Innehållsförteckning för 2024-06-25 från Cape Argus

The Proteas are embracing the pressure at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in the US and Caribbean, according to star spinner Tabraiz Shamsi. Aiden Markram’s team qualified for the T20 World Cup semi-finals for the first time since 2014 yesterday after knocking out co-hosts West Indies by three wickets. All-rounder Marco Jansen struck the winning runs with just five balls remaining in another tension-filled encounter. It was the third time the Proteas have edged over the line in the final over the contest at this T20 World Cup. It certainly is in contrast to previous Proteas teams that have often buckled under the pressure at major ICC tournaments. The Proteas Class of 2024 are now bidding to become the first men’s senior team to reach a major ICC tournament…

An aspiring Olympic athlete from the Southern Suburbs has set her sights on swimming 110km in 10 days to raise funds for South African para swimmers. Jamie Els, 12, said she has challenged herself to complete the distance in support of differently abled athletes. “I have realised that differently-abled swimmers can have higher essential lifestyle costs, which could stop them from following their dream of competing in swimming or the Olympics,” she said. According to the Bergvliet Primary School, Grade 6 learner, everyone, despite their disability, should be treated equally. “I want everyone to have the same opportunity to enjoy and compete in swimming,” Jamie said. She is a competitive swimmer and is ranked third and seventh in the 800m and 400m freestyle, respectively, in SA in her age group.…

JUST when will the ANC realise that it is its errant behaviour which is chasing away voters and supporters from the party? It is reported that Zizi Kodwa will be sworn in as an MP this week. This is outrageous because Kodwa has been charged and appeared in court over bribery allegations stemming from the state capture commission. Accordingly, following its own rules and regulations, Kodwa should have stepped aside as he deals with this matter, but here he is going with no worry to Parliament. If the ANC is unable to respect its own internal processes, why should the public have any confidence that it will respect the laws of the country? Indeed, what about all those who have been expelled from the party for having been criminally charged?…

APPALLING to read that a senior member of the DA was recorded as having slated and insulted black South Africans in a disgusting public rant some years ago, using the infamous k-word. Leopards don’t change their spots and having this man in the ranks of the Government of National Unity is totally unacceptable and yes, he must go. There are laws and protocols that need to be followed to avoid litigation down the line from the offender. It is correct for the DA to first suspend the offender, follow protocols with hearings and pleadings, as is required by law. Hysteria and finger-pointing at this early stage from opposition parties is disingenuous and premature. The law must take its course. The outcome of the hearing will be in the hands of…

In Proverbs 29:2 the Bible says, when the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice, when the wicked rule, the people groan. Historically our politics, including the GNU (Government of National Unity) reflects South African history and remains a perfect place for the wicked to hide and govern from, behind the scenes. It started centuries ago when a Dutchman was caught stealing from the Dutch East India Company (VOC) in Batavia and banished to Cape Town to establish a refreshment station. The abuse, rape and plunder of Indigenous people and material resources started immediately. Evidence of this abuse/plunder was the creation of a new ethnicity that did not exist until white men plundered the Khoi and San women creating the “Coloured people”. The ANC that inherited this legacy of rape…

Matrimonial unions, particularly those entered into for reasons of expediency, present significant challenges. Individuals who have never experienced marriage must acquire the art of compromise, which differs from the compromises made with siblings or relatives. Instead, it involves compromising with another party whose political viewpoints may be diametrically opposed to one’s own, with vastly contrasting upbringings. The imperative lies in making this relationship successful, particularly for the well-being of the children involved. The upcoming five years will serve as a rigorous test for ordinary ANC cadres deployed in the government, as they will be confronted with the reality of their political adversary. Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi encountered this new reality first-hand at the weekend. The Gauteng government announced with great fanfare on Sunday that Lesufi would unveil his provincial executive.…

France appear almost certain to reach the last 16 at Euro 2024 but they hope to have Kylian Mbappe back, and rediscover their goal-scoring touch when they face Poland in their final group game today. One of the leading favourites coming into the tournament, France have four points from two matches in Group D but have only scored one goal, and that was courtesy of Austrian defender Maxmimilian Woeber putting through his own net. That gave France a 1-0 win against Austria in their opening match in Düsseldorf, before they drew 0-0 with the Netherlands in Leipzig on Friday in the absence of Mbappe. The new Real Madrid signing played no part against the Dutch as he recovers from the broken nose he suffered in a collision late on against…

IN A BID to strengthen its efforts against the narcotics trade, the Cape Town Metro Police Department has expanded its K9 unit with four recruits. These new additions – Tina, Gizmo, Djenko and Magnum, are undergoing basic training, joining a unit that has been instrumental in crime fighting since its inception in 2009. According to the 2022/23 crime statistics published by the Western Cape Government, police detection of drug-related crimes increased by 11.3% compared to the previous year with the detection of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs increasing by 61.5%. The Metro Police K9 Unit, now in its 15th year, was established ahead of the 2010 Fifa World Cup. Over the years, it has played a crucial role in detecting narcotics and explosives, and locating missing persons.…

AS SOUTH Africans eagerly wait to see the composition of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s new Cabinet, with deadlocks reportedly taking place behind the scenes as the DA pushes for its desired ministerial posts, questions are also being raised about its size. It is widely rumoured that Ramaphosa will increase the size of the Cabinet in order to include members of the other nine political parties that now form part of the Government of National Unity (GNU). However, increasing the size of the Cabinet will not come without controversy. The outgoing executive structure has 30 ministers and 30 deputy ministers, and it has been widely labelled as “bloated”. In global terms, the Cabinet is relatively big in relation to the country’s population size. The UK, for instance, has 22 ministers, excluding Prime…

TEARS of joy flowed in the Western Cape High Court yesterday as convicted child killer Derick Kalmeyer was sentenced to two life terms in prison for the horrific murder of 3-year-old Faith and 18-month-old Conray Adams. The 28s gang member of Vredenburg, known as “Slang”, was lambasted by Judge Pearl Andrews who said the murder of the two defenceless siblings in their home on May 1, 2019 was the most brutal display of domestic violence. According to the State’s case, the 54-year-old man was in a relationship with the children’s mother, Frizaan, and allegedly got into a heated argument with her and a friend on the night of the murders. The two women allegedly fled the shack out of fear, leaving the siblings behind. During the trial, it was revealed…

AFTER 30 years of democracy under one political party, there are bound to be serious teething problems with the sudden major departure from the 30 years of dominance of the ANC in government. As we embark on this new form of government, we must not lose sight of the fact that we are in this messy situation because of the 30 years of ANC rule that has ended in failure, as shown by the election results. The important thing at this stage is for us all to identify the most important entities that are the fabric of any healthy, progressive society. Things that can make or break a society, such as education and health care and the assigning of positions to the different political parties should depend on the strength…

ON JUNE 18, 2024, High Court Acting Judge MJ Bishop, granted the the City of Cape Town the right to evict between 99 and 140 people living at seven sites belonging to the City in the CBD. I have read both the mayor's announcement informing the general public, as well as the 95-page order made by the judge. The mayor repeats what the City said in court, focusing on and claiming that the City's offer of safe spaces is a dignified offer of accommodation and that it offers a great deal of services to uplift and empower those living on the streets, and that they are hugely successful. The court did not agree with all these claims and the City has been ordered to make certain changes and specific arrangements…

If THERE were ever a question on whether the country was destined for a DA-led government, the much-publicised interview of Helen Zille with 702’s Clement Manyathela this past week provides a definitive answer. You must give it to Zille. She drives a hard bargain. No time for games and she is quick to call a spade a spade. First, Zille was bold to indicate that had the ANC not signed the binding statement of intent for the establishment of the so-called government of national unity (GNU), the DA would not have supported the ANC’s nomination of Thoko Didiza as a Speaker of the National Assembly. This is a case of the tail wagging the dog. Zille threw the second volley by revealing that the DA expected to be offered 30%…

US President Joe Biden heads into a crucial debate with rival Donald Trump this week armed with new immigration and border policies that his backers hope will boost his standing among sceptical voters. Biden announced two major policy moves in June that seek to address migration challenges and woo the electorate: an asylum ban to cut illegal crossings at the US-Mexico border and a sweeping legalisation for long-term residents married to US citizens. The two policies – one aimed at turning away new migrants and the other focused on legalising hundreds of thousands already here – illustrate the political tightrope Biden has walked as he competes for another term in the White House. Record numbers of migrants have been caught illegally crossing the US-Mexico border during Biden’s presidency and immigration…

DID they have to get it so right? Did the judging panel for the various categories of the PSL end-of-season awards have to be so spot-on with their decisions? One of the aspects that make football The Beautiful Game we love so much is its ability to divide opinions – well, at least for me. There are few things as exciting as a debate among friends, colleagues or even family members on a football issue. The raw passion the different views invoke is just incredible, right? Ever been in the presence of soccer fans discussing who the best footballer is between Pele and Diego Maradona, or Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo? It is for this reason, football’s ability to induce heated debate, that I am not sold on the VAR.…

In A drama-filled late game at the Craven Week played in Krugersdorp, Western Province won their 13th successive game post-Covid with a come-from-behind 36-26 win over the Sharks. Province, who trailed 16-14 at the interval, outscored the Sharks by three tries to two. Two red cards with eight minutes remaining saw Province reduced to 13 players hanging on to a tenuous 30-26 lead. However, a Player of the Match kicking display by flyhalf Yakeen Ahmed saw him goal two late penalties which sealed victory for his side. Ahmed had a 100% kicking record, goaling three conversions and five penalties for a personal tally of 21 points. His opposite number, Luke Davidson, was no slouch either, kicking two conversions and four penalties. It was largely his goal kicking that kept the…

The return of the Sex Expo in Cape Town has residents hot under the collar again, with the City of Cape Town banning some of the exhibition’s adverts deemed to be too “risqué”. This comes after a complaint from a disgruntled resident forced the organisers to cancel their mobile advertising trailer after it reportedly parked in Tygervalley Road near a school, while two of their “eye-popping” campaign street posters had to be scrapped. The sex health, wellness and education exhibition is not new to controversy and public backlash, with former Idols SA winner and founder and lead pastor of LoveKey Church, Heinz Winckler, last year taking to Facebook to express his unhappiness about the event’s public advertising. In a statement, organisers said they were undeterred by the “minor hiccup” concerning…

A POLICE officer who disappeared from his flat last Tuesday was found dead on an open field two days later with a gunshot wound to the head. The body of Constable Bonginkosi Bhobho, 29, who was stationed at Philippi Visible Policing, was found by residents on Thursday, along with two bullet cartridges next to him, police said. According to a police report: “On Wednesday, at about 4.30pm, Constable Bonginkosi Bhobho was reported missing by his brother. Afterwards, they could not get hold of him, and he was not in his flat. A missing person’s inquiry was opened at Philippi East police station.” When Bhobho’s body was found, there was no identification on him, and he was positively identified only two days later. Police spokesperson, FC van Wyk, said police were…

SCIENTISTS, doctors, and experts in the field of stem cell research and donor registries from across the world will meet in Cape Town for the 14th International Donor Registry Conference, taking place this week. The conference anticipates over 300 delegates to be in attendance at the Century City Conference Centre, for a second time in South Africa. Hosted by non-profit organisation, the South African Bone Marrow Registry (SABMR), the conference, themed “All Patients and Donors Matter”, will commence today until June 29, covering some of the latest developments and advancements. In 2019, the SABMR submitted a bid to host the conference in 2022, however, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, this was not possible and is therefore taking place this year. SABMR will be co-hosting the event with the World Marrow…

WITH five confirmed cases of rabies in Cape fur seals around the peninsula, an intergovernmental committee has been set up to implement urgent management interventions. The first case was confirmed by the Western Cape Department of Agriculture Veterinary Services on June 7 in a wild seal bitten by a dog in Bloubergstrand. The City said yesterday that the intergovernmental committee comprised its representatives with those from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Western Cape Government, South African National Parks, Cape of Good Hope SPCA, Sea Search, Two Oceans Aquarium and a number of veterinary experts and pathologists, independent marine mammal experts, vets and seal researchers. “To date, there are five confirmed cases of rabies in Cape Fur Seals, with the earliest current case being that of a seal…

Audiobooks, at their most simple, are the audio narration of the written word. Whether done for works of fiction or non-fiction, the narration of texts remains a popular medium for disseminating information and stories to people beyond your own social circle. Be it for educational purposes or as entertainment (or both), the outcomes are the same - a widening and deepening of one’s relationship with the world. Then there are the myriad of benefits offered by audiobooks - for one, they can match the beneficial effects of reading, as both mediums stimulate the same cognitive and emotional areas of the brain. Secondly, despite the fears that audiobooks stop people from reading, the evidence shows that the inverse is true: they not only improve literacy (through comprehension and decoding), but actually…

Do you want to become a millionaire overnight? It’s easy, as many government employees have found. No qualifications or experience needed and no slogging for years. Just get a ticket from your uncle in the ANC, hop aboard the overnight, luxury ANC Millionaire’s Express and, like magic, the next morning, you’ll wake up rich, a millionaire. You’d be joining an exclusive club of 55 000 government employees who earn R1 million or more a year. They are the new generation of ANC millionaires being created by the government. And they are growing in number each year. You’ll see this bling crowd leading the high life, with abandon. They flash around in their big luxury vehicles and frequent big malls, purchasing sought-after luxury items from Gucci and Louis Vuitton. Despite the…

ELECTION year 2024 highlighted the chaos and discontent with democracy, with a mix of volatile outcomes. Elections in BRICS nations India and South Africa eroded the power of incumbent ruling parties. The forthcoming UK, French and US election outcomes are set to be fascinating. South Africa’s new multiparty GNU is now a mixed bag of interests. Let’s unpack the global landscape as the GNU navigates an ever-complex global order. The EU’s June 2024 elections will be a national populist “Trump style tide” washing ashore. Parties advocating anti-immigration and nationalist models are coming to power. The EU’s migration agreement and the controversial climate change border model, is seen as a major barrier to access “fortress Europe”, with little prospects for exports for the Global South, especially Africa. On the contrary, the…

Booed by their own fans and criticised by the media back home, England’s Euro 2024 campaign is off to a stuttering start despite picking up four points from their opening two games. An underwhelming 1-0 win over Serbia was followed by a disjointed display in a 1-1 draw with Denmark. Gareth Southgate’s men are still almost certain to make the knockout stages and can win Group C with victory over Slovenia in Cologne tonight. However, Southgate has several fires to fight if the Three Lions are to deliver on the expectation to become European champions for the first time. Problems with the press In response to questioning over why England have sat back after going in front early in both their opening games, Southgate conceded his players are not at…