Innehållsförteckning för 2025-03-19 från Cape Argus

Cape Town City Ballet returns to the Artscape Theatre this week with a breathtaking re-staging of Mozart’s Requiem, choreographed by Dane Hurst. The production, which is one of the most famous choral works in classical music, is shrouded in mystery and intrigue. It was Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s final composition before his death in 1791. The play was left unfinished and was later completed by his student, Franz Xaver Süssmayr. This moving production, originally created for the Opera North and the Phoenix Dance Theatre in collaboration with the Jazzart Dance Theatre and the Cape Town Opera, blends the emotional power of Mozart’s final masterpiece. Hurst’s reimagining of Requiem was conceived during the Covid-19 pandemic, a time marked by loss and reflection. The production serves as both a tribute to those who…

The ANC is no longer talking about creating jobs but shedding them. During his budget speech, the finance minister Enoch Godongwana announced that the government is intending to cut jobs in the public service, adding to high unemployment rate. The government officials employ their incompetent cronies, family members and comrades to top positions and give them high salaries. Now the same government is saying the public service is bloated. How does this thing work? I find it interesting that the government is pushing for job cuts yet the cabinet is obese. There are ministers and deputy ministers who are just cheque collectors – and are doing absolutely nothing. Yet their jobs are not under threat. Indeed, some are more equal than others. If the ANC is serious about trimming the…

Greek mythology records that King Midas commonly known as Midas the miser was granted one wish by the god Dionysus. Midas requested that his wish was that everything he touched turned to Gold. Greek folklore suggests that he was the richest man in the world but died of starvation as his food turned to gold when he touched it. One wonders whether Elon Musk and Donald Trump ever heard this story… they should remember that dollar bills and silver coins even covered in the finest sauce are inedible.…

As South Africa grapples with a growing epidemic of food poisoning, the fate of informal food outlets, particularly spaza shops, hangs delicately in the balance. Recent statistics reveal that over 20 lives were tragically lost due to food poisoning last year. Last week, over 200 children from Kagisho Secondary School, in Free State, were hospitalised after a suspected food poisoning outbreak. This incident added to the about 3 000 suspected food poisoning cases reported to the Notifiable Medical Conditions System recently. Recent investigations into food poisoning cases pointed to hazardous pesticides as the catalyst behind the incidents. While these chemicals are often used for rodent control, their presence in food has raised health concerns. In the light of this, President Cyril Ramaphosa has initiated a directive requiring that all food-handling…

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen, who in two weeks will learn her fate in an embezzlement trial, says prosecutors demanding she face an instant five-year public office ban have waged an unheard of assault on her presidential hopes. The 56-year-old National Rally (RN) leader, who leads polls for the 2027 presidential vote, accuses prosecutors of seeking her “political death” by asking judges to bar her from office if convicted – effective immediately even if she appeals. That, she says, is “completely disproportionate” compared to other cases. However, ever since the passage of the Sapin II anti-graft law in 2016, a growing number of politicians convicted of corruption have received such bans, which may worry Le Pen as the March 31 verdict approaches. “These precedents show that judges are in…

Dan Burn has cut short his celebrations of Newcastle's historic League Cup triumph, as the defender focuses on his first England call-up. Burn headed Newcastle's first-half opener in their stunning 2-1 win against Premier League leaders Liverpool in the League Cup final at Wembley on Sunday. The 32-year-old's goal helped Newcastle finally end their 56-year trophy drought, setting off wild celebrations at Wembley and back home on Tyneside. It was the culmination of a remarkable week for Burn, who had received his maiden call-up to the England squad on Friday. As a boyhood Newcastle fan, born just a few miles from the city, Burn could have been forgiven for wanting to savour the party that followed the Magpies' long-awaited success. But the centre-back knew he was due to report for…

A RUGBY match in Langebaan ended in tragedy when a spectator was stabbed to death at the weekend. The Langebaan Rugby Football Club (RFC) and St Helena Bay RFC were playing on Saturday, March 15, when the incident occurred. Tributes have been pouring in on social media after the victim was identified as Ryan Don Samuels, 18, from Vredenburg. His eldest sister, Berenique Diergaardt, said the last time she spoke to him, he asked for prayers. “My mother and I called him on Saturday. He told us he was in Langebaan visiting our brother, who is a police officer. He said he needed prayers because the Langebaan community was not welcoming to outsiders. “The next call we got from Langebaan was from our cousin, also an officer, who told us…

WHILE civil servants will get a 5.5% increase on 1 April 2025, civil service pensioners will only get 2.9 percent. The finance minister has also not adjusted tax scales for inflation. The decision has been implemented since 2023 and in real terms means that more tax is paid over the long term due to block creeping. The question is why can’t civil service pensioners also get a 5.5% increase? The Government Pension Fund (GEPF) is Africa’s largest pension fund with more than 1.267 million active members, more than 524 030 pensioners and beneficiaries, and assets worth more than R1.61 trillion. It is a fund that politicians, in violation of the pensions act, are increasingly seeking to abuse for political ends rather than looking after the needs of pensioners. COSATU even…

I WRITE to express profound concern and condemnation regarding the recent actions undertaken by Israel against the Palestinian people during the holy month of Ramadan. These actions not only exacerbate the existing humanitarian crisis but also constitute clear violations of international law and the principles enshrined in the Geneva Conventions. On March 18, Israel launched extensive airstrikes across Gaza, resulting in the tragic loss of at least 250 Palestinian lives, including women and children. This assault occurred amidst a fragile ceasefire, further destabilising the region and inflicting immense suffering on innocent civilians. Concurrently, Israel has imposed a total blockade on Gaza, halting the supply of essential humanitarian aid, including food and medical supplies. The cessation of electricity supply has led to the shutdown of a desalination plant, critically affecting access…

Bangladesh has rebuked Washington’s intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard, saying her comments on religious violence in the South Asian country were unfounded and risked fanning sectarian tensions. Gabbard arrived this week for a diplomatic trip to India, whose relations with Bangladesh have soured since a student-led uprising overthrew the latter nation’s government last year. New Delhi has repeatedly accused its Muslim-majority neighbour of failing to adequately protect its minority Hindu citizens – charges denied by the caretaker administration now in charge. But Gabbard appeared to give credence to the claims when she was asked about violence in Bangladesh during a Monday interview with Indian broadcaster NDTV. “The long-time unfortunate persecution, killing, and abuse of religious minorities...have been a major area of concern for the US government,” she said in response. She…

Stellenbosch's rock-solid defender, Thabo Moloisane, is ready to add his continental pedigree to the Bafana Bafana defensive wall after receiving his long-awaited call-up to the national team. The 26-year-old has been a key figure at the back for Stellies in the past two seasons, earning the trust of national team coach Hugo Broos just as he’s been making waves on the continental stage with his performances in the CAF Confederation Cup. Moloisane, who has quietly become one of the Premier Soccer League’s most reliable defenders, will now make his mark on the international stage as part of Bafana’s 23-man squad for the crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Benin, set for 21st and 25th March, respectively. An untimely injury to Kaizer Chiefs' stalwart Rushwin Dortley has opened…

Kaizer Chiefs head coach Nasreddine Nabi has addressed the recent comments made by Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos regarding the exclusion of Amakhosi players from the national team. The issue came to light after Broos announced his squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Benin, with neither Chiefs player nor any member of the club's current squad making the final cut. Broos’ decision to leave out Chiefs players, including midfielder Thabo Cele, has raised questions and sparked discussions among football fans. While Rushwin Dortley was initially part of the preliminary squad, his injury ruled him out before the final selection was made. When asked about Cele and the possibility of his future inclusion, Broos responded cautiously, saying, “Yeah, sure [he will be considered].” However, Broos was…

The 2024/2025 campaign is headed for its decisive conclusion as all 16 Betway Premiership outfits make a final assessment and reset the most realistic goals for the final stretch. The final international break has handed all clubs one final moment to grasp the reality of their current situations with a lot of movement and drama expected in the last dash. The bottom half of the table is arguably as close as it’s ever been at this stage of the season with several clubs still in danger of relegation while others search for their route to make the top eight. Football writer Smiso Msomi takes a look at the four clubs not only hoping to qualify for next season’s MTN8 but also looking over their shoulders to avoid the drop. 12…

A MANENBERG woman who lied to police and made false insurance claims is now facing criminal charges at the Athlone Magistrate’s Court. Acting station commander, Colonel Harry Brickles, said the 22-year-old woman was caught as she tried to lodge an insurance claim alleging her flat-screen TV and laptop were stolen during a break-in. The case, he said, dates back to September last year when, along with her husband, they went to pawn their household goods because they were strapped for cash. “The investigation into an alleged house break-in in Gonubie Street on September 9, 2024, saw eagle-eyed detectives work hard to uncover their plot. “The accused, Miriam Mohammed, came to the station to report that her TV and laptop, which they bought at Bears furniture store, was stolen during a…

THOUSANDS of voters in Middelpos, Saldanha Bay, are set to cast their ballots today as the highly anticipated by-elections are expected to take place. This comes at a tense time for the community, still reeling from the disappearance of 6-year-old Joshlin Smith on February 19, 2024. Elections for the special voters took place yesterday, with the majority of voters casting their ballots today. The candidates include Siyabulelo Mafenuka from the ANC, Geraldine Kordom from the DA, Feziwe Ngxumza from the EFF, Veronique Lizelle Pretorius from the GOOD Party, Mosselinah Nonceba Mtyatyamba from the Patriotic Alliance (PA), Zedra Rosetta Abrahams from the People’s Movement for Change (PMC), Petros Mohle from the Truth and Solidarity Movement, and Mzwandile Simon Biko from uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party). The ward was previously held by…

THE the ongoing Palestinian struggle for independence has been a central issue in the Arab world for over a century. From the early years of the British Mandate over Palestine to the ongoing Israeli occupation, the Arab world has consistently opposed the displacement and occupation of Palestine, voicing their support for Palestinian liberation through a variety of means. The period between 1918 and the mid-20th century marked the beginning of a problematic relationship between Palestine and the British Empire. The end of World War I and the subsequent British Mandate over Palestine created fertile ground for Arab intellectuals and leaders to openly resist the Zionist movement and its support from the British authorities. Arab leaders strongly opposed the 1917 Balfour Declaration, which pledged the creation of a Jewish national home…

A colleague and I attended a work event over the past weekend. Around lunchtime, as we queued towards the serving station, we noticed that by the time our turn came to dish up, there might not be enough food left for us. Jokingly, we spoke about how the people before us were so inconsiderate, piling their plates high without a thought for those who would come after them. When our turn finally arrived, we saw that there was some food left, but not enough to feed the remaining people in the queue. We took only what we needed, ensuring there was something left for others. This experience is a fitting analogy for how we treat water. In a country like South Africa, where water scarcity is an undeniable reality, our…

Two Chinese influencers living in Taiwan are under investigation over their comments “advocating unification” with China, a Taipei immigration official said yesterday, days after the agency ordered a third Chinese influencer to leave the island. The latest probes came as Taipei warns of deepening Chinese infiltration of the self-ruled island, which Beijing claims as part of its territory and has threatened to seize by force. The National Immigration Agency (NIA) was investigating two influencers identified as En-qi and Xiao-wei over their “statements advocating unification”, a NIA official told AFP on the condition of anonymity. The two women posted videos on Douyin, the Chinese version of…

The last time the Stormers won a competitive match in Europe was all the way back in October last year. They thrashed Zebre 36-5 in Parma, having lost to the Ospreys a week earlier at the start of the United Rugby Championship season. But it’s been lean pickings since. They lost 38-7 to Edinburgh in Scotland, 53-16 to Harlequins in London, 31-22 to Racing 92 in Paris and 36-12 to Leinster in Dublin. The only other away win in total came in their last match, the memorable 19-16 triumph over the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld on March 1. They are 12th on the URC log with 28 points, but remain in play-off contention as they are just a point behind the eighth-placed Lions. John Dobson’s team, though, can’t afford to…