Indholdsfortegnelse for 2024-09-03 i Cape Argus

Ismael was a great dad, read the Facebook post. Past tense – because at the relatively young age of 45, Ismael suffered a stroke, leaving his wife Nabilah and two young children behind. While Ismael is a fictional character, how this story unfolds reflects the sad reality for many South Africans, where the needs of the majority tend to exceed the means. Ismael had done everything in his power to look after his wife and little ones; including taking out a life insurance policy to ensure his family would be provided for and his kids’ education would be covered if he died. But, like many South Africans, the family had also racked up some debt. So when the life insurance lump sum was paid out, Nabilah soon found that…

With economic growth slowing and households being constantly put under increased pressure, the struggle is real. By dedicating time to reflect on your money habits, like developing a comprehensive budget, establishing an emergency fund, crafting a financial plan, setting achievable goals and initiating investments early on, you lay the groundwork for a secure and stress-free financial future. Habits v behaviour Our habits are usually determined by our behaviour. So, to cultivate positive money habits, it is essential for you to be honest about your financial behaviours, both positive and negative. Engaging in open conversations with your loved ones about your spending habits, identifying areas for improvement, and implementing strategies to curb impulsive spending can lead to more informed and conscious financial decision-making. Set financial goals Whether the goal is to…

The annual 4-day kykNET Silwerskerm Festival always concludes with a glitzy award ceremony. Last year, the channel decided to go big with the kykNET Silwerskerm Awards for Film and TV by holding it at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), thereby allowing fans an opportunity to attend the blue carpet event. The 12th iteration of the festival, which ran from August 28 to 31, was another roaring success. Aside from the mind-blowing films that premiered alongside short films, documentaries as well as panel discussions, the celebration of the hard work that goes on behind the scenes was unmistakable. On Saturday night, the who’s who from the Afrikaans film-making industry were in attendance at the awards ceremony. The foyer echoed with animated banter as the celebrities posed on the blue…

THE heartbroken family of Emaan Solomons received a surprise visit from Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis, who came out to support them as the young girl’s accused killers officially went on trial in the Western Cape High Court yesterday. More than four years after the 7-year-old was shot and killed in Ocean View, two members of the Junky Funky Kidz gang have now denied their role in the shooting, as they pleaded not guilty to all the charges. Eben Basson and Chivargo Fredericks were slapped with charges including murder, attempted murder, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition and charges under the Prevention of Organised Crime Act. The duo are accused of shooting Solomons in front of her home on February 25, 2020, during a gang war. Her death sparked an uproar among…

Amidst the vast and diverse energy landscape of Africa, South Africa stands as a nation with a well-established nuclear industry, yet one whose ambitions in the realm of nuclear power generation have been mired in stagnation. Despite possessing the technological prowess and institutional knowledge, the country’s pursuit of nuclear energy has been marked by controversy, delays, and shifting priorities, a stark contrast to its pioneering role in harnessing the atom’s potential. This paradox is particularly striking when one considers South Africa’s rich history in nuclear endeavours, from its apartheid-era weapons programme to its ambitious efforts to develop the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR) technology. The nation’s nuclear odyssey has been a tapestry woven with moments of bold vision and technological triumphs, interspersed with setbacks and controversies that have cast a…

BAFANA Bafana coach Hugo Broos says some of his troops must adopt the “mind over matter” approach when they start their Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers on Friday. Bafana will begin their bid to reach next year’s Afcon finals in Morocco with a clash against Uganda in Orlando on Friday (6pm), before visiting South Sudan next Tuesday (3pm). Broos boasted yesterday upon the players’ arrival for camp that he has a clean bill of health so far, with 20 players arriving early in the morning. Broos said he expected the Tunisian-based Elias Mokwana to arrive last night, while Siyabonga Ngezana and Sphephelo Sithole were set to land in SA from Portugal and Romania this morning. However, not all is well for the Belgian. He is still reeling from the…

GRIEVING Eric Tinkler was given leave by Cape Town City management to sit out Saturday’s post-match media conference after Orlando Pirates had handed the Capetonians a demoralising 2-0 defeat in their MTN8 clash at Orlando Stadium. At the time, there was no explanation for Tinkler’s absence and speculation was rife that City’s being dumped on the MTN8 scrap heap had become a gut-wrenching experience for the coach. Instead, Tinkler was grieving the loss of his mother. On Saturday, Tinkler flew to Durban to be with his critically ill mother in Durban. She sadly died and he decided to fly back in time to arrive at the Orlando stadium before kick-off. After the match, City’s management decided that assistant coach Diogo Peral would face the media instead. On Monday morning, City…

Funeral expenses can be burdensome and overwhelming – this is why funeral polices are the most popular insurance products in South Africa. Funeral policies are designed to offer a financial safety net to families during a very stressful time. They enable people to honour and bury their loved ones with dignity, and without facing financial ruin. They play a critical role in providing financial security during times of loss. Here are a few things to consider when buying funeral cover: Get the right amount of cover The South African insurance market offers a variety of funeral policies, each designed to meet different needs and budgets. Determining the right amount of funeral cover involves several considerations. First and foremost, it is essential to estimate the actual costs associated with a funeral,…

There will be a feast of film screenings, content sessions, music showcases, workshops and masterclasses at the annual FAME Shorts Film Festival held in Cape Town. Set to take place from tomorrow to Saturday at the Labia Theatre, the festival will showcase 31 thought-provoking films by film-makers from across the continent under four pivotal themes. Under the theme “Love Stories”, it is a collection of short films that will capture the essence of love in its many forms. Films include Boni & Wes – A True Love Story (SA), Bonnarien (France), Des Reves en Bateaux Papiers (Haiti), Noel Au Continent (Cameroon) and No, You’re Amazing! (South Africa) among others. Meanwhile, “Growing Pains” offers a collection of short films that delve into the raw and transformative experiences of growth and change.…

THE much-anticipated petrol price decrease for September has been confirmed by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE). This effectively means petrol will now be at its lowest level since February 2023. From tomorrow, the price of both grades of petrol will decrease by 92 cents a litre, while diesel will come down by between 79 cents (500ppm) and R1.05 (50ppm). A litre of 95 unleaded petrol will now cost you R21.40 at the coast and R22.19 in Gauteng, where the cheaper 93 unleaded will retail at R21.79. Diesel will be reduced to prices last seen in July 2023, with the wholesale price of 50ppm now listed at R18.93 at the coast and R19.69 in the inland regions. Those filling up a small car with around 30 litres…

A FORMER Anti-Gang Unit (AGU) officer and co-accused of alleged underworld kingpin Nafiz Modack has turned to accuse senior police officials of pressuring him into making a warning statement on the day of his arrest. The statement by former Sergeant Ashley Tabisher has plunged the mammoth underworld trial into a trial-within-a-trial, as he called for the statement not to be entered into evidence by Judge Robert Henney. According to the State’s case, Tabisher is accused of conspiring with two affiliates of Modack – Amaal Jantjies and Janick Adonis. While Adonis was in custody for other crimes, the State alleges that Tabisher got into an agreement with Jantjies to provide information on when the elite police unit planned on raiding Modack’s homes. The indictment states that during 2019, Tabisher was part…

THE Springboks expect a serious backlash from the All Blacks in their second Test on Saturday in Cape Town and will try to prepare for it as best as possible without worrying too much about their opponents. After completing a 31-27 win in Johannesburg this past weekend in the first of two Rugby Championship Tests on home soil, the world champions can complete a rare double victory over their arch-rivals if they end up on the winning side at the Cape Town Stadium (kick-off 5pm). They already have an eight-point lead over the Kiwis, and a victory could take them one step closer to claiming the Championship crown for the first time since 2019. Assistant coach Daan Human said yesterday that they are bracing for a fightback from the All…

MATTHEW Breetzke’s valiant half-ton was not enough to rescue South Africa ‘A’ from the jaws of the Lions as Sri Lanka ‘A’ took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series at the JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom. Breetzke, who is also fresh from a Test series tour with the senior Proteas side, played an exquisite knock of 74 off 80 balls, but it was not enough for South Africa to level the three-match ODI series as they lost by 30 runs. South Africa’s squad for the two matches has been rotated with the aim of giving exposure to as many players as possible, but Breetzke, who is leading the side after replacing Kyle Verreynne, has called for his side to change a picture that has been a common feature…

THE biggest surprise package of recent seasons, Stellenbosch FC, have set their sights on another upset when they face next Orlando Pirates in the MTN8 final. Stellies sealed their place in the final of the Wafa Wafa competition for the first time in their history by confidently despatching one of the favourites, Mamelodi Sundowns, in the semi-finals. Two unanswered goals by Fawaaz Basadien in the first leg’s as well as Bradley Mojela goal in the second leg were able to see the Cape Winelands-based club through. Defending champions Pirates are in their fifth final under head coach Jose Riveiro. And having won back-to-back MTN8 and Nedbank Cup titles in the past two seasons, Pirates will head into that game on October 5 as the favourites. Riveiro’s men eliminated SuperSport United…

The two-pot retirement system came into effect on Sunday but those who think they will have quick access to withdrawals may be disappointed. It seems that withdrawals may not be able to start until later in September while hitches with the system are sorted out and then it will take even longer as the South African Revenue Service (Sars) has to issue a directive to retirement funds on how much to deduct before a payout can be done. If you withdraw money from your savings pot, you will pay a transaction fee as well as tax. The amount you withdraw will be added to your taxable income for that tax year and therefore taxed at your applicable marginal rate of between 18% and 45%. So if you are on the…

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa’s state visit to the People’s Republic of China, at the invitation of President Xi Jinping, has culminated in the two nations signing several bilateral trade and co-operation agreements. The memoranda was signed by ministers representing the nations at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Wednesday. The agreements included memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Co-operation of the Application of BeiDou Navigation Satellite System, signed by Minister of Higher Education, Blade Nzimande and his Chinese counterpart. Minister of Human Settlements, Mmamoloko Kubayi, signed an MoU with her Chinese counterpart representing the Chinese ministry of housing and rural-urban development. The agreement is on sustainable housing and human settlements development. South Africa and China also inked a MoU on deepening bilateral trade co-operation, signed by Minister of Trade,…

THE Strand library is celebrating 120 years of serving the community after first opening its doors in the Town Hall in 1904. The library began on a subscription basis and was housed in a room of the Strand Town Hall on December 20, 1904. A new library was then constructed in Wesley Street and opened on September 3, 1924, after membership growth. City Mayco member for community services and health, Patricia van der Ross, described the library as a beacon of hope. “Strand library is about more than the books and other material. It’s a collection and reflection of history and an important social meeting point,” Van der Ross said. In 1972, the municipality opted to join the Cape Provincial Library Service and started construction on a new library on…

FOLLOWING an extensive and comprehensive 7-week maintenance break, the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway has reopened, just as weather conditions have improved with the emergence of spring. The reopening yesterday saw first trips since the temporary closure to the iconic and landmark site, with thousands of visitors taking in the breathtaking views atop Table Mountain. In a statement, Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company executive director Selma Hercules said: “We’ve replaced the track ropes, overhauled the hanging and running gear and adhered to strict original equipment manufacturer specifications. It’s all part of our ongoing commitment to safety, quality and excellence." Western Cape Premier Alan Winde was also present, along with Cape Town Tourism CEO Enver Duminy, yesterday morning for the reopening of the cableway. Winde said: “Over 1 million tourists visit…

TOGETHER with members of the Palestine Solidarity Group (PSG) of Pietermaritzburg, I was fortunate to participate in a panel discussion with Al Jazeera journalist Youmna El-Sayed about what is it like being a journalist living in and covering the mass humanitarian disaster in Gaza. According to El-Sayed, who visited Pietermaritzburg on Friday last week, the genocide unfolding in Gaza caused by apartheid Israel is different from previous brutal attacks on Palestinians as journalists are being targeted from the very first day. Covering stories from the front lines, reporters face huge challenges to report on lived realities in war zones. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), at least 116 media workers were among the thousands killed since apartheid Israel’s attack on Gaza began, making it the deadliest period for…

ERIK ten Hag is already back under extreme pressure at Manchester United after flunking his first big test since the club decided to keep faith with their Dutch manager. United’s chastening 3-0 home defeat at the hands of Liverpool on Sunday left them languishing in 14th in the Premier League just three games into the season. Co-owner Jim Ratcliffe, seated alongside the new Old Trafford hierarchy, had his head in his hands as United showed all their old failings against their bitter rivals. Ten Hag’s side went toe-to-toe with Arne Slot’s men for the first half an hour but costly errors from Casemiro and clinical finishing from Luis Diaz put the visitors in total command at half-time. Mohamed Salah scored his customary goal against United in the 56th minute and…

SA Rugby yesterday apologised for the “fiasco” that occurred during the final stages of the Haka performance in the first Test between the Springboks and All Blacks on Saturday at Ellis Park, saying it was not deliberate but due to human error. The closing moments of the Haka were overlaid by music and fireworks – as well as a flyover by an A380 airliner – as preplanned scheduling failed to be observed. Sister Bethina, South Africa’s second national anthem, as Bok supporters love to call it, was played during the Haka just as the plane flew over the Johannesburg stadium to recreate the iconic moment of the 1995 Rugby World Cup final. With it all happening during the performance of the Haka, the All Blacks’ war cry, it bore the…