Innehållsförteckning för 2025-03-05 från Cape Argus

What if you could only speak 140 words a day? How would it change how you communicate, argue or even express love? Sam Steiner’s internationally acclaimed romcom, Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons explores these very questions in a clever and deeply moving way. Set in a world where language is gradually restricted, the play follows Bernadette and Oliver as they try to make their relationship work under a government-imposed word limit. Every sentence counts, every pause has meaning. In today’s world, where we’re bombarded with endless opinions online, this production makes us reflect on the true value of our words. Starring Maxim du Toit and Jessie Diepeveen, known for their exceptional performances, this production brings new energy to the play. As communication becomes limited, the play delves into the effects…

A total of 31 learners have been suspended from a Cape Flats school amid an investigation into violent clashes between two groupings in recent weeks. Parents of learners attending Bridgetown High School said they feel safer knowing police have been called in to address the conduct of learners embroiled in alleged drug turf fights. Dramatic scenes unfolded at the school and in the surrounding community over the past two weeks as learners openly clashed with each other and hurled stones. At the time scared parents explained there were also racial tensions between coloured and black learners over who was allowed to sell drugs such as dagga and cocaine on the schoolgrounds. The clashes also sparked ire amid local crimefighters who were forced to patrol the streets around the school to…

Two veterans of the ANC, Tokyo Sexwale and Matthews Phosa, have rekindled the controversy surrounding the Phala Phala scandal, which has dogged President Cyril Ramaphosa since 2022. This is despite Ramaphosa having been cleared by the ANC’s Integrity Commission while the National Prosecuting Authority declined to pursue criminal charges on his involvement in the matter. The Phala Phala scandal revolves around the 2020 theft of a large sum of foreign currency hidden in couches ($580 000 or R8.7 million at the time) at Ramaphosa’s farm in Limpopo. Ramaphosa has denied any wrongdoing, but the scandal has raised questions about his integrity and accountability. In a recent podcast, Sexwale, a former Gauteng premier and ANC elder, demanded Ramaphosa clean up the events surrounding the scandal. “I don’t know what happened there.…

A CAPE Town man expressed shock when a Cape cobra was found inside a toilet bowl. Jason van Rooyen explained that the snake was discovered in his neighbour’s home in Parklands. “On Sunday, I was called by my neighbours saying that they needed help with a Cape cobra that was in their toilet. “I went around to the neighbour and saw that the snake was half in the toilet pot and half out. I then decided not to disturb the snake as it could be complicated. I decided to call someone to assist with the removal of the snake. I then contacted a snake handler who did an amazing job and did not play around when removing the snake. He made everyone in his surroundings feel comfortable and dealt with…

AN uneven netball field will cost the Limpopo Department of Education dearly after a then grade 11 learner slipped and fell on the uneven terrain and broke her arm, for which she is claiming more than R2 million in damages. The learner, who is only identified as RM, turned to the Limpopo High Court, sitting in Polokwane, where she blamed the department for her injury. She said that the teachers were negligent in allowing the children to practice netball, while unsupervised, on an uneven terrain. In denying negligence, the school pointed out that netball is a contact sport and that the plaintiff had knowledge of the risk in playing this sport, which she had consented to. RM testified that she was a member of her school netball team at the…

Concerns over Paris Saint-Germain’s ability to compete in the Uefa Champions League post-Kylian Mbappe have all but disappeared, with Luis Enrique’s side hitting a sensational run of form ahead of their highly anticipated last-16 showdown with Liverpool. "We will need to replace him with the team as a whole, and with maybe four, five, or six new signings," Enrique said, at the end of last season as he looked ahead to life without the then Real Madrid-bound Mbappe. Despite winning a domestic double and reaching the Champions League semi-finals in Enrique’s first season — powered by Mbappe’s 44 goals — PSG opted against signing a proven goal-scorer in the summer. Instead, they invested heavily in Joao Neves, Désiré Doué, Willian Pacho, and Matvey Safonov. That decision initially appeared costly, as…

When it rains, it pours is a phrase often used by sports teams when things are not going their way. But in 2025, adversity has only brought good luck to the Proteas at the ICC Champions Trophy. Even before they reached Pakistan, the South Africans were dealing with injuries to a series of fast bowlers. First Anrich Nortjé was ruled out. Then, Gerald Coetzee followed. It became almost comical when Ottniel Baartman also wasn’t able to make it, not to mention Lizaad Williams and Nandré Burger. In fact, coach Rob Walter and his team had lost a home ODI series 3-0 to Pakistan, and they followed it up with defeats to New Zealand in Lahore and Pakistan in Karachi in two Champions Trophy warm-up games – despite scoring over 300…

Environmental activists from Extinction Rebellion and The Green Connection staged a protest in Cape Town yesterday, accusing the government of “greenwashing” natural gas as a sustainable energy source. The protest took place outside the Cape Town International Convention Centre, where the African Energy Indaba is being held from March 4 to March 6. Activists displayed a cardboard cutout of Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Gwede Mantashe inside a washing machine, with baskets of laundry and detergent, symbolizing their claim that government is misleading the public about natural gas. The demonstration follows Mantashe’s statements that natural gas will be part of South Africa’s Just Energy Transition. “Let’s not fool ourselves or let anyone else fool us: natural gas (LNG) is mainly methane, a greenhouse gas that contributes to the climate…

STATE-owned bank Postbank reiterated yesterday that those who have not swapped their South African Social Security Agency gold cards for the bank’s black cards will receive their grants after the March 20 deadline. The bank said contingency measures put in place to ensure continued payment of the grants to the beneficiaries following concerns by beneficiaries fearing the looming deadline will result in the loss of income. “Our contingency is to allow beneficiaries who have not swapped by 20 March to go to any South African Post Office or withdraw through the cardless process,” chief operating officer Eurekha Singh said. She was briefing the social development portfolio committee in the Western Cape provincial legislature. The card replacement process has seen long queues at retail shops as beneficiaries wait amid glitches in…

Cape Town City are facing a real crossroads in their season, and their struggles over the past two months have been hard to ignore. On Wednesday, at home at Athlone Stadium, the Citizens have an opportunity to turn things around when they host TS Galaxy at 7.30pm. But despite the comfort of their home crowd, the pressure is mounting on Ertugral and the team to deliver a performance that breaks this winless streak. With seven games without a win, interim coach Muhsin Ertugral knows that something has to change and more especially because six of those last seven matches have ended in defeat. Their latest setback came in the form of a defeat to AmaZulu at King Zwelithini Stadium, which only added to a miserable run that has left the…

Western Province have injected a bundle of youthful energy into their squad in the hope of turning around their woeful 1-Day Cup campaign. The defending champions went through last season’s 1-Day Cup campaign unbeaten but now find themselves rooted to the bottom of the table with just one victory in five games. The last straw was Friday’s embarrassing 194-run defeat to the Dolphins at Newlands. While Province have undoubtedly been affected by long-term injuries to senior seam bowlers Nandre Burger and Beuran Hendricks, along with opening batter Tony de Zorzi being on international duty with the Proteas at the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan, Salieg Nackerdien’s team have still underperformed to leave them perilously close to the relegation zone. They are also now without premier allrounder George Linde, who has…

India captain Rohit Sharma said that his side was calm and composed in their chase of 265 which they comfortably managed to reach against Australia to advance to the third consecutive final of the Champions Trophy. Virat Kohli once again proved the cynosure of India's batting and played a knock of 84 runs studded with five fours while KL Rahul's unbeaten 42 and Hardik Pandya's 28 cameo laced with three sixes and a four powered them to a four-wicket win in the semi-final at Dubai International Stadium yesterday. Rohit admitted that the clash was thrilling until the last ball as Australia were also in the game after the dismissal of Kohli but Pandya and Rahul gave the finishing touches to India's innings. "Till the last ball is bowled, nothing is…

The streets of social media have been hard at work again, and this time, all eyes are on The Real Housewives of Durban star Annie Mthembu and her husband, Kgolo “Daguru” Mthembu. The couple, known for their luxe lifestyle, is now making headlines for an entirely different reason – financial woes and alleged cracks in their marriage. It all started when social media “detectives” noticed that Kgolo was selling items on Facebook Marketplace. The same man who was once running Durban’s hottest clubs is now allegedly offloading second-hand furniture online. Blogger @saneleknosi took to X to spill the tea, claiming that Daguru was liquidating assets to recover from business setbacks. Naturally, Mzansi had thoughts. From shock to speculation, people didn’t hold back in discussing what this could mean for the…

A police officer stationed at Gordon’s Bay SAPS has been arrested for rape, adding to the growing list of law enforcement officials accused of serious crimes in the Western Cape. His arrest brings the number of officers charges with rape in the province to more than five in recent months. Police spokesperson Captain FC Van Wyk confirmed that the case has been registered. “Be advised that the mentioned case number is registered at Gordon’s Bay police for investigation,” he said. Meanwhile, three other officers have been arrested by the Western Cape Anti-Corruption unit for business robbery and pointing a firearm during an incident at a Somali-owned shop in Mfuleni in October last year. It is alleged the officers 28 and 29, stole cash and cigarettes. Police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Malcolm…

AS the State called its second witness in the Joshlin Smith trial yesterday, the statement Kelly Smith made to police was revealed and submitted as evidence. Constable Luzuko Kobese took to the stand. He was one of the police officers stationed at Saldanha SAPS who were the first to respond to the call about a missing child. While most of his testimony corroborated that of his colleague, Constable Yanga Gongotha, the State’s first witness, Constable Kobese was also the one who took the statement of the mother of the missing girl. Joshlin disappeared on Monday, February 19, and was allegedly last seen at 5pm. At the time of her disappearance she was last seen wearing a light blue t-shirt, a denim shorts and pink slippers. Jacquen ‘Boeta’ Appollis, Steveno van…

JACOB Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party) has urged Auditor General Tsakani Maluleke to investigate what it terms “fruitless and wasteful expenditure” incurred during the preparations for last month’s Budget Speech, which was influenced by the proposed VAT hike. Finance minister Enoch Godongwana was scheduled to give the first budget speech of the Government of National Unity (GNU) on February 19. However, it was postponed to March 12 to allow engagement within the GNU over the proposed VAT increase. Despite the postponement, expenses related to the Budget Speech were still incurred, encompassing logistical costs, printing and promotional materials, travel and accommodation for government officials and stakeholders, as well as consulting and advisory services, along with broadcasting and media arrangements. This information was reported by the MK Party, who expressed concern…

Weeks after horrific videos surfaced showing men being tortured at Pretoria club Zanzou, a person connected to the establishment has finally come out into the open. Entrepreneur Neo Moela, who is the director of Zanzou, appeared alongside renowned attorney Zola Majavu on Tuesday morning in a media briefing to shed light on his involvement, or lack thereof, in the torture and operations of the club. Majavu said that Moela wished to express that there is no justification for the ‘despicable acts’ which took place at the nightclub. He reiterated that his client had no knowledge of the torture until it was brought to light. “He apologises to those whose human rights were trampled on,” Majavu said. The whistleblower of the torture, Pablo, implicated Moela in the torture in videos he…

ICC tournament semifinals are meant to be nervous affairs. Especially if you’re South African. The ghastly past dating back all the way to 1992 simply has a way of rearing its ugly head. All the trauma. The heartache. The misery relived and rehashed. But something seems different in 2025 as the Proteas prepare to face New Zealand in the second ICC Champions Trophy semifinal in Lahore on Wednesday. Customarily having to travel between two countries unnecessarily on the eve of a semifinal would unnerve Proteas teams of the past. Or more importantly, the fact that they had to wait on their superstar batter Aiden Markram to pass a fitness test. But despite all of these potential drawbacks, the Proteas seem to be taking it all in their stride. Marco Jansen…

It was one of the worst-kept secrets in South African rugby, but now it’s official: Ntuthuko Mchunu will be playing for the Stormers next season. The Cape franchise announced on Tuesday that the Springbok loosehead prop will be leaving the Sharks and moving to the Mother City at the end of the current season. Mchunu will arrive at the Stormers as the chief replacement for stalwart front-rower Steven Kitshoff, who announced his retirement last week due to a serious neck injury. The 25-year-old Mchunu, who was a hard-running No 8 at school before shifting to prop at the Sharks, will hope to clinch the No 1 jersey next season ahead of the likes of Ali Vermaak, Sti Sithole and youngster Vernon Matongo. “This is a fantastic opportunity to work with…