Indholdsfortegnelse for 2025-07-22 i Cape Argus

Property has long held a special place in the hearts of South African investors. It offers something that other asset classes can’t: security, long-term growth, and the ability to leave behind a legacy. It’s easy to see why: the property landscape can be complex, intimidating, and filled with jargon, despite the proven value of real estate, many aspiring investors hesitate to take the first step. With extensive experience in this industry, I’ve seen firsthand how transformative property ownership can be. I’ve worked with young professionals buying their first apartment, families building generational wealth, and seasoned investors creating diversified portfolios. And through it all, I’ve come to understand one thing clearly: you don’t need to know everything to begin, but you do need the right mindset and guidance. So if you’re…

South African hip hop just got a serious dose of bold energy, power and unapologetic flair with Juicy – the latest high-octane single from rapper Rouge, featuring fellow heavyweights Nadia Nakai and Moozlie. Produced by the ever-reliable Wichi 1080, Juicy is a bass-thumping celebration of womanhood, lyrical excellence and unity in a genre that has often sidelined women. For the first time, these three rap titans come together on a song that embodies their collective strength. Each voice is distinct, each verse electric. Rouge delivers her signature sharpness, Nakai brings charisma and attitude, and Moozlie comes through with fearless confidence. The result? A song that commands attention and demands replay. Independent Media Lifestyle caught up with the musicians to discuss the making of Juicy, sisterhood in hip hop and why…

In response to recent controversies, President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Buti Manamela as the new Minister of Higher Education and Training. The decision follows Dr Nobuhle Nkabane’s resignation, which she announced yesterday. Nkabane expressed her gratitude to President Ramaphosa for the opportunity to serve in such a critical role, saying, “I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank the President of the Republic of South Africa, H.E. Cyril Ramaphosa, for entrusting me with the responsibility to serve as Minister of Higher Education and Training.” Minutes after her statement, Ramaphosa announced Manamela’s appointment as well as that of Dr Nomusa Dube-Ncube, who will be serving as the Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training. The reshuffle comes as Nkabane faced intense scrutiny particularly for her alleged misleading of Parliament…

The National Treasury has fired back that the SANDF, saying it has allocated an additional R10 billion to its R57.2bn budget in the 2025/26 financial year. This comes after Navy Admiral Monde Lobese launched a scathing attack against the Treasury last week, accusing it of sabotaging the operational capacity of the SANDF through inadequate budget allocations. Lobese’s appearance before the Joint Standing on Defence on Friday was initially intended to address ongoing disputes between the SANDF and Armscor related to constrained procurement processes. However, it quickly evolved into a broader critique of the Treasury’s budgeting practices, which he claims have long stifled the SANDF’s ability to fulfil its mandate. “National Treasury can’t be allowed to be a super-department or a government on its own over and above the current government.…

Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa says the cost of electricity in South Africa is “unsustainable” and is driving many households into energy poverty. “We are revising the electricity pricing policy to address the issue of the cost of electricity. It’s unaffordable,” Ramokgopa said in an interview with eNCA. “It’s dealing a major blow to the disposable income of households.” He said that for many families, the choice comes down to buying a loaf of bread or replenishing electricity units. “The choice is easy. They are going to buy a loaf of bread,” he said. Ramokgopa reiterated the government’s responsibility to intervene. “The state has got a duty not to be retrenched, but to be at the forefront of the resolution of this pre-eminent problem,” he said. His comments come…

A CAPE Town dance crew served their opponents and returned as overall world champions in two categories from an international competition in Spain. K&J Dance Unlimited Studio made history as they returned overall world champs in the Senior Commercial Large group and Senior Commercial Small Group at the 2025 Dance World Cup held in Burgos, Spain from July 2–12. Based in the northern suburbs, the dance studio sent 41 dancers aged 9 to 24 years to represent South Africa. They competed against 8 500 dancers from over 60 countries and rose above the odds. Senior dancer at K&J Dance Unlimited, Chanae Convalle, said it was the most challenging competition they have ever competed in but the team managed to come out tops and make the country proud. “It was probably…

Laurian Johannes-Haupt feels when she faced up to the mighty Black Ferns haka at the Women’s Rugby World Cup back in 2010, the women’s game was virtually unrecognisable from the high-impact professional sport it has now transformed into. The Springbok Women’s assistant coach is the embodiment of the change within the game after the 40-year-old swapped her classroom at Athlone High School in Cape Town for a Bok tracksuit on a fulltime basis at the beginning of the year. Johannes-Haupt can now focus all her energies on preparing the Boks for their all-important clash against the Black Ferns XV in her hometown when the traditional rivals meet at the historic Athlone Stadium on Saturday. “We played them in the 2010 World Cup and from where the game has gone to,…

As the 2025 tax season gets underway, millions of South Africans have already received their auto-assessments from the South African Revenue Service (Sars). But while these automatically generated assessments may seem like a welcome convenience, financial experts are urging taxpayers to proceed with caution before simply clicking "accept." “Auto-assessments should not be accepted blindly,” warns Thys van Zyl, CEO of Everest Wealth Advisory. “Tax season is, in fact, a golden opportunity to reduce your tax liability and potentially even receive a refund.” Van Zyl stresses that although Sars uses third-party data to calculate auto-assessments, these calculations may not include all the deductions you’re entitled to. “The reality is that not all allowable deductions are necessarily included. Additional deductions may include extra medical expenses, charitable donations, and home office or travel…

THE Gqeberha Regional Court has handed down a five-year prison sentence to Lusanda Gloria Qose, a former sales and service consultant at First National Bank (FNB), for her involvement in a sophisticated fraud scheme that exploited a vulnerable senior citizen’s banking profile. The court’s ruling comes in the aftermath of Qose’s conviction for fraud, cyber fraud, and the unlawful use of access credentials, a crime which threatened the integrity of the financial sector and allowed her to siphon off a staggering R245 000 over a period of three months. Qose, 35, was found to have abused her position at the Pier 14 branch, unlawfully accessing internal bank systems between January 22 and April 24, last year. With her employee credentials, she manipulated account details belonging to 68-year-old complainant Mlungwana Maranti,…

THE DA has slammed “weak oversight” of gang activity at Pollsmoor Correctional Facility after the confiscation of cellphones, sharp objects and drug during a raid last week. DA MP Nicholas Gotsell said the party has long warned that the war on gangs and drugs on the Cape Flats does not stop at the prison gates and called for K9 units and body-worn cameras with independent oversight to combat prison criminality. This follows after a multidisciplinary search operation was conducted at the remand section of the facility where more than 800 inmates were searched. Department of Correctional Services (DCS) spokesperson Singabakho Nxumlao said: “Among the items confiscated were 119 cellphones, 74 cellphone charges, 50 cable charges, 41 cellphone batteries, 34 sim card, 81 sharp objects, 37 dagga pipes, 305 packets of…

FORMER South African President Jacob Zuma’s recent visit to Morocco has ignited controversy and divided opinions, with some describing it as a “betrayal” of the Western Sahara. The visit, which occurred quietly last week, was brought to light through social media posts from Moroccan officials and was confirmed by Youssef Amrani, Moroccan ambassador to the US, who posted on X. During his visit, Zuma was photographed alongside the MK Party’s head of Presidency, Magasela Mzobe, and Moroccan officials, with both South African and Moroccan flags displayed. The visit has been interpreted as a significant shift, particularly in relation to the Western Sahara conflict. Critics argue that Zuma’s support for Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara marks a betrayal of the African Union’s (AU) long-standing position advocating for Sahrawi self-determination. Floyd Shivambu,…

FlySafair has confirmed the cancellation of several flights yesterday, leaving scores of passengers stranded. This comes after pilots downed tools over a wage dispute. “These flights were assigned to pilots who had confirmed their availability to fly, but who late last night, reported that they would not fly. All other flights are operating as planned, and affected customers have been contacted directly using details provided at the time of booking. “Should there be further disruptions, customers will be notified promptly,” the airline said. According to trade union Solidarity, which has been speaking on behalf of disgruntled pilots, almost two-thirds of the pilots are dissatisfied with salary negotiations and working conditions. Solidarity stated that in a recent poll, almost 84% of Solidarity members rejected FlySafair’s current proposal. “The pilots feel exhausted,…

The recent BRICS declaration on artificial intelligence marks a critical shift in the global digital agenda. In their joint statement, BRICS leaders reaffirmed each nation’s sovereign right to develop and govern digital technologies, particularly AI, in alignment with domestic priorities and legal frameworks. They called for strengthened capacity-building, robust data governance, and technological autonomy, stating: “We firmly support the right of all countries to harness the benefits of the digital economy… to develop capacities in AI research, foster technological autonomy and innovation, ensure data protection, and promote their own digital economy.” This affirmation is welcome and timely. Yet, in the face of growing digital inequality, platform gatekeeping, and regulatory imbalance, should we not be thinking about how to move beyond high-level diplomacy toward more tangible, enforceable measures? Perhaps…

A trademark of the Springboks’ recent success has been the remarkable depth and versatility of their backline. From fullback to scrumhalf, South Africa can call upon different world-class players, each offering unique skills while maintaining a consistently high standard as seen during the four mid-year internationals. It says a lot about the side if players of the quality such as veteran outside centre Lukhanyo Am and Jaden Hendrikse, both World Cup winners, and Jordan Hendrikse are left on the outskirts and unable to crack a nod to be part of a match-day squad. Bok head coach Rassie Erasmus will need to cut a few players for his Rugby Championship squad, despite every player putting up their hand during the matches against the Barbarians, Italy and Georgia. Fullback At No 15,…

Liverpool have agreed to sign Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike in a deal worth an initial £69 million (about R1.587 billion), according to reports yesterday. The Premier League champions switched their focus to Ekitike after Newcastle United refused to sell Sweden striker Alexander Isak, who is valued at around £150m (R3.6bn) by the Magpies. Newcastle and Manchester United were also interested in Ekitike, but Liverpool appear set to win the race for one of Europe’s hottest young stars. It is believed the Reds have agreed to pay a further £10m (R230m) in potential add-ons to secure the 23-year-old Frenchman, whose overall fee could rise to £79m (R1.82bn). Once the transfer is completed, Ekitike will join Arne Slot’s side on their pre-season tour of Asia. Ekitike scored 22 goals in 48…

The Currie Cup is set to kick-off on a high note with a North-South derby between Western Province and the Bulls as South Africa’s premier domestic competition starts this weekend. While both sides will have a keen focus on developing new players with a view on the United Rugby Championship (URC), there could be some added spice to this contest in the DHL Stadium - not that it ever needs any. A couple of former Stormers players have been included in the Bulls’ squad for the campaign, and someone who probably did not reach his potential in the Cape due to some niggling injuries and minimal game time, Nama Xaba, is set to captain the Loftus Versfeld troop. URC winning lock Marvin Orie, loose forward Junior Pokomela, and prop Lizo…

The start to 2025 saw a notable shift in market conditions, with volatility proving to be the only constant. Recent months serve as a stark reminder of how unpredictable markets can be, particularly in the face of geopolitical tensions, changing monetary policies, and broader macroeconomic developments such as tariffs. In such an environment, asset allocation and diversification are vital tools to help investors navigate market turbulence while aiming to reduce risks and capitalise on emerging opportunities. Diversification through exposure to various asset classes is essential to grow wealth over time and achieve your financial goals. By understanding the different asset classes and how they interact, investors can build more resilient portfolios throughout the market cycle while working towards their desired outcomes. Diversification across asset classes isn’t merely a technical strategy…

TIFFANY Meek appeared in the Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court yesterday for the continuation of her bail hearing, where the court heard that evidence from a security guard contradicted a statement made by Meek to police. Meek, 31, from Fleurhof, is charged with the murder of her 11-year-old son Jayden-Lee Meek, crimen injuria, attempting to defeat or obstruct the course of justice, and defeating or obstructing the administration of justice. Meek previously told the court she could afford R5 000 bail and gave an alternative address in Meadowlands, KwaZulu-Natal, should she be granted bail. Prosecutor Olga Mapokgole called investigating officer, Sergeant Linda Duma, to the stand to testify. He confirmed Meek had no previous convictions. The police sergeant revealed explosive evidence that contradicted a previous statement made by Meek, who claimed to…

The South African Revenue Service (Sars) says it has issued auto-assessments to 5.8 million taxpayers this year and paid out around R10.6 billion in refunds, most of which were processed within 72 hours. According to the revenue service, this is up from 5 million in 2024. The tax season officially began on July 7, with the auto-assessment period running until July 20. From July 21, the filing period opens for taxpayers who were not auto-assessed or who wish to update their returns. “The successful completion of the auto-assessment period, which ran from July 7–20, will be followed by the tax filing period via eFiling and the Sars MobiApp for individual taxpayers from Monday (yesterday) to October 20,” Sars said. According to the revenue service, 99.6% of auto-assessments issued were accepted…

South Africa is set to take the final step toward exiting the Financial Action Task Force greylist, with an international assessment team scheduled to arrive in the country next week for an on-site evaluation. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Africa Joint Group will visit South Africa on July 29 and 30 to verify progress made in strengthening the country’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing systems. IOL previously reported that the country was placed on the greylist due to its failure to adhere to the FATF’s requirements in dealing with anti-money laundering and combating financing of terrorism. This visit is the final requirement before the FATF decides at its October plenary whether the country can be removed from the greylist. Since being greylisted in 2023, the country has worked hard…

ELEVEN laboratory-confirmed measles cases have been recorded in the Western Cape since the start of the year, said the provincial Department of Health and Wellness. “It is important to note that these cases were sporadic and do not currently constitute an outbreak. However, sub-optimal vaccination coverage does increase our risk,” said Shimoney Regter, department spokesperson. Measles is a contagious disease and its symptoms include fever, a spreading rash, cough, red eyes, and a runny nose. Complications can include pneumonia, diarrhoea, brain infection, and blindness. At least 95% vaccination coverage is required to prevent measles outbreaks and achieve herd immunity, the department said, although it did not specify the current coverage levels across the province. Professor Talitha Crowley, the academic division head at the School of Nursing at the UWC, said…

In every generation, a call emerges – a call to rise, to challenge the status quo, and to build a better future. Today, that call is louder than ever, and it is directed squarely at the youth. But as we respond, we must ask ourselves: Why are we stepping into politics? Is it simply a way to escape poverty, or is it a path to creating real, lasting change for everyone? Politics should never be reduced to a shortcut to personal enrichment. It should be viewed as a powerful platform to uplift communities, restore dignity, and build a future founded on justice and fairness. Across many developing countries, and especially here in South Africa, young people face serious challenges. High unemployment, poor education, inequality, and exclusion from decision-making are part…

TWO of Africa’s premier women’s football nations will go toe-to-toe on tonight when South Africa meet Nigeria in a blockbuster Wafcon semi-final at the Stade Larbi Zaouli in Casablanca at 6pm. At stake is more than just a spot in the final — the winner secures automatic qualification to the 2026 Fifa Women’s World Cup. It adds another layer of urgency and intensity to a rivalry that has grown into one of the continent’s fiercest. Recent history gives Banyana Banyana reason to be confident. In the last five meetings between the two nations, South Africa have registered two wins, Nigeria have claimed one, and two matches have ended in draws. This includes Banyana’s famous 2-1 group-stage triumph over the Super Falcons in the 2022 Wafcon — the same tournament that…

Calvin le John, the son of South Africa’s Minister of Sport, Gayton McKenzie, has added his name to a long list of businessmen who have followed their passion for football by acquiring the status of an elite league club. In purchasing SuperSport United — whom he has since renamed Siwelele United — Le John follows in the footsteps of numerous wealthy individuals who have taken advantage of South African football’s disturbingly lax club ownership policies, which have contributed to the demise of several historically significant teams. Le John’s decision to take over SuperSport’s status is actually an attempt to resurrect Bloemfontein Celtic, a club that vanished from the professional ranks after its status was sold. Unable to reclaim the original name, he has opted for “Siwelele United FC”, adopting the…