Innehållsförteckning för 2025-02-03 från Cape Argus

A YOUNG mom from Eureka Estate in Elsies River died in a hail of bullets on Saturday while visiting her friends. The shooting in Mallet Street resulted in two deaths while two others were injured and taken to hospital. The mother of Charné-Lee Jacobs, 21, says they arrived at the crime scene but were unable to say goodbye as her lifeless body lay in the street. Mom Marlyn Kleinhans, 55, said her two young children, aged three and seven, will now be raised by her family. The grandmother explains: “It happened early on Saturday morning. “Charné is a single mom and was enjoying a beer with her friends when the shooting happened. “We were still asleep and the neighbours came to wake us up. We went there but…

THE South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has said it is still unclear when the repatriation of the 14 soldiers who lost their lives in Goma, in the Democratic Republic of Congo would take place. At the weekend, the SANDF released the names of the soldiers who died in the DRC last week. On Friday, the The Southern African Development Community (SADC) said it would dispatch a team to North Kivu in the DRC to facilitate the repatriation of the deceased and injured SANDF members, as well as those from Malawian and Tanzanian forces. South African troops have been in the east of the DRC since December 2023 on a peacekeeping mission. The deceased members of the SA team include Staff Sergeant William Eddie Cola, Staff Sergeant Molahlehi Ishmael Molahlehi,…

Leo Deon Meyer Loot.co.za (R308) Jonathan Ball DEON Meyer’s massive international sales show that this South African author has cracked the crime market in a way that no other local has done. Leo, his latest thriller is such a welcome break from all the gloom and doom. Not that there isn’t some startlingly scary stuff rather close to home, in this, his latest Benny Griessel book. Meyer is a wry and witty writer, and while this wasn’t as side-splitting as, say, his The Dark Flood, in which he hilariously describes Stellenbosch as being “Volvoville”, Leo has it’s breakout lighter moments. Benny’s close colleague and friend Vaughn Cupido, is, as usual, trying to lose weight even as they chomp on the job while pursuit of the baddies, and angst-ridden…

LOADshedding might be an annoyance but it offers you an opportunity to move away from the devices and to build a puzzle, finish a DIY project that you left half-way done, or pick up a book that will stick with you long after you have finished it. Kathleen Glasgow’s The Glass Girl is one of those books – raw and heartbreaking, but the message is filled with hope. The story follows 15-year-old Bella, a girl drowning under the weight of grief and pressure. Her grandmother, the only person who never needed anything from her, has died. Her parents are divorced and her mom relies on her to hold things together, and then there’s the life at school that brings its own chaos. Bella finds her escape in alcohol- vodka and…

THE IMPORTANCE of sponsorship in sport cannot be overestimated. Business involvement is what keeps sport going. And it is pleasing to see how South African football has become a multibillion industry after most of the clubs were run from the boot of cars by owners who took from their family’s coffers to keep their clubs afloat. It is, however, one thing for corporations to support the sport and the clubs and another for them to literally take over. There was a significant sense of the latter during the sold-out Soweto Derby between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs at the FNB Stadium. It’s the country’s biggest rivalry and no other match polarises the country like the clash between the Buccaneers and Amakhosi. You are either pro the crossbones and skull insignia…

A HANOVER Park man is on the run after he was caught on camera viciously stabbing a dog to death. The case was reported by the Animal Welfare Society of SA (AWS) which saw officers carry out a search in Hanover Park because they believed the suspect had fled Mitchell’s Plain at the weekend. AWS SA spokesperson, Allan Perrins, said the dog’s owner has been left traumatised following the senseless, fatal stabbing of their dog by a ruthless gangster. “To say that the perpetrator’s actions were inhumane is an understatement. Our inspectors have secured bone-chilling CCTV footage of the unprovoked attack and worked around the clock to trace the identity and whereabouts of the suspect and are working closely with SAPS and the owner to gain justice for the…

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) under the Government of the National Unity (GNU) on Thursday. The address to the joint sitting of the National Assembly will take place at the Cape Town City Hall at 7pm. It will be held against the backdrop of last week’s Cabinet Lekgotla, which set out the government’s programme of action for the year as guided by the GNU’s Statement of Intent amid tensions within the coalition government over key legislation. Acting director-general of Government Communication Information System (GCIS) Nomonde Mnukwa said Ramaphosa’s address will provide an opportunity to reflect on developments taking place across the country and set the country’s game plan for the year ahead. Mnukwa said Ramaphosa will reflect on South Africa’s achievements over…

A DOGGIE got its whoof back after successfully undergoing an intricate surgical procedure to correct a collapsed trachea (windpipe) that affected the animal’s breathing. The trachea stent that was imported from the US was inserted into the six-year-old Yorkshire Terrier named Mia, at the University of Pretoria’s Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital. Mia has since made a successful recovery. She had been suffering from a severe case of tracheal collapse, which occurs when the trachea (windpipe) becomes flattened, obstructing airflow and leading to symptoms like coughing, cyanosis (blue gums), and syncope (fainting). “Typically, tracheal collapse is managed with medication, but Mia’s severe condition, which caused cyanosis during car rides, led the team to consider a tracheal stent,” said Dr Adriaan Kitshoff from Onderstepoort’s Small Animal Surgery team, who led the procedure.…

WHILE it was a tough goodbye to his previous church, The Venerable Terrence Lester said he is more excited and nervous as he takes on the role of being the new dean of the St George’s Cathedral in Cape Town. The church was filled with many congregants and members of the Anglican Church who came to attend the installation the 16th Dean of Cape Town and Rector of the Cathedral of St George the Martyr. Archbishop Thabo Makgoba was the officiant and preacher of the service. “Terry, it is my prayer that your ministry here at the cathedral brings about a new song, full of new possibilities… You do not lack experience, but you will nevertheless, need assistance from God to advance his will for this Cathedral church. “So, as…

Capture in the Court: In Defence of Judges and the Constitution Dan Mafora Loot.co.za (R169) Tafelberg The writer, Dan Mafora, is a lawyer, legal researcher and a commentator on contemporary issues. Here, particularly in the courts, he takes up the cudgels against disinformation campaigns where using ‘bots’ and fake media accounts in order to sway public opinion, exploits the general public’s lack of knowledge and media literacy. Coupled with this, with ‘anti-intellectualism’ pervading so many facets of society, it appears, according to Mafora, that it’s acceptable to attack our judges and courts to settle political scores. Mafora explains the dangers of what this can mean for the future and stability of our country and explains the underlying dangers it may hold. Soul of a Nation Oyama Mabandla Loot.co.za (R275)…

Presumed Guilty Scott Turow Loot.co.za (R599) Grand Central Publishing PRESUMED Guilty, the phenomenon that redefined the legal thriller and is the basis for Apple TV+’s most-watched drama series ever. Rusty Sabich is a retired judge attempting a third act in life with a loving soon-to-be wife, Bea, with whom he shares both a restful home on an idyllic lake in the rural Midwest and a plaintive hope that this marriage will be his best, and his last. If Aaron doesn’t return soon, he will be sent back to jail. Aaron eventually turns up with a vague story about a camping trip with his troubled girlfriend, Mae, that ended in a fight and a long hitchhike home. Days later, when she still hasn’t returned, suspicion falls on Aaron, and when Mae…

​Lindy Heinecken The death of South African soldiers on a Southern African Development Community (SADC) mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has sparked fierce debate about the deployment of SANDF soldiers there. Some, including political parties, have questioned whether the soldiers were adequately trained, equipped and supported. I have spent decades researching the South African military in peacekeeping operations and interviewed hundreds of soldiers about their experiences and the challenges during deployment. The country is part of the Southern African Development Community Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC), which includes troops from Malawi and Tanzania.This deployment followed approval by the Southern African Development Community in May 2023, in response to the deteriorating security situation in eastern DRC. The South African National Defence Force is leading the…

Paarl Royals assistant coach Richard das Neves has expressed confidence in his team's preparations ahead of their play-off encounter against MI Cape Town on Tuesday at 5.30pm. Since securing their qualification, the Royals have been focused on this crucial match, eager to return to form after facing setbacks in their recent games. Royals, however, have suffered two consecutive defeats, the latest being a distressing 48-run loss to the Sunrisers Eastern Cape — one of their lower points in the competition thus far. Paarl, who finishing the group stages in second place, are determined to bounce back. Against SEC, they were set a target of 149 runs but faltered dramatically, bowled out for just 100 runs in 18.2 overs. Despite the lack of victories in their last two matches, Das Neves…

Reese Witherspoon has revealed a speech misfire at an awards ceremony cost her a friendship with an A-list actress. The Legally Blonde star, 48, admitted the mishap happened when she was invited to present an award to a well-respected actress but completely misjudged the tone of the evening – delivering a roast-style speech as she believed it was meant to be a lighthearted event. She has now admitted to People magazine about her friendship crumbling as a result of her gags at the event: “I’m not even kidding – we’re not friends anymore. “It literally haunts me.” Witherspoon added: “So this friend of mine – who I didn’t know that well but she was a very serious, proper actress – she asked me to give her an award. I had…

KHAYELITSHA residents have called for a church to be shut following the arrest of a pastor who allegedly raped his female members claiming he could heal them, while clergyman asked for charismatic places of worship to be monitored by an authenticated body. Police made the arrest earlier this month, after three victims between the ages of 15 and 23 came forward. It’s alleged the pastor claimed he could heal his female congregation members using sexual intercourse and raped them. Police spokesperson, Sergeant Wesley Twigg said the 51-year-old pastor was expected to make an appearance in the Khayelitsha Magistrates’ Court tomorrow. “Khayelitsha Family Violence Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit swooped on a Khayelitsha pastor after claims were made that he assaulted and raped victims at his church between November 2022…

THE Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) said it had recovered an Uber driver who was hijacked in Alexandra. JMPD officers received a complaint about the missing driver from the owner of the vehicle and were able to track down the vehicle. “The officers proceeded to the location for verification. On arrival, they saw a male coming out of the vehicle. When the male noticed the officers approaching him, he fled and a chase ensued. The officers apprehended him,” according to the department. During questioning, the police officers heard someone screaming and knocking on the boot of the hijacked vehicle. The officers opened the boot and found the Uber driver inside. The driver said that he was hijacked by three males and identified the arrested suspect as one of his hijackers.…

My Mom’s Murder AYR Media Narrated by Lauren Malloy AUDIBLE ORIGINALS LAUREN Malloy was 18-months old when her mother Lori passed away. She was adopted and raised by her aunt, Allison – Lori’s sister. Thirty years later, Lauren received a Facebook message from a stranger claiming to have been her late mother’s best friend. Her name was Louise, and Lauren thought it good that their phone calls were recorded and those recordings form part of the brilliant storytelling in this Audiobook, narrated by Lauren Malloy herself. Listening to Lauren’s voice, telling her own story made the listening experience even more riveting. But Louise is not consistent with her memories of Lori, in fact, Lauren caught wind that the truth has been hidden from her by multiple family members. She reached…

WHO would have thought 2025 would usher in a new era of ‘strong-man politics?’ Just over 100 years ago, in 1922, three ‘strong men’ began to assert their dominance over Europe, which ultimately took Europe into a second world war. Adolf Hitler established himself as the ultimate leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party, which in 1926 became known as the Nazi Party. Nazi is a shortened version for the German words “Nationalsozialist”. The Holocaust Encyclopaedia records that Hitler rose to prominence in Germany due to his exceptional speaking abilities, charisma, unusual ability to read the audience's mood and tireless energy. He was unapologetic about his programme of action, which included national unity based on racial criteria, territory expansion, excluding Jews from citizenship and halting non-German immigration. Hitler came…

China’s government yesterday denounced the Trump administration’s imposition of a long-threatened 10% tariff on Chinese imports while leaving the door open for talks with the US that could avoid a deepening conflict. Beijing will challenge President Donald Trump’s tariff at the World Trade Organization – a symbolic gesture – and take unspecified “countermeasures” in response to the levy, which takes effect tomorrow, China’s finance and commerce ministries said. That response stopped short of the immediate escalation that had marked China’s trade showdown with Trump in his first term as president and repeated the more measured language Beijing has used in recent weeks. Trump at the weekend ordered 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports and 10% on goods from China, saying Beijing needed to stanch the flow of fentanyl, a…

Last week's protagonists in the Western Cape T20 CSA schools final, Bishops and Paarl Boys High, were at it again — this time in a first innings unlimited overs game. Bishops, at home, proved that last week's victory was no fluke, as they repeated the dose with an emphatic 136-run win. Bishops won the toss and had no hesitation in electing to bat on a placid wicket that held no fears for the batters. Their players initially were content to occupy the crease as they had to contend with some accurate bowling from Raeez Isaacs and Pieter Gildenhuys, the Boishaai medium pacers. The introduction of left-arm spinner Aiden Batt put a further brake on the scoring rate. It was left to James Quinlan (46) and Thaafier Japtha (32) to provide…