Innehållsförteckning för 2024-06-28 från Cape Argus

An exclusive workout event designed to conserve and protect our oceans is set to inspire participants through a unique blend of physical fitness and environmental education. The nature- and ocean-themed session aims to motivate attendees to take actionable steps toward safeguarding our natural world. Led by the renowned Merakii Movement, the workout offers a comprehensive full-body exercise session that enhances cardiovascular health, strength and flexibility. Regular physical activity is essential for reducing the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes and obesity. Additionally, the endorphins released during physical activity improve mood and reduce stress and anxiety. The event will take place outdoors, allowing participants to experience the benefits of exercising in a natural environment. Studies have shown that outdoor exercise boosts mood, increases energy levels and improves overall…

A SUSPECT has been arrested for the possession of a stash of stolen motorcycles and parts valued at R1 million in Bellville. Police uncovered the stash on Monday. It is suspected that the motorcycles were to be shipped out of the country. Police spokesperson Joseph Swartbooi said members received a tip-off and responded to an address in Glucose Way. “Upon their arrival at the warehouse at around 3.45pm, they found a consignment of dismantled motorcycles, which were all wrapped and seemingly prepared for transportation purposes. “The male person at the premises could not provide proof of purchase for any of the motorcycles or the parts found in the warehouse, with an estimated street value in excess of R1 million,” Swartbooi said. Swartbooi added that police members proceeded with the initial…

Israel launched airstrikes on Gaza yesterday after warning Hezbollah, Hamas’s ally in Lebanon, to avoid a large-scale war that would send the neighbouring country “back to the Stone Age”. Defence Minister Yoav Gallant made the comment during a visit to Washington, where he discussed the Gaza war, long-running efforts toward a truce, and ways to avoid a wider regional conflagration. As cross-border tensions between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah have risen, Gallant stressed that “we do not want war, but we are preparing for every scenario”. “Hezbollah understands very well that we can inflict massive damage in Lebanon if a war is launched,” he said of the Shia militant group that, like Hamas, is backed by Israel’s arch foe Iran. Israel and Hezbollah have traded near daily cross-border fire since Hamas…

THE main game on day four of Craven Week, between the Cheetahs and the Blue Bulls, produced schoolboy rugby at its best. It was a high quality encounter with the Cheetahs deserved 34-27 winners. They outscored the side from Tshwane by six tries to four after leading 17-8 at half-time. The Free Staters surprised the Bulls with their physicality up front. From the kick-off it was clear that it was going to be a bruising encounter as the forwards slugged it out. The Bulls’ expected dominance up front failed to materialise as the Cheetahs No 8 matched them in the rucks and mauls. A wayward clearance by scrumhalf Philip McLaren inside his 22 enabled the Bulls to open the scoring via an unconverted try by fullback Dewron Aford. The Cheetahs…

THE popular Laughtons Hardware store in Sea Point’s Main Road has closed its doors after 104 years, and according to a notification from the City of Cape Town a supermarket will take its place. According to the development application notice, the erven (428, 429, 1323 and 437) at 291, 293, 295 and 299 Main Road, includes an on-street loading bay, and the proposed plans by Tommy Brummer Town Planners say that the existing building has a floor space of 1 970m². “Our application was made to consolidate the properties, cede a portion of road reserve to the City and to obtain a departure for the loading requirements as no on-site parking is available. “The application for consolidation was made as the existing operations straddle four property boundaries which would…

The Surrey Estate Neighbourhood Watch (NHW) has warned residents to be cautious when travelling in and around Manenberg,as a result of growing safety concerns over gang warfare. The neighbourhood watch executive said due to the ongoing gang wars over the past weeks, and with an escalation in recent days, residents were urged to refrain from entering the area unnecessarily. While Manenberg was mentioned, neighbourhood watch executive member, Ebraheem Regal, said the alert was for all surrounding areas. Heideveld, Hanover Park, and other areas on the Cape Flats are rife with gang-inflicted violence. “These guys are shooting across main roads, running across areas where there are high traffic volumes and they don't care where they shoot, or what they shoot at,” Regal said. “We’re speaking…

ANXIETY is mounting in South Africa ahead of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Cabinet announcement because of a public spat between Government of National Unity (GNU) leader organisations the ANC and the DA. Letters widely circulated yesterday confirmed that a great deal of jostling for Cabinet posts among the two parties has kept the party on autopilot without a government while it remains to be seen if Ramaphosa will give in to the DA’s demands. However, the latest letter from Ramaphosa states that the ANC was prepared to walk away if the DA did refuse what’s on the table, saying he had a week to finalise his decisions. In a letter addressed to Ramaphosa, DA leader John Steenhuisen confirmed that the president offered the party six departments including Home Affairs, Basic Education,…

Six valves along the Cape Flats water network have been replaced, as water was finally restored to southern suburbs households at midnight yesterday. Households in at least 22 areas were left without water for three days this week as the City embarked on essential maintenance to the network. The City said that as part of the work, teams also assessed the existing pipes and did repairs, welding and modifications along Prince George Drive, Blackbird Avenue, Carrol Road and George Road. “A multi-departmental disaster co-ordinating team was activated for the duration of this very important work to closely co-ordinate and monitor the various aspects of this 72-hour operation. “A special thank you to our residents for their patience during this operation and preparation leading up to it. “Everyone played an important…

Outside of politics it seems that most of all higher education provides high drama for table talk, such as with recent decisions by the management and councils of the universities of Cape Town and Stellenbosch. The UCT council adopted motions on the Gaza Conflict that, among others, call for a ceasefire and expresses solidarity with victimised academics, as well as that bars UCT academics from working with the Israeli military establishment. At SU the management adopted a panel’s recommendations to among others close one of its men’s residences after deeply offensive artefacts were discovered at the residence. The council resolved to invite further submissions from the broader university community in response to the recommendations. The two incidents are dramatic because they are taken, and are publicly criticised by some, as…

Bo-Kaap residents living in a block of flats painted in the Palestinian flag say they feel targeted after the City of Cape Town cut their water supply for five days, and not that of other properties in the area in greater debt. The water supply to the building in Astana Street was only restored on Wednesday, after the Schotsche Kloof body corporate paid an immediate R24 000 to the City. Sixteen units in the complex were disconnected on June 22, allegedly due to ongoing non-payment of accounts by the body corporate. Fadiel Moos, a body corporate trustee, said they paid the City R24 000, even though the trustees only had R22 000 in reserve. “Many people feel this block is being targeted by the City because of the…

A SECOND accused has been charged in connection with the murder of City employee Wendy Kloppers. Sharazaadht Essop joined Warren Dennis, who handed himself over to police on Monday, in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court yesterday. The accused, who belong to the Firm Gang, were allegedly under the command of suspected 28s gang boss Ralph Stanfield. They appeared alongside two other accused, Michael Morris and Chevonne McNabb, with Stanfield and his wife Nicole Johnson. State prosecutor Frank van Heerden told the court six more accused were still outstanding and that one of them was implicated in Kloppers’ killing, executed on February 16 last year. “The State is adding Morris as accused 11; he faces murder of William ‘Red’ Stevens, attempted murder, and illegal possession of a firearm and the unlawful…

THE UCT Council has passed two motions related to Gaza after it held an ordinary plenary meeting on Saturday. On the agenda were two resolutions regarding Gaza, which had been passed by the UCT Senate on April 19. After they had been passed at Senate level, the resolutions moved to the council for consideration. UCT said that the two resolutions were debated and adopted, each by majority vote. The first resolution related to the destruction of scholarship and education in Gaza, with the council resolving to “call, again, for an immediate ceasefire, the passage of humanitarian aid and return of all captives as contained in the Senate's resolution of 17 November 2023; and condemn the destruction of the education sector in Gaza and the massive scale of killing of…

THE City said it continued to remove political parties’ election posters from lampposts across the metro – more than a week after the deadline passed. More than 500 posters have been taken down by the City’s Environmental Management Department since June 18. City spokesperson Luthando Tyhalibongo said once removed, the posters could be collected by the political parties on payment of a removal charge. Otherwise, the City’s appointed contractor would arrange for the posters to be disposed of for recycling. “Although the majority of the posters should have been taken down by this week’s end, the City anticipates that residents may still report stray posters from time to time. “We pay our contractor R135 for each tied poster, and that’s precisely what we get back from the political party. There’s…

THE success of the ANC can be attributed to its ability to unite people across the political and social spectrum. Africa’s oldest liberation movement cemented itself as SA’s dominant political force and governing party by building a powerful tripartite alliance with partners Cosatu and the SACP, representing the workers and the left. Prior to coming to power into 1994, it had already incorporated prominent anti-apartheid groups into its ranks. This “broad church” which was composed of a potpourri of different but compatible ideologies – and also drew support from women’s, youth and university organisations – formed an invincible juggernaut that would maintain a majority upwards of 60% majority for more than two decades. Even the New National Party would be assimilated. Later, a radical economic transformation (RET) faction would emerge,…