Indholdsfortegnelse for 2024-07-09 i Cape Argus

Renowned British musician Self Esteem, has returned to the music scene with Big Man, her first offering since her 2021 album, Prioritise Pleasure. For the track, which delves into the complexities of modern masculinity and gender roles, the singer and songwriter (real name Rebecca Lucy Taylor) collaborated with acclaimed South African artist Moonchild Sanelly (Seneziwe Sanelly). It was released in June, with a music video which pays homage to UK rock band Queen’s I Want To Break Free. In the video, the duo tackle household chores, traditionally deemed “women’s work”. In the video, conceptualised by Self Esteem, directed by Piers Dennis and produced by Ayomide Alli, the pair also bond over their experiences with insecure men, leading them to imagine an ideal man who supports strong women. Moonchild told Independent…

A storm surge and wind speeds of up to 70km/h today are expected to wreak havoc as thousands of learners return to school and traffic officials remain on high alert for road closures due to flooding and snow. An orange level 6 warning of disruptive rain resulting in possible mudslides over Cape Town, Drakenstein and Stellenbosch municipalities has been issued by the South African Weather Service (Saws), which warned of gusty wind speeds expected to reach 50-70km/h over some parts of the Western Cape. Western Cape Education Department (WCED) spokesperson Bronagh Hammond said 29 schools so far have reported damage as a result of heavy winds and rainfall. She said while schools were expected to reopen today, the department would consider requests for closures if damages were incurred overnight. “The…

A PHOTOGRAPH of a man whose face was blown off during an apparent cash-in-transit heist is being shared on social media, with claims that it is Peter Jaggers, the apparent leader of the Terrible Josters gang who was kidnapped by Colombian drug cartels in Gauteng last week. The image shared is linked to the heist in Tembisa, in which the bottom half of the suspect’s face is almost detached. According to Sowetan Live, the suspect is currently under police guard in hospital following the incident last week. But as the speculation continues, Jaggers remains missing. It is believed he disappeared alongside his so-called business partner, William Peterson. According to a report by another media house, Peterson was kidnapped on the same day but police have yet to confirm this. The…

As the Gaza-Israeli conflict is entering the nine-month mark, it is time to reflect on the implications of the actions of the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF). Although it is not the first time the IDF has demolished residential properties of the Palestinians, this time around it is being witnessed in real-time on social media by the entire world. To date, almost 38 000 Palestinians have been killed, including 15 000 children. Israel enjoys the support of the USA while killing innocent women and children in Gaza. Did America’s vetoing of numerous ceasefire resolutions at the UN Security Council effectively grant Israel a licence to continue with its killing spree? Ilan Pappe’s book, Lobbying for Zionism on Both Sides of the Atlantic, published in June this year, exposes the control that…

Jislaaik … it’s flippin’ freezing, across the land. The lucky ones have heating in their homes, their offices and their motor vehicles. Spare a thought and a couple of rand for those not so fortunate. The indigent, the beggars at intersections, those who aimlessly walk the streets, those who find refuge under cardboard boxes, seeking warmth, next to unhealthy home-made fires. Equally important are animals, often left to fend for themselves. The SPCA and others need our help.…

The recent kidnapping of alleged 28s gang boss Peter Jaggers, allegedly orchestrated by a Colombian drug cartel, highlights a growing and alarming threat: the encroachment of transnational drug cartels into South Africa. This incident, which involves a R50 million ransom demand, is not an isolated case but rather a symptom of a larger problem where these criminal organisations exploit weak policing, rampant corruption, and administrative mismanagement to establish a foothold in the country. Jaggers’s disappearance, allegedly, stems from an incident over the Easter weekend when six “fishermen” had to be rescued off Cape Point. Now we know that apparently they were out to pick up a drug consignment in the middle of the ocean. Instead of picking up the drug, they ran out of fuel. South Africa’s position as a…

Nasreddine Nabi’s choice of backroom staff at Kaizer Chiefs won’t stop the club from rediscovering its identity, instead it will enhance it, according to the club’s marketing director, Jessica Motaung. Chiefs announced revered 58-year-old tactician Nabi as their new coach last night, ending widespread speculation. But while Nabi was unveiled in a social media post, linking up with the team for the first time on tour in Türkiye, some of his lieutenants had long arrived at the Taung Village. Nabi’s technical team is made up of Fernando Da Cruz and Khalil Ben Youssef (both assistants), Ilyes Mzoughi (goalkeeper coach), Majdi Safi (conditioning) and Ayman Makroud (analyst). But while that shows the trust Nabi has in the quintet, a discerning supporter is concerned about the lack of a local-based staffer who…

Goal-shy France will be looking to silence the critics when they take on Spain in their Euro 2024 semi-final clash in Munich today, while their opponents hope to keep their impressive campaign going even without key players. With Kylian Mbappe leading their talented squad, France were among the favourites when they arrived in Germany. But they have come under fire from fans and pundits alike for a string of unimpressive performances and have reached the last four without scoring a single goal in open play. Despite reaching the final of the past two World Cups, winning in Russia in 2018 and losing only on penalties to Argentina in Qatar four years later, their Euros record under coach Didier Deschamps is less impressive. In his 12 years, their best result was…

Young sensation Dewald Brevis quickly rose to fame after a breathtaking ICC Under-19 World Cup where he scored an impressive 506 runs in six matches in the 2022 edition and the highest by any South African at that level. The 21-year-old, whose biggest goal is to make his country proud by winning the World Cup with the Proteas, is one of the brightest young talents around the world. He has been a huge part of the Mumbai Indians’ development plans since 2022, and has also recently been part of South Africa’s Test team plans. After the U19 World Cup, Brevis has made a name for himself in the T20 format in the different leagues around the world. His aggression and fearless approach to the game…

THE queer community and family of a lesbian who went missing after the Langa Cultural Pride Parade are concerned and anxious about her safety. Esethu Matola, 36, disappeared on June 29 and was last seen walking home by her partner, who remained with friends after the inaugural event in the area. Anele Gqasana said: “The LGBTQI Cultural Pride Team is deeply concerned about the disappearance of Esethu Matola, who has been missing since June 29, 2024. “We are following up on leads, and have not rested. We remain positive that we are going to find her. “Her disappearance has shocked everyone. She was quite drunk that evening, we locked up at around 10pm and that was when she left with her girlfriend. “Esethu told her partner that she was going…

THE music stopped abruptly for nightclubs in the city centre as a multidisciplinary operation took place at the weekend. City safety and security mayco member JP Smith said: “A joint integrated multi-disciplinary operation was conducted by SAPS WC-Anti-Gang Unit, City of Cape Town and provincial government. “The mission was to plan and execute operations with a targeted approach related to identified businesses that are food and liquor nightclubs, underworld figures of interest associated with the security industry, businesses operating with undocumented, unregistered security guards, non-compliance with PSIRA (Private Security Regulation Authority) and other legislative directives that regulate these industries. “The operation had positive results with visits to 35 nightclubs where successes were recorded by the different role-players.” “The City’s environmental health issued fines to the value of ±R50 000.”…

A PUBLIC hearing on the proposed casino for Somerset West is scheduled for this week, as the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board considers the application of Tsogo Sun Caledon to relocate the casino to the Helderberg. According to an official notice by the board, which was sent to the Cape Argus by a source, Tsogo Sun Caledon previously advertised for public comments and objections, and due to the nature of objections received, the board has now scheduled the public hearing in both the Overberg and Helderberg areas. The notice said the hearings would allow the public to make oral submissions to the board and to testify or to call witnesses. An objection that merely states that one is opposed to gambling, without much substantiation, will have a lower weighting…

THE UK Labour Party’s landslide victory over the Conservatives has ended many years of Tory abuse. However, the election win was not only for the Labour Party. Voters, from all walks of life, sent a strong message to Labour by also electing many independent candidates. A substantial number of British voters voted for independent candidates, most likely due to the genocide in Gaza, as evidenced from the number of pro-Palestine candidates to win seats. This voting pattern shows the desire for political transformation and change and a substitute to the war-mongering parliamentarians like former prime minister Tony Blair, who with former US president George W Bush fully participated in the illegal invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq. Labour’s decisive victory does not mean it will be smooth sailing for the new…

The results are in. The ANC attained 39% of the vote, the DA 21%, uMkhonto we Sizwe Party (MK) 14% and EFF 9%. It is clear that some of the parties enjoy too much support in the context of a country that claims to be a constitutional state that prioritises the rule of law and requires massive foreign and domestic private investment. Investment, and by implication economic growth, is impossible in the absence of the certainty and stability that the rule of law offers. We will find no example of a thoroughly successful society anywhere in the world that does not rank highly in measurements of economic freedom and the rule of law. The golden standards in both departments are the Economic Freedom of the World (EFW) annual report by…

French President Emmanuel Macron asked his prime minister yesterday to stay on for now, pending what will be difficult negotiations to form a government after a surprise left-wing surge in an election that delivered a hung parliament. The leftist New Popular Front (NFP) emerged as the dominant force in Sunday’s election, thwarting Marine Le Pen’s quest to bring the far right to power. With no single group securing a working majority, the outcome heralded a period of volatility before the Paris Olympics and raised uncertainty among investors about who would run the euro zone’s second largest economy. “It’s not going to be simple, no, it’s not going to be easy, and no, it’s not going to be comfortable,” said Green party leader Marine Tondelier. “It’s going to take a bit…

WITH nearly 200 people killed over three weeks across the province, the Cape Crime Crisis Coalition plans to meet with safety structures today, saying they were ready to mobilise residents to “defend their own safety”. The murder of two people in Eerste River yesterday added to the 180 people who were killed between June 14 and 30 in the Western Cape. Kleinvlei police yesterday registered the two counts of murder following the discovery of the bodies of a woman and man with gunshot wounds on a field between Heather Park and Condor Park, Eerste Rivier. The Cape Crime Crisis Coalition…

A STAGGERING R50 million bequeathed to Stellenbosch University (SU) in a donor’s last will and testament has been earmarked for bursaries for financially-disadvantaged students within the faculty of theology and the department of music. “We always talk about the transformative power of giving and here we have it in action,” said Karen Bruns, senior director of development and alumni relations at SU. “The donor opted to remain anonymous and though we would have loved to publicly name and honour a person with such foresight, we will respect their wishes. “We are however incredibly grateful. This wonderful gift of education will undoubtedly leave a legacy,” said Bruns. According to Hugo Steyn, acting director of Principal Giving at SU, the R50m will be allocated for bursaries for financially-disadvantaged undergraduate and postgraduate students.…

THE torrential rainfall and strong winds have led to animal shelters appealing for assistance to ensure the safety and comfort of distressed pets. The Mdzananda Animal Clinic in Khayelitsha appealed to the public to adopt homeless dogs. The shelter said it was not ideal for them to be kept at the facility in this kind of weather because the concrete kennels retained the cold. Fundraising, communications and programmes executive Marcelle du Plessis said: “Our shelter is currently operating at 150% capacity and is unable to accept any more surrenders. We are deeply concerned about the fate of the animals that cannot be taken in during this harsh weather.” Programmes manager Carolyn Dudgeon said adopting a dog would not only bring warmth and love to the animal, but also helped to…

Last week, I started sharing with readers a more or less typical Thursday in my life as a homeless man when I had been homeless for about four years. After having had my weekly visit by the “mounties” collecting their weekly rent, I managed to escape serious injury at the hands of one of the hoodlums who came through the mountain to break into the cars in Ocean View Drive daily, and I managed to get onto the Grand Parade without getting myself arrested by the Sea Point Police for using my three-wheeled trolley. Arriving at the Parade was always a highlight. I was the only homeless trader but I was treated as an equal by the other stall traders. My stall of second-hand goods was popular with the other…

IT APPEARS that the ANC is blind and deaf to dangers that continue to threaten its very existence as a force in South African politics and have led to it losing so much support. A stark example is its step-aside rule which clearly states that any ANC member criminally charged should step aside from any position they occupy and must not even wait for the party to order them to do so. But what is the reality? This rule is brazenly being flouted, and the party is doing nothing to act. The latest example is the serious criminal charges of gender-based violence against an executive member of the ANC Youth League in the Free State, one Phiwe Mathe, who is backed by the ANCYL branch in that province with the…

The UCT Council, the institution’s highest decision-making body, voted to ratify a resolution boycotting all Israeli universities linked to the country’s defence force last month. This academic boycott was made despite the Senate’s earlier rejection of a blanket ban on academic collaboration with Israel in March, which had criticised such a move as a violation of academic freedom, stifling debate, and alienating crucial global funding sources. Concerns were raised that a boycott could harm UCT’s international reputation and suggest a bias towards partisan politics over knowledge transmission. Yet, these concerns were disregarded when both the Senate and later the Council passed a motion on June 22, effectively banning UCT academics from collaborating with any universities associated with the Israeli army. Given that Jewish Israeli students and staff are conscripted to…

The ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup kicks off in just under three months and the Proteas Women – without a permanent coach – find themselves on the verge of winning their three-match T20 series away against India. Having won the first match by 12 runs, the no-result in the second match has put them in a great position on the road to Bangladesh. South Africa have lost the ODI series and one-off Test match, and the third and final T20 encounter, set to be hosted at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai today, will be the last match of the tour. There will be a lot on the line for both sides. South Africa have a golden chance to redeem their tour, while India will want a win to draw…

Ireland hooker Dan Sheehan will miss the second Test against world champions South Africa in Durban on Saturday, a member of the touring party said yesterday. “Dan suffered a serious knee injury during the first Test and may not play again this year,” he said on condition of anonymity as he is not an official spokesperson. Sheehan sustained the injury after tackling Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth in the first half of a 27-20 loss in Pretoria on Saturday. He was replaced at half-time by Leinster teammate Ronan Kelleher, who is likely to start in Durban with Rob Herring providing cover on the bench. | AFP…