Innehållsförteckning för 2024-08-27 från Cape Argus

CALLING all the strong and resilient women of the Mother City, the Weekend Argus is hosting the Women’s Wellness Experience on September 28, and here’s why you cannot miss out on all the jam-packed entertainment and informative sessions. We’re hosting some of the Cape’s leading women from various health spaces to come out and share their wealth of knowledge with the all-female guest list. Set against the backdrop of the beautiful President Hotel, the event aims to empower women through wellness. Attendees get to ask questions and engage with the services brought right to the event – all this coupled with an exciting goodie bag on the day. One of the speakers set to engage with visitors is aesthetic and functional Gynaecologist, Dr Zethu Mtimkulu. Dr Mtimkulu uncapped some of…

This is the first part of a two-part column looking at the stereotyping of the homeless. We have internalised the often false preconceived ideas and myths that are often featured in the media or in political narratives. These usually place a totally skewed emphasis on the use of alcohol and drugs amongst those living on the streets. We are told most are criminals and lazy, and that it’s not fixable. I thought we should hear from homeless people themselves in their own words about what their lives are like. To tell their stories about how they ended up where they are and particularly about what their life is like every day. For the past year, 10 of my previously homeless friends and colleagues have been busy with a count and…

MAFIA-type syndicates are alive and well, and flourishing in South Africa. You can neither pussyfoot nor negotiate with these hard-core criminals. They spread fear, they do not value life, and they will take whatever they want. Extreme measures against these criminals are urgent. It requires political resolve, and a strong police force to take decisive action and end extortion. The attack against these extortionists must be relentless ... the resolve of the police unwavering. They can be stopped and Police Minister Senzo Mchunu needs to come out, using all the firepower at his disposal. Take no prisoners, this is war.…

One cannot help but wonder what the women who marched to the Union Buildings in 1956 would think about the situation of women in contemporary South Africa. No doubt, they would be happy about the progressive rights guaranteed by our Constitution and the opportunities that a democratic society presents. However, there is no doubt that they would be horrified about the rates of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) perpetrated daily. The opening of the 10th Thuthuzela Care Centre (TCC) in the Western Cape on August 19 is an important reminder that we have serious work to do to achieve the aspirations of the women who marched this month 68 years ago. It reminds us that unless we can defeat GBVF, we will never realise a just and prosperous society for…

RUSSIA launched about 200 missiles and drones at Ukraine yesterday, killing five people and striking energy facilities nationwide, Kyiv said, while neighbouring Nato member Poland reported a drone had probably entered its airspace. Power cuts and water supply outages were reported in many areas, including parts of Kyiv, as officials said the attack – two-and-a-half years into Russia’s full-scale invasion – targeted power or other critical infrastructure in at least 10 regions. Russia dramatically stepped up its strikes on the Ukrainian power grid in March in what Kyiv has said looked like a concerted effort to degrade the system ahead of next winter when people need electricity and heating most. Yesterday’s missile and drone salvo was Russia’s most intense in weeks, coming as Ukraine is claiming new ground in a…

HAVING left an indelible mark on past, present and future, the passing of former University of the Western Cape (UWC) visionary and hands-on rector and vice-chancellor, Professor Brian O’Connell, will undoubtedly live on. Professor O’Connell, originally from District Six passed away on Sunday night while at hospital, following a long period of illness. He was 77. God-daughter and niece, Dr Siona O’Connell, spoke fondly and emotionally of the man whom, those within family and close friends, referred to as “Brympie”. Her earliest recollection of O’Connell was a man determined to teach others to take up positions and importantly, to read, remembering how he would always read to them as children, introducing them to a world filled with wonder and possibility. He was a passionate lover of cricket and badminton, sharing…

JUSTICE Minister of Justice Thembi Simelane has remained mum over the VBS cloud hanging over her head amid reports that she benefited from VBS looted funds. The DA and ActionSA have raised their concerns over reports that Simelane took a loan from a company associated with the VBS funds. On Monday, ActionSA confirmed that it had filed an urgent Public Protector complaint against Simelane. This comes after two online publications revealed that during her tenure as mayor of Polokwane Municipality, she personally took a “loan” from an investment brokerage that facilitated the unlawful investment of R349 million from the municipality into the now-collapsed VBS Bank. The party said it would be writing to President Cyril Ramaphosa to inform him of their displeasure over this matter. It is reported that Simelane…

BONTEHEUWEL ward councillor Angus McKenzie’s sons have done it again by bagging gold at the Western Province Wrestling Championships held in Durbanville at the weekend. Connor, 14, and Carter, 12, from the Parow Wrestling Club, smiled from ear to ear after their wins on Saturday. Carter, who celebrated his 12th birthday on Sunday, said it was an “early birthday gift to himself”. “It feels great knowing that you are one of the best in the province, that your hard work and dedication paid off. “I feel stronger, taller and fitter because of the practices and I feel confident, proud and happy because of the achievement.” He jokes: “It’s not WWE wrestling, it’s professional wrestling … one thing it has in common is that it takes a lot of support from…

NOT unsurprisingly, Kamala Harris’s nomination as the Democratic Party’s presidential candidate is more of the same. There is nothing progressive about her party as far as the Middle East is concerned. Harris will always support “Israel’s right to self-defence”. This means nothing, as we know, but to say Israel can go ahead and commit the oppression and genocide of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and West Bank. Once again, the myth of the so-called “American Jewish lobby” has been blown sky high. It is not just the Zionists in America who are supporting this programme, it is the heartfelt view of the American political establishment. How on earth, for example, can America present itself as a broker in achieving a ceasefire when at the same it time it is…

South African soldiers are being killed in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) near the Rwandan border and no one in South Africa was informed: Why are South African troops fighting there? For whom and for what? Who invited the South African troops to fight there? Why do we get involved in internal and domestic problems confronting other countries in Africa? Most South Africans want to know why other countries like Nigeria or Egypt are not involved in the civil war in the DRC, and spend their financial resources on funding these wars. More than 35% of our young people are without jobs. In Europe, especially in the Eastern European countries they have a shortage of agricultural workers and they are recruiting workers from India, Thailand…

There are few things more exciting, anxious and nail-biting than watching your nation in a knock-out game of a major tournament. For South African sports fans, the emotions ran rife for four months – from rugby to cricket to soccer. Let’s rewind to November 24 last year. Paris was the setting, South Africa versus New Zealand the match-up. And if winning a World Cup wasn’t enough motivation, then edging out the others to become the most successful rugby nation certainly was. History was on the line. Whoever won was about to go somewhere no other country had gone: four-time World Cup champions. Pieter-Steph du Toit’s gladiator performance and Handré Pollard’s marksman-kicking inspired the Springboks to a nail-biting 12-11 victory. It was a crunch match that entailed a red card, several…

Kat Swanepoel will attempt to control the controllables as she faces a tough but exciting road ahead of the Paris Paralympics Games, which get under way tomorrow. Swanepoel will lead Team South Africa out for what will be her second Paralympic Games as the flag bearer, alongside track athlete Mpumelelo Mhlongo. She makes a return to the grand stage after the Tokyo Games in 2021. The 37-year-old has previously donned the green and gold of South Africa in wheelchair rugby and basketball, but due to a lot of physical challenges and injuries sustained, she retired from both sporting codes. Her love for sport and competition led her straight into swimming, and she finds herself carrying the hopes of millions of South Africans once again. Since the Tokyo Games, Swanepoel has…

A TEENAGER from Valhalla Park is on the road to recovery after being struck by a stray bullet in the face resulting in paralysis. The family of Andrea Fredericks, 14, said she recently underwent surgery at an undisclosed hospital to help her speak after the bullet ripped through her mouth and spinal cord. The Grade 7 pupil from Parkfields Primary School was injured during a gang shooting on August 17 while walking near her home in 8th Avenue. At the time, relatives said she had been sent to fetch a younger child in her family when the gunshots rang out. She collapsed in the street and was rushed to Elsies River Day Hospital by worried residents. The next day they were told she had been paralysed. A relative, who asked…

THE Department of International Relations and Co-operation (Dirco) has confirmed the recall of the Consul General to Dubai, Andrew Tsepo Lebona, after whistle-blowers exposed an alleged visa scam. “The department has acted on information from whistle-blowers pointing to security breaches and misconduct. We have recalled the Consul General from Dubai to Pretoria for a preliminary investigation,” Dirco spokesperson, Crispin Phiri, said. It is alleged the office had been running a scam selling visas to citizens in the United Arab Emirates. Phiri said a team of investigators has been assigned to the matter, which was still at a preliminary stage. Based on the findings thus far, the decision was taken to recall Lebona to answer questions, he said. The investigating team will present its report, Phiri said, which will be handed…

THE Cape of Good Hope SPCA continues to crack down on animal cruelty in Cape Town, after an underweight horse and dog were confiscated from Tafelsig, Mitchells Plain. The rescue mission came after complaints about the animals’ well-being were sent to the SPCA on Friday. It was discovered that the animals were being kept in conditions contravening the Animals Protection Act. Chief inspector Jaco Pieterse said leading inspector, Jeffrey Mfini, had engaged with the owner, who did not comply with instructions. Pieterse said warnings were issued for the owner to seek veterinary care for the animals, but they fell on deaf ears. After a warrant for the removal of the animals was obtained from the magistrate's court, the SPCA inspectors, with the assistance of City law enforcement officers visited…

THE fight for democracy and human rights in Zimbabwe has taken a dark turn as the judiciary, once a pillar of justice, increasingly becomes an instrument of repression. Under the leadership of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, the courts have been systematically used to silence dissent, target activists, and shut down opposition voices, casting a long shadow over the country’s political landscape. Since taking office in 2017, Mnangagwa promised to break away from the oppressive regime of his predecessor, Robert Mugabe. Despite these promises, the situation for political activists, journalists and opposition members in Zimbabwe has deteriorated significantly. Human rights organisations and international observers have consistently raised concerns about the use of the judiciary as a tool for political control. The courts in Zimbabwe have become notorious for their bias against activists.…

With the developments inside the EFF and the ever-diminishing, self-imploding ANC, it has become clear that arrogance and self-righteousness will eventually lead to the collapse of any strong party or movement. The exit of VBS looter Floyd Shivambu has left “Comrade” Julius Malema fuming. Not much freedom have come from these fighters in their red overalls, right? Hearing Premier Panyaza Lesufi saying the ANC ship is sinking comes as no surprise from a party of narcissistic, racist and corrupt individuals who once said: “(The) ANC will rule until Jesus’ return.” You are right, Lesufi. You too, President Cyril Ramaphosa. Your party has died and there is nothing you can do to save it. My message to the DA and its leader John Steenhuisen and DA Federal Council chair Helen…

South Africa’s townships are under siege by a growing phenomenon of extortion gangs, a scourge that is exacerbating the deep inequalities and poverty in these areas. For residents and small business owners in these communities, the reality of extortion is a daily nightmare that erodes their already fragile livelihoods. Extortion gangs, also referred to as “protection fee” syndicates, have proliferated across the country, particularly in the Western and Eastern Cape provinces. These gangs prey on the most vulnerable, demanding payments from small businesses under the threat of violence or even death. In Cape Town alone, the rise of extortion rackets has led to significant disruptions in local economies, forcing many businesses to close down. This crisis has not emerged in a vacuum. South Africa’s political elites, whether intentionally or not,…

It was a good weekend for South African football with several pointers that the game in Mzansi is thriving. Stellenbosch FC, Orlando Pirates and UWC Ladies all triumphed in continental showdowns, while South African coach Fadlu Davids enjoyed a rip-roaring start to his tenure at Simba FC in Tanzania. Here, we look at five talking points from the domestic football front. Pirates hit islanders for four, as revenge mission looms After the Madagascans Disciples FC had surprisingly held Orlando Pirates to a goalless draw in their first tie in the CAF Champions League first preliminary round last week, the outcome was vastly different in the second tie over the weekend. Pirates hammered the islanders 4-0 and will progress to the second preliminary round. This has raised the call from The…

Even though they will not make the play-offs of the Currie Cup, Western Province are partially satisfied with their campaign to blood new players ahead of the United Rugby Championship (URC). Their hopes of finishing among the top four teams in the domestic competition ended this past Saturday after a loss to the Sharks at home, but being able to develop talent that could feature in their URC and Champions Cup campaigns was the priority. The URC starts in just under a month and with a long list of injuries and players who departed, the Cape side looks a bit light in certain positions – especially loose forward – but director of rugby John Dobson confirmed they won't be bringing in mercenaries but rather focus on the talent that put…