Innholdsfortegnelse for 2025-10-01 i Cape Argus

Dance Intersect 2025 This production brings together local and international companies in a celebration of movement and culture. The programme includes the world premiere of Fragmented Landscape, created by Anderson Carvalho in partnership with Dutch company DOX and performed by dancers from South Africa and abroad. Other highlights include the Greek National Opera Ballet, a showcase from New World Dance Theatre, and new works by local choreographers Chesney Stanfield and Emile Petersen. Where: The Artscape Theatre Centre. When: From tomorrow until Saturday, at 7:30pm. Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors This play reimagines Bram Stoker’s gothic tale as a fast-paced comedy filled with witty wordplay and quick character changes. When Mina falls ill with a mysterious blood disease, Lucy, Jonathan and vampire hunter Jean Van Helsing set out to stop Count…

SOUTH African Ambassador to France, Nathi Mthethwa, was expected to be called by the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry which is currently hearing testimony about the interference of senior government officials and politicians into police work. Mthethwa, a former Police and Sports, Arts and Culture Minister, was found dead at the Hyatt Hotel in Porte Maillot, Paris, yesterday after he went missing – he is believed to have fallen from the 22nd floor of the hotel. Although the commission had not yet confirmed whether he was on the list of those expected to give testimony, he was expected to be given a right of reply after he was mentioned in testimony by KwaZulu-Natal provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Mkhwanazi told the commission that during his tenure as an acting national…

The Office of Military Ombud received 590 new complaints from soldiers and members of the public during the 2024/25 financial year that ended in March. The office, which investigated complaints from serving and former members of the SA National Defence Force (SANDF), and from members of the public regarding the conduct of soldiers, said the number of complaints relating to the official conduct of members has been gradually declining. In his annual report, Military Ombud, retired lieutenant-general Vusumuzi Masondo, said his office recorded an increase in new complaints in 2024/25 compared to previous financial years. “The office managed a caseload of 662 complaints, comprising 590 new complaints received during the financial year and 72 carried over from the previous year,” Masondo said. He said of the 590 new complaints received,…

The Brigitte Mabandla Justice College’s auditorium in Pretoria fell silent as attendees rose to their feet, welcoming the Madlanga Judicial Commission of Inquiry’s commissioners, led by Judge Mbuyiseli Madlanga, yesterday. Lieutenant-General Dumisani Khumalo was back on the stand for the second day of testimony at the commission probing allegations of criminality, political interference and corruption within in the country’s criminal justice system. Khumalo is focusing on WhatsApp chats between Brown Mogotsi, an alleged associate of Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, and businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala. These chats allegedly revealed efforts to infiltrate the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid), payments to politicians, tender protection, disbandment of Political Killings Task Team (PKTT), links to crime intelligence and SAPS members, and access to the police minister. Khumalo said Mogotsi used Matlala’s funds to cover…

In anticipation of matric valedictory celebrations, pupils have been urged to do so safely and within the parameters of the law. Mayco member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, said they are on alert as the school term winds down. “Every year, we see large gatherings at our public open spaces, beaches, and party hubs like Long Street as learners mark the end of their school careers before the final exams. “While we congratulate our Grade 12s on this important milestone, the City does want to remind them to behave responsibly at all times, and to be mindful of the law, but also those around them,” said Smith. The public is reminded that the possession and consumption of alcohol in public spaces and on beaches is prohibited in terms of…

Tried and tested combinations must work for the Springboks on Saturday as they look to seal back-to-back Rugby Championship titles for the first time ever. Head coach Rassie Erasmus made only one change to the starting XV for the return duel at Twickenham against Argentina, with Ox Nché stepping into his familiar loosehead prop position. The minimal changes, with three more on the replacement bench, show the intent of the Boks as they look to seal the title in style following this past Saturday’s 67-30 victory over Los Pumas. Nché will add extra firepower in the scrums, and he will be frothing at the mouth to stamp his authority in the set-piece after missing the previous game with a niggle. Erasmus also confirmed a clean bill of health for players…

Kaizer Chiefs will be chasing a return to winning ways when they welcome AmaZulu to FNB Stadium on Wednesday at 7.30pm in a Betway Premiership clash with plenty riding on it for both sides. Amakhosi had started the campaign brightly with a five-match unbeaten run that included four wins and a draw against champions Mamelodi Sundowns. But a shock defeat to Sekhukhune United and a frustrating draw with Marumo Gallants has checked their early momentum and left interim coach Ben Khalil Youssef calling for a response. Speaking ahead of the encounter, Youssef admitted that AmaZulu will pose a stern test. “I think AmaZulu is one of the best teams in the league and they play very good football with structure and DNA,” Youssef said. “We have a plan for the…

John Whitmore is remembered as the pioneer of surfing in South Africa, a man whose influence shaped the sport for generations. Author Miles Masterson has captured Whitmore’s life in the self-published biography The Oom, tracing the journey of the man who discovered iconic surf spots such as Elands Bay, Jeffreys Bay and Bruce’s Beauties, and who introduced Hobie Cats and modern surfboards to South Africa. Whitmore also connected with California’s “Dana Point Mafia” in the 1960s, a crew of pioneering board-builders and wave-riders who shaped the global surf scene, and played a role in inspiring Bruce Brown’s The Endless Summer. Masterson, who grew up on the Atlantic Seaboard and began surfing at Hout Bay in 1979, holds vivid memories of Whitmore’s influence throughout his early years of surfing. “We used…

The Cape Organisation for the Democratic Taxi Association (Codeta) has told the Western Cape High Court that commuters are suffering due to the closure of 10 contentious taxi routes. The association also stated that it is losing millions. In an urgent application yesterday, Codeta said commuters were being robbed daily while forced to use Golden Arrow buses instead of taxis, as the association and rival Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (Cata) have yet to reconcile. Codeta argued that the Western Cape Department of Mobility’s decision to close the routes for 30 days, following deadly clashes between Codeta and Cata, was crippling its business and leaving commuters stranded. The clashes over the Khayelitsha, Mfuleni, and Lwandle–Somerset West routes left six people dead. Mobility MEC Isaac Sileku attended the court as lawyers for…

ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has defended comments made by ANC chairperson Gwede Mantashe and President Cyril Ramaphosa, saying the party is not afraid to confront its weaknesses in public. Mantashe recently said that the ANC lacks capacity to manage municipalities, stating: “We are very good at singing, but very bad on capacity.” He was addressing ANC councillors at the party’s nationwide “roll call” event, aimed at accelerating service delivery ahead of the 2026 local government elections. “I know that we have a lot of singing councillors, but we have no councils,” Mantashe said. Ramaphosa, speaking at the same event at the FNB Stadium in Soweto, urged ANC members to learn from better performing municipalities, many of which are governed by the DA. “There’s nothing wrong with competition,” Ramaphosa said. “We…

WHILE barriers remain for Muslim women wanting to access assistance through courts in dissolving their marriages, a recent court ruling secured maintenance and medical cover for a Cape Town woman. The woman, who sought R12 000, was granted monthly maintenance of R9 000 after her second divorce from the same husband. After a breakdown in their first Sharia marriage, the pensioner couple remarried in 2019, but earlier this year, the husband issued his wife a talaq (a written declaration of divorce in terms of Sharia law) in April. At some stage in February, the woman left the shared common home in Vasco, Goodwood, and took up residence with one of her adult sons. She separated from her husband and had left the common home before the issuing of the talaq.…

After a stronger rand outpaced higher oil prices, South Africans can expect moderate adjustments to the price of petrol and diesel from today. IOL reported that the month-end unaudited data from the Central Energy Fund (CEF) pointed to a three-cent increase for 95 Unleaded petrol and a five-cent decrease for 93 Unleaded. However, it’s possible that the energy department will average these out for a decrease of around one cent. Diesel is set for a modest decrease of 10 cents for 500ppm and seven cents for 50ppm, according to the CEF data. Illuminated paraffin looks set for a 10-cent decrease. The above predictions could see the price of 95 Unleaded petrol rising to R20.79 at the coast and R21.58 in Gauteng, with 93 Unleaded possibly receding to around R21.42. The…

Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal almost became the youngest Ballon d’Or winner in history last week at 18, and today’s Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain offers the ideal opportunity to begin staking his claim for next year. PSG star Ousmane Dembélé won the award for the world’s best player but is sidelined with injury and will miss the match at the Olympic Stadium, leaving runner-up Yamal centre stage. Last season, the then 17-year-old inspired Barcelona’s charge to the semi-finals, and despite two outstanding displays against Inter Milan, Hansi Flick’s side fell just short. They missed out on facing PSG in the final, as the French side crushed Inter to claim their first Champions League trophy. Yamal pledged to bring the cup back to Barcelona, who have not lifted it since…

Sune Luus knows all about World Cup pressure, having been entrusted with the Proteas’ captaincy on the eve of the last tournament after Dane van Niekerk suffered a freak accident. There was little time to dwell on the responsibility, and Luus simply had to lead a Proteas side packed with senior players such as Shabnim Ismail, Marizanne Kapp, Mignon du Preez, Trisha Chetty, Masabata Klaas and Lizelle Lee. Having made her debut as a 16-year-old in 2012, Luus commanded the respect of her peers and guided the Proteas to consecutive semi-final appearances against England. The all-rounder developed into the role superbly, her measured leadership style complementing Van Niekerk’s more combative approach. Under Luus, the Proteas reached their first-ever T20 World Cup final the following year. Luus has since stepped down,…

After half a season of rugby in Japan, Stormers lock Adré Smith has returned with renewed ambition — determined to keep playing his club rugby at the highest level while chasing his lifelong dream of becoming a Springbok. The enforcer lock is set to earn his 50th cap for the Cape side on Friday when they face the Ospreys at DHL Stadium. He’ll be eager to deliver another strong performance after helping the Stormers to a commanding 35-0 victory over Leinster last week. Given a rare start in the No 4 jersey, Smith seized the opportunity with powerful carries, sharp ball skills in attack, and the trademark physicality in tackles and at the breakdown that have become his calling card. He’ll be expected to bring the same energy again on…

Gospel singer and preacher Danie Botha has apologised for his claims about the timing of the biblical rapture. The apology follows a week of social media discussions that have gone viral, where people debated predictions about the end-times event. Many social media users reacted with a mix of concern and humour as predictions spread online. The conversation began with South African self-styled messenger Joshua Mhlakela, who claimed the rapture would occur on Tuesday or Wednesday, September 23 and 24. Mhlakela shared his prediction during an interview on the YouTube channel CettwinzTV, saying he had received a vision. “I saw Jesus sitting on His throne,” Mhlakela said, “and I heard the words: ‘I am coming soon. I will come back to Earth.’” He emphasised that the rapture – a Christian belief…

A couple has died in a fire incident in Khayelitsha’s Monwabisi Park informal settlement. Nolufefe Mambikimba, 40, and her boyfriend were asleep in their shack when their home caught fire in the early hours of yesterday. It is not yet clear how the blaze started. Her heartbroken aunt, Xoliswa Mambikimba, said she received the devastating news from her sister, who lived with Nolufefe. “I received a call from my sister, who lived with Nolufefe. She informed me of the incident,” she said. Ward 99 councillor Lonwabo Mqina expressed anger at the conditions in Monwabisi Park, blaming underdevelopment and lack of access roads for the tragedy. “We are here after the shack caught fire yesterday, and two people have lost their lives. This is a situation that we find in our…

Climate activists, wearing red and orange costumes and carrying chains, staged a demonstration yesterday by blocking traffic outside the Cape Town Convention Centre, where the African Energy Week was taking place. Some protesters were removed by police as they called for a shift toward renewable energy solutions. Activists held a poster reading: “Fossil Fuels Are not The Future.” Others in orange and white said: “Make polluters Pay.” One of them could be seen being dragged by police and shouted: “Polluters must pay.” The Red Rebel Brigade held a silent demonstration, while GreenPeace Africa blocked traffic with a giant “climate bill” card machine, which symbolised the costs of oil and gas on the continent. Protesters were later moved to a designated area. Police did not respond to Cape Argus queries regarding…

A proposal that could see Edgemead residents paying an extra R50 million in levies over five years has sparked strong opposition from a growing coalition of homeowners, business owners and political representatives. The initiative, aimed at establishing a City Improvement District (CID) in the suburb, would require households to pay R200 to R500 plus VAT each month on top of existing municipal rates and taxes. The Cape Independence Party (CAPEXIT) has joined residents in rejecting the plan, which they describe as unaffordable, unnecessary, and procedurally flawed. Opposition has been gaining momentum through the Facebook group STOP Edgemead CID, created on August 19. “Property owners are extremely annoyed that they now face the prospect of being forced to pay additional levies. We’re already under huge financial pressure. This is totally unacceptable,”…

Over the course of my career in education, which spans over 40 years and has taken me from classroom to corporate, from teens to toddlers, I’ve learned that true leadership is not about position, it’s about purpose. It’s about using your voice, your influence and your courage to challenge bias, dismantle outdated thinking and build inclusive spaces where women and girls are seen, heard and valued. My greatest teachers have often been the youngest. Children aged one to six, with their disarming honesty and insatiable curiosity, taught me the power of listening – really listening – and that joy and learning go hand in hand. “Nothing without joy,” said Reggio Emilia pioneer Loris Malaguzzi, and that has become my professional mantra and compass. Women dominate the education sector numerically, but…

SAFA and accountability are just like the parallel lines of a railway line, destined never to meet. This much has once again been proven by their reaction to the punishment meted out to Bafana Bafana for their having played a suspended Teboho Mokoena in that 2-0 defeat of Lesotho back in March. To the uninitiated, world governing body Fifa have – as per the rules pertaining to the use of defaulters – overturned that victory into a 3-0 win for Lesotho. As a result, Bafana have now dropped to second spot in Group C of the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, behind Benin who have similar 14 points to us but enjoy a better goal difference. Having known for a while now that there was a balls-up on their…

South African football is once again in crisis — not because of the players, but because of those who are meant to serve them. Fifa’s three-point deduction for fielding Teboho Mokoena while he was suspended, has dragged Bafana Bafana back into a familiar mess. And while team manager Vincent Tseka must shoulder responsibility, it would be dangerously simplistic to make him the sole scapegoat. The hard truth is that Bafana have lifted their game under Hugo Broos. This is a team that reached the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year, pushing Nigeria all the way in a penalty shootout. In World Cup qualifying, they have been consistently competitive, winning crucial matches home and away and positioning themselves strongly in Group C. The players have responded to…