Indholdsfortegnelse for 2025-02-11 i Cape Argus

POLICE at Bushbuckridge, in Mpumalanga, have arrested a 37-year-old man for allegedly raping a pensioner, aged 60. The incident occurred at Hlamalani, near Bushbuckridge, on Saturday at around 5pm, according to provincial police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane. According to information, the complainant alleged that she left home and dropped her personal belongings nearby. On her way back, while walking on the street, she met a male person known to her,” said Ndubane. It was during this time that the 37-year-old suspect allegedly grabbed the elderly woman and raped her. “The woman’s grandson who was looking for her somehow appeared at the scene and caught the suspect in the act,” said Ndubane. “When the suspect noticed the woman’s grandson, he quickly stood up and fled.” The matter was reported to…

AFTER regarding the Union Buildings as their home since 2018, the Khoi-San community who had been camping there since then, have finally been evicted. The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure confirmed that the eviction order granted by the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria on December 11, was enforced by law enforcement officials yesterday. Spokesperson for the department, Lennox Mabaso, said it should be noted that no appeal or opposition has been received against this court order by any interested parties. “While the department expresses its sympathy with the serious grievances of the Khoi-San community, no single person has the right to claim or occupy public space intended to be used and enjoyed by all South Africans.” Mabaso said the department worked and consulted with all stakeholders, including other government departments…

THE National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) is seeking justice for a male Chacma baboon, affectionately known as “Raygun,” who met an untimely and brutal end in Delmas, Mpumalanga. Amid this gruesome incident, the NSPCA has announced a reward of R20 000 for any information that could lead to the successful conviction of those responsible. Witnesses reported shocking details of the incident that occurred near Botleng Secondary School in Delmas, where Raygun was chased, beaten, and ultimately set on fire. Disturbingly, his body was later discovered mutilated, with his hands, feet, head, and heart removed. “After consulting with the school management, it became clear that this case is deeply rooted in superstition,” said Chief Inspector Douglas Wolhuter, Manager of the NSPCA’s Wildlife Protection Unit. He added that beliefs are circulating that…

THE events following October 7, 2023, have reshaped global politics and human rights discourse. What began as a Palestinian breakout from the largest “open-air prison” to attack Israel, triggered unprecedented consequences, exposing deep-seated injustices and raising questions about the global legal order. Before this turning point, international laws were largely respected, and enacted in response to the genocide of millions of Jews during World War II to prevent future recurrences. However, Israel’s response to the attack defied these laws. The insight of hindsight questions whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu deliberately ignored security breaches, and allowed approximately 1 200 Israeli deaths as justification for a brutal retaliation. Instead of targeting Hamas selectively – as was done with the pagers of members of Hezbollah – Israel launched a campaign of…

THERE are some things in life that bring one immense joy, albeit temporarily at times. I am yet to taste the euphoria of a Lotto/Powerball win, despite being a regular player, but am prepared to wait until the wheel spins the numbers my way. However, there are other ways to feel and experience joy, be it through sport, spirituality, or community work, where uplifting the poor and downtrodden, evokes that inner contentment. For me, a visit to the Bangladesh Market in Westcliff, Chatsworth, on Saturday, swelled my heart. As one enters the market, the vendors assail you with their special offers, be it UTD (up to date potatoes), tomatoes, a variety of herbs, spices, or “mielies 3 for R25.00”. Amid the cacophony, there is a sense of togetherness, as the…

THE Platinum Belt is a wasteland. The land, once fertile, now breathes in choked whispers, its lungs clogged with dust from the mines, its rivers coursing with acid runoff, its earth gouged open, left to rot under a brutal sun. The bones of dispossession are scattered here, buried in the abandoned shafts, in the poisoned wells, in the silence of villages where nothing grows but the memory of what was stolen. And now, as if summoned by the ghosts of their own destruction, they return. Not the miners who razed the earth – not the engineers, the executives, the white industrialists who looted these hills for their platinum riches. No, they have already taken their profits and are poised to flee. The ones who return are their partners in plunder,…

ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE, on February 9 – US President Donald Trump said on Sunday he will introduce new 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports into the US, on top of existing metals duties, in another major escalation of his trade policy overhaul. Trump, speaking to reporters on Air Force One on his way to the NFL Super Bowl in New Orleans, said he will announce the new metals tariffs on Monday. He also said he will announce reciprocal tariffs on Tuesday or Wednesday, to take effect almost immediately, applying them to all countries and matching the tariff rates levied by each country. “And very simply, it’s, if they charge us, we charge them,” Trump said of the reciprocal tariff plan.…

FOUR years after the horrific shooting which led to the death of Nahemia Claasen the Western Cape High Court has convicted gang hitman Christopher Kemp of murder. Nahemia’s heartbroken mother returned to the Wynberg Regional Court yesterday and said she was relieved that Kemp would finally be made to pay for his crimes. The 11-year-old boy was shot just metres from his home in Parker’s Walk, Parkwood on 7 September 2020 amid a bloody gang war between the Mongrels and the Six Bobs gangs. His death sparked an outcry and police went on the hunt for Kemp, who is believed to be a member of the Mongrels gang. During the investigation, it was revealed that Kemp had been shot a few days earlier by the Six Bobs gang and returned…

BREAKING his silence months after an unstable relationship with the party and particularly leader Julius Malema, Mbuyiseni Ndlozi has officially resigned from the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). The former party spokesperson and member of Parliament (MP) confirmed this in an exclusive interview with SABC News yesterday. “I am leaving party politics, I believe I have made my contribution in that space,” he said. Breaking his silence, Ndlozi said he will now venture into academia and surely contribute to civil society. This is after he made several attempts to the leadership about an investigation into claims that he was planning to leave the party and join the MK Party. But, he said he did not receive any response from the party. Ndlozi has admitted that his tenure with the EFF came…

THE Good Party has raised concerns over substantial misallocation of public funds, accusing the City of Cape Town of wasting R24 million on a Fleet Management System (FMIS) that ultimately failed to deliver results despite years of funding. In a statement, the party said the system was launched in 2018, under the leadership of the previous Director of fleet management, Bevan Van Schoor, and the FMIS was marketed as the modernisation of the City’s fleet operations. “It was intended to seamlessly integrate with the existing SAP Plant Maintenance system (SAP PM) to improve efficiency but instead became a costly failure after remaining unimplemented by 2022,” said the party spokesperson, Samantha Jackson. Jackson explained that FMIS is a software system that allows organisations to efficiently manage their fleet of vehicles by…

FOR 33-year-old Western Cape Provincial Traffic cop, stationed at George Provincial Traffic Department, Janneke Bergman, life has never been the same again after she was shot and injured nearly five years ago. Since the incident, Bergman has faced multiple surgeries on her neck and knee. At one point, she was unable to use both legs but can now stand for short periods. She has been moved to an administrative role and suffers from PTSD. Photographs shared by her family with the Cape Argus show her injuries and mounting medical bills, despite her Injury on Duty (IOD) case reportedly being closed, according to claims by her family. Bergman was shot on August 7, 2020, while assisting her colleagues during an arrest near Pacaltsdorp after they had pulled over a motorist. The…

I THINK our democracy is normalising. The hype around the State of the Nation (SONA) address has subsided. People are no longer excited by the president’s SONA address. I’m not sure if that’s a good or bad thing. SONA 2025 was the first under the GNU umbrella. However, it was delivered by the same culprit president Cyril Matamela Ramaphosa. Therefore, there was nothing new that president Ramaphosa said. It’s the same old issues. The president did not touch the load reduction issue. According to Dr. Trevor Ngwane, load reduction affects the poor. If true, then the poor don’t matter. What matters is their votes. I hope the downtrodden will change their voting behaviour in the next elections. Interestingly, the DA, a GNU partner, is fast losing its identity. It’s response…

“A GREAT first meeting with the Homelessness Task Team which includes representatives from U-turn Homeless Ministries, Streetscape’s Community Projects, The Haven Night Shelter WO Cape Town, MES and officials from our Social Development team.” Homelessness is a crisis that affects so many of our residents in Cape Town but together, we can make a difference. Our task team is collaborating and sharing ideas to improve access to support, resources, and hope to those in need. In partnership we aim to provide temporary shelter, meals, mental-health and sobriety support and we connect rough sleepers with access to longer term housing solutions. I take this opportunity to congratulate and wish the newly appointed Mayco member for Community Health and Services, councillor Francine Higman all the best in her new appointment. I started…

DONALD Trump’s decision to withdraw the US from the Paris Agreement marks a seismic shift in global climate politics, sending shock waves throughout the world. This move was widely perceived as a rejection of collective efforts to combat climate change, undermining the fragile global consensus on the way forward. For Africa, a continent disproportionately affected by climate change despite contributing minimally to global emissions, the withdrawal was devastating. It weakened international climate solidarity and threatened critical funding and technological support for climate adaptation and mitigation efforts. Now, as South Africa’s Just Transition programme faces uncertainty due to its reliance on international funding, particularly through the Presidential Climate Commission (PCC), the question arises: what is the way forward to ensure a just and sustainable transition? Trump’s decision to withdraw the US…

The Mother City clubs, Cape Town Spurs and Stellenbosch FC, will kickstart this week’s Nedbank Cup's last-16 round fixtures. Relegation-doomed Spurs were thrashed 3-0 by Black Leopards in a Motsepe Foundation Championship match played at the Thohoyandou Stadium on Saturday afternoon. They find themselves languishing at the bottom of the NFD. They are on the road again to face Premiership side SuperSport United on Wednesday evening (kick-off 7pm). It will be a daunting task for Spurs' German coach Ernst Middendorp to motivate his charges to shake off this defeat and bounce back at the Lucas Moripe Stadium. Gavin Hunt's SuperSport seem to have found some spark in-front of goals with a raft of new attacking options in the team following recruitments during the last transfer window. Despite this, they will…

This Valentine’s Day, as the world turns its attention to love, we take a moment to celebrate the power couples who are not just romance partners but also their profound impact on South Africa’s vibrant music industry. Their careers and collaborations echo through the chords of our everyday lives, inspiring a generation of artists and fans alike. In a country renowned for its rich musical tapestry, these couples epitomise the essence of partnership, creativity and resilience. Below, we highlight a few couples whose love and artistry intertwine, marking a significant contribution to the industry. l Zakes Bantwini and Nandi Madida Known for her sultry vocals and dynamic stage presence, Madida has firmly established herself as a force to reckon with. With a unique style that blends pop, R&B, and traditional…

A WESTERN Cape man who killed his half-brother due to ongoing abuse, has been jailed for an effective 15 years. Herman Schalk Redelinhuys, 24, was sentenced in the Oudtshoorn Regional Court for the premeditated murder of his half-brother Jacques Johannes Liebenberg. According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in the Western Cape, Redelinhuys pleaded guilty in a Section 105A plea and sentence agreement. In his plea, the accused admitted to planning the murder and hiring hitmen, Abraham Swartbooi and Adrian Isaacs, to kill Liebenberg. “He claimed that the deceased had a habit of abusing him in the worst imaginable ways,” said NPA spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila. Outlining the details leading up to the murder, Redelinhuys said he approached Swartbooi and Isaacs and informed them of the abuse he was suffering at…

A 31-year-old woman has been arrested and charged with child abandonment after a newborn baby girl was found in a stormwater drain in Verulam on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast. KZN police spokesperson Robert Netshuinda said the baby was found by a member of the public who informed the police, and she was taken to hospital for medical observation. “The suspect was arrested at her place of residence in the Hazelmere area, Verulam, and will appear in the Verulam Magistrate’s Court soon.” According to Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) one of their officers was stopped by a pedestrian who believed that an animal was stuck in a stormwater drain. “When the Reaction Officer searched the area he found a black bin bag stuck near the manhole of a stormwater drain. “A…

WE can hear the approaching footsteps of Ramadaan, let us remember all our loved ones who lost their precious lives assisting in the war zones of the world, that decimated our earthly environment. Without the dedicated help of volunteers and medical teams, the costs could have been higher.When the history of our planet is written, after the brutal conflict in The Middle East, becomes a painful and distant memory, history will record, and, preserve for posterity, the gallant role played by fearless volunteers who attempted to save the planet from total and utter decimation. These fearless men and women showed grit, valour and determination in the face of a ruthless attacker, whose fangs, enveloped the planet in an orgy of destruction, unprecedented in the annals of modern human history. They…

Things either get progressively better, or progressively worse. South Africa, in its current state, and with this government, is in deep trouble. The waffling and predictable pre-written SONA speech by Cyril Ramaphosa again echoed just how much he has lost touch with reality. To make things worse, the one party whom we have trusted with our votes for so many years, the DA, and John Steenhuisen, sat there, smiling and nodding away as if Ramaphosa was telling us the truth. This, on the back of President Trump’s brutal but necessary warning to SA about the Expropriation without Compensation issue, and Afriforum’s honourable stance on the future property rights of individuals, not only the Whites, may I add. We have now solidified our role as a country complicit in anti-Americanism, anti-Israel…

Seventy years ago, the apartheid government tore apart one of South Africa’s most multi-racial communities when it forcefully removed 65 000 people out of Sophiatown. Homes were destroyed, families uprooted and the cultural hub known for its music activism was reduces to rubble, erasing their heritage. But the spirit never broke, and the memory hasn’t faded. Families who were torn from Sophiatown still remember being dumped in places like Meadowlands with no schools, no parks, and no real infrastructure. Worse, they were never compensated for the land or homes they lost. It’s ironic, then, that we’re still dealing with narratives that claim white Afrikaners are now the ones under threat. Claims from abroad – echoed by fringe local groups – that land reform in South Africa is some kind of…