Innehållsförteckning för 2024-09-02 från Cape Argus

THE Western Cape High Court has warned alleged underworld kingpin, Nafiz Modack, to get ready to face a second high-profile trial next year for allegedly defrauding Sars out of R46 million. This was revealed on Friday as Modack returned to court alongside his mother, Ruwaida and brother, Yaseen. The trio were arrested along with Faried van der Schyff, Bashier Syce, Layla Bedderson, Dominique McLachlan and Kulsum van der Schyff by the Hawks several years ago on fraud charges. The arrest came shortly after Modack was charged for the murder of slain Anti-Gang Unit detective Charl Kinnear, for which he is currently on trial in the same court. Shortly after the group’s arrest, they appeared in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court and now face over 700 charges of racketeering, fraud, money…

Philippi East police nabbed armed suspects fleeing a business robbery on Govan Mbeki Street, Philippi East, on Saturday evening. Reports state that the members of the SAPS spotted the suspects’ vehicle and tried to stop it. The suspects shot at police in an attempt to evade arrest. Police spokesperson Wesley Twigg said Philippi East police are investigating the circumstances that led to a shoot-out between police and armed suspects. “Police responded to a complaint of a business robbery in Govan Mbeki Street, Philippi East, on Saturday evening, 31 August 2024. “According to reports, the members spotted the suspects’ vehicle and tried to stop it. The suspects shot at police in an attempt to evade arrest. “We can confirm that two adult males were arrested. One suspect was wounded during a…

WITH the new moon spring tide expected to peak tomorrow, emergency services have appealed to the public to be cautious around the coastline as dangerous sea conditions are predicted. The warning comes as the SA Weather Service (SAWS) issued an Orange Level 6 warning for damaging winds over a large portion of the Western Cape. NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon said the new moon spring tide could potentially cause risky sea conditions. “The NSRI are appealing to the public to be cautious around the coastline where storms around the coast – along the Northern and Western Cape coastline and spreading up the East Coast, coupled with the approaching new moon spring tide creating rough sea conditions – will cause dangerous surf and shoreline conditions. Extreme caution is advised,” Lambinon said. The…

The implosion of the EFF hierarchy, has put Julius Malema on the spot. Floyd Shivambu’s exit heralds a new dawn for the marginalised, the downtrodden, maligned, homeless and jobless. Bearing in mind that those rotten to the core, who were at the top of the EFF pile, milked the system via the VBS bank enriching themselves, fabulously. Shivambu’s shift to MKP, and subsequent seduction by Ubaba ... has a long term plan ... regaining political power, thereby enabling large-scale looting. Those in the Government of National Unity (GNU) who still have a modicum of decency, honesty and loyalty to the country, should be deeply concerned by this newly emerging cabal, under the banner of MKP. |…

ActionSA remains concerned about the latest crime statistics for Q1 2024/2025, which reveal a marginal decrease in the murder rate, with 6 198 murders recorded between April and June 2024. This reduction amounting to 69 murders per day compared to 73 per day in the previous quarter, may seem encouraging at first glance. However, it is crucial to recognise that this still represents a horrifying level of violence, with nearly 3 murders occurring every hour in South Africa. Particularly alarming is the targeted violence against women and children. The first quarter of 2024/2025 saw 966 women and 314 children murdered – an appalling statistic that underscores the failure of our government to protect the most vulnerable members of our society. These figures translate to 11 women and 3 children being…

Israel announced yesterday that its troops had found six dead hostages in a Gaza tunnel, as Israeli police said a “shooting attack” in the occupied West Bank killed three officers. The deadly shooting near Hebron added to surging violence in the West Bank, which is separated from Gaza by Israeli territory and where Israel has since Wednesday carried out a large-scale military operation that has sparked international concern. In the besieged Gaza Strip, “humanitarian pauses” in the nearly 11-month war between Israel and Hamas were set to take place to facilitate a massive polio vaccination drive which a health official said had begun. Israel’s military said the remains of six hostages were recovered on Saturday “from an underground tunnel in the Rafah area” in southern Gaza and formally identified in…

SAO PAULO: The number of fires in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest region for August surged to the highest level since 2010, government data showed yesterday, after a record drought that has been plaguing the biome. Last year’s rains came late and were weaker than usual because a weather pattern, known as El Nino, was supercharged by climate change, leaving the rainforest especially vulnerable to this year’s fires. Satellites detected 38 266 fire hotspots in the Amazon in August, more than double compared to the previous year and the largest number for that month since 2010. | Reuters…

Richards Bay head coach Brandon Truter has spoken for the first time since his reappointment at the club just under a month ago. “Braatjies” has taken charge of the Natal Rich Boyz ahead of the new season, taking over from Vusumuzi Vilakazi who helped the club survive relegation last season. The 46-year-old former AmaZulu coach was surprisingly roped in by the club during a tentative period where big names auch as Rulani Mokwena and Benni McCarthy were touted to take over. Truter’s appointment was further placed under the microscope after club chairman Jomo Biyela publicly addressed the club’s disagreements with the previous coach. To add fuel to the fire, memorable statements made by the chief executive of the club’s new sponsor Phakwe Gas suggested the club might be in for…

CAPE Town City might have missed out on the first trophy of the season, but assistant coach Diogo Peral believes that they’ll get things right, especially with the new signings. City were bundled out of the MTN8 over the weekend after losing 3-1 on aggregate to Orlando Pirates in the two-legged semi-final. The two teams played to a 1-1draw in the first leg in Cape Town on Wednesday before Pirates won the return leg 2-0 in Orlando on Saturday afternoon. Peral, who did the pre-match and post-match duties on behalf of head coach Eric Tinkler, believes that his troops didn’t come to the party in Orlando. However, not all is lost for the Citizens. Peral believes that the arrival of senior players such as Kamohelo Mokotjo, Fortune Makaringe and Haashim…

Spring is finally here and with it comes new captivating and thought- provoking television shows. Here are some new productions to enjoy this September. The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (S2) South African actress Sophia Nomvete features as a dwarven princess in this series which brings to screens for the first time the heroic legends of the fabled Second Age of Middle-earth’s history. This epic drama takes viewers back to an era in which great powers were forged, kingdoms rose to glory and fell to ruin, unlikely heroes were tested, hope hung by the finest of threads and the greatest villain that ever flowed from Tolkien’s pen threatened to cover all the world in darkness. * The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is currently…

A CAPE Town activist has lauded a decision by the Western Cape High Court to dismiss a bail appeal by the man accused of being part of an international child porn syndicate. The bold attempt to be released by Corné van Rooyen was abruptly dismissed by Judge Mandy van Leeve, who said they would not interfere with the findings of the magistrate at Blue Downs Magistrate’s Court. The 40-year-old man from Kraai- fontein was busted alongside Garth van West, 53, and Shannon Manuel, 32, following a joint operation by police and the US Department of Homeland Security in January. At the time, national police spokesperson, Athlenda Mathe, said the arrest of the trio from Kraaifontein, Worcester and Mitchells Plain, were among seven South African suspects busted. She said Van Rooyen…

As Women’s Month in South Africa draws to a close, the focus on GBV and economic inequality will slowly begin to fade from public discourse. While political will begin to wane, we can feel encouraged that significant progress is being made in other areas, particularly in the private and non-profit sectors. A great example is offered by the advent of FemTech, which is revolutionising women’s health through the use of technology. FemTech, or female technology, encompasses a range of digital products and services designed to empower women by providing them with vital health information and tools. From menstrual tracking apps to fertility and pregnancy care tools, FemTech is giving women more control over their health and physical well-being. This is particularly beneficial in underserved areas, where access to health care…

I’M reminded of the countless opportunities that shaped who I am today. Job-shadowing, mentorship and the steadfast support of those who believed in me weren’t merely stepping stones in my career; they were the foundation of my growth. That’s why I’m so passionate about ensuring young women have access to these opportunities. Suppple recently partnered with the TechnoGirl Trust to offer 10 young women the chance to job-shadow at our Cape Town headquarters. Beginning in the September 2024 school holidays, the initiative will run three times a year over the next four years. TechnoGirl Trust has a proven track record of creating impactful programmes. With their support, we’re committed to guiding these young women until they finish high school in December 2027. We want them to enter the future with…

TRIPOLI: Libya’s Arabian Gulf Oil Company had resumed output at up to 120 000 barrels a day to meet domestic needs, while exports were still halted, engineers said yesterday. after a stand-off between factions shut most of the country’s oilfields. On Saturday, the Arabian Gulf Oil Company, the operator of Libya’s Sarir, Messla and Nafoura oilfields, issued an instruction for production to restart. The resumption is intended only to supply electricity and fuel plants for domestic needs. Factions in the east of Libya shut output down after factions dominant in western Libya ousted veteran Central Bank of Libya governor Sadiq al-Kabir and replaced him with a rival board. | Reuters…

WESTERN Province dented the knockout hopes of the Pumas in the Currie Cup after the home side completed a 39-30 win in Stellenbosch yesterday afternoon. It was only the third win for Province in the domestic competition this season, but after being strengthened by several Springboks and players in the United Rugby Championship squad, there was no room for another loss. WP had dominated the first half and scored some good tries through winger Courtnall Skosan, who bagged two tries in the first 30 minutes, and led comfortably in the opening half an hour. But a lapse in concentration, when the Pumas were down to 14 players after a yellow, saw the visitors open their account via prop Etienne Janeke. It was a good build-up by the 14 men from…

THE board of directors of the New Development Bank has approved a loan of R17.8 billion ($1 billion) to South Africa for the financing of water and sanitation infrastructure development projects. The announcement was made at the 9th Annual Meeting of the New Development Bank held in Cape Town at the weekend. The loan will fall under South Africa’s Municipal Infrastructure Grant, and is a conditional grant allocated to municipalities to reduce infrastructure backlogs and ensure the provision of basic services to poor households. It is envisioned the funds will help address the major infrastructure improvements needed in the water and sanitation sector of South Africa. National Treasury welcomed the funding, saying it was critical to help assist freight logistics and water projects. “We welcome the NDB's funding commitments. They…

After Friday’s signing of the Western Cape Co-operations Agreement for Safety and Policing and the release of the latest crime statistics, we are left with an appalling sense that our politicians are being purely performative while being fully aware that vast parts of the Western Cape are living in conditions akin to Ciudad Barrios Prison in El Salvador. The latest murder statistics show that of the 10 most dangerous places to live in South Africa seven are in the Western Cape. If we expand that list to the 30 most dangerous places to live in South Africa, 11 are in the Western Cape. A third of South Africa’s most dangerous residential areas are all in one province – the Western Cape. They are all traditionally black and coloured townships. With…

Is the new kid on the block, MK party, under the leadership of the former president Jacob Zuma, the future? The new political party’s popularity is steadily growing, despite its evident weaknesses and visible shortcomings. Not long ago, the MK party won a by-election in Marikana, North West. Does this dispel the myth that it is a regional party – meaning it’s dominant in KZN only, or that it is a tribal party? It’s still early days to tell. Two weeks ago or so, the co-founder and former EFF deputy president, Nyiko Floyd Shivambu, resigned and joined Zuma’s party. He has also been given a critical role – that of a national organiser. When I heard the news on radio, I was shocked but not surprised. I did not see…

DID we think that two decades of government corruption, an economic meltdown exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, and the decrepit stewardship of the country's resources will leave ordinary citizens unscathed? The impacts of these issues have been deeply felt across communities, especially in their experiences with health, welfare, food security, and educational services. Poverty is now endemic and widespread, with communities teetering on the edge of survival and suffering from depressive conditions. The recent brazen announcement by the Western Cape Education Department on the retrenchment of 2 500 teachers is an abomination that will wreak havoc on schools and communities, exacerbating their already dire circumstances and making survival even more challenging. Where is the outrage from political parties on both the left and right, the teacher unions, religious organisations, and…

The Springboks and the All Blacks share one of the most storied rivalries in all of sport. It is steeped in history and legacy. And when they meet in Johannesburg like they did this past weekend it only increases in intensity. Many famous contests between these great rivals have occurred at Ellis Park, none more so than South Africa’s first Rugby World Cup final victory there back in 1995. It is one of the iconic moments not only in South Africa’s sporting history, but also the country’s fledgling democracy. It was only fitting that the charismatic new Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie worked his magic to foster a deal between pay-channel SuperSport and the SA Broadcast Corporation (SABC) to show the match on the public broadcaster for…

TOKYO: Tropical cyclone Shanshan, downgraded from a typhoon, left seven people dead and widespread damage as it churned off the Pacific coast of central Japan yesterday. The Japan Meteorological Agency continued to warn of landslides, floods and rising water levels in rivers in western and eastern Japan, citing increased risks due to ground loosening from record-breaking rainfall since the storm hit the southern coast last week. On the Pacific side of eastern Japan, moist air from a Pacific high-pressure system were causing heavy rain and thunderstorms, the agency said. | Reuters…