Innholdsfortegnelse for 2025-07-28 i Cape Argus

What was meant to be a fun-filled family vacation turned into a nightmare for a family who, almost three decades later, are still frantically searching for their beloved daughter. It all started in 1998 when 23-year-old Amy Lynn Bradley went on a cruise to the Caribbean island of Curaçao aboard the “Rhapsody of the Seas” with her family. The American youngster, who had recently graduated from college at the time and was accompanied by her parents Ron and Iva Bradley and her younger brother, Brad Bradley, spent the first few days enjoying the festivities. They had feasts and made incredible memories as they partied it up. But two nights into the trip, just as they were about to disembark onto the island, Amy vanished into thin air. According to loved…

AT LEAST R574 million has been spent to date on rebuilding the Parliament buildings gutted by fire in January 2022. This, as the buildings were not insured when they went up in flames, Secretary to Parliament Xolile George said on Friday. “The State does not insure immovable property to a large extent as we know, including movable property. There is no insurance. It covers that by placing funds to rebuild whenever there are issues or replaces those assets,” he said. George was responding to questions from MPs when implementing agent, the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) and Parliament briefed the Joint Standing Committee of Financial Management of Parliament on the rebuilding and restoration work. George also said the National Treasury had issued an instruction in 2007 that clearly stated…

FORMER president Thabo Mbeki and ex-justice minister Brigitte Mabandla will today ask to intervene in the Gauteng High Court application for R167 million in constitutional damages by families of victims of apartheid-era atrocities. Mbeki and Mabandla have indicated that they want to intervene in the case brought by survivors and victims of apartheid human rights violations to protect their reputations. Survivors and victims of apartheid-era atrocities and the Foundation for Human Rights (FHR) have asked the high court for R167m constitutional damages, which includes about R115.3m over five years, to enable families and organisations supporting them to advance truth, justice, and closure by assisting in pursuing investigations and research, inquests, private prosecutions, and related litigation. Another R8m over five years will enable families and organisations supporting them to play a…

JOBURG mayor Dada Morero says the city council has no jurisdiction over embattled Patriotic Alliance (PA) deputy president Kenny Kunene following his resignation as councillor. Kunene, who was serving as Johannesburg’s MMC for Transport, resigned from his positions as a Proportional Representation (PR) councillor and MMC for Transport in the City of Johannesburg on Saturday, after the PA placed him on suspension pending an investigation into his alleged association with a murder suspect. In an interview on eNCA, Morero explained that Kunene’s resignation meant the city could not pursue any internal inquiry. “Council works quite differently. He has resigned as a councillor, meaning he’s no longer part of council. And council, therefore, does not have jurisdiction over him in terms of our code of conduct as councillors,” Morero said. He…

BIODIVERSITY crime, from illegal plant trade to poaching, is a growing threat to South Africa’s unique ecosystems and natural resources. CapeNature said the illegal plant trade in the Western Cape is linked to poaching and picking of wildflowers in protected areas without a permit. These acts contribute to the degradation of biodiversity and the loss of crucial natural resources. General manager for advocacy at CapeNature, Petro van Rhyn, said biodiversity crime was growing. Van Rhyn said between April and June 2025, CapeNature officials registered 12 cases, eight involving flora and four involving fauna. CapeNature also issued 23 fines - four for contraventions of the Marine Living Resources Act and 19 for contraventions of the Nature Conservation Ordinance. Of the19 fines, 15 were for offences involving wild animals and the others…

A year into South Africa’s Government of National Unity (GNU), the country’s young people remain trapped at the precipice of despair. The promise of job opportunities and pathways for entrepreneurship continues to diminish, especially in a world increasingly led by a youthful population whose inventive thinking often conflicts with the traditional methods of those in power. This disconnection is not merely an abstract idea; it is a tangible reality for millions, showing as a deep sense of exclusion and a suppression of potential. The grim reality of South Africa’s youth unemployment crisis is stark and well-documented. Statistics SA’s Quarterly Labour Force Survey for the first quarter of this year paints a sobering picture: young people aged 15-24 face a staggering unemployment rate of 62.4%, while those aged 25-34 contend with…

What is it that could motivate a team that has won a competition an unprecedented three times in a row to want to win it again? Could the lure of extending the record further drive Orlando Pirates to going all the way in this season’s MTN8? The Buccaneers have made the season-opening competition their own ever since Spaniard Jose Riveiro took charge – winning the tournament contested by teams that finished in the top eight from the preceding season every year from 2022 to 2024. Riveiro has since left Pirates to join continental giants Al Ahly of Egypt and the big question is which coach is going to replace him as the king of the MTN8. The Ghost surely need the trophy to remain their property and will be backing…

The Lions’ handsome 46-5 Currie Cup victory over the Sharks came at a cost, with flank Izan Esterhuizen suffering a serious injury. However, this setback could be offset by the timely arrival of burly Bathobele Hlekani, a Junior Springbok who made a huge impact in Italy. Hlekani has been with the Sharks but, curiously, has slipped out of their net. His signature is a significant coup for a Lions squad that usually sees players going the other way – to Durban, as has been the recent case with Springbok Edwill van der Merwe and Emmanuel Tshituka. Hlekani was one of three players from the victorious Junior Bok side at the World U20 Championship to be invited to train with the Springboks. Lions coach Mzwakhe Nkosi said they would like Hlekani…

Tadej Pogacar closed out a supreme 21-day performance to win the Tour de France in Paris on Sunday, crushing his rivals in the 3,400km slog to rack up a fourth title. Wout van Aert won the final-day cliffhanger on the cobbled roads of Montmartre, but Pogacar was spared any late challenge when rain forced times to be neutralised, but he gamely tried for the stage win anyway before Van Aert dropped him on the last climb. Pogacar was clearly enjoying himself as he played to the delighted crowds, racing to the head of the peloton near the Moulin Rouge cabaret at the foot of the climb. Huge crowds packed the old neighbourhood to follow his progress up and down the narrow lanes of the popular tourist spot in his leader’s…

The 2025 Global Citizen Festival is set to take place on September 27 at Central Park’s Great Lawn. The organisation has revealed Shakira and The Weeknd as the headlining artists, and joining them for the event will be none other than South African sensation Tyla. The 23-year-old Grammy Award-winning singer will also perform alongside Nigerian artist Ayra Starr and US sensation Mariah the Scientist. Hugh Jackman, a Global Citizen ambassador, is set to host the event for his eleventh consecutive year, and additional participants will be announced in the coming weeks. “The 2025 Global Citizen Festival marks my eleventh year as host, and I’m thrilled by the progress we’ve made over the years. The growing impact of the Global Citizen movement touches every corner of the world, and I’m eager…

WESTERN Cape police commissioner Thembisile Patekile has been given 14 days to respond to a memorandum of demands handed over by the Maitland Ratepayers and Residents Association and ward councillor, demanding that SAPS management and stagnant staff at the station be removed as crime increases. Last night the residents and councillor Cheslyn Steenberg marched to the Maitland police station armed with placards and their memorandum. Just last month, they went public with their complaints in the Cape Argus, highlighting how staff locked the gates of the station at night and there was a lack of available vans and responses to complaints. Their complaints have since been escalated to Patekile’s office and that of Police Oversight and Community MEC, Anroux Marias. Steenberg handed over the memorandum to a representative of Patekile’s…

THE father of 7-year-old Lolitha Kowa, Zukisani Sikade, struggled to contain his emotions during the first court appearance of the two accused of the murder of his daughter. Nokuthula Matyeseni, 33, and her boyfriend, Odwa Jack, 32, appeared briefly in the Khayelitsha Magistrate’s Court on Friday on charges of rape and murder. Disturbing details emerged during the proceedings, including that Lolitha’s body was discovered with socks stuffed in her mouth and a screwdriver embedded in her skull. A post-mortem report revealed the presence of sperm on the child’s body, as well as injuries beneath her fingernails. Investigators told the court that blood traces were found in a vehicle linked to Jack. It was further revealed that Jack has a previous conviction for car theft, having received a suspended five-year sentence.…

TWELVE years ago, the EFF burst on to South Africa’s political landscape with a promise to transform the country’s economic and social order. Founded by Julius Malema and his comrades on July 26, 2013, the party emerged from a deep frustration with the slow pace of change since democracy. Speaking at the EFF’s 12th anniversary celebrations on Saturday, Malema painted a vivid picture of how those founding principles remain as urgent today as ever. He reminded the crowd of Khayelitsha’s history, founded in 1983 under apartheid as a relocation site for black people forcibly removed from Cape Town. Despite decades of democracy, Khayelitsha still bears the scars of spatial apartheid: poor infrastructure, inadequate housing, unreliable water, and limited public transport. Malema did not hold back in his criticism of the…

THE Cape Town International Jazz Festival (CTIJF) returns to the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) on March 27 and 28, 2026 – but this time, the festival marks more than just a return. It signals the start of an exciting new chapter in the life of Africa’s most celebrated music event. Under the leadership of festival head, Shaakirah Adams, the festival is undergoing a powerful transformation – evolving into a year-long platform that celebrates music, fosters talent, and drives lasting social and economic impact. “The Cape Town International Jazz Festival must now become a movement – one that not only showcases great music but supports the people and communities behind it. It must be inclusive, African, developmental, and deeply impactful,” said Adams. This new direction sees the CTIJF becoming…

JUDGMENT has been reserved in the City of Cape Town’s bid to appeal a verdict that set aside an interim order to evict occupiers on a stretch of land in Strandfontein. In response to the court’s decision, the City said on Friday: “The City awaits the court’s judgment and will respond further at that stage.” The appeal relates to a March 2022 judgment that denied the City a final order to evict “unlawful occupiers”. The matter is between the City, with applicants Johannes Michael van Rooyen, and all persons who are attempting to occupy ERF 1213, 1215, 21168. The City is seeking, among other things, clarity over whether the interim order permitted it and the sheriff, with the police, to remove individuals by demolishing unoccupied structures or whether the court…

Performance coach Swys de Bruin admitted that a shift in the Springbok Women’s approach after half-time bore fruit as they came close to a come-from-behind win against the Black Ferns XV at Athlone Stadium on Saturday. South Africa were more direct and physical in the second half, keeping the ball tight and employing crash-ball tactics after being outplayed in the opening 40 minutes. “We simply did not get going in the first half, but I have to give credit to the team for the way they adapted in the second half, where we created numerous chances,” De Bruin said after the 34–26 defeat to the New Zealanders, who led 20–12 at the break. “If we did not have one of our tries disallowed at a crucial stage in the second…

Martin Odegaard scored the winner from the spot in the 84th minute as Arsenal beat Newcastle 3-2 in a pre-season friendly in Singapore on Sunday. Viktor Gyökeres, the Swedish international striker signed on Saturday from Sporting Lisbon, was introduced to the crowd of more than 38 700 before kick-off. He watched from the bench as his new clubs won an entertaining encounter in the Singapore heat. The 27-year-old could make his debut when Arsenal take on Tottenham in Hong Kong next Thursday in another friendly. “We are increasing the quality of the squad all the time, so we’re super happy to have Viktor with us,” said manager Mikel Arteta. “It has been a long journey to get him here.” Newcastle, who were missing striker Alexander Isak as he considers his…

Just a few days after the passing of rock icon Ozzy Osbourne, it has been announced that his final memoir, Last Rites, will be published posthumously on October 7. Osbourne, who died on Tuesday at the age of 76, completed work on the memoir shortly before his death. The book offers a raw and unfiltered look into the final chapter of his extraordinary life. According to the publisher, Last Rites is “unflinching, brutally honest, but surprisingly life-affirming”. It captures Osbourne’s thoughts on ageing, illness and mortality, while also revisiting pivotal moments from his career and personal life. The memoir dives deep into the health battles that plagued his final years – including a life-altering infection and a subsequent descent into near-total paralysis that forced him to retreat from public life.…

A WOMAN was shot in the neck and killed along the R300 on Saturday night in yet another brazen highway hit near the deadly N2 “Hell Run”. The 41-year-old woman had reportedly just finished changing her tyre when she was gunned down inside her car. Police found her slumped behind the wheel and she was declared dead by paramedics. Police spokesperson, Wesley Twigg, confirmed they are investigating a case of murder. “The circumstances surrounding a shooting incident on Saturday at 8.22pm, on the R300, where a 41-year-old female was shot and fatally wounded, are under investigation,” said Twigg. “Police found the victim inside the vehicle with a gunshot wound to her neck.” He added that no personal belongings were taken and that the suspects are still on the loose. Meanwhile,…

THE woman accused of kidnapping 9-day-old Mogamat Imaad Sharmar is expected to hear today whether she will be granted bail. The matter is set down in the Bellville Magistrate’s Court. Sameemah Jacobs, 37, from Tafelsig, who is a mother of three, has been in police custody since June 30 following her arrest. On July 17, Jacobs revealed in her affidavit that she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. She is charged with kidnapping and defeating the ends of justice. During her bail application, Sergeant Dawid Fortuin presented cellphone records from confiscated phones, including one with dual SIMs. Records showed three identities – Sameemah, Wasiema, and Chevon Classen – using different phone numbers and IMEI numbers, indicating Jacobs used these personas. Fortuin said Jacobs’ phone was in the vicinity of…

THE Department of Correctional Services has a staggering population of 57 000 remand detainees while prisons are bursting at the seams with an overcrowding of 163 000 inmates. The department said its attempts to refer cases to court for some categories of prisoners to be released to serve community corrections were not yielding much success as fewer matters were approved. A presentation to the portfolio committee last week showed that there were 57 901 remand detainees as at June 30. Chief deputy commissioner for remand detainees Cynthia Ramulifho said the prison population stood at 163 179. She said the court referrals, made on the basis of the Criminal Procedure and Correctional Services Acts, were used to reduce overcrowding in prisons. Ramulifho said there were 71 unsentenced children while 41 were…

THE Western Cape Government has unveiled its largest inner-city housing development to date, offering more than 2 600 residential units in the heart of Cape Town’s CBD. Premier Alan Winde and Infrastructure MEC, Tertuis Simmers, officially unveiled the Founders Garden development on Friday. With a projected value of more than R2 billion, the high-rise, mixed-use project will deliver 1 476 social housing units and 1 162 open-market units, bringing the total to over 2 630 new homes. “This development is the largest public sector housing development in the CBD,” said Simmers. “I am extremely proud of how the Western Cape Government is accelerating the delivery of housing opportunities.” The project, situated next to the Artscape Theatre Centre and within walking distance of key public transport nodes and health services, is…

The Secret Daughter Forest Sounds Narrated by Ellen Archer Audible Originals The search for one’s origins can be a profound and emotionally draining journey and in The Secret Daughter, listeners are taken on a journey of self-discovery in just under four hours. Nikki Carlson, an adoptee yearning to connect with her biological roots was raised in the heart of Minnesota by a big game-hunting family. At the core of Nikki’s story lies a duality: she is both a grieving daughter hoping to trace the echoes of her biological parents and a potentially manipulative outsider navigating a world filled with deception and peril. The pivotal figure in her quest is the man believed to be her biological father - an Italian aristocrat whose storied life has been the subject of…

Series leader Oscar Piastri grabbed an early lead and extended his title advantage on Sunday when he drove to a perfectly-controlled triumph ahead of McLaren teammate and title rival Lando Norris at a rain-delayed Belgian Grand Prix. The 24-year-old Australian managed his tyres expertly to remain out of reach in the closing laps as the Briton, 25, who had started on pole, closed in on a harder-wearing compound, finishing 3.415 seconds clear as McLaren reeled off their sixth 1-2 in a dominant season. It was Piastri’s first win at the classic Spa-Francorchamps circuit, his sixth this season and the eighth of his career, extending his lead in the drivers’ championship to sixteen points after thirteen of this season’s 24 races. For McLaren, it was a tenth win this year. Charles…

India’s enthralling series in England is going all the way to the finish after the resilient tourists drew the fourth Test at Old Trafford on Sunday. Record-breaking skipper Shubman Gill scored his fourth century of the campaign before Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar also made hundreds. England remain 2-1 up in this five-match contest ahead of a quick turnaround to Thursday’s start of an Oval finale, where an India victory in south London would ensure a share of the spoils for Gill’s men. A draw looked anything but likely when India collapsed to 0/2 in the opening over of their second innings on Saturday as Chris Woakes struck with successive deliveries after England had piled up a mammoth 669 in their first innings. But Gill, in on a hat-trick, went…