Indholdsfortegnelse for 2023-12-07 i Cape Argus

While legendary boxer George Foreman reached the top during his illustrious career, he first he had to navigate his way around challenges and hardships. The American boxer had to channel his anger and overcome poverty in order to become an Olympic Gold medallist as well as a World Heavyweight champion. His journey is depicted in Netflix’s new sports drama, Big George Foreman: The Miraculous Story of the Once and Future Heavyweight Champion of the World. The biopic also reveals how a near-death experience took him from the boxing ring to the pulpit, and how he came out of retirement to help his family and church when they faced financial hardships. Big George Foreman features a star-studded cast. Khris Davis, who starred in Judas and the Black Messiah as well as…

A group of thieves embarked on an early morning Christmas shopping spree when they walked right into Canal Walk shopping centre and stole IT equipment worth thousands. Staff at the gomaxx. store, near Entrance 6, which deals in pre-owned Apple products, said the thieves broke down the door of the store, raided the glass displays and made off with about 16 Apple MacBooks. According to a source, the crafty crooks simply drove into the popular shopping centre and burgled a store shortly after 5am yesterday. The source explained that the thieves were in and out of the mall in less than six minutes as they made off with Apple laptops worth thousands. “They simply just arrived in a white Toyota Quantum taxi and footage shows the driver entering the boom…

FORMER Bosasa whistle-blower Angelo Agrizzi has issued summons against the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services in the amount of R193 million. He has claimed that his ailing health is due to correctional officials who did not pay attention to his health issues and did not ensure he received adequate or any treatment while held in custody. The court has over the past months heard evidence from medical experts called by the Agrizzi camp that he is simply too ill to physically attend the trials in court. He has been absent from court appearances in those trials – which are still due to fully resume – since he landed in hospital in 2020. His lawyer earlier told the court that Agrizzi spent about 50 days in ICU or in the…

ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula says the directors and executives of the banks who manipulated the rand should face prosecution in their individual capacity for the detriment they have inflicted upon the state economy. “This act is nothing short of a crime against the South African people,” he said. Mbalula, addressing a media briefing at the ANC headquarters, Luthuli House, in Johannesburg yesterday, said that rand manipulation was a crime of corruption, and must be called by its first name without fear or favour. Corruption in the private sector was still corruption, and its consequences were just as severe, he said. He reiterated the ANC’s call for law enforcement agencies to act decisively and expediently in bringing criminal charges against those individuals and banking institutions implicated in manipulating the rand. Such…

The 32nd annual Calypso Beach Festival took place yesterday at Sunrise Beach in Muizenberg with 501 children from marginalised communities throughout the Western Cape participating in the event. Calypso cricket originated in the West Indies and adheres to most of the rules of cricket, however, it is played on the beach between two teams of ten players each, involving both boys and girls promoting inclusivity. The children between the ages of 9-14 years from Langa, Ocean View, Khayelitsha, Westlake and rural Constantia enjoyed a day of fun in the sun during the annual event. General Manager of Sporting Chance, Natalie Pollock said that their objective is to give sports development a platform as life skills education. “We use the Calypso cricket festival as a way to bring the kids together…

With the warm summer days upon us and the holiday season approaching there have already been four confirmed reports of great white sharks in False Bay within the last week. The Shark Advisory took to social media to warn water users to practise caution and advised to follow simple safety tips to reduce the risk of encountering a shark. “The Shark Spotters at Muizenberg sighted a white shark on Monday 27th and Wednesday 29th November. On Saturday 2 December, spear fishermen at Smitswinkel Bay reported seeing a white shark and another white shark sighting was recorded off Roman Rock lighthouse by an experienced water user on the same day.” “At this stage it is unclear whether these are sporadic, one-off sightings, or if this may signal the return of white…

A few days ago I addressed comrades from branches in uMlazi. In my address, I pointed out that we owe our greatest sacrifices borne by our forebears. Their heroic deeds shaped not only the ANC but our great South African nation, our beloved country. Those of us who are leaders today must remain faithful to the ideals of our ancestors. In our daily conduct we should live to achieve our core principles and values: Principles of selfless service to the people. Honesty, commitment, loyalty and hard work. Volunteerism in the true sense of it. To be faithful to the people of South Africa. To actively fighting against corrup- tion t obe free of it. A real commitment and practical steps were taken to renew our movement. End factionalism and unite…

IT is one of the great anomalies in sevens rugby: Why do the Blitzboks dominate at the Dubai Sevens, but then battle on home soil in Cape Town a week later? That question will again be buzzing in the ears of the Springbok Sevens squad that will kick off their Cape Town Sevens campaign against Great Britain at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday (10.50am). The South Africans are coming off their fifth consecutive Dubai Sevens title, having beaten Argentina 12-7 in last Sunday’s final. Yet they last claimed the Cape Town crown in 2015, and in five tournaments since, they’ve reached the final twice without grabbing the trophy. That’s something stalwart forward Ryan Oosthuizen and the rest of the squad are hoping to change this weekend. After the Great Britain…

KAIZER Chiefs have ample reason to ensure that they start the festive season on a high note when they visit Polokwane City in a DStv Premiership clash in Polokwane on Saturday. Chiefs ended November on a high as they beat Moroka Swallows in the Soweto derby to revive themselves after losing to another bitter rival, Orlando Pirates. That victory was key for the team and their plans to climb up the log standings as they are in eighth place with 17 points, 10 behind log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns. But it’s perhaps this time of the year – the festive season – that will test the character of the players, given the reports of player misconduct that have emerged from the club in recent weeks. Club captain Itumeleng Khune reportedly arrived…

The man accused of being the mastermind behind the February 2020 theft at President Cyril Ramaphosa’s house at his Phala Phala game farm in Limpopo appeared in the Bela-Bela Magistrate’s Court yesterday seeking release on bail. Imanuwela David, 39, is charged alongside siblings Froliana Joseph, a domestic worker at the farm, and her brother, Ndilinasho Joseph. The Joseph siblings were released on bail last month. The State did not oppose bail, and it was set at R5 000 for Froliana and R10 000 for Ndilinasho. Bail conditions include that they hand over their passports, and may not leave the Bela-Bela area without informing the police. However, accused number one, David, was remanded in custody, paving the way for his formal bail application. “Applicant Imanuwela David has more than three…

Zero Carbon Charge (ZCC) is among the organisations that have welcomed the release of the electric vehicle (EV) White Paper by Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Ebrahim Patel. According to Patel the paper outlines a comprehensive EV roadmap for South Africa and the structure of a suite of policy interventions tailored to the automotive industry. ZCC said the release of the White Paper signalled that the government was serious about South Africa’s transition to EVs and offered some much-needed policy certainty on the way forward. Although welcoming the release of the paper, ZCC co-director and founder Joubert Roux said they believed that the paper's focus on capacitating and greening the existing grid would unnecessarily delay the transition to EVs. He said, instead, the focus should be on immediately developing off-grid…

The matric classes of 2023 are “officially unemployed”. Learners across the country finished their final exam on Tuesday, with some putting down their pens for the last time yesterday after a rewrite of the CAT and IT question papers. A total of 76 903 candidates moved into their benches for one last round of exams on October 30. Of these, 64 105 were full-time candidates, and 12 798 were part-time candidates. This year the Western Cape Education Department also saw four subjects with just a single candidate writing in the province. Thirteen candidates also completed the South African Sign Language Home Language exams. The exams were written at 469 exam centres, and overseen by 1 878 invigilators who kept a close eye on proceedings and any potential…

It was all smiles and excitement yesterday in Ward G6 at Tygerberg Hospital when the Tokai Lions Club spread the holiday joy and surprised the little ones with an early Christmas gift. Seventeen children each received a gift bag with a fluffy toy, party packs, doughnuts and a medal donated by athletes to remind the little ones that they are champions while they are battling health challenges. Mark Rossouw, media liaison and marketing chairperson, said the club had a good relationship with Tygerberg Hospital’s children’s ward in the hope of spreading love and joy to the young hearts. “Children and the elderly are special and important to us, we want to help and make a difference by assisting them. Some of the children in the ward have been there for…

ON World Soil Day, the Bel Porto School in collaboration with the Sprightly Seed, officially launched its Organic Market Garden on Tuesday. The garden will not only address the nutritional needs of learners and broader communities, but will also enable the school to raise funds to ensure for greater sustainability. The school, situated in Lansdowne, meets the educational needs of pupils with intellectual impairment, cerebral palsy, or physical disabilities. On how the collaboration came about, principal Ilona Herman said: “It was very interesting… I looked for something that was organic, sustainable and wholesome for all of us - in the fact that we could actually do something with what the outcome would be.” Some of the products made from the garden produce will include pickles, jams, canned vegetables, candles, soaps,…

Mornay Smith has had to carry the Bulls scrum over the last few years, but now he has welcome support in the giant frame of Wilco Louw. Smith, who will turn 26 in late January, has had to earn his stripes at the coalface of the Bulls set piece after the departure of Trevor Nyakane to Racing 92 in France a few seasons ago. But the return of 29-year-old Springbok Louw to Pretoria this season has lightened the load on Smith. He is also picking up valuable insights on the ‘dark arts’ of the front row from a seasoned campaigner like Louw, who hails from the Boland and started his pro career at the Bulls, before a good few years at the Stormers, Toulon and Harlequins. The 14-cap Bok has…

The Stormers’ attention may centre on Handré Pollard this week, but the Leicester Tigers also boast an outstanding back three that will take some stopping in Sunday’s Champions Cup clash at Welford Road (5.15pm kick-off). Fortunately for the Capetonians, they have a man who would have been exposed to Mike Brown, Freddie Steward and Ollie Hassell-Collins regularly over the past few years, in Courtnall Skosan. The former Springbok wing – who played in 12 Tests in 2017 – has finally made his way back home after a strong career that first saw him on the big stage at the Blue Bulls, then the Lions and finally Northampton Saints in England. Skosan, now 32, is from the Cape and attended the same Brackenfell High School that produced current Bok star Cheslin…

Eight out of nine provinces represented in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) voted in favour of the National Health Insurance Bill (NHI), despite many opposition parties and the private sector being opposed to it as it stands. The Western Cape was the only province that voted against the bill. The bill made its final steps in the NCOP yesterday, before it is signed into law by the president. This comes after the ANC deliberated since 1994 about introducing a healthcare system that would be affordable for all, particularly the poor. Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla said it marks another important milestone in the journey by the country to realise universal health coverage to ensure universal access to quality and affordable healthcare for all South Africans as enshrined in the…

It was a memorable day for the individuals who were honoured by the City of Cape Town for their significant contribution to society and throughout the world. A special ceremony took place yesterday at the City Council Chambers where several of the living honourers were recorded in the Civic Honours Book while others sent video messages. Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis said the City had given out the prestigious Civic Honours for the first time in 12 years. Hill-Lewis said, “Today is about recognising the contributions of some truly remarkable people – whether a living person or in memory of someone who has passed away and to reflect on their achievements and the impact they’ve made in society.” The recipients of the Civic Honours include Lawyer, activist and former Constitutional Court Justice,…

The Emirates Lions will have a familiar face as their tour guide when they arrive in Perpignan later today, with Marvin Orie sure to point his old mates around the picturesque small city in the southernmost part of France. Come Sunday in the EPCR Challenge Cup, though, if the Springbok and former Lions lock is selected to face his old team, it will be all business. This the Joburgers know, as explained by assistant coach Julian Redelinghuys earlier this week, even though the Blood and Gold remain a bit of an enigma. Said Redelinghuys: “We are looking forward to seeing Marvie. He is obviously an ex-Lions player. “With any French team, like Perpignan, they are big, strong teams. We don’t know how the French teams are going to play in…

Mikel Arteta refused to play the blame game after goalkeeper David Raya’s errors almost cost Arsenal dearly in a thrilling 4-3 victory at Luton Town in the Premier League on Tuesday. The Spaniard, who has replaced Aaron Ramsdale between the posts after joining on loan from Brentford, was culpable as Luton scored twice in eight minutes to take the lead. He was caught out of position by a 49th-minute corner, which allowed Elijah Adebayo to make it 2-2, and then dived over a Ross Barkley shot that put the hosts in front. Thankfully for him, Kai Havertz equalised and then Declan Rice scored the winner in the seventh minute of added time to send Arsenal five points clear, until Liverpool’s trip to Sheffield Wednesday last night. “We have to defend…

AT a time when Stellenbosch FC are on the cusp of winning their first trophy in South African top-flight football, it is worth noting that the Winelands club has been a model of professionalism. This measure of professionalism has been at the heart of the club’s day-to-day operations since it bought the National First Division franchise of Vasco da Gama seven years ago. To date, Stellenbosch have bagged lower-tier honours such as the DStv Diski Challenge (2021) and the Premier League Next Gen Cup (2022) after a comprehensive 7-2 victory over Leicester City in the final in the UK. This year, they lost to England’s Wolverhampton Wanderers (Wolves) in the final after a 5-4 penalty shootout in India. This success at youth level, on foreign soil, pointed to a healthy…