Indholdsfortegnelse for 2025-07-11 i Cape Argus

THE European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has found that South African Olympian Caster Semenya was denied a fair trial by Switzerland’s legal system, marking a significant milestone in her ongoing legal battle against regulations requiring athletes with differences of sex development (DSD) to medically alter their natural hormone levels to compete. In a Grand Chamber judgment delivered yesterday, the court ruled by 15 votes to two that the Swiss Federal Supreme Court failed to conduct a sufficiently rigorous review of Semenya’s appeal against the 2019 decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which had upheld World Athletics’ so-called “DSD Regulations”. These rules compel female athletes with naturally high testosterone levels to undergo hormone suppression therapy to compete in certain events. The court found that Switzerland had violated…

TWO suspects, aged 26 and 22, are appearing before the Bellville Magistrate’s Court following their arrest in Mfuleni and Strand respectively by the Hawks’ specialised 419 Scam Task Team. The two were arrested on Tuesday after three others were arrested in connection with the same romance scam in Pretoria. The duo’s arrest emanates from an incident reported in August 2024 at Lyttelton police station in Gauteng, where a woman claimed that a man she had met online had scammed her of more than R3 million. “The one suspect is reported to have met with the complainant online via Facebook, where their conversations migrated to WhatsApp. “During this WhatsApp conversation, the suspect spun a tale to the complainant that his son was sick,” said Hawks spokesperson, Katlego Mogale. The woman…

INVESTIGATIONS are under way after a 20-year-old KwaZulu-Natal woman was found dead on a luxury yacht in the Bahamas. At this stage, reports indicate that Paige Bell’s lifeless body was found aboard the super yacht Far From It on July 3. From a police report, from the Royal Bahamas Police Force, police on the Island of Eleuthera are investigating a homicide and suspected suicide attempt. According to the preliminary report, shortly after 1pm, police were alerted to the incident and proceeded to the marina area. “Once on board the vessel, officers discovered a female unresponsive with visible signs of injuries and a male suffering from severe injuries to his arms. The local doctor visited the scene, examined the victim and pronounced her deceased. “As police investigated further, it was discovered…

THE Judicial Conduct Tribunal, which is probing allegations of sexual harassment against Eastern Cape High Court Judge President Selby Mbenenge, has concluded its hearing, and the matter is postponed to October 21, when the parties will present their oral arguments. Judge Mbenenge also concluded his evidence yesterday, following a short stint of about an hour, during which evidence leader Salome Scheepers wrapped up her cross-examination of him. He has been on the witness stand since Monday, during which he defended allegations by complainant, Andiswa Mengo, who claimed he had sexually harassed her. Judge Mbenenge had to face embarrassing accusations, which included that he had sent her pictures of his private part and that he tried to solicit oral sex from her in his chambers. He appeared fed-up with Scheepers’s questioning…

CAPENature has confirmed the death of a young leopard following a call to assist in a rescue operation in the Heidelberg area, near the World Heritage Site of Boosmansbos. Officials discovered the 13kg male leopard, estimated to be around six months old, ensnared in two gin traps. One front paw and one hind leg were caught. Despite efforts of the rescue team, the leopard did not survive. “The incident is a reminder of the legal implications and ethical responsibilities surrounding wildlife,” CapeNature said. “Leopards are a listed Protected Species in terms of the Western Cape Nature Conservation Ordinance 19 of 1974. The species is also listed under CITES Appendix I. It is illegal to hunt a leopard without a permit. Furthermore, the use of any trap to hunt a leopard,…

BANYANA Banyana stalwart defender Bambanani Mbane has cautioned her teammates against underestimating their next opponents, the Twiga Stars of Tanzania, in Friday’s Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Group C fixture (kick-off 9pm). In their opening group clash, Mbane spearheaded Banyana Banyana’s WAFCON title defence on Monday with a ‘‘Player-of-the-Match’ performance as the South Africans defeated Ghana 2-0 at Honneur Stadium in Oujda, Morocco. When the teams return to the same venue on Friday, Banyana Banyana will be expected to overcome Tanzania, who are making only their second WAFCON appearance. However, Mbane has stressed that they cannot afford to undermine the Twiga Stars and has urged her teammates to approach the match with the same mentality they showed against Ghana. Having experienced the fierce competition within African women’s football, Mbane emphasised…

Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique savoured his team's performance in blowing away Real Madrid on Wednesday to reach the Club World Cup final and urged them to go on and cap a historic season by claiming yet another trophy. Two goals from Fabian Ruiz either side of an Ousmane Dembele strike, as well as a late effort from substitute Goncalo Ramos, gave PSG an emphatic 4-0 semi-final victory at MetLife Stadium against a Madrid team who have just started working under new coach Xabi Alonso. "It is a beautiful victory and we are happy to be in the final," said Luis Enrique. PSG came into the Club World Cup at the end of a campaign in which they won Ligue 1 and the French Cup before thrashing Inter Milan 5-0…

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa has called a family meeting on Sunday to address allegations that Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and senior police leadership are linked to a criminal syndicate with ties to drug cartels. This comes as the DA, uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP), and the EFF yesterday lodged criminal complaints against Mchunu, accusing him of misleading Parliament and being linked to individuals allegedly involved in the capture of the SAPS. The allegations that recently rocked the country were made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who claimed that Mchunu was working with businessmen Brown Mogotsi and Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala. Mkhwanazi said Mchunu ordered the unilateral disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team in KZN and transferred 121 politically sensitive dockets to Deputy National Commissioner for Crime Detection, Shadrack Sibiya’s office, where…

A FORMER Harvester Primary Grade R teacher returned to the Mitchell’s Plain Magistrates Court yesterday, which heard shocking details from the minor she is accused of sexually grooming. The 35-year-old accused teacher returned to court to proceed with her bail application while facing charges of sexual grooming of a child and exposing a child to explicit material. The court heard details claiming that the teacher “had her eyes on the minor for a while” while a criminal case is under investigation against the school’s principal. The investigating officer in the matter, Warrant Officer Roland Peters, returned to the stand, and said the case was reported to Lentegeur police station on June 9. The court heard that he went to the school on June 10, when the principal said she was…

THE national launch date for the Administrative Adjudication of Traffic Offences Act (AARTO) has been pushed back to December 2025, the Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA) confirmed. RTIA spokesperson Monde Mkalipi confirmed that 69 municipalities throughout the country’s nine provinces will implement the AARTO system from the start of December, with the remaining municipalities set to follow in 2026. This follows a week after a previous announcement that the launch would take place in October. However, the controversial demerit points system that is the core feature of AARTO will only come into effect from September 2026 when the new enforcement framework enters its fourth and final phase, Mkalipi confirmed. The RTIA said service outlets had been created across the country and over 25 000 traffic officers were currently being trained…

FINANCE Minister Enoch Godongwana says nearly 50 percent of Treasury’s R91.83 billion departmental budget over the medium term will go to the South African Revenue Service (SARS), marking a significant investment in modernising the country's tax collection systems. Speaking during his 2025/26 budget vote speech, Godongwana announced that SARS will receive R45.76 billion, or 49.8% of the Treasury’s budget, excluding direct charges, over the next three years. This is an R8 billion increase from the previous year’s allocation. The funding, he said, is aimed at “enhancing their ability to collect debt through better systems, increasing staff capacity and modernising their processes to establish e-invoicing for VAT, instant payment systems and upgrades of customs infrastructure". “To monitor progress and improve transparency, last week we published monthly debt collection data from…

THE refurbishment of the Muizenberg beachfront is progressing, the City said, despite the rainy weather. The project entails major upgrades to public amenities and replacing the aged seawalls, forming part of the City’s investment in popular beachfront areas to mitigate the impact of climate change and improve the quality of infrastructure. “I visited the beachfront a few days ago, and the project team confirmed that all is on track to open the eastern parking area on the beach side, in front of the Muizenberg Civic Centre, to the public by August 1, 2025. I know our surfing community will be very excited to hear this,” said Deputy Mayor and mayco member Spatial Planning and Environment, Eddie Andrews. “Next, is the removal of sections of the existing seawall at Surfer’s Corner.…

After being ignored by the Springboks in 2013 after some top performances for the Griquas and Cheetahs, a disappointed Willie le Roux told a journalist that he “just wants to jol …” At the time many South African coaches viewed Willie le Roux as a “rugby leper” because of his maverick style of play. A guy who played what was in front of him and chanced his arm by trying the spectacular. But he is also an emotional character who sometimes had the odd outburst on the field. Even the great Rassie Erasmus, during his time at the Stormers, didn’t want anything to do with him, because he wasn’t seen as the typical South African player, while Erasmus felt he couldn't keep his emotions in check on the big stage.…

Stellenbosch FC have announced the exciting promotion of 20-year-old defender Simthandile Sishi to their first-team squad ahead of the 2025/26 season, signalling a continued commitment to nurturing young talent at the club. Sishi, who joined Stellenbosch in 2022, has quickly emerged as one of the club’s leading prospects, having captained the reserve team last season. His leadership was pivotal in securing two major titles — the DStv Diski Challenge and the Premier League Next Generation Cup — showcasing his potential on the international youth stage. Sishi’s accolades do not end there; his recent recognition as the Sportsman of the Year for the reserve team highlights his dedication and prowess as a rising star at the Winelands club. Wearing the No 22 jersey, he is poised to step onto the field…

A top European court yesterday said a Swiss court did not give double Olympic champion Caster Semenya a fair trial in a much-awaited appeals ruling over contested gender testing. The European Court of Human Rights' decision comes after a row engulfed the 2024 Paris Olympics over the gender of an Algerian boxing champion. Semenya, a 34-year-old South African runner, is classed as having "differences in sexual development", but has always been legally identified as female. She has been unable to compete in her favoured 800m category since 2018, after she refused to take drugs to reduce her testosterone levels under new rules from World Athletics, the governing body for track and field. Semenya told journalists the ECHR's decision was a "positive outcome". "We need to respect athletes, we need to…

The highly anticipated and erotic thriller Fatal Seduction is making its return to our screens. Netflix officially confirmed this week that its hit series is finally returning for a second season this year, and it is bringing the heat and drama with intriguing, new cast members who are bringing even more twisted storylines. Fatal Seduction is a provocative series that unravels a dark story of unwavering passion and desire, built around a web of lies and deceit. Joining the star-studded cast is acclaimed and award-winning actor Warren Masemola as Minister Vilakazi, a cunning police minister whose aim is to become South Africa’s next deputy president and he will stop at nothing to get what he wants. Joining Masemola as the new addition to the second season of this thriller…

THE woman accused of kidnapping 9-day-old Mogamat Imaad Sharmar claims she did not abduct the infant or poison anyone, saying the baby was given to her by his mother, whom she had showered with money and takkies. The shocking claim was revealed by Sergeant Dawid Fortuin of the Serious and Violent Crimes Kidnapping Unit, who took the witness stand yesterday in the Bellville Magistrate’s Court where Sameemah Jacobs, 37, made her second appearance for her bail application. Fortuin had the court hanging on his every word when he said hospital records suggested that Jacobs had an ectopic pregnancy in January 2024 and a miscarriage in May 2025. Fortuin dropped another bombshell when he informed the court that they were busy with a second inquiry of a pregnant 15-year-old girl, who…

EMOTIONAL scenes played out in the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, as apartheid-era policeman Johan Marais was sentenced to 15 years for the murder of Chaipus Nyoka 38 years ago, with the Nyoka family crying, while a packed public gallery shouted “rot in jail”. A defeated-looking Marais yesterday made his way to the holding cells, while ANC members shouted at him and others sang freedom songs. Two of Nyoka’s elderly sisters, Sarah Nyoka and Alegria Nyoke, hugged supporters while wiping their tears. Alegria, after sentencing, said that while justice had been done for their brother, she is not sure the family is ready to forgive Marais. The emotional woman said they waited 38 years since her brother’s death for justice and to hear what really happened the night he was killed.…

Reeza Hendricks will celebrate his 36th birthday next month, but the veteran Proteas batter is not ready to fade quietly into the background just yet. Named in the squad for the upcoming T20 Tri-Series in Harare, alongside fellow senior Rassie van der Dussen, Hendricks forms part of a transitional South African side that also features rising stars such as 19-year-old Lhuan-dre Pretorius, 22-year-old Dewald Brevis and 23-year-old Nqaba Peter. It will be Conrad’s first assignment since taking over as South Africa’s all-format head coach following Rob Walter’s resignation earlier this year. But with a youthful squad signalling a changing of the guard, questions inevitably arise about the role of experienced players like Hendricks moving forward. In an exclusive interview with Independent Media, Hendricks acknowledged the uncertainty. “To date, I haven’t…

The Junior Springboks will face off against Argentina when the two Southern Hemisphere sides meet in the semi-finals of the World Rugby U20 Championship on Monday evening in Italy. After a flawless group stage, the South African U20s progressed as the top-ranked side to the playoffs, while the Junior Pumas snuck in as the fourth side after finishing with more points than former champions England. On Wednesday, the Junior Boks completed their second 70-plus point victory after drubbing Scotland 73-14, scoring 11 tries in the process. They beat Australia in the opening round 73-17 and tackled their way to a 32-22 win over the English. Now, a rematch against the Pumitas awaits after the two sides played out a thrilling encounter during the U20 Rugby Championship earlier this year. South…

Kaizer Chiefs' new signing Ethan Chislett is hoping to bring a fresh wave of creativity and intensity to the club's midfield as they prepare for what could be a pivotal 2025/26 Premiership season. With Mamelodi Sundowns chasing an unprecedented ninth consecutive league title, the spotlight will once again fall on who can finally halt their dominance. Chiefs, who have endured two underwhelming seasons, will face growing pressure to deliver immediate results — particularly in the league. Head coach Nasreddine Nabi enters his second season in charge, boosted by last season’s Nedbank Cup triumph. That success will serve as both a confidence-booster and a springboard as he looks to guide the Glamour Boys back to the summit. The Soweto giants have been busy in the transfer market, addressing key weaknesses from…

There are some unshakable truths in this world. Elephants, for example, cannot jump. A single teaspoon of a neutron star weighs as much as about 900 Pyramids of Giza. And there are more trees on Earth than stars in the Milky Way. Personally, my favourite fact is this: it’s highly likely – though not impossible – that you’ve only ever eaten one type of banana in your life. The Cavendish banana – which, botanically speaking, is a berry rather than a fruit – has been cloned repeatedly since the 1950s. Every banana you’ve doubtless consumed is a carbon copy of the one before it. And the one before that. And the one before that ... ad nauseam. Christian Horner was one of those facts of life. Much like the speed…