthly hikes organised by the Nyanga Hiking Club. Yesterday, the large group tackled Kalk Bay Peak. Nyanga Hiking Club organiser Dani Saporetti said the group is made up of a slightly older age group in a slightly younger age group. Saporetti said that depending on the bus and the desire, they typically take up to 75 children. Some of the boys and girls are from a school and aftercare, while others joined through word of mouth. Saporetti said these hikes stemmed from her always wanting to take people who do not always have access, the means or resources, to get on the mountain for the experience, because…

Stellenbosch FC coach Steve Barker is proud of his team’s achievements in the 2024/25 season, but is not resting on his laurels after his team ensured qualification for the CAF Confederation Cup again. Stellies claimed third place in the Betway Premiership for the second successive season after their goalless draw in the Western Cape derby against Cape Town City to conclude yet another highly successful campaign for the Winelands club. But Barker is already looking ahead to the 2025/26 season in order for his team to stay ahead of the chasing pack with the confirmation of new signings of U20 Afcon winner Siviwe Nkwali and MFC top goalscorer Muzomuhle Khanyi. “I think at the end of the day third was our objective, and we finished in third position,” Barker said.…

Manchester City, Chelsea, and Newcastle secured places in next season’s Uefa Champions League as Liverpool lifted the English Premier League trophy following a 1–1 draw against Crystal Palace on a dramatic final day of the season on Sunday. A record-equalling 20th league title for Liverpool, and relegation for Ipswich, Leicester, and Southampton, had long since been decided, leaving the focus of attention on the battle for European qualification. Liverpool and Arsenal had already confirmed their Champions League spots by finishing in the top two, while Tottenham will join them after winning the Uefa Europa League on Wednesday. City ensured a disappointing season did not end in disaster by qualifying for Europe’s top competition for the 15th consecutive year, thanks to a 2–0 victory over Fulham that secured third place. Ilkay…

Lando Norris resisted intense pressure to claim a well-deserved victory for McLaren ahead of Ferrari’s local hero Charles Leclerc in Sunday’s unusually chaotic and tactical Monaco Grand Prix. The Briton crossed the line 3.131 seconds clear of last year’s winner, with McLaren teammate and championship leader Oscar Piastri completing the podium in third. Four-time world champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull finished fourth, ahead of seven-time title-holder Lewis Hamilton in the second Ferrari. Norris became the first McLaren driver to win in Monaco since Hamilton in his title-winning 2008 season. It was Norris’s first victory at the iconic street circuit, his second win of the season, and the sixth of his Formula One career. French rookie Isack Hadjar impressed in sixth for Racing Bulls, followed by Esteban Ocon (Haas), Liam…

A Durban paint company, that has been ordered to pay a former worker more than R700 000 after the Labour Court found that it had unfairly discriminated against the pregnant woman by sending her early on maternity leave without pay, is set on appealing the ruling and will argue that the court has made several erroneous findings against it. Induradec Coatings Pty in Pinetown has been ordered to pay Tiisetso Daisy Moleme, a chemist working for the company, R724 000 in compensation, which is equivalent to 11 months' salary. The paint company has meanwhile filed an application for leave to appeal the ruling. As Moleme's job entailed the development of products and research, she became concerned about the chemicals with which she had to work when she became pregnant. After…

African Transformation Movement (ATM) president Vuyo Zungula sharply criticised President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent visit to the United States of America, which aimed to ease diplomatic tensions and boost trade relations between the two countries. Ramaphosa and his delegation met with the US President Donald Trump at the White House earlier this week. During the meeting, Trump showed a video falsely claiming it depicted a mass grave for white farmers. He also played clips of Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema and others singing the struggle song "Dubula ibhunu," which he claimed was evidence that white farmers were being persecuted in South Africa Ramaphosa denied these claims, saying that the government does not support such views and insisted that violence affects all communities in the country. Despite what has been…

CONCERNS are mounting among residents over the City of Cape Town’s proposed 2025/26 budget and its impact on property rates. Bas Zuideberg, chairman of the National Property Ratepayers' Association has voiced concerns about the lack of engagement with residential ratepayers, highlighting a petition signed by over 10,000 residents opposing the hikes that was dismissed by the City. As the deadline for budget approval looms, ratepayers are calling for transparency and fairness in the proposed changes, warning that rising costs could push long-term homeowners out of their properties. When asked whether public participation had been extended as requested, Zuideberg said the CTCRA had asked the City to extend public participation on the budget by 14 days, but this did not happen. According to him, the CTCRA has had no direct interaction…

The CAF Champions League final is hanging on a knife-edge, and the coaches of the two protagonists are in agreement that nothing can be taken for granted just yet. Even with the away goal advantage they gained from that last-minute equaliser to draw 1–1 with Mamelodi Sundowns at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, Pyramids FC coach Krunoslav Jurčić was not prepared to consider his team champions just yet. The Egyptian side need only prevent Sundowns from scoring in the second leg, which they will host on Sunday, to be crowned continental champions for the first time. But the Croatian knows better than to count his chickens before they’ve hatched. “This is only the first half,” he said in the post-match media conference. “We still have one more match to play, and…

The French Open first round continues on Monday at Roland Garros, with defending champions Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Świątek beginning their title defences, while world No 1 Jannik Sinner opens his quest for a fourth Grand Slam crown. Świątek, who lifted the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen in 2020, 2022, 2023 and last year, has been far from her best during the clay-court swing and slipped out of the world’s top three for the first time since March 2022 after falling short in Madrid and Rome. She faces Slovakian Rebecca Šramková in her opening match. In the pick of the first-round encounters in the women’s singles draw, four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka takes on former world number two Paula Badosa. Osaka has never progressed beyond the third round in Paris but…

The long-running debate as to whether Super Rugby is stronger than the United Rugby Championship (URC) or the English and French leagues will finally be decided on the field, with the exciting announcement of a World Club Cup. The four-yearly event will kick off in 2028 and will be run by European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR), the organisers of the URC and the Champions and Challenge Cups. In Cardiff at the weekend, where the Champions and Challenge Cup finals were won by Bordeaux and Bath respectively, EPCR chairman Dominic McKay confirmed that the Rugby World Club Cup has been signed off by all unions and both hemispheres. McKay said, “It promises to be box office.” Sixteen teams will qualify – eight from the Champions Cup, seven from Super Rugby, and…

Orlando Pirates interim coach Mandla Ncikazi has come to the defence of the club’s emerging talent, insisting their lack of experience is not to blame for the Buccaneers’ recent failures. Ncikazi, who has taken over the reins following the departure of head coach José Riveiro, was speaking after Pirates played out to a 1-1 draw with AmaZulu at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday — their penultimate match of the Betway Premiership campaign. The Buccaneers had high hopes of finishing the season with multiple trophies. Having already lifted the MTN8 earlier in the campaign, Pirates remained in contention for the league title, the CAF Champions League and the Nedbank Cup well into the final stretch of the season. But in a turbulent fortnight, those ambitions were dismantled. Pirates lost to Sekhukhune…