Innholdsfortegnelse for 2025-06-11 i Cape Argus

As Father’s Day approaches, many are seeking ways to express their appreciation for fathers, father figures, and paternal influences in their lives. What better way to honour these incredible individuals than with the gift of a book? Here are some fantastic book recommendations that cater to a variety of interests, ensuring there’s something for every father out there: A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman Meet Ove, a grumpy yet loveable curmudgeon whose solitary world is upended when a lively young family moves in next door. Backman’s A Man Called Ove introduces readers to a character often viewed as the “bitter neighbour from hell”. Ove’s life revolves around staunch principles, strict routines, and a short fuse – but underneath this cranky exterior lies a depth of story and sorrow. When…

WITH South Africa experiencing its coldest weather yet, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has assured South Africans that the current Covid-19 variant, Nimbus or NB.1.8.1, reported to be circulating in 22 countries, is no cause for concern as his department is closely monitoring the new strain. Motsoaledi yesterday addressed the 4th G20 Health Working Group meeting held at the Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, where health professionals and policymakers from across the globe gathered to discuss various health-related issues, including having a clear focus on pandemic prevention preparedness, and response, which is one of the five G20 Health Working Group priorities. While cases of Covid-19 have been detected in India, as well as 21 other countries, including regions of Asia, Europe, the US, and Australia, Motsoaledi warned South Africans to take precautionary measures…

DA FEDERAL Council chairperson Helen Zille can only contest the mayoral race for the City of Johannesburg in the upcoming 2026 local government elections if she establishes residency in the metro. This is according to political analyst Dr Levy Ndou. Ndou said Zille must prove she resides in Johannesburg by obtaining a local address, registering to vote in the area, and securing proof of residence. This comes after Zille indicated she was contemplating running for mayor of Johannesburg. The former Western Cape premier said she feels a “deep connection to the city where she was born”. “I have been approached to put my hat in the ring for mayor. I am still considering it and consulting my family,” Zille previously said in an interview. However, Ndou clarified that legally, candidates…

The Bulls are outright underdogs for Saturday’s United Rugby Championship final against Leinster in Dublin (6pm SA time start) – but that doesn’t mean that Jake White’s team have no chance. In fact, here are three factors that are actually in the Bulls’ favour to cause an almighty upset at Croke Park... 1 Andrea Piardi as the referee At first, you might think that Italian official Andrea Piardi’s appointment as the final referee on Tuesday – his third title decider in a row – might work against the Bulls. The 32-year-old was the man in charge in last season’s 21-16 victory for Glasgow Warriors at Loftus Versfeld – and Munster’s win over the Stormers in Cape Town in 2023 – and White was unhappy with some of his decisions. “It’s…

Caster Semenya is confident in SA’s medal prospects at the World Athletics Championship in Tokyo in September, but called for more backing for South African athletes. TeamSA, especially the sprinters, are continuing to light up international meets. Sprinter Akani Simbine is unbeaten in the 100m so far this year, while youngster Bayanda Walaza is staking his claim as the heir apparent. Zakithi Nene boasts the fastest time over the men’s 400m so far in 2025. “I think if you can continue being consistent and working hard we’ll do great,” Semenya told Independent Media on Sunday at the Comrades. “Simbine is doing quite well; he has been consistent and unbeaten this year, so I’m happy with where he is. And obviously, the young boy Walaza is coming okay. I wish them…

WITHIN three months, 6 571 more inmates occupied prisons throughout South Africa, bringing the population of inmates to 166 924 as of December 31, 2024. The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) presented the 3rd Quarter Performance Report for the 2024/25 financial year to the Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services yesterday, noting that the prison population increased from 160 353 on September 30, 2024. In the report, reference was made to the capital budget being underfunded by R222 million, constraining infrastructure upgrades and maintenance. The DCS stated that food costs have surged, driven not only by inflation and a growing inmate population, but also by the rising number of foreign nationals housed in correctional facilities, which are experiencing the highest concentration of this challenge. About 27% of offenders in Gauteng are…

CITY of Cape Town Law Enforcement officer Thandile Khesa, 43, appeared composed as he stepped into the dock at the Blue Downs Magistrate’s Court yesterday, where he was formally charged with kidnapping and murder. His arrest on Monday morning followed a multi-disciplinary, intelligence-led operation involving the Hawks, the Provincial Anti-Kidnapping Unit and Provincial Organised Crime detectives. State prosecutor, Litha Duka, told the court that Khesa allegedly used a marked City of Cape Town Law Enforcement vehicle to transport the victim from Bellville to the location where he was assaulted. The victim later died in hospital as a result of his injuries. CCTV footage allegedly captured the movement of the official vehicle from Bellville to Khayelitsha. Khesa has been added as the fifth accused in the case, joining Mogamat Samuels, Thokozani…

WATER and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina painted a sad state of affairs in the local government sphere regarding the provision of water, saying many municipalities were unable to collect revenue. Majodina noted with concern yesterday that when municipalities indeed collected the revenue, they used it for something else. Majodina made the comment when her department appeared before the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa). “In the past, when we started with local government, we had about 84.6% of engineers at a local government level, but as I speak now, we are sitting at about 6.4 engineers. “The positions are filled, but filled with the wrong people.” She observed that every time there was no water in a village or township, people blamed her department, which was responsible for building water…

RESIDENTS of Maitland, with the support of their ward councillor, have raised their voices in opposition against a controversial decision made by City Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis to approve a block of flats set to be built on a parking area, encroaching on the privacy of nearby homes. The Maitland Ratepayers Association said they are dissatisfied with the decision by Hill-Lewis to back the approval of four additional flats along 64A Royal Road, which belongs to Sanctuary Property Collection, Raadi’s Sanctuary. The Cape Argus has since reached out to Raadi’s Sanctuary for comment and is awaiting their response. The owners of the complex also have another block of flats in the same road. The ratepayers association said they drafted several objections against the additional development, but it was ignored. “We, the…

WHEN the head of a prosecuting authority appears on national television and informs the nation that political interference affects the functioning of her office, it raises serious concerns for us as a nation. ​Shamila Batohi, during a television interview last week, revealed that the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has been infiltrated by individuals who are not committed to upholding the rule of law. This, combined with her acknowledgement of internal challenges and the possibility of prosecutors being misaligned with the vision of delivering justice, is deeply troubling for the nation. As a state entity entrusted with the vital responsibility of ensuring justice, fairness, and the rule of law, the integrity of the NPA is essential. Batohi’s alarming claims necessitate a thorough explanation to the public. It is crucial that she…

The eagerly awaited PSL promotion/relegation play-offs are set to begin as Orbit College hosts Casric Stars at Olympia Park Stadium in Rustenburg on Wednesday (3pm kick-off). A coveted spot in the Betway Premiership will be at stake when both NFD Motsepe Foundation Championship (MFC) teams rekindle their rivalry. Despite the extended delay before the mini-tournament gets underway, the intensity and significance remain undiminished. Durban City secured promotion to the top flight, and although their celebrations were put on hold due to an ongoing investigation into the registration of former Marumo Gallants midfielder Saziso Magawana, they were on Tuesday officially crowned and began their top-flight journey. In contrast, Cape Town City face the threat of relegation and will be the third side competing to retain their place in the Premiership after…

THE Springbok Women coaches have trusted in the team that beat Uganda in their Rugby Africa Women’s Cup opener, to continue in the same vein against Kenya at Stade Makis in Antananarivo today (12pm kick-off). The only change from the team that beat Uganda 62-7 is on the bench, where Nompumelelo Mathe will add impact as a loose-forward, with wing Nomawethu Mabenge missing out. The vote of confidence in the side that scored 10 tries in their opening round victory will be a boost. The extra player in the pack an indication that the team will not deviate from their forward-based game against Kenya, who opened their campaign with a good 28-5 win over Madagascar. It is also a sign of the physical challenge that the Bok Women, led by…

Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat This musical extravaganza, directed by Anton Luitingh and Duane Alexander, explores different kinds of genres such as country, calypso and rock ‘n’ roll. The cast includes Dylan Janse van Rensburg as Joseph, Lelo Ramasimong as the narrator and Christopher Jaftha as Pharaoh. Where: Theatre On The Bay in Camps Bay. When: Runs until July 13 at 8pm on weekdays and 2.30pm on weekends. Curl Up & Dye This production by Sue Pam-Grant & DJ Grant takes place in a dilapidated hair salon in Joubert Park, Johannesburg. Directed by Darryl Spijkers, the play exposes the power dynamics and social inequalities of the time, with the hair salon acting as a microcosm for racism, classism and the struggles of survival under oppressive conditions. Where: The…

A MEMORIAL service for Zambia’s former President Edgar Chagwa Lungu was held yesterday at the Cathedral in Pretoria, under a cloud of political tension and unresolved conflict between his family and the Zambian government. Mourners, including members of the Patriotic Front (PF), Lungu’s former ruling party, filled the cathedral as emotional tributes were paid to the late statesman. However, the atmosphere was not one of peace. Instead, it reflected the deepening rift over Lungu’s legacy, his cause of death, and the government’s controversial handling of his passing. The 68-year-old former president died last Thursday in a South African hospital, where he had been undergoing treatment for an undisclosed illness. Since his death, speculation and accusations have surfaced, with some PF leaders claiming Lungu may have been poisoned — a charge…

A NORTHERN suburbs drum majorette squad is making waves after they were crowned the provincial champions and qualified to compete at the Federation of Dance Drill, Cheerleading and Majorette Sport South Africa (FDDCMSA) National Championships, set to take place in the North West Province, where they aim to defend their National Champion title. The Durbanville Majorettes Club achieved the outstanding accomplishment at the recent FDDCM Western Cape Provincial Championships, where they were crowned Provincial Champions, securing Gold in both the Large Drill and Small Drill categories, along with numerous first, second, and third-place wins across other divisions. The club is an independent majorette club based at Aristea Primary School in Kraaifontein and was founded in 2019. Their vision is to provide accessible, inclusive opportunities for learners to participate in the…

Artificial intelligence has now made it possible to wake up to a video of your CEO seemingly admitting to fraud or receiving an urgent audio message from your CFO authorising a large, unexpected transaction, without any of it being real. Deepfakes aren’t limited to criminal use cases targeting individuals or governments – they represent a sophisticated and escalating threat to corporations globally, including South Africa. The use of deepfake technology has become one of the most powerful tools fueling disinformation. The rise in AI and machine learning embedded in commercially available tools such as generative adversarial networks (GANs) has levelled the playing field and increased the sophistication of deepfake content. Cybercriminals, disgruntled insiders, competitors, and even state-sponsored groups can leverage deepfakes for devastating attacks, ranging from financial fraud and network…

LONDON: South Africa is a country reared on hardship and struggle. It is part of the DNA of our nation. The Proteas have suffered through their fair share. It's been 27 years since the national men’s tasted success in a major ICC final. There have been fleeting moments of joy when Graeme Smith lifted the ICC’s golden Test mace here at Lord’s back in 2012, but that was via a different format. This is a winner takes all showdown against the defending champions Australia at the most revered cricket stadia of all. The fact that Australia have been the Proteas’ chief tormentors over the years further fuels the fire, especially with the scars still fresh after their last meeting in 2022-23 when Pat Cummins’ side struck down an out-of-sorts South…

Some of the Sharks’ Springbok stars were heavily criticised on social media following the United Rugby Championship semi-final defeat to the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld last weekend. Centre Lukhanyo Am bore the brunt of the fall-out after he had a nightmare in Pretoria, with a number of uncharacteristic handling errors in particular blighting his performance. But does that mean that Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus must now ‘throw the baby out with the bathwater’ when it comes to Test selection in 2025? In fact, Erasmus has a lot to ponder on during this week’s camp in Johannesburg, as there are still three international seasons to complete before he picks his final squad for the 2027 Rugby World Cup. There is a definite possibility of a Bok ‘Dad’s Army’ rocking up Down…