Indholdsfortegnelse for 2023-08-23 i Cape Argus

DuPreez Strauss brings his show Dreamland to the Western Cape for the first time following his return to South Africa after his most recent international tour with The Lion King. Dreamland is an invitation to the whole family to experience your happiest Disney childhood animation feature film music memories, with world-class piano interpretations of these much-loved classics. Strauss captivates his audience by retelling his personal experiences with these musical works of art. For the last 14 years, Strauss has been the associate music director and orchestra conductor of Disney’s The Lion King musical in eight countries. He said about Dreamland: “Did you know that all Disney stories are based on the same recipe called ‘The Hero’s Journey’? It states that a hero must first leave their home to go through…

This week I am writing without constraint because I am afraid that my growing cynicism might undermine the respect I have for my own integrity. Things are so pear-shaped in our country at this time that I shall not hold back to accommodate sensitivities. I have references which I slide in tangentially because they do not directly address my issues. John Donne, the metaphysical poet, reminds us that “… no man is an island …” This is not a quote from a poem by that name. The extract comes from a longer piece called Devotions upon emergent occasions: Meditation XVII. The second quotation comes from an excellent novel called The Tourist by Olen Steinhauer: “… the one immutable law of nature is to continue existing. Witness: weeds, cockroaches, ants and…

Electing a new government can often lead to high hopes and expectations for immediate change. However, history has shown us that the reality is different. A change of leadership is only the beginning of a long and complicated process, which requires patience, perseverance and, above all, hard work. We cannot simply expect that a new government will magically solve all our problems. The issues we face as a society are deeply rooted and require more than just a change of leadership to fix. The problems we see in our government institutions, for instance, are not solely the result of ineffective leadership, but are also a product of cultural and systemic issues that need to be addressed. Take, for example, the issue of disruptive labour unions. The unions have long existed…

The month of August has been filled with activities recognising women for their immense contribution to society. Insightful and thought-provoking conversations have been the order of the day, prompting calls for more nourishing discussions focussing on women. Many women from all walks of life have been open about what this month means for them, stressing the necessity for “safe spaces” where they will not be subjected to scrutiny or abuse. This has compelled brands to pull all the stops to ensure this month is packed with events that give women safe platforms. One of the biggest campaigns is SheBeen by Brutal Fruit Spritzer, which served as the first women’s pop-up bar in South Africa. This campaign was driven by the importance of epitomising uninhibited freedom, celebration, and belonging that…

Both the Proteas and Australia’s focus will be squarely on the one-day international leg of this incoming tour with the World Cup in India fast approaching. This situation has, therefore, opened the door for a host of exciting young players to be given a run in the three-match T20 series to be held at Kingsmead in Durban starting next week. Here, Zaahier Adams runs the rule over five rookies to keep a close eye on. Dewald Brevis (SA) All eyes will undoubtedly be on the 20-year-old Titans wunderkind as he finally gets an opportunity to showcase his immense potential on the international stage. Proteas white-ball coach Rob Walter has indicated that Brevis will be utilised in the middle-order due to his ability to counter high-quality spin. Equally, he will be…

It has been more than a week since a woman was shot nine times by unknown suspects and her family is still seeking answers. Busiswa Ndabezimbi, 40, died in a hail of bullets on August 13 in an apparent hit. She was sitting with her three neighbours in her Xakabantu shack in Vrygrond, Muizenberg, when two armed men walked in and shot her. The victim’s grieving brother Bathandwa Ndabezimbi said: “I couldn’t believe what they were saying, it was just weird to hear that Busi was shot. “I was informed that when they walked into the shack one of them said she was the one they were looking for. Two walked in and another was standing outside the door. “They shot my sister three times in the head and six…

Thanks again to the Cape Argus for repeatedly reminding us that politicians are mature and responsible! Otherwise, I would have viewed Brett Herron’s article: “Management of taxi violence was choreographed” (August 22) as a teenage temper tantrum because there were so many unfounded accusations in it. Nowhere does he provide evidence of the alleged choreography, or the racist claim that the City wanted to show it “would not kowtow to blacks”. And has there been a survey to show that JP Smith is “widely regarded as verkramp?” Then, after these attacks blatantly based on identities, further down, he hilariously decries identity politics. I suppose when you haven’t contributed anything positive to a situation or a city, the only way you can get attention is to kick and scream. Very mature.…

Why should entities such as Eskom, which depend on our hard-earned taxes and have misused them seriously in the past, continue to piously treat the public as fools? This is the height of arrogance. When it emerged that the church of the chairperson of its board, Mpho Makwana, where he is a secretary-general, owed Eskom millions – and yet its electricity was still on – Eskom brazenly and disdainfully told the public he was ‘not responsible’ for paying the accounts of the church. But no one was saying that. What is at stake here is that here is a man who had recently been appointed, hurriedly, to be chairman of this huge parastatal which has many problems, and his church is not even abiding by Eskom’s demands. Surely, if…

The invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces has led to the most aggressive financial sanctions by Western countries against another country in modern history. Two such sanctions stand out. First, the decision to block most Russian banks from SWIFT, the global messaging system that enables them to transfer money across the world. This measure is backed by the major world economies such as the European Commission, France, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US. Second, the move to prevent the Russian Central Bank from using its international reserves held by these countries to undermine sanctions. The aggressive sanction response will influence the Central Bank of Russia’s decisions in the management of its currency reserves. Here, the neutral role of China will be pivotal. China, the second largest economy…

Eighteen charred bodies were found in a remote village in north-eastern Greece yesterday where wildfires have been raging for days, the fire brigade said, as a heatwave that has seen red alerts issued across southern Europe turned deadly. Firefighters said they were investigating whether the bodies, found near a shack south of the village of Avantas, were migrants. The surrounding Evros region is a popular route for migrants from the Middle East and Asia crossing from Türkiye In Spain, Italy and Portugal, firefighters were battling blazes as the region suffered hot, dry and windy conditions that scientists have linked to climate change. Temperatures in many parts of the region were expected to reach or exceed 40°C, forecasters said. Italy and France declared red alerts in a number of areas. The…

Beast Philanthropy has launched another episode in a series to raise funds for children in need. As with the first video that garnered almost 15 million views, raised awareness, and R10 million, Beast Philanthropy hopes to change the lives of children and staff at the Baphumelele Children’s Home in Khayelitsha, The organisation’s Cape Town-based chief creative officer Dan Mace said: “When Beast Philanthropy dropped our first video about Baphumelele Children’s Home and its founder Mama Rosie, in January, the impact was immediate – 14.7 million views and counting – with over R10 000 000 in funds raised via BeastPhilanthropy.org.” The second episode in a series of Beast Philanthropy videos is directed by Mace. According to YouTube, advertising is the primary way that creators can earn money on YouTube. Advertising revenue…

THE Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has confirmed that learning and teaching has resumed after protests at the Tembaletu Special School in Gugulethu. WCED spokesperson Bronagh Hammond said the department was aware of the protest on Monday, but teaching and learning had resumed yesterday without disruption. “Some community members, many of who do not have children in the school, have made various allegations against the principal and school management team. One such allegation is the hiring of school bus drivers from outside the community,” Hammond said. “The School Governing Body has claimed the drivers are local, and due process has been followed. The principal has made numerous attempts to discuss this with the relevant community members; however they have not arrived for the meetings.” Hammond said there were also parents…

WITH reference to “Real meaning of Palestine for Muslims” (Cape Argus, August 21). Turkey was Germany’s ally in World War I. When they lost the war, they lost the Ottoman Empire. This led to The San Remo Accords and the various Middle East mandates, set up to manage the region until the states could function independently. The question is, what is Palestine and who are the Palestinians? They are a recent Russian/Egyptian innovation that were non-existent in 1947, when Arabs launched the Nakba against the Jews. In 1952, Gamel Abdel Nasser overthrew King Faruq, to become president of Egypt. The US and the UK were funding the New Aswan Dam project, but pulled out in 1956 when Nasser nationalised the Suez Canal. The Soviet Union stepped in. To diminish American…

Nothing seems beyond medical science. As it delves deeper into the human body, the boundaries of medical science get pushed further, often into the realm of the bizarre and fantasy. We have all sorts of organ transplants, cloning, stem cells, artificial valves, and even an artificial heart known as TAH that keeps you alive until a suitable donor is found. There was even a head transplant done last year by an Italian surgeon and his Chinese counterparts; but it was done on a human cadaver. The next stage will be a full head swop between two brain-dead organ donors, and then finally a head transplant on a live human being, making it a Frankenstein reality. It would be revolutionary. So if you lose your head you can have it replaced…

Some three decades since the end of the Cold War, the world order is undergoing a structural transformation. At the heart of it is the challenge posed to the hegemony of the US. This is primarily being led by Russia and China, who are discontent with Washington’s excesses across the global stage. The most recent example of this rebellion was the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Fiona Hill, a British-American foreign affairs specialist, observed the war was a “proxy for a rebellion by Russia and the ‘Rest’ against the United States”. The African continent is an obvious contender for major power courting as this realignment takes place. This is for at least four reasons. First, it is the largest regional bloc in the United Nations, representing some 28% of…

The Premier Soccer League (PSL) yesterday confirmed the dates and venues of the MTN8 semi-finals. Kaizer Chiefs will host the first match against Mamelodi Sundowns in the first leg of their clash on Saturday, September 2 at FNB Stadium. The return leg has been scheduled to take place at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Saturday, September 23 with both matches scheduled for a 3pm kick-off. Amakhosi rallied from a goal down to eventually overcome Cape Town City in the quarter-finals and place themselves in the draw for the final four. The Brazilians were made to dig deep as a resilient 10-man Moroka Swallows took them to the brink before they were able to book a spot in their third consecutive MTN8 semi-final. The second semi-final will see Stellenbosch FC hosting Orlando…

South African women’s cricket entered a new frontier yesterday with the launch of the Cricket South Africa (CSA) Professional Domestic Women’s League at Freedom Park in Tshwane. The league will comprise two main tournaments – the CSA Women’s One Day Cup and CSA Women’s T20 Challenge. The new structure has been set up with the help of the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture’s investment of R15-million over three years. “This league is a symbol of progress, breaking down stereotypes, and the challenging of preconceived notions about women’s roles in sports. It represents a shift in mindset, where talent, dedication, and passion take precedence over gender,” said Minister of Sport Zizi Kodwa. Significant changes have been implemented to the women’s structure with the number of permanent contracts in the ‘Top…

Mamelodi Sundowns have flown out of the blocks this season and will next turn their attention to a frail Richards Bay FC. The Brazilians travel to the King Zwelithini Stadium today where they’ll clash with the Natal Rich Boyz in a match set for 5pm. Sundowns’ latest victory over the Chippa United on Saturday saw them collect 12 out of a possible 12 points from their opening four Premiership fixtures of the season. It also saw the Tshwane-based outfit retain their 100% record in all competitions, having also dispatched Moroka Swallows FC in the MTN8 quarter-finals. Rulani Mokwena has also put together the longest run a Sundowns coach has started their tenure without defeat in the PSL with 24 outings undefeated. With Richards Bay comes the familiarity of former SuperSport…

STALWART Springbok wing Makazole Mapimpi admits he was disappointed at the pre-World Cup squad conjecture that he was to be axed for younger players. As it turned out, the 33-year-old veteran of 38 Tests was retained, as was Cheslin Kolbe, plus youngsters Kurt-Lee Arendse and Canan Moodie. Mapimpi, the scorer of 23 tries in those 38 Tests, spoke yesterday ahead of Friday’s match against the All Blacks in London. “I don’t want to lie, it’s hard to deal with the negative reports from the media,” Mapimpi said. “But these things happen in sport. We have fans and they want to read about us and reporters are entitled to write whatever they want in the newspapers and on social media. “I think what’s important for me is to shut out the…