Innehållsförteckning för 2024-01-11 från Cape Argus

It’s 2024 and the reign of the Mean Girl plastics appears to be stronger than ever. You also “can’t sit them” and on Wednesdays, they still wear pink. All the infamous catch phrases from the hugely successful 2004 Mean Girls movie are set to return but this time, with a twist Twenty years later, the new Mean Girls, set for release in theatres across the globe this week, is expected to include some of its acclaimed original content while introducing some new aspects for the modern-day audience. And while the introduction of new characters and musical elements are set to redefine the movie, the plot will largely remain the same. The original movie and its adaptation are centred on a new pupil, 16-year-old home-schooled Cady Heron, who gets welcomed into…

SAPS has enlisted the help of the project management office in the Presidency to improve the functioning of its 10111 call centre. The 10111 reform project plan aims to improve the functionality of all call centres after concerns were raised about the state of these centres and their ability to assist South Africans affected by high levels of crime. Independent Policing Union of SA (Ipusa) president Bethuel Nkuna said the union was concerned about SAPS management’s lack of interest in resolving issues at these call centres. “The 10111 call centres remain short-staffed with a high volume of calls from vulnerable members of the community,” Nkuna said, adding that it was difficult for skeleton staff to cope. Richard Mamabolo, spokesperson for the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru), said a…

Infidelity is alleged to be one of the reasons why SANDF member Lwanda Mxolisi Zungu, 37, decided to shoot and kill his wife Tania Msane-Zungu on January 3. The Daily News this week reported that Zungu appeared in Pinetown Magistrate’s Court for the first time after he handed himself over to the police. He is charged with the murder of his wife. A Zungu family member, who wanted to remain anonymous for fear of being victimised, said the soldier killed his wife after finding out that she was having an affair with someone that he knew. “It was not the first time that Zungu caught his wife cheating. “This was in fact the third time. He was always forgiving because he loved her so much,” said the family member. The…

Anti-apartheid photojournalist Dr Peter Magubane has been described as a real “Mkhonto” who used his camera instead of guns and spears to help bring down the cruel apartheid regime. Words such as distinguished lensman, fearless journalist, freedom fighter, stubborn, courageous, funny, charming, steadfast, intense and a true Capricorn were used to describe one of South Africa’s proudest Struggle photojournalists, who used his camera to expose to the world the brutal effects of the apartheid regime. President Cyril Ramaphosa accorded Dr Magubane a special provincial official funeral category in recognition of his contribution to the Struggle against apartheid. Ramaphosa, speaking at his funeral service at the Bryanston Methodist Church yesterday, recalled how Magubane used milk cartons, hollowed-out bread, and bibles to sneak his camera in to capture pictures to show the…

In the wake of many drowning incidents across the city, the South African Junior Police Commissioners, and Community Policing Forums gathered to teach youngsters about water safety. The initiative, which took place in Strandfontein yesterday, was supported by the Gift of the Givers. The youngsters were taught how to deal with water and they also got a chance to ride kayaks. Strandfontein Community Policing Forum (CPF) chairperson Sandy Schutter said: “This is from the provincial office in Cape Town, we arranged kayaking as part of team building and to say thank you to the police for assisting during the festive season and to show the youth, especially the Junior Commissioners and may they also influence other youngsters to become part of the initiative.” Junior Police Commissioner Lwandile Zitha, 15, said…

In a landmark move, South Korean parliamentarians have overwhelmingly approved a bill that criminalises the consumption and sale of dog meat, a practice deeply embedded in the nation’s cultural history. The bill, set to become law in 2027, signifies a significant shift towards animal welfare and reflects changing attitudes within the country. According to online travel publication Trek Zone, the consumption of dog meat has deep roots in South Korea, dating back centuries and often associated with cultural practices and medicinal beliefs. However, evolving societal values and increased awareness of animal rights have led to a shift in public opinion, challenging the continuation of this tradition. The bill, passed by a resounding 208-0 vote in the National Assembly, awaits endorsement by the Cabinet Council and President Yoon Suk-yeol’s signature, seen…

MI Cape Town get their SA20 campaign under way today at Kingsmead (5.30pm start), where they will face Durban’s Super Giants in what promises to be another full house. Having finished bottom of the table in the inaugural season, with seven losses in 10 matches, MI Cape Town have a point to prove to the cricket-loving fan base back in the Mother City. Last season, the Newlands Cricket Ground was packed regularly, dishing up an experience that the overseas players had not tasted before and making the SA20 a uniquely exciting competition among the various franchise competitions around the world. MI Cape Town batter Grant Roelofsen attested to the SA20 being a beast of a competition in its own right. “I’ve not been to the IPL (Indian Premier League), but…

The Stormers are not too bothered by the contingent of South Africans and more specifically former teammates of theirs in the Sale Sharks squad ahead of their crucial Champions Cup tie this weekend. They faced familiar opposition at La Rochelle last month but Sale will most likely rock up with more former teammates in Saturday’s match at the Cape Town Stadium (7.30pm kick-off). Utility forwards Ernst van Rhyn and Cobus Wiese both came through the junior ranks under the current Stormers coaches, before finding their way into the senior team. Springbok brothers Robert, Jean-Luc and Dan du Preez also have intimate knowledge of the Cape players, especially flyhalf Robert, who’s won the Currie Cup with Western Province. But Stormers forwards coach Rito Hlungwani, who had Van Rhyn and Wiese under…

Quick to react but not for residents’ needs Cape Town residents have criticised the City for turning a blind eye to distasteful gang signs and profanities sprayed onto its properties, as well as dilapidated and dehumanising infrastructure and living conditions, but being quick to remove a mural of a Palestine flag in Lavender Hill, this week. On Monday, residents at Wicht Court painted the mural on the court’s façade to express their solidarity with the people of Palestine, joining a widespread movement in Cape Town. On Tuesday, several law enforcement officers were present, and City workers were on site to paint over the mural. In video footage, community members could be seen standing in front of the mural in an attempt to prevent the workers from removing the flag. Resident…

A MAN was left injured when a hijacked car crashed-landed on his shack. The 48-year-old man was sleeping in his Khayelitsha home yesterday around 2am. Hours after the incident, shocked residents stood around the shack where the car was on top of the bed. The white Mercedes-Benz Kompressor coupe which landed on its roof, was driving at…

Political analyst professor Bheki Mngomezulu labelled political parties’ calls for Minister of Higher Education Dr Blade Nzimande to resign as being premature. Instead, Mngomezulu called for President Cyril Ramaphosa to suspend Nzimande because of the pending investigations into alleged corruption within the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). The alleged corruption was revealed by the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) in a report and leaked audio recordings of meetings with four NSFAS direct-payment service providers – and an unnamed third party. NSFAS board chairperson Ernest Khosa has refuted the “mischievous” allegations involving a potential R1 million donation by the spouse of a director of a company contracted by NSFAS to the SACP conference. Mngomezulu said that the allegations against Nzimande are serious and the investigations must begin. “Asking him to…

Opposition parties have called on mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis to suspend Mayco member Grant Twigg amid an explosive investigation into the collapse of the waste removal services in the city. Speaking to the Cape Argus just days after the report was leaked to the media, political parties have accused Hill-Lewis of taking selective action against DA politicians fingered in alleged wrongdoing. The shocking report, leaked to the Cape Argus, states that the formation of a new “in-house” model was undertaken with no delegated authority by Twigg and his executive director Luzuko Mdunyelwa. According to the internal report given to councillors at the last council meeting in December, the new model has resulted in high court action against the municipality and a staggering budget of more than R500 million in a…

The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) has called for South Africa’s traffic police to be nationalised, citing severe organisational challenges and poor working conditions that are hindering their ability to effectively police the nation’s roads. Thulani Ngwenya, president of Popcru, highlighted the disorganisation within traffic departments across provinces, which he says prevents traffic officers from adopting a strategic and co-ordinated approach to road safety. This lack of organisation is not only limiting their efficiency, but also compromising safety on South African roads, he said. A key issue identified by Popcru is the fragmentation of traffic police across provinces, leading to inconsistencies in command structures, uniforms and shift systems. “For example, traffic police in Mpumalanga are split between the Department of Public Works and the Department of Transport. “Northern…

As soon as Test batting coach Ashwell Prince submitted his diagnosis of the Newlands pitch for the second Test between South Africa and India, it was clear that a demerit point was inevitable for the Western Province Cricket Association (WPCA). After 23 wickets fell on day one, former Western Province batter and coach Prince said, “Some of the things I’ve seen today, I’ve never seen at Newlands before”, and he went on to say, “If both line-ups can’t bat on the surface, that says a lot”. There it was: Prince had given a hint to the WPCA to brace themselves for a low rating of the pitch from match referee Chris Broad, the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the two captains, Dean Elgar and Rohit Sharma. On Tuesday, the ICC…

The Sea Point City Improvement District (SPCID) has said they have noticed an increase in street children in the area. Chairman Jacques Weber said these children were primarily observed along Beach Road. He added that the youngsters are usually seen around the busy hubs in St Andrews Road, Clarens and Regent roads towards Queens Road, where most of the restaurants are. “However, it appears they have shifted their presence towards the business district as they perceive better opportunities for handouts such as food and money. “Regrettably, these children have often exhibited aggressive and abusive behaviour, causing distress, especially among women and elderly individuals walking along Main/Regent Road. “Over the past few days, there have been reports of criminal incidents involving young individuals.” Weber said victims choose to share their experiences…

WESTERN Cape Department of Mobility Head Ricardo Mackenzie is calling on motorists in the province to exercise extra caution when driving to decrease the number of accidents involving pedestrians. Mobility MEC Ricardo Mackenzie Mackenzie’s plea came after his office revealed that it recorded 14 pedestrian deaths in the Western Cape last week. The deaths reportedly accounted for two-thirds of all traffic fatalities. Mackenzie said he was calling on motorists to show consideration for pedestrians, deemed highly vulnerable road users. “Child pedestrians are our most vulnerable road users,” he said. “My plea to drivers is to watch out for children and slow down when you see them. Due to their size, children are more likely to be hit by a vehicle in the head and chest, causing more serious and potentially…

AN Ntuzuma magistrate has ordered that two accused in the kidnapping of a boy held for a R1 million ransom get another lawyer to represent them. This after their attorney failed to present himself in court yesterday despite an undertaking to do so on Tuesday. Magistrate Mohamed Motala directed this order to two of the four accused on what was meant to be the second day of the trial, yet their lawyer was again not in court. The boy was 11 in 2022 when he was kidnapped. His mother paid a R90 000 ransom to his kidnappers, including her neighbour, alleged to be the mastermind behind the crime. Lindokuhle Mthokozisi Thabede, 29, Mvelo Khuzwayo, 29, Fisokuhle Mathews Mbatha, 32, and the 40-year-old neighbour are alleged to have kidnapped the boy…

THE DA caucus leader in the City of Joburg, Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku, says the party is concerned about the stalled progress at the Lillian Ngoyi (formerly Bree) Street gas explosion site, which she has described as a “disaster zone”. “The state of the Bree Street explosion site in the Johannesburg Central Business District is an unequivocal disaster. Our recent oversight visit to the site revealed a scene of unmitigated destruction, with no progress evident even after more than half a year.” It was reported that the explosion was caused by a small leak in the Egoli Gas-managed servitude pipeline at the intersection of Bree and Eloff streets on a 100mm pipeline. More than six months since the explosion, Kayser-Echeozonjoku said that during her recent site visit, no worker or city official…

Our biggest worry as the Devoted Citizen Movement is what sort of citizens we have become in our democracy. Yes, leaders matter a lot. They help organise how we run our affairs. They are lent power to exercise on behalf of and together with citizens. Citizens matter even more than leaders. It is to them that the power belongs, which they only lend to a small group called leaders. It is not supposed to be that citizens abandon all their duties to the leaders and political parties. It is not supposed to be that citizens become passive. According to the dictionary, democracy is a government by the people, the rule of majority in society. The majority is us, citizens, but this is meaningless when we forget this and end up…

Five-time winner Nasser Al-Attiyah posted his first win of this year’s Dakar Rally yesterday, clocking the quickest time in the Empty Quarter dunes between Al-Hofuf and Shubaytah in Saudi Arabia. The 53-year-old Qatari, driving for Prodrive, finished 1min:51sec ahead of Toyota’s Guerlain Chicherit to claim his 48th stage win in the Dakar and moved second in the standings, gaining two minutes on cars leader Yazeed Al-Rajhi, who finished fourth behind Argentinian Juan Cruz Yacopini. “There was no strategy on my part,” said Al-Attiyah who will now have to open the road at the start of the ‘48H chrono’, a new two-day stage across today and tomorrow. “I wanted to win the stage, no matter what they have in store for us tomorrow. “It’s 600km long, and I don’t mind opening…

Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino bemoaned a familiar lack of cutting edge after his team lost the first leg of their League Cup semi-final 1-0 to Championship side Middlesbrough at the Riverside on Tuesday night. Hayden Hackney scored the only goal on 38 minutes as Pochettino’s expensively assembled array of stars again failed to perform away from home. Chelsea have lost five of their last six away games and 21 times on the road since the beginning of last season – the most of any Premier League team. The Blues must turn the tie around when the sides meet again at Stamford Bridge on January 23 to avoid heaping more pressure on Pochettino’s position during a disappointing first season in charge for the Argentine. “If we assess the performance overall, we…