Innehållsförteckning för 2024-11-21 från Cape Argus

IT’S that time of the year when viewers are hit with an influx of Christmas movies. And while it is difficult to follow in the footsteps of iconic holiday films like Home Alone and The Holiday, Meet Me Next Christmas is a vibrant addition to the genre as it explores themes of love, divine intervention and the magic of the festive season. Much of its appeal lies in the electrifying chemistry between the lead stars, Christina Milian and Devale Ellis. They are a marvel to watch alongside other interesting characters who add depth and humour to the story. There are also some unique twists and turns during their one-of-a-kind adventure and many moments of comedy. The Netflix movie, which was chosen ahead of Our Little Secret starring Lindsay Lohan and…

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has announced that withdrawals from Two-Pot retirement system have increased to more than R35 billion from more than more than 1.9 million applications. The SARS yesterday updated the total figures for tax directives received concerning withdrawals from the Savings Withdrawal Benefit under the Two-Pot system. Of the 2 153 942 applications received, SARS issued a total of 1 914 306 directives, amounting to a cumulative gross value of R35 052 572 876.62. However, the disparity between applications and directives issued highlights several issues; with 169 509 applications declined for a myriad of reasons, ranging from systems failures from the fund management entities to wrong identification number, wrong tax number etc. At least 41 523 directives were declined because of insufficient funds, wrong codes etc,…

FOOD items such as canned fish, fizzy drinks, soya beans, baby food, and spices mostly used on chips and similar snacks were found stored with hazardous chemicals such as pesticides, at a warehouse on the Bluff in Durban, yesterday. This potentially hazardous mix of goods and poisonous chemicals has been linked to a string of deaths of children around the country who fell ill after consuming foodstuff bought from spaza shops. Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said investigations were under way to find the people responsible for the import of expired and counterfeit food similar to the type mostly sold at township and village spaza shops. “Counterfeit prescription medication, body lotion and expired alcoholic beverages were also found in the two warehouses. Police have also intensified operations to detect…

AS MANY as eight to 10 tourist buses can be seen making their way through the narrow streets of Bo-Kaap at any point in time, as tourists flock to the picturesque and historical neighbourhood. However, this causes major disruptions to the lives of residents. Yesterday, a group of around 40 residents protested in Wale Street, demanding the City put in place a traffic plan for Bo-Kaap – a plan residents have been requesting for a number of years. Bo-Kaap Civic and Ratepayers…

In response to the Summit on Construction Industry Challenges. The recent summit organised jointly by the Departments of Public Works and Police, focusing on disruptions in the construction sector, raises serious concerns about the way Black contractors are being unfairly labelled as a “construction Mafia.” This narrative not only undermines the legitimate Struggles of Black contractors but also perpetuates the systemic exclusion of Black-owned businesses from accessing government contracts – a reality that has persisted long after the end of apartheid. Historical Parallels and the Fight for Economic Justice It is troubling to see parallels between this situation and the way freedom fighters were treated during apartheid. Back then, those who fought for justice and equality were branded as terrorists and criminalised to maintain a system designed to benefit the…

The 2024 rugby season has seen its fair share of highs and lows for rising South African star Cameron Hanekom, and now, the stage is set for a pivotal moment in his burgeoning rugby career. Initially a late addition to the Springbok squad due to utility back Damian Willemse’s injury, the 22-year-old Bulls loose forward is poised to become the 52nd player utilised by head coach Rassie Erasmus this season, should he see action in Saturday’s Test against Wales in Cardiff (7.40pm kick-off). Selected on the bench for the world champions in their final Test of the UK tour, Hanekom’s anticipated debut carries the weight of expectation and the thrill of a long-held dream coming to fruition. After being sidelined earlier in the year by a hamstring injury during the…

WHEN a 17-year-old Kwena Maphaka took to the field for the first time in the blue colours of the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League earlier this year, there were a lot of expectations on the young fast-bowling prodigy. With all the weight on his young shoulders, the left-arm paceman had a rather forgetful IPL debut as Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma and Aiden Markram took him to the cleaners at a packed Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. Maphaka conceded five sixes and seven fours that night, and returned figures of 0/66 as the he endured a baptism of fire. In his second and final game for captain Hardik Pandya’s Mumbai Indians, Maphaka had a much better performance, returning figures of 1/23 and letting the world know why such…

The highly anticipated Comedy Central Roast of Pearl Thusi is set to light up Gold Reef City’s Lyric Theatre today. TV and radio star Phat Joe, R&B musician Donald and platinum-selling singer-songwriter Zee Nxumalo, pictured, will be joining Zodwa Wabantu, Randall Abrahams, Busiswa and Farieda “Pharoahfi” Metsileng to roast actress and presenter, Pearl Thusi. According to a statement: “Together, they’ll be firing shots at each other while trying to make Pearl Thusi squirm in her seat.” Each of these personalities will bring their unique flair and style, promising a night of side-splitting comedy and unforgettable moments. Joe, who believes that the entertainment business is not for “sissies” shared: “South Africans have a love-hate relationship with our stars. “The higher you rise, the harder you fall – and believe me, people…

Deputy Finance Minister Ashor Sarupen said that since 2019, criminal syndicates have disrupted over 180 construction projects worth R63 billion. He noted this shocking figure while addressing delegates at the National Construction Summit in Durban on Tuesday. “Their demands for up to 30% of contract value undermine the integrity of our procurement systems and delay critical infrastructure delivery,” Sarupen explained. He said the South African construction industry faces numerous challenges, none more urgent than the persistent site disruptions caused by criminal syndicates and community protests. The deputy minister said South Africa’s construction industry contributes around 3% to gross domestic product (GDP) and is a vital “cog” in the SA economy. The construction industry employs over 1.3 million South Africans, with 176 000 jobs added just in the third quarter of…

FOR many, Mondays are generally blue, but for the staff at Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, it turned into a surprise when they were met with a life-changing moment this week. An ordinary day quickly shifted gear into a heart-stopping, heroic effort, as a pregnant woman needed urgent assistance in delivering her baby. Patricia January, who was at the hospital for one of her other children, found herself unexpectedly going into labour. At 35 weeks pregnant, her world turned upside down when her water broke, leaving her in a moment of panic. However, the mom was quickly assisted by the hospital staff, who rallied together to make the birth a success. Sister Margo Samuels, who helped deliver the baby boy, said: “We discovered Patricia was in labour and immediately…

AT LANGA High School, the official launch of the African Innovation Academy (AIA) x iXperiment Program commenced yesterday, aimed at empowering high school learners with entrepreneurial skills. Speakers included Ozow CEO Thomas Pays, entrepreneur and mentor Ghalieb Jardien, Department of Basic Education chief education specialist Dr. Neo Mothobi, and BRICS plus Associate Sesona Mdlokovana, among others. The program is an educational initiative and partnership between African Innovation Solutions and the iXperiment model from Romania. African Innovation Solutions CEO Palesa Nangu said: “This program is about empowering young minds to become problem solvers and innovators, not just for their communities but for the world. We are using that method of establishing the programme in South Africa for African innovation.” AIA is designed as a four-month accelerator program which will come into…

Pep Guardiola is set to extend his stay in charge of Manchester City by signing a one-year extension to his contract, The Athletic reported on Tuesday. Guardiola has won six Premier League titles and the club’s first ever Champions League since arriving at the Etihad in 2016. The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach’s current contract expires at the end of the season. There had been speculation that Guardiola’s time could be coming to an end, with City facing an uncertain future due to an ongoing hearing over 115 breaches of the Premier League’s financial regulations. The club’s director of football Txiki Begiristain, a close ally of Guardiola, has confirmed his departure at the end of the season. The Athletic reported that the 53-year-old will pen a one-year extension to…

Like Mickey from the epic Rocky movies, Proteas Test coach Shukri Conrad remains firmly in the increasingly under-pressure Aiden Markram’s corner. Markram has endured a torrid last six months, having had to deal with the heartbreak of leading the Proteas in a T20 World Cup final defeat, which has since carried through to a lean run with the bat in the shortest format of the game. Equally, his most recent red-ball outings in Bangladesh yielded scores of just six, 20 and 33 – suggesting that the 30-year-old may be immersed in an overall slump. But the SA Test mentor has come out swinging in defence of Markram. “I don’t know what the problem is or even why there is a conversation about Aiden. He’s the best opening batter in the…

Annerie Dercksen believes “it is time to move on” as the Proteas Women prepare for their much-anticipated all-format series against England. The young all-rounder was part of the South African team that reached their second successive ICC T20 Women’s World Cup final in Dubai last month. The Proteas were favourites to lift South Africa’s first major ICC trophy, but suffered the disappointment of losing to New Zealand’s White Ferns. Dercksen, 23, feels all of that belongs in the past now, and that the side need to focus on what lies ahead, especially against a strong England outfit looking to bounce back after missing out on the World Cup playoffs. “It was really disappointing not getting over the line. We really wanted to win it for the country,” Dercksen said yesterday.…

One of Mzansi’s most fierce and feisty political leaders, Helen Zille, has channelled her inner fashionista after a daring transformation, dressing up as a drag queen to make an appearance on the show Die Tollie & Manila Show. But the outspoken Zille, who is famous for her wily tongue and stirring in politics, has boldly declared although the experience was fun, she will never do it again. “Scary. It was terrifying to see myself like that!” she shared. “I think you should always try something once,” she said. Zille is the chairperson of the Democratic Alliance’s Federal Council. She was invited to the Die Tollie & Manila Show, a fresh, high-energy talk show where popular Mzansi celebs team up with drag queens, Tollie Parton and Manila von Teez for an…

THE family of a 14-year-old girl had to endure the harrowing details of her kidnapping and rape yesterday. This, as Burundian nationals Isaac Murishi, Paul Bucumi and David Ndayisasa appeared in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court, charged with kidnapping, robbery with aggravating circumstances in which a firearm was used, rape and extortion. The suspects were arrested days after the Samora Machel teenager was abducted as she walked to the gym near her home on November 12. Her family grew concerned when she had not returned home reported her missing the following day. They only received confirmation that she had been kidnapped last Friday. The victim’s aunt said: “She is not someone who would disappear and not tell us where she is, so when she didn’t return, we knew that something was…

AN INTENSE investigation into the links between the Terrible West Siders gang and alleged underworld kingpin, Nafiz Modack, created the matrix for the formation of the mammoth underworld trial in the Western Cape High Court. This was revealed by seasoned detective, Lieutenant-Colonel Pieter Joubert, as he took to the stand yesterday to tell Judge Robert Henney how detectives put various pieces of the puzzle together when analysing the links between Modack and his co-accused. Joubert said more than a year before the murder of Anti-Gang Unit (AGU) detective Charl Kinnear, he was assigned to probe the murder of Nicholaas Heerschap, 74, who was shot and killed on July 9, 2019, while exiting his driveway. It was established that this was in fact a botched hit on his son, Nico, who…

Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi said the standard procedure for anti-retroviral medicine includes the patient having to be examined by a medical practitioner and the medication is only given when a patient has tested positive for HIV. On Monday, IOL reported that the South African Police Service (SAPS) said it will send anti-retroviral medication (ARVs) to the illegal miners who are trapped underground at the disused Stilfontein mine shaft in the North West. The announcement was made on Monday after the High Court in Pretoria issued an interim order which ruled that the shaft may not be blocked by any person or institution, whether government or private. Judge Brenda Neukircher ordered that relief workers should be granted access to the mine, where thousands of workers are believed to be trapped…

IN CELEBRATION of World Children’s Day yesterday, the League of Friends of the Blind (LOFOB) Foundation launched a sensory garden designed to create a unique and interactive space for the visually impaired. LOFOB is a non-governmental organisation, which caters to the needs of blind and visually impaired individuals. The organisation also consists of a pre-school and a hostel for adults. As the preschoolers and adults yesterday made their way to their new sensory garden, there was excitement all around and questions asked about the different plants. Dean Petersen, owner and managing director at The Plantsman Gardening and Landscaping Services, said the garden is divided into four sensors: smell, touch, sound and taste, and different types of plants have been planted that encompass them. “The sensory garden is designed to engage…

What if you had the power to rewrite your past, take different risks, make different choices and forge a different path? What would you change and what would you keep the same? What if, you could learn to appreciate the beauty and wonder of the present moment instead of dwelling on “what ifs”? What if you could trade regrets about the past for gratitude about the present and worries about the future for excitement about the possibilities that lie ahead? It is as though we are taking a detour, a scenic route, one that has evolved at an accelerated pace, with development aligned with a renewed focus on mental well-being. This perspective allows us to recognise that mental health is not just about the absence of symptoms but about the…

Max Verstappen will be Formula One world champion for the fourth year in a row if he beats Lando Norris in Las Vegas this weekend. McLaren’s Norris must score three points more than his Red Bull rival – requiring at least a top eight finish, even if Verstappen draws a blank – to delay the inevitable for one more week and continue the title ‘battle’ to Qatar. Verstappen has a 62-point lead, with 60 to be won after Las Vegas, meaning the Dutch driver can lose two points to Norris and still secure the title on wins, given he has eight to the Briton’s three. The reigning champion won on the gaudy, floodlit Strip last season, despite a five-second penalty and later collision, to complete a US triple, while Norris…

Rafael Nadal said early yesterday he had left a sporting and personal “legacy” after retiring from professional tennis, as tributes flooded in for the 22-time Grand Slam winner. The 38-year-old’s glittering and historic career came to a close as Netherlands defeated Spain in the Davis Cup on Tuesday night, and Nadal gave an emotional speech that ran over 10 minutes long to more than 10 000 fans in Malaga. After 23 years in the game and many struggles with injury, Nadal retires as the second-most successful men’s singles player of all time. “I leave with the peace of mind that I have left a legacy, which I really feel is not just a sporting one, but a personal one,” Nadal said at his retirement ceremony. “I understand that the love…