Indholdsfortegnelse for 2024-04-22 i Cape Argus

Harry Styles’ latest stalker has been jailed and barred from his gigs. The former One Direction singer, 30, was targeted by 35-year-old Myra Carvalho, who was said in court to have bombarded him with 8 000 cards in less than four weeks. It’s now emerged she was sentenced to 14 weeks behind bars after appearing at Harrow Crown Court in London – where she pleaded guilty to a charge of stalking involving serious alarm or distress. A restraining order lasting 10 years was slapped on Carvalho, according to the Daily Mail, which also reported she was ordered not to attend any event where Styles was performing. Carvalho – who was staying at a hostel in Kensington and Chelsea, London – was also told not to contact the singer and to…

A plea by former National Assembly speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula for legal assistance from the Department of Defence and Military Veterans in her corruption trial is unlawful and should be outright rejected, say opposition members and analysts. On Friday, the Defence and Military Veterans Ministry confirmed in a statement that Mapisa-Nqakula, Minister Thandi Modise’s predecessor, had requested the department to assist with her legal representation costs. The request came as the former speaker faces 12 counts of corruption and one of money laundering after she allegedly solicited bribes from a defence contractor during her time at the helm of the Defence Department. The ministry revealed that the request came via…

PAGAD G-Force leader Moulana Moegsien Barendse’s two sons and their co-accused have been released from jail after spending more than a year in Pollsmoor Prison. The three men were accused of a triple murder that took place in Southfield in March 2022. On Friday, the charges against them were withdrawn due to a lack of evidence. Ebrahiem and Yusuf Barendse, with Ishmaeel Armadien, were arrested on September 8, 2022, six months after scrapyard owner Ricardo de Jager, 46, and his employees Thys Meyer and Adnan Jacobs, were gunned down at the Victoria Lodge informal settlement in Southfield. William Booth, who represented Armadien, and Junaid Jumat, the Barendse brothers’ lawyer, both welcomed the withdrawal. “We are delighted at the outcome,” Jumat said. As soon as the magistrate told the accused they…

POLITICAL parties represented in Parliament and provincial legislatures are set to share almost R325 million in the year between this month and next March. Earlier this month, the Electoral Commission of SA (IEC) announced that “the total amount available for allocation ... from the Represented Political Party Fund established in terms of the Political Party Funding Act ... is R324 583 603”, Between April 2023 and the end of last month, represented political parties shared R351m, which was an increase from just over R165.4m in 2021/22. An additional R300m was made available by the IEC in May last year for the represented political parties to prepare for next month’s national and provincial elections. In 2021/22, the ANC received the lion’s share of the allocation, R70.7m, while the DA received R29.8m…

FOR the 9th consecutive year, Cape Town International Airport (CTIA) has brought home the Skytrax World Airport Award for Best Airport in Africa. These prestigious awards come courtesy of the Skytrax World Airline and Airport Star Rating programme, known globally as the gold standard in airline and airport service quality awards. The airport also won the award for Best Airport Staff in Africa for a fourth consecutive year. “I am so proud of the team at CTIA. Awards like this are a result of hard work and dedication by everyone at the airport. Congratulations. Tourism is a key enabler of jobs and opportunity and this world-class airport is the entry point for visitors to our province both domestically and abroad,” said Premier Alan Winde.…

AN ATTEMPTED land invasion at Macassar Beach over the weekend was quickly nipped in the bud as authorities pounced on squatters. Several spots around the beach were marked with white flags as alleged squatters intended to execute the illegal land grab, said ward councillor, Peter Helfrich. Helfrich said he received reliable information that leaders of groups allegedly instructed their members to convene a mass meeting on Friday on the beach to discuss their plans. He said it was reported that during the meeting, they would mark out their respective parcels of land using flags and danger tape. “On the afternoon of Friday, I was informed that these groups had arrived. “Without delay, I alerted our City law enforcement agencies and SAPS who took decisive action to prevent the illegal activity…

Stormers head coach John Dobson could only apologise after his side delivered their poorest performance in the last three years in the United Rugby Championship (URC) at DHL Stadium on Saturday. It was a display that lacked patience with the ball, accuracy and experience, and eventually ended up with the Ospreys walking away with a gritty 27-21 win. The Stormers now face an uphill battle to secure a top-four spot, and have to build momentum from scratch –and this against a hurting Leinster side. They were thrashed by the Lions in Johannesburg and will head to Cape Town seeking vengeance. There is another late-night kick-off (7.05pm) this weekend, and Saturday’s chilly autumn conditions played into the hands of the Ospreys. It will most likely suit Leinster too, who struggled…

Lightning seldom strikes twice in the same place, but it did in Rondebosch on Saturday within a few hundred meters and just a fortnight apart. As they did against Bosch then, Milnerton pulled off yet another giant-killing act with a come-from-behind 31-28 win over Bishops in an epic encounter. Both sides scored four converted tries but a first-half penalty by Milnerton flyhalf Chadwin Sellidon was the difference in the end. The Millies pivot was not only on song with his goal kicking, but also gave a polished all-round performance. He attacked the gain line with aplomb and his swift distribution gave his fleet-footed backs extra space to play the ball out wide. Outside him, captain and centre Frank Hitimane was the star performer, making his presence felt with some powerful…

The Lions gave themselves a fighting chance of reaching the quarter-finals by beating Leinster on Saturday, but the battle to consistently put in victorious performances in the United Rugby Championship (URC) has only begun. One would think that a bonus-point victory over the Irish giants at Ellis Park would ease the pressure as the Joburgers search for Top 8 qualification, but a string of results over the weekend conspired against them. They did breach the play-off spots after the 44-12 win, moving up to 39 points, but then dropped back down to 11th by the end of the night. There are now three teams – Ulster, Connacht and Edinburgh – above them on the same number of points, with the Ospreys and Stormers on 40 points and Benetton two points…

Polokwane City (1) 2 Ramabu 8, Mashikinya 63 Cape Town City (1) 2 Kutumela 45, Mayo 47 POLOKWANE City are fast becoming the DStv Premiership’s masters of capitulation. The Limpopo outfit were once again their own worst enemies yesterday afternoon when they dropped points in a match they should easily have won. Instead, they drew 2-2 with Cape Town City despite having raced into a 2-0 lead before the hour mark, as they inexplicably allowed the Citizens back into the match. They did the same against Richards Bay, whom they led 2-1 only to lose 3-2, and in their last match they drew 1-1 with SuperSport United when they seemed destined for a 1-0 victory. Mokibelo Ramabu opened the scoring against City yesterday with a well-struck shot that the City…

As the days get colder, many South Africans may find themselves spending more time in front of the TV. Here are five binge-worthy shows to keep you company, and don’t forget the popcorn. The Gentlemen British actors, Theo James and Kaya Scodelario, take the lead in this warped action comedy. James plays Edward “Eddie” Horniman, a formidable soldier who unexpectedly inherits his late father’s estate and the title of Duke of Halstead, bypassing his irresponsible elder brother, Freddy. He learns that the land has become part of a weed-growing empire run by Susie Glass (Scodelario). Eddie must navigate a world of eclectic and dangerous characters with nefarious agendas, while also trying to protect his home and stay alive. In his pursuit, the suave Eddie becomes a cannabis kingpin with a…

FlySafair says wheel damage prompted U-turn A wheel damaged during take-off on a FlySafair flight from Johannesburg to Cape Town yesterday forced the aircraft to turn back. In a statement the local airline said that flight FA212 had departed OR Tambo International Airport on schedule at 11.32am. “Departure and take-off were normal and the crew set course for Cape Town. “After take-off, ground staff at OR Tambo reported witnessing what appeared to be damage to one of the aircraft’s back wheels. The crew were alerted to the observation and the decision was taken to return to Johannesburg,” said Kirby Gordon, chief marketing officer at FlySafair. The airline said the aircraft adjusted course back for Johannesburg and entered a holding pattern near Parys to burn off fuel to lighten the aircraft…

The family of the Grade 11 Belgravia High School learner, who was killed in gang crossfire, said she had a promising future, and had dreamt of becoming an accountant. Zamawushe Momoti, 16, from Browns Farm in Philippi, was killed around 1pm on Friday, when she was struck by gang gunfire which also killed a 20-year-old man in Canal Road. The teen was waiting for her scholar transport when multiple shots rang out near the Athlone school. During the chaos, she managed to run back onto the school grounds, where she collapsed in the parking area. Her dad Maseru Momoti said he was at work when he received an urgent WhatsApp urging him to immediately call or visit the school. “They told me that there was a shooting and my…

KAIZER Chiefs defender, Luke Fleurs, was given a hero’s send-off in his hometown of Mitchells Plain on Saturday. The 24-year-old was shot and killed earlier this month following a botched hijacking at a garage in Johannesburg’s northern suburb of Honeydew. The soccer star, who hails from Westridge, was waiting for a petrol attendant at a garage when two armed men pulled up in a white BMW 1 Series and confronted him while he was parked in a red VW Golf 8 GTi. The suspects pointed a gun at Fleurs, forcing him out of the vehicle before shooting him once in the upper body. Fleurs was rushed to hospital but was declared dead on arrival. Six suspects have been arrested and appeared in court after Fleurs’s car was recovered in Slovoville,…

PUBLIC Protector Kholeka Gcaleka has complied with the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, order requiring her to deliver the record of the reasons for the public protector’s refusal to pay the R10 million gratuity due to her predecessor, Busisiwe Mkhwebane. Mkhwebane’s attorney, Brandon Tshabangu, confirmed that the Office of the Public Protector had delivered the records in compliance with the court order that was obtained on Thursday when Judge Colleen Collis ordered that the record and reasons for the decision be delivered the following day. Mkhwebane has approached the high court in a bid to have Gcaleka and President Cyril Ramaphosa’s refusal to pay the gratuity due and payable to her declared unconstitutional and invalid in terms of the Constitution. The Constitution stipulates that the powers of courts in constitutional matters…

A DUCK Pond Village resident in Strand has expressed her sadness following the removal of 20 white pekin ducks from the residential complex. The ducks were removed on April 10 following complaints by disgruntled residents, said long-term resident Marlene Mostert. She said issues with the ducks started a few years ago when an elderly resident complained that he wanted them removed. “There was a foreign man who lived with his wife who said from day one that he would remove the ducks. “He hated the ducks with a passion as he always complained about them,” she said. Mostert said the man’s obsession with the ducks influenced others to call for them to be removed. “Every batch of new trustees that comes in imagines that the duck pond belongs to them…

Liverpool climbed level on points with Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table with a 3-1 victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage yesterday, thanks to goals from Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ryan Gravenberch and Diogo Jota. Liverpool trail Arsenal on goal difference with both on 74 points with five games remaining, however holders Manchester City, who are third on 73 points, have a game in hand. Alexander-Arnold, in his first league start since February 10, curled a stunning free kick into the top corner in the 32nd minute that keeper Bernd Leno had little chance of stopping. Timothy Castagne fired home for Fulham just before the break with a side-footed shot past keeper Alisson. Yet Gravenberch put the Reds back on top in the 53rd minute when he curled a…

Going down 27-22 to Munster was a bitter pill to swallow for the Bulls, but Jake White insists that his team are “still alive” in the United Rugby Championship play-off race. White feels that while Johan Goosen’s second-half red card for head contact at Loftus Versfeld “definitely ... changed the outcome of the game”, the Bulls didn’t play well enough overall, with the URC defending champions more streetwise in every respect in pulling off a memorable triumph. The Bulls have now dropped to fourth on the URC log with 46 points, while Munster are third on 48, behind leaders Leinster (54) and Glasgow (53). The Pretoria side has four more league matches to go – against the Ospreys on Saturday, Glasgow on May 11, Benetton a week later (all at…

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff fumed that his team’s performance “was not good enough” yesterday after George Russell and Lewis Hamilton laboured to sixth and ninth at the Chinese Grand Prix. Mercedes have won six times at the Shanghai International Circuit in the past, more than any other team, but were never in the running as Formula One returned after a five-year absence. “Considering where we started today and more importantly, where we had put the cars in terms of their set-up after the sprint, P6 and P9 was the best prediction from our pre-race simulations,” Wolff said. “The car that we have under us is not currently fast enough. It’s not good enough.” Hamilton complained during the race that his car was slow, unresponsive and hard to turn in slow…

The recent announcement of the closure of nine Ster-Kinekor cinemas across the country has been met with mixed reactions online. The company will also be retrenching 236 employees in the process. Three cinemas in KwaZulu-Natal, five in Gauteng and one in the Western Cape are facing closure. There are a few others that are under review as well. The company said that in recent months, the business had suffered a significant decline in attendance. “This is largely as a result of a challenging economic environment, prolonged and more intense load shedding as well as the impact of the Hollywood actors’ and writers’ strike where content scheduled for 2023 and 2024 has been moved out to 2025,” read the statement. Many were not concerned about the closures, saying that watching a…

A CITY Water and Sanitation worker is receiving trauma counselling after they were robbed at knifepoint while fixing sewer overflow in Elsies River. The incident took place at the Owen Road and Adriaanse Avenue intersection, when unknown suspects appeared and robbed the worker of his cellphone last week. Water and sanitation mayco member, Zahid Badroodien, confirmed the incident. “One staff member who was manning the sewer pump was robbed of his cellphone. “The staff member was held up with a knife and robbed.” Badroodien said they had not yet lodged a complaint with police, as their first priority was ensuring the wellbeing of their staff member by supporting him with trauma counselling. “Going forward, our teams will require the support of law enforcement before entering this area to render services.…

African People’s Convention leader Themba Godi says they were saddened by the death of Motsoko Pheko. The historian and anti-apartheid lawyer died on Friday at the age of 93 after a long illness. Godi said Pheko was a pan-Africanist and believed in the resolution of the land question in South Africa. But his immense contribution was in Parliament. He said Pheko believed and stood by his views and would not be swayed by views of those who disagreed with him politically. “The passing away of Pheko is indeed a very sad moment, but we take solace in the fact that he has served, suffered and sacrificed for the cause of the African people and remained true to it until the end,” said Godi. He added that Pheko, who was the…

The KwaZulu-Natal Christian Council of Churches has offered to mediate the rising tension between the Zulu king’s traditional prime minister Thulasizwe Buthelezi, and the ANC in the province. On Thursday afternoon, the council met Buthelezi to discuss his rejection by the ANC as the AmaZulu Traditional prime minister, as well as the escalating issue concerning the prime minister being “humiliated“ when ANC provincial chairperson Siboniso Duma grabbed the microphone while he was talking at an event in Nongoma last month. The drama was captured live on TV and added salt to the wound since the ANC-led government refused to accept Buthelezi as the king’s prime minister. The drama led to an attack on people, mainly those who were wearing ANC T-shirts, allegedly by Zulu regiments. However, the leaders of Amabutho…

CONSTRUCTION is expected to start soon along Turfhall Road as part of the roll-out of the MyCiTi bus service to connect commuters from Mitchells Plain and Khayelitsha with Wynberg and Claremont. The impacted section is 1.7km in distance. Urban mobility Mayco member Rob Quintas said the work would include the reconstruction of two eastbound and two westbound lanes along Turfhall Road, with turning lanes at the intersections at M5/Racecourse Road; Chukker Road and Sir Alfred Avenue; Woodbury and Civic Roads; and Flamingo Road in the west. The construction work would be be done in phases. “The roll-out of the second phase of the MyCiTi bus service to the metro-south east is a mammoth undertaking. “Over the next three financial years the City will have a number of major construction projects…

A MARKED increase in crime was the main reason Kensington residents held a protest yesterday afternoon. The community said the mushrooming of shacks in Wingfield has caused a lot of problems. Councillor Cheslyn Steenberg said they had decided to meet up with Gate 7 informal settlement residents and demonstrate their frustration on Voortrekker Road. They held placards which read: “Why must we beg, when foreigners get it free?” More than 50 people gathered outside the Maitland Cemetery. “The plan was to hand over the memorandum to the land owners, the Ndabeni Trust and the Mayco member for human settlements, to assist us to relocate the people living on the land. “The three informal settlements have now expanded, they have tripled in the last year. We need the land closed up.…

Today is Earth Day and this presents an opportunity for us to reflect on the global climate crisis that has, over the years, led to the ecological crisis we are faced with in South Africa, notwithstanding the fact that the ecological crisis is a global crisis affecting countries in various ways based on their socio-economic conditions. I am not an environmentalist so I will not delve into details about climate change or natural disasters. But from a socio-economic point of view, I am interested in the adverse effects of free market capitalism, the foundation of South African economic policies since the advent of our democracy. The global climate crisis has contributed to deepening the crisis-level socio-economic conditions of black working-class women in the country who are disproportionately affected by poverty,…

Stellenbosch FC held out against a strong closing effort by TS Galaxy to score a well-taken 2-1 win in the DStv Premiership clash at the Mbombela Stadium yesterday afternoon. With this outcome, Stellenbosch’s Maroons have extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to 22 matches, and strengthened their grip on second place. Galaxy entered the match on a three-match winning run, but with this defeat their efforts to secure a top-eight berth may be heading for disaster. Midway through the match, Galaxy were infuriated by a decision by referee Siyabulela Qunta, and for a while their players and manager Sead Ramovic had to be restrained. At the outset, the visiting Stellies looked the more polished side with good covering, coupled with sound positional play. They managed to blunt Galaxy’s early…

The Sharks lost a United Rugby Championship (URC) battle in Glasgow at the weekend, but coach John Plumtree sees it as a tactical loss that is part of the EPCR Challenge Cup war to be won. The big prize, of course, is the Challenge Cup, and losing with honour against the Warriors with a B-team was a positive step toward the May 4 Cup semi-final against Clermont in London. The intermediate step is Friday’s visit to the Scarlets in the north Wales city of Llanelli. This game will be treated as a dress rehearsal for the following week’s Cup semi-final at The Stoop. The big guns that were kept back in Durban for the Warriors game will be back in action. The likes of Eben Etzebeth, Bongi Mbonambi, Ox Nche,…

An exasperated Ernst Middendorp has slammed his Cape Town Spurs players for costly errors that have doomed his efforts to save the club from apparent Premiership relegation. On Saturday night, Spurs were undone by an unbelievable effort from Sekhukhune United left back Asekho Tiwani early in the second half at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, that heft him clasping his head in disbelief. The strike, from the halfway line, is sure to be a Goal of the Season contender. It did not appear that Tiwani was even looking to catch Spurs goalie Zama Dlamini off-guard. He simply hoofed the ball high upfield and it appeared to be going over the crossbar before dipping into the Spurs net. The goal turned out to be the eventual match winner. Middendorp, who…