Innehållsförteckning för 2024-12-20 från Cape Argus

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden is about to do what it does best – bring people together for an unforgettable night under Cape Town’s skies. This event has become a tradition that celebrates the best of Mzansi’s talent in a setting that feels like pure magic. Think beautiful greenery, a stunning mountain backdrop, and the kind of energy that only summer in the Mother City can deliver. Sarah Struys, Events and Tourism Manager at the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), spoke on the significance of this concert: “The Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset Concerts are not just about the music – they’re about the magic of coming together in one of the world’s most beautiful settings to celebrate community and creativity. “We are thrilled to present Unity at Kirstenbosch, an extraordinary evening…

As the festive season takes flight, South Africa's ports of entry are set to welcome an unprecedented wave of travellers, with projections estimating over 380 000 international passengers expected to enter the country. In light of these high volumes, Mpumi Mpofu, CEO of the Airports Company South Africa (ACSA), has urged holidaymakers to adjust their travel schedules to prevent delays and ensure a smoother journey. During a media briefing alongside BMA Commissioner Dr Michael Masiapato, Mpofu emphasised the importance of allowing ample time for check-in procedures, particularly regarding the recent implementation of the Biometric Movement Control System (BMCS). For international travellers, Mpofu recommends arriving at least three hours prior to departure, while local travellers are advised to allocate two hours. Extending the time spent at airports would assist in mitigating…

THE officer accused of raping a detainee in the police cells will spend the next two months in custody after his bail application was denied. Siyabonga Mbane, 41, was arrested after a 26-year-old woman reported the rape on November 29. She alleges that while in custody at Mfuleni police station, the officer offered to assist her in her attempted murder and kidnapping matter but instead of talking about the case, he allegedly raped her. Mbane appeared in the Blue Downs Magistrate’s Court yesterday, where the court informed him that he would remain behind bars. Magistrate Sam Nkambule said Mbane brought the SAPS into disrepute. “The applicant allegedly committed this offence whilst on official duty. It is my respective view he acted outside the scope of his employment in these circumstances.…

THE Public Servants Association (PSA) has welcomed the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) judgment ordering former social development minister, Bathabile Dlamini, to pay back more than R2 million to the SA Social Security Agency (Sassa). Sassa approved the unauthorised personal security expenses in 2013. The money was also paid to Dlamini’s then spokesperson, Lumka Oliphant, and their children. The agency paid a total of R3.5m, of which R2m was for the protection services for Dlamini’s children and R1.5m for Oliphant and her children. Dlamini and Oliphant claimed they were threatened after the Social Security Administration stopped paying in 2012. Following this, Dlamini’s residence was broken into in 2013, and her computer was stolen. She argued that she did not owe Sassa anything. Last year, the High Court in Pretoria reached…

It is important that the values of Test-match cricket are cherished, so that the game can be preserved. At its simplest, that means highly-skilled bowlers and batters constantly testing each other. And they can only do that on a consistent basis if the pitches they are playing on are of a certain quality. That’s according to Proteas coach Shukri Conrad, who has once again stressed the importance of playing on good surfaces ahead of the all-important two-match series against Pakistan. The Proteas require a single victory at either Centurion or Newlands over the festive season to ensure qualification for the World Test Championship final at Lord’s next year. Conrad will be hoping his team can get the job done in the highveld series opener, especially as the New Year Test…

Holders Liverpool booked their berth in the League Cup semi-finals with a 2-1 victory over Southampton at a wet and windy St Mary’s Stadium on Wednesday night, thanks to goals from Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliott. Gabriel Jesus bagged a second-half hat-trick as Arsenal came from behind to beat Crystal Palace 3-2, and Sandro Tonali scored twice to lead Newcastle to a 3-1 win over Brentford. Nunez, who had been goaded by Saints fans earlier in the game for a wild miss, got on the score-sheet in the 24th minute, pouncing after a mis-kick by centre back Jan Bednarek and a slip by keeper Alex McCarthy. Nunez put his finger to his lips in a gesture to the crowd after finishing past McCarthy. Elliott doubled the Reds’ lead eight minutes…

How about Marcell Coetzee, Elrigh Louw and Cameron Hanekom against Phepsi Buthelezi, EmmanuelTshituka and Siya Kolisi? That is a possibility when the Bulls travel to Durban to tackle the Sharks at Kings Park in tomorrow’s United Rugby Championship showdown, and it’s a battle that could have a major bearing on the outcome. South Africa have always been blessed with outstanding loose forwards, and it’s no different for the Bulls and Sharks. But this weekend, the Pretoria side are hurting from two consecutive Champions Cup defeats, to Saracens away and Harlequins at Loftus Versfeld. In contrast, the Sharks kept their big names at home for last weekend’s 53-16 loss to Leicester in England, after they saw off Exeter 39-21 in Durban a week earlier. So, the likes of Springbok captain Kolisi…

South African actor, comedian, filmmaker and writer Kagiso Lediga is a voice actor in Disney’s ​​​​​Mufasa: The Lion King as the young Rafiki. Lediga not only masters the voice of the iconic character Rafiki but also mastered singing – something he didn’t think he could do after years of being told he couldn’t sing. The legendary comedian lends his voice to We Go Together alongside Aaron Pierre, Kelvin Harrison jr, Tiffany Boone and Preston Nyman. For his big performance, Lediga enlisted the assistance of South African award-winning vocalist, songwriter, composer, vocal coach, musical director and producer RJ Benjamin. During a local media round table for Mufasa: The Lion King, Lediga opened up about getting Benjamin to coach him. He joked that he may not be winning any Grammys but it…

INVESTOR sentiment in Cape Town is cautiously optimistic and South Africans are once again looking to invest in real estate in 2025. According to experts, with national rental vacancies currently lower than they have been in eight years and the repo rate slowing adjusting, now is an excellent time to enter the rental market. Yael Geffen, CEO of Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty, said the property market in Cape Town is characterised by high demand and resilient property values, with some suburbs once again seeing double-digit price growth. The Atlantic Seaboard, City Bowl and southern suburbs continue to attract both local and foreign investors, while areas like False Bay and the Western Seaboard offer comparative value with lower entry price points. “For investors looking to buy on the Atlantic Seaboard…

DUNOON residents face a bleak Christmas after their homes were razed in a fire. It is suspected the blaze happened due to illegally connected electric wires floating atop the shacks, leaving at least 20 homes in Ezulwini informal settlement gutted around 9pm on Wednesday. The City’s Fire and Rescue spokesperson, Jermaine Carelse, said more than 40 firefighters were on scene to mitigate the damages as the fire was fanned by a strong wind. “By 11pm, the blaze was brought under control and extinguished which razed several structures and left many persons displaced. “Assessments are still continuing. “Some of the community members at one stage took away the hoses of the firefighters, but firefighters managed to take control of the situation. “One adult male was treated and transported to a nearby…

Stellenbosch FC coach Steve Barker has voiced his concerns regarding the toll that extensive travel has taken on his squad during the first part of their 2024/2025 campaign. Following a narrow 1-0 defeat to league leaders Mamelodi Sundowns at the Cape Town Stadium on Wednesday night, Barker pointed to travel fatigue as one of the key factors hindering their performance. Since the MTN8 quarter-finals, Stellenbosch have had to adjust, playing all their official games away from their home ground, Danie Craven Stadium. The pitch’s condition has been deemed unsuitable for hosting matches by the league, prompting the team to make the lengthy journey to either Durban or Cape Town for their fixtures. Wednesday’s match against Sundowns came just three days after Stellenbosch’s return from Angola, where they faced Lunda Sol…

Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior both scored as Real Madrid cruised to a 3-0 victory over Mexican side Pachuca in the Intercontinental Cup final in Doha on Wednesday night. Mbappe opened the scoring in the 37th minute, before Rodrygo doubled Madrid’s lead early in the second half. Vinicius sealed a comfortable win for the Spanish and European champions with a late penalty. France striker Mbappe returned to the Madrid line-up in Doha after missing Saturday’s 3-3 draw with Rayo Vallecano, due to a hamstring injury suffered in the Champions League win at Atalanta last week. Mbappe swept in from close range to break the deadlock after brilliant play from Vinicius Junior, who won the Fifa Best men’s player of the year award a day earlier after missing out on the…

Tyson Fury will be fighting for his legacy and revenge as well as three heavyweight belts in his rematch against the superlative Oleksandr Usyk tomorrow. The unpredictable Englishman suffered his first career defeat in May, when Usyk won by split decision to become the first undisputed champion of the four-belt era. Bookmakers and many neutral commentators favour the unbeaten Ukrainian, widely deemed the best pound-for-pound fighter, as they return to Riyadh’s Kingdom Arena seven months on. Although the scoring was tight, in the ninth round, Fury needed the ropes to keep him upright, and was saved by the bell after a standing eight count. Only three belts are now on the line as Usyk, committed to the lucrative rematch, vacated his IBF title rather than face mandatory challenger Daniel Dubois.…

In a bold move towards a new chapter in her beauty journey, reality TV star Jojo Robinson has announced she has dissolved her facial fillers and undergone a facelift just in time for Christmas. This decision, which she shared with her fans and followers on Instagram, marks a significant shift in her approach to cosmetic enhancements. Robinson, who is known for her candid sharing of personal experiences, revealed that her facelift was performed by renowned plastic surgeon Dr Paul McGarr, who has previously worked on her tummy tuck and arm procedures. On Instagram, she wrote: “I would never have trusted anyone else with this. Honestly, I have been doing filler for so many years that I just needed a more permanent solution. “I asked the doc for a face app…

THE wife of alleged underworld kingpin, Nafiz Modack, is set to approach the Muslim Judicial Council (MJC) of South Africa to obtain a divorce after he allegedly refused. In an exclusive interview with the Cape Argus, the legal representative of Rehana Ismail, 41, said that Modack has refused her request for a talaq [divorce] in terms of her Islamic Rights. Speaking to the Cape Argus following a visit to Goodwood Prison yesterday, attorney Bruce Hendricks, said Ismail was left disappointed at the refusal for the divorce. “My client and I visited her husband at Goodwood Prison on Thursday to request a talaq. This was refused by Mr Modack who declined her request and insisted an imam be brought to the prison.” Hendricks said the couple have been married for 14…

In a concerning revelation, Deputy National Police Commissioner Tebello Mosikili announced during a media briefing in Pretoria that food-borne illnesses have taken the lives of at least 41 individuals across South Africa, with a staggering 38 of the deceased being children. The briefing, attended by various government ministers, provided insights into the national response to this growing health crisis, which has sparked outrage and fear among communities. “We are currently handling a total of 32 cases related to these illnesses, and unfortunately, we haven’t had any arrests connected to the recent cases,” Mosikili stated. He added that three individuals have been arrested and are facing prosecution for poison-related offences. The need for urgent action has never been clearer as the nation grapples with rising incidents of illness linked to food…

THE use of drone technology has greatly enhanced and supplemented fire management at Table Mountain National Park (TMNP). SANParks demonstrated the thermal drone technology, operated by Enviro Wildfire Consultancy, at its Newlands Fire Base, yesterday. The day also marked a year since the Castle Rock wildfire on December 19, 2023. Due to the strong southeasterly, the vegetation fire quickly spread up the slopes above Castle Rock burning 3 500 hectares and vegetation which has not burned in more than 30 years. Founder of Enviro Wildfire Consultancy, Rob Erasmus, said the authorised drones allow for information to be gathered and interpreted, providing visuals through the smoke, so as to see how and where best to respond, effectively reducing costs and time taken to put out the fires. “And the drones are…

Stormers captain Salmaan Moerat is acutely aware that this 50th match in the Cape side’s colours may well define their season. The United Rugby Championship encounter against the Lions tomorrow – the only South African team they’ve lost to at Cape Town Stadium in the tournament – takes on heightened significance for a side languishing in 13th place on the log, despite a comparatively promising start to the season than previous years. The situation remains critical for the inaugural champions, though, who are just seven points off a playoff position. But they face the dire possibility of further sliding down the ranks should they succumb to yet another defeat at their home ground (3.45pm start). With a string of tough matches looming as they advance into the new year, the…

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has been at pains to play down the club’s chances of winning the Premier League in his first season in charge, but if they beat Everton away on Sunday, then, for a few hours at least, his side will top the table. The Italian’s insistence that Chelsea are not ready to win their first title since 2016-17 is understandable, given that few predicted a realistic challenge by the London outfit this term. But the evidence so far suggests that what the Italian says in public and what he actually believes are not aligned. With a deep and richly-talented squad – which, according to website Transfermarkt, has a combined market value of more than €1 billion – at his disposal, Chelsea look more than capable of taking…

Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis has been the fuel behind the team’s drive in recent years, and this is thanks to her positive outlook on the team’s performances. As such, when Banyana ended their year with back-to-back losses to Jamaica early this month, she cut a positive figure about the team’s performance. “It’s been a long season. Players are coming from the Cosafa Cup and the Caf Women’s Champions League, and the straight into this camp,” she explained. “So, it’s been a long season for everyone, and that’s why you’ve been seeing all the niggles. But I am happy and proud (of this group of players).” Played Top Opponents Banyana’s two successive losses to Jamaica’s Reggae Girlz marked their fourth loss in a row in less than a month, having…