Innehållsförteckning för 2025-06-23 från Cape Argus

Karate Kid: Legends steps, with a light and sprightly gait, into the timeline of the 41-year-old movie and TV franchise, opening with a brief and un-belabored prologue, courtesy of artificial intelligence. That intro calls on Mr. Miyagi, the beloved character played by the late Pat Morita, to kick a small chronological incongruity out of the way by resuscitating the actor a la the final season of the spin-off series Cobra Kai. This brings the 2010 remake of The Karate Kid – originally conceived as a stand-alone kung-fu-themed reboot, set in China and starring action star Jackie Chan as a Miyagi-like mentor to a bullied youth played by Jaden Smith – into the same universe as the first film. Miyagi’s somewhat unorthodox karate-teaching methods are explained as being partly inspired by…

SPECTATORS attending an Eastern Province Club Rugby Grand Challenge game between Gardens and Progress in Kariega at the weekend have recalled hearing the gunshots that rang out when a 48-year-old man was killed behind one of the pavilions. The incident took place at the Derrick Ferreira Stadium. Witnesses who knew the victim, nicknamed Fudge, told the Cape Argus’s sister paper, the Daily Voice, that he was employed at automotive component manufacturer, Dana, in Kariega. Supporters of the clubs who attended the game said the incident took place in the final minutes of the game after a referee called off the game when fans stormed the field. Progress were leading 13-8 at the time with Gardens, the home team, on the attack when one of the Progress players made a tackle…

A CAPE Town man continues to make court appearances on charges relating to driving under the influence of alcohol and negligent driving, after two runners were rammed in Bantry Bay. The man made his latest appearance in the Cape Town Magistrate's Court on Friday, where the matter was postponed for further investigation. The incident, which was filmed on March 30, was caught on CCTV footage along Victoria Road, Bantry Bay, and shows how the runners were hit, one of whom was flung into the air and landed in nearby bush and rock terrain along the coast. Police initially confirmed the man’s arrest and that he was detained and charged. The DA’s National Council of Provinces member on security and justice, Nicholas Gotsell, said he has since written to Police Commissioner…

Observed annually on June 23, International Women in Engineering Day celebrates the contributions of women in engineering and encourages more girls and women to pursue careers in the field. The theme for 2025 ‘#TogetherWeEngineer’ underscores the collective efforts of women engineers globally in advancing innovation and fostering positive change. On this Women in Engineering Day, as we celebrate resilience, leadership, and progress, it’s important to reflect not only on the encouraging strides toward gender equity in engineering but also on why engineering – and industrial engineering in particular – is a fantastic career choice for women. While barriers to equitable access still exist in many spaces, the trends are moving in the right direction. Women are not only entering STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields in greater numbers; they…

IN A DECISIVE step to heal one of Cape Town’s most iconic green spaces, SANParks has launched a large-scale planting of indigenous trees in Newlands Forest to restore damage caused by illegal bark stripping. Over 50 indigenous trees, including Cape Beech, Cape Holly, Bladdernut, and Wild Almond, are being planted along the Woodcutters Trail as part of Table Mountain National Park’s (TMNP) broader ecological rehabilitation programme. According to SANParks, the planting initiative marks the first phase of a long-term project, with a second phase scheduled for next year. Spokesperson JP Louw said: “Rehabilitation has become essential due to the effects of illegal and unsustainable bark stripping. Bark stripping in the area, often linked to the harvesting of medicinal plant material, has severely impacted mature, seed-producing trees.” In response, SANParks launched…

THE Cape Town Silent Book Club has taken the quote, “we read to know that we are not alone”, to a new level by having people gather to read silently together. That quote, often misattributed to author CS Lewis, is by screenwriter William Nicholson. The organiser behind the Cape Town chapter of the Silent Book Club, which recently celebrated its first anniversary, is Shawn Buck, who came across the phenomenon after a visit home to the US in April. Buck, who is from Atlanta, has been living in Cape Town for 11 years since his work in the non-profit sector brought him to the city. Since the first gathering in May last year, the Silent Book Club has continued to grow, drawing in many bibliophiles. “I had heard of the…

On Saturday, Mamelodi Sundowns drew first blood in their FIFA Club World Cup 2025 clash against German Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund, sending shockwaves through the TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. Despite their spirited performance, the South Africans ultimately succumbed to class and experience, as Dortmund secured their first win of the tournament with an eventual 4-3 scoreline in a seven-goal thriller. Sundowns capitalised on an early opportunity, surprising the German heavyweights with a well-worked goal that ignited their hopes of an upset. It was a statement moment for the South African side, but their joy was short-lived as Dortmund swiftly rallied. Dortmund, known for their attacking prowess, quickly responded to the challenge. With determination akin to their storied history in European football, the eight-time Bundesliga champions rallied back, firing…

It took until Friday night for South America's unbeaten run at the Club World Cup to come to an end as Boca Juniors succumbed to a late defeat against Bayern Munich in Miami. The Argentine giants' phenomenal support at the Hard Rock Stadium could not quite get them over the line, as Michael Olise's late goal inflicted a first loss in 10 games on a side from CONMEBOL. But the evidence so far in the United States suggests that if anyone is going to stop a European side winning FIFA's new 32-team competition, it will be a club from South America. Copa Libertadores winners Botafogo edged out European champions Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 in Pasadena while Flamengo, Brazil's biggest club, came from behind to stun Chelsea. Palmeiras, Boca and Fluminense have…

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri is mesmerised by wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant's audacious batting display in the first innings of the opening Test against England and lauded his consistency at No. 5. India vice-captain slammed his seventh Test ton and third in England, the best by any visiting wicketkeeper. He now holds the record for most Test hundreds as a wicketkeeper for India, going past MS Dhoni's tally of six. "First, he's outrageous. I saw that on the first day as well. And I liked what I saw. Because he's different from the rest. He plays on his own terms. At times, he'll play the numbers game. At times, he'll just do what his mind says. That's Rishabh Pant for me," Shastri said in a video shared by the BCCI.…

In a recent livestream that has sent ripples through the hip hop community, Lil Wayne’s son, Lil Novi, dropped a bombshell claim, asserting that his father wrote “most” of Drake’s lyrics. This revelation has reignited discussions about authorship and originality in the rap world, a topic that has long been a subject of scrutiny. For years, Wayne has been credited as the catalyst for Drake’s illustrious career, but now, his son argues that the accolades should extend further to creative contributions. “My dad wrote most of Drake’s sh*t,” Novi declared confidently when posed with the prompt to choose between his father and the Canadian rap superstar. “If it wasn’t for my pops, there wouldn’t be no Drake.” These provocative comments have quickly gained traction online, leading fans and experts alike…

THE escalating conflict between Iran and Israel, which now includes the US after it carried out attacks on three nuclear sites in Iran, has prompted travel advisories and alerts that South African travellers should note. Previously, on June 15, the Department of International Relations and Co-Operation (Dirco) urged all South Africans in Iran to contact the Embassy in Tehran to ensure they are registered with and that their whereabouts are known to the Embassy. “It is important to note that South Africa’s support in the country is limited and that it could be assumed that no face-to-face consular assistance will be possible in an emergency, and the South African government may not be able to help you if you get into difficulty, depending on your location. “Therefore, citizens are…

South Africa has become a playground for people who want to open political parties. It’s no longer about serving the interests of the people or about ideology, but about getting a source of income. After being given a tough time in the EFF, its former deputy president, Floyd Shivhambu, went to the Umkhonto weSizwe Party; where he is now the former secretary-general just 10 months after joining them. His press conference last week was nothing but a way of trying to bring dignity to the quest to establish a new party… and this party will be useless, just like other small parties that only exist to contest elections and serve the interests of those leading them. Perhaps he should leave active politics and focus on academia.…

THE Strand sea wall upgrade is making progress, the City said, which includes bulk excavations, casting foundations and the placing of the large pre-cast concrete wall units. The L-shaped units are prefabricated specifically for the project and conforms to high quality specifications ensuring durability in the aggressive coastal environment. “We are looking forward to opening this new portion of the promenade along Strand beach,” said Deputy Mayor and mayco member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Eddie Andrews. “Once finished, it will look like the already completed sea wall and promenade area, which has become a vibrant attraction for all. “While work on site is going well, the project will still take a number of months as we are working towards the completion date in November 2026. “The traffic management arrangements…

Africa is the youngest continent on earth, with over 70% of its population under the age of 30 (African Development Bank, 2021). Yet this demographic advantage – often celebrated with ceremonial fanfare during annual Youth Month observances – remains largely untapped. Behind the ritualistic drumbeats and cultural performances that typically mark these occasions lies a stark reality: across the continent, youth – especially young women and rural girls – face systemic marginalisation that restricts their access to education, political influence, and economic opportunity. The case of northern Cameroon Cameroon’s ratification of major international conventions on gender equality – including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) – has not prevented deep inequalities from persisting, particularly in the North, Adamaoua, and Far North regions.…

Banyana Banyana captain Refiloe Jane says South Africa’s senior women’s national team is fully focused on one goal as they prepare to travel to Morocco for the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) — defending the continental crown they claimed in 2022. The reigning champions will begin their title defence in Group C, with their opening match scheduled for Monday, 7 July against Ghana at the Honneur Stadium in Oujda. The northern Moroccan city will serve as the team’s base for the group stages of the competition, which runs from 5 to 26 July. Having led the side to its historic maiden title three years ago, Jane insists the mission remains unchanged — regardless of changes in personnel. “I don’t think it’s going to be different — the objective…

The Springboks are set to kick off their 2025 international season on Saturday against the Barbarians in Cape Town, in a year head coach Rassie Erasmus will likely finalise some experiments in his team. While the focus will remain on winning as many of their matches — they will play 13 Tests and the invitational match against the Baabaas — to maintain a healthy standing on the World Rugby rankings for the World Cup draw later this year, it will be the final season where the Boks can fully experiment with certain players to see if they will fit into the 2027 Rugby World Cup plans. The showdown against the Barbarians at the DHL Stadium (5.10PM start) offers the reigning world champions the opportunity to shake off some rust after…

With a packed international calendar looming, the South African Football Association (SAFA) spent nearly 15 hours in a marathon National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting this past weekend to map out preparations for the country’s various national teams. Banyana Banyana are set to compete at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco in July, while the SA U17 and U20 men’s teams are preparing for their respective FIFA World Cups in Qatar and Chile later this year. Bafana Bafana, meanwhile, have four crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers lined up between September and October. SAFA President Dr Danny Jordaan confirmed that the NEC meeting, held at SAFA House in Johannesburg on Friday, started at 2pm and only concluded at 5am on Saturday morning. “We had several matters to deal with.…

The British & Irish Lions kick off a nine-game tour of Australia this week, which includes Tests in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. Here is a look at five players who could prove pivotal to the series: *Maro Itoje (ENG) The Lions rarely win Test series - in four of seven international campaigns since rugby union turned professional they have returned home a beaten team. But one constant across the generations is that when they have been triumphant, their captain has led from the front in outstanding fashion. That task now falls to inspirational Saracens lock Maro Itoje, a key figure in the last two Lions tours. A three-time World Rugby player-of-the-year nominee, the England captain has been entrusted with steering the tourists to a first series win since a 2013…

MINISTER of International Relations and Co-operation, Ronald Lamola, has confirmed that Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, the President of Equatorial Guinea, has granted clemency for the two South African engineers imprisoned for drug trafficking charges two years ago. The families of engineers Peter Huxham and Frik Potgieter also expressed their relief and gratitude to everyone including the South African government for never giving up on their plight Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) spokesperson, Chrispin Phiri, said the release was a coordinated effort between the department, the families and their employer, SBM Offshore. “The Government of the Republic of South Africa welcomes the release of Mr Peter Shane Huxham and Mr Frik Potgieter from detention in the Republic of Equatorial Guinea. This release follows the granting of clemency by the…

AN APPEAL challenging the findings of an Auditor-General report that gender-based violence non-profit organisation, Tears Foundation made an irregular expenditure of R2 million has been dismissed. It's alleged that Tears CEO, Mara Glennie, made the irregular expenditure. Glennie is now to show cause, by the filing of an affidavit within 30 days, as to why she should not be ordered to pay all the costs of the application. In response to the judgment, Glennie said she would be appealing and that the facts were incorrect as an audit provided to the judge in March showed no misuse of donor funds. The organisation has no links to the animal rescue foundation with the same name. According to court papers and judgment by Judge Denise Fischer, Glennie’s financial profile came under scrutiny…

The latest incident of alleged racism at Bryandale Primary School in Bryanston is yet another painful reminder that South African schools still have a long way to go before genuine transformation and inclusion are achieved. It is alleged that an Indian learner told two Black students, “You stupid Black people are so predictable.” Such language is deeply offensive, dehumanising, and has no place in any learning environment. This incident must be treated with the seriousness it demands, not as a “playground misunderstanding” but as a reflection of wider issues of racism and marginalisation that persist in our schools. While many public and private schools proudly promote values of diversity and transformation in their mission statements, these values must go beyond lip service. Transformation is not a passive hope; it requires…

THE Cape of Good Hope SPCA said that after a tense day of tracking and multiple evasions, they were able to capture and release a young male baboon first spotted in Claremont and surrounding areas on Friday. They said that early on Saturday, their team, working with the Cape Baboon Partnership and a wildlife veterinarian, returned to the area where the baboon had slept on Friday night. “The baboon was successfully darted, given a full health assessment, and is en route to be safely released into his natural roaming territory. “This outcome gives him the best chance to continue his natural dispersal without facing the many dangers posed by urban environments.” Cape Baboon Partnership said the male baboon originating from the Constantia/Tokai region took a wander through deep urban areas…

WHILE the news of Kyalami Grand Prix circuit getting the thumbs up for its upgrade delighted many, including the minister of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, the F1 bid steering committee had to clarify that they are still evaluating the bids received, and not all have been happy with the process. Kyalami circuit owner Toby Venter said last week that $5 million – $10m (R90m – R180m) will be spent over the next three years to ensure that the circuit is the only Formula 1-compliant track on the continent. Grade 1 status is the highest international standard required by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) to host Formula 1. Kyalami’s Grade 1 plans were approved by the FIA, meaning they were given the green light to upgrade their…

Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola said on that Saturday his club will have to sell players this summer for the stars' own good. The Premier League side brought in several players ahead of the Club World Cup, leaving Guardiola with a large squad. Midfielder Ilkay Gundogan has been linked with a move to Turkish side Galatasaray in recent days. Guardiola said he did not know anything about it, but said several players would have to be sold following the purchases of Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Cherki and Rayan Ait-Nouri. "I will love to have the players we have right now all season," Guardiola told reporters in Atlanta. "The problem is they will be unhappy during the season, they will be sad, they will be disappointed. "I don't want that. I do…

Borussia Dortmund rebounded from an early setback to secure a 4-3 victory over Mamelodi Sundowns FC, claiming their first win in Group F of the FIFA Club World Cup 2023. The match kicked off with an unexpected twist; Sundowns’ Brazilian sensation, Lucas Ribeiro, put the South African side ahead just minutes into the game. In a moment that all young footballers dream of, Ribeiro received the ball at midfield, deftly evaded a defender and raced past another, before elegantly finishing past Dortmund's goalkeeper, Gregor Kobel. The goal sent the Sundowns fans into a frenzy, as their team appeared to have rattled the highly regarded Bundesliga outfit early on. However, Dortmund, known for their resilience and attacking prowess, quickly regrouped. The German side’s coaching staff must have lit a fire beneath…

The Springbok Sevens ‘A’ side beat Madagascar 26-12 in the final of the Rugby Africa Sevens at the Labourdonnais Sports Club in Mauritius on Sunday afternoon to be crowned continental kings. The South Africans had enjoyed a tentative start to the tournament, with pool victories over Nigeria, Zambia and Burkina Faso on Saturday’s first day. But they grew into the competition with every passing match, also accounting for last year's bogey team, Uganda on Sunday morning. They booked their place in Sunday’s decider with a hard-fought 19-12 win over Zimbabwe’s Cheetahs in the first semi-final, courtesy of tries from co-captains Mfundo Ndhlovu and Sebastiaan Jobb. That match was an extremely physical encounter that descended into an arm wrestle in the second half but the Springbok Sevens ‘A’ side – a…

First impressions can be deceptive but Kirsty Coventry showed that behind a sunny disposition she will have the mettle to deal with the trickiest of people and situations when she succeeds Thomas Bach as president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) today. Looming large on the horizon of the 41-year-old Zimbabwean - the first woman and African to occupy the post of the most powerful single figure in sport - is US President Donald Trump. With Los Angeles hosting the 2028 Olympics, Trump will feature often on Coventry's agenda. Trump has not been shy in giving public dressing downs to world leaders - notably Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his South African counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa. Judging by Coventry's initial response, after a crushing first-round victory in the presidential election in…

THE REST OF the Betway Premiership teams better be prepared to eat Mamelodi Sundowns’ dust yet again. How else can they begin to stop the high-flying Brazilians who are clearly of such high quality they can hold their own against the world’s best? Sundowns may have lost 4-3 to Germany’s Borussia Dortmund in their second Group F match at the FIFA Club World Cup currently on the go in the United States, but such was their performance against a much superior opponent there is every reason to foresee them dominating the domestic league yet again. Having won the local championship an eighth time in a row, Sundowns will be the team to beat yet again when the new season kicks off in August. The hope was that they will be…