Indholdsfortegnelse for 2024-07-01 i Cape Argus

An Eastern Cape couple who hired three people to kill their domestic worker and her boyfriend for an insurance payout have been sentenced to life imprisonment. Shocking details of the brutal murder emerged in the Eastern Cape High Court, sitting in Nxuba (formerly Cradock). The five accused are: Zizipho Pani, 34, her husband Siyathemba James, 39, hitman Sinethemba Pani, 34, Sizwesethu Jonas, 34, and 19-year-old Masixole Sokoyi. National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Luxolo Tyali said before the crimes were committed, the couple had employed the victim as their domestic helper. She had been living in the same area in Nxuba. “The mastermind, Zizipho Pani, acquired funeral policies on the life of the victim with Standard Bank and Absa Bank in 2021. In the event of her death, the policy…

The slow move to pursue those implicated in criminal activities and state capture has exposed institutional weaknesses and challenges in the criminal justice system. This is according to Corruption Watch, which added that the lack of progress to date is disheartening. About 1 438 people have been implicated in the rampant looting and capture of South Africa’s state-owned enterprises, termed state capture. However, only a few were prosecuted, mainly those close to former president Jacob Zuma. Other implicated ANC leaders such as Gwede Mantashe, Thabang Makwetla, David Mahlobo, Malusi Gigaba, Faith Muthambi and Mildred Oliphant have not been prosecuted. Corruption Watch executive director Karam Singh said besides the initial set of cases, there were numerous people implicated in state capture who the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) must pursue. “The wheels…

THE Trauma Centre for Survivors of Violence and Torture Trust held its monthly Market Day at its District Six premises over the weekend, and called on the public to come through to find out more about the work of the centre, while scanning the array of goods on sale. The Market Day is the third of its kind and will be held on the last Saturday of each month from 9am to 2pm at 126 Chapel Street, District Six. Executive director and senior social worker Marguerite Holtzhausen said the objective of the monthly market is to raise awareness on the work of the centre, but also to bring visitors and communities together. “This is a beautiful space within the heart of the old District Six. This is really authentic District…

South Africa has experienced a 30-year democracy since 1994. On May 29 this year many South Africans took to the streets to vote for change after widespread dissatisfaction with the previous government. With the ANC receiving less than 50% of the country’s votes, its efforts to form alliances have bolstered its proposal for a Government of National Unity (GNU). Negotiations are ongoing among 10 out of the 18 parties involved in the GNU while the nation awaits President Cyril Ramaphosa’s final decision on his Cabinet. Meanwhile, opposition parties have criticised the ANC for including parties such as the DA and Freedom Front Plus in its GNU, labelling them sell-outs. However, each of the four major parties could be viewed as having compromised their principles and becoming sell-outs. ANC…

The flyhalf and midfield positions are most likely the two conundrums the Springbok coaches will have fret about the longest before naming the side to face world No 2 Ireland in the first of two Tests this weekend in Pretoria. While there are certainly some strong candidates waiting in the wings for the No 10 jersey, head coach Rassie Erasmus will only have had his two World Cup-winning pivots, Handre Pollard and Manie Libbok on the shortlist to start on Saturday at Loftus Versfeld (5.05 pm kick-off). Pollard, after his World Cup exploits, should be in the driver’s seat against the Irish. He comes with vast experience, especially playing at Loftus, and his calming influence and accurate kicking boot could be key. It was the right foot of the former…

The Springboks are in Test-match mode ahead of Saturday’s epic first encounter with Ireland at Loftus Versfeld. While the second dawn of Rassie Erasmus as head coach kicked off against Wales a couple of weeks ago, Saturday’s duel with the Irish (5.05pm kick-off) could set the tone for the Boks’ season under him. Here, Leighton Koopman takes a look at what we would like to see from the Boks in the highly anticipated rematch of the World Cup group stage clash. A dominating forward pack If the Bok engine fires on the day, no team in world rugby can keep up with them – not in the scrums, not during line-outs, and not when they take the ball into contact. Any Springbok victory is built on the forwards taking charge…

IN JABU Nxumalo’s vivid recollection, there was nothing amiss when she matched a Joseph Ssekasi on dating site Tinder last year. The Joburg mother was innocently hoping to get an honest, loving boyfriend when she joined the dating app, and soon she had Ssekasi courting her. But four months later, the man vanished with her R510 000. Part of the fraud involved a purported “ancestor’s voice” which instructed Nxumalo to approach different banks and raise the money, which she handed over to him at his home in Brakpan. More than a year later, the bubbly Nxumalo has not allowed the scam to bring her life down, but she is actively involved in campaigns to raise he awareness of these love scams in SA. Gauteng police spokesperson Mavela Masondo…

AMID Cabinet position squabbles in the ANC-DA marriage, Build One South Africa (Bosa) held an insightful delegates meeting with the ANC on Friday about a way forward towards the anticipated Government of National Unity (GNU). According to Bosa’s acting spokesperson, Roger Solomons, the meeting between the parties gave a clear vision of Bosa’s position and role in the broad coalition government, especially as a small party. “The meeting produced a clearer understanding as to if, and how, Bosa would participate in any governing arrangement,” Solomons said. Earlier last week, Bosa remained undecided as it was weighing its options within the new state of governance, as there currently is no agenda or mandate within the GNU before President Cyril Ramaphosa announces his new national executive. “Bosa has been engaging with parties…

ELEVEN local designers got an opportunity to show off their latest offerings at the ninth edition of the Khayelitsha Fashion Week, part of the Mother City Fashion Experience held at the Artscape Theatre on Saturday. Along with 41 runway models from across Cape Town, the theme for this year’s show was “Grounded In Nature”. Designers were challenged to showcase their best nature-inspired outfits for their fashion moments on the red carpet. Founder Bongani Matenjwa, 31 said he wanted to change the negative stigmas linked to townships in Cape Town. “When people hear of Khayelitsha, what comes to mind is crime but we are changing people’s perspective about our areas and letting them know that it is possible for local designers to showcase in bigger platforms.” “The motivation behind the theme…

Several families living in Shelley Road, Salt River,say they have nowhere else to go, should the City sell the homes they have spent most, if not all, their lives in. On June 26, a string of households received a notice from the City, informing them that their tenancy and leases might be terminated due to the City’s intention to sell the properties. They were also told to make the properties accessible for scheduled viewings. At least nine affected properties, with predominantly pensioners as tenants said that since receiving the unexpected notices, they had been experiencing sleepless nights, anxiety and sickness. Sheradia Brown, 62, said she had lived there her entire life. “For years now, almost 40 years, we’ve been fighting for these houses. “That is something my mother has…

It was a cold winter’s day in Johannesburg on Saturday. Dark clouds had formed and enveloped the horizon. But still the Proteas’ die-hards, many old enough to have been scarred by events since 1992, braved the elements to come out in support of Aiden Markram and his team in their first-ever appearance in an ICC World Cup final at the official fan park at the Wanderers. There were also plenty of children, blissfully unaware of everything, just enjoying the jumping castles that were placed out on the Wanderers outfield. It made for a festive atmosphere with everyone filled with hope that this could finally be the Proteas’ day. Each Indian wicket to fall was greeted with shrieks of delight. The loudest cheer being reserved for India’s master batter Virat Kohli’s…

FRANCESCO Bagnaia claimed his third consecutive Dutch MotoGP yesterday ahead of championship leader Jorge Martin to narrow the gap to 10 points in his quest for a third straight world title. Enea Bastianini completed the podium at Assen. Polesitter Bagnaia led from the start on his factory Ducati to ride a flawless race, capping a memorable weekend after his success in Saturday’s sprint race. After giving a riding masterclass, the rider from Turin said: “It’s incredible. I had to push from the start and suffering a bit from the rear tyre. But lap by lap I improved. “We were very fast, very precise ... I am very satisfied,” added Bagnaia, who twice broke the Assen track record over the weekend. The weekend’s win in Assen also highlighted Ducati’s dominance in…

THE Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) said it has made significant inroads in apprehending suspects involved in high-profile cases. During the fourth quarter of the 2023/24 financial year, it secured 547 arrests, 182 convictions and 88 assets court orders, Hawks national head Godfrey Lebeya said. These pertain to national priority offences including serious corruption, serious organised crime, serious commercial crime, fraud, money laundering, police killings, cash-in-transit robberies, illegal mining, damage to essential infrastructure, theft of fuel from pipelines, drug trafficking, trafficking in persons and trafficking in endangered species. The majority of the arrests were fraud-related. During that period, 182 convictions were secured before the courts, with 84 convictions resulting from Serious Organised Crime, 61 from Serious Commercial Crime and 37 from Serious Corruption. The majority of the convicts –…

MORE than 100 homeless refugees from Paint City in Bellville have been moved by the City of Cape Town into their own space. They have been living in makeshift structures situated on a pavement along Robert Sobukwe Road for almost a year. The group, made up of mostly women and children, were removed from their camp in October 2023 after they stood up to the rules of a militia-like group in charge of the camp. They were relocated on Friday to a new location, next door to Paint City, with only a metal fence separating the two groups now. Matthew Sabiti, a spokesperson for the refugees, said they have been in contact with the City for some time regarding their proposed relocation. “It’s a good thing, especially for the kids’…

THE failure to speak out against the objectification of MP Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla reverses the gains achieved in the fight against patriarchy and women’s rights in South Africa. Since the news of Zuma-Sambudla going to Parliament, pictures of her wearing bikini and swimwear outfits have been posted at an alarming rate on social media. Flooding the social media with these pictures is meant to derail society from viewing Zuma-Sambudla as a leader of society who was fairly elected in that position and reduces her into a pretty face with no capacity to be in Parliament. The fact that these pictures were already posted on social media does…

As the BRICS ministers of foreign affairs/international relations met in Nizhny Novgorod, Russian Federation, on June 10, 2024, the triple challenges of unprecedented wars threatening to implode into global conflict, climate change and the structural systemic economic challenges emanating from historical marginalisation and hegemonic domination of the Global South weighed heavily on their thinking. Although analysts have tended to view the potential influence of BRICS+ in purely economic terms, the discussions at the meeting suggest that BRICS+ is focussed on wider crucial matters of concern to emerging economies which require the collective attention, co-operation and energy of all its members and interested parties. Crucially, such issues as commitments to fighting climate change, democratising multilateralism and calls for a fairer global economic system would be more realistically achievable when confronted collectively.…

Should the Junior Springboks keep their best team intact, or rest a few players for their next World Rugby Under-20 Championship clash? That is the biggest conundrum facing South Africa’s coach Bafana Nhleko after watching his team dispatch Fiji 57-7 in their tournament opener at the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday night. The Junior Boks had a few hiccups early on, but their dominance up front eventually told as they scored eight tries to one to set the tone for the rest of the campaign. But there is a short turnaround time before their second match against Argentina, as they face the South Americans on Thursday at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch. That is followed by another five-day period before their biggest game in Pool C, against England at…