Innholdsfortegnelse for 2025-07-30 i Cape Argus

This Bra’s a Psycho This play tells the harrowing story of a man known only as “The Bra”, who wakes up in a stranger’s apartment after a traumatic sexual assault. As he tries to reclaim control over his life, he turns to dating apps in search of healing and love but each encounter only deepens his trauma. What begins as a search for connection quickly spirals into chaos, as “The Bra’s” unresolved pain leads to a killing spree. Little does he know that he’s being tracked by an undercover police unit set on bringing him to justice. Where: The Artscape Arena. When: Runs until Saturday. Show times differ, depending on the day. The Glass Menagerie Tennessee Williams’ iconic memory play returns in a haunting new adaptation that brings fresh emotional…

THE Select Committee on Appropriations yesterday adopted its report on the Appropriation Bill after conducting public hearings for a day. The adoption of the report took place a day before the National Council of Provinces votes on the Bill to seal the budgeting process for 2025/26. However, the adoption was despite a submission by the lobby group, the Institute of Race Relations (IRR). Committee chairperson Tidimalo Legwase said the IRR raised concerns on the Appropriation Bill that was adopted by the National Assembly last week. Legwase said she had consulted the parliamentary legal services and Parliament Budget Office on the issues raised by the IRR. “We agreed that the matter does not reside with this committee,” she said. Legwase said they did not invite the IRR to present, in order…

PUBLIC Works Minister Dean Macpherson announced a series of disciplinary and criminal actions following the shocking findings of a forensic investigation into the controversial R800 million Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) Oxygen Plant tender. During a media briefing yesterday, Macpherson revealed the final results of a forensic investigation into the controversial tender awarded by the Independent Development Trust (IDT) The investigation was conducted by global consultancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), following months of scrutiny and allegations of procurement irregularities by the entity’s officials. The report exposes systemic governance failures, procedural breaches, and outright fraud that have plagued the IDT for years and threaten South Africa’s public health infrastructure and integrity. “From the moment I stepped into this role, I was already aware of long-standing allegations of maladministration, financial misconduct, and corruption at…

IN A MOVE likely to be welcomed by students, UCT has announced that it will discontinue the use of AI detection tools, such as Turnitin’s AI Score, effective October 1. The decision follows the endorsement of UCT’s AI in Education Framework by the Senate Teaching and Learning Committee last month. According to the university, the framework prioritises ethical AI literacy, assessment integrity, and innovative curriculum design over reliance on automated surveillance tools. The university’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Teaching and Learning, Professor Brandon Collier-Reed, raised concerns regarding the reliability of AI detection tools, saying they can produce false positives and false negatives. “An important related issue is the use of the Turnitin AI Score, which flags passages of writing in student work considered to be AI-generated,” Reed said in a communique…

On August 1, the US will impose a 30% tariff on select South African exports, a move the Trump administration frames as a corrective to “trade imbalances” but which South Africa decries as a unilateral overreach. President Cyril Ramaphosa has rejected the US justification, noting that 77% of US goods enter South Africa duty-free, with an average tariff of just 7.6%. Yet, the policy threatens to derail South Africa’s fragile economic recovery, destabilise global supply chains, and escalate protectionist tensions worldwide. This article examines the tariff’s sectoral impacts, systemic risks to multilateral trade, and strategic responses to mitigate the fallout. Sectoral impacts 1. Automative South Africa’s automotive sector, a beneficiary of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), faces existential risk. Reuters reported that the US absorbed 6.5% of…

WHEN Aiden Markram faced up to a 10-year-old KFC Mini-Cricketer charging in at the Langa Sports Complex last Friday, it was the first time he had picked up a bat since that fateful Saturday morning at Lord’s. It was then when the famous ground rose in unison to applaud the Proteas’ World Test Championship final hero all the way the back to the pavilion. Markram could not absorb the gravitas of the occasion at the time, stating "When I get out, I'm always angry. That's me being me". But having now had the opportunity to ''refresh, see friends and family, spend some time in the bush," the 30-year-old views it through a different lens, especially after joining skipper Temba Bavuma on his homecoming parade. "I've been fortunate now to have…

Club rugby is more than just a casual pastime in the Boland. In these parts it’s more like a religion, and Saturdays are when supporters fill their spiritual cups. Club rugby is the heart and soul of many communities, with people playing organised rugby from Wellington in the Winelands to Saldanha on the West Coast; from Grabouw in the Overberg to Vanrhynsdorp close to the Northern Cape border. Boland boast around 220 clubs and about 24,000 registered players, by far the most of any other union in the country. All of this culminates at the end of the season into the Boland Top 12, which is a fiercely contested competition, with the best of the best competing to be the union’s top team. Those games, especially the semi-finals and finals…

The Springboks Women’s sole focus for the past month has all been on preparation for next month’s Women's Rugby World Cup. Match-day squads have been rotated to give everyone a fair run whilst several players have returned from injury, and positional switches have been a regular occurrence. But with only Saturday’s clash against the Black Ferns XV at Athlone Stadium remaining before the Boks leave for England, assistant coach Franzel September has changed the mindset with the emphasis placed on getting the “W”. “We need to get onto the plane knowing that we have all our ducks in a row and our plans tried and tested,” said September. “To be fair, most of those are going really well and the progress in our last three matches is well documented, but…

With her latest release, Ode to the River, award-winning author Emily House invites young readers – and the young at heart – on a captivating journey that flows through poetic storytelling, ecological facts and stunning illustrations. This enchanting picture book follows the life of a river from its humble beginnings in the high mountains to its powerful entrance into the sea. Along the way, readers are treated to a lyrical narrative that not only paints vivid imagery of the river’s transformation but also subtly instills a deep appreciation for nature and the interconnectedness of life within a river’s ecosystem. House’s story is beautifully complemented by fascinating insights from aquatic ecologist Dr Liz Day, whose scientific contributions add depth to the book without overwhelming its charm. The result is a book…

THE family of baby Mogamat Imaad Sharmar has expressed shock at the release of alleged kidnapper, Sameemah Jacobs, on R4 000 bail. Jacobs was granted the bail yesterday by the Bellville Magistrate’s Court, nearly a month after she was arrested for Imaad’s kidnapping. Jacobs is facing charges of kidnapping and defeating the ends of administrative justice. On Monday, Imaad’s mother, Imaan Sharmar, was too emotional to speak with the media and had to be consoled by a relative by the bail decision was handed down. Once she regained her strength yesterday, Sharmar told the Cape Argus that she stood firm on her truth about what happened and was disappointed in the justice system. “I strongly believe that the man above doesn’t sleep and he has his plans ready. “I do…

STATE-owned South African Airways (SAA) has announced that it will launch its first direct flights between Cape Town and Mauritius on December 9. According to the carrier, the decision marks a strategic expansion of its network and enhances connectivity for travellers in the Western Cape. “Connecting Cape Town with Mauritius is a fascinating achievement that our team has been aspiring towards for quite some time. The introduction of this route demonstrates SAA’s role in promoting leisure travel across the region and supports the broader tourism objectives for both South Africa and Mauritius,” said SAA CEO John Lamola. The service will initially operate three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, with passengers able to choose from two departure slots. “Passengers can select from two convenient departure times. The outbound…

SOUTH Africa and the African continent must confront current global economic shifts head-on with a clear-eyed, values-driven, and pragmatic foreign policy that repositions Africa at the centre of global trade and diplomacy, said Mcebisi Jonas, special envoy to the United States. Speaking at a seminar hosted by the Kgalema Motlanthe Foundation yesterday, Jonas urged a clear-eyed approach to national interest and a united national vision as the world grapples with imminent US tariffs set to take effect on August 1. He called for reform of multilateral co-operation and stronger partnerships for development, saying the global crisis presents an opportunity for change. He urged South Africa and the continent to take advantage of its demographic edge as the world’s youth population increasingly shifts toward Africa. “By the middle of the century,…

MARKING a significant conservation turning point as the first and only reserve dedicated to safeguarding the rare and ecologically important Cape vernal pools, the Franco Three Fountains Nature Reserve in near Philadelphia has been declared a protected area. “The establishment of this provincial nature reserve is yet another positive step in conserving the irreplaceable biodiversity of the Western Cape. This reserve protects unique ecosystems and threatened species, while demonstrating what can be achieved through responsible stewardship and long-term commitment to conservation,” said Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning MEC Anton Bredell. Cape vernal pools are a rare and endangered type of seasonal wetland ecosystem found within the Greater Cape Floristic Region. CapeNature noted that the unique vegetation type, previously unrepresented across conservation areas, now finds its largest protected expanse…

The Christian Leaders’ Forum, South African Friends of Israel (SAFI), and the International Christian Embassy of Jerusalem are dismayed by the latest attack against Christianity mounted by the Nelson Mandela Foundation (NMF). Their latest campaign, dressed as the “Solidarity in Action Awards”, seeks to award applicants with proposals on “creative, courageous, and effective initiatives geared towards challenging Christian Zionism”. The organisations, among several other parties, are jointly calling for renewed respect for the constitutional right of South African Christians to freely express their religious convictions, particularly regarding support for Israel. This comes amid growing concern about what the groups describe as a troubling ideological drift within the NMF, made clear by its blatant hostility towards Christian Zionism, as characterised by the Solidarity in Action Awards. “It appears that the NMF…

Reports of police officers killing family members or others before taking their own lives are common in this country. Over 300 police officers have lost their lives over the past seven years. As the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU) in Gauteng puts it: “We give our members these tools to protect themselves against criminals, so it is very disheartening to see the very same tools being used to kill their loved ones.” The latest tragic incident involves a police captain who allegedly shot and killed his girlfriend, a fellow officer, and her brother, wounded three others, and then turned the gun on himself at a private gathering in Protea Glen, Soweto, over the weekend. POPCRU is particularly concerned about what it describes as insufficient attention being paid to…

WHILE the Springboks’ match against the All Blacks at Eden Park is seen as the biggest clash of this year’s Rugby Championship, coach Rassie Erasmus’ sights are firmly set on their upcoming assignment against the Wallabies. The Springboks have a chance to make history against the All Blacks in Auckland on September 6. The New Zealanders haven’t lost at the famous ground since that remarkable Test against the French in 1994, which featured “the try from the end of the world”. Many pundits believe that this bunch of Springboks could be the ones to do the business at Eden Park. However, the chance to re-rewrite the history books is far from his mind. Instead, it’s the Wallabies who occupy his thoughts if yesterday's press conference and his activity on the…

Love is still in the air for the Biebers. Justin and Hailey Bieber recently presented a united front during Justin’s release party for his surprise seventh album, SWAG, after months of separation rumours. Amid the celebration of SWAG, which was released earlier this month, as seen on the singer’s Instagram carousel pictures, Justin and Hailey could not keep their hands off each other. The Love Yourself singer can be seen locking lips with the model multiple times in front of their friends and fans during the golf-themed celebration. Among the attendees was Hailey’s friend, Kendall Jenner, rapper Lil Baby and streamer IShowspeed. The PDA-filled content stunned the internet because there have been rumours online about their whirlwind romance that has been making headlines this year. However, each time there has…

TIFFANY Meek, the mother of murdered 11-year-old Jayden-Lee Meek, wept in the Roodepoort Regional Court dock in Johannesburg, as she was denied bail on charges of killing her child. Her defence lawyer, Noven Naidoo, argued strongly for her release on bail, insisting that she is not a flight risk. Community members have been protesting outside the court, demanding that her bail bid be denied. Meek previously requested that she be granted R5 000 bail as she believes she is innocent and is being framed for the May 13 murder. She is facing multiple charges, including murder, crimen injuria, defeating the ends of justice, and attempting to obstruct justice. Jayden-Lee’s body was found on May 14 on the staircase near their flat at the Swazi’s Place complex in Fleurhof, southwest Johannesburg,…

THE director of Neo Victoria Development, Carel Swanepoel, has gone dark as findings into the George building collapse are revealed, with his legal team also reserving their silence on the police investigation. The Cape Argus reached out to Swanepoel’s attorney, Ryan du Preez, from Tiefenthaler Attorneys this week, but our questions went unanswered. According to Swanepoel’s LinkedIn account, he is the director of Neotrend Property Group. Neo Victoria Development’s two other directors – Dylan Brockway and Alywn Gey, resigned from the company days after the May 8, 2024, tragedy, which claimed the lives of 34 people and left 28 injured, many of whom were foreign nationals. The contractor embroiled in the collapse – Theuns Kruger, the owner of Liatel Developments, was also approached for comment concerning the submission of documents…

September, a month synonymous with renewal and new beginnings, will be the most challenging period in South Africa’s political and economic landscape due to actions likely to be taken by the US against the country. The first is the end of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which is set to expire in September. However, the new 30% tariffs introduced by the US for SA will likely override the existing AGOA conventions when they take effect at the beginning of August 2025. The second biggest conundrum will be the possibility of the US Senate’s decision on the US-South Africa Bilateral Relations Review Act of 2025. The ground is fertile in the US to act against the South African government, which is believed to have acted against the US’s national…

South Africa’s young swim sensation Pieter Coetzé’s impressive recent spell in the pool continued with a gold medal in the 100m backstroke final at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore yesterday. The new world champion stormed to the win, dipping below 52 seconds for the second time in the past two weeks. It was a victory that the Tuks psychology student felt was coming at some stage, though he admitted he didn’t expect it to happen so soon. The South African kicked with about 10m to go to take the title in 51.85 seconds, lowering his own South African and African record for the third time in quick succession. He narrowly missed out on the world record of 51.60. Olympic champion and world record holder Thomas Ceccon of Italy took…