Innholdsfortegnelse for 2025-10-21 i Cape Argus

The new Two-Pot Retirement System has reshaped how South Africans access and preserve their savings, applying across all retirement funds. Whether you’re in a pension, provident, preservation fund, or retirement annuity, understanding how these vehicles work and the impact on your long-term financial security is essential. Pension Funds Pension funds are occupational retirement funds, typically offered as part of your conditions of employment, and, in most cases, membership is compulsory when you join a company. Employees contribute monthly, and depending on the rules of the fund, employers may also contribute on your behalf. Members often have flexibility in choosing their contribution rate, subject to tax-deductible limits of up to 27.5% of taxable income, capped at R350 000 per year. Each pension fund is governed by a board of trustees,…

As 2025 draws to a close, award-winning musician Kyle Deutsch is hoping to inspire connections through his brand-new single titled Calling. The pop track, featuring Willem Stander and infused with emotive lyrics which evoke strong feelings of nostalgia, was released on Friday. It also features the Durban-born artist’s distinct ability to modernise retro sonics with an upbeat tempo. During an interview with Independent Media Lifestyle, the former Idols South Africa contestant explained that Calling is open for interpretation. “This song is applicable for anyone – if you have someone in your life or even if you have a calling yourself.” He added, “If your best friend calls you or anyone that you love, someone that you enjoy spending time with, if they call, you are going to be ready to…

YET another devastating fire has rocked the community of Phumlani Village within two weeks, however this time around the blaze has left seventy seven people displaced. Fire and Rescue Services spokesperson Edward Bosch said that the City of Cape Town’s Fire and Rescue Service received reports of a fire after 9pm. “Seven firefighting resources as well as an incident management team were dispatched. “It took firefighters just over two hours to extinguish the fire. A total of 17 wood-and-iron structures were destroyed, leaving 77 persons displaced.” He added that there were no reports of any injuries or fatalities and the cause of the fire is unknown. Gift of the Givers Project Manager Ali Sablay said that their teams were sent to the scene following an incredibly demanding week for them…

Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Higher Education is set to conduct an urgent oversight visit to the University of Fort Hare’s Alice Campus today due to violent student protests that have resulted in significant damage to infrastructure and disrupted academic activities. Committee chairperson Tebogo Letsie reported that the destruction at the Eastern Cape campus is estimated to be between R250 million and R500 million. He attributed the unrest to the university management's failure to engage with students and to hold Student Representative Council (SRC) elections. “The violent student unrest could have been avoided if the university management had engaged with students and allowed the Student Representative Council (SRC) elections to take place as requested,” Letsie said. “Instead, the university management decided to appoint an Interim SRC after the term of the…

Suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu will not only conclude his testimony at the Ad Hoc Committee investigating political interference and corruption in the criminal justice system with evidence leader Advocate Norman Arendse today, but MPs will also grill him as they feel that he still has a lot to account for. While several have already indicated that Mchunu will face robust questions; however, others have indicated that they feel a lot of clarity will be needed regarding what powers Mchunu had as police minister, but also his relationship with Brown Mogotsi. uMkhonto weSizwe Party’s (MKP) Sibonelo Nomvalo said that they will “focus on each and every aspect of the testimony, like we did when General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi appeared before the committee”. The IFP’s Mangaqa Albert Mncwango said ‘die poppe sal…

The secret to the success of one of Mitchells Plain’s top-performing schools, Spine Road High lies in a solid and dedicated teaching environment and that their internal benchmark requirements are that every learner achieves 60% for every subject. This is according to their principal, Mark Fairbairn who shared these gems of the trade with the Cape Argus, citing that discipline was key in both academics and sports. This year, 77 442 candidates will write the National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams in the Western Cape, of these, 67 606 are full-time matric candidates, while 9 836 are part-time or repeat candidates. The class of 2024 achieved a 100% pass rate this year and had the highest Bachelor’s pass rate of 91.8% with 213 pupils out of the 232 at the…

THE dismissal of Lumka Oliphant, the former chief director of communication in the Department of Social Development, is more than a simple personnel matter. It is a stark microcosm of the systemic corruption, political protectionism, and targeted silencing of whistleblowers that continues to thrive under President Cyril Ramaphosa’s leadership. Her case, emerging just days ago, serves as a clarion call, revealing an administration that, despite its promises of a “New Dawn”, is enshrined in moral decay. Oliphant’s dismissal, following her exposure of Minister Sisisi Tolashe’s R3 million New York trip, reveals a political system that punishes integrity and rewards loyalty. Oliphant’s account of a sustained “humiliation” campaign underscores a chilling reality for whistleblowers. Her statement: “Many Black professionals have been purged and silenced because we fear for our lives,” connects…

ONE of the unique strategies that Mandla Mashimbyi has implemented in building the Proteas Women, since taking over as head coach, is to put a lot of emphasis on team culture. Coach Mashimbyi planned culture camps earlier this year, with the vision and understanding that successful teams work within a healthy team environment, just as much as they do on their skills and gameplans. The results of those camps have already started to show now at the ongoing ICC Women's Cricket World Cup. The team seems unbeatable at the moment. They look a tight knit unit and they have shown plenty of character during the competition. Different players have carried the team over the line on numerous occasions in the showpiece event. Furthermore, they have had an impressive turn around…

Keshav Maharaj acknowledged the Proteas were disappointed to have dropped four catches but refused to apportion blame after the tourists had to settle for limiting Pakistan to 259/5 on an attritional opening day of the second Test. Captain Shan Masood led the way for the hosts in Rawalpindi scoring 87, with opener Abdullah Shafique grinding out 57 and Saud Shakeel still there on 42 along with Salman Agha. Maharaj and fellow spinner Simon Harmer took two wickets apiece and Kagiso Rabada one late in the day with the second new ball, but it could have been so much better for the tourists had a collection of chances not been put down in the morning and afternoon sessions. It started with the luckless Tristan Stubbs putting down a straightforward catch at…

Plan now, save later: smart shopping ahead of the festive rush Imagine hearing the constant beep of the till as you watch your total climb higher and higher. It’s October, and while the festive season may still feel far off, the spending that comes with it is just around the corner. From groceries for family gatherings to gifts and travel plans, December tends to stretch household budgets. With the cost of living continuing to rise, planning is more important than ever. Stats SA reports that food and non-alcoholic beverage prices rose by 7.2% year-on-year in August 2024. That increase affects everyday purchases, and it’s already being felt at the till. While inflation is beyond our control, how we respond to it isn’t. One of the most effective ways to manage…

Barely 72 hours after Western Cape Mobility Department reopened taxi routes after a month-long shutdown due to violent clashes between rival associations, a Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (Cata) businessman has been shot and killed and two of his bodyguards wounded on the R300 towards Somerset West yesterday. Cata has since expressed outrage and sadness that the life of yet another of their executive members has been wiped out, citing that no arrests have been made in the current and past cases this year. Nkululeko Sityebi, spokesperson for Cata told the Cape Argus last night they were devastated that one of their longest serving members was murdered, stating that a pattern was being observed with executive members being gunned down. In September, Cata’s first deputy chairperson, Mnikeli Mgope, 61, was shot…

Witness A’s testimony at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry has connected the dots and shown a web of systemic rot where a police officer became a hitman on behalf of the criminal syndicate that sought to eliminate a ‘threat’. Cellphone evidence, CCTV footage, and car-tracking information presented by Witness A at the commission put controversial businessman and murder-accused Katiso ‘KT’ Molefe, and police officer Warrant Officer Michael Pule Tau, among others, at the centre of the murder of Armand Swart, an employee of a Vereeniging engineering company, who was shot dead after alleged hitmen mistook him for his boss. Molefe is out on R400 000 bail for the murder of DJ Sumbody. He is charged alongside three alleged hitmen, Tau, Musa Kekana, and Tiego Floyd Mabusela. It was revealed that…

ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula says President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to establish the Madlanga Commission was necessary to prevent a repeat of the July 2021 unrest. He warned that ignoring the serious allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi could have led to widespread instability. Speaking at the ANC’s Mpumalanga Provincial General Council, Mbalula dismissed criticism that the president should have acted directly instead of instituting a commission of inquiry. He made it clear that the ANC collectively, through its National Executive Committee (NEC), had endorsed the commission and that the support did not stem from the president acting unilaterally. “We went to the NEC, everybody supported the establishment of the commission. There’s nobody who said there in the NEC we are opposed,” said Mbalula. ''The ANC supports…

A partnership between the City’s Community Services and Health Directorate and the Cape Town City Ballet saw more than 200 young people from all over Cape Town experiencing arts and culture. Over the recent school holidays, four two-day workshops were hosted in several communities. The City said the outreach initiative, funded through the Community, Arts & Culture Development Department’s Grants-In-Aid programme, aims to make ballet more accessible to the public. The workshops were held at Claremont Civic Centre, Mowbray Town Hall, Edgemead Community Hall, and the Hillcrest Community Hall. Eighty participants were invited to each workshop, from communities including Gugulethu, Bonteheuwel, Mitchells Plain, Delft, Philippi, Athlone, Belhar, Elsies River, and Eerste River. Mayoral committee member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Francine Higham said: “It’s incredible what’s possible through partnership.…

The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development said they were aware of the electronic scanners not being operational at the Wynberg and Bellville magistrates’ courts. The Cape Argus was on site at both courthouses where security personnel had to manually search bags of attendees. Wynberg court was rocked by a murder inside the building earlier this year when murder-accused, Dingalomoyo Chintso was shot following a court appearance in April. Several arrests were made afterwards. Last month, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi addressed the National Assembly, revealing that her department was implementing security improvements at the courthouse based on its security profile. The Wynberg courthouse identified a second attempted security breach on September 8 when a firearm was detected using metal detectors. However, when the Cape Argus visited…

Julian Alvarez has established himself as Atletico Madrid’s key player, but the club still need to prove to the Argentina international that they belong among Europe’s elite and can fulfil his ambitions. The Rojiblancos’ visit to last season’s semi-finalists Arsenal in the Champions League on Tuesday is a prime opportunity to test their mettle. Diego Simeone’s side are unbeaten in six games across all competitions since their last-minute defeat by Liverpool at Anfield in September. Virgil van Dijk’s stoppage-time winner left Atletico with a familiar sinking feeling and compounded what had been a poor domestic start, following a trophyless 2024/25 campaign. In the days that followed, renewed speculation emerged that Barcelona were interested in signing the striker next summer as a replacement for veteran Robert Lewandowski. “People always talk,” said…

There is a “changing of the guard” feel to the 36-man Springbok squad about to depart for Europe, with some World Cup winners relegated to the sidelines and a growing group of youngsters replacing them. Ageing veterans such as fullback Willie le Roux, scrumhalf Faf de Klerk and tighthead prop Vincent Koch have not made the cut, while another two senior Boks, Bongi Mbonambi and Makazole Mapimpi, have been placed on standby. The uncapped Stormers prop Zachary Porthen is the latest young Turk to get the nod from Rassie Erasmus. He joins an exciting new wave of players under the age of 24 in Ethan Hooker, Canan Moodie, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Jan-Hendrik Wessels. Erasmus is determined to finish the year on top of the World Rugby rankings as the draw…

While Ruben Amorim may have achieved a number of firsts in securing a rare victory at Anfield, it is the nature of the 2-1 win that the Portuguese manager will find most pleasing. It wasn’t just the scoreline – though ending nine years of frustration on Merseyside matters to Red Devils fans starved of recent success – but the measured, controlled way they did it. Under Amorim, United finally looked like a side with a plan and purpose, one they were able to execute with dogged determination. Where previous managers approached Anfield as a damage limitation exercise, Amorim brought courage and conviction, buoyed no doubt by the home side’s faltering recent form. His team pressed in waves, controlled the midfield corridors, and turned Arne Slot’s structure inside out, exposing obvious…

The Western Cape Department of Social Development (DSD) has highlighted a year of “innovation, accountability, and tangible impact” after presenting its 2024/25 Annual Report to the Western Cape Provincial Parliament. Managing a budget of R2.52 billion, the department successfully expanded social welfare services to vulnerable communities while maintaining a clean audit opinion for the 14th consecutive year. More than R1bn of the total budget was transferred to non-profit and non-governmental organisations to extend services to people in need, reflecting the crucial role of its partners in social service delivery. Western Cape Social Development Minister Jaco Londt commended officials and front-line workers for their commitment in the face of rising social challenges. “Despite tough economic conditions and rising social challenges, our department continues to deliver with compassion, competence, and integrity. This…

"WE CAN'T live like this," was the cry for help from Overcome Heights residents after two men were shot in Rasta Close yesterday morning. A 28-year-old man was shot in the head and died at the scene. The second victim was taken to hospital. Police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg confirmed that Muizenberg detectives are investigating a case of murder and attempted murder. Last month, a group of women from the Overcome Heights community chained themselves to the gates of Parliament, demanding urgent action and answers regarding the ongoing violence that has plagued the community. Community leader Karen Mentoor said that after their protest, the gun violence has started to flare up again. Mentoor explained: “Since we went to chain ourselves at Parliament, the community was quiet for three weeks because…

The City of Tshwane has come under fire over the R777 million reportedly spent on water tankers during the financial year ending June 2025 under Mayor Nasiphi Moya's multiparty coalition government. The spending has sparked concerns as it significantly exceeded the allocated budget by R457 million, with critics raising questions about financial management and accountability. Bongani Ramontja, leader of the Soil of Africa Civic Movement, has called for immediate transparency and accountability from the city regarding its expenditure on water tanker services. He demanded that the city “must immediately publish a full breakdown of expenditure on water-tanker services for the last three fiscal years, including number of tankers deployed, volume of water delivered, cost per litre, locations served, and timeline of service contracts”. He highlighted the stark contrast between the…

The City of Cape Town has expressed alarm at the ongoing challenges faced by MyCiTi bus commuters, particularly those relying on the N2 Express routes connecting Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain to the Civic Centre. In recent months, persistent instances of vandalism have plagued the transport network, leading to significant disruptions that have affected many commuters. According to City officials, a 26 buses operating on these vital routes have been damaged over the past six months. The forms of vandalism reported include stone-throwing, wire tampering, and damage to doors – acts committed by members of the same communities that depend on these services. This has led to 56% of the MyCiTi bus fleet being pulled out of circulation for repairs. The consequences of this vandalism extend beyond the damaged vehicles. Many…

Local communities are key in driving the circular economy, minimising waste, and sustainable change to maintain a healthy environment, says Aysha Lotter, law and policy strategist. She spoke at the E-waste Recycling Authority’s (ERA) roundtable discussion at the Iziko South African Museum in Cape Town recently. Lotter said that the government and corporates would only come in to assist them in actioning solutions to their problems - in terms of the disposal, sorting, and collection of waste. The discussion formed part of the authority’s annual seven-day eco-activism campaign. It also coincided with International E-waste Day, observed annually on October 14 to raise awareness about the growing problem of discarded electrical and electronic equipment. Lotter said that solutions would come from the community, and that collectively the state and the community…

Thomas Frank admitted he had no instant solution for Tottenham’s miserable home record after his side crashed to a 2-1 defeat against Aston Villa on Sunday. Spurs took the lead through Rodrigo Bentancur in the fifth minute at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. But once again they failed to build on a strong start, as Morgan Rogers struck with a superb effort — his first goal in 20 matches — to haul Villa level before half-time. Villa substitute Emiliano Buendia curled into the far corner in the 77th minute to seal the win, leaving Tottenham with 11 defeats and only three wins from their last 18 Premier League games at home. Frank, hired from Brentford in the close-season, has overseen two defeats in his first four league fixtures at Spurs’ ground,…

Banyana Banyana’s road to redemption begins this week as Desiree Ellis’ side kicks off their 2026 CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) qualifying campaign against the Democratic Republic of Congo. The 2022 African champions are no longer the continent’s queens after finishing a disappointing fourth at the most recent WAFCON in July. That result ended their reign and raised tough questions about the team’s trajectory. The upcoming qualifying campaign, therefore, offers Ellis and her players a fresh chance to rebuild pride and reclaim their place among Africa’s elite. The first leg takes place at the Pentecost Martyrs Stadium in Kinshasa on Wednesday (6pm kick-off), with the decisive return leg set for FNB Stadium six days later. The winner on aggregate will move a step closer to Morocco 2026 —…

Kaizer Chiefs co-coach Cedric Kaze is determined to see his side rediscover their winning touch when they face a stubborn Siwelele FC outfit in their Betway Premiership clash at the FNB Stadium on Wednesday evening (7:30pm kick-off). Amakhosi return to league duty after a demanding few weeks on the continental stage, where their CAF Confederation Cup campaign has provided moments of promise so far. Their most recent outing — a goalless draw against AS Simba of the Democratic Republic of Congo — kept them in contention for qualification to the group stages, but also highlighted their ongoing struggles in front of goal. Chiefs have collected just two points from their last three matches, a dip that has disrupted their strong start to the season. Having gone unbeaten in their opening…