Innehållsförteckning för 2025-01-14 från Cape Argus

TikTok has become the hub for discovering new music. In a fast-paced world, sometimes it’s hard to keep up with what’s new and what’s hot since there are so many bangers being released. My followers on Instagram and Facebook know that Saturdays are reserved for Maskandi. I play this genre when doing the house chores and if I leave the house for a meeting with a friend or run a few errands, I will bump Maskandi in the car. Late last year, I was going to fashion designer Thebe Magugu’s house in Houghton and being a Saturday morning, I was playing Maskandi. After that, I had to run a few errands on my drive back to Soweto. I remembered a song called Chokeslam that I had heard on TikTok and…

KWAZULU-Natal has witnessed a devastating rise in gender-based violence (GBV), with recent figures revealing more than 100 women were killed by their intimate partners since October 2024. The province’s escalating violence against women and children reflects a grim reality faced nationwide, according to activists and government officials. One of the most harrowing cases is the murder of 23-year-old Ayabonga Mjilo. She disappeared on Christmas Day while at a restaurant in uMhlanga Rocks, Durban. Her body was discovered buried in the yard of a colleague in Inanda, who has since been arrested. Addressing the crisis, Pinky Mgobozi, founding director of MDI and an activist against gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), described the situation as deeply distressing. “What is most shocking is how more violent these acts of abuse against women and…

THIS question was posed to ChatGPT. “Write an article showing similarities between Israel’s destruction of infrastructure in Gaza and the destruction by the wildfires in Los Angeles. Provide a cost in dollars of the destruction in each case”. Response: Destruction, whether from human conflict or natural disasters, leaves profound scars on communities. The devastation of infrastructure in Gaza due to Israeli military actions and the destruction wrought by wildfires in Los Angeles share striking similarities in their impact on human life, economic stability, and the monumental costs of rebuilding. Human Impact and Displacement: In Gaza, continuous bombardments have obliterated homes, schools, hospitals, and essential services, leading to significant loss of life and the displacement of thousands. Similarly, the recent wildfires in Los Angeles have consumed entire neighbourhoods, forcing mass evacuations…

"IT’s honestly shocking and heartbreaking what is happening on Sea Point. The amount of homeless people is ridiculous and becoming worse... A lot of them are very aggressive and mentally ill, daily attacks and harassment have become the norm. Why there is nothing like this on Waterfront? Why can’t we request to put more security, police and completely ban homeless there like on Waterfront area? Like they removed them from Castle in CBD?” “Thought they got rid of all the squatters tents etc. Around Sea Point. AND NOW THIS AGAIN. Unacceptable. ~~Where is law enforcement? There is more shelters available. Why not make use of it?” “It’s ridiculous that we pay some of the highest rates and rents on the continent but nothing is done about the diabolical situation we’re…

AS summer is at its peak and the days are long, Cape Town’s beaches once again become the heart of our city. From sunset swims during the week to families enjoying our ocean over the weekend, this is what defines Cape Town in the summer. Yet, each year, despite our best efforts to provide transparent and reliable data, the same group of activists chooses peak summer to draw attention to their agenda. This has gone as far as to say that we are not being truthful or transparent about our coastal water quality. I can assure you that we diligently monitor pollution levels ourselves and share the data with the public. I am not aware of any other beach in South Africa – or even globally – that…

FROM the very first season, the SA20 has helped to accelerate South African talent, and boy did the youngsters respond well in the league’s opening week in the ongoing third season. From Lhuan-dre Pretorius to Kwena Maphaka’s impressive performances, cricket writer Ongama Gcwabe highlights youngsters who took all the spotlight in the first week of the tournament... Lhuan-dre Pretorius: 97 (off 51 balls) Opening the batting for the Paarl Royals alongside former England captain Joe Root, Pretorius put his talent in full display at the sold-out Boland Park on Saturday, smashing a 51-ball 97 and combining for a 132-run stand with Root to help the Royals to a nine-wicket victory over Sunrisers Eastern Cape. The left-handed batter was crisp and aggressive in his approach, putting established quicks Marco Jansen, Ottneil…

The Stormers will have to make do without Sacha Feinberg-Mnomezulu for another four to five weeks after his clavicle injury against the Sharks. Director of Rugby John Dobson confirmed that the Bok playmaker could make it back for one or two of the local derbies next month against the Bulls and Lions, but there will be no rush to get him onto the field. Feinberg-Mngomezulu has had a tough time with injuries, and left the pitch before halftime in his last three games, until he seriously injured his clavicle (collarbone) against the Sharks in the final festive derby. “It’s a painful injury, but he didn’t have to go for an operation,” Dobson said following last Saturday’s 40-0 Champions Cup rout of Sale Sharks at Cape Town Stadium. “He is expected…

THE Judicial Conduct Tribunal into allegations of sexual harassment against Eastern Cape Judge President Selby Mbenenge will all take place in open court after Judge Mbenenge, at the start of the hearing yesterday, had a change of heart. President of the tribunal, retired Judge Bernard Ngoepe, earlier ruled that in the interest of justice, certain parts of the hearing will take place in camera. This included certain WhatsApp messages allegedly sent to the complainant, a judge’s clerk, Andiswa Mengo, by the judge president. At the start of the proceedings, his lawyer, Muzi Sikhakhane SC said his client now chose to have everything aired in open court. He said it was also more practical this way. After consulting Chief Justice Mandisa Maya, Judge Ngoepe agreed to reverse his ruling and to…

A MARRIED couple who ran a canteen on the premises of Medipost Pharmacy turned to the Equality Court after they were called “sif” – the Afrikaans slang for dirty or disgusting by the landlord, after a patron found a cockroach in their stew. Louis and Johannes Arpin-Scholtz instituted the legal proceedings in terms of the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act (PEPUDA), for a declaration that the utterances constitute unfair discrimination, hate speech, and harassment. In terms of a written agreement, Atlast Kenako Chemicals (Atlast), with which the couple were affiliated, operated the canteen on the premises of Medipost Pharmacy. In March 2022, there were complaints about the lack of hygiene and cleanliness of the canteen when a patron found the cockroach in their stew. The contract…

ANC chairperson Gwede Mantashe has revealed the party is set to deal with the matter concerning secretary-general Fikile Mbalula, who allegedly arrived at an ANC event at Robben Island on a “luxury yacht” during the 113th anniversary celebrations. The yacht in question reportedly belongs to Fernando Acafrao, a businessman who has secured multiple multimillion-rand government contracts. In an interview with Newzroom Afrika yesterday, Mantashe was quick to dispel any notion that the device of transport used by Mbalula was sanctioned by the ANC. “There was no ANC meeting that took that decision. So, we cannot make that an ANC decision,” he said. Mantashe said that while operational decisions could be made within the ANC’s departments, no formal resolution was reached within the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC). The chairperson labelled…

THE Independent Examinations Board (IEB) has achieved a 98.7% pass rate for the Class of 2024, the highest pass rate recorded in the past five years. About 13 250 learners registered to sit for the IEB National Senior Certificate exams, with the results receiving approval from Umalusi, South Africa’s quality assurance body, which confirmed the integrity of the examination process. The IEB said all candidates who successfully completed the examinations obtained a pass that qualifies them for tertiary study. The results are: 89.37% of the cohort achieved entry to degree study, compared to 88.59% in2023. 7.56% qualified for entry to diploma study, compared to 8.31% in 2023. 1.53% achieved entry for study at the Higher Certificate level, compared to1.57% in 2023. 0.02% achieved an endorsed certificate. St Stithians Boys’ College…

THE revelation that the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) and his two deputies have racked up a travel bill of nearly R10 million in just five months is nothing short of a slap in the face to South African taxpayers. This is yet another glaring example of how those who once decried the ANC for abusing state resources have now joined in the looting spree under the guise of the so-called Government of National Unity (GNU). It is ironic, if not outright hypocritical, that these very leaders previously stood on platforms condemning ANC ministers for squandering taxpayers’ money on unnecessary extravagances. Yet, by forming this GNU – a political marriage of convenience engineered by Ramaphosa to cling to power – these parties have betrayed their voters and…

Bra Mbaks (Fikile Mbalula) has made a “groot gemors” (big mess) of his visit to Robben Island. Arriving in an expensive looking yacht... supplied by a beneficiary of ANC financial incompetence and self-service... our Bra... decided to make a grand entrance... like a Prima Ballerina, joining the Bolshoi Russian Ballet. Man, this is Scandalous... all this whilst all his tjommies (friends) travel- led “cattle class”, from Cape Town. I suppose it’s a case of making hay, whilst the sun shines... knowing full well that his days in the ANC are numbered. Ja nee (off-course) my Bra (friend)... such conduct has it’s consequences...…

THE Western Cape’s matriculants have given the province another reason to celebrate, with a projected 83% pass rate. This builds slightly on last year’s 82.9%, showing that despite the setbacks caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, determination continues to pay off. At the same time, it is important not to get caught up in the numbers, a high pass rate doesn’t tell the full story. Many learners don’t make it to matric, and those who do often face challenges, especially in under-resourced schools. To those who made it, the moment is well-earned, but it is impossible to ignore the cracks beneath the surface. As the Independent Examinations Board (IEB) announced another year of great results, the inequalities between public and private schooling becomes more evident. Well-resourced schools have all the amenities…

If you haven’t been vibing to Tyla’s hits, where have you been? The queen of popiano is back in the motherland and she’s bringing the heat. On Saturday, Showmax is doing something no streaming platform in Africa has ever done – they’re live-streaming Tyla’s homecoming concert straight from the SunBet Arena in Pretoria. Tyla’s giving fans across 44 African countries the chance to vibe with her in real-time. So if you missed her sold-out shows in Cape Town and Pretoria, here’s your shot to experience it all from your couch while your chop is braaing on the coals. With her debut album Tyla pulling in over 1.6 billion streams, she’s made it clear: she’s in it for the long haul. Yatish Narsi, Showmax’s chief marketing officer, explained that this…

AS SOUTH Africa’s matriculants prepare to make the pivotal transition from high school to adulthood, a shadow looms over many of these young individuals’ mental health. It is revealed that the stress, anxiety, and uncertainty associated with this phase can lead some to risky outcomes, including suicidal thoughts and behaviours. With alarming statistics indicating that 9.5% of teenage deaths in the country result from suicide, the conversation surrounding mental health support for this age group becomes more crucial than ever. Dr. Ruvé Esterhuysen, a clinical psychologist at Life Poortview, stresses that if mental health issues among teenagers go unaddressed, they can escalate dangerously. “Modern life is a stressful experience, and we all need help and support. “There must be no stigma around seeking that help. Those who reach out to…

BEFORE you pack your bags and decide to emigrate to either the United States or the UK, consider a few signs of questionable agendas and social decay plaguing these first world countries. The recent discovery of Pakistani rape gangs who have been responsible for the mass grooming and shocking, disturbing sexual crimes against white teenage girls have rocked the UK, and the World. Under the watch of disgraceful UK prime Minister Keir Starmer , these heinous crimes have gone unchecked since his political motivation has been to secure the Muslim vote at the next election. The people of the UK want him out but he clings to power like an acorn. Not to mention the anti-semitic attacks on innocent Jews trying to live their lives in London. This controversial figure,…

EXPECT the South African economy to do far better this year than it did last year. I must say this up front because there are many scaremongers and naysayers who are always ready to keep on saying everything is doom and gloom in South Africa. They are also the ones who point out that many rich South Africans are emigrating; as if we care a damn about those people without any loyalty or patriotism towards post-apartheid South Africa. The strange “Government of National Unity” (GNU), toxic as it is with some of its active participants who try to have their cake and eat it too, by always criticising the ANC, while enjoying all the possible benefits and trappings of government office including being part of the “blue lights brigade”. We…

With few clouds, vast empty deserts and a well-developed electricity grid, Egypt has all the elements for a huge expansion in solar power generation. But it is only now moving to exploit them, after the cost of natural gas imports jumped. A sharp decline in domestic gas production combined with growing consumption caught authorities off-guard last year and led to rolling blackouts over the sweltering summer. “It has been a big wake-up call, and this is the reason why the government recently announced a big emergency package,” said Ahmed Mortada, head of energy in Egypt for multilateral lender the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). Egypt had to fork out over $1 billion more than it had expected for imported liquefied natural gas (LNG) last year and analysts estimate…