Indholdsfortegnelse for 2025-09-08 i Cape Argus

THE Western Cape High Court declared two disciplinary actions against two learners who were vaping in the school’s hostel unlawful, as the school’s governing body twice punished them for the same offence, which amounts to double jeopardy. The now Grade 10 learners were twice found to be vaping. The first incident was at the end of 2023 when they were in Grade 8, and the second incident was last year, a few months down the line. In the 2023 incident, both learners, identified as L and M, were expelled from the hostel for six weeks. However, when the incident occurred again the following year, both were permanently expelled from the hostel. A few days later, the school yet again sanctioned them for the same offence for which it had expelled…

TAXI violence over the Khayelitsha-Somerset West Route continues to spiral despite marathon talks and a court interdict, with rival associations Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (Cata) and Cape Organisation for the Democratic Taxi Association (Codeta) still deadlocked over control of the contested routes. The Western Cape Mobility Department confirmed that the associations were given until today to propose a resolution, but hours of meetings yielded no breakthrough. Cata spokesperson Nkululeko Sityebi rejected a proposal that would see Codeta operate the Khayelitsha–Somerset West route exclusively. “We are not agreeing on Cata being pushed out of the Khayelitsha–Somerset West,” he said. “The proposal that Codeta should drive to and from Somerset West and our members who have been operating there must now be excluded will not work for us. We don’t mind sharing…

THE Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic) has moved to calm fears that its proposed National Credit Regulations could harm students, insisting the reforms are aimed at boosting small business finance. But some South Africans remain unconvinced, warning that the measures risk trapping indebted graduates in even deeper financial distress. Minister Parks Tau, who is currently attending the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) in Algeria, said the draft regulations, published last month for consultation, are intended to improve access to credit for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). The department maintains they will strengthen township economies and reduce reliance on loan sharks. The controversy over the draft regulations is mounting. Ministerial spokesperson Kaamil Alli defended the proposals, saying: “The minister remains committed to ensuring that these regulations do not unfairly…

Floyd Shivambu, who broke ranks with his former political home, and launched a new party, the Afrika Mayibuye Movement (AMM), has lashed out at the ANC for its failure to deliver change. Unveiling the AMM’s manifesto, Shivambu accused the ANC of betraying South Africans. “The ANC has dismally failed to deliver the promise of a better life for all. There are currently no liberation alternatives to the ANC’s decline. Many attempts to reform the ANC from within have failed, and the other parties in existence are not a solution to the people of South Africa,” Shivambu said. The manifesto claimed that the country’s main opposition forces are equally unfit to govern. It argued that the existing political formations lack the ideals of true emancipation and freedom. “It will be a…

CapeNature, in collaboration with Soapbox and the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, launched the “Don’t Be Trashy” Drive to combat escalating waste threats to Western Cape ecosystems. The campaign targets both land and marine pollution, where plastic and non-biodegradable waste endanger biodiversity. It integrates public awareness, education, and community action to reduce waste and foster lasting behavioural change. Western Cape Provincial Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning Anton Bredell said the government has an important role to play in guiding communities to change and improve their handling of waste. “We need to grow our understanding of the value that can be unlocked from waste. Let’s explore simple ways in which we can benefit from the circular economy that lies hidden in many trash items we…

chinese President Xi Jinping met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 31 on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit in Tianjin. This meeting, building on their successful dialogue in Kazan in 2024, represents an important moment for China-India relations, bolstering growing optimism within the SCO, and marking a major point in diplomatic relations within the Global South. Most significantly, the broader events taking place in Beijing shows that half the world's population are discussing their future without reference to, and diminishing dependence on the West. For the Global South, this means that this community of countries and nations could leverage their growing internal bilateral and multilateral cooperation for international and domestic peace, stability, and development. The bilateral meeting between China and India coincided with the 75th…

Third ODI, Southampton England: 414/5 (Bethell 110, Root 100, Buttler 62*, Smith 62, Bosch 2/79, Maharaj 2/61) South Africa: 72 all out (Bosch 20, Archer 4/18, Rashid 3/13, Carse 2/33) w England won by 342 runs, SA win the series 2-1 The Proteas have become the masters of falling prey to the dead-rubber ODI syndrome. Sunday’s world record ODI defeat by 342 runs, in which they were 18/5 at one stage, before being routed for 72 by England at Southampton’s Rose Bowl follows on directly from their last dead-rubber in Australia just over a fortnight ago. Having won the first two matches of the series Down Under to clinch the trophy, they slumped to a 278-run defeat in Cairns. They have now eclipsed that performance with an even more pitiful…

Kaizer Chiefs’ capture of Khanyisa Mayo on loan from Algerian giants CR Belouizdad may be a signal of ambition, but it also turns up the heat on head coach Nasreddine Nabi to deliver more than just glimpses of progress this season. The Bafana Bafana forward became Amakhosi’s 11th signing of a busy transfer window, underlining the club’s intent to rebuild after years of inconsistency. Chiefs finished a disappointing ninth in the Betway Premiership last season, though their Nedbank Cup triumph provided a silver lining and secured a return to continental football in the CAF Confederation Cup. Now, with Mayo added to a squad already reinforced in almost every department, excuses are starting to run thin. Nabi, entering his second year at Naturena, can no longer be judged solely on stabilising…

Aryna Sabalenka credited her new-found mental approach on Saturday after producing a controlled performance to retain her US Open crown. The 27-year-old world number one from Belarus defeated American eighth seed Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 7-6 (7/3) to claim a fourth career Grand Slam title. Sabalenka said her victory followed a rethink after defeats in the Australian and French Open finals earlier this season. “After the Australian Open, I thought the right way would be just to forget it and move on, but then the same thing happened at the French Open,” she said. “So, after the French Open I figured, ‘okay, maybe it’s time for me to sit back and look at those finals and maybe learn something,’ because I didn’t want it to happen again and again.” A holiday…

Max Verstappen slowed McLaren’s Formula One dominance on Sunday with a phenomenal display of driving on his way to victory at the Italian Grand Prix, the fastest race in the sport’s history. Starting from pole, the reigning world champion completed a magical weekend at Monza, which included the fastest lap ever in F1 during Saturday’s qualifying, outpacing the McLaren duo of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. Red Bull’s Verstappen has little chance of securing a fifth consecutive drivers’ title, still trailing championship leader Piastri by 94 points, with the Australian finishing third. “It was really enjoyable,” said Verstappen, who took the chequered flag in 1hr 13mins 24.325sec. “I think we pitted at the right time, and with the hard tyres at the end you can push a bit more. It…

Award-winning local film Carissa will be making its big screen debut in Mzansi after receiving international recognition at several major film festivals, including the Venice Film Festival. Directed by Jason Jacobs and Devon Delmar, Carissa is their first feature film and has already gained acclaim for its poignant storytelling. The film premiered in the Orizzonti section at the Venice Film Festival in 2024, and it has since been showcased at prestigious events like the Santa Barbara International Film Festival in California and the BlackStar Film Festival in Philadelphia. It was also shown at the 13th Silwerskerm Festival. Set amidst the breathtaking backdrop of the Cederberg mountains, Carissa tells the story of a young woman who lives with her grandmother in the small village of Wupperthal. As she faces challenges from…

LAW enforcement officers and members of the People Against Gangsterism and Drugs (Pagad) group clashed in Bonteheuwel and Beacon Valley yesterday. Pagad joined frustrated residents in Bonteheuwel and Beacon Valley, Mitchells Plain, to march against gangsterism and drugs, but were stopped in Bonteheuwel while they were told to take off their masks in Mitchells Plain. In Bonteheuwel, Pagad’s national co-ordinator Haroon Orrie had planned a motorcade through the streets. But they were met by Public Order Police, who said they did not have permission to proceed. One angry resident told officers: “They are here today to march for peace. Go to the gangsters and merchants who murder our children.” Orrie added: “The war against gangsterism and drugs will never end, until such time as every gangster and every drug dealer…

A 14-YEAR-OLD boy is currently applying for bail in the Atlantis Magistrate’s Court on charges of murder and attempted murder. On Friday, the defence counsel for the teenager were pleading their case to have the child released on bail. But, the matter has been rolled over to today, for the State to cross-examine the minor and call the investigating officer to the stand as it opposes the release of the teenager. The teenager is alleged to be the shooter behind the murder of a 31-year-old man and the attempted murder of a four-year-old girl in Hoop Crescent, in Saxonsea, on Wednesday. The incident took place at 7.30am as children were headed to school. According to police, the toddler was walking with her mother on her way to daycare when she…

Parliament has expressed concern that the Home Affairs Department has introduced a divorce bill, leaving limited time to process it considering that in just two months, the constitutional deadline expires. The matter came up when the National Assembly Programme was briefed this week about the bills that are before committees and those that have constitutional deadlines. Briefing the committee last week, parliamentary legal advisor Charmaine van der Merwe said Parliament was given an October deadline to fix a constitutional defect in the Divorce Act by the Constitutional Court. Van der Merwe said the department introduced the General (Family) Laws Amendment Act in Parliament only on August 13. “Parliament has enquired from the department regarding an application to request the Constitutional Court to extend the suspension of the order as the…

The City announced the official launch of the Bo-Kaap Market which will take place September 30. The market is set to open daily 10am to 7pm daily, at the corner of Pentz Street and Yusuf Drive. The City explained that the newly constructed Bo-Kaap Market is a vibrant space designed to support local entrepreneurs, showcase locally produced goods, and celebrate the rich cultural heritage of the Bo-Kaap community. It is now calling on traders to join. “Local Bo-Kaap-based traders are invited to submit applications to participate in the market. Priority will be given to small-scale businesses selling crafts, fresh produce, food items, and other locally made products,” the City said. The City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, Alderman James Vos said they were excited as the day…

UP-AND-COMING chefs celebrated Kaapse food icon – the koesister – to kick off Heritage Month and mark World Koesister Day yesterday. After a four-year hiatus, World Koesister Day (WKD) returned with a special gathering held at the Sun Square Hotel bringing together media, food lovers and cultural enthusiasts over koesisters and coffee, a proudly South African tradition that embodies the warmth of our heritage. This koesister is, of course not to be confused with a koeksister – the plaited syrupy confection of Dutch origin. Cape Malay slaves used to eat an unsweetened version of the donut we know today as breakfast. Today, we enjoy the spicy, citrus and coconut favourite any time of the day. Yesterday, that tradition was celebrated by 20 differently abled youth and learners from schools had…

So My Ex-Boyfriend Is a Serial Killer Kylie Scott Narrated by Andi Arndt Audible Originals AH, LOVE in the modern age - matching apps, awkward first dates, and the occasional ex-boyfriend with a penchant for murder. In best-selling author Kylie Scott’s latest audiobook, So My Ex-Boyfriend Is a Serial Killer, you’ll find all that and more wrapped in a side of humour and thrilling suspense. Narrated by the ever-engaging Andi Arndt, this six-hour adventure dives head first into romance entwined with ridiculous, yet darkly comic, dilemmas. Trust me; this is not your run-of-the-mill love story. Meet Sidney Walsh, a woman who has faced the unexpected aftermath of dating an infamous killer. It’s not every day you find yourself casually sipping coffee while online amateur detectives obsessively dissect your past love…

The Springbok Women received a sobering dose of reality at the World Cup in the form of the fleet-footed French, who ran up a 57-10 score in the final match of Pool D in Northampton on Sunday evening. The Springbok Women have been a revelation at the tournament, starting with a 66-6 win over flyweights Brazil, followed by a 29-24 victory against middleweights Italy, but heavyweights France pulled the South African challenge back down to earth. South Africa finished second in Pool D and will play New Zealand in the quarter-finals. The French, ranked the fourth-best team in the world, outclassed the Bok Women, who were hamstrung by a red card to centre Chumisa Qawe. With both teams already qualified for the playoffs, coach Swys Bruin gave opportunities to players…

The Western Cape played host to a handful of coronations last night as the Barebones MMA Championship returned for its fifth installment at the Sunningdale Sports Complex in Milnerton. Fittingly, on a night celebrating kings and queens of their divisions, the card was packed with drama, passion, tension, and raw emotion – all under one roof. Thirty athletes marched into the Barebones cage, each carrying dreams of glory, cheered on by hundreds of MMA fans roaring their support. By the end, the fast-growing promotion – which continues to spotlight the future of African MMA despite its challenges – crowned six new champions, produced one title contender, and introduced several bright prospects. The first men’s fight featured MECS’ Mike Attfield against Hopefield’s Damian Erasmus. Erasmus unleashed a barrage of wild strikes,…

“It was a deliberate hit.” This is how Gauteng police spokesperson, Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi described the brazen daylight shooting of insolvency lawyer, Bouwer van Niekerk. Van Niekerk was killed in the boardroom of his Saxonwold, Johannesburg office on Friday. The 43-year-old was at the time of his death was reportedly working on high-profile cases, including a major insolvency case linked to an alleged Ponzi scheme. Nevhuhulwi said: “Once inside the boardroom, gunshots were heard, and the assailants fled the scene. The attorney was declared dead at the scene, with no items reported stolen, pointing to a deliberate hit. “Police are searching for four suspects.” Justice and Constitutional Development minister, Mmamoloko Kubayi condemned the attack. Speaking on behalf of Kubayi, her spokesperson Terence Manase said: “The minister wishes to reiterate that the…

While the RAF last week failed in its urgent bid to extend the 180-day payment moratorium in which to pay claims, citing that it will lead to its financial collapse if the reprieve is not extended, members of the legal fraternity said this is not true – the RAF must just get its house in order. The Law Society of South Africa (LSSA) meanwhile welcomed the order handed down by the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, in which the urgent application brought by the RAF was struck from the roll with punitive costs. The fund had sought a further 180-day stay of executions, but the court ruled that the matter lacked urgency. The RAF sought the court’s indulgence to further limit the existing rights of its judgment creditors by extending, yet…

South Africa has 11 official languages, each with its own rich history, but that hasn’t stopped ordinary South Africans from creatively inventing new words that have become part of our daily lives. Sometimes seen simply as words, language plays an important role in our development and in shaping the diversity that defines our nation, bringing pride and culture to communities across the country. According to University of Johannesburg linguist Professor Anne-Marie Beukes, language is more than just a means of communication. “It is not just about languages but about human beings and humanity. Languages are instruments that serve humanity.” “We need to embrace our cultural heritage, our language heritage, because we are all striving towards creating harmony and peace in our democracy.” While South Africans take great pride in official…

It wasn’t the result Springbok newcomer Ethan Hooker wanted in his first Test against the All Blacks, but the utility back was chuffed to get his baptism of fire at Eden Park in Auckland. Despite the nail-biting 24-17 loss on Saturday, the Bok bench, including Hooker, turned the tide for the side as they chased a first win at the iconic stadium in 88 years. Although it wasn’t meant to be after a slow start to the game, the 22-year-old Hooker experienced his first Test against New Zealand and had a taste of what it feels like to face the Haka in front of a passionate and fired-up away crowd. “It was a very surreal experience for me,” the utility back said. “Just being at Eden Park and experiencing the…

Liverpool star Mohamed Salah could this week become the second African football icon after Achraf Hakimi to secure his presence at the 2026 World Cup in North America. Salah will captain Egypt in Burkina Faso in a top-of-the-table African zone Group A qualifier on Tuesday, and victory for the Pharaohs will guarantee first place with two matches to spare. Paris Saint-Germain full-back Hakimi helped Morocco become the first African qualifiers at the weekend when they struck five unanswered goals after Niger were reduced to 10 men in Rabat. The nine group winners in Africa qualify for the World Cup, which will feature a record 48 nations, up from 32 at the last edition in Qatar three years ago. Salah converted a penalty in a 2-0 win over Ethiopia in Cairo…

Springbok great Steven Kitshoff feels the Springboks were the more dominant team in the Eden Park showdown with the All Blacks and is convinced they will bounce back this week in Wellington. The Boks started the Rugby Championship match in Auckland poorly but were on top in the second half, before losing 24-17. “It was a disappointing result because the Springboks had plenty of opportunities to score points or enter into the New Zealand 22,” said Kitshoff, who was a ZARbet ambassador, at Pirates Rugby Club on Saturday in Johannesburg. “A couple of things went against them, but in my opinion, the Springboks were the more dominant team, and it makes for an exciting second Test.” Kitshoff, a veteran of 83 Tests at loosehead prop for South Africa, was a…

The Boland Cavaliers received a taste of what they can expect in the Currie Cup semi-finals against the Lions this past Saturday in Cape Town, after falling to a heavy defeat against Western Province. WP denied their neighbours a home semi-final, restricting them to three tries in a 40-22 victory at the DHL Stadium. It’s a major achievement for the Bolanders to make the playoffs in their first season back in the top division since 2016, but they would’ve preferred hosting the match in Wellington. Instead, they will have to travel to Johannesburg for the showdown. Playing against a WP side packed with United Rugby Championship players, however, should serve as valuable preparation for what awaits. They scored three excellent tries, but costly errors undid their efforts. Conceding three yellow…