Innholdsfortegnelse for 2025-06-18 i Cape Argus

ONE of the Western Cape’s most wanted suspects, Vuyolwethu Tshukela, also known as “Yesu”, made his first appearance in the Athlone Magistrate’s Court yesterday following his arrest in the Free State on Friday. Tshukela, 38, who had been sought in connection with a series of violent taxi-related crimes in Cape Town, was arrested in Welkom after months on the run. He faces a raft of serious charges including murder, attempted murder, arson and extortion. Police confirmed that a R100 000 reward had been offered for information leading to his arrest and successful conviction. Police spokesperson, Malcolm Pojie, said Tshukela had been linked to at least four taxi-related murders committed in Philippi East, Nyanga, and Delft between August and September 2024. In court yesterday, Tshukela was formally charged with only one…

THE Cabinet is expected to decide by the end of the year on the potential closure of the Israeli embassy in Pretoria. This was revealed by International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola during a question-and-answer session in the National Council of Provinces yesterday. Responding to a question from EFF MP Virgill Gericke about the steps he has taken in honouring and executing the November 2023 resolution of the National Assembly to close down the Israeli embassy, Lamola said consultations have taken place within the relevant government cluster system to prepare a memorandum for submission to the Cabinet. “In accordance with the constitutional principle of the separation of powers, the authority to decide on the possible closure of the Israeli embassy in South Africa rests solely with the Cabinet. “Once…

BASIC Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube yesterday reiterated that there was no delay in the implementation of the Basic Education Laws Amendment (Bela) Act and the drafting of its regulations. Responding to questions in the Basic Education Portfolio Committee, Gwarube said she had on numerous occasions informed the committee and Parliament that the Bela Act was already enacted into law. “The last time, in Parliament, I indicated that when the Act is signed into law, it comes into effect. There is no delay,” she said. This was after EFF MP Mandla Shikwambana said South Africans were confused about what was happening with regards with Bela Act and regulations. “You are deliberately playing a political game and using delay tactics. No matter how smart you are to give us answers, the fact…

UCT honorary Professor Lucie Cluver, also a professor at the University of Oxford, has been appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the King’s Birthday Honours List for her contributions to children’s well-being and global public health. Cluver, in collaboration with colleagues at UCT and Oxford, has led impactful interdisciplinary research improving the lives of children and adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa. Key initiatives include the UKRI GCRF Accelerating Achievement for Africa’s Adolescents Hub and the Global Parenting Initiative. During the Covid-19 pandemic, she co-led the Covid-19 Emergency Parenting Response, reaching over 210 million people globally. Driven by a mission to support vulnerable children through science, Cluver’s UCT-Oxford partnership has received numerous awards for its impact on policy and practice. According to UCT, Cluver has co-led…

ZANDER Reynders exemplifies the remarkable synergy between athletic prowess and academic achievement. He is a rising Blitzbok star and a proud new graduate of the University of Pretoria’s (UP) Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology. Fresh off a gold-medal finish at the 2025 HSBC SVNS World Championship in Los Angeles, the 24-year-old is showing the world that determination, discipline and dual ambition can drive greatness. Reynders recently received his BEng Computer Engineering degree. As both a national athlete and a qualified computer engineer, Reynders’s journey began in UP’s lecture halls and continued on the TuksSport rugby fields, which has now taken him to the global stage. In only his third tournament as a fully-fledged Blitzbok, Reynders helped power South Africa to a commanding 19–5 win over Spain in…

THE identity of the Proteas teams, be it in the white-ball or Test arenas, has always been founded in resilience. But as admirable as the trait is for the team, it has somehow cost the team in many instances. After all, to show resilience, you have to take damage – absorb the first punch, instead of being the one to land the first punch or inflict the damage. In recent years, Proteas teams have worked tirelessly to address this challenge. Little did they know that the international schedule, despite it not being in favour of South Africa in terms of the number of Tests played as compared to the big three – India, England and Australia – would help accelerate their process in redefining the meaning of resilience for the…

Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca labelled the atmosphere in his team’s opening Fifa Club World Cup game on Monday as “strange” after the Blues triumphed in front of nearly 50,000 empty seats. The Uefa Conference League winners defeated Los Angeles FC 2-0 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, with only 22,000 fans present at the 71,000-capacity arena. Chelsea’s goals were scored by Pedro Neto in the first half and Enzo Fernandez in the second. “The environment was a bit strange, the stadium was almost empty, not full,” Maresca told reporters. “We are professional... We have to adapt to the situation, to the environment... “It’s important the behaviour of the players, the attitude, and once again, they showed how professional they are.” The Chelsea coach said his team had expected a larger…

Pride Month serves as both a jubilant celebration and a call to action, encouraging individuals to reflect on the significant contributions and struggles of queer and transgender people. As we embrace the vibrancy of this period, it is essential to foster conversations about inclusion, justice, and the varied experiences within the LGBTQ+ community. One of the most impactful ways to engage with these themes is through literature, which can provide insight, provoke thought, and inspire change. This season marks an opportunity for book lovers of all genres and ages to delve into a selection of powerful narratives and truths. Whether your preference leans towards fiction or non-fiction, there is something for everyone that mirrors the realities and aspirations of the LGBTQ+ community. A wide array of titles reflect fierce and…

UNCERTAINTY surrounds the funding of about R7 billion needed to recapitalise both the South African Post Office (SAPO) and the Post Bank after National Treasury firmly ruled itself out as an option. This comes as the SAPO Business Rescue Practitioners prepare to exit the process, leaving the entity with a R1.7bn paper profit. During a briefing to Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Digital Technologies and Communications yesterday, SAPO’s group acting CEO, Fathima Gany, expressed the urgency of the situation. Gany said SAPO required R3.8bn to efficiently run its extensive network of 657 branches while integrating necessary digitisation capabilities. “The magic number is R3.8bn. It could be anything else, unfortunately the fiscus doesn’t have the ability to give us that and we have to appreciate that. How do we get SAPO fit…

POLICE have confirmed they have yet to make an arrest in the murder of alleged underworld figure Andre Naude Nearly a week after the shooting, SAPS spokesperson, FC van Wyk, said: “Kindly be advised that the matter you are referring to is under investigation no arrests have been made yet. Anyone with any information is kindly requested to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or use the mobile application MySAPS anonymously.” Naude was shot and killed in Voortrekker Road, Goodwood, on June 12. Police said he had been in the company of friends when he was ambushed by gunmen who opened fire from inside a vehicle. Naude, 55, died at the scene and a 61-year-old man was wounded. Two others were unharmed. There have been a spate of shootings in…

FORMER ANC national spokesperson, Pule Mabe’s corruption case has been postponed to July 7 to allow for the finalisation of the amended charge sheet. Mabe, alongside his six co-accused, appeared in the Johannesburg Commercial Crimes Court, sitting in Palm Ridge, yesterday. They face a combined 16 counts of fraud, money laundering, and contraventions of the Public Finance Management Act in relation to a R27 million tender scored by Mabe’s company, Groen Mintirho (formerly Enviro Mobi), in 2017. Lawyers for all the accused have since requested to be given the final charge sheet at least a week before the next court appearance. Appearing on behalf of Mabe and three other co-accused, Zola Majavu pleaded with the State to speed up the process of amending the charge sheet so as not to…

RESIDENTS in Macassar say they have been appealing for months for the municipality to clear privately owned land, which has been used as a dumping site for animal carcasses and stolen car parts and has become a haven for crime. The Cape Argus was sent images of the carcasses, which appeared to belong to sheep or goats. Macassar Civic Association member and resident, Mark Baatjies, said he has appealed since January for the stretch of land along a sand road in Sandvlei, Macassar, to be barricaded. “This road has been used for illegal dumping of carcasses and building and domestic rubble, criminal activities, prostitution, and dumping of bodies,” said Baatjies. “In January the City assisted in clearing the field after I logged a complaint and they gave the owner a…

THE World Test Championship final at Lord’s last week was once again a Proteas fast-bowler exhibition as Kagiso Rabada led from the front, returning a nine-wicket haul to help South Africa claim all 20 Australian wickets. Going into the London encounter, there were a lot of questions with regards to Rabada’s ability to stand up from the drug scandal he faced leading up to the match, and boy did the 30-year-old silence his doubters against the No 1-ranked Aussies. He took five wickets in the first innings, his 17th Test fifer, and followed with a four-for in the second as he narrowly missed out on what would’ve been a great 10-for at the Home of Cricket. In the process, Rabada broke Allan Donald’s Test record (330) to move to fourth…

The 2024/25 Premiership season has been the most fiercely contested campaign in recent memory, and what has truly stood out is the rise of young talent across the league. Many youngsters have not only stepped up, but have also played pivotal roles in their teams’ success. Here, Obakeng Meletse profiles five stand-out under-21 players who have caught the eye, and could be in serious contention for the PSL Young Player of the Season award. Puso Dithejane – TS Galaxy (20) Since swapping Kaizer Chiefs’ youth structures for TS Galaxy, Dithejane has been on an upward trajectory. His contribution has been instrumental in the Rockets’ remarkable turnaround – climbing from the bottom of the table to an impressive fifth-place finish. The young midfielder featured in 27 matches, scoring twice, and displayed…

THE Grade R teacher accused of sexually grooming a school boy is expected back in court on June 23, where the State will present more evidence and seek confirmation from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) regarding the prima facie evidence against her. This was heard in the Mitchell’s Plain Magistrate’s Court on Friday, as the 35-year-old teacher made her first appearance for sexual grooming of a child and exposing a child to explicit material. The case has rocked the community, as the former teacher is accused of initiating conversations of a sexual nature with the 13-year-old Grade 7 learner. The State revealed that the alleged misconduct started on the evening of May 25. Reports indicate that the teacher reached out to the minor via WhatsApp, sparking a conversation that…

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) is set to launch a probe into fraud, corruption, irregularities, malpractices or maladministration in the affairs of the Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority (Chieta). President Cyril Ramaphosa has authorised the investigation into the allocation of discretionary grant funding to entities in which Chieta employees or officials may have had undisclosed or unauthorised interests and the extent of any benefit derived by the employees or officials. Chieta’s annual budget for the 2025/26 financial year exceeds R735 million, including R446m allocated for discretionary grants. The SIU will investigate the procurement and contracting of information and communications technology services, as well as auditing services, on behalf of Chieta, including any payments made. It will determine whether the funds were spent in a manner that was not fair,…

SIX long-time homeless residents from Simon’s Town have taken a significant step towards rebuilding their lives by entering rehabilitation and shelter care in Mossel Bay, more than 400km from the streets they once called home. The journey started when the family and friends of Haven Night Shelter CEO Shaddie Valayadum began handing out meals to homeless people on the beach every Saturday. While feeding them, they encouraged the group to consider going to the shelter. Valayadum said eight people initially accepted the offer and reported to the Haven Kalk Bay shelter. Of those, six made the decision to be transferred to the Mossel Bay branch, where they could start fresh, far from the triggers of their past. “They wanted to go somewhere far away to focus on getting their lives…

One silent crisis continues to claim lives: men’s health. Across South Africa, men are suffering – and dying – in silence. The reasons? Fear, stigma and a deeply ingrained culture of avoidance when it comes to medical check-ups and health screenings. This Men’s Health Month, we are calling on men of all ages to take charge of their well-being by prioritising regular health screenings, embracing healthier habits, and speaking openly about both physical and mental health challenges. Too many men only visit a doctor when it’s already too late. We need to normalise proactive care because prevention is far more powerful than a cure. The stats speak for themselves South African men are living, on average, seven years less than women, with an average life expectancy of just around 62…

Proteas coach Shukri Conrad wears his heart on his sleeve, even though you might not think it after watching him sit quietly in the left-hand corner of the Lord’s balcony. Conrad spoke during the World Test Championship final against Australia about how the coaches like to keep a “poker face” of sorts when addressing the players, in order to keep them calm and focused on the job at hand. The management would have had to employ the best of those faces when South Africa were bundled out for 138 in the first innings, and were 70/2 in the second in the hunt for victory. That is why one of Conrad’s many inspirational lines in the aftermath of the triumph hit home: “Obviously, a lot of teams in different formats have…

Building and maintaining depth has always been one of the biggest stumbling blocks for the Springbok Women’s side. However, under the tutelage of performance coach Swys de Bruin and his assistants Franzel September, Laurian Johannes-Haupt and Bafana Nhleko, they have ticked one box after the other on their way to the 2025 Rugby World Cup in England. A few blocks must still fall in place over the next month, especially on the field, but the Bok Women are set to head to the United Kingdom in August with their strongest squad ever to compete at the event. The women’s game in South Africa will not only benefit ahead of the World Cup, but also in the long run as well. De Bruin has ensured the blueprint of Springbok head coach…