Indholdsfortegnelse for 2025-12-24 i Cape Argus

“Strong on the outside, breaking on the inside,” is how Wendy Figlan described the reality that shaped The Beauty and Battle of a Single Mom, a deeply personal book that turns quiet survival into a shared voice. From the opening pages, Figlan writes with honesty about motherhood lived in tension, holding strength and heartbreak at the same time. Her book is not framed as a guide or a lesson but as lived truth, told plainly, for women who rarely see their inner lives reflected with care. The book captures the weight of single motherhood without softening it. Figlan writes from years of carrying her story quietly, raising a child, working and managing emotional wounds that had little space to exist. “For years I carried my story quietly, balancing strength with…

FIVE months after 83-year-old Juanita Solomon finally received the title deed for 16 plots (6.5 acres) taken from their family under the Group Areas Act, she is facing another battle after being served with an eviction notice relating to the property she leases from the City, days before Christmas. The land, once farmland in Retreat, belonged to a white farmer, and under the Group Areas Act, he was forced to vacate it, leaving Solomon behind to care for it, the family told the Cape Argus. The City argues that Solomon and the occupants (her daughter and granddaughter) breached the lease agreement. Last week, after receiving the title deed of the land belonging to her father, Solomon was issued with an eviction notice. Her joy at the finalisation of the 44-year…

Traditional leaders will be trained to ensure that traditional courts are able to promote independence, impartiality, dignity, accessibility and effectiveness of their courts in the administration of justice. Justice and Constitutional Development Mmamoloko Kubayi has published for public comment the Traditional Courts Regulations and a Code of Conduct. The training of traditional leaders will be done by the South African Judicial Education Institute or any training institution identified by Kubayi. They will also receive training of the general administrative and functioning of traditional courts, to be conducted by a training institution identified by the director-general. There are also plans to rope in paralegals who are set to play a key support role in traditional courts, helping parties navigate the system, transfer disputes to Magistrate’s or small claims courts, and providing…

In the Western Cape two high-profile cases emerged this year, intertwining themes of justice, community anguish, and the quest for accountability. The sentencing of Racquel “Kelly” Smith and her two co-accused to life imprisonment for the abduction of six-year-old Joshlin Smith sent shockwaves through Saldanha Bay, igniting calls for justice from a community still reeling from the tragedy. Simultaneously, a landmark legal battle is unfolding as the South African Property Owners Association (Sapoa) and AfriForum challenge the City of Cape Town over controversial tariffs, raising questions about governance and the rights of citizens. Joshlin Smith trial In the wake of the sentencing, the search for the little girl continues. Earlier this year, at the Western Cape High Court sitting in Saldanha Bay, Judge Nathan Erasmus jailed Joshlin’s mother, Kelly, and…

THE City of Cape Town’s position that air quality around Milnerton Lagoon poses no immediate health risk has been challenged by environmental activists and an opposition councillor, who argue that the monitoring approach does not adequately reflect real exposure conditions or residents’ reported health impacts. Responding to questions, Francine Higham, the Mayoral Member for Community Services and Health, said City Health recommissioned continuous ambient air-quality monitoring at Woodbridge Island in February after earlier equipment was vandalised. She said monitoring shows hydrogen sulphide (H₂S) concentrations remain “well below” the World Health Organization’s daily guideline of 110 parts per billion, and that a review of current scientific literature indicates low-level exposure has limited impacts on human health. Based on these findings, Higham said a formal Health Risk Assessment is “not currently warranted”,…

It has been nearly a decade since the tragic events at Lily Mine in Mpumalanga’s gold belt, where a catastrophic collapse claimed the lives of three individuals and left a community grieving and without closure. The incident, which occurred in February 2016, buried Solomon Nyirenda, Pretty Nkambule, and Yvonne Mnisi inside a container they were working in. Since that fateful day, they have been stuck in the mine’s depths. Since April 2019, family members of the victims have set up camp near the mine, living in a state of prolonged anguish while clutching onto hope that the remains of their loved ones will one day be recovered. This ongoing vigil speaks to the deep sense of loss and unresolved grief that hangs heavy over the families and the surrounding community,…

It’s time to get even, Bafana Bafana. It is time to settle the score with the Pharaohs. Friday’s Africa Cup of Nations Group B clash between South Africa’s senior national team and their Egyptian counterparts will mark the fourth meeting between the two countries situated on opposite tips of the motherland. It is a crucial clash for both sides, with the winner set to book their place in the knockout stages with a match to spare. Both countries were 2–1 winners in their opening matches — Bafana having beaten Angola, while Egypt got the better of Zimbabwe. A recipe for a humdinger, alright! Not that clashes between the two are ever anything but. These, after all, are countries who have built something of an AFCON rivalry since South Africa’s return…

Sometimes it helps when you can go to someone who has been there and done it. And few have done it more often than Proteas legend Hashim Amla. The South African genius has since of course transformed himself into a batting coach of the highest quality, imparting his vast knowledge at both the Lions and MI Cape Town. It just so happens that Rassie van der Dussen gets to tap into Amla in both camps. “It’s a luxury I have for having him at Lions,” Van der Dussen said ahead of MI Cape Town’s SA20 opener against Durban’s Super Giants at Newlands on Friday. “I came into the Lions setup a little bit underprepared, I think. There were one or two technical things that were out of sync. And I…

Teetering on the brink of despair for just over two decades, Bafana Bafana transformed years of anxiety and disappointment into triumph — at least for the moment. Monday night’s win over Angola represents not just a momentary success, but a shift in the trajectory of South African football. This victory restores hope after years of underperformance in high-pressure AFCON opening games. This crucial result marked a significant turning point in South African football history and was one of the major talking points from the Group B opener in Morocco on Monday evening. Remember Tunisia 2004 The last time Bafana Bafana won their opening AFCON match was a 2–0 triumph over Benin in 2004, courtesy of a brace from Siyabonga Nomvethe. Since then, South Africa had gone winless in their opening…

IN Ocean View, where childhood is too often shaped by danger rather than play, the days leading up to Christmas have offered a reminder of what community care can achieve after more than 400 children were welcomed into a space created solely for joy, safety and belonging. The festive celebration was organised by local resident Nadia Petersen and her non-profit organisation, Groundbreakers, which transformed a community venue into a colourful haven filled with games, treats and wrapped gifts. For many of the children, whose families grapple daily with unemployment, poverty and the threat of violence, the party offered a rare pause from the harsh realities they face in a neighbourhood scarred by gang activity and loss. Groundbreakers operates from a modest home in Ocean View, relying largely on donations to…

IN just six days, 28 crashes were recorded across the province, resulting in the tragic loss of 30 lives, including 11 pedestrians. Transport Minister Barbara Creecy and Deputy Minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa urged calm and adherence to traffic laws as moving violations increase ahead of the Christmas and New Year’s rush. Creecy and Hlengwa have denounced moving traffic violations as the number one cause of road crashes, including overtaking on barrier lines and blind rises, which can lead to head-on collisions. They said speeding is the leading moving traffic violation recorded since the start of the festive season. RTMC, Road Traffic Management Corporation has reported 50 000 traffic fines issued for speeding, with 255 drivers arrested for driving at high-speed and exceeding the speed limit by 40km/h. Sanral (South African National…

GENDER-Based violence (GBV) organisations and activists are opposing the release on bail of a 62-year-old man who is charged with the rape of his five-year-old great-granddaughter. The child’s 44-year-old grandmother said she was suffering secondary trauma, claiming he allegedly raped her when she was just eight years old. Now, three decades later, the grandmother from Wesbank said she was reliving the trauma after it emerged earlier this month that her own granddaughter was also a victim of the same male relative. The great-grandfather, who cannot be identified, made an appearance at the Blue Downs Regional Court yesterday, where he is facing a charge of rape. Police spokesperson Captain FC Van Wyk confirmed the case, explaining that the alarm was raised when the victim was seen walking with difficulty. “On Sunday,…

Firearm experts have said that the Bitou Municipality deputy mayor, Nokuzola Kolwapi, will have a lot to account for after she discharged what she said was a toy gun in a viral video, as her behaviour was reckless and contravenes the Firearms Control Act. Kolwapi, who is also the Ikhwezi Political Movement (IPM) president, released an official statement through the party’s social media on Monday, saying that the video was taken during the celebration marking the return of her son from ulwaluko – a sacred Xhosa initiation ceremony that marks the transition into manhood. In her statement, she specifically mentions it being a “replica (toy-gun)”, however, firearm experts have come out and said that they don’t view it as such, and that even if it were, she still broke the…

DAYS after arriving back on South African soil, the 29-year-old Kraaifontein musician and mother who was aboard the MSC Musica and claimed she was sexually assaulted by a colleague, has opened a case of rape with local police. Police spokesperson, Captain FC Van Wyk said the case was registered at Strandfontein SAPS and would be transferred to Mitchells Plain FCS for further investigation. He said no arrest had been made. It is understood that the colleague, who is also South African and was part of a music duo with the woman, has since disembarked and is expected to return home. It is further understood that he is well-known in the music industry. The young woman said she needed to get justice for what had happened. “I feel anxious and nervous,…

Sports are increasingly emerging as a powerful connection that unites people, acting as a glue holding bilateral and multilateral relations through shared purpose and commitment to mutually beneficial relations development. Sports are a powerful, universal tool for achieving national and international development, including broader goals like the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They play a vital role in development by fostering physical and mental health, building life skills like teamwork and resilience, promoting social inclusion and national unity, curbing youth violence, and driving economic growth. Sports provide immense economic opportunities that could drive sustainable economic growth and development, in addition to bridging adversities of human diversity and cultural experiences, especially where such differences sustain human prejudices. The global sports industry is a massive, multi-trillion-dollar market, with recent estimates placing its…

Records are meaningless without honours and silverware in football. This is a fact that Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos knows all too well as he strives to steer his side to only their second AFCON title in three decades. Bafana have been on a high, extending their unbeaten run in official matches to 26 games – and 27 overall – after opening their continental showpiece with a 2-1 win over Angola at the Stade de Marrakech on Monday night. The victory, inspired by goals from Oswin Appollis and Lyle Foster, ensured that Broos – the longest-serving coach in the team’s history – celebrated his 50th match in charge in style. Broos is no stranger to chasing the continent’s biggest prize. He won AFCON with Cameroon in 2017 by laying a…

England managing director Rob Key pledged yesterday to investigate whether players’ drinking on a mid-Ashes beach break went too far, after reports said it had been like a “stag-do.” The England team headed to Queensland tourist playground Noosa after heavily losing the first two Tests in Perth and Brisbane. They spent several days on the sand and around restaurants and bars, followed by TV crews, photographers and reporters before travelling to Adelaide where they lost the third Test and the Ashes. Britain’s Daily Telegraph reported that “after drowning their sorrows after the Brisbane Test, it is no exaggeration to say some, certainly not all, players drank for five or six days”. It added that players “did nothing outrageous in Noosa” but there was concern over the level of drinking, with…

The Bulls have reacted to their poor performances in the United Rugby Championship and Champions Cup by sacking assistant coaches Andries Bekker and Chris Rossouw. The development was leaked on social media yesterday morning, with the Bulls yet to confirm the move in a statement of their own. Bekker (forwards) and Rossouw (backline) served under former head coach Jake White, who parted ways with the Pretoria-based franchise in July following a player revolt after comments he made following the URC final defeat to Leinster. White was succeeded by Johan Ackermann, who initially retained the existing backroom staff. The Bulls began their season in late September with home victories over the Ospreys and Leinster. They then went on tour and, while they recorded a spirited win against Connacht, they were outplayed…

THE Kaapse Klopse Karnival Association (KKKA) has defended changes to the 2026 Kaapse Klopse Karnival, saying the revised route and format are aimed at protecting the cultural integrity of the event while responding to rising costs and relief. It said safety responsibilities and long-term sustainability pressures, participating troupes face. The response was issued in a statement posted on the social media platforms of the Cape Town Street Parade, amid growing public debate over the updated carnival route and the decision to combine key elements of the event. KKKA director Muneeb Gambino said the association’s board largely made up of troupe owners, carefully weighed cultural, logistical and financial considerations before confirming that the street parade and the first day of competition would take place on January 5, 2026. He said the…

Parliament has been a theatre of unprecedented events and intense scrutiny this year, with a significant impact on the country’s political landscape. From the postponement of the Budget presentation to intense investigations into police corruption, this parliamentary year has showcased both the challenges and resilience woven into the fabric of South African politics. The year began with a notable first as Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana was compelled to present two budgets. This unprecedented postponement was sparked by proposed increases in VAT and mounting tensions among partners in the Government of National Unity (GNU). The DA, having pursued legal action along with the EFF, threatened to withhold its support unless its fiscal proposals were addressed. The mounting pressure led to frantic last-minute negotiations within GNU to avert a Budget deadlock and…

Palestinian solidarity groups came out to express their support for pro-Palestine political prisoners on hunger strike in British jails and held a solidarity protest at the offices of the British Council in Johannesburg yesterday. The solidarity protest comes after eight prisoners have been on hunger strike while awaiting trial for alleged offences relating to Palestine Action before the group was banned under terrorism legislation. Qesser Zuhrah, 20, and Amu Gib, 30, who are being held at HMP Bronzefield in Surrey, were the first two prisoners to go on hunger strike on November 2. They were joined the following day by Heba Muraisi, 31, who is at HMP New Hall. The group also includes Teuta Hoxha, 29, Kamran Ahmed, 28, and Lewie Chiaramello, 22, who refuses food every other day…

As the sun sets on 2025, something unfamiliar is settling over South Africa. It is not relief. It is not a triumph. It is something far more valuable. Clarity. For years, we were trapped in a tired argument. Either our democracy was collapsing beyond repair, or it was miraculously resilient. Doom or denial. 2025 broke that illusion. This was the year we stopped debating theory and started watching practice. Not a fairy tale. Not a rescue mission. A rough, imperfect demonstration of a democracy that still knows how to correct itself when pushed hard enough. When Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi stepped forward and alleged a criminal conspiracy within the heart of the justice system, the country held its breath. We have seen this movie before. Explosive claims. Media frenzy. Then silence.…

It’s the festive season, so go out there and have fun. That’s the message from Proteas T20I captain Aiden Markram to local players participating in the upcoming Betway SA20 Season 4. With South Africa’s premier domestic T20 competition scheduled just before next year’s ICC T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, there are many who feel the 34-game competition is a virtual trial for the 15-player squad. But Markram, in his guise as the new captain of Durban’s Super Giants, erased the pressure and wanted players to express themselves. “From a Proteas point of view, the players that are maybe vouching for squad selection, it’s not to think about the World Cup. Absorb this month for what it is, and have as much fun as you can,” Markram said.…

As the 2025 Formula One season wraps up, the paddock’s attention has already shifted to 2026, a year many insiders are calling the most transformative in a generation. Once again, F1 is rewriting the technical rulebook, and this time it is not a subtle tweak but a full-blown evolution designed to reset competition, enhance racing, and pivot the sport towards sustainability and new forms of power delivery. The last seismic upheaval of this scale came in 2014, when the sport moved from screaming 2.4-litre V8 engines to 1.6-litre turbocharged hybrid power units. This hybrid era redefined how teams approached performance: energy recovery systems became as important as combustion power, budgets ballooned, and the balance of power shifted dramatically in favour of Mercedes in the early years. That change did not…

Algeria captain Riyad Mahrez is confident his side can make up for poor showings at the last two editions of the Africa Cup of Nations as the 2019 champions prepare to begin their campaign in Morocco today. The Desert Foxes won their second AFCON title the last time it was played in North Africa, six years ago in Egypt. However, their title defence three years later in Cameroon ended in first-round elimination with just a single point, and they also failed to win a match in going out in the group stage in Ivory Coast in 2024. "There is no doubt that we were not good at the last two AFCONs but that is in the past now. All that is behind us," Mahrez said yesterday in Rabat, where Algeria…