Indholdsfortegnelse for 2025-02-28 i Cape Argus

Mi Casa has been living rent-free in many of our minds for years, dropping many hits that have become the soundtrack to some of our best memories. Who can forget Mamela, the love anthem that had us singing our hearts out at weddings, braais and even those awkward family gatherings? From humble beginnings to dominating the local and international music scene, the group has cemented itself as one of Mzansi’s favourite groups. Formed in 2011, the trio which comprises J’Something, Dr Duda and Mo-T, came together by chance but they quickly made their mark with their unique sound which blends deep house, jazz and Afro-soul. Their self-titled debut album introduced us to their fresh sound, and before we knew it, they were selling out shows and collecting awards. Now, they’re…

Pepfar-funded HIV organisations receiving grants from the United States Agency for International Development, USAID, received letters yesterday alerting them that their grants have been terminated. Since Pepfar’s inception in 2003, the US government has invested over $100 billion in the global HIV/AIDS response, saving over 25 million lives, preventing millions of HIV infections, and supporting several countries to achieve HIV epidemic control. Pepfar partners with and strengthens the capacity of civil society and communities, including faith-based communities and organisations, recognising that successful and sustainable HIV/AIDS interventions must involve, be informed by, and be tailored to those whom it serves. USAID funded 44 health projects in South Africa. The letters read as follows: “Dear Implementing Partner, This award is being terminated for convenience and the interests of the US Government pursuant…

FIVE years after 10-year-old Ayesha Kelly was shot and killed, the two gang members convicted of her murder have been sentenced to 30 years direct imprisonment. Tears of joy and relief flowed at the Western Cape High Court yesterday, when Cameron Julies and Chadwin Williams were handed down their sentence just after 11:30am. Kelly’s mother, Insaaf Kelly and grandmother, Fayrooz Kelly, prayed for this moment for years after former police minister, Bheki Cele, promised conviction and sentencing would be achieved within a year. The case was marred by several delays and postponements including the Covid-19 pandemic, when stricter protocols were observed at court. Sadly, the family had to wait five years, just months away from what would have been Ayesha’s 16th birthday, to receive the justice. “We feel relieved,” said…

IT WILL be a test of patience for both the Western Cape Government and housing activist organisation and law centre, Ndifuna Ukwazi (NU), as they await judgment from the Constitutional Court in the highly publicised Tafelberg case. Brought by NU and Reclaim the City (RTC), the legal matter seeks to challenge the Western Cape Government’s actions in redressing spatial apartheid in central Cape Town, as NU calls for the use of the well-located Tafelberg property in Sea Point for affordable housing. In November 2015, the province sold the plot of land that had formerly housed the Tafelberg Remedial School to Phyllis Jowell Jewish Day School for R135 million. The National Minister of Human Settlements together with the Social Housing Regulatory Authority also launched an application to review the Western Cape…

THE Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has confirmed their 2025 Rapid Build Programme is in full swing, with three schools set to be done by the end of the first term. WCED spokesperson, Bronagh Hammond, said completed schools include Ashton Vocational Academy (School of Skills) – Public Private Partnership in the Cape Winelands; Masifunde Primary School; Blue Ridge Primary; Happy Valley No2 Primary; Blue Downs High in Metro East; Vuyiseka High School in the Metro South and Darling High School in the West Coast. Schools still under construction include Blue Berry Hill High School in Metro East, Leiden Junior High School, Metro North, and Kilimanjaro High School in Metro South. “Ashton Vocational Academy was also completed, through a public private partnership. It opened its doors in January 2025,” Hammond said.…

It’s a massive coup by head coach Rassie Erasmus to bring the experienced Irishman Felix Jones back to the Springboks ahead of the next Rugby World Cup in Australia. The double Rugby World Cup-winning assistant coach is set to reunite with Erasmus and his fellow coaches following a brief tenure in England’s set-up. While Erasmus made a trio of appointments to his Bok staff, Jones’ return garnered the most attention. And rightly so, because the knowledge he’s gained while under England coach Steve Borthwick will become invaluable information for the Springboks going forward. So too the analysis he’s done on the other Six Nations teams, including France, Ireland, and Italy which the Boks will face this year, starting with home Tests against the Azzurri in July in Pretoria and Gqeberha…

Liverpool boss Arne Slot hailed his side’s winning mentality after surging 13 points clear at the top of the Premier League with a 2-0 win over Newcastle on Wednesday. Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister were on target either side of halftime as the Reds further stretched their advantage over Arsenal, who were earlier held 0-0 at Nottingham Forest. Unbeaten in 24 league games, Liverpool are cruising towards a record-equalling 20th English top-flight title, but just their second in 35 years. Slot had to make do with a seat in the stands after being handed a two-match touchline ban for his red card in a fiery Merseyside derby at Everton earlier this month. That was the start of a demanding run of five Premier League games in 15 days. Liverpool…

THE City of Cape Town has suspended refuse collection services due to ongoing gang violence in Manenberg. Community members said they were informed yesterday morning about the suspension. Acting mayco member for Urban Waste Management, Siseko Mbandezi, said the refuse collection staff have to work in the crossfire between gangs regularly, and this is presenting an unacceptable risk to their safety. “Over the coming week, Urban Waste Management officials will seek to urgently engage relevant stakeholders around possible interventions to assist with the return of services to the area. Updates will be released in due course. “I assure the residents of the area that this decision has not been taken lightly. Staff members working in the area have shown their commitment to serving the community under very unsafe conditions in…

THE Anglican Church will establish a church-wide network of safeguarding officials dedicated to keeping people safe from abuse, Archbishop Thabo Makgoba announced this week. The announcement was made after Makgoba accepted the findings of the panel of inquiry which set out to determine the church’s conduct into allegations of sexual abuse by camp master, John Smyth, which found they had failed in their role. In a bid of repentance and restoration, Makgoba said he had written to the Church-on-Main Smyth attended before his passing, to apologise. In his latest statement released after a meeting of the church’s Synod of Bishops this week, the Archbishop said: “The bishops unanimously approved a set of recommendations I made for immediate action to improve safeguarding in the church. Each bishop has also individually committed…

SPAZA shop owners have expressed frustration with the deadline for registration set for today. This, as the government urged all spaza shop owners and vendors to register their businesses with their local municipalities. However, some business owners said the process was taking longer than expected and today’s deadline was unfair. The businesses said they also suffered financially due to the process and are waiting for their certification. The registration was announced last year following the deaths of six children in Naledi, Soweto, and other provinces in the country. This was after the children consumed snacks believed to be tainted with Terbufos, which is a toxic pesticide. The government said spaza shops must be registered to ensure that food safety laws are followed and dangerous food be taken off the market.…

Stellenbosch FC’s drive to cement a top-three finish on the year-end Premiership standings is in overdrive, as the Maroons are on a four-match unbeaten run across all competitions. On Tuesday evening, Stellenbosch secured a 2-1 Premiership victory over Magesi FC at the Danie Craven Stadium in the Winelands. On Friday, they will return to their headquarters to host Polokwane City (7.30pm kick-off), and will look for maximum points to improve their fifth-place log position (27 points in 17 games). Polokwane have been battling lately, and are winless in their last four league outings. They managed a miserly two points from as many draws during this spell, but are still three points clear of Stellenbosch in fourth place, with 30 points after 19 games. Coach Phuti Mohafe will be hamstrung in…

The Proteas find themselves in the unusual position of having not played for almost a week, but yet are on the brink of qualification for the ICC Champions Trophy semi-finals. Temba Bavuma’s team have watched from afar as all the drama has unfolded around them, with most notably Afghanistan knocking out England in a thrilling contest in Lahore. And further in favour of the Proteas is that they will know their exact fate, due to Australia facing Afghanistan on Friday, which could indeed render Saturday’s clash against the already eliminated England in Karachi (11am SA time start) a dead rubber. From what was a potential do-or-die “quarter-final”, it has morphed into quite a let-down for the neutral observer. But after all the drama the Proteas have experienced over the years…

In the aftermath of the 31-19 victory over the Lions, Bulls coach Jake White wasn’t entirely happy with the performance, despite his team securing a try bonus point as well. That was an understandable reaction, considering the fact that they were 17-0 ahead in 14 minutes, but then allowed the Lions back into the game to make it 17-14 at halftime. The Bulls confidence would’ve been shaky at that point, as they had lost 29-19 to the Sharks at Loftus Versfeld a week earlier, and had been fortunate to hold off the Stormers 33-32 in Cape Town before that. The Pretoria side, though, pulled off a valuable win against a spirited Lions outfit, and did it with a number of new faces that White had introduced last week. Top of…

It was so nice twice that he decided he wanted to do it thrice. If you have watched Avengers: Endgame, then you will know that, towards the climax of the flick, Captain America stands up wearily. Beaten, bloodied, bruised, and exhausted, he looks over the scarred battlefield at the antagonist, Thanos, breathing heavily. Defeat flashes over his face as he tightens his shattered shield to his arm, ready for his last stand. In that moment of utter despair, his radio crackles to life, bringing the affirmation that help is on its way. What follows is a scene 10 years in the making, as every Marvel superhero at that time rallies to his side. After some heart-stirring cameos and a pulse-pumping score, Cap finally mutters the immortal words: “Avengers, assemble.” Now,…

After captivating audiences and becoming one of the top 10 most streamed titles on Showmax in 2024, The Real Housewives of Durban is set to return for a much-anticipated fifth season. Fans were given a sneak peek of what’s to come in the reality show’s trailer, featuring a heartfelt moment from OG cast mate, Nonku Williams. In it, Williams opens up by praying for guidance. She reveals that she is not single, but “married” to her lord and saviour, Jesus Christ. “Watch over my mouth, God. Father I repent all my sins,” says Williams. Later, she is seen cussing at the ladies. Alongside Williams, fellow original cast member Sorisha Naidoo will also be returning, maintaining their status as Africa’s longest-serving Housewives. Jojo Robinson, who joined in season 2 and Angel…

A VICIOUS family fight in Welcome Estate has led to the death of one man and the arrest of another amid an attempt to rescue his girlfriend. According to a source, residents ran out of their homes on Wednesday night as the sound of screams and the smashing of windows were heard shortly after 6pm. The insider says: “What we heard is that the brother came home and attacked his sister. He hit her in the face with a brick and smashed the windows of her car. “Her boyfriend and children then came and hit him until he collapsed in the road and the police were called to the scene. He was declared dead on the scene and the boyfriend was arrested.” Manenberg police station commander, Jayce Naidoo, confirmed the…

FINANCE Minister Enoch Godongwana has defended the R11 billion loan the government received from the World Bank. Godongwana was briefing the standing committee on finance where he defended the decision on Tuesday. However, political parties demanded more answers, saying it was unclear what the funds would be used for because the government was saddled with a huge debt. The parties said the debt-service costs were taking a big slice of the budget and the government could not afford to take another loan. But Godongwana said the R11bn was part of the R630bn the government hoped to raise on the market this year. He said the loan from the World Bank came with no conditions. “When we table the Budget in Parliament, we say a couple things. We say this is…

CAPE Town is set to come alive with colour and celebration as it hosts the highly anticipated Pride Parade and Mardi Gras this weekend. The event tomorrow marks the grand finale of a month-long Pride Festival dedicated to celebrating diversity, promoting inclusion, and raising awareness for the LGBTIQ+ community. Safety and security mayco member, JP Smith, said: “The Pride Parade taking place this Saturday, 1 March, is an occasion where allies, family and friends come together as a community for Africa’s biggest parade, celebrating LGBTIQ+ awareness, diversity, and inclusivity. “The procession, organised by Outreach Africa, starts in De Waterkant’s Alfred Street at 11am, making its way to the Green Point underpass via Somerset Road. It is free for everyone to join. “Cape Town Pride has been shining a spotlight on…

IN A REMARKABLE tale of survival and discovery, a peculiar black mamba has captured the interest of conservationists after its rescue last year in Queensburgh, Durban. It all began when the speckled mamba entered a garden that had a few dogs. To protect his dogs, the homeowner tried to kill the mamba with a slasher. However, he only managed to inflict minor injuries on the snake. Durban snake rescuer Nick Evans was surprised when he got to the property and looked in the small tree the mamba had gone into. He saw a mottled, as opposed to matt grey black mamba. A male around 2.2m long. Evans said the snake was visibly underweight, weak and full of parasites, and had a few other things wrong with him. “A once-in-a-lifetime sighting!…

The Stormers feel they have nothing to prove to anyone except themselves in the return North versus South derby against the Bulls on Saturday in Pretoria. After losing by one point just over a month ago in Cape Town, the inaugural United Rugby Championship winners trek to Loftus Versfeld (5pm start) to try and avenge that first-ever loss at their home ground against their bitter rivals. The Jake White-coached side are on a two-match winning streak against the Cape outfit after breaking their duck in the URC last year at Loftus. They will look to continue their recent dominance over their visitors in the capital city. According to Stormers scrumhalf Stefan Ungerer, the team galvanised themselves after a tough couple of weeks. After three losses in the URC, the Capetonians…

It’s fight weekend again in the Western Cape as the popular Professional Fighting Championship (PFC) returns tomorrow. Local fight fans are enjoying a fruitful period of combat sports in South Africa as calendars are slowly filling up with events across the country, with kickboxing, boxing, Muay Thai and MMA fight cards occupying the weekends. Cape Town is experiencing an unprecedented period as it has hosted back-to-back fight cards over the last few weeks. Last week in Wynberg, the Rising Stars Fight Promotion showcased SA’s future fighting prospects, and this weekend, one of the most popular Cape Town-based brands will host their second show since taking a short hiatus. PFC Redemption rolls out this weekend with a jam-packed three-discipline card. It includes seven amateur boxing bouts, six amateur and professional kickboxing…

It was at the turn of the millennium when a strongly built left-handed opener took guard for Western Province at Newlands. It was the start of a journey that would see the teenager bloom into one of the Proteas’ greatest batters. For many who sat under The Oaks watching Graeme Smith flick numerous balls off his legs and power pull shots to the boundary, there was a great sense of pride in being able to say they were there from the very start. There was a similar feeling for those present on a balmy Wednesday afternoon at Newlands that they may possibly be witnessing history repeat itself. At 18 years old, Lhuan-dre Pretorius is even younger than Smith was when the former Proteas skipper swapped Gauteng’s hustle and bustle for…

The Stormers will require an 80-minute performance on Saturday against the Bulls to stand any chance of bagging a victory in Pretoria. But, key individuals must spark the Cape side with their attack and defence to lead them to success as they aim for a turnaround in the United Rugby Championship (URC). Independent Media looked at five players that could play a key role for the visitors at Loftus Versfeld (5pm start). Warrick Gelant The former Bull loves a match against his ex-teammates. He almost operated the Stormers’ backline attack single-handedly in the first North vs South duel in Cape Town. Gelant’s ingenuity and ability to pull off some magic from almost nothing when he is attacking should get his side running with the ball. He will be tested under…