Innehållsförteckning för 2025-01-17 från Cape Argus

The Two Oceans Aquarium is set to kick off 2025 with renewed energy at its first event of the year. The “Trash Bash” initiative has become a cornerstone of the aquarium’s efforts to combat marine pollution, drawing community members together to clean up Cape Town’s beaches and to protect marine life. Since its inception, the “Trash Bash” has significantly impacted reducing plastic pollution along the coastline. In 2024 alone, the initiative saw thousands of kilograms of plastic and other waste removed from beaches, thanks to the tireless efforts of volunteers. This collective action not only beautifies the local environment but also plays a crucial role in safeguarding marine species, which are increasingly threatened by the proliferation of plastic waste. The Two Oceans Aquarium’s commitment to marine conservation extends beyond clean-up…

THE University of the Western Cape’s (UWC) 8th Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Robert Balfour, is a revolutionary passionate in his vision of creating an ecosystem where the university does not just exist in the community, but is part of it. He seeks to bring curriculum change as the world of higher education demands diversity and adaptability, where students can one day find themselves employable with the qualifications they hold. When one meets Balfour, he is not your ordinary academic, as he sports a smart hat and bow tie, making a sartorial statement, according to the university. Balfour takes over from 7th Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tyrone Brian Pretorius. He is hungry to create a bridge between the community, students and university. “My contribution to UWC’s legacy would be to create…

A PROMINENT local musician accused of rape returned to the Blue Down’s Regional Court yesterday, where his trial is under way. The jazz musician and former Cape Music Institute director faces charges of sexual grooming in addition to rape, and sexual assault. The musician, who may not be named in the media because of a court order, was released on bail of R1 000 and remains released with conditions. The muso has since pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him. Trial proceedings went ahead in-camera yesterday. According to a court official the complainant, who was sexually assaulted from the age of 14 until he was 21 years old, was on the stand to testify. The musician was arrested in July 2020 after the alleged victim lodged a complaint…

PARLIAMENT is expecting the Department of Basic Education (DBE) to implement the Basic Education Laws Amendment (Bela) Act without any excuses. This was the word from basic education portfolio committee chairperson, Joy Maimela, when she was fielding questions from the media during the weekly committee cluster media briefing in Parliament yesterday. “We engaged the department on the state of readiness and they assured us that they are prepared,” Maimela said. She noted that the Bela Act introduced significant reforms on key provisions that includes compulsory Grade R, language and admission policy changes. The new law grants the provincial education departments the authority over school admissions, aimed to standardise processes and eliminate discriminatory practices, in order to ensure equitable access to education for all learners. Maimela told the media at present,…

UPGRADES to the Kuyasa MyCiTi station in Khayelitsha is nearing completion, after it was previously stripped and destroyed by theft. Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis and mayco member for Urban Mobility, Rob Quintas, visited the station yesterday to inspect the repair and upgrade work. “It is now a safe, welcoming place for commuters and local residents. It was heartwarming to see residents using the station not only to catch buses, but also just as a place to relax in the beautiful gardens. “We even heard how one local resident proposed to his girlfriend here. This city facility now demonstrates our care for the residents of Khayelitsha and the pride we want to show in all city facilities,” Hill-Lewis said. Multiple infrastructure projects are in full swing across the metro’s south-east to provide…

THE Stormers have been a joy to watch in recent games after ending a shocking losing streak – but the litmus test for John Dobson’s team is how they perform overseas, beginning with tomorrow night’s Champions Cup match against Racing 92 in Paris (10pm kick-off). More than any South African side, the Stormers enjoy the green grass of home because they have packed-out stadiums and fanatical support. The Sharks and Bulls are lucky if they get half the crowd the Stormers get, while the Lions play before scattered die-hard supporters at Ellis Park. The Stormers are in Paris, where they are fighting for their lives in the Champions Cup – and they have to make this game count as it is the fourth and final round. The Capetonians lie fourth…

The youthful Stellenbosch FC may run out of steam against North African hosts RS Berkane in Sunday’s CAF Confederation Cup Group B clash (9pm kick-off). Stellenbosch started travelling yesterday morning, and will only arrive in Morocco today. At this rate, the Cape Winelands squad will only have tomorrow to acclimatise to the local conditions in the eastern parts of the country. Because their Danie Craven Stadium headquarters are off-limits for international matches, Stellenbosch have become used to travelling every week since the start of the season. However, travelling the length of the African continent is something they do once in a while, but is nevertheless energy-sapping. In their earlier Confederation Cup match this season, RS Berkane hammered Stellenbosch 3-1 at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban. RS Berkane play in…

Conclave, the papal thriller – which stars Ralph Fiennes as a clergyman responsible for the selection of the next Pope of the Catholic Church – leads the 2025 British Academy Film (Bafta) Awards nominations. The film has been nominated in 12 categories, including Best Film, Best Actor for Fiennes, Best Director for Edward Berger and Best Supporting Actress for Isabella Rossellini. The other Best Film nominees are Anora, The Brutalist, A Complete Unknown and Emilia Pérez. Fiennes faces competition in the Best Actor category from Adrien Brody for The Brutalist, Timothée Chalamet for his portrayal of Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown, Colman Domingo for Sing Sing, Hugh Grant in Heretic and Sebastian Stan for playing Donald Trump in The Apprentice. To be crowned Best Supporting Actress, Rossellini must beat…

A 22-year-old Hout Bay man is the latest abalone poacher arrested by Metro Police officers, thanks to drone technology, after he was followed from Robben Island. The Robben Island Museum (RIM) Management and Council said they were involved in the integrated operation that led to the apprehension of the suspect and the recovery of 23 bags of abalone. Mayco member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, said their teams were attacked by residents while leaving Hout Bay just after 4am yesterday. “Metro Police Officers attached to the Special Operations Unit made a significant bust in Hout Bay,” said Smith. “At around 4am, the City’s Eye in the Sky spotted suspicious individuals near Robben Island. “The suspect’s boat was followed to Hout Bay harbour, while officers on the ground responded…

TEAM South Africa headed to the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, is confident the country will shine at the annual meeting in Switzerland, under the theme of “Collaboration for the Intelligent Age”. Members representing South Africa held a pre-WEF breakfast briefing session yesterday in Sandton, where Finance Minister, Enoch Godongwana, stressed the importance of collaboration between business and government as they prepare to present the nation’s story on the global stage. “The WEF Annual Meeting brings together a wide array of key global stakeholders. These audiences are keen to understand the opportunities and challenges facing South Africa. It is essential that we align our key messages to showcase our country’s strengths, address misconceptions, and advance our collective priorities. By presenting a unified message, we can enhance South Africa’s standing…

Fortune Makaringe reckons that coach Muhsin Ertugral has brought a “different voice” at Cape Town City. Hence, every player wants to raise their hand. Ertugral has brought a breath of fresh air to City since taking over the reins from Eric Tinkler, who was sacked on New Year’s Eve. The Türkiye-born coach won his first two games, beating former clubs and Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates at Cape Town Stadium respectively. However, he came unstuck in his third match in charge as they lost 1-0 to Marumo Gallants last Saturday at Dr Molemela Stadium in Bloemfontein. And while that loss was a blemish on Ertugral’s start, he seems to already have the players eating out from the palm of his hand, despite being in charge for a few…

Often when a young player produces a break-out performance, there are cautionary tales from elders in an attempt to limit expectations. But none of this seems to apply to Paarl Royals’ starlet Lhuan-dre Pretorius. The 18-year-old has everyone, ranging from England’s highest-ever T20 run-scorer Joe Root, former India T20 World Cup winner Dinesh Karthik and the most capped Proteas T20 International David Miller, all raving about him. The trio have had the best seat in the house to assess the youngster due to playing alongside him at the Royals in this season’s SA20. Pretorius entered the competition with a reputation as a bit of a schoolboy bully, due to his hulking frame. But the powerful left-hander has now shown that he can mix it with the very best the game…

“NO!!!!” This was the last word of alleged underworld kingpin, Mark Lifman, as he came face-to-face with his killer before being gunned down, the George Magistrate’s Court has heard. The statement by a car guard stationed at Garden Route Mall was read into the record yesterday, and lifted the lid on what transpired during Lifman’s final moments alive as murder accused, Gert Bezuidenhout and Johannes Hendrik Jacobs, returned to court for the much-anticipated bail hearing. Lifman died in a hail of bullets at the Garden Route Mall in George on November 3. Shortly after the shooting, which was captured on CCTV cameras, cops busted the duo. Just days after the shooting, Jerome “Donkie” Booysen claimed that Bezuidenhout, who is also known as “Johnny”, was the right-hand man of PPA…

Rassie van der Dussen is hoping to use his omission from the last T20 World Cup as motivation for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan. The Proteas top-order batter had been one of the leading T20 run- scorers in the world last year, totalling 1 395 at an average of 43.59 and strike-rate of 142.34 But unfortunately for Van der Dussen, there were five other South African batters in the global top 10 ahead of him. “Yeah, I’ll be honest, it was a tough one. I had a great year in T20 cricket leading up to that World Cup especially,” Van der Dussen said after cracking an unbeaten 91 for MI Cape Town against Paarl Royals at Boland Park on Wednesday in the SA20. “I’ve always said I’ve never…

Proteas Under-19 Women captain Kayla Reyneke’s solo effort with the bat, scoring 47 off 26 balls, was not enough to win a T20 World Cup warm-up match against India this week. South Africa faced India ahead of the T20 World Cup in Malaysia, which kicks off today, with the Proteas’ opening encounter tomorrow against New Zealand. The SA squad also missed a warm-up game against Ireland because of a delayed flight, head coach Dinesha Devnarain told Independent Media from Malaysia. Devnarain said the team did a lot of travelling within the country since their arrival. Defending Under-19 T20 champions India beat the South Africans by six wickets via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method, according to NDTV Sports. Both teams retired wickets in the upper batting order, which could suggest the need…

MI Cape Town coach Robin Peterson said his team needed to relook at some of their selection choices in their attack after their SA20 six-wicket loss to Paarl Royals on Wednesday night. Peterson commended the Royals for their choice of spinners at Boland Park, which restricted them to 158/4 off 20 overs in the Cape Town derby. The former Proteas spinner remained optimistic, however, saying there was little time for reflection. “I think we were a little bit off tonight in terms of what we were trying to do,” Peterson said. “Credit to the Paarl Royals. They were smart about their selections and how they bowled on this pitch with their spinners – so I think that’s something we need to revisit and come back stronger against Joburg Super Kings…