Innehållsförteckning för 2024-12-02 från Cape Argus

MANENBERG residents fear retaliation shootings will continue over the festive period amid a raging war between opposing factions in the Americans gang. The gunfights between the Americans and a splinter grouping known as the No Fears resulted in two more murders over the weekend, as Metro Police chased after the shooters. Manenberg police station commander, Brigadier Jayce Naidoo, said in the most recent shooting, rival gangs asked their targets for water before firing a hail of bullets at them. “Shortly after midnight on Friday, three males, aged 33, 31 and 36, came under attack as they sat at an address in Karen Court, leaving two with fatal gunshot wounds to the face while the third male was shot in his arms. “Three males knocked on the back gate asking for…

A STRUGGLING Eastern Cape government is in trouble for buying a luxury vehicle for its mayor worth R700 000, just two years after buying a R650 000 vehicle for the previous mayor. The latest purchase by the Ngqushwa local municipality is listed as the “supply and delivery of mayoral SUV luxury vehicles” from NTT Motors East London in May last year, according to municipal documents seen by the Cape Argus’ sister paper Sunday Independent. President Cyril Ramaphosa has since given the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) the green light to tackle corruption in the small municipality after the mayor irregularly bought a car worth R700 000. The current mayor is Sanga Maneli, and his predecessor, Daniswa Ncanywa, bought the R665 000 luxury vehicle around December 2020 and January 2021 using funds…

The burning issue surrounding the two controversial clauses in the Basic Education Laws Amendment (Bela) Act has taken another turn after Solidarity announced it had reached an agreement with the Minister of Basic Education. This development has sparked a flurry of statements by President Cyril Ramaphosa, Deputy President Paul Mashatile, and DA federal chair Helen Zille regarding whether such an agreement has an effect on the implementation of the clauses. While Ramaphosa signed the Bela Act into law in September, he delayed the implementation date for clauses 4 and 5 of the bill by three months. The clauses had raised concerns from various quarters – clause 4 grants the Department of Basic Education greater control over a school’s admissions policy, while clause 5 compels school governing bodies to submit their…

MISS South Africa Mia le Roux has revealed her Miss Universe national costume that she would have worn at the pageant, at Cape Town Fashion Week (CTFW): The Edit Spring Summer 24. CTFW – a landmark event in the African fashion calendar and presented by Africa Fashion International, took place this weekend at the Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Racecourse and featured top designers from South Africa and the African continent. The magnificent Ndebele-inspired national costume, with its culturally significant symbols, featured an original artwork at the base of the gown from iconic Ndebele artist Dr Esther Mahlangu. Dr Mahlangu was one of the first women to take the unique, colourful, geometric paintings that symbolise Ndebele culture into the world, making them instantly recognisable on a global stage. Le Roux, who was born…

The children of South Africa are living in a war zone. This is no exaggeration. With the latest statistics released by the Department of Police and the Western Cape’s Department of Police Oversight and Community Safety, no child is safe in the Western Cape. Nor anywhere else. No child trapped in black, white, coloured or Indian poverty and who lives in one of poverty’s hell holes is safe. The Western Cape government’s recently released statistics show that since September, 1 685 children have been treated for gunshot and stab wounds. That’s an average of 17 children admitted to hospital per day due to guns, knives and other weapons. Twelve children died from their wounds. The latest crime statistics released by Police Minister Mchunu state that 96 children were murdered in…

ADULTS of every generation complain that “today’s youth are lost and disrespectful”. The narrative fails to recognise that upcoming generations do not conceive, birth or raise themselves. Children have no control over their upbringing. If white youth excel in various areas compared to black youth, it is a clear indication of the different conditions under which they are raised. Growing up in environments lacking positive role models or achievements, as is the case for many black individuals in Africa, Haiti and the Caribbean, as well as in minority contexts such as Australia, the UK and the US, can have significant consequences for personal development. It is essential for elders to consider how the dominant narratives surrounding black individuals frequently emphasise failure, corruption and sub-humanity. In many African and American contexts,…

Temba Bavuma can, at times, be a polarising figure. There is a vocal section of South African cricket that often and quite ferociously questions his every selection, celebrate his every failure and deride his continued involvement in the Proteas Test team as its captain. This past week, those cacophony of voices were silenced as the 34-year-old helped lead South Africa to victory over Sri Lanka. Bavuma stood firm in the first innings while the rest of the batting order crumbled around him, and in the second, scored a well-crafted century. He ended the match having scored 183 runs, and had it not been for the match figures of 11/86 of Marco Jansen, he could well have been the Player of the Match, too. Although his second innings 113 was enjoyable…

Berlin: Workers at German factories for carmaker Volkswagen are to go on strike from today over plans to cut thousands of jobs, union IG Metall said yesterday. “If need be, it will be the toughest collective bargaining battle Volkswagen has ever seen,” it said. The crisis-wracked auto titan has been locked in bitter talks with unions since announcing in September that it was mulling shuttering plants in Germany, where it has about 120 000 employees. VW has been hit hard by high manufacturing costs, a stuttering shift to electric vehicles and tough competition in China. | AFP…

The Proteas' struggles in bilateral series continued this past week, as they suffered yet another T20I series whitewash against England but they can ill afford to wallow in defeat as they prepare for an ODI series against the same opponents later this week. The T20I series didn’t live up to expectations, at least from a South African point of view, especially with their recent achievements against Pakistan in September and also after reaching their second T20 World Cup final in a row earlier this year. Their 2-1 win against Pakistan was their first in seven attempts. Although they went on to do well in the global showpiece afterwards, the latest result against the English – particularly the last two matches where they were outplayed with both bat and ball –…

Wendy Williams, the iconic host of The Wendy Williams Show from 2008 to 2022, is facing significant health challenges. According to court-appointed guardian Sabrina Morrissey, Williams’ battle with early-onset dementia has progressed. Morrissey stated in legal documents obtained by People magazine that Williams is now “cognitively impaired, permanently disabled and legally incapacitated”. This means that Williams’ health condition has significantly impacted her ability to function both mentally and physically. Cognitively impaired indicates that her memory, decision-making and processing abilities are severely affected due to her diagnosis of progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). The former talk show host can no longer perform regular daily activities independently and requires ongoing care. Being legally incapacitated means she is no longer able to make decisions for herself, leading to the appointment of a…

REPORTED taxi and gang-related violence resulted in a bloody weekend in Vrygrond and Overcome Heights, leading to the deaths of several people including a minor, and some wounded. Ward councillor, Mandy Marr, said on Saturday, a taxi driver was shot and killed in Drury Road, Vrygrond. Another Retreat taxi driver was also shot and killed in his taxi on the corner of Prince George Drive and Military Road. This while a 16-year-old was shot and killed at the Vrygrond taxi rank in Jappie Road, Vrygrond; a Retreat taxi driver was shot and killed in Overcome Heights; and a four-year-old child was wounded during the shootout and rushed to False Bay Hospital. “It’s quite a confusing situation because we don’t know now why the two taxi associations are involved. Marr said…

THE Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) has dismissed an application by three convicted killers from Khayelitsha to have their sentences reduced for the murder of Pasika Kwaza in a plot set-up by his wife. The application by Loyiso Ludidi, Thando Chwayi, and Sivuyile Shasha comes after they were convicted and sentenced for conspiring with Kwaza’s wife, Patience, to kill him. The case dates back to 2022, when the four suspects went on trial after they were charged with conspiracy to commit murder and robbery, murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition and defeating the ends of justice. According to the State’s case, Patience was allegedly abused by her husband and had filed a domestic violence interdiction against him. She also applied for a…

The actions of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in its war against innocent Palestinian civilians can be compared to the behavior of the mafia, especially in their shared disregard for international and humanitarian laws. Both the mafia and the IDF operate with a sense of impunity and use their power to achieve goals regardless of the suffering inflicted on innocent people. The mafia, at its core, is an organization that thrives on intimidation, collective punishment, and the suppression of dissent to consolidate control. The modus operandi often involves targeting families and communities to send a broader message of dominance and maintain a climate of fear. Similarly, the IDF's actions, including large-scale bombings, blockades, and the destruction of essential infrastructure, mirror this strategy. These tactics disproportionately harm civilians, violating the fundamental…

DURING the annual 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign, it’s vital to reflect on the state of our society. While this campaign is meant to put a spotlight on efforts to eliminate GBV, it also reveals some heartbreaking truths. Alarming statistics show that GBV cases often spike during this time, with a disheartening revelation that many perpetrators are young men. Today’s young men appear increasingly aggressive, displaying a worrying ease with violence. Tragically, young women are living in constant fear, not just in communities but also within our institutions of higher learning. Cases of young women being stabbed to death on campuses are becoming more frequent. These incidents highlight a profound societal issue, our youth are raised by us, yet their behaviour reflects values and tendencies we struggle…

US President-elect Donald Trump yesterday demanded that the BRICS nations, a group of nine countries with emerging economies, commit to not creating a new currency or back any other currency to replace the US dollar, threatening to impose punitive duties on their imports if they do not comply. “We require a commitment from these Countries that they will neither create a new BRICS Currency, nor back any other Currency to replace the mighty US dollar, or they will face 100% tariffs, and should expect to say goodbye to selling into the wonderful US Economy,” Trump wrote in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, over the weekend. “They can go find another ‘sucker!’ There is no chance that the BRICS will replace the US Dollar in International Trade,…

Port Sudan: The UN humanitarian chief has called for immediate international action to address Sudan’s deepening crisis, highlighting the suffering of millions displaced by conflict. Tom Fletcher spoke with refugees during a nine-day visit to Sudan and Chad, vowing to amplify their plight and urge the world to provide greater support. Sudan has been engulfed in war since April 2023, pitting the regular army, against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. The violence has killed tens of thousands and displaced more than 11 million people. About half the population face starvation. | AFP…

A GEORGE man and his cousin are set to appear in the magistrate’s court this morning for the murder of his wife, Joan Singrew, who was reported missing earlier this month. An extensive search for the 54-year-old woman who went missing on November 21 ended in tragedy last week when her body was discovered dumped at the Groot Brakrivier. Police spokesperson, Christopher Spies, said an investigation into the murder led to the arrest of two men on Friday. “The preliminary investigation into the disappearance, at the time, revealed that the victim was reported missing by her next of kin on Thursday, November 21, as there was no trace of her when the daughter returned home. “A search party was established, which commenced with an extensive search with the deployment of…

A CORNERSTONE of any successful independence movement is the combination of two elements: a clear public mandate for self-determination and the recognition of the international community. Without both, the path to statehood remains precarious. This is why reports suggesting that U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is poised to formally recognize Somaliland as an independent state carry weight—not just for the people of Somaliland but for regions like the Western Cape, where calls for independence are growing louder. Somaliland, located in the Horn of Africa, declared independence from Somalia in 1991 following the collapse of Somalia’s central government. Over the past three decades, it has developed a relatively stable, democratic political system with functioning institutions and peaceful transitions of power. This stands in stark contrast to the turmoil in Somalia, plagued by…

We are on the verge of bidding farewell to the most brutal year in over a century, as nuclear war hangs over our heads. Future historians will record 2024 as the year man ceased, to be the supremo of planet Earth. Artificial Intelligence will direct world affairs. Cyber warfare will become the ultimate weapon of immense destruction. Hurricanes are lashing and mutilating our global coastlines, tornadoes are ripping apart our earthly habitats, earthquakes are toppling our homes, and volcanoes are threatening our fragile planet. Forest fires are rampaging through many parts of the globe, and locusts are sweeping across global farmlands. Newly discovered medical viruses are silently decimating our kith and kin. Perpetual wars are exterminating us on a global scale, not pausing for a moment, as the warlords embark…

It has been 1 year and 5 months since President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill, with the prospects to improve the South African healthcare system for “all people to have access to full range quality health care, when and where they need it, without financial hardships”. Divided into two phases to track its effectiveness, come year end half of its first phase will be completed though to date a little to nothing has been done for effective implementation of this bill. The country’s citizens hoped for better public healthcare but their hopes were dashed. Just recently it was reported that the late South African gospel icon, Solomon Majafela Molokoane, popularly known as Solly Moholo suffered a stroke and multiple organ failure, on August 25, 2024. According…

ATHENS: Torrential rains flooded homes, businesses and roads in the popular Greek tourist island of Rhodes yesterday, forcing authorities to temporarily ban the use of vehicles as Storm Bora pounded the country for a second day. On Saturday, a man died in flash floods which hit another Greek island in the northern Aegean. The fire service received more than 650 calls to pump water out of flooded buildings on Rhodes island and evacuated 80 people to safer ground, with the city of Ialysos hit the hardest. No injuries were reported. Cars and debris were piled up high in the flooded streets of Rhodes. | Reuters…

The Stormers are in desperation mode in the United Rugby Championship (URC) after yet another loss, this time a first-ever to the Sharks in the tournament. It took a cancelled try after an earlier knock-on by replacement flyhalf Manie Libbok at a ruck for the Sharks to secure the 22-17 win at Kings Park in Durban. While the Cape side was their worst enemy, squandering chance upon chance in the first half, two crucial breakdown calls by referee Marius van der Westhuizen saw the Sharks claim seven points and seven points cancelled for the visitors. Stormers director of rugby admitted his side made life difficult for themselves with the errors. He was left a bit baffled by the try of Sharks centre Andre Esterhuizen after captain Siya Kolisi was laying…

After a challenging spell, Arsenal have regained their footing in the Premier League with a commanding 5-2 victory over West Ham United at the London Stadium. Manager Mikel Arteta expressed elation over the resurgent form of his side, highlighting the need to maintain this momentum as they pursue further success in the league. The team’s remarkable performance saw them surge back to second place, positioning themselves as serious contenders this season. In a thrilling match that showcased Arsenal's attacking prowess, Gabriel, Leandro Trossard, captain Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz, and Bukayo Saka all made crucial contributions, each finding the net during an electrifying first half that produced seven goals. The win elevated Arsenal to 25 points, placing them six points behind league leaders Liverpool, who will face a troubled Manchester City…