Innehållsförteckning för 2025-04-14 från Cape Argus

AS VAPING rates among South African teens surge, calls have gone out for the government to urgently enact the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill, to curb what experts warn could become a full-blown national epidemic. A UCT study showed that 17% of surveyed high school students currently vape, with 38% vaping daily and 88% using nicotine products that were easily made available using the Checkers Sixty60 app and others. The Cape Argus spoke with two boys aged 12 and 15 years old, who revealed it was common even for children as young as 10 years old to vape. The 15-year-old boy who is in Grade 10 said many of his peers vaped. “Children do vape on the school grounds even during the interval and they do it…

SOME family members of Struggle icon Chris Hani have accused the SACP and the ANC of sidelining them on all matters concerning his legacy. Hani was assassinated on the eve of democracy on April 10, 1993. In an open letter, the family said over the years, they have been relegated to the back of the line, while Hani’s political colleagues only consult his widow, Limpho Hani. This comes as deputy President Paul Mashatile, during an address at the 32-year-commemorative event to mark his death held in Cofivamba in the Eastern Cape on Friday, hailed Hani as a revolutionary leader and a revered freedom fighter, whose assassination marked a pivotal moment in South Africa’s transition to democracy. Mashatile reflected on Hani’s legacy and the sacrifices he made for South Africa’s democracy.…

Eskom says it has intensified its planned maintenance work and significantly reduced unplanned outages as it seeks to stabilise the power grid ahead of winter. However, the power utility continues to rely heavily on diesel, spending R3.6 billion in the past month to support emergency generation. “Load shedding remains suspended, with the power system remaining stable. Emergency reserves are adequate and being used strategically to meet peak demand, while ongoing planned maintenance continues at 14.85% of generation capacity, marking a 3.8% increase compared to the same period last year,” Eskom stated. The utility said its maintenance drive is geared towards improving reliability for the upcoming cold season. “The high level of planned maintenance aims to enhance fleet reliability for the anticipated increased peak winter demand while also ensuring compliance with…

AS THE SAPS investigation into the George building collapse reaches 65% completion, Western Cape Premier Alan Winde has indicated that the province’s portion will also remain watertight and not be disclosed publicly. Winde made the announcement yesterday, after meeting with Western Cape Police Commissioner, Thembisile Patekile. He said the lead investigator into the case, Captain Johan de Lange, was also present and he was informed that the investigation was 65% complete. Both Winde and Patekile said they agreed the case must be urgently concluded, but that the investigation must be thorough and it should be watertight so that it can stand up to prosecutorial scrutiny. “We cannot allow this matter to be tried in the media. This will not offer the survivors, their families, and the relatives of those who…

Oscar Piastri powered to victory at the Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday from George Russell's Mercedes with the Australian's McLaren teammate Lando Norris in third. Pole-sitter Piastri kept his calm in an incident-packed race to give McLaren their first ever win in Sakhir at their 21st attempt. Max Verstappen's trying weekend at the desert track ended with the four-time world champion only managing sixth place. Norris leads the drivers' standings on 77 points, with Piastri overtaking Verstappen and into second ahead of next weekend's race in Jeddah. "That should be one hell of a party tonight. Mega weekend everyone. That was pretty damn fun," Piastri said, after marking his 50th start in perfect style. Taking the chequered flag under floodlights on a balmy Sunday evening in the Gulf kingdom was…

Adriaan Wildschutt may have skipped his usual post-race strawberry tart, but that hardly dulled the celebrations after yet another record-breaking run — this time claiming the South African 10km road record — with his entire family there to share in the joy. Living up to his promise, the America-based athlete slashed seven seconds off Precious Mashele’s two-year-old record, clocking 27:28 to win the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Gqeberha 10K on Sunday morning. Originally from Ceres in the Western Cape, Wildschutt now holds four national records — 3 000m (7:32.99), 5 000m (12:55.02), 10 000m (26:50.54) on the track, and now the 10km road. Not even a sluggish start and a headwind down the final stretch could stop him, as Wildschutt dug deep into his reserves of speed, willpower, and self-belief.…

After being served a buffet of T20 cricket for the past 12 months, Proteas women’s batter Anneke Bosch is eagerly looking forward to dining on 50-overs in the upcoming ODI Tri-Series in Sri Lanka. The Proteas leave for the idyllic Indian Ocean Island this week to face the hosts Sri Lanka and powerhouse India in a triangular series at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. It will be the first time the Proteas women’s team will be touring Sri Lanka. “The Tri-Series will be very exciting,” Bosch said. “I haven’t been there before. It will be a cool experience playing in those conditions.” Bosch has played just one solitary ODI - against England in Potchefstroom last December- since last June and is keen to get in some longer format preparation…

Singer-songwriter Lloyiso is gearing up to sweep London off its feet with his highly anticipated first-ever headline show, I Am Lloyiso. The city’s music scene is about to be elevated by Lloyiso’s powerful vocals. On Tuesday, the Eastern Cape-born songbird will be performing at the iconic Camden Assembly, a legendary venue that has played host to some of the biggest names in music such as Coldplay and Adele. For the High hitmaker, this moment is years in the making, as London has always felt like “home away from home” to him. “Performing here for the first time on my own is a dream come true. I’m honoured to share this experience with my UK fans and bring my energy and sound to a place that’s full of so much music…

The suicide of a 14-year-old rape victim who simply could no longer tolerate being at length cross-examined by the defence lawyers of her three alleged rapists, ended in a victory for them as they are now walking free due to a technicality in the case. Two of the men had their life imprisonment sentences overturned, while the third, who was a minor at the time, also had his 15-year jail sentence overturned. The Bloemfontein High Court found on appeal that the three are entitled to their freedom as it is their Constitutional right to fully cross-examine their alleged victim. She, however, died before this could be concluded, and thus, their trial was rendered unfair. The teenage complainant testified during a protracted trial, which was endlessly postponed for numerous reasons from…

The Umkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) in KwaZulu-Natal said the absence of the party leader and former president Jacob Zuma from a birthday event in his honour in Eshowe north of the province on Saturday, was due to miscommunication between the organisers and Zuma’s family. Supporters of the party who attended Zuma’s 83rd birthday celebration event were left puzzled on Saturday when the party leader did not pitch. It was expected that Zuma would be the main speaker at the event held at a local school sports ground. However, when the programme started at about 2pm, much later than the scheduled 11am start, Zuma had still not arrived. This was even though a few hours before the event started, there were announcements that motorists should move their vehicles from behind the…

PARENTS have been reminded to apply for placements for their children for Grades R, 1 or 8 for the 2026 school year before the Western Cape admission window closes tomorrow. The applications window opened on March 11. The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) said they have already received applications for 132 226 learners in Grade R, 1 or 8. Education MEC, David Maynier, has reminded parents of the application deadline. “We remain concerned that more than 25 000 parents of current Grade 7 learners have not yet applied for a place in Grade 8 next year. “We appeal to these parents to apply before the on-time admissions window closes on April 15 2025,” Maynier said. “Applying on time will help the Western Cape Government to plan better for a place…

Twin sisters Ammarah and Ra’Eesah Ford have overcome significant challenges to achieve academic success, graduating with their BEd Honours degrees from Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) on Friday. Ammarah earned her degree summa cum laude, while Ra’Eesah graduated cum laude during the university’s Autumn Graduation ceremony for the Faculty of Education. The sisters, who grew up in Bonteheuwel, were raised by their single mother and faced financial difficulties throughout their upbringing. Despite these obstacles, they found strength in their education. “We worked tirelessly, supporting each other every step of the way, and matriculated at the top of our class,” Ammarah stated, reflecting on their journey to graduation. She continued: My journey at university began soon after, as I enrolled for my undergraduate degree in Education alongside Ra’Eesah. We often…

Just as relations between members of the fragile Government of National Unity (GNU) could not be more tense, news broke – via the Good Party’s Brett Herron – of the clandestine joint Democratic Alliance (DA) and Patriotic Alliance (PA) delegation visit to Israel. The same country that the South African government has taken to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), where preliminary findings showed that Israel’s military action in Gaza can plausibly constitute acts of genocide. The court also found that Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories is illegal and must be dismantled according to international law. But is this visit out of sync with the values of the DA – and now the PA – and if not, how are we to contextualise the continuity of the parties’ pro-Israel/Western…

Stellenbosch FC are preparing for a pivotal week, with a significant Tuesday clash that could shape their trajectory in the Betway Premiership, ahead of a continental CAF fixture over the weekend. On Tuesday, Stellenbosch host AmaZulu in a rare appearance at their Danie Craven Stadium. The fixture offers an opportunity to consolidate their position in the Premiership and build valuable momentum. The team has recently lost ground on the table, recording two wins, two draws, and a loss in their last five outings. As a result, Stellenbosch have slipped from third to fifth place on the log, putting their CAF qualification hopes for next season in jeopardy. However, a win would see them leapfrog Sekhukhune United and TS Galaxy, reclaiming third spot. All eyes will be on Stellenbosch to see…

Mamelodi Sundowns(1) 1 Mokoena 45+1 Kaizer Chiefs(0) 2 Duba 57, Du Preez 88 Kaizer Chiefs’ days of returning to championship glory are just one match away, as they reached the Nedbank Cup final after beating Mamelodi Sundowns at Loftus Versfeld on Sunday night. Chiefs have fallen from grace in recent years, enduring a 10-year barren run that made a mockery of their ‘Cup Kings’ tag. The wait, could soon be over, however, should they manage to beat the defending champions and arch-rivals Orlando Pirates in the final. This result means that Chiefs are now one match away from not only winning the trophy, but also qualifying for continental football next season. The result might also offer coach Nasreddine Nabi a lifeline, as he has been under pressure to deliver, with…

Orlando Pirates(1) 1 Dlamini 22 Marumo Gallants0 Vengeful Orlando Pirates turned the tables on Marumo Gallants to secure their place in the 2025 Nedbank Cup final with a 1-0 win at Orlando Stadium on Sunday. The victory served as retribution for their previous 2-0 defeat in the Betway Premiership a month earlier, and also secured the defending champions a place in the coveted 2025 final. Pirates dominated from start to finish, with Gallants only managing their first shot at goal late in the first half. From the kick-off, Pirates made their aggressive intentions clear with a vigorous high press. This allowed right-back Deno van Rooyen to surge goalwards and test Gallants’ defence, although his effort was confidently gathered by Zimbabwean goalkeeper Washington Arubi. Gallants wasted no time countering the high…

More than 200 Cape Flats cops descended on Strand beach last week as they went head-to-head in a Beach Battle aimed at improving fitness and camaraderie among officers. The event hosted by the Nyanga Sub District saw cops from Manenberg, Ravensmead, Elsies River, Delft and several other stations compete in various fitness tasks as they aimed for the top spot. Police spokesperson, Ian Bennet, says the dynamic and competitive programme created by Titan Outdoor Adventure events group was offered to SAPS members, including administration and support staff. “It was a refreshing opportunity to destress and reenergise in their ongoing fight against crime. “The Beach Battle served as proof of the resilience and camaraderie among the officers of the law, dedicated in upholding the law and always striving to protect and…

The family of the slain anti-apartheid activist and human rights lawyer Mlungisi Griffiths Mxenge has appealed to the people who confessed to his murder, to reveal who had ordered a hit on him. In 1981, Mxenge was returning home from his legal office in the Durban CBD, when he was kidnapped, brutally murdered and his body was found on a sports field in Umlazi, south of Durban. His son Mbasa Mxenge, who was 15 years old at the time of his father’s death, said the family welcomes the reopening of the inquest and appealed to the assassins, who confessed their involvement in the killing to the Truth and Reconciliation Committee (TRC), to reveal who had ordered them to carry out the killing. He said former Vlakplaas operative Dirk Coetzee had…

In a thought-provoking address, Durban University of Technology (DUT) Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Thandwa Mthembu, explored the national context and sub-culture behind student protests stemming from the fee-free higher education policy. While this initiative was designed to alleviate financial barriers for students, it has also led to a series of challenges that threaten the quality of education and the stability of academic institutions. Mthembu raised this in his State of the University Address earlier this week. Mthembu said the announcement of fee-free higher education by former President Zuma in mid-December 2017 came as a surprise, shortly after DUT’s council had approved the university’s budget. “We cautioned then that there would be major negative ramifications of that decision,” Mthembu said. He said the decision was a welcome move given the perennial…

THE City of Cape Town is reviewing its fog harvesting plans, which was first initiated amid the panic of the City and province’s water crisis. Back in December 2020, the City announced that as a result of the drought shock, the implementation of desalination, water reuse and aquifer abstraction had been implemented at an accelerated rate. One of the projects they investigated looked into the potential of using fog to directly or indirectly augment the drinking water supply. The principle of fog harvesting is based on the fact that air contains a certain amount of water vapour, originating from ocean evaporation. At higher temperatures, air contains a larger volume of water vapour than at lower temperatures. As air is transported up a gradient by wind, it interacts with colder air…

Captured Christopher Wylie, Isobel Cockrell and Becky Lipscombe Narrated by Christopher Wylie and Isobel Cockerell Audible Originals The Audible Original podcast, Captured: The Secret Behind Silicon Valley’s AI Takeover, was released early in April and features Christopher Wylie, Isobel Cockrell, and Becky Lipscombeas they take listeners on an eye-opening journey into the opaque realms of the tech elite. The story shatters the illusions that many of us hold about the digital age. As Wylie recounts his experiences with Cambridge Analytica's data manipulation to influence elections, he reveals a world where human lives are shaped by algorithms and corporate ambitions. Beyond mere statistics, this is about our individual and collective future – one led not by democratic ideals but by a cadre of the world’s wealthiest tech-savvy elites. Wylie and Cockrell…

Liverpool did not make things easy in their 2-1 win over West Ham United but the players showed exceptional mentality to bounce back from a late equaliser to seal the three points, manager Arne Slot said as they inched closer to the title, while Chelsea lost ground on the Uefa Champions League battle. After Luis Diaz had opened the scoring, West Ham grew into the game and grabbed an equaliser in the 86th minute from an Andy Robertson own goal before skipper Virgil van Dijk powered home a header three minutes later. With a 13-point lead over second-placed Arsenal, Liverpool need just two wins from their last six games to win a second Premier League title and a first trophy under Slot having lost the League Cup final last month.…

The last day of the South African cricket summer has arrived, and the Lions require seven wickets to claim a successive CSA First-Class title at the Wanderers on Monday. The home team were utterly dominant on the fourth day of the showpiece final with their impressive bowling unit forcing the Titans to follow-on after the visitors were dismissed for just 123 in response to the Lions’ 413/7. With the Lions’ bowlers only utilising 47 overs to dismiss the Titans, captain Dominic Hendricks had no hesitation in asking his bowling unit to strap on their boots again. And although the Titans’ batters have fared much better second time around, heading to stumps at 118/3, they still trail by a mammoth 172 runs. Hendricks’ mainstays have been seamers Codi Yusuf and Lutho…