Innehållsförteckning för 2025-06-27 från Cape Argus

DISCONTENT between the Government of National Unity (GNU) partners played out in Parliament yesterday when DA leader John Steenhuisen left many guessing how his party was to vote on the Division of Revenue Bill following the axing of their member from Cabinet. Although the Bill was passed, Steenhuisen’s address left the members, including Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, anxious about how the DA might use its unhappiness over the axing of deputy minister Andrew Whitfield to withdraw its votes. Speaking during the debate, Steenhuisen started off by recounting how President Cyril Ramaphosa had informed him of his intention to fire Whitfield as deputy minister of Trade, Industry and Competition. He said he had requested 24 hours to speak to Whitfield and inform the DA. “However, before I could even do so,…

When Asenathi Ntlabakanye smeared Sergeal Petersen into the Ellis Park turf during a United Rugby Championship clash, many rugby fans caught on to a truth that Lions supporters already knew: the burly prop would be a cult figure – if given a chance. In the 2019 Rugby World Cup final against England, Tendai Mtawarira packed down against his counterpart Dan Cole – who had replaced the injured Kyle Sinckler. The Beast feasted that day, relishing his dominance and cracking the resistance of the opposition. For the final time in his illustrious career, the exuberant cry of “Beeeeeaaast” rang out around the Yokohama International Stadium in Japan. For many years, it had already been a rite of passage for any fan of the game to proclaim his name whenever he touched…

Despite their early exit from the Fifa Club World Cup, Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso said it was “absolutely marvellous” to witness his players perform at the highest level against Brazilian giants Fluminense. Sundowns shocked everyone by holding the highly fancied Fluminense to a goalless draw in Wednesday’s Club World Cup Group F clash at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. This outcome meant that Sundowns’ ambitious stint at the Club World Cup came to an end, as the South African champions needed a victory to advance past the group stage. After the match, Cardoso reflected on the experience of his players competing against such esteemed opposition. He expressed pride in h is team’s performance in challenging match conditions. “Everybody had the chance to watch 22 players playing at the…

LEARNERS of Harvester Primary School’s accused “sex pest” teacher will only get their report cards next term. This, after school sent a letter to the parents on Wednesday informing them of delays due to the arrest of the 35-year-old former teacher. She faces charges of sexual grooming of a Grade 7 boy in Grade 7 at the school, after she allegedly sent him explicit images of herself. Following the teacher’s arrest on June 13 and subsequent resignation, the school added that they are looking for a replacement. The letter reads: “Currently we are actively advertising for the Grade R educator position and we are committed to finding a qualified educator for Grade R1. “However, due to current circumstances we will be postponing the issuing of the Grade R1 assessment report…

AFTER much speculation, the deal has been closed and the Ritz Hotel Cape Town has been sold to an international hotel group. The group is OKU Hotels, confirmed Bruce Hendricks, managing director of Hendricks Harmse Attorneys, one of the representatives of the former owners and whose company is managing the Ritz Hotel building. OKU Hotels has luxury top-end hotels in Ibiza and Kos and is known for their design. The brand is inspired by the Japanese concept of “inner space” and aims to provide a space for modern travellers to relax and reconnect with themselves. The negotiations went on for a long time, with some final issues to be finalised before it was done and dusted yesterday. OKU Hotels, according to reports, is owned by Westfort Capital, an investment firm.…

DISASTER management teams are continuing with relief efforts across the province following two days of heavy rains and strong winds. Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning MEC, Anton Bredell, said disaster management teams were engaged in humanitarian relief efforts, the distribution of sandbags, clearing of blocked drainage systems, and ongoing impact and damage assessments. “High-risk areas continue to be low-lying, flood-prone informal settlements and communities near rivers, streams, and storm water channels,” Bredell said. The City of Cape Town’s Disaster Risk Management spokesperson, Sonica Lategan, said no major flooding incidents were reported yesterday. “We already have organisations including the Mustadafin Foundation and Islamic Relief providing assistance in Vygieskraal and Belgravia, where collectively, more than 600 people were impacted." Humanitarian organisation, Gift of the Givers' teams said they have been…

Cape Town City FC’s stint in the top-flight Premiership came to a catastrophic end following a 1-0 defeat against Orbit College in a PSL promotion/relegation playoff clash on Wednesday. Players were left in shock as disbelief swept through the squad after the final whistle, their dreams of remaining in the Premiership dashed in a match that epitomised their struggles this season. Cape Town City, historically a formidable presence by finishing in the top eight for each of their previous eight seasons, found themselves failing to rise to the occasion when it mattered most. In what is a seismic shift in South African football, the club’s catastrophic fall to the First Division marks a spectacular decline for a team that was once a formidable presence in South African football. This…

Coach Robbie Deans wants his Barbarians to play with flair while giving the Springboks as tough an outing as they can before their Test season starts in July. For the first time, the invitational side will play a match in South Africa, and according to Deans, his players should have no fear and “have a crack” at the world champions when they lock horns in the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday (5.10pm start). “I hope it’s a close contest, for our sake,” Deans said with his team announcement on Thursday. The New Zealander selected seven All Blacks, four Frenchmen, two Irishmen and two South Africans in his match-day 23 that will look to maintain their winning record over the South Africans. In their eight matches, the Baabaas have won four,…

THE Presidency has confirmed that President Cyril Ramaphosa has shown DA deputy minister of Trade, Andrew Whitfield, the door with immediate effect from his bloated Cabinet. “The Presidency can confirm that in terms of Section 93(1) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, President Cyril Ramaphosa has removed the Hon. Andrew Whitfield, MP, from the position of Deputy Minister for Trade, Industry and Competition. “However, the President has not indicated any intention to conduct a wholesale cabinet reshuffle.” This follows reports that Whitfield is among those who have already received a letter from the president thanking them for their service, effectively ending their tenure in the executive. The reported reshuffle is believed to have been triggered by controversy involving Higher Education and Training Minister Nobuhle Nkabane, who…

NEIGHBOURS living near the former AL-Noor Child and Youth Care Centre for orphans in Woodstock, where operations were shut more than five years ago after the Department of Social Development removed 17 children from its care, said their pleas to the City to fix a burst pipe have fallen on deaf ears. This week the Cape Argus established that the property belongs to the City’s Human Settlements division, after claims that it was under the Western Cape Government. Irate residents said they had reported the burst pipe to authorities for years and shared videos of streams of water gushing down the street. One resident, who asked to be identified as Sandor, said he and his fellow neighbours had made numerous calls and complaints to the City about the alarming amount…

SUICIDE rates are often used to show how serious mental health challenges are in a country. In 2019, the World Health Organization reported that South Africa was among the 10 countries with the highest suicide rates globally, with 23.5 suicides per 100 000 people. In that same year, South Africa was ranked the third highest in Africa – recording 13 774 suicide deaths, the majority of which were men (10 861 compared to 2 913 women). More recently, suicide rates in the country rose by 18% in 2021, showing that the problem is getting worse, especially for men. According to World Population Review, South Africa continues to rank high in global suicide statistics. These numbers tell us something serious: South Africa is facing a mental health crisis, and men are…

The excitement around Kwena Maphaka is comprehensible. He sends down left-arm down thunderbolts that have touched the 150km/h mark. He is strong, mature, smart and ambitious, and hails from the same St Stithians College stock as Kagiso Rabada. The fact that he’s only 19 years old ensures he appeals to an entire generation unburdened by the country’s fractious past. In essence, Maphaka is the future of the Proteas cricket team on the field, and with a home World Cup on the horizon in two years’ time, he is the picture-perfect image Cricket SA are trying to promote off it. This is an almighty load to bear for anyone – let alone someone only recently eligible to obtain a driver’s licence – with even the great Rabada admitting to having suffered…