Innehållsförteckning för 2025-02-12 från Cape Argus

IN AN ESCALATING political drama within the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP), party leader Jacob Zuma has taken decisive action to mend a rift between his daughter, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, and party secretary-general Floyd Shivambu. Zuma has instructed his daughter to immediately apologise to Shivambu following a series of insults on X (formerly Twitter) or face expulsion. The intervention comes on the heels of a series of public spats that have highlighted deeper fractures within the fledgling political organisation. Zuma also ordered Zuma-Sambudla to publicly apologise to Shivambu, the party president, members, supporters, and all the people of South Africa. In some of her scathing tweets, Shivambu said: “You are the worst thing that has happened to the MK Party”. She followed this with another thinly veiled jab. “Commanders of 16 December…

LAST Sunday, Elon Musk complained to President Ramaphosa about EFF party leader Malema. Yes, Malema has been using racism as a political argument for almost twenty years, but Musk didn’t say a word while thousands of innocent people were being slaughtered in Palestine. Now, when the issue concerns white people in South Africa, he knows how to offer advice from America to Africa. Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, responded to Elon Musk, saying, “We are not governed by a decree of executive orders. We have independent legal institutions that deal with such matters.” Indeed, even Trump exhibits similar attitudes toward the policies of the South African government. The United States has long positioned itself as a beacon of democracy, frequently lecturing other nations on the importance of democratic principles. However, the…

A RELIGIOUS incident at a secondary school in Estcourt, has triggered off a storm in KwaZulu-Natal. Grave acts of intolerance have become a mutating problem for our global society. We protest at anything that we disagree with, no matter how trivial. Tolerance in our complex society has taken a back seat and is exhibited daily in our deeds, words and actions. Our unwillingness to take real measures to address the subterranean violence that is present in our society, the cynical exploitation of fear, violence and difference has become the norm in our traumatised global order. Let us urgently display tolerance as we witness a new dawn. It is a supreme quality that forms the bedrock of any society. In an age where the electronic media has drawn us closer together…

The brutal killing of Raygun the “charismatic” baboon at a Mpumalanga school last week has been rightly and roundly condemned. It also elicited outrage and thousands of people have in a matter of days signed a petition calling for “justice”. The petition campaign founder, Dr Tristan Kapp, correctly said the incident at the school did not only reflect on the individuals involved, but suggested that the school had a responsibility of “preventing” such a sad event, and also pointed fingers at the Department of Basic Education. Clearly Raygun’s brutal killing could and should have been prevented. But after being killed and buried under a marula tree, we all need to reflect and learn from this unfortunate incident. For weeks residents of Pretoria had been following Raygun’s antics. Many had become…

In Rio de Janeiro, children are playing again “like in the old days”, and their focus in class has improved after a school cellphone ban pioneered in the city that has now gone national. Pupils across the country of more than 200 million people are starting the school year with phones banned from classes and break time after a new law signed by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in January. Brazil, which has more smartphones than people, joins a growing number of nations using such bans to pry devices from the hands of children hooked on social media. “It was difficult because we get addicted and ... it ends up causing a certain withdrawal ... but after the habit passes, we interact more,” said Kamilly Marques, 14. A pupil…

A WOMAN who left her husband nearly 26 years ago but never got divorced from him has gotten wind of the substantial amount in his pension fund as he is about to retire. She now wants to divorce him after all these years – presumably to cash in on his pension. The husband, on the other hand, said he had over the years worked hard as a police officer to build his government pension and he is not about to share it with a wife who had left him all those years ago. In a counterclaim, he asked the Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg, for an order that the wife should forfeit her half of his pension benefits. The court, which in the end ordered that the wife was only entitled…

THE Eastern Cape is quickly becoming the kidnapping capital of South Africa, according to anti-crime activists. This follows many abductions including that of 9-year-old Emaan Fatima who was taken while walking home from Dreamland Primary School, Buffalo Flats in East London on February 4. The next time she was seen was on a video where she was telling her parents she wanted to go home. “Come and get me please, I don’t want to stay here anymore,” the little girl said. The Pakistani girl’s family reportedly found out about the short clip from a friend after it was shared on social media. Pakistan South Africa Association East London general secretary Zaheer Iqbal said they are planning a march for awareness about Fatima’s kidnapping. Iqbal said on Sunday he was also…

CONSIDERING the recent public disputes between South Africa and the United States, it is imperative to consider an alternative perspective on how South Africa should navigate its relationship with the newly elected US administration. Addressing the pertinent issues, it appears that the South African government could have approached the enactment of the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) and the Expropriation Act with greater foresight, particularly considering the public outcry that ensued. Furthermore, the implications of the African National Congress (ANC) losing its parliamentary majority prompt inquiries about whether the president should have proceeded with the signing of these laws without consulting coalition partners. The individuals who previously advocated for the president to endorse these legislative measures are now notably silent, particularly considering the government’s current obligation to persuade the United…

THE current diplomatic controversy between South Africa and the United States over President Donald Trump’s executive order cutting aid and offering sanctuary to Afrikaners in his country, is constructed on gross fabrication. Trump accused South Africa without providing any evidence that “South Africa is confiscating land” and that “certain classes of people” were treated “very badly”, something which our president has effectively rebutted. Any peddling of misinformation against South African policies or the constitution by any South African citizen or organisation is as good as to inciting treason. If there’s any prima facie evidence of “illegal land grabs and targeting certain classes of people”, it must be reported to local law enforcing structures for investigation. These mischief-makers and agenda-seekers must be identified and prosecuted. The intended consequences of such diabolical…

The club, based in the picturesque Western Cape, is set to host Polokwane City this Thursday at the Danie Craven Stadium in a crucial round of 16 encounter in the much-anticipated Ke Yona tournament. As Stellenbosch SC embarks on this year's cup journey, they also find themselves in the knockout stages of the CAF Confederation Cup for the first time in their history. Barker's squad aims to secure their second cup trophy after clinching the Carling Knockout Cup last season. Their impressive third-place finish in the league last season granted them a gate pass to continental competitions, giving the players a taste of what it means to compete on an African stage. On Wednesday, the seasoned coach emphasised how the opportunity to win the Nedbank Cup could serve as vital…

A MANHUNT has been launched for a prisoner who meticulously planned his escape from Pollsmoor Correctional Centre. The premeditated escape took place on Sunday, when it was noted that inmate Yanga Wayithi, 35, could not be detected on CCTV footage. He escaped from custody while serving a six month sentence for theft and trespassing. Department of Correctional Services (DCS) spokesperson, Singabakho Nxumalo, said: “The DCS confirms that an inmate, Yanga Wayithi, a 35-year-old male, escaped from Pollsmoor Correctional Centre. Wayithi is serving a six-month sentence for theft and trespassing.” Nxumalo said the prisoner was assigned to a work team responsible for maintaining the facility’s grounds. “The South African Police Service (SAPS) has been notified, and a case of escape from lawful custody has been opened,” he added. Nxumalo indicated that…

THE Culture, Religious and Linguistic Rights Commission (CRL) has adopted a tough stance against errant municipalities and other spheres of government on some of the biggest violations of human rights against ordinary South Africans. In a passionate address, CRL chairperson, Thoko Mkhwanazi-Xaluva outlined the commission’s revitalised mission to address a range of urgent issues that have plagued communities for too long. Among these pressing matters, the CRL will closely scrutinise gravesite recycling, a practice that compromises the dignity of deceased individuals and their families. Furthermore, the commission plans to address the concerning practices of virginity testing and initiation abuses, aiming to uphold the dignity of individuals subjected to these often controversial practices. This bold move comes hot on the heels of a recent appointment by President Cyril Ramaphosa of a…

THREE paragliders have died within the space of a month in separate accidents in the Western Cape. In the latest incident on Saturday, a 53-year-old man was rushed to hospital after the crash in Stellenbosch. Chairperson of the South African Hang-gliding and Paragliding Association (SAHPA), Louis Stanford, said the incident took place at approximately 12.30pm. He said the paraglider was a South African national. “A paragliding pilot was involved in an accident on the foothills of Stellenbosch Mountain. He was taken by ER24 ambulance to the Stellenbosch Mediclinic and then airlifted on Sunday, to Chris Barnard Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. He had been conducting a solo recreational flight,” Stanford said. He said the cause of the accident is not known at this stage. “The Accident…

THE South African Muslim Network (SAMNET) has noted with concern allegations around a Hindu student being prevented from wearing or having their kalava or mauli (red prayer string) at a school in Estcourt. We have in the past raised concerns and defended the rights of all learners to observe the requirements of their faith and culture at school, in line with our constitutional and human rights. We have spoken on the rights of all learners, be it a Hindu kalava, the Zulu wearing an Isiphandla or a Muslim wearing a headscarf, or any other reasonable accommodation, in line with their religious and cultural beliefs. To date information about the current incident is largely unverified (including by the media). While we are as concerned as parents and the broader community, we…

The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) welcomes the decision to make the National Sex Offenders Register public. This is a significant step towards protecting our communities, particularly women and children, from sexual predators. For years, the IFP has advocated for tougher measures against sex offenders and greater transparency around the Register. By making the Register public, we believe that it will serve as a deterrent to potential offenders and provide communities with vital information to safeguard themselves. The IFP hopes that this move will contribute significantly to reducing sex crimes in our country. According to the latest crime statistics, sexual offences remain a scourge on our society. By making the Register public, we can work towards creating a safer environment for all. We commend the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development…

South Africa stands at a critical juncture, its journey towards genuine equality and justice continuously undermined by the persistent efforts of right-wing, conservative, and, frankly, racist lobbies both domestically and internationally. These groups, driven by a calculated desire to maintain the unjust status quo inherited from apartheid, have launched a global campaign to discredit South Africa’s attempts at land reform, economic transformation, and redress for the victims of apartheid. Their actions, amplified by figures such as Elon Musk and weaponised by political opportunists such as Donald Trump, pose a serious threat to South Africa’s sovereignty and its pursuit of a more equitable future. Global right-wing network At the core of this insidious campaign lies a network of organisations, with AfriForum playing a central role. While presenting itself as…