Innehållsförteckning för 2024-11-15 från Cape Argus

In a bid to inspire environmental restoration and innovation, the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company (TMACC) is thrilled to announce its annual “Take a Hike Day” on Saturday. While the official day will be commemorated on Sunday, the TMACC encourages Capetonians to gather a day earlier to embrace the stunning trails of Table Mountain and to actively engage in keeping the area clean. This year’s event comes at a significant time as it coincides with the recent celebration of the 13th anniversary of Table Mountain being voted one of the New7Wonders of Nature. This accolade is a testament not only to the mountain’s breathtaking beauty but also to the ongoing local conservation efforts that are pivotal in maintaining its splendour. Participants are invited to start their day at 7am,…

IN AN UNEXPECTED turn of events, the siblings initially arrested in connection with the murder of David “Gums” Manuel, now face charges limited to fraud and money laundering. Wanda Mbele and sister Sindiswa Mbele made their first appearance in the Athlone Magistrate’s Court yesterday. They were apprehended on Tuesday after an investigation into the murder of Noem My Skollie actor Manuel, and his friend, Alfonso Fisher. The best friends were killed on October 8 in Manuel’s home in NY 141, Gugulethu. The accused live across the road from the victim’s home. Dressed in a white shirt and black blazer, Wanda walked in with his sister who wore a black hoodie while…

THE wrongful death lawsuit over the killing of former South African rugby player, Lindani Myeni, is set to take place in 2025. Myeni was shot dead by police in Hawaii in April 2021. At the time, Myeni, aged 29, was fatally wounded in a scuffle with police. IOL reported that the former KwaZulu-Natal rugby player was shot four times after police responded to a 911 distress call. Myeni’s widow, Lindsay Myeni, filed a wrongful death lawsuit following his death. SABC reported that a decision on a possible R26 million settlement was expected to be decided on this month, after a full council hearing held last month fell flat. The Myeni family lawyer, Jim Bickerton, explained that if the family goes to a jury and they prevail, the damages cost would…

Police Minister, Senzo Mchunu and his defence counterpart, Angie Motshekga are set to visit the Stilfontein mine shaft in Orkney, where more than 4000 illegal miners are reported to be trapped underground in spite of a 1000 having resurfaced in the past week. Ahead of his visit to the area, Mchunu remarked: “We will be on the ground tomorrow, together with the Ministry of SANDF to engage with the North West Province and mining leadership.” Mchunu’s remarks come hot on the heels of a controversial stance taken by minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni who said law enforcement agencies are ready to “smoke out” illegal miners during Wednesday’s post Cabinet media briefing. “Criminals are not to be helped. Criminals are to be persecuted,” she said. Ntshavheni indicated it was their…

A PILOT project addressing challenges caused by the sand drift on Baden Powell Drive has been launched, with strategically positioned wind nets erected to capture sand nearby. The project was rolled out on Wednesday and is spearheaded by the City’s Roads Infrastructure Management Department and the Coastal Management Branch. The initiative is designed to tackle the persistent issue of windblown sand along Baden Powell Drive, a key thoroughfare that experiences significant disruption during the summer months when fierce southeaster winds are at their peak. Deputy Mayor and mayco member for spatial planning and environment, Eddie Andrews, said the pilot project involves removing extra sand piled-up at Sonwabe Beach. “This sand management intervention pilot project entails the strategic placement of wind nets to trap sand closer to the sea and…

CRISPIN Sonn, chairperson of the Council of Cape Town’s prestigious boarding school, Bishops Diocesan College, has resigned from his position with immediate effect. His resignation was announced by the school yesterday. Sonn’s resignation comes a month after he was forced to issue an apology for writing a pro-Palestine message on his Facebook page. The post, which has since been deleted, left a bitter taste on the Bishops Council, which led Sonn to apologise for his actions. In his apology, Sonn said after reading many of the comments in response, he realised that the message he had intended to share, had been misunderstood by some people hence he immediately withdrew and deleted the post.…

THIS is not how it was supposed to end. Danny Jordaan was meant to go into the sunset as a South African hero – and that should have happened years ago, way before his legacy as a top football administrator was to be tarnished as it currently is. But then again, African leaders – be they in politics or sport – just don’t know when to quit, do they? Had he done what he told me he was going to over lunch at the Michelangelo Hotel soon after the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Jordaan would probably not be suffering the current embarrassment of an arrest and a court appearance over charges of fraud. We’d just hosted the football spectacle – maybe a year afterwards – when I met up with…

Aiden Markram has spoken at length about his desire to rediscover the form which once made him one of the world’s most destructive T20 batters. Ahead of the final T20I against India at the Wanderers in Johannesburg today (5pm start), Markram is though yet again under scrutiny as he seeks not only meaningful runs, but also to stave off a fifth bilateral series defeat under his leadership. In fact, the Proteas have not won a single T20I series since Markram replaced Temba Bavuma as the short-format skipper in March last year. It is such a polar opposite world to when Markram led the Proteas to eight victories on the bounce at the ICC T20 World Cup back in June, which ultimately resulted in a first-ever appearance in a Men’s World…

The Global Employability University Ranking and Survey (GEURS) for 2025 has ranked the University of Cape Town (UCT) and Stellenbosch University among the top global universities with employable graduates. The GEURS assesses the employability performance of higher education institutions. It is the only survey that ranks and reveals the world’s top 250 universities for producing employable graduates based on the employer’s assessment, knowledge and expectations. The 14th edition of the GEURS collected 129 126 votes from 13 240 operational and international managers in 33 countries– this is the largest sample to date. Stellenbosch University earned the 245th spot in the GEURS, which is five places improvement to this year (2024) after scoring the 250th position. Meanwhile, UCT grabbed the 243rd spot, earning two places improvement as it ranked the 245th…

WHEN Angelo Plaatjies was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at just five years old, he began a lifelong journey of learning to manage his condition. Now 33, he reflects on the challenges of living with diabetes, underscoring the importance of early diagnosis, ongoing support, and lifestyle changes in managing the chronic disease. “Living with diabetes hasn’t been easy, especially as a child when sugary treats were everywhere at parties,” said Plaatjies, who is a patient at Tygerberg Hospital. “I had cravings, especially for sweet things. But with the support of healthcare workers and my family, I’ve learned to balance my health and live a full life.” Type 1 diabetes is largely genetic and not preventable. Type 2 diabetes is mainly caused by obesity and is described as the “double diabetes”.…

Archbishop Thabo Makoba of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa has expressed his deep sorrow and support, following the resignation of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby. The leader of the world’s Anglicans, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby announced his resignation on Tuesday, over a report that concluded the Church of England covered up a serial abuse case. This comes after a chorus of criticism about his role in the decades-spanning scandal, prompted by the release last week of an independent probe's findings. An investigation found that the Church of England covered up widespread abuse by John Smyth, a lawyer who ran evangelical summer camps in the 1970s and 1980s. Boys were beaten so badly that they bled, and needed to wear diapers, but church leaders who knew about it…

POLICE are probing allegations levelled against the City of Cape Town concerning sewage pollution affecting Strandfontein Beach. The Cape Independent Party (Capexit) this week lodged a criminal complaint against the City, alleging negligence. According to Capexit PR councillor, Karl Bodin, the City’s Water and Sanitation Directorate has not provided a plan to treat raw sewage that gushes onto Strandfontein Beach and along False Bay. Speaking outside the Strandfontein police station on Wednesday, Bodin said: “A few months ago in March, it was brought to my attention that the city of Cape Town is discharging raw effluent into the waters of False Bay from the beach Strandfontein. I visited the site and I noted that this is definitely raw sewage.” Bodin said upon taking samples and noticing the danger, they reported…

A new scam targeting people who have applied for maternity benefits is doing the rounds, according to the Department of Employment and Labour. The scammers are impersonating officials from the Department of Employment and Labour and are contacting people, requesting payments to release supposed “vouchers or funds”. The department said: “The scammers typically request the UIF beneficiary to send money through a bank and then send the pin or buy a voucher and send the details to him, claiming it is required to process the benefits.” The scammers will deceive employers into thinking they are speaking to someone from the department and will ask for personal details of employees who have applied for the benefits. According to the department, some clients have already lost money to this scam, and there…

Willie le Roux will complete the year tantalisingly short of a century of Springbok caps, but Rassie Erasmus says he is not being cruel. There is also the matter of the coach’s pet project, Aphelele Fassi, ending the season with a baptism in one of the toughest places to play, Twickenham. The 35-year-old Le Roux will finish the year on 98 not out, possibly 99, if he gets a run against Wales next week. “It might look like I’m being a bit mean to Willie, but it is the opposite,” Erasmus said yesterday after making 12 changes to the starting line-up to face England tomorrow (7.40pm kick-off). “We do make it special for guys when they reach milestones. You saw how we gave Kwagga (Smith) a start at Murrayfield when…

Nearly 40 years after making his professional debut, and 19 years after being battered into retirement, a 58-year-old Mike Tyson will climb back into the ring tonight for a Netflix-backed bout that has drawn widespread condemnation across the boxing world. Tyson, who terrorised the heavyweight division during an imperious reign in the late 1980s, is lacing up the gloves once more to take on YouTuber Jake Paul, 27, in an officially sanctioned fight at AT&T Stadium, the home of the Dallas Cowboys, in Arlington, Texas. The fight, which will be comprised of eight two-minute rounds, was initially due to take place in July, but was postponed in May after Tyson required medical treatment on a flight from Miami to Los Angeles after vomiting blood due to a bleeding ulcer. That…

Centuries from Edward Moore and George Linde rescued Western Province on day one of their CSA Four-Day Series clash against the Warriors at Newlands in Cape Town yesterday. Moore (127 off 221 balls, 12x4, 2x6) and Linde combined for a partnership of 191 to help recover the home side from being 33/5 to a solid first-innings score of 344/7 at the close. Moore, with his 18th career first-class century, fell closer to the end of play off the bowling of Matthew Breetzke, who picked up only his second career first-class wicket. But Linde hung on and crossed the line for his sixth career first-class century, and he will start day two unbeaten on 128 (off 226 balls, 11x4). Kyle Simmonds put on a 119-run partnership for the seventh wicket with…

MILNERTON crime fighters have raised concerns about the non-appointment of a station commander over the past three years, saying the station is in chaos. This comes amid a report by former Community Policing Forum (CPF) chairperson, Mark Lindsell, at their annual general meeting this week. According to the report, Lindsell stated that over the last three years, SAPS failed to permanently employ a station commander since Brigadier Marius Stander left. He explains since then, three high-ranking cops have been assigned to the station in acting positions, but lack of leadership led to uncertainty. “This leads over the years to uncertainty and indecision in the station, a drop of morale and indeed operational and community direction, objectives, a loss of discipline and consistency, as well as a loss of knowledge due…

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has condemned the reported R3.6 billion expenditure on printing matric examination papers, accusing the Democratic Alliance (DA) of pushing a privatisation agenda that erodes state capacity. According to the EFF, the increase in costs is a direct result of the DA’s push for outsourcing critical government functions, which they argue undermines the role of the state in serving its people. In a statement, the EFF spokesperson Leigh-Ann Mathys said the party expressed concern that the decision to shift the responsibility for printing National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams from the Government Printing Works (GPW) to private companies would only benefit large corporations, primarily those controlled by white businesses. Mathys called the cost increase a “deliberate weakening of the state,” emphasising that this trend would lead to…

THE National Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Advocate Rodney de Kock has called for collaboration within all the crime-fighting institutions to win the war against fraud and corruption. De Kock was a keynote speaker at the Anti-Fraud and Corruption Summit jointly organised by eThekwini Municipality and the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners in Durban, yesterday. Speaking at the event, the former Western Cape Director of Public Prosecutions for 16 years, said the lack of collaboration within the institutions that were tasked to fight corruption was one of the major reasons why corruption was not being detected and prevented, calling for collaboration between these structures as well as government leadership. Another major factor cited by De Kock was the lack of ethics in the government and private sector leadership, saying in…

THE Cape Argus Youth Poetry finals celebrated the creativity of young poets, culminating in a thrilling prize-giving ceremony that recognised exceptional talent and artistic expression. The initiative, which kicked off earlier this year, invited budding wordsmiths to express their thoughts and emotions through poetry. Yesterday’s prize-giving ceremony, held at the Independent Media office in Cape Town, was a testament to the vibrant literary spirit permeating the youth. The Cape Argus was inundated with entries, but only three poets made the final round: Ronan Patterson, 20, Anathi Gongotha, 21 and 29-year-old Andisiwe Makwecana. The finalists presented their poems, addressing themes such as identity, resilience, and hope. After the judges’ deliberation, Patterson won the first prize and walked away with an Intel Core 13 Notebook, a 6-month introduction to a poetry course…

Centre-back Mothobi Mvala is a player who can produce ‘Madiba Magic’ at Kampala’s Mandela National Stadium today (3pm SA time kick-off) when Bafana Bafana play Uganda in an Africa Cup of Nations Group K clash between two countries that have already qualified. Yesterday’s Group K clash at the Juba Stadium saw hosts South Sudan cause a monumental upset by defeating former Afcon champions Congo Brazzaville 3-2 after the scores were level at 2-2 at halftime. This outcome left Uganda (12 points) and South Africa (eight) in unassailable positions at the top of the Group K log. This was South Sudan’s first win in five matches. As a result, Uganda and South Africa have qualified with two rounds remaining. South Sudan and Congo will play their final group matches on Tuesday.…

Former Cricket South Africa convenor of selectors Victor Mpitsang says the Proteas need the batters to stand up in the fourth and final T20I match against India at the Wanderers today (5pm start). South Africa will head into the final encounter needing a victory to avoid suffering their second telling loss against India following the seven-run loss in the final of the T20 World Cup earlier this year in June. India currently lead the four-match series 2-1, and their 11-run victory on Wednesday night in Centurion meant that they took an unassailable lead, ensuring that the worst result they can take back home is a drawn series. It is a result they will welcome, considering that they are missing a few of their regular players against a strong South African…

Spirits are high in the Republic of Uganda after their national team qualified for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations without kicking a ball in today’s highly anticipated clash against fellow qualifiers South Africa. Yesterday’s Group K clash at the Juba Stadium saw hosts South Sudan cause a monumental upset by defeating former Afcon champions Congo Brazzaville 3-2 after the scores were level at 2-2 at halftime. This was South Sudan’s first win in five matches, and left Uganda (12 points) and South Africa (8 points) in unassailable positions at the top of the Group K log. As a result, Uganda and South Africa have achieved 2025 Afcon qualification with two rounds remaining. South Sudan and Congo will play their final group matches on Tuesday. In the past, Ugandans have…