Indholdsfortegnelse for 2025-07-18 i Cape Argus

Today, Mandela Day, retired police officer Captain Ezra October will be among the volunteers assisting The Haven Night Shelter in District Six with its Dignity Project, aimed at restoring dignity to homeless people. The former communications officer at Cape Town Central police station’s career in the SAPS spanned 36 years, starting as a rookie at Grassy Park police station in 1988. October, from Strandfontein, worked at Wynberg police station for 17 years and then moved to Cape Town Central police, where he retired last year. He was known for his involvement in community groups, schools, and women’s groups, dealing with homelessness, and working with seniors. He still serves at the Haven Night Shelter in District Six regularly, and the communities he partnered with over the years. October recalls meeting Nelson…

META, the owner of WhatsApp and Instagram, is facing court action today for possible contempt of court. This comes after the Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg, ordered the company on Monday to immediately remove six WhatsApp channels and 30 Instagram profiles that are distributing graphic child pornography. Reports indicate that Meta has not yet complied with this directive. This followed an urgent application launched by The Digital Law Company (DLC), which also obtained an order against Meta to, by Tuesday noon, supply all information in its possession about the creator(s) of the WhatsApp channels and Instagram profiles listed in the urgent application. Rorke Wilson of The Digital Law Company said yesterday that Meta had partially complied by removing some accounts, but somehow the content is still available to those who have…

A FAMILY in Wallacedene, Kraaifontein, is struggling to come to terms with the loss of their 6-year-old daughter, Azingce Mhambi, who died in a shack fire on Tuesday morning. Her father, Siyanda Mbaliswano, said he received a call from community members while he was at work, and he had to return home. His younger brother told him that he had gone the spaza shop while the paraffin stove was on, with the child inside the room, and the shack was in flames when he returned from the shop, the father said. The child had cerebral palsy. Her father said Azingce used a wheelchair and was unable to speak because of her condition. The City’s Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson, Jermaine Carelse, said they received emergency calls alerting them to a…

TODAY, July 18, we celebrate Mandela Day. The occasion requires that we reflect on the qualities that defined former President Nelson Mandela and consider how they can be applied to South Africa’s current woes. As society faces socio-economic challenges, institutional decay and an increasing culture of individualism, Mandela’s legacy of decisive leadership stands in stark contrast to the erosion of authority that dominates today’s political landscape. No country develops by chance. Effective leadership is crucial for fostering economic resilience and driving progress, particularly in the face of global challenges. China, for instance, emerged as an international economic powerhouse after implementing transformative reforms from the late 1970s. By the end of 2020, the country had successfully achieved its objective of lifting more than 850 million people out of absolute poverty. This…

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” That’s certainly how I felt about the Proteas Men’s team. Head coach Shukri Conrad has been responsible for all selections since his appointment and the ICC World Test mace perched splendidly in Cricket SA’s trophy cabinet at their Illovo office is the result. Conrad’s coaching philosophy has fostered an environment where honesty and open communication thrive. Players are able to express themselves with clarity regarding their roles being a cornerstone of the team’s culture. Unlike in previous years, where players were often left in the dark following squad announcements, the current setup allows individuals to gauge their standing within the team’s future without the fear of unpleasant surprises. This is a refreshing change that strengthens the collective resolve of the squad moving forward.…

Banyana Banyana’s formidable trio of captain Refiloe Jane, Bambanani Mbane and Fikile Magama are headlining the Best Wafcon XI following an exhilarating group stage of the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, currently underway in Morocco. The Technical Study Group (TSG), which is overseeing the tournament at Wafcon, unveiled the Best XI on Wednesday night. Set in a classic 4-3-3 formation, this selection highlights the standout performers from an opening round that thrilled fans with a remarkable 45 goals across 18 matches. Jane, deployed on the right midfield, exemplified calmness under pressure, skillfully orchestrating her team’s play with astute distribution. Her crucial involvement helped the Banyana Banyana dominate their group, finishing at the top with a stunning seven goals while conceding only once. Joining Jane are defenders Bambanani Mbane and…

The Junior Springboks have taken a leaf out of the book of their senior counterparts and will field a 6-2 forward split on the bench for their World Rugby U20 Championship final against New Zealand in Rovigo tomorrow night. The much-anticipated final against the Baby Blacks takes place on Saturday at 8.30pm. Lock Riley Norton will once again lead a familiar-looking side that has featured in most of the pool matches, as well as Monday’s semi-final victory over Argentina. The unchanged line-up means the bench will again feature a Bomb Squad in what promises to be an epic battle between the two southern hemisphere rivals. Junior Bok head coach Kevin Foote said the SA U20s have worked hard to reach the final and are excited to face their greatest rivals…

World No 1 Scottie Scheffler blamed the wild weather for his wayward driving, but the American still shot a three-under-par 68 in yesterday’s opening round of the British Open to sit one stroke off the early lead. Scheffler, grouped with former Open champions Shane Lowry and Collin Morikawa, was caught in torrential rain midway through his round at Royal Portrush. He managed to hit just three fairways off the tee, but once the skies cleared, he produced two sublime approach shots to birdie the 16th and 17th, ensuring he remained firmly in the hunt for his maiden Claret Jug. “When it’s raining sideways, it’s — believe it or not — not that easy to get the ball in the fairway. Thank you guys all for pointing that out,” Scheffler quipped,…

On the recent episode of Showmax’s Untied, former Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba’s ex-wife, Norma Mngoma, opened up about the reportedly shocking events that took place in their marriage. From Gigaba’s alleged obsession with pornography, the alleged cheating, the alleged use of baby oil, and Mngoma’s alleged comparison of Gigaba to US music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, she bared it all. The 50-year-old businesswoman shared: “Whenever you leave, you leave with baby oils. You are like Puff Diddy now. Why would you pack like that? It means whenever you leave home, you are prepared for those things.” During his infamous trial, it was revealed that Combs had an obsession with baby oil, which he allegedly forced his girlfriends or mistresses to partake in during his freak-offs. Mngoma also opened up to…

POLICE are investigating yet another mass shooting that left three men dead and two others wounded in Gugulethu on Wednesday night. The shooting comes less than a month after eight people were shot and killed in the Kanana informal settlement in Gugulethu on June 28. Police spokesperson, Andrè Traut, said the Provincial Serious and Violent Crime Unit has opened cases of triple murder and attempted double murder in relation to the latest shooting. Officers responded to reports of the shooting at approximately 11pm in Moletsane Street, New Crossroads. “Upon arrival, officers discovered the bodies of three men with gunshot wounds in a bedroom. Two other male victims had also sustained gunshot wounds and had already been transported to a medical facility,” Traut said. Preliminary information indicates that four armed suspects…

THE family of 20-year-old South African Paige Bell has left for the Bahamas to seek justice for their daughter who was murdered aboard a luxury superyacht where she worked as a stewardess. Bell was discovered half-nude and severely injured in the engine room of the Far From It (FFI) yacht in the Bahamas. In a statement from the family and the yacht, Bell was described as having been full of life and hope. “On behalf of the Bell family and the FFI team, we are at a loss for words to fully express our gratitude for the incredible outpouring of love and support shown on July 14. Paige was a beautiful, bold, and fiery spirit - a true firecracker. “Your tribute, unity, and love honoured Paige in a way that…

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa hit back at the critics of the commissions of inquiry he has appointed since he took public office. Responding to the debate on the budget vote of the Presidency, Ramaphosa said the Constitution empowered him with executive powers to establish commissions of inquiry into any matter of public concern. “I said yesterday and I will repeat today, as a country committed to the rule of law, to procedural fairness and transparency, we will ensure that the allegations made around corruption in the upper echelons of the South African Police Service will be fully ventilated in the commission of inquiry process,” he said. Ramaphosa has come under scrutiny after he announced the inquiry into the allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, and some who regard…

When the spotlight is on her, Durban-born Proteas Women all-rounder Chloe Tryon generally rises to the occasion with her big-hitting displays and a cheeky spell or two. But off the field, she’s quite a simple, no-frills person who enjoys playing golf on her Xbox and eating smashed avocado on toast. She’s also something of a workaholic, taking “just a week off” to unwind and reset following the recent West Indies tour. Independent Sports caught up with Tryon, in an exclusive interview, just after a training session at the Wanderers in Gauteng, where several fellow cricketers are also preparing for The Hundred in the UK — the short-format tournament in which Tryon plays for Southern Brave. Tryon sees the tournament as a valuable opportunity to sharpen her skills ahead of the…

Tadej Pogacar reclaimed the leader's yellow jersey at the Tour de France with an imperious stage 12 triumph on the Hautacam mountain in the Pyrenees yesterday. Pogacar skipped away on an 11km solo ascent of the fabled climb to finish 2min 10sec ahead of key rival Jonas Vingegaard while overnight leader Ben Healy wilted to a 13min deficit on the day. French president Emmanuel Macron was on hand at the mountaintop finish to congratulate the Slovenian Team UAE rider. Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel dug deep after being dropped on the first of three climbs to claw back level, before eventually losing 3min 35sec on the day's 180.6km ride from Auch, finishing seventh. In the overall standings Pogacar now leads the Tour de France by 3min 31sec over Denmark's Vingegaard while…

This week in celebrity news, controversy, music and romance were all on the menu. From Nicki Minaj’s fiery online rant to Tyla’s latest musical endeavours, here’s a rundown of the most notable stories. 1 Nicki Minaj responds to SZA’s comments Rapper Nicki Minaj this week found herself at the centre of a social media storm after responding to comments made by R&B singer SZA. The 42-year-old rapper unleashed a fiery rant on X, sparking debate among fans and drawing attention to the drama unfolding online. Minaj revealed that Punch, an artist signed to SZA’s label, Top Dawg Entertainment, bullied her online, without provocation. The 30 for 30 singer later posted a brief, mysterious tweet. It appeared to be a general statement, as no names were mentioned. 2 Tyla makes waves…

THE City’s Community, Arts and Culture Development Department has completed the restoration of the Race Classification Board Memorial outside the High Court Annex building with the original artist, Dr Roderick Sauls. The two benches mimic apartheid-era public benches inscribed “Whites Only” and “Non-Whites Only” include text from the notorious Population Registration Act, which defined the characteristic of different racial groups, often in arbitrary and humiliating ways. “By confronting this difficult history, we create opportunities for reflection, understanding and collective growth. Memorials serve as tangible reminders of the past, facilitating remembrance, healing, and reconciliation. The memorial offers a space for fostering a shared understanding of the past and promoting national identity and unity,” said Francine Higham, mayco member for Community Services and Health. Further projects include the restoration of the Queen…

TODAY the world observes Nelson Mandela International Day, a time when people are encouraged to dedicate 67 minutes to community service – honouring Mandela’s 67 years of fighting for social justice. The day also marks the birthday of the former president of South Africa. In Cape Town’s northern suburbs, residents reflected on the significance of Mandela Day. Veli Dube, an e-hailing driver from Highbury, said he was particularly inspired by Mandela’s ability to forgive. “After spending many years in prison fighting for the liberation of the people, we all assumed that when he came out, he might seek revenge or violence. But instead, he united the nation – white, black, Indian, and coloured. That’s the most powerful lesson I’ve learned from him: that reconciliation and moving forward are what’s truly…

If any rugby follower is unsure how Georgia will approach Saturday’s encounter with the Springboks in Mbombela, they need only cast their minds back to the day England hooker Richard Cockerill shoved an All Black during the Haka. It was 1997, and Cockerill — now the head coach of Georgia — decided to fight fire with fire. As his teammates faced the Haka, Cockerill marched up to his opposite number, Norm Hewitt. The two locked eyes, went nose to nose, and the standoff ended with Cockerill shoving Hewitt. The All Blacks cried foul, but Cockerill refused to apologise. It is that same uncompromising attitude that has made him a popular figure with a Georgian side that thrives on physicality. In his first campaign in charge, Cockerill led Georgia to the…

It’s been a “bittersweet” return home for South Africa’s Ireland-based mixed martial artist, Frans Mlambo. For the first time in seven years, Mlambo (15-6) touched down in Cape Town this week ahead of his PFL Africa bantamweight clash against Zimbabwe’s unbeaten Simbarashe Hokonya (5-0), set to take place at the Grand Arena at GrandWest Casino and Entertainment World on Saturday, 19 July. The fight is part of a historic event as the Professional Fighters League (PFL) officially launches its African franchise, marking a significant milestone in the global promotion’s expansion plans. The 2025 PFL Africa tournament will feature four events across the continent, showcasing 32 fighters from 15 African countries across four weight divisions. All will be vying for PFL gold and the opportunity to graduate into the PFL’s global…

Thabiso Monyane, who recently made the audacious switch from bitter Soweto rivals Orlando Pirates to Kaizer Chiefs, has expressed his immense pride in joining the glamour club known as Amakhosi. While on tour with Chiefs in The Netherlands for their pre-season training camp, Monyane was overwhelmed by the level of support shown during the side’s five matches. In their final game, Kaizer Chiefs lost 2-1 to Dutch Eredivisie outfit FC Twente on Wednesday evening. After the match, Monyane shared a statement on the club’s website that underscored the deep connection between Kaizer Chiefs and the South African public: “If Kaizer Chiefs do well, the country does well.” For years, it has often been said that Chiefs are so influential they help shape the nation’s mood. Reflecting on the defeat, Monyane…