Indholdsfortegnelse for 2023-01-05 i Cape Argus

On Tuesday morning, 21-year-old singer Nanette wrote on her Twitter account, “Asking whoever wrote this to take it down, I’ll even pay if you don’t want to”, along with a screenshot of an article we published about her last August. “I know now never to share my thoughts publicly. Especially my breakdowns. But my mental state being clickbait doesn’t sit well with me.” I didn’t really know how to feel when the link to this tweet, which has since been deleted, was first sent to me by a friend. Had I used Nanette’s mental state as clickbait, as her tweet suggested? After I reread the story, I didn’t think so. I was merely reporting on a post she shared that I felt was of public interest: one of the most…

With thousands of families and friends heading to the Cape beaches during the peak holiday season, lifesaving entities appealed to the public to listen to the instructions given by lifeguards and adhere to beach rules after a number of safety issues arose this festive season. The City and Lifesaving South Africa (LSA) said their biggest challenge this season was members of the public swimming outside designated bathing areas or swimming when lifeguards were off duty, and drunk visitors. The City shared that 77% of the fatal drownings this season took place on beaches where no lifeguards were on duty, and the other 23% took place outside of designated bathing areas. Community Services and Health Mayco member, Patricia van der Ross, said: “Lifeguards monitor designated bathing areas and try to prevent…

As estimated by provincial traffic officials, a high volume of traffic was experienced on the roads after Christmas leading to the New Year’s Day long weekend. The Western Cape Provincial Traffic Services implemented a total of 315 unified roadblocks, vehicle checkpoints and speed operations across the province. About 42 910 vehicles were stopped and checked resulting in 12 651 fines issued for various traffic violations either driver related or vehicle roadworthiness. According to officials, 431 speed offences were recorded, 41 cars impounded and 152 discontinuation of non-roadworthy vehicles cases were filed. This year’s joint force operation between traffic law enforcement, law enforcement and emergency services as well as law-abiding road users resulted in the lowest number of road-related fatalities this festive season. A total of 103 arrests were made for…

Portuguese football icon Cristiano Ronaldo, 37, got tongues wagging following his arrival in Saudi Arabia after mistaking the Middle Eastern country for South Africa during his unveiling at his new club Al Nassr. Following a controversial exit at former club Manchester United and a disappointing World Cup campaign, Ronaldo sealed a lucrative move to the Saudi Arabian top flight club to reportedly earn R3.6 billion a year for three years. Ronaldo has already caught world attention but this time in a more light-hearted manner stating that coming to “South Africa” (what can be assumed as mistaken for Saudi Arabia) does not signal the end of his career. A capacity crowd of 25 000 packed the Mrsool Park Stadium as the five-time Ballon d’Or winner was unveiled, signing autographs before joining…

Thanks to government funding, local non-profit organisation the Bridgetown Theatre Company (BTC) is putting out a call for local established and first-time actors to audition for a new local film, The Lagoon. BTC has secured funding from the Presidential Employment Stimulus programme and the National Film and Video Foundation to produce the 90-minute feature film. The film will be in English, Afrikaans and Xhosa, and shooting will take place from March 6 to 24 (three weeks consisting of six days a week) in Zeekoevlei/Grassy Park and Lavender Hill. Casting call for actors and extras between ages 7 and 99 years old will be held at the Grassy Park Civic Centre on January 14 from 11am to 3pm, for one day only. BTC secretary Zelda Hintsa said 170 people will be…

EVERTON manager Frank Lampard said his focus is on preparing the side for tomorrow’s FA Cup tie against Manchester United after another crushing defeat left his job seemingly hanging by a thread. Tuesday’s 4-1 loss at home to Brighton & Hove Albion, where the Toffees conceded three goals in six second-half minutes, meant the Merseysiders had accrued just five points from their last 10 Premier League matches. A relegation battle for a second successive season is now assured, with Lampard saying it’s up to him and his players to raise their game. “It’s not time to go into dressing-room talk after a result like that,” he said. “I’ve been there before and it’s about taking personal responsibility - every player and myself. “We’re all in it together, it’s not a…

SPAIN’S fifth-ranked Jon Rahm says he expects more PGA Tour players to exit for Saudi-backed LIV Golf in 2023 and anticipates a tense champions dinner at the Masters. Rahm spoke ahead of today’s start of the PGA Tournament of Champions at Kapalua, Hawaii, a select event of tournament winners of Tour Championship qualifiers. Rahm, the 2021 US Open champion, predicted more golfers will leave the PGA despite boosted prize money at selected events for the higher prize money offered by LIV Golf. “I think we all know where we stand,” Rahm said. “There are still going to be players that choose to transition to LIV, is my guess. But for a lot of us, I think we see the direction the PGA Tour is going toward. They’re making the necessary…

FORMER world number one Daniil Medvedev locked in an all-Russian Adelaide International quarter-final with Karen Khachanov yesterday, while Aryna Sabalenka stormed back to book her place in the last eight. Medvedev, runner-up at the last two Australian Opens, blew away the new year cobwebs with a 6-0, 6-3 romp over Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic. It came a day after the 2021 US Open champion had to save nine set points against first-round opponent Lorenzo Sonego before the Italian retired hurt. “I think it was a great match. Miomir is a tough opponent, a high-ranked player so there are no easy guys left in Adelaide,” third seed Medvedev said of the 29th-ranked Serb. “I’m not sure there were any (easy opponents) from the first round, so really happy to be through, happy…

Jeremy Renner has thanked fans for their “kind words” following his snow plough accident. The Hawkeye actor is in a critical but stable condition in hospital after suffering “blunt chest trauma and orthopaedic injuries” when he was run over by his own Snowcat machine while helping a family member free their stuck car on New Year’s Day, and though he is “too messed up” to reply at length, he’s shared a brief update on Instagram. Alongside a photo of his bruised face, he wrote: “Thank you all for your kind words. (Prayer emoji). I’m too messed up now to type. But I send love to you all. (sic)" The 51-year-old actor’s spokesperson told TMZ: “Jeremy is making positive progress and is awake, talking and in good spirits. He remains in…

Constantia shoot of ‘Love Island’ moved to Franschhoek The move of Winter Love Island – a spin-off of the popular UK reality television series Love Island – from filming in Constantia to Franschhoek has highlighted safety concerns for film and television production crews. This after UK tabloids reported that the show’s production had been moved to the plush Boland town over fears that its crew and stars could be “kidnapped” and exposed to other crime due to proximity to the Cape Flats. In recent months, kidnappings and extortion have dominated the news, with children and adults held captive for ransom. The show sees good-looking contestants locked into a luxury property and competing for R500 000 for each of the “winning” couple ITV Studios, which produces the franchise, was contacted for…

THE Bo-Kaap Civic and Ratepayers Association (BCRA) has started a petition calling for the protection of the culturally and historically significant “Tweede Nuwe Jaar” carnival. On Monday, an estimated 85 000 people converged on the Cape Town CBD for the return of the Cape Town Street Parade or ‘Tweede Nuwe Jaar’ following a two-year-long break due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite a notable outrage over the partnership with betting company Hollywoodbets, resulting in the rebranding to Hollywoodbets Cape Town Street Parade, the change.org petition calling for the protection of the culturally significant route and name has garnered just 31 signatures. The 3-year partnership with Hollywoodbets commenced with this year’s event. The petition called for the route from Hanover Street in District Six to Bo-Kaap and then Green Point be recognised…

Community outreach organisation IndiPam has taken the SPCA and the City to task for allegedly allowing stray animals carrying diseases to be left in the Flamingo Heights informal settlement, which it said has resulted in illnesses and infestations and led to the death of starving dogs and puppies. The organisation’s founder, Pam Tosh, said the lack of care and services needed in this disadvantaged area also posed a health risk to children. The SPCA, on the other hand, said it doesn’t have the capacity or the funding for an entire outreach in the area and sterilising of all their animals. Following an article published in the Cape Argus last year where children developed sores on their bodies thought to be monkeypox, Tosh said the City’s Law Enforcement: Animal Control Unit…

A MAJOR road construction project to increase road capacity and alleviate traffic congestion at Jip de Jager Drive in Bellville is expected to commence next week Tuesday. This primary arterial route connects Durbanville, Welgemoed, and Bellville with the N1 freeway and the City has budgeted about R77 million for the project, expected to conclude by December 2024. The work on this route would include the dualling of Jip de Jager Drive from Kommissaris Street to Van Riebeeckshof Road, construction of retaining walls for a section adjacent to Kommandeur Street, upgrade of existing signalised intersections along this stretch of Jip de Jager Drive. It will also include the construction of walking and cycling lanes and the extension of a pedestrian culvert at Welgemoed Golf Course. Urban Mobility’s Rob Quintas said a…

The National Freedom Party (NFP) says it is delighted with the news that President Cyril Ramaphosa is considering a Cabinet reshuffle and is calling for the appointment of ethical leaders whose integrity is beyond reproach. The party believes a Cabinet reshuffle is long overdue as it feels that corruption across various departments and levels of government, continuous load shedding, the torrid state of state-owned enterprises, high unemployment, and crumbling health-care infrastructure appear to have worsened under the current Cabinet. “President Ramaphosa needs to do an honest evaluation of the success of his current Cabinet. And when he makes his selection, he needs to put aside personal feelings around who did and did not support him. He needs to make his decision based solely on performance,” stated NFP Leader in Parliament,…

BABES Wodumo’s behaviour at her late husband and gqom king Mandla “Mampintsha” Maphumulo’s memorial and funeral services has caused a stir and an outcry in many traditional circles and social media. Adding salt to the wounds of many was her appearance at a New Year’s Eve musical event and party, the “Last Dance Music Festival” at the Oval cricket stadium in Pietermaritzburg – just a day after she buried her husband. Some will argue that times have changed, and cultures and customs are not static but are subject to change. Zulu culture and customs have always been treated with respect and dignity, so it is most often frowned upon for a woman who has just lost her husband to be seen “partying” just a day after she buried him. Some…

JUNIOR Pokomela, who with fellow loose forward Hacjivah Dayimani, has been at the forefront of some of the Stormers’ sparkling performances of late, is bracing himself for a tough clash against old friends in Sunday’s United Rugby Championship (URC) clash against the Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun Stadium in Scotland. Pokomela spent five seasons with the Cheetahs before moving to Cape Town last year to join up with the Stormers and Western Province. His will be opposing his former mentor Franco Smith, a one-time Cheetahs head coach on Sunday after the former Springbok centre was appointed head coach of Glasgow at the start of the season. “I’ve got nothing but massive respect for Franco. When he coached me at the Cheetahs, I played some of my best rugby under him,” said…

The City has reopened another two beaches after a number of them had to be closed due to sewage-related problems. Strand Beach and Small Bay in Blaauwberg were reopened on Tuesday after water sampling results showed their water quality was within the minimum requirement for recreational activities. However, a part of Fish Hoek Beach would remain closed – the main bathing area section between the lifeguard station and Jager Walk – until its water quality was within the minimum requirement for recreational activities. The City said these three beaches were affected by partial temporary closures due to sewage-related issues which were being attended to. The affected areas were closed as a precautionary measure on Sunday, January 1. “The Deep Blue section of Strand Beach was closed due to an electrical…

The year before the next general elections must be considered a critical period for the governing party to demonstrate its efficacy. It is crucial for showing how its governing of the country leads to a better life for all, as it promised during its first administration almost three decades ago. To be honest, the whole term of office has been a huge test for the ANC in the first place and for our democracy as a whole. This administration marked a sixth chance given to the erstwhile liberation movement to prove once and for all that it can govern and govern well. The first five administrations from 1994 to 2019 achieved a lot but left a lot to be achieved. Poverty, under- development, unemployment, decaying public infrastructure, social divisions, corruption…

WHILE hard taskmaster Arthur Zwane is at the helm at Kaizer Chiefs, there will be no room for smoking, drinking and party animals. The Chiefs coach shared his thoughts with the media about players engaging in unhealthy activities such as smoking and drinking. He also added partying and hanging out with too many friends. None of these issues has raised their head at Chiefs of late, but last year, former Chiefs defender Daniel Cardoso, who spent seven years with the club, said during his time at Amakhosi that players came to training reeking of alcohol. This is not likely to happen during Zwane’s tenure although he felt it was necessary to air his thoughts on the matter. “I don’t like players who drink and smoke,” said Zwane, who explained that…

Four-time champion Chris Froome’s Israeli team Israel Premier Tech and Uno-X of Norway complete the line-up for this year’s Tour de France after organisers issued invitations as wildcards to compete yesterday. The two wildcards aside, the other 20 teams (made up of eight riders each) automatically qualify with the 18 from the WorldTour and the two top-ranked teams in the second tier ProTeams which are Belgian outfit Lotto and TotalEnergies from France. “Sometimes the choice is a tough one, however this time it is not,” said race director Christian Prudhomme. “A noticeable gap has grown between the top 22 teams and the others which is regrettable. “Israel Premier Tech won two stages on the last Tour de France. It is a team packed with experience and re-enforced with the signing…

MAYBE the Proteas needed this – adecision to get their backs up, infuriate them, push them to the edge. For much of this Test series, they have limped through Australia and not been up for the task, let alone the fight. Previous encounters between these two arch rivals have seen enthralling battles with the players involved pushing their minds and bodies to the extreme to claim the advantage. The series in South Africa was particularly enthralling when it erupted spectacularly and all lines were crossed. But this has all been rather disappointing. The Proteas have hardly fired a shot in anger and the Aussies have steam-rolled their African rivals. Yesterday, though, in this final Test at the SCG, there was finally a moment of controversy that stirred up the emotions.…