Innehållsförteckning för 2024-04-15 från Cape Argus

South African actor Bonko Khoza is currently the man of the moment on the small screen. He has earned high praise for his leading roles in the history-making Netflix movie, Heart of the Hunter and the hit Showmax series, Red Ink. This follows the Joburg-born star’s award-winning role in the popular local series, The Wife, where he played Mqhele Zulu. And after a busy few months, he is finally enjoying the fruits of his labour. “For me, this is what I have always dreamt of, it’s what I’ve been working towards and it feels so surreal that all these projects are out there and have been well received,” he told Independent Media Lifestyle. “As an actor, you often work in isolation so it’s quite an experience when people actually get…

DESCRIBED by friends and family as a super athlete and role model, Siraaj Toefy from Schaapkraal, completed the Totalsports Two Oceans ultra-marathon in a time of 5:30:30 on Saturday before succumbing to a stroke. Toefy, 60, was taken to hospital after he reported feeling unwell, but died shortly thereafter. The athlete is survived by his widow Shireen, daughters Mishkah Hendricks and Tasneem, and three grandchildren. Hendricks said her father was healthy before the race. “He was never sick and had no ailments.” She said he was a highly motivated and driven person. “He was a great father, grandfather, husband and an amazing athlete. He was always motivating the people around him and always had a positive outlook on life. “My father will be missed in the running and cycling community…

Recent comments by the Free Market Foundation’s Martin van Staden (Cape Argus, April 13) that the proliferation of smaller parties is good for democracy is off the mark. With a hung vote in a well-run successful municipality a minnow unknown party with no track record and with personal ambitions as the driving force simply gives his vote to the opposition and in so doing swings the well-run municipality into the hands of an unproven party with no track record just empty promises. In return he demands the mayor’s job and gets it. So out goes the party running the successful municipality, out goes the mayor and in comes the opposition on the back of a maverick vote! Democracy or conniving self-interest politics?…

I am saddened by the death of veteran South African actor Chris April. Our first encounter was at the popular night club Swingers, in Wetton, where he amazed onlookers with his jazz dance prowess. April carried his age extremely well and was well into his sixties when he graced the dance floor. He often had a beautiful lady on his arm to negotiate his adept dance moves. I recognised him from the TV ads he had appeared in, but he accepted the adoration with absolute modesty. Occasionally I’d see him in the Lansdowne area, always displaying a broad smile. We shall miss Bra Chris who rubbed shoulders with great actors such as Forest Whitaker, John Kani and Adam Sandler. Our sincere condolences to his family and friends, and may his…

WASHINGTON: The US yesterday will announce an additional $100 million (about R1.9 billion) in aid to respond to the conflict in Sudan, according to a statement, as Washington seeks to spur international response ahead of today’s anniversary of the war. US Agency for International Development administrator Samantha Power said the additional funding would go toward emergency food assistance, nutrition support and other life-saving aid. War erupted in Sudan on April 15 las year, between the Sudanese army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), devastating the country’s infrastructure. Thousands of civilians have died, and both sides have been accused of war crimes. | Reuters…

Western Province’s semi-final chances in the Cricket SA T20 Challenge are now hanging by a thread after a heavy eight-wicket defeat to the Dolphins at Newlands yesterday. After an impressive start that saw the One-Day Cup champions win three consecutive matches at the beginning of the T20 campaign, Province have lost their way in spectacular fashion. Injuries to key players and David Bedingham’s return to English County Championship side Durham have played a role, but that does not excuse the woeful batting performances Province have delivered of late. Salieg Nackerdien’s team were rolled for 96 in just 17 overs. It was not as if there were any demons in the Newlands surface or that the Dolphins bowled particularly well, but instead it was a purely inept effort from the hosts.…

AUTHOR Melinda Ferguson has confirmed that her book When Love Kills: The Tragic Tale of AKA and Anele will hit shelves next week. News of the book was first leaked on social media on the third anniversary of Anele Tembe’s death. “I have never worked harder on a book. I have never been more freaked out by a story. I have never kept a secret like I have this one, but the news has just been leaked on social media,” wrote Ferguson on Facebook. “So here it is from the fire horse’s mouth. My new book will hit the shelves next week .... it’s been a real journey to get this out. It nearly killed my own relationship. It’s a story that broke my heart.” Ferguson, responding to her…

A FRESH application to oppose and overturn SA Rugby’s decision to place the Western Province Rugby Football Union (WPRFU) into administration and the recent sale of the professional arm to Red Disa Investments has been launched in the Western Cape High Court. The African Restoration Party (ARA), a political party, on Friday, filed a 102-page document asking the court to look into matters about the placing of the WPRFU under administration, the suspension of Zelt Marais as president, the sale of Newlands to pay off debt, and the sale of a controlling stake of the professional arm of the union, among others. The applicants are arguing that all of the points have been done unlawfully and seek to reverse it, and for Marais and company to be reinstated after SA…

MORE than a decade ago, a military general based at the Pentagon told the world the US and its allies planned to attack/destroy seven Muslim-majority nations and end its global terror agenda with Iran. What is unfolding in the Middle East is not unexpected. Prophet Muhammad explained how Muslims would be deceived by “Muslim” leaders, both religious and political. Disunity in the Muslim world based on stupidity and material greed are leading factors. When a myriad Prophets warned about the danger of greed and people refuse to listen, we can conclude that either people are superficial believers or choose ignorance and must be identified. Ignorant/stupid Jews, Christians and Muslims are also to blame for the unfolding chaos. Netanyahu is fully aware of his wicked agenda which he implements with great…

Since July 2022 the City of Cape Town has accumulated hundreds of millions of rand in profits from its scheme to force consumers to pay more for electricity than they should according to national regulation. Cape Town implemented a 9.6% tariff increase for 2022/23 (compared with the 7.47% increase approved by the regulator, Nersa) and for 2023/24 it implemented a 17.6% hike compared to the approved 15.1%. For the past two years the City has been quietly litigating, at ratepayers’ expense, against Nersa for court permission to ignore the nationally regulated tariff. In other words, consumers are funding the City’s case to be able to charge them extra! The amount of money that the City is over-charging residents amounts to hundreds of millions of rand. Defending itself in a rare…

Stellenbosch FC already have the Carling Black Label Cup secured in their trophy cabinet this season and are aiming for a surprising double after securing passage to the Nedbank Cup semi-finals this past weekend. Stellenbosch’s youthful outfit showed that they are transforming into a tour de force in SA football after they handed the highly rated SuperSport United a 4-0 hiding at the Danie Craven Stadium in the Winelands, and can surely be considered one of the favourites of the tournament – if surely not dark horses – due to their current form. The emphatic performance caused their coach Steve Barker to acclaim the team’s outing as the “full package”, and who can dare to argue against him as they prove week in and week out that they are arguably…

NICOSIA: Cyprus has suspended the processing of asylum applications from Syrians following a sharp increase in irregular arrivals this month, authorities said yesterday. More than 1 000 people have arrived in Cyprus on boats from Lebanon since the start of April amid deepening tensions in the Middle East. It has triggered calls from Nicosia to its EU partners to do more to assist Lebanon, as well as reconsider the status of war-torn Syria, which is at present considered unsafe to repatriate asylum-seekers.Cyprus lies about 160km west of the shores of Lebanon or Syria. | Reuters…

After a weekend of controversy surrounding their so-called second-string side’s thumping against Northampton Saints in the Champions Cup, the Bulls will quietly go about focusing on their main objective in the United Rugby Championship (URC). Jake White’s troops received a 59-22 hiding in England, but on the URC front they are within toucshing distance of second place on the overall points table. And for them to keep fighting for play-off matches at Loftus Versfeld up until the semi-finals at least, they will have to be at their best when they host defending champions Munster this weekend in Pretoria (kick-off 5.05 pm). The Bulls’ top Springboks and other regular starters were left out of the Champions Cup beating to stay behind in South Africa and prepare for Munster’s arrival, and if…

New artists on the block Elliie and Reed have joined forces to release a new single titled, Come Back. The laid-back track delves into the yearning for a significant other. The lyrics express a deep sense of sadness and longing, encapsulating the inner turmoil that comes with missing someone profoundly even when time has passed. “Whether the couple is still together or not, there’s a strong sense of connection that lingers, hinting at an unbreakable bond that transcends distance or circumstance,” read a media statement. It’s a passionate plea for peace, for the other person to come back. “Through the melody and evocative lyrics, Come Back encapsulates the universal experience of longing for a lost love and the enduring belief in the possibility of reunion.” Joburg-born Elliie is a self-taught…

AN ELSIES River resident, who was robbed of her entire pension minutes after withdrawing the money from an ATM, said she was thankful to the community who donated funds to get her through the month. Deborah Williams, 62, from Avonwood, said she went to withdraw R1 800 from an ATM at Avonwood Square at around 7.20am. The pensioner was robbed by two men on her way home. “Two guys came across the road and the one grabbed me from behind and the other one told me, ‘don’t look in my face’, and I looked away. “The one who grabbed me from behind took out a knife and held it to my neck, he then put his hand in my breast and took out my money. “After they took the money,…

The passing of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Amendment Bill to make the Investigating Directorate (ID) a permanent entity within the NPA has given an indication it could mark the return of the Scorpions. The Scorpions were disbanded in January 2009 after the ANC resolution at its Polokwane conference in 2007. The Directorate of Special Operations (DSO), known as the Scorpions, was hailed for its high conviction rate in high-profile corruption and complex financial crimes. But after the unit was disbanded the NPA did not have a team of its own investigators to work closely with prosecutors. But Minister of Justice and Correctional Services Ronald Lamola tabled the NPA Amendment Bill to make the ID a permanent entity within the NPA. This followed the announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa…

A LONE hippo had a squabble but has returned home. The hippo wandered the streets of Grassy Park after escaping from an altercation with a dominant male at the Rondevlei Nature Reserve. The hippo has since returned home. The wild animal, which tore the fence and escaped the reserve at the weekend, was first spotted in the middle of the night on Eighth Avenue, Grassy Park, on Friday. Residents near the reserve said sight of the hippo did not surprise them as these animals usually walked around at night in the fenced off facility. Resident Ashraff Schwartz said: “The fence is new so when it was put up, the hippos started coming closer to the neighbourhood. We would see hippos standing within the bounds of the nature reserve. On that…

THE SA Health Products Regulatory Authority (Sahpra) has recalled two batches of Benylin Paediatric Syrup following the detection of high levels of diethylene glycol. Diethylene glycol is toxic to humans when consumed and can prove fatal. Toxic effects can include abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, inability to pass urine, headaches, altered mental state, and acute kidney injury which may lead to death. Sahpra said it had received a report from the Nigerian National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control regarding the detection, and then immediately contacted South African manufacturer, Kenvue (formerly Johnson & Johnson) for a response. Following engagements with the manufacturer and in the best interest of the public, it was resolved that affected batches would immediately be recalled while an investigation was ongoing. “Sahpra, in collaboration with…

It is 40 days to go. The political histrionics, especially over the past week, have allowed me to finally decide who I will be voting for. I have lived through school-boy bullying. I know what it feels like. I can hear it a long way off. I don’t like the sound of it. While Jacob Zuma’s MK Party and the ANC go head-to-head in court battles, the DA appears to be losing what constitutes free and fair elections by lashing out at other opposition parties for campaigning in the only province they are in control of. Quoting dubious opinion polls that keep giving the party extraordinary growth numbers, they come across as rattled by smaller parties that appear to be taking more votes from the DA than from the ANC.…

Israel was on high alert yesterday after Iran’s unprecedented missile and drone attack drew an international chorus of condemnation and sparked fears of a broader conflict. Iran launched its first-ever direct assault on Israeli territory late on Saturday in retaliation for a deadly Damascus strike, marking a major escalation of the long-running covert war between the regional foes. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi warned Israel against a “reckless” retaliation, saying it would be a met with “a decisive and much stronger response”. Iran said Saturday’s assault was itself a response to the April 1 air strike on Tehran’s consulate building in the Syrian capital that has been widely blamed on Israel. It remained unclear how Israel would respond. Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said “the campaign is not over yet –…

Moscow: Floodwaters in southern Russia yesterday threatened to submerge thousand more homes in the Kurgan region, where the governor predicted a “very difficult situation” in the coming hours. There is widespread flooding in the Russian Urals regions and neighbouring Kazakhstan, caused by melting ice swelling rivers, exacerbated by heavy rainfall. In Kazakhstan, more than 107 000 people have been evacuated from their homes, while in Russia almost 40 000 homes have been flooded. Residents have been evacuated in boats and police vehicles in the regional capital Orenburg. | AFP…

Wynberg scored a huge upset with a historic 30-27 win over Paarl Boys High this past weekend. The last time they achieved success over Boishaai was 36 years ago, also in Paarl. It was the trusted boot of Yaqeen Ahmed that goaled an angled 40m attempt – against the wind, after the siren had already gone – which clinched victory for the visitors. The game fluctuated throughout, with the lead changing hands several times but both sides refused to throw in the towel. The hosts outscored the visitors by five tries to three, but flyhalf Viaan Mentoor could only convert once, while his opposite number Ahmed goaled all three tries and also kicked three penalties for a personal tally of 15 points. Both sides were guilty of undisciplined play, with…

The Proteas Women beat Sri Lanka by seven wickets in the second ODI with 14 balls to spare on Saturday, but it was a victory that required them to dig deep to get a result worth its weight in diamonds. The Proteas went 1-0 up in the three-match series and saw Laura Wolvaardt became the leading run scorer for South Africa in the format during that process. The stylish right-hander played herself into the history books with a match-winning knock of 110 off 141 balls under pressure on a tricky and slow Diamond Oval wicket in Kimberley. The 24-year-old has shown a lot of maturity and balance in her game and smashed Mignon du Preez’s record having played 60 matches fewer. It’s ideal that her sixth career century came in…