Innholdsfortegnelse for 2025-10-17 i Cape Argus

The Cape Winelands Airport, projected to open in 2028 and boost the economy by R8bn has secured a landmark partnership with Growthpoint Properties, jointly they are set to deliver the province’s next-generation aviation, hospitality and industrial hub. Growthpoint Properties, which co-owns the V&A Waterfront and holds group property assets to the value of R155.8 billion across retail, office and logistics properties, made a significant investment announcement yesterday. This privately-owned airport, located on the former Fisantekraal airfield, aims to enhance the region’s logistics, trade, and tourism infrastructure. Construction of the airport could begin early next year, pending Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) approvals. The development begin with the runway and safety infrastructure, followed by the terminal, cargo and industrial precincts. The airport is targeted for commissioning by 2028 with capacity…

A SWELLENDAM teacher who is a prominent figure in his community and in the realm of entertainment, together with his friend are facing a charge of statutory rape relating to two young boys aged 15 and 16. The case comes in the wake of the Education Labour Relations (ELRC) revealing that for the current financial year, April 1 to date, it received six cases of alleged sexual misconduct in the Western Cape involving educators. Education watchdogs and authorities said they were concerned with the growing increase of teachers involved in alleged sexual crimes against learners and called for a vetting process. The teacher, who may not be identified in order to protect the identities of the boys, made an appearance at the Swellendam Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday on charges of…

FIREFIGHTERS are trying to contain a fire posing a threat to residential areas near Glencairn ExpressWay. Firefighters were called out around 12.45pm yesterday. City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue spokesperson, Jermaine Carelse said teams were working hard as strong winds continued. “Several crews are currently on site as it appears to be an extensive area of mountain slopes burning, with a strong south-easterly wind fanning the flames,” he explained. “The Incident Management Team (IMT) has been dispatched to take over operational co-ordination. “City firefighters are on scene, along with Table Mountain National Park firefighters and NCC Environmental Services; however, the fire is high up in the mountains and therefore inaccessible to ground crews. “They are, however, closely monitoring the situation. Updates will be provided if the situation changes.” JP…

President Cyril Ramaphosa has suspended Inspector-General (IG) of Intelligence Imtiaz Fazel following damning testimony from witnesses at the Madlanga Judicial Commission of Inquiry in Pretoria and Parliamentary ad hoc committee. Both inquiries have raised serious concerns about the integrity of crime intelligence in the country. The Presidency announced Fazel’s suspension on Wednesday night amid an investigation into his conduct, following alarming testimonies about corruption within the justice system. He was appointed in 2022 and his contract as IG was only due to end in 2027. The presidency announced that Ramaphosa’s decision comes after Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence received a complaint on Fazel’s conduct without specifying the nature of the alleged wrongdoing. Fazel’s suspension is with immediate effect, pending a probe into his conduct by the committee in line…

A CAPE TOWN church and company seeking urgent interim relief to prevent the City from disconnecting their water and electricity due to religious exemption under the Municipal Property Rates Act (MPRA) have had their application dismissed and been ordered to pay costs. Following a judgment at the Western Cape High Court, Judges Nathan Erasmus and Acting Judge E Jonker, presided over the matter. The applicants, referred to as Church X and company C, initially sought a declaratory order that their property qualified for a religious exemption under the MPRA, that the City’s classification was unlawful and unfair, a direction to credit the municipal account, and costs. According to court papers, the application was dismissed, and the applicants were ordered to pay the respondent’s (city) costs, including the costs of two…

Residents of the Conradie Park social housing development in Pinelands say they feel trapped in what they once believed would be their “haven”, as they protest against high electricity costs and poor communication from their billing provider. Tenants marched outside the complex on Tuesday evening, holding placards that read: “We are not prisoners,” accusing the SmartMatter billing system of overcharging them for electricity and water. Conradie Park is managed by Own Haven, a Social Housing Institution (SHI) that operates in partnership with the Western Cape Department of Human Settlements and the City of Cape Town. The development forms part of the government’s broader effort to provide affordable rental housing for households earning between R1 850 and R22 000 a month. Resident Xolelwa Nazo said she had been on the housing…

Samukelo Kabini is on cloud nine, realising his dreams earlier than expected. But despite the euphoria, he knows he can’t afford to rest on his laurels. Kabini was part of the squad that secured Bafana Bafana’s automatic qualification for the 2026 Fifa World Cup in North America, after finishing top of Group C in the qualifiers. His contribution in terms of game time was minimal – making only one appearance, against Nigeria – but his impact has been significant as part of a united squad determined to restore national pride. His professional career only took off two years ago, after moving from Orlando Pirates’ reserve team to TS Galaxy’s senior side. TS Galaxy later sold him to his current club, Norway-based Molde FK. Kabini never imagined he’d already be playing…

The Cape Town International Kite Festival October is Mental Health Awareness Month, and the Cape Town International Kite Festival has been flying high for over 30 years as a vibrant, stigma-free space to talk about mental health. Launched in 1994 by Cape Mental Health, the festival brings together artists, ambassadors, volunteers, and mental health users to break down barriers and normalise conversation. The festival is fun for kids too, with kites in every shape, size, and colour painting the sky. Bright reds, blues and yellows, along with playful dragons and geometric designs, create a sense of joy and freedom, reminding everyone that expressing emotions can be uplifting. Where: The Youngsfield Military Base in Ottery. When: Saturday, October 25 and Sunday, October 26 at 10am. Jonathan Butler live From the Cape…

A 13-year-old cancer survivor from Strand displayed courage and resilience when she took part in the 45th Eskom Expo International Science Fair (ISF). Zachary “Zhara” du Toit from Laerskool Lochnerhof in Strand represented the Stellenbosch Region at the ISF and stood out not only for her innovative thinking, but also for her incredible personal journey. The science fair was held at the Emperors Palace Convention Centre in Kempton Park and brought together hundreds of brilliant young minds from South Africa and abroad. The event celebrates innovation and problem solving in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and innovation. Zhara was awarded the first place for the South African Institution of Civil Engineering, (SAICE) Environmental Engineering Division Award, winning R7 000 and a silver medal for the research project, “Designing…

KHAYELITSHA residents have alleged that police officers deliberately set fire to their own Nyala armoured vehicle amid a violent service delivery protest in Thembeni and Empolweni on Wednesday evening. The unrest erupted around 8.40pm as community members took to the streets demanding electricity, leading to chaos when a petrol bomb was reportedly thrown at a SAPS vehicle. According to Western Cape police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk, members of the Public Order Police were responding to the protest, where approximately 180 residents had gathered. “Allegedly, the crowd was pushed back utilising a police Nyala. When the members were reversing back to Baden Powell, they noticed smoke inside the vehicle, and they jumped out of the vehicle and noticed that it was on fire. Fire and Rescue were called to extinguish…

Counsel for former president Jacob Zuma has argued that the former head of state was not responsible for the unlawful government payments made towards his legal fees and should therefore not be compelled to repay the millions in question. The Presidency and the State Attorney seek to recover more than R28 million spent on Zuma’s legal battles. The application stems from a 2024 Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) ruling that found Zuma was not entitled to taxpayer-funded legal support and that the state must be reimbursed. Zuma’s counsel, Advocate Thabani Masuku, told the high court that it is strange that the Presidency and the State Attorney, who previously defended the funding of Zuma’s legal woes vociferously, now turn around and want him to repay the same money. “When the DA…

McLaren's duelling pair of world championship leader Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris will be looking warily in their rear-view mirrors this weekend at the United States Grand Prix for Max Verstappen. With six rounds remaining the two McLarens are separated by just 22 points, with four-time champion Verstappen adrift of Piastri by 63 points but revelling in his recent form after beating both in the last three races. Red Bull's Verstappen has turned a seemingly lost cause into a thrilling late, if unexpected, charge for a fifth title. Jacques Villeneuve, who won the title in 1997, believes the Dutchman can do it and told Italian daily La Gazetta dello Sport that it will be his "best world championship". "The two McLaren drivers are suffering too much from the pressure and…

Suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu said he was unaware of his impending appointment as head of the police ministry following the 2024 national elections. During his first day of testimony at the parliamentary inquiry, Mchunu revealed he only learned of his transfer from the Department of Water and Sanitation when called to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s official residence. “I did not know I would be a minister at all, let alone the Minister of Police,” Mchunu said. His testimony at the inquiry followed allegations from KZN Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who implicated Mchunu and other senior officials in political interference and collaboration with criminal syndicates. Mkhwanazi accused Mchunu of interfering in operational matters by directing the disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team in December 2024. In his testimony, Mchunu said…

Extortion and targeted shootings at Somali-owned shops in Nyanga have escalated to alarming levels, forcing many businesses to close and prompting calls for urgent government intervention. Dumisani Qwebe, secretary-general of the Nyanga Community Policing Forum, said the situation has spiralled “out of control”. “Recent incidents include raids on shops along Ngulube Road, where some owners were shot, and further attacks at other locations in Philippi. “About 60% of Somali-owned shops in the area are reported to have shut down due to extortion-related threats.” Qwebe said the crisis has been building for years. “We predicted this problem back in June 2017 and warned government officials that mechanisms should be put in place while it was still manageable. Unfortunately, the warnings were not heeded, and today it’s a full-blown crisis,” he said.…

The Western Cape Department of Police Oversight and Community Safety’s Annual Report 2024/25 revealed that 480 Neighbourhood Watch (NHW) groups were accredited, 259 of them in 2024/25, and that 81 Community Policing Forums (CPFs) received R998 000 to improve oversight and public participation in local policing. Key achievements highlighted in the report include: Youth empowerment: 682 young people were supported through the Chrysalis Academy, where they received crucial life, leadership, and employment skills. These initiatives directly align with the provincial government’s objective of restoring dignity and well-being within communities. Community-led safety: The accreditation of 480 Neighbourhood Watch (NHW) groups (259 of which were accredited in the 2024/25 financial year) has significantly strengthened community-led safety efforts. Enhanced oversight: 81 CPFs collectively received R998 000 to improve oversight and public participation in…

The office of Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi, has accused the DA in the province of being reckless in their demands for the premier to ‘prematurely and publicly’ name and shame officials involved in the Tembisa Hospital corruption allegations. This comes as the party has confirmed that it has laid seven criminal charges against former Tembisa Hospital CFO, Lerato Madyo, over her alleged role in corruption and possible collusion with those involved in the death of whistleblower, Babita Deokaran, in August 2021. Yesterday, DA provincial chairperson, Solly Msimanga, accused Lesufi of acting against now-suspended Gauteng Department of Health HOD, Lesiba Arnold Malotana, only because of mounting pressure following the recent Special Investigative Unit (SIU) investigation. This, after the investigation uncovered the extent of the R2bn corruption, which involves low-level and high-level…

For most South Africans, the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) is more than a line item on a payslip. It’s the difference between survival and despair when jobs are lost, when illness strikes, or when families grow. The Fund’s newly tabled 2024/25 Annual Report tells a story of quiet but meaningful progress – one that deserves recognition, even as challenges remain. In a year defined by slow economic recovery and stubbornly high unemployment, the UIF stood firm. It paid out R18 billion in benefits to 3.1 million beneficiaries, giving millions of workers and their families a measure of security. That’s not charity – it’s a constitutional promise in action, ensuring that social protection remains a lived right, not an abstract ideal. The UIF’s financial position is solid. The Fund closed the…

Proteas Women’s opening batter Tazmin Brits reiterated that the team continues their search for a near-perfect performance in the ongoing ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in India. South Africa has had a successful campaign thus far, winning three out of four games. However, the team has a number of areas that need serious attention, including batting collapses in the top-order, miscommunication between batters and the lack of ruthlessness in the bowling and fielding departments. Brits revealed coach Mandla Mashimbyi’s favourite phrase, “if you lose, as long as you learn”, as one of the driving forces within the side as they continue their search for the perfect game. The top-order batter revealed that there have been discussions within the team about their shortcomings as they look to put on a polished…

I can still recall my first reaction to hearing the official 2010 Fifa World Cup song — and, incidentally, it’s the same reaction I have to it now. A fierce grimace befalls my face whenever I hear Waka Waka by Shakira, even though I’ve been told multiple times that it’s the best of the theme tunes and a banger of a song. I can only shrug my shoulders and wonder why it was that a Colombian — from a country roughly 11 000km away and very much not on the African continent — was chosen to sing a song about Africa and its first Fifa World Cup. Thank goodness Freshlyground were in the studio next to Shakira when she recorded it – or so the legend goes; they are the…