Innehållsförteckning för 2024-11-19 från Cape Argus

Is tapping into your retirement savings to settle today’s debts worth risking your financial future? While the two-pot system offers immediate relief, some might argue that it could be driving consumers towards a cycle of credit dependency that would leave them unprepared for retirement. South Africa’s recently introduced two-pot retirement system has ushered in a new era of financial flexibility, allowing individuals to access a portion of their retirement savings earlier than before. While many facing immediate financial challenges have rejoiced at the possible reprieve, the two-pot system also introduces risks that could jeopardise their long-term financial well-being. To mitigate the risks, it is becoming critical to discuss the implications of the system. Understanding the two-pot system: a double-edged sword Signed into law under the Revenue Laws Amendment on September…

Frank Cadillac, the frontman of the eclectic Canadian band Neon Dreams, recently moved to Cape Town. After holding many performances throughout the country over the years, Cadillac said he finally felt like he had returned “home”. Chatting to Independent Media Lifestyle from his new home in the mother city, Cadillac said the love he received from fans in South Africa kept him inspired and creative. “Every time I had to leave South Africa, I used to cry. I’d be on the plane, thinking: ‘I wish this was my home.’ “I love Canada because that’s where I grew up but when you find something that suits you, you just know,” the singer said. “There is an abundance of love. I really adore South Africa’s sense of community and it has taught…

THE historic Castle of Good Hope has undergone a transformation, marking steps toward reviving its surroundings. The beautification initiative comes on the heels of the successful eviction of unlawful occupants who lived around it for several years. Over the weekend, Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson, alongside City of Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis, spearheaded a tree-planting ceremony outside the Castle precinct. The initiative not only aims to enhance the area’s natural beauty, but also to encourage community engagement ahead of the bustling summer tourism season. Macpherson, speaking at the event, expressed his enthusiasm for the flourishing public space. “I’m so excited to see what else this is going to become. I’m so excited to see families, kids coming down here. “That’s exactly what we are all…

THE extra-marital affair of an imprisoned gang boss from Woodstock took centre stage in the Western Cape High Court yesterday, as the plot to murder top criminal attorney William Booth was laid bare. Colonel Eddie Clark took to the stand to detail the steps taken to uncover who was behind the plot to murder Booth. Booth survived an attack outside his Higgovale home on April 9, 2020, when two gunmen opened fire at his home as he took his dogs for a morning walk. Clark said the shooting during the national lockdown led him to search the area for cameras, which may have picked up suspicious activity in the area. Clark had noticed a white Hyundai Creta had been captured on CCTV footage in the area and went on a…

As South Africa approaches the critical period for matric results, concerns are rising around the publication of these outcomes. With only weeks remaining until the results are due, AfriForum has announced that it will mobilise its legal team to challenge a recent directive from the Information Regulator South Africa (IR), which prohibits the public dissemination of matric results. This predicament echoes a similar situation faced in January 2022 when AfriForum, alongside Maroela Media and an affected matriculant, successfully contested a ban on the previous year’s results imposed by the Department of Basic Education (DBE). In that ruling, the court mandated the publication of the results, underscoring the importance of public access to this information. Currently, the IR has taken the lead, having issued an enforcement notice on November 4. The…

THE Gift of the Givers (GoTG) is bracing for the summer fire season, as more than 200 people were displaced in one incident in Pelican Park at the weekend. GoTG project coordinator, Ali Sablay, said they have been battling fires since the beginning of the month. He said the humanitarian organisation has brought in stock as they expect more incidents. Sablay said on Sunday, they were informed of the blaze in Pelican Park, which razed 58 informal structures in Phumlani Village. Yesterday, when the GoTG team arrived at the affected area, people were trying to rebuild their shacks with burnt iron sheets. Resident, Yonela Kapa, said the fire broke out around 4pm on Saturday afternoon. “It started at a shack next to mine. The owner wasn’t at home, she apparently…

The ANC seems determined to ensure that it suffers a similar fate as the Botswana Democratic Party. The recent Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) is a hard-core austerity budget. The budget outlines significant reductions in public spending, including the termination of the Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant, which had provided essential support to many vulnerable people. Cosatu has expressed opposition to the austerity measures detailed in the MTBPS. In a statement, Cosatu condemned the budget cuts, stating that they would “entrench racialised apartheid-era economic policies” and fail to address the pressing needs of the country’s most vulnerable populations. Similarly, the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) has criticised the government’s fiscal approach. Numsa argues that austerity measures have “destroyed South Africa’s growth trajectory”, leading to increased…

DOCTOR Khumalo would love to see Bafana Bafana finishing off their successful Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign on a high in order to send a strong message to their opposition for the World Cup qualification opposition that they mean business. South Africa’s senior men’s national team have already booked their place at the biennial continental showpiece going into tonight’s final match against South Sudan at Cape Town Stadium. Expectations are that coach Hugo Broos might ring a raft of changes and give peripheral players a run in a match he earlier said should be a celebration of having earned the ticket to Morocco. Khumalo would rather Bafana went all gun-ho on the South Sudanese who will come into the match high on confidence having eventually registered a victory in…

THE entire hall stood up in unison. They chanted “Aaaaaaaaaace!” for what felt like an eternity, stopping only when the man himself ordered them to. And then he spoke, softly as he always did but then sending them all into rapturous laughter. Patrick “Ace” Ntsoelengoe was as good a story-teller as he was a soccer player. It’s a pity that he will not be around to have us all in stitches on the occasion of arguably the greatest honour he is to receive in his home country. Tomorrow night at Monte Casino, the late former Kaizer Chiefs star – believed by many to be the greatest football star this country has ever produced – will be inducted into the South African Hall of Fame alongside other luminaries. His oldest foe…

With Black Friday around the corner – a time when credit and account cards are in heavy use – consumers are urged to stay alert against the rise in fraudulent activities. Taking these security measures to heart will protect against fraudsters while empowering you with practical fraud preventative knowledge for safe usage. What is credit fraud? Credit fraud is the illegal and criminal use of another person’s identity and credentials to access/borrow money or use their credit/account cards. The result of credit fraud is debt in your name made through fraudulent purchases. This might cause your credit score to dip. To avoid this, educate yourself on the types of credit fraud and what you can do to prevent them. Types of credit fraud Phishing scams Phishing occurs when fraudsters attempt…

The Parlotones have released their second EP in their Forgotten Songs series which features covers and remixes of reimagined classics. Released on Friday, the South African rock stalwarts’ new five-track musical offering includes distinctive interpretations of Elvis Presley’s Burning Love as well as the Beatles’ Come Together and The Times They Are A-Changin’ by Bob Dylan. The other two songs are reimagined remixes of their own songs, Should We Fight Back? and I’m Only Human. The band comprises Kahn Morbee, brothers Glen and Paul Hodgson, Neil Pauw, Rob Davidson and newcomer Trevor Rebello. Their new offerings follow the success of their first EP in the series, titled Early Recordings, which was released in July. “Building upon EP 1, which took listeners back to the band’s early days with…

ATHLETICS clubs in Cape Town have welcomed significant upgrades under way at the Green Point Athletic Stadium, set to be completed soon. Mayco member for economic growth, James Vos, recently inspected the progress of the upgrades, which include the resurfacing of the track to achieve a Class 2 World Athletic Certification. “This stadium is a critical component of the Economic Growth Directorate’s strategic assets portfolio, holding substantial economic and social value for the city. “The Green Point Athletic Stadium track opened to the public in 2015 and, due to its excellent maintenance, has been used extensively by the public. “Recent notable uses include it being a warm-up venue for HSBC Cape Town 7’s rugby teams, and being the start point for the Annual Cape Town Cycle Tour and the Spar…

The DA supports the steps taken by Minister Dion George against canned lion hunting and the lion bone trade. George issued two government notices – the first announcing voluntary exit pathways for holders of lion bone stockpiles and the second calling for comments on the prohibition of the establishment of new captive breeding facilities. There are an estimated 8 000 captive lions in South Africa across 350 facilities. The steps are the first moves towards a longer-term phasing out of the captive lion industry. The portfolio committee for environmental affairs convened a colloquium in 2018 to discuss captive lion breeding and hunting. Its recommendations were adopted by the National Assembly. A panel was appointed and a White Paper and policy position on sustainable use were published. The incentivised, voluntary surrendering…

Tazmin Brits says the Proteas women will be fully focused when they take on England despite their disappointing World Cup campaign. South Africa are due to play their first match since their 32-run loss in the World Cup final against New Zealand. The three-match T20 series will get the tour underway, followed by three ODI matches and the one-off Test match. The Buffalo Park Stadium in East London will kick things off with the first T20 clash on Sunday. South Africa made their second T20 World Cup final in a row, and their loss against New Zealand follows a 19-run loss against Australia last year in the final of their home World Cup in Cape Town. The hard-hitting opening batter has been a standout player for the last couple of…

BOK boss Rassie Erasmus dropped a broad hint at the weekend that history could be made in Cardiff on Saturday should brothers Jaden and Jordan Hendrikse start as the scrumhalf-flyhalf combination against Wales. Erasmus did not mention names but he said he intended to give all players on tour a start and Jordan is one of a few yet to get a gap. The coach likes to start with Jaden and back him up with Grant Williams, so a betting man would head down to the bookies and put the rent money on the Hendrikse brothers being the first sibling halfback pairing in Springbok history. The pair have combined before, at school in Durban at Glenwood and Jordan has said that it was their late father’s great dream for his…

Mamelodi Sundowns’ Carling Knockout final tie with Magesi FC has the making of a “David v Goliath” clash at Toyota Stadium in Mangaung on Saturday (6pm). But while Dikwena will duly wear the underdogs cap against the champions of the land, they’ll want to cause another major upset in the competition. After all, they were responsible for the demise of the local “cup specialists” Orlando Pirates, beating them 3-2 in their own backyard in the opening round of the competition. So, that’s why below, MIHLALI BALEKA, looks at three matchups which could decide the outcome of the result as Sundowns and Magesi eye the second trophy of the term. TEBOHO MOKOENA V SAMUEL DARPOH Mokoena has been an integral figure in the Sundowns set-up, linking attack and defence, and he…

COUPLES are urged to have open, practical discussions about money before the big day. This isn’t just about setting a wedding budget; it’s us about ensuring your partner’s financial habits align with the future you both envision. Knowing each other’s financial behaviour early on will reveal if you’re marrying an asset or a potential liability, sparing you from any devastating financial surprises down the line. Five key conversations to have: Income and savings goals Transparent discussions about each other’s income are vital. For example, can you afford to buy property or start a family? Knowing your combined income helps in planning these next steps together. Shared goals also encourages a foundation of financial transparency and responsibility. Credit records and debt management Another crucial topic to cover is debt. By sharing…

Linkin Park has returned to the rock music scene with From Zero, their first album since Chester Bennington died in 2017. The legendary rock band’s 11-track offering features new members and a world tour to celebrate its release. The group comprises Mike Shinoda, Brad Delson, Dave Farrell and Joe Hahn, alongside new members Emily Armstrong, who joined the group as a co-vocalist and drummer from the critically acclaimed band Dead Sara, as well as fellow drummer Colin Brittain, who previously worked with for G Flip, Illenium and One OK Rock. Dubbed one of the most anticipated rock releases of the year, the album was released on Friday. It features The Emptiness Machine, which was dropped in September. The song has ranked as the No 1 rock song in the US…

A LONE gunman caught on video chasing three victims in broad daylight before opening fire, killing one person and wounding two others, has yet to be arrested. The video has been shared on social media, and shows how the victim is murdered in the attack Sunday afternoon. The 17-second clip shows six people running along Himalaya Street in Heather Park, Eerste River. One man falls, and the others continue to run as bullets rain. The gunman, wearing a cap, blue top and grey shorts, comes into the frame pointing a gun towards the group. He moves close to the deceased, continuing to shoot and then walks away while shooting at a man wearing a white top and red pants who is trying to run from the bullets. The shooter then…

A recent survey conducted by Bettabets, a retail and online sports betting company, has unveiled a concerning trend among South African gamblers, highlighting their reliance on betting as a means to counterbalance the rising cost of living. The survey reveals that nearly half (48%) of gamblers are turning to gambling in the hope of covering essential monthly expenses, such as school fees and rent. Alarmingly, 70% of those surveyed admitted to gambling primarily to supplement their income instead of engaging in it as a source of entertainment. The findings come during the launch of Bettabets’ Smart Money Management Workshops, aimed at enhancing financial literacy among punters in conjunction with National Responsible Gambling Awareness Month this November. Despite the allure of potential winnings, the survey indicates that only 27% of gamblers…

When goalkeeper Ronwen Williams runs out onto the hallowed turf at the 2010 World Cup Stadium in Cape Town tonight (starting at 6pm), the Mother City's football fraternity will toast his 50th Bafana Bafana cap. Not long ago, Williams was basking in world football glory after he was nominated for the coveted Ballon d'Or awards. He was on Cloud Nine as he walked the red carpet at the glittering ceremony in the French capital. He eventually finished ninth for the Yachine trophy retained by Emi Martinez, the Argentine regarded as the world's best goalkeeper. Williams is also the Bafana captain and together with coach Hugo Broos, they have led the team with distinction. Williams was asked to reflect on his stellar career as the national team goalkeeper. He recalled when…

Red Bull KTM Factory rider Brad Binder secured fifth position in the 2024 MotoGP Championship ahead of future teammate Pedro Acosta in Barcelona. KTM also secured second position in the constructors championship with 327 points, 395 behind Ducati, who have now secured their fifth straight championship, and sixth overall. The South African rider would have hoped for a different turnout at the beginning of the season, but things didn’t work out as planned, and he had to graft hard to keep his RC16 bike consistently around the top six positions. Binder (217) outscored outgoing teammate Jack Miller (87) by a massive 130 points in the final championship standings, but he needed the last lap of the season to close the door on future teammate Acosta (215), edging the 20-year-old Spanish…