Indholdsfortegnelse for 2024-05-28 i Cape Argus

THE ever-cheerful Shaun Stylist, real name Shaun Naki, has just released his new single Manje Monday. This vibrant song, a collaboration with Nandipha808, RIVALZ, LeeMckrazy and Tumilemang, showcases his musical prowess like never before. The DJ said the song is a celebration of togetherness and festivity, particularly spotlighting the tradition of “Mogodu Monday” in Soweto. “I always give credit where it is due. Manje Monday was inspired by my Monday visits to Makubenjalo Pub and Grill in Soweto. The MC there, Tumilemang, always hyped the crowd by chanting ‘Monday’. “By that, an idea came to mind that this must be made into a song and I then developed the lyrics and called my brothers to jump on a beat and the rest is history,” he said. “Every time I’m about…

IT WAS a bittersweet moment when the man accused of dousing a mother of four with petrol and setting her alight was found guilty – six years after her murder – while his co-accused was set free. Elridge du Plessis, 37, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mishkaah Fakier, 44, who suffered burn wounds to 70% of her body when she was attacked in Hout Bay in January, 2018. Fakier, who was also beaten during the ordeal, was hospitalised and had managed to name her attacker before she died. The State proved that Du Plessis planned to murder Fakier after he accused her of stealing drugs from him. At the Wynberg Regional Court on Friday, Du Plessis was found guilty of Fakier’s murder. His co-accused, Denzil du Plessis, 38,…

A SECURITY guard at a school in Lusikisiki in the Eastern Cape has been arrested in connection with the murder of a 13-year learner who entered the premises after hours to use the school’s wifi. Eastern Cape police spokesperson, Priscilla Naidu, said the teen was among a group of seven learners who entered Matafeni Junior Secondary School after 6pm on Thursday with the intention of accessing the school’s wifi, when they were accosted by the 62-year-old security guard. The man was to appear in the Lusikisiki Magistrate’s Court yesterday, police said, where he would face charges of murder, attempted murder, possession of a prohibited firearm and illegal possession of ammunition. “It is alleged that when the learners saw the security guard, they started running,” said Naidu. “The guard fired at…

AN EERSTE River woman who was miraculously reunited with her family after disappearing 24 years ago has died after being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. The heartbroken sister of Jeanette van der Horst, 54, says she had just over a week to catch up with her younger sister before she died in Tygerberg Hospital last week. Van der Horst made headlines two weeks ago when she was found by a team from the Pink Ladies missing persons organisation after her family had been searching for her for more than two decades. At the time, Pink Ladies representative Nadiema Salie said they were called to Elsies River police station to help locate Van Der Horst’s family members after she was found roaming the streets. They noticed she had a growth on…

I AM STILL WAITING for a positive response from councillor Anthony Moses, his sub-council manager Anthony Daniels, as well as the mayor’s office, to my request for clearing in front of my property. I don’t have funds to have it done privately. I lately received a WhatsApp communication from Mr Daniels saying “they” informed him it can’t be done. I’ve asked Mr Daniels who “they” are but he has not responded. This is how the “City that works for us”, treats us. “Sort your s*** out yourself buster, we have more important things to do!” So is the DA municipality uncaring You decide at the polls.…

THIS IS MY FOURTH column addressing the City’s recently released draft strategy for reducing rough sleeping in the City of Cape Town. The City lists what they refer to as the challenges of, and challenges associated with rough sleeping, but in effect this is where they now blame everything on the national government. They mention that the lack of an overarching national framework constitutes a large policy deficit, which has led to an incoherent homelessness policy and strategy at all government levels. The City makes another mistake in blaming the national government for being bureaucratically constrained, and lacking in innovative and proactive measures as well as funding to address the issue. It is within this context that the City has spent significant effort, as well as funding, to address rough…

As the cycle of electioneering progresses, one trend has become clear in the Western Cape – everybody wants a piece of the DA. The stark reality is that many parties who have accused us of failure in governance have no plan to govern were they to find themselves in power. Smaller, newcomer parties, have often targeted the DA in an avowed and clear effort to steer votes their way. Yet time and again, their governance – their record of service delivery on the ground – is either non-existent or has proven disastrous. For example, the people of the few municipalities where the Patriotic Alliance rules, such as Beaufort West and Knysna, can attest to the fact that the PA is exceptionally good at incendiary rhetoric but disastrously incapable of governing.…

Rafael Nadal’s record-breaking French Open career came to its likely end yesterday when the 14-time champion slumped to a demoralising first-round defeat against Alexander Zverev. Nadal, who turns 38 on June 3, went down 6-3 7-6 (7/5) 6-3 to world No 4 Zverev, suffering only his fourth loss in 116 matches at Roland Garros since his 2005 title-winning debut. It was the first time he had been defeated in Paris in the opening round and will again lead to questions over his long-term future in the sport. “I don’t know if this is the last time I will be here, I am not 100% sure but if it is then I wanted to enjoy it,” said Nadal. Plagued by injuries, which had limited him to just four events since January…

This week, South Africans will be confronted with a choice: to vote or not. The clarion call remains for every registered citizen who is eligible to vote to go and cast a vote. The feast of Pentecost has concluded for the Christians. Pentecost takes place 50 days after the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The celebration is, in essence, about empowering people by the power of God. The baton of leadership was passed on to people of all walks of life gathered on the day of Pentecost, to take the message of good news and hope of the resurrected Christ to everyone. Followers of Jesus Christ were empowered to take ownership and responsibility in sharing the events of Pentecost to all people despite the sacrifice, consequence and cost. Leadership in South…

IT is a fact that a handful of companies control as much as 80% of what we consume. We moan. We grumble. We curse the government.Yet we have the power to bring this inflationary nonsense to a halt. Self-sufficiency and the will to survive will mean going back to basics by growing some of the food that we consume on our own terms. Stop supporting supermarkets that are controlled by massive distribution networks, in the process making super profits at our expense. Independent small producers must be embraced and supported. Stop the corporates dead in their tracks. Destroy their trajectory of demolishing beleaguered consumers across the globe. Spiralling price increases on basic foods is a worldwide phenomenon. It is insidious and has a massive negative impact on all of us.…

Thirty years into our democracy, 2024 will perhaps be a consequential year in the history of South Africa. For the first time, the oldest liberation movement on the continent faces the real threat, albeit a slim one, of being booted from office. All indications are, if polls can be trusted, that the ANC will remain the largest party in the National Assembly but with a significantly reduced majority – below the 50+1% threshold required to single-handedly form a government. For that to happen, it will need a coalition partner or partners. Ahead of tomorrow’s general elections, accusations of fraud are being spread on social media as anxiety creeps in, and political leaders who have been making promises for at least six months have to deliver on these from an electorate…

The Proteas’ journey to what they hope will be their maiden World Cup title took a wrong turn this past week as they were out-muscled, battered and bruised in fine surroundings of the Caribbean. The West Indies helped themselves to a 3-0 T20 series win and will carry great momentum into the tournament that they will co-host with the US. For South Africa, as humbling as the series loss was, the lessons taken should benefit them in the long run, but they head into the tournament with more questions than answers. Reeza Hendricks cemented his starting berth with a solid 127 runs in the series. His 87 runs in the first match were not enough for the Proteas to pull off a win, as the loss of regular wickets halted…

WITH 137 558 registered special voters in the Western Cape, the Electoral Commission of SA (IEC) said voting happened without any challenges yesterday, while police will maintain its presence at voting stations today. Yesterday and today have been set down for special votes to take place. IEC provincial electoral officer, Michael Hendrickse, said voting was a success yesterday. “The day went very well. Our teams also went out on home visits to assist voters. “We had a few hiccups but we will learn from those and improve. “The special votes will not be counted yet, they will be sealed and counted tomorrow together with others,” said Hendrickse. Police said no incidents were reported. “SAPS members in the Western Cape are deployed throughout the province to ensure the safety of…

The police are on high alert and have devised a secret plan to quell any would-be protests should the Jacob Zuma-led Umkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) fail to win KwaZulu-Natal. Speculation is rife that the MKP supporters would go on the rampage if the results of the fiercely-contested national polls tomorrow go against the party formed in September and endorsed by former president Zuma in December. To counter this, the police’s elite crime intelligence unit circulated a confidential memo to district commissioners in KZN, a province where Zuma warned them of “possible nationwide protests” between May and June. “Information received indicates that possible nationwide MKP protest action is anticipated to take place nationwide during the months of May and June, 2024,” read the confidential memo. “Further information indicates that the risk…

THE Stellenbosch Municipality is closing two major thoroughfares in Cloetesville that have turned into crime hot spots and have put the community's safety at risk. Residents were recently notified by the municipality that these passageways will no longer be accessible to the public, with gates installed to manage foot traffic. The first thoroughfare to be closed in Cloetesville is near the Old Apostolic Church. Pedestrians have been urged to make use of the link between Eike and Curry Streets via Quarry or Lang Streets, which is considered a safer route. The second thoroughfare expected to be closed is between Williams Road and the R44. While closure dates are yet to be confirmed, the municipality said pedestrian movements at Williams Road and the R44 will not be completely affected, since the…

WHEN I first read Lorenzo Davids’ article about “the historical currency and narrative” of the ANC meaning they mustn’t be humiliated at the polls (“Vote to strengthen and preserve, not to humiliate”, Cape Argus, May 24), I was appalled – he admits their corruption and incompetence and still says we should keep them? He predicts rioting youths if not. Really, when hardly any youths have registered to vote? I think the youths have given up because nothing has been done to the bad guys, and I also think that a strong message from those who do vote (that corruption is unacceptable) will be educational, not confrontational. But maybe we need the ANC like we need bacteria and viruses – to weed out the weak, and help the strong survive?…

YOUR EDITION on Thursday, May 23, refers: “Sexual misconduct at schools needs urgent action.” The emphasis on the entire situation should be the word “action”. We have the laws in place and we have the network enabling the state to take that action. Unfortunately, the government has let us down radically. The police force has been denuded to such an extent that invariably when police are called to investigate something they don’t have the manpower or the skills. It doesn’t help to have the legislation and the structures when we can’t investigate properly and/or punish in due course. Our legal system is broken to the extent that the prosecution services are completely under-resourced. We need a new democratic government which should prioritise children’s safety in schools so that we…

DRAGONFLIES are among the most familiar of all insects. They have been revered for centuries, as their glistening and colourful flight symbolises freedom. Today we see them featuring on items from jewellery, clothes, and ceramics to basic items like matchboxes and beer bottles. There has been a massive surge in research on these magnificent creatures in recent years. It is now clear that their fate and ours are entwined. Good quality freshwater for dragonflies means good quality water for us. Their value for us lies in several related features. They grow up in the water and then emerge as flying insects. Which ones are present and where they grow up and then become airborne tell us much about not only water quality but also about the conditions of the land…

A fired-up and highly motivated Lions will rock up to Cape Town on Saturday to settle a score with the Stormers in the United Rugby Championship (URC). That is what the Stormers expect as they prepare to host the Jozi Pride in the final round robin match of the season this weekend. The Lions have a possible knockout spot to play for at Cape Town Stadium (kick-off 1.45pm) and to maintain their record as the only South African side to have won a URC match in the Mother City. A win for the Stormers will secure fifth spot on the points table and Champions Cup qualification, but in the event of an unexpected loss, they only need one point from the clash to qualify. Dawie Snyman, Stormers backline coach, said…