Indholdsfortegnelse for 2025-09-15 i Cape Argus

Only Murders in the Building – TV’s coziest fantasy about life in New York City – starts its fifth, silliest and most enjoyable season with some unsettling changes to the status quo. Mabel (Selena Gomez), the disaffected millennial of the crime-detecting trio, seems discordantly hopeful and optimistic. Charles (Steve Martin), normally a diffident sort, radiates with newfound swagger. And Oliver (Martin Short), the colourful egotist whose pride and joy has long been life at the swanky Arconia, is considering moving out. The catalyst for the fifth season is, of course, a dead body. The fourth season punctuated Oliver’s climactic wedding to Loretta (Meryl Streep) with two cliff-hangers. The first was a mysterious visit from mob wife Sofia Caccimelio (Téa Leoni), who asked the podcasters for help finding her husband Nicky…

The Western Cape Government has announced the closure of minibus taxi routes following deadly clashes between rivals, Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (Cata) and the Cape Organisation for the Democratic Taxi Association (Codeta). The ranks in Khayelitsha, Mfuleni, Lwandle, Nomzamo, and Somerset West are the affected routes. Mobility MEC Isaac Sileku said the decision, taken at a provincial Cabinet meeting on Friday, was “exceptionally difficult, “but to protect lives after repeated negotiations failed to resolve the impasse. “Following careful consideration and a decision taken at Cabinet, the Western Cape Government has resolved to invoke Section 91 of the National Land Transport Act,” he said. From Wednesday, the following routes will be closed for 30 days: Route M18: Mfuleni – Somerset West Route 43: Lwandle – Khayelitsha via Somerset West Route 611:…

THE community of Kraaifontein were left reeling after three men were murdered, one injured and a woman raped in three separate incidents in Wallacedene yesterday. This comes just days after six people were killed in 24 hours. Three men accused of criminal activity were killed during a vigilante attack and set alight on last week. Yesterday, the first incident took place in Mhongqo informal settlement around 1am when a 35-year-old man was shot and killed. The second incident took place between 2am and 3am when a man was shot and wounded and his female companion raped metres away from the scene of the first crime. Nearby, two men in their twenties were shot and killed. “Western Cape police are investigating three counts of murder, and attempted murder as well as…

As South Africa braces for the Madlanga Commission, taxpayers are footing a R147.9 million bill for 2025 and 2026. The key question remains on whether the country will finally see value for money, or it will be just another report gathering dust. The Commission of Inquiry into criminality, political interference and corruption in the criminal justice system has been allocated R147.9m. Concerns about the commission’s budget were raised by multiple political parties, doubting whether the outcomes will justify the cost. The Madlanga Commission, prompted by allegations made by SAPS KwaZulu-Natal provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, is set to begin public hearings on Wednesday. It failed to commence on September 1, after the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development did not provide the necessary infrastructure and resources on time. In…

City libraries have launched new digital services, allowing online library card registration. The City made the announcement that the new digital innovations include the ability to apply for your library card online. The City libraries’ entire physical catalogue is now also online, in addition to thousands of e-books and audiobooks from OverDrive and Project Gutenberg. Once registered, patrons can pop into their local library to collect their cards to unlock physical and digital collections. Anthea Hartzenberg, Executive Support Officer to the mayco member for Community Services and Health, City of Cape Town explained the process: “In addition, e-books collections are now integrated, including OverDrive and Project Gutenberg, offering avid readers a myriad of books to download and enjoy. “Whether you’re searching for a physical copy or an e-book, the…

Despite facing a heatwave, being robbed and surviving an accident in Dubai, sustainability researcher and economist, Michael Evertz, 66, arrived in Cape Town after cycling for 863 days, since his departure from Potsdam, Germany on April 22, 2023. Evertz has been cycling to Cape Town, crossing 25 countries in a bid to raise awareness of global warming and climate change. His project, “Expedition Hope”, sought to connect and unite people all over the world. “There must be a mind change. How is it possible for all of us to survive? There is no safe island in the world where even rich people can go. “What we have to do is find a way for every person to have a lifestyle where everybody has the chance to lead a sufficient life.”…

It is disappointing how the world has been silent over the ongoing deadly Sudanese conflict, which has displaced over 13 million people, left millions in need of humanitarian aid, and killed over 150 000 people. Despite the amplified efforts of international media outlets in reporting on the Sudanese civil war, the international community has continued to ignore the cries of Sudan’s helpless children. Since April 2023, at the start of this deadly war, many women and children have been continuing to experience incidents of sexual violence, which is used as a weapon of war by the paramilitary group, Rapid Support Group (RSG), which has been waging a war against the Sudanese army. It is heartbreaking to witness how the world has muted its conscience, leaving the security concerns of the…

While the Lions were purring as they booked a home Currie Cup final against the Griquas with a 67-19 mauling of the Boland Cavaliers, coach Mziwakhe Nkosi is slightly concerned about the dip in their level of play in the second half. The dominant Lions led 41-5 at half-time, and while there was no danger of being overhauled, the error count from the home side was high in the second stanza. “It was probably not our most accurate second half but as the game got scrappier, we got scrappier. But we take it,” Nkosi said, in his post-match media briefing. “In the first half I thought our set piece was good, I thought we scrummed well, while they tried to have one or two mauls that we stopped. “Our maul…

Veteran sprinter Akani Simbine’s quest for a first major singles outdoor medal continues after a disappointing seventh-place finish in the men’s 100m final on Day 2 of the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. National champion Gift Leotlela crossed the line in fifth. Leotlela, who set a personal best of 9.87 seconds in the first-round heats the day before, recorded 9.95 seconds in Sunday’s blue-riband event, while Simbine clocked 10.04. Jamaican Oblique Saville won gold in a personal best of 9.77, with countryman Kishane Thompson taking silver in 9.82. Olympic champion Noah Lyles claimed bronze. Simbine (9.96) and Leotlela (9.97) had finished third in their semifinals earlier in the day but still progressed to the final. SA champion Zakithi Nene won his first-round 400m race in 44.34, while Lythe Pillay took…

Ndu Browns, born Ndumiso Mdletshe, is stepping into a new chapter of his career with his highly anticipated solo debut. Browns released his first solo single, Ubuhle Bakho, on September 12, which coincided with his 31st birthday. Born and raised in Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal, Browns has become a household name in South Africa’s music scene. He is celebrated for his soulful voice, storytelling and the ability to blend traditional African sounds with contemporary Afro-pop rhythms. With Blaq Diamond, Browns rose to national recognition through multi-platinum albums and chart-topping singles. Their 2020 album Umuthi cemented their status, while their signature style earned them widespread acclaim and a loyal fan base across Africa. Earlier this year, he announced his solo career, signalling a new direction in his artistry. “September 12 carries more than…

Mayco member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, often dubbed “the Sheriff” of the City, said he’s receiving legal advice whether to pursue steps for retribution following the Western Cape High Court’s decision declaring the search at his municipal offices as unconstitutional. The ruling follows litigation brought by Smith and Limberg after a SAPS Commercial Crimes Unit raid on their offices on January 24. Hours after Smith released the court’s findings, the Cape Argus asked Smith whether he would be seeking compensation financially for defamation of character, to which he answered: “I’m taking advice from my legal team, I am usually not a person that seeks retribution but I am aware that if you do not keep those accountable who misuse the criminal justice system, they will continue to weaponise…

THE Department of Defence has come under fire for failing to take action against officials that entered into a lease agreement of St George’s Hotel at a cost of R5 million a month without following procurement processes. DA MP Chris Hattingh said it was unacceptable that no one has been held accountable. “If no one is held to account, it tells officials they can push big, pricey deals through a friendly foundation and get away with it. That breaks the checks and balances, discourages honest procurement staff, and makes a joke of the Auditor-General’s effort to stop irregular spending,” Hattingh said. He made the statement after Defence Minister Angie Motshekga confirmed, when asked about measures taken against the officials responsible for the irregular expenditure, to use the hotel to house…

The Islamic State of Africa (ISA), a non-profit organisation, is contending with what it describes as systemic bias in democratic processes after the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) struck the its’ appeal to register as a political party off the roll. The Chief Electoral Officer, Sy Mamabolo, rejected ISA’s application on three grounds: 1. The party failed to meet the threshold of prescribed details of registered voters supporting the party’s formation. The prescribed details are full names and signatures of 300 registered voters. 2. The application notice was published in a newspaper circulated only in parts of the municipal area (eThekwini Municipality), which is insufficient to alert all relevant persons in the geographic area of the party’s application. 3. The CEO received over 200 objections from individuals and organisations…

DRAKENSTEIN Municipality has earned top honours at the 2025 Western Cape Government Service Excellence Awards. The event was held at GrandWest Casino and Entertainment World in Cape Town recently. Drakenstein Municipality won the Best Municipality Award (gold) at the prestigious event, followed by Swartland Municipality in second place (silver) and Mossel Bay Municipality in third (bronze). The Best Municipality Award reinforces Drakenstein Municipality’s position as the best secondary city in the Western Cape. The Municipality said Drakenstein Municipality was rated as South Africa’s top secondary city for good governance by the research and advocacy non-profit organisation Good Governance Africa in its 2024 Governance Performance Index (GPI) report. They added that since 2011, the Municipality achieved 17 consecutive unqualified audit opinions from the Auditor-General of South Africa, 10 of which were…

The Springboks will savour their victory over the All Blacks for a little while, switch off, and recover with family when they land in South Africa this week before returning to training in preparation for back-to-back Tests against Argentina. After dismantling the Kiwis 43-10 in Wellington on Saturday, the world champions retained the Freedom Cup for a second consecutive year. They also kept their hopes of defending the Rugby Championship title alive with a six-try, bonus-point win at the Cake Tin. The triumph also lifted the Boks back to the No 1 spot on World Rugby’s rankings, leapfrogging both Ireland and the All Blacks. “We knew scoring those last two tries was important to keep us in contention for the rest of the Championship,” said Bok utility back Damian Willemse.…

The Springboks will keep their feet on the ground and look to sharpen up their game as they head into the final two Rugby Championship Tests against Australia in two weeks. After beating New Zealand 43-10 in Wellington on Saturday, the world champions revived their campaign, with their focus now shifting to the unpredictable Argentinians, whom they’ll face in Durban and at Twickenham. South Africa’s two-try hero in Wellington, Cheslin Kolbe, praised the efforts of his teammates as they took down the All Blacks with a fairly untested backline, scoring six tries on their way to the emphatic win. Kolbe opened the scoring with an interception, sprinting about 70 metres to cross untouched, while his second came from brilliant interplay between the backs and forwards off a dominant scrum. He…

Kaizer Chiefs and Sekhukhune United will meet in a blockbuster, top-of-the-table Betway Premiership clash at FNB Stadium on Tuesday night. The two teams are neck and neck on the standings, level on 13 points, with Sekhukhune on top on goal difference after the first five rounds. Both teams have won four games and drawn one so far. Having scored the most goals — eight compared to Chiefs’ five — Babina Noko will arrive at the Calabash as favorites. They’ll also be motivated by the fact that they’ve already beaten another Soweto giant, Orlando Pirates, at home this season. Coach Eric Tinkler emphasised that his troops will continue to improve as long as they minimise mistakes, work as a unit, and heed his advice. Keletso Makgalwa has adhered to the latter,…

PRESIDENTIAL Protection Services head Major-General Wally Rhoode has been cleared of wrongdoing by the SAPS after the conclusion of a disciplinary hearing into findings made against him by Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka two years ago. Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia said Rhoode was subjected to a disciplinary hearing in terms of the SAPS disciplinary regulations. “He was found not guilty of any misconduct related to the findings of the Public Protector in that he conducted an illegal investigation in relation to the robbery at the Phala Phala farm of the President, Mr M C Ramaphosa, in Limpopo in February 2020,” Cachalia said. He also said Rhoode was still an active member of the SAPS and held the position of head of Presidential Protection Service. Cachalia was responding to ATM parliamentary…

SOUTH Africa faces a critical shortage of interest in mathematics and science education, prompting the launch of Ma Se Kind Non-Profit Company (NPC), which aims to train 120 teachers over the next four years. The organisation aims to support aspiring teachers who cannot the afford training. The initiative focuses on students from underprivileged communities, equipping them to become qualified teachers while gaining practical classroom experience from day one. The name Ma Se Kind reflects its philosophy: “I am my mother’s child, and your child is my child,” symbolising guidance, care, and community, said Neill Pleaner, founder and chairperson of the NPC. Pleaner said he noticed a missing link between teachers, pupils, and academics. Literacy and mathematics are particularly worrying, he said. “A Grade 1 teacher often has to manage over…

The Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg, has ordered a wife to return a R1.2 million car which she was allowed to use pending the divorce between her and her husband, but as the vehicle formed part of the corporate assets of a closed corporation now in liquidation, it was ruled that the vehicle belonged to the liquidators. The woman, who may not be identified as divorce proceedings are pending, was driving the Toyota Land Cruiser while being married. The vehicle belonged to Kanivest 3214 CC, the corporation of which her husband was the managing director. The vehicle was bought in 2020 by the corporation under an instalment sale agreement. Her husband allowed her the use of the vehicle although the corporation was its registered owner. Last year her husband took steps…

The Business Trip Jessie Garcia Multicast Narration Macmillan Audio IF YOU’RE craving a listening experience that marries mystery, suspense, and a sprinkle of dark humour, look no further than The Business Trip, the riveting debut novel from author Jessie Garcia. Released earlier this year under Macmillan Audio, Garcia has brought forth a tale that entices listeners, making it virtually impossible to hit pause on this nine-hour offering. The premise is tantalising: Stephanie and Jasmine, two strangers on the same flight, have unknowingly linked lives that take a sinister turn. While Stephanie is on what appears to be an innocent business trip, Jasmine is on the run from an abusive relationship. Their paths weave together as they unwittingly share similar text messages about a man named Trent McCarthy, escalating from…

IT is simply not bluster from Aiden Markram when the captain speaks of a bright future for his young Proteas T20 team. They are a side blessed with the modern gifts and innovation of teenagers Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Kwena Maphaka along with ultra-talented 22-year-old Dewald Brevis. And while they have yet to put together a string of performances across three tours - Zimbabwe, Australia and now England - to earn white-ball coach Shukri Conrad his first T20I series win as yet, captain Markram feels they are on the right path building up to next year’s T20 World Cup. “We’re still looking at options. We’re still giving opportunities, which is exciting with the young, fearless crew that we have coming through,” Markram said after the Proteas drew the series with England…

Springbok Women coach Swys de Bruin believes “a giant has awoken for women in South African rugby” after his team’s inspired performances at the Rugby World Cup in England. Although the Boks ultimately went down to the mighty Black Ferns in their quarterfinal on Saturday at Sandy Park in Exeter, De Bruin’s charges were monumental during the competition. Glass ceilings were shattered over the last month, including winning a first-ever match at the Rugby World Cup against Brazil (66-6) before following it up with a victory over higher-ranked Italy (29-24) to book a maiden place in the Rugby World Cup quarterfinals. And if that wasn’t enough, they surprised friend and foe with a Herculean first-half display against the four-times champions by holding the New Zealanders to 10-10 at halftime. Although…

Hosts Mamelodi Sundowns soared to the top of the Betway Premiership standings after defeating 10-man Magesi FC 2-0 at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Sunday. Before the match, Sundowns, with 11 points, occupied third place on the log, two points behind joint leaders Sekhukhune United and Kaizer Chiefs with 13 points. With this latest win, Sundowns, now on 14 points, are one point clear at the summit. Despite being overwhelming favourites against winless Magesi, Sundowns initially had to contend with early pressure. Magesi striker Wonderboy Makhubu sprinted clear down the left flank before unleashing a low drive from an acute angle. Goalkeeper Ronwen Williams produced remarkable reflexes to deny Makhubu. Several half-chances went begging before Sundowns opened their account, albeit in fortuitous fashion, midway through the first half. Midfielder Thapelo…