Innehållsförteckning för 2024-12-18 från Cape Argus

I’ve followed Jason Willemse’s character since 2014 when he bagged his breakthrough soapie role in e.tv’s Scandal! He was cast as Cameron Jansen. His character was part of a new family introduced on the show. Despite him latching onto other prominent roles since, he has remained as unassuming as he was when he started in the industry. In the past two years or so, he’s become more active on social media platforms attending a plethora of red-carpet events. And he’s clinched a few awards along the way for his uBettina Wethu role as Wendell. He won Best Actor honours at this year’s National Film and Television Awards, Best Zikomo Rising Actor of the Year award at the Zikomo Africa Awards and Best Star Actor of the Year at the Shining…

THE closure of the Sekunjalo Group’s banking accounts by Nedbank and several other major banks is unjustified and irrational, the Competition Tribunal was told yesterday by the group in its urgent bid for these banks to reopen these accounts. This comes in the wake of the recent finding by the Competition Commission that these banks were guilty of colluding to push the Sekunjalo Group out of the banking market. Sekunjalo and 27 of its companies are asking for an urgent interim order forcing these banks to reopen its bank accounts and to again do business with it until the conclusion of the referral by the Commission of its findings to the Tribunal, following the complaint filed by Sekunjalo which alleged prohibited practices by the banks. The Competition Commission, in its…

Democratic Alliance (DA) federal chairperson Helen Zille said the party has objected to clauses 4 and 5 on the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act, claiming they are “unnecessary” and part of a retaliatory plot against Afrikaans. President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to announce the outcomes of discussions by the unity government on the BELA act. This was revealed by Deputy President Paul Mashatile during his address at the SA Communist Party’s (SACP) national special congress held in Boksburg, Ekurhuleni, last week. The BELA Act was signed into law in September, but President Cyril Ramaphosa delayed the execution of two of its sections, clause 4 and 5 to allow more consultation on them. Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has also called on Ramaphosa to sign the Act. In an interview with…

OVER 300 people living in the Philippi farmlands have been tested for diphtheria following the death of an elderly woman in the Riemvasmaak informal settlement last week. The incident saw City health workers descend on various informal settlements in Philippi and Lotus River amid concerns after another woman was hospitalised with the virus. Western Cape Health Department spokesperson, Byron La Hoe, said there were three confirmed cases in the Western Cape with two suspected cases currently being investigated. “The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness is calling for vigilance and appealing to residents not to panic after three laboratory-confirmed cases of the diphtheria disease were recently identified in the Cape metropole district. “Two additional suspected diphtheria cases are currently being investigated. The confirmed cases presented to our facilities were…

Similar to drivers, pedestrians frequently balance activities like eating, talking on the phone and listening to music while they’re on the road. Unlike distracted driving, distracted walking is a behaviour that is not talked about, and therefore has not benefited from the same awareness programmes or campaigns to increase pedestrian safety, according to a 2015 study by Mwakalonge and others. The same study discovered a strong association between distracted walking and unsafe walking. A 67-year-old woman fell six-feet under into an open pit while walking and texting in New Jersey, US, an indication that this behaviour is dangerous and can cause severe injury or death, particularly when it involves walking and texting. In their study in 2022, Schwebel and others claimed that pedestrian accidents in the US were increasing due…

If Stellenbosch FC are to match Mamelodi Sundowns, they will have their work cut out to contain Iqraam Rayners' predatory instincts, which are as sharp as ever. Stellenbosch host Sundowns tonight in a Betway Premiership match at the Cape Town Stadium, starting at 7.30pm. It will be a rare Mother City appearance for Stellenbosch as local venues like the Danie Craven Stadium and the nearby Athlone Stadium have not been available. In recent weeks, Stellenbosch have played several home matches in Durban. The match, then, will not only be a homecoming for Stellenbosch but will also mark a welcome return for former Stellenbosch striker, Cape Town-born Rayners, who will lead the Sundowns attack. Rayners has had two spells with Stellenbosch after starting his pro-career with Santos in the 2014 season.…

A WELCOMING ceremony was held for over 900 newly-appointed constables in the Western Cape, just in time for the festive season. Present for the ceremony was provincial commissioner, Thembisile Patekile, yesterday, at 35 Squadron, Erica Drive, Belhar. Of the 2 700 recruits nationally, the Western Cape has received 940. Some of the constables will be deployed at hotspot police stations, as well as areas where large numbers of people gather such as shopping centres, beaches, or at public transport hubs. Following the proceedings, Patekile joined several SAPS members in destroying confiscated liquor held at its Provincial Firearms, Liquor and Second Hand Goods Control, located at the premises. Patekile said visible policing between April and September saw 1 800 firearms confiscated during operations, stop-and-search, and raids; and an assortment of 85…

EXPERTS have advised there will be some good news for consumers in January with another 25 basis points (bps) interest rate cut forecast. They said it was expected that the SA Reserve Bank (SARB) will continue to follow a conservative approach in its monetary policy. November inflation rate was recorded at 2.9%, slightly higher than October’s 2.8%, as released by Stats SA. This figure remains below the SARB’s target range of 3% to 6%. Neil Roets, CEO of Debt Rescue, noted that the recent inflation figure raises questions about the likelihood of an interest rate cut. “While the lower inflation rate creates room for the SARB to reduce rates, Governor Lesetja Kganyago’s recent remarks in the media emphasise the cautious and forward-looking approach the Bank is taking. Based on…

JUST a week before Christmas, a family from Brooklyn has lost their home along with all their belongings in a devastating fire that ravaged their home. Single mother, Shahieda Lasker, 52, from Princess Alice Avenue, said the fire on Monday morning around 8am was sudden and unexpected, and they suspect it could have been an arson attack. “My children and I were all still asleep when the people in the road woke us up screaming that my house is burning. I suspect someone threw something on the roof, as it does not make sense, I did not have any electrical issues and the fire started on the roof. “I managed to run through the house and get all my children out safely because at the time it was just the…

VIOLENCE can generally be understood as the act of causing harm, whether that harm is physical, psychological, spiritual, or emotional. What stands out most about violence is the experience of pain endured by the victim. Therefore, it is crucial to approach violence from the perspective of those who are harmed rather than solely focusing on the perpetrator. While examining the motives and backgrounds of offenders is valuable for understanding and addressing the underlying issues, it shouldn’t be our only focus when defining violence. In the South African context, there is a recurring narrative around the ‘alarming levels of violence’ predominantly affecting women. However, this perspective raises several concerns and seems tailored to achieve a specific outcome within society. Among the 6 546 murders recorded by the SAPS, much of the…

South Africa’s history is rich with stories of unity, support, and solidarity. During the dark years of apartheid, many African countries and nations around the world extended their hand to South Africa’s anti-apartheid activists. Countries like Angola, Tanzania, Zambia, and Nigeria provided refuge, training, and resources. Cuba sent military aid to support our freedom fighters, while nations such as India, Ghana, and Algeria offered political support and education to South Africans in exile. These countries welcomed our struggle and played a key role in ensuring that apartheid could not continue. In return, post-apartheid South Africa has also recognised its moral responsibility to assist other nations in their own quests for liberation. Countries like Zimbabwe, Lesotho, and Mozambique have benefited from South Africa’s support, particularly in refugee assistance and training initiatives.…

This festive season, as many South Africans come together to celebrate, a dark cloud hangs over Gauteng which is experiencing severe water shortages. With the promise of joy and merriment overshadowed by a lack of access to this essential resource, the people of Johannesburg are finding it increasingly difficult to enjoy the holiday spirit. Taps have run dry for many families, with complaints echoing through the streets. One resident lamented: “When you cannot drink water and cannot use this basic commodity during festive times, you must understand that we are in real k@@k.” As Johannesburg grapples with soaring temperatures, an 86-hour maintenance programme has disrupted water supply across the city. While others can cool off with refreshing beverages and indulge in festive feasts, countless households are left worrying not only…

Goosain Abrahams The Gauteng Lions suffered back-to-back defeats on day 2 of the Khaya Majola Cricket Week, going down narrowly by 19 runs to hosts Western Province. WP won the toss and chose to bat at the Jaques Kallis Oval in Wynberg. The Lions opening attack held no terrors for opening batters Adnaan Lagadien (33) and Kashief Joseph (25), who put on 64 for the first wicket However, the introduction of change-bowler Ruan Strauss saw both openers departing in quick succession. Together with Sipho Pitsano, whose 10 overs cost him a miserly 16 runs, they set the cat among the pigeons as the strong WP batting line-up was reduced to 68/5. Paul James (26 off 50 balls) and Divan Linde (24 off 57 balls) showed great discipline and patience in…

AEROLENE Griebelaar’s journey from cleaning the corridors of Stellenbosch University (SU) to crossing the stage at graduation has been nothing short of inspiring. After years of juggling work, her family and her studies, Griebelaar received her Bachelor of Theology degree on Friday, December 13. A mother of two from Cloetesville, Griebelaar has spent the past seven years navigating a gruelling schedule to complete her studies. As a cleaner at the university, a position she has held since 2017, her workday starts at 7am and ends at 4pm. To get through her academic schedule, she attended online classes after work, from 6pm to 8pm. Her academic journey, motivated by her deep interest in understanding faith and spirituality, began when she enrolled in SU’s part-time Bachelor of Theology programme. “My interest in…

ALTHOUGH the Nobel Prizes are known as some of the most prestigious awards in the world, they have sparked various debates over the years due to certain political stances. However, among the recipients, there are undeniably those who truly deserved the Nobel Prize. For instance, Albert Luthuli, who advocated for peaceful resistance against racial segregation in South Africa and highlighted the global importance of the anti-apartheid struggle, became the first African to win the Nobel Peace Prize in 1960. Similarly, Nelson Mandela, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1994 after spending 27 years in prison, was a true leader who brought democracy to his country. Senegal’s first President, Léopold Senghor, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1960 for his development of the “Negritude” philosophy and his…

The collapse of the Assad regime in Syria and the installation of an interim government led by Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS), has been dominating global news. The lightning takeover of Damascus has not only been welcomed and celebrated by Syrians of all walks of life, particularly the millions of refugees who are able to return home, but also by political adversaries of Bashar Al Assad. Among the cheerleaders are the settler colonial regime’s notorious Polish war criminal Mileikowsky, known as Benjamin Netanyahu, and America’s lame-duck enabler of the genocide in Gaza, Joe Biden. As if on cue, while celebratory fireworks lit up the skyline in Damascus, the Zionist regime added its own nightmarish glows via thunderous bombing sprees. Media reports reveal that in 48 hours, close to 500 military…

Syria’s new rulers stepped up engagement yesterday with countries that deemed ousted president Bashar al-Assad a pariah, with the French flag raised at the embassy for the first time in over a decade. Assad fled Syria just over a week ago, as his forces abandoned tanks and other equipment in the face of a lightning offensive spearheaded by the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). The collapse of Assad’s rule on December 8 stunned the world and sparked celebrations around Syria and beyond, after his crackdown on democracy protests in 2011 led to one of the deadliest wars of the century. Rooted in Syria’s branch of Al-Qaeda, HTS is proscribed by several Western governments as a terrorist organisation, though it has sought to moderate its rhetoric and pledged to protect the…