Innehållsförteckning för 2025-02-21 från Cape Argus

Zolani Mahola, the voice that shaped a generation, is stepping onto an intimate stage for a night of music, storytelling and purpose.\ Her concert supports Gender Rights In Tech (GRIT), a pioneering organisation that leverages technology to provide survivors with access to justice and safety. Formerly known as Kwanele-Bringing Women Justice, GRIT stands at the forefront of the fight against GBV in South Africa. As a leading feminist non-profit, the organisation employs innovative tech solutions to enhance access to support and justice for survivors. Their multifaceted approach includes a mobile application and an Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbot designed to facilitate reporting, provide guidance, connect survivors with legal professionals and offer in-person court support alongside access to post-violence care. All proceeds from the show will go towards legal aid partnerships, survivor…

IN A SHOCKING development concerning horrific videos of men being tortured at Pretoria’s Zanzou lounge in Gauteng, one of the victims of the torture has been identified as missing, and is now feared to have died. In a post shared on Facebook, Kulani Shirinda was last seen on August 26, 2023. Pablo, the whistleblower who has been posting videos depicting severe human rights violations at Zanzou, recently shared a new clip that shows a shirtless man lying motionless on the ground. The man, who has a striking resemblance to Shirinda, remains still as another individual places their foot over his mouth and chin. “The missing person was last seen drinking alcohol with his friend and was not seen since,” the SAPS said on his missing person’s poster. Police have confirmed…

AGRICULTURE Minister John Steenhuisen and Land Reform and Rural Development portfolio chairperson Mangaqa Mncwango are two of the senior government officials who have confirmed that they will attend today’s Imbizo (mass gathering) called by Zulu King Misuzulu KaZwelithini. In a bid to save the embattled Ithala Bank from liquidation, the king has convened the Imbizo to discuss measures to save the bank from collapse. The gathering, which is expected to be attended by more than 3 500 people, will take place at the Emashobeni Royal Palace in Pongola, north-east of KwaZulu-Natal. The bank is in a legal battle with the South African Reserve Bank’s Prudential Authority, which has filed papers in the Pietermaritzburg High Court for its provisional liquidation. Although the Prudential Authority cited non-compliance as the reason for the…

THE government is planning to spend R1.03tn over the medium term expenditure framework on infrastructure projects by state-owned enterprises and government departments. This is contained in the proposed 2025 budget that was deferred for tabling in Parliament on Wednesday until March 12 after parties in the GNU disagreed on proposals made by the National Treasury. The documents shared by the National Treasury, at the media lock up before the presentation of the budget was postponed, indicated that the government will significantly upscale its infrastructure delivery programme. “There are major opportunities to reduce the backlog in public infrastructure while creating jobs and bolstering economic activity,” reads the document. It said the 2025 budget was proposing strategic investments to achieve faster economic growth, focusing on electricity, rail, water and transportation infrastructure projects.…

NEARLY half of South Africa’s correctional facilities lack adequate perimeter fencing. According to a Parliamentary question and response posted to Minister of Correctional Services, Pieter Groenewald, he said that R1 billion is required to address fencing deficiencies at 120 prisons nationwide. This was revealed by Kabelo Kgobisa-Ngcaba, MP and DA deputy spokesperson on Correctional Services this week. “However, the lack of specific completion dates for any of these projects, attributed to funding uncertainties, raises serious concerns about the department’s commitment to rectifying the situation,” he said. He said adding to the concerns raised, Groenewald said the Department of Correctional Services estimated the cost of upgrading perimeter fencing at two prisons, one in the Eastern Cape and another in the Western Cape, would cost over R116m each. He said further…

I will admit, I do not understand fashion. I can look at a Monet and appreciate the thin brushstrokes, the way he breathes life into the relatively mundane expressions of the human condition through experiments with light; or look at an Aston Martin DB9 and feel something stir in my stomach; or watch a movie and rant and rave about the cinematography, symbolism and artistic expression. But when models are strutting down a runway wearing the latest haute couture, I’m left questioning reality. Admittedly, if it were up to me, I would still be wearing my ’90s punk aesthetic – a T-shirt, long shorts, knee-high white socks and skater shoes, while exclaiming, “Grunge will rise again” to anyone who will listen. Nevertheless, I will admit that Sir Lewis Hamilton does…

Author and social activist Jackie Phamotse is sounding the alarm on safety issues within the club culture, following the emergence of disturbing videos from the Pretoria nightclub, Zanzou. The footage, which has since gone viral on social media, depicts the shocking assault and humiliation of five young men at the venue, igniting widespread outrage across the digital landscape. The incident has put Zanzou under intense scrutiny, with many calling for its immediate closure. In a plea on X, Phamotse urged individuals to reconsider the safety of club environments. “For your safety, get out of Club Culture! If you value your life, never go to clubs. That entire scene is demonic and disgusting,” she stated emphatically. “Why eat and drink with murderers, rapists and mafias? No one is safe in…

POLICE are investigating the murder of five men in the Eastern Cape – one of them previously charged in connection with the murder of 18 people in Cape Town. It is suspected that Yanga “Bara” Nyalara, who is dubbed the “extortion kingpin” and was on Cape Town’s Most Wanted list last year, had been travelling with his bodyguards, who were heavily armed, on the N2 near Ndabakazi, Butterworth, yesterday. A source close to the investigation said he was stopped by officers from a specialised police unit, when he and the other men were searched. “Guns were found… I’m not sure what happened after,” the source said. They were driving in a dark-coloured Toyota Fortuner. A photograph of the Ndabakazi scene showed a similar Toyota Fortuner that was off the…

AN IMMIGRATION officer took the stand in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court yesterday in the bail application of Anabela Rungo – mother of former Miss South Africa contestant, Chidimma Adetshina. Immigration Specialised Investigation Unit officer, Adrian Jackson, said he was called on Saturday, February 15, to assist in a counter-corruption matter where he was to meet with a person of interest. Jackson, who told the court he has 18 years experience in immigration matters, said he then went to the Milnerton SAPS station where he met Rungo, 46, who was seated in the police general waiting area with a two-year-old child. Jackson confirmed they arrested Rungo after she could not provide the unit with legitimate documents, and during an interview process, she said she had “misplaced” her documents. According to…

A 16-year-old robot whiz from Tafelsig has been selected to represent South Africa at the World Championship in Houston, Texas from 15-19 April. Cape Academy of Mathematics, Science and Technology learner, Liam Pretorius, alongside his teammates, won the South African FIRST Tech Challenge Championship at the national championship hosted at Amazon Headquarters in Observatory last weekend. The dream team, named Astrovo, competed against 21 teams from eSwatini and across South Africa, demonstrating outstanding engineering, teamwork, and innovation to secure the national title. An excited Pretorius said he is looking forward to his trip as it will be a great birthday present. “I am excited and happy that I am part of a team that is going to represent my country in Texas. “I am also happy that I am doing…

Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi will not allow the outside noise to affect his team when they face the Proteas in their ICC Champions Trophy opener in Karachi on Friday (11am SA time start). Afghanistan were recently the centre of attention when South Africa’s Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie pledged his official support for a boycott of the former war-torn nation, due to its Taliban government’s crackdown on women’s rights since returning to power in August 2021. McKenzie stated that “if it was my decision, then it certainly would not happen”, in reference to the Proteas team facing Afghanistan in the ICC Champions Trophy. He went further by saying that “Cricket South Africa, the federations of other countries and the ICC (International Cricket Council) will have to think carefully about the message…

The ICC Champions Trophy is known for its fast-paced action and high-stakes drama, and for Rob Walter’s Proteas, the time for complacency is over. As they prepare to take on Afghanistan in Karachi on Friday (11am SA time start), the South Africans must hit the ground running, armed with a game-plan that will halt their Asian opponents. Independent Media cricket writer Zaahier Adams, who has covered the last three ICC Champions Trophy tournaments, outlines five pivotal strategies that could set the tone for the Proteas’ journey... 1 Focus on the captain’s form The performance of skipper Temba Bavuma will undoubtedly influence the Proteas’ results. His impressive overall ODI average of 43.32, complemented by five centuries, must be translated into crucial match contributions. Despite a dip in form over the past…

Liverpool manager Arne Slot praised Pep Guardiola’s management of his injury-hit Manchester City side, and raised his own squad’s fitness concerns ahead of Sunday’s Premier League clash at the Etihad. Right back Conor Bradley is likely to miss the City game, as well as Wednesday’s home game against Newcastle United with a muscle injury, while defender Joe Gomez will be out until the end of the season after undergoing hamstring surgery. Forward Cody Gakpo, who has missed Liverpool’s last two league games due to a knock, is doubtful. “I hope, I’m not 100 percent sure, Cody hasn’t trained with the team yet. It will be a close call,” Slot told reporters yesterday. “Joe had surgery, so he’s out for a long time. He will be back maybe just before the…

In an era where the origins of our food are becoming increasingly important, a new documentary series, Lamb Champs: The Heart and Soul of Sheep Farming, takes viewers on an enlightening journey through the world of sheep farming in South Africa. The six-episode series delves into the lives of six farmers whose dedication to their craft elevates mutton from mere meat to a symbol of tradition and family gatherings. South African model and TV presenter, Minki van der Westhuizen, travels across the country, following these farmers as they prepare for the esteemed 2024 Lamb Champs competition held in Pretoria, where the top sheep farmer will get the chance to win R160,000 in prizes. This initiative, championed by Saai (Southern Africa Agri Initiative), aims to elevate the visibility of family farmers…

“THE day I cried, they smiled, they laughed, they had their fun. Now my tears have dried up. We will have joy and laughter on the day she died because it is their turn to cry.” These are the chilling and heart-wrenching words of Jacqueline Rex, the mother of 17-year-old Cytheria Rex, who was raped and murdered on February 21, 2009. Now, in an ironic and significant twist 16 years later on the same date - Virgil Sass, Oswill Grootboom, Imeraan Hendricks, Lee Cloete and Rhonwan Rhode, are expected to be sentenced in the Strand Regional Court. Sentencing for the five men has been scheduled for today, February 21, 2025. Cytheria’s body was discovered the night after her killing, on the morning of February 22, 2009, in Kraaifontein, after she…

Proteas captain Temba Bavuma is hoping his team “win the moments that matter” when they face Afghanistan in their crunch ICC Champions Trophy opener in Karachi on Friday (11am SA time start). The Proteas once again enter a major ICC tournament with the weight of previous disappointments hanging over their heads. The latest, of course, was the ICC T20 World Cup final, where the South Africans made history by overcoming their semi-final hurdle for the first time, but fell short again when ultimate glory was beckoning in Barbados last year. “There’s no negativity from the fact that we haven’t been able to be successful in other ICC events or editions, but instead, there’s a lot more positivity and confidence in terms of our ability or how far we can go…

Pep Guardiola conceded Manchester City need a rebuild after being swept aside by a Kylian Mbappe hat-trick as Real Madrid progressed to the last 16 of the Champions League 6-3 on aggregate. Mbappe fired the 15-time winners to a 3-1 second leg win on Wednesday night, but much of the damage had already been done for City by conceding two late goals to lose the home leg 3-2 last week. It is the third time in four seasons that City have been knocked out by the Spanish giants, but the first time since Guardiola joined in 2016 that the English champions have failed to reach the last 16. The sides were drawn to face off much earlier in the competition this time as City only sneaked through the league phase…

Alulutho Tshakweni is not your everyday loosehead prop. Looking lean and mean, the 26-year-old from Mdantsane near East London resembles more of a loose forward than a front-rower – and he explained the story behind it this week ahead of the Bulls’ United Rugby Championship clash against the Lions at Loftus Versfeld (2pm start). “Back in the day, in high school, I was a lock-flank, and I changed later to prop. I think it was a very good change, and I haven’t looked back ever since,” the Hudson Park High product said. “I am a bit lighter than many other props, but Wilco (Louw) is built different. I bring my energy and work-rate, and not just scrumming – although it’s very important. I just play rugby, man.” Tshakweni was also…

Stellenbosch FC were caught up in the euphoria of Thursday’s CAF Confederation Cup quarter-final draw in Doha, Qatar, but the players remained firmly focused on Friday’s Premiership clash against the unpredictable Richards Bay at the Danie Craven Stadium (7.30pm kick-off). Throughout Thursday, Stellenbosch – who qualified for the Confederation Cup quarter-finals in their debut attempt – were anxiously waiting to know who their opponents would be. As it turned out, Stellenbosch were pitted against the reigning Confederation Cup champions, Zamalek of Egypt. The first leg will take place in the Western Cape on the weekend of April 2, with the second leg a week later in Egypt. Stellenbosch CEO Rob Benadie, who was present at the draw in the Qatari capital, said he was proud that the club had reached…