Innehållsförteckning för 2024-03-25 från Cape Argus

South African actress Cindy Swanepoel is proof that everything that you go through prepares you for what’s next in life. After featuring on the hit Afrikaans soapie Binnelanders for almost a decade, she is now the star of the Showmax crime comedy, “Koek”. The Showmax Original centres on a Cape Town housewife who, after suspecting her husband of having an affair with a stripper named Candi Floss, leads a drunken investigation into a strip club. Only a few episodes in, streamers are already glued to the series as Swanepoel’s character, Christelle Smit, comically attempts to balance her double life. But this world is far from the utopia the suburban housewife is accustomed to and her rage over her husband’s alleged affair sets off a series of incidents. The consequences of…

Award-winning South African rock band Prime Circle are giving fans a taste of what’s to come with their new single, Better Days. The song is their first release from their highly anticipated upcoming EP, A World We Know, and is their first offering since 2019. It is also the first track which features the group’s new frontman, Gavin Edwards, who joined Prime Circle after Ross Learmonth’s exit. He left the band last year with Edwards stepping in as his replacement in January. Prime Circle said that the former The Voice SA season 1 runner-up brings a dynamic presence to the band. They added that he has seamlessly blended in with the remaining members, Marco Gomes (founder and bass), Dale Schnettler (drums), Neil Breytenbach (keyboard) and Dirk Bisschoff (guitar). Edwards, who…

The Western Cape division of the high court has ordered the Hawks’ Assets Forfeiture Investigation unit, in co-operation with the National Prosecuting Authority’s Asset Forfeiture Unit, to seize goods worth R119 200 after Salum Basua was allegedly found in possession of abalone. The order was made on February 26 and was received last Thursday. In September 2022, members of Provincial Traffic in the Western Cape were patrolling in Kuils River when they noticed a suspicious blue Volkswagen Passat. After the team searched the vehicle, refuse bags containing abalone worth R295 163 were allegedly discovered. Basua was arrested when he tried to flee the scene. The Passat, worth R49 000, was forfeited to the state. Basua was apprehended again in October 2022 allegedly in possession of 5 674 units of abalone…

The recent escape of more than 65 illegal immigrants from the Lindela Repatriation Centre has put the facility on a collision course with the Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi. The minister, who has reacted to the infamous escape of immigrants who were due to be deported to their countries of origin, has indicated that his department is assessing the contract with facilities management company Enviromongz at the centre. According to media reports, the escaped deportation-awaiting detainees are from eight African countries including Tanzania, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Burundi and Nigeria. According to the minister, security guards at the repatriation centre had issues with their employer, a private company, which had been contracted to run Lindela. Speaking to SABC News at the weekend, the minister indicated that only one of…

HUNDREDS of people filled the streets of Wale and Rose Streets in Bo-Kaap for the eagerly anticipated annual mass iftar, “Boeka innie Bo-Kaap”. During the holy month of Ramadaan, Bo-Kaap residents host the community and people from all over to share in the fast breaking meal (iftar/ boeka) on the famed streets. The community’s strong support for Palestinians and their struggle for liberation was evident throughout the gathering, with numerous Palestinian flags hoisted atop homes and shops, large posters and banners, and speeches. Bo-Kaap Civic and Ratepayers Association chairperson Osman Shabodien said: “The boeka was born out of struggle for the heritage recognition of Bo-Kaap when the first street boeka was held by Bo-Kaap youth/Bo-Kaap collective supported by the Bo-Kaap civic and mosques of Bo-Kaap. “It has now become an…

Four Woodstock Brewery beers have been awarded the best beers in the country by the Untappd Community Awards, which recognise best-in-class brewers around the globe. Rhythm Stick Pale Ale won gold status; Danzn Weissbier also won gold; Slice of Life Session IPA got silver; and Californicator IPA was awarded bronze. These beers were chosen for their popularity, taste and richness. Woodstock Brewery, which turned its brewery into a soup kitchen during Covid, has been around for 10 years, serving the community of Woodstock and the greater city. During Covid, the brewery produced soup for the immediate needs of the less fortunate. Andre Viljoen said he got the idea of the brewery when he was wrapping up his career in banking in 2010 and decided to buy an old building on…

IT IS an open secret that Gauteng, the economic hub of the country, has a water problem. The scorching heat is not helping. Water evaporates quickly from the dams. This results in the province having water shortages. The recent water crisis affected a vast area, including most parts of Johannesburg and the West Rand. The problem had nothing to do with the weather or Vaal Dam running dry. It also had nothing to do with the ageing infrastructure or a major burst pipe. The pertinent question is: What caused the water problem in some parts of Gauteng? We were given different answers. Eikenhof was hit by lightning, we were told. Next we were told that a valve was closed. Does somebody know what’s going on? I don’t think so. According…

Boland Rocks coach Justin Ontong breathed a major sigh of relief when his team finally managed to break their Cricket SA T20 Challenge duck at St George’s Park in Gqeberha yesterday. It has been a baptism of fire for Ontong in his first season as head coach of the Rocks. The Boland team struggled in both the CSA 1-Day and 4-Day competitions, and were winless after five matches in the shortest format. With the equally helpless Tuskers winning their first game on Saturday evening when they surprised the high-flying Lions at the Wanderers, all the pressure was on the Rocks to get off the bottom of the table against the Dolphins yesterday. They found their inspiration in the form of veterans Christiaan Jonker and Shaun von Berg, who took the…

Grammy award-winning musician Tyla has finally released her self- titled debut album, which features her chart-topping singles as well as collaborations with local and international artists. The South African-born singer and songwriter, whose full name is Tyla Laura Seethal, dropped her self-titled debut album on Friday. Apart from Water, which won the inaugural Golden Gramophone for Best African Music Performance at the 2024 Grammys award show, Tyla includes the song’s remix with Travis Scott as well as Truth or Dare, which has been climbing up the music charts. Her 14-track offering also includes new songs such as Intro, which features fellow award-winning amapiano South African artist Kelvin Momo. She has also worked with American singer Becky G on the track On My Body as well as Jump, which features Gunna…

Former president Jacob Zuma’s endorsement of the recently-founded uMkhonto weSizwe Party has sent a cold shiver through the majority of ANC members. Joining the chorus of condemnation of Zuma’s actions, former National Assembly speaker and the ruling party’s former national chairperson, Baleka Mbete, has expressed her shock and disbelief at Zuma’s move. Mbete said she was embarrassed by the former president’s decision to campaign against a party that, according to her, was way bigger than any other political organisation. She said she could not understand why someone like Zuma would consider themselves a leader in an organisation that was more than a century old, and yet campaign against it. “You can’t be a member of the ANC and campaign against it; that’s a contradiction. He has defined himself as not…

ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba has outlined five priorities of action to win the upcoming general elections in just under 60 days. Mashaba addressed party members during an election manifesto held at the Ellis Park Arena on Saturday. He said the party would prioritise growing the economy, basic income, ending power cuts, strengthening law and order, as well as tackling corruption and gender-based violence. “Our plan will unlock millions of new jobs, safer communities, secured borders, access to quality education and healthcare for all and, for the first time, the inclusive empowerment of all previously disadvantaged South Africans, as well as those who have been hamstrung by three decades under an uncaring, unethical and unpatriotic government.” Mashaba said only ethical leadership could help steer the country in the right socio-economic trajectory,…

ALGERIA are a football nation on their knees, striving to get back on their feet. Humiliated once again at the Africa Cup of Nations, where they were eliminated in the first round – just as they were two years ago – the north African nation are now without representation in the CAF Champions League, after CR Belouizdad were knocked out. They do at least have USM Alger still in line to defend their CAF Confederation Cup title, with the holders through to the quarter-final, where they will come up against Rivers United of Nigeria. At national level, new coach Vladimir Petkovic is rebuilding the team, and had a promising start with a late winner in a 3-2 victory over Bolivia on Friday in the current Fifa Series. There could be…

THREE-TIME world champion Max Verstappen said it felt like driving “with the handbrake on” after he retired from the Australian Grand Prix yesterday with smoke billowing from his Red Bull car. The Dutchman started from pole, and was heavily favoured to win for a third time this season after emphatic victories in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. But it went horribly wrong almost immediately when he was passed by Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz – who claimed victory in the end – on lap two, before his brakes seized up and his race was over. “What we can see so far from the data is that as soon as the lights went off, the right rear brake just stuck on,” he said. “It just caused the damage and it kept on increasing, so…

The Lions’ fighting win in Galway on Saturday night underpinned their top-eight credentials in the United Rugby Championship (URC) as they toppled Connacht to grab a play-off spot. Playing with 14 men for most of the match, the Ivan van Rooyen-coached side broke the duck of South African teams in the Irish province by beating the home side 38-14 against expectations. The six-try drubbing pushed them into eighth position on the overall URC table, and with one more away fixture against the Ospreys in Swansea this Saturday (5.05pm kick-off, SA time) and a handful of home games, a first play-off spot for the Ellis Park side suddenly does not look out of reach. They produced a commanding display with their maul, even though burly prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye was sent off…

FORMER fugitive and convicted German fraudster Jürgen Harksen has died. The 63-year-old’s death was reported in the German publications Der Spiegel, Hamburger Abendblatt and Bild. With a penchant for the bling lifestyle, Harksen ingratiated himself with local politicians and business personalities, scamming them out of millions while masquerading as an investment guru until his arrest in April 2002. Wanted in Germany for over nine years until he was formally extradited, Harksen’s con was simple: He promised Hamburg’s millionaires that he could make them more on the stock markets. And for that, they gave him millions, swayed by his persuasive sales pitch and a sophisticated scam in which white South Africans pretended to be American bankers to seal deals. Bankers, lawyers, tax consultants and musicians were some of his victims who…

Mpumalanga police are on the hunt for six suspects who amputated the hands of a 30-year-old man and left him for dead. Police spokesperson Colonel Donald Mdhluli said police and emergency medical services personnel were called to a bushy area around Kromdraai Road towards Witbank. Mdhluli said according to information they have, the 30-year-old man was accosted by a group of men who were driving a green Opel Corsa bakkie while he was walking on the road in the early hours of March 20, heading towards extension 16 in Vosman, near Witbank. The victim informed police that the men pointed a firearm at him, then proceeded to grab and force him into the bakkie, where they then tied his hands and legs. Police said although the man could not make…

Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula’s fight to prevent law enforcement agencies from arresting her is headed for the Pretoria High Court today. This after the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) confirmed that the urgent application will before court. But the NPA said it will oppose the application as it was baseless. The stand-off began last week after a raid at her house in Johannesburg by the NPA’s Investigating Directorate (ID). The speaker has since taken special leave and Parliament said this was provided for in the rules of the National Assembly. Mapisa-Nqakula is accused of taking bribes totalling R2.3 million from a supplier in the Department of Defence. At the time of the alleged incidents, Mapisa-Nqakula was minister of defence before she was deployed to Parliament in 2021. Yesterday, the NPA said…

A group of 60 seniors made waves when they took part in the aqua aerobics and learn-to-swim programmes at the City of Cape Town’s Wynberg Swimming Pool this past weekend. Aqua aerobics is ideal for older people as it offers a low-impact yet highly effective workout, promoting cardiovascular health, muscle strength, and flexibility. The programme, launched in January, provides seniors with a rejuvenating fitness and aquatic activity approach to improve their physical well-being and water skills. The City’s Mayco member for community services and health, Councillor Patricia van der Ross, said programmes like these highlight just how multi-faceted the metro’s facilities are and that they offer far more than just a day at the pool to cool off. “Participants, ranging from seasoned aqua enthusiasts to beginners, gather at the Wynberg…

Investment into funding missing middle students who want to pursue university degrees in Occupations in High Demand (OHD) is a key step towards economic growth in South Africa. We need the private sector to grow its investment into our country’s future by funding missing middle students who are eligible to pursue university degrees to turn the tide towards growth and prosperity in years to come. Economic stagnation and high unemployment rates are cause for serious concern as South Africa seems to be struggling to shake off sluggish economic performance. Across the board, South Africans are feeling the pressure of a strained economy. Despite worrying indicators pointing to how bad things have become in our country, South Africa still has the potential to develop a thriving, and inclusive economy. However, if…

They could have scored more than the seven tries, but the Stormers won’t look a gift horse in the mouth after collecting a full house of five points against Edinburgh. Arguably for the first time this season, the Stormers looked like title contenders after completely dominating their opponents from the get-go to complete a 43-21 victory at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday evening as they secured the bonus point in the first half already. With the win, the former United Rugby Championship champions jumped from ninth to fifth on the log, leapfrogging their Scottish opponents and Irish clubs Ulster and Connacht, whom they must still face, among others. The victory over Edinburgh, who were stripped of their Scotland internationals, showed again how formidable the Cape side are in front of…

Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz surged to victory at the Australian Grand Prix yesterday to snap Red Bull’s winning start to the season after three-time world champion Max Verstappen sensationally failed to finish. The Spaniard, who had appendicitis surgery two weeks ago, took the chequered flag 2.3 seconds ahead of teammate Charles Leclerc, with McLaren’s Lando Norris a bold third. It was his third grand prix win and first since Singapore last year. “I’m happy to be in a one-two with Charles here. It shows that hard work pays off,” said Sainz, who missed the last race in Saudi Arabia and was bed-ridden for a week afterwards. “It’s not only the last two weeks. It’s the whole start to the year in general, how the year started with the news of the…

Jake White would have been delighted with the character shown by his Bulls team to snatch a late bonus point when Johan Grobbelaar scored the fourth try against the Dragons. But the struggles endured by the Pretoria side in Newport on Saturday night made for ideal preparation for Friday’s blockbuster clash against Leinster in Dublin (9.35pm kick-off, SA time). The Bulls are sitting pretty in second position on the United Rugby Championship log on 45 points, four behind Leinster – who beat Zebre 31-7 in Parma on Saturday – which sets up a much-anticipated clash between the South African and Irish giants at the RDS Arena in Dublin this week. White and his Bulls would have felt great relief in clinching that four-try bonus point as they battled to…