Indholdsfortegnelse for 2025-01-29 i Cape Argus

You know how relationships can sometimes feel like a comedy of errors? Well, An Unromantic Comedy takes that feeling and runs with it – straight into a night of awkward confrontations, hilarious misunderstandings and brutal honesty. This laugh-out-loud play, written by Rosalind Butler and directed by Craig Freimond, hits the Baxter Studio stage in February. If you’ve ever been caught in the crossfire of love, betrayal or a messy situationship, this one’s for you. It’s sharp, funny and oh-so-relatable, especially when you’re trying to figure out if love is ever really enough. The play stars Awethu Hleli, Lyle October and Tamzin Williams, who are all familiar faces from stand-out Baxter productions like Metamorphoses, Neighbourhood, Trouble in Mind, and Othello. Set in a chic Cape Town loft, the story unfolds…

A DUTCH-Thai couple who were robbed of €9 000 (R176 000), their passports and jewellery and were assaulted in the Cape Town CBD, are pleading with authorities to help them get back home as they find themselves stranded in the country. The couple, who asked for their names to be withheld, are currently staying at a guest house in Stellenbosch. The 71-year-old man from Amsterdam and his partner, 57, from Thailand, had been in Cape Town for just three days when they were robbed and attacked while sightseeing on Monday. The couple said they were unable to find a Thai Embassy or authorities to help them and have been told to travel as far as Pretoria in order to get new passports. The male tourist, who spoke in Dutch with…

JUST eight days into his presidency, US President Donald Trump has signed numerous executive orders that are having far-reaching effects across the globe. The latest one that affects South Africa and the continent as a whole is the pausing of foreign aid, especially the crucial USAID programme, which supports millions of people throughout the world battling with HIV/Aids, by providing support for everything from access to clean water, healthcare infrastructure, and children’s health. In a speech, Trump said: “We get tired of giving massive amounts of money to countries that hate us, don’t we?” SA gets about R8.5 billion from the US for the country’s health initiatives, including those aiding the battle against AIDS. As a result, the Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute (Wits RHI), a prominent research institution…

THE R1.8 billion fraud and corruption case against former Bosasa chief operations officer Angelo Agrizzi and three of his co-accused is yet to get off the ground. Agrizzi made headlines at the State Capture Commission of Inquiry by implicating government officials and politicians in illicit deals. His case was before the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, yesterday, where he joined the proceedings virtually. The case was provisionally postponed to June 12, after his lawyer told the court that there were still preliminary issues to be sorted out. Lawyer, Cliff Alexander, did not elaborate on these issues. The trial of his three co-accused, former Bosasa executive Andries van Tonder, former correctional services chief financial officer Patrick Gillingham, and former correctional services commissioner Linda Mti, was also provisionally postponed to June 12. The…

HOUSING and utilities, food and non-alcoholic beverages, and transport are among the priorities that account for 75.6% of SA households’ expenditure. Revealing how households choose to spend their money, Stats SA said an estimated R3 trillion was spent between November 2022 and November 2023. The average annual household consumption expenditure amounted to around R143 691 during the survey year, according to the findings of the Income and Expenditure Survey (IES) 2022/23 by StatsSA. The report offers insights into spending patterns of households as well as highlights the financial priorities that shape SA’s household economy. SA households allocated the 75.6% of their total household spending towards four main areas in 2023, which means that three out of every four rand was directed toward these essentials. The four categories are: housing and…

THE 2018 report of the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization indicates that Africa’s small-scale farmers produce about 75 to 95 percent of the food consumed in Africa. This is a heartwarming feat that requires governments across Africa to act to assist small scale farmers to optimise production even more. One of the recommendations by the United Nation’s 37th session of the Committee on World Food Security suggested to members states that they must ensure that agricultural policies and public investment give priority to food production and nutrition and increase the resilience of local and traditional food systems and biodiversity. This must be done with a focus on strengthening sustainable smallholder food production, reducing post-harvest losses, increasing post-harvest value addition, and foster smallholder-inclusive local, national and regional food markets including…

I AM often asked questions that seem universal. Irrespective of whether I am addressing a church, business owners, ratepayers associations, students, doing a radio or tv interview, speaking with a neighbourhood watch… with slight modifications these questions always feature: What is the extent of homelessness in South Africa currently? This is extremely difficult to ascertain as there is no credible data on homelessness. My organisation started an assessment and count of people living on the streets of Cape Town called “Everybody Counts”. This count was led by individuals with lived experience of being homeless, which is imperative, as these are the only individuals who know where to find people living on the streets and are the only ones trusted enough to carry out assessments. During this poll 24 808…

South Africa’s recent assumption of the Group of 20 (G20) presidency marks a significant milestone for both the nation and the African continent. This role, which spans from December 2024 to November 2025, presents an opportunity to champion developmental priorities, such as fostering a knowledge-based economy, addressing ecological challenges, ensuring security, and promoting sustainable development. It is crucial that South Africa leverages this presidency to advance these goals rather than becoming embroiled in global conflicts, as has been the case in recent months. This presidency is particularly noteworthy as South Africa takes over from Brazil, another prominent Global South economy. The agenda must prioritise addressing hunger, inequality, and unemployment, particularly among the youth. However, geopolitical tensions and growing global polarisation will undoubtedly pose challenges to South Africa’s performance during its…

Tens of thousands of Palestinian refugees in Israeli-occupied East Jerusalem were set to lose education, healthcare and other services provided by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) as an Israeli ban on the organisation takes effect tomorrow. Israel’s government ordered the agency to vacate its East Jerusalem compound and cease operations under a law passed last year outlawing the agency and prohibiting Israeli authorities from having contact with it. UNRWA has run schools and clinics in East Jerusalem for refugees for decades in the part of the city that Israel has occupied since a 1967 war. Medical centre Director Hamza Al Jibrini said the facility serves 30 000 refugees. Among them are patients with diabetes and high blood pressure, pregnant women…

The banks and delta of the Mono River in Benin are home to mangrove swamps which harbour fish and rare wild birds – and some are deemed sacred. The government has tried to protect them by imposing bans on overfishing and felling for firewood. But it has discovered that voodoo is more powerful than threats and is now seeking to co-opt traditional elders into its conservation plans. In the southern village of Gogo- tinkpon, which lives off fishing in Lake Aheme, locals regularly turn to the deities to help mark off stretches of mangroves as sacred areas. To the rhythm of drums and gongs, they swirl and dance before voodoo masks in ceremonies to honour Zangbeto, the guardian of the night. “This will allow the fish to multiply in peace…

There could be a division in allegiance among the people of KwaMashu, Durban, should two of their own face-off in the Soweto derby at FNB Stadium this weekend. Orlando Pirates will host arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs in a Betway Premiership clash on Saturday afternoon (3.30pm kick-off). Three points and bragging rights will be up for grabs, but Thalente Mbatha and Thabo Cele could also face-off for the bragging rights of their respective township, KwaMashu. Mbatha has been one of Pirates standout performers this season. As such, he is expected to be part of their starting line-up against Amakhosi. Chiefs, though, could also unleash their new gem, Cele, for this clash, having the 28-year-old joined the club on Monday on a three-and-a-half year deal. The duo of Mbatha and Cele know each…

THE Western Cape Education Department’s (WCED) annual systemic test results for 2024 show selected scores surpassing pre-Covid-19 levels. The pass rates for both Grade 9 Mathematics and Grade 3 Language are now higher than they were in 2019, with the remaining grades and subjects catching up quickly. The Western Cape is the only province in the country to conduct annual systemic testing in both Mathematics and Language for learners in Grades 3, 6 and 9. These tests are internationally benchmarked, and are administered, marked, and moderated externally to ensure objectivity and to provide a credible and relevant benchmark for evaluation. “The pass rate for Grade 9 Mathematics increased by 2.9 percentage points compared to 2023, and now exceeds the 2019 score by 0.7 percentage points,” the WCED said. “We also…

THE recent ceasefire between Hamas and Israel marks a crucial moment of hope in a region long burdened by conflict. This agreement, while not the final resolution, showcases the power of dialogue over violence and the potential for meaningful progress. The release of three Israeli hostages after 471 harrowing days, along with Israel’s decision to free 90 Palestinian prisoners, symbolises painful but necessary compromises. These acts of humanity serve as a reminder that peace, even if fleeting, is achievable. For the survivors and their families, this ceasefire provides a pathway to healing – an opportunity to rebuild lives fractured by violence. Beyond the immediate respite, the ceasefire emphasises the need for long-term efforts. Humanitarian aid and reconstruction in Gaza must focus on schools, hospitals, and homes to restore hope and…

President Donald Trump’s recent remarks suggesting Gaza could be “turned into a beautiful place” and advocating for Jordan and Egypt to accept Palestinians as refugees are unlikely to resonate well with Palestinians. His statements reveal a simplistic approach to an issue deeply rooted in history, identity, and justice, one that overlooks the complexities and sensitivities surrounding Palestinian displacement. For decades, Palestinians have faced forced displacement, beginning with the Nakba in 1948, when hundreds of thousands were uprooted from their homes. Today, millions of Palestinian refugees live in exile, primarily in Lebanon, Jordan, and other neighbouring countries. Many remain in squalid conditions, denied basic rights, and enduring statelessness. The right to return, enshrined in international law, has long been a cornerstone of Palestinian demands. However, Israel’s policies, including strict control of…

US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order ridding the military of what he called “transgender ideology,” in a potentially major setback for LGBTQ rights. In a series of orders related to the military that Trump said he had signed on Air Force One, he also called for the building of a US version of Israel’s Iron Dome missile defence system. Trump also signed orders reinstat- ing service members who were dismissed for refusing to take the Covid vaccine, and he extended a government crackdown on diversity programmes for the armed forces. “To ensure that we have the most lethal fighting force in the world, we will get transgender ideology the hell out of our military,” Trump told a Republican congressional retreat in Miami. Trump has previously promised to…

Manchester City have reached do-or-die territory in the Uefa Champions League earlier than expected ahead of what Pep Guardiola has described as a "final" against Club Brugge on Wednesday. City have disproved the suggestion a new format to Europe's top club competition would remove any jeopardy for the top clubs as Guardiola stares down the barrel of failing to make the Champions League knockout stages for the first time in his career. The English champions have endured a torrid season both in their Premier League title defence and on the continent. A run of one win in 13 games, which included Champions League defeats to Sporting Lisbon and Juventus, between October and December was the nadir of City's fall from grace. Guardiola's men have since turned a corner in the…

In a startling announcement, Nigerian music icon Innocent Idibia, better known as 2Baba, revealed that he and his Young, Famous & African reality TV star wife, Annie Macaulay-Idibia, have been separated for some time and have filed for divorce. The musician, famed for hits like African Queen, shared the news on Instagram in a post that has since been deleted, igniting conversations across social media platforms. In his statement, 2Baba expressed the complexity of his situation, saying: “Well this thing I have to say is short but also long ... I and Annie Macaulay have been separated for a while now. And currently filed for divorce. “I would grant a press release soon to say my story … Not because it is anyone’s right to know about my personal life;…

IN A BIZARRE turn of events and shortly before he was due to be sentenced, a man accused alongside his wife of killing a man and pretending it was himself who had died so that he could cash in on insurance money, yesterday decided to confess all following a “talk with God” in his cell on Monday. Sibusiso Mahlangu, 34, and Lerato Mahlangu, 33, from Soshanguve had been convicted of murder and fraud charges in November last year, following a lengthy trial in which they denied everything. The Gauteng High Court, Pretoria earlier found that the couple had murdered Sibusiso Sithebe, who had previously been in a romantic relationship with Lerato. The body found in bed in the couple’s home was so badly burnt that everyone accepted that it was…

THE postponement of today’s Portfolio Committee on Defence sitting has left some members of the committee frustrated following the death of 13 SANDF soldiers in the DRC. The meeting was supposed to take place with the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Angie Motshekga. The cancelled meeting was to discuss issues relating to the committee’s first term of office as well as the issues affecting the SA Military Health Services’ pharmacies reports. The meeting with the minster comes as South Africa reported the death of four additional SANDF members yesterday, on top of the initial nine deaths on Friday. EFF MP and member of the committee, Carl Niehaus, in a letter to committee chairperson Molefi David Legoete, slammed the total cancellation of the meeting in light of the current situation…

POWER utility, Eskom, has burned through a massive amount of diesel in order to avoid load shedding over the past 300 days, spending close on R10 billion to keep the lights on. In the past six years, Eskom has spent more than R75b and counting on diesel to power its Open Cycle Gas Turbines (OCGTs). OCGTs are power stations that use diesel as their primary resource. Eskom noted that these are limited fuel sources and come at a great expense, and therefore the utilisation is tracked very closely. Between 2019/20 and 2023/24, Eskom declared publicly that it spent billions on diesel to help keep the lights on. The utility has spent: 2019/20 – R5.80b 2020/21 – R5.75b 2021/22 – R8.60b 2022/23 – R21.25b 2023/24 – R23.38b 2024/25 – R9.87b to…

LAST weekend, I met the son of the former Minister of International Relations of South Africa at a Turkish dinner in Cape Town. His modest conversation reminded me of his mother, Naledi Pandor, a woman whose diplomacy has made an indelible mark on international relations, particularly in her staunch support of the Palestinian cause. She is indeed a seasoned politician and former cabinet minister, long recognised for her principled stance on various global issues. But it is her unwavering advocacy for the Palestinian people that truly stands out. Over the years, her diplomatic efforts have earned her both admiration and respect on the world stage. A politician with such qualities is not only effective but also respected by the public and peers, helping to create a more just and functional…

THE National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) Service Providers Association strongly condemns the false and misleading information disseminated by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education regarding the payment of service providers. The Department had announced that payments to service providers would reflect in their bank accounts yesterday, yet no payments have been made. This blatant disregard for truth and transparency not only erodes trust but also highlights the department’s continued failure to prioritise the NSNP, the small business sector, and, most importantly, the learners who depend on this programme for their daily nutrition. The lack of payment leaves service providers financially constrained and unable to ensure the timely delivery of food items to schools, posing a direct threat to the welfare of learners across the province. For months, the NSNP Service Providers…

Having shattered assumptions in the tech sector and beyond about the cost of artificial intelligence, Chinese startup DeepSeek’s new chatbot is now roiling another industry: energy companies. The firm says it developed its open-source R1 model using about 2 000 Nvidia chips, just a fraction of the computing power generally thought necessary to train similar programmes. That has significant implications not only for the cost of developing AI, but also the energy for the data centres that are the beating heart of the growing industry. The AI revolution has come with assumptions that computing and energy needs will grow exponentially, resulting in massive tech investments in both data centres and the means to power them, bolstering energy stocks. The data centres house the high-performance servers and other hardware that make…

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen met yesterday in a show of unity after US President Donald Trump again stressed his designs on Greenland. Trump has signalled his desire for the Arctic island, which is believed to hold large untapped mineral and oil reserves, to become part of the US. Neither Scholz nor Frederiksen directly mentioned Trump or the autonomous Danish territory during their comments to the media in Berlin. However Scholz, after speaking about Russia’s war in Ukraine, stressed that “borders must not be moved by force” and added the English-language phrase: “To whom it may concern.” The chancellor said “the times we live in are challenging” and require a strong Europe and Nato, also stressing that “Denmark and Germany are strong partners and close…