Innehållsförteckning för 2025-07-10 från Cape Argus

South Africa’s vibrant car spinning culture is set to come to life in extraordinary fashion in the brand-new reality show Gush’lyf. The local series, which will debut on August 7 on Mzansi Magic (DStv Channel 161), promises to fuse the thrill of modern car spinning with a touch of classic style. It will delve deep into this kind of popular motorsport which involves driving cars at speed in a circular motion, performing stunts, and even getting in and out of the vehicle while it is in motion. And while it has gained traction across the globe, spinning in Mzansi is considered a culture as well as a niche art form that demands control, a deep understanding of the vehicle as well as finesse. The series will unpack the technique and…

A partial lockdown at Pollsmoor Prison, imposed after a stabbing between two inmates, has been lifted, putting a spotlight on a staggering 122 407 smuggled items confiscated over the past year. In response to the epidemic of corruption behind bars, Correctional Services Minister Pieter Groenewald warned he was on a mission to clean house and that raids would be imminent. Groenewald's spokesperson, Eune Oelofsen, last night confirmed that Pollsmoor had been placed under lockdown. “The Minister is aware of the stabbing incident involving two inmates. A partial lockdown was implemented starting June 27 and has since been lifted. "During this period, visitors were not permitted access to the Pollsmoor Correctional Centre,” said Oelofsen. The stabbing has shed light on corruption in prisons, with the Ministry yesterday sharing the latest confiscation…

CEO of gender-based violence non-profit organisation TEARS, Mara Glennie, is appealing the findings of an Auditor-General report and a Gauteng High Court judgment, which found that she made an irregular expenditure of R2 million. The application seeks leave to appeal to the full bench of the High Court in Gauteng, alternatively, to the Supreme Court of Appeal, against the entire judgment and order, including costs, granted by Judge Denise Fisher on June 11. The Cape Argus last month reported that according to court papers and the judgment by Fisher, Glennie’s financial profile came under scrutiny after the auditor’s report raised questions about a payment by the foundation to another company, namely Fireworx Management Solution, which is also owned by Glennie. TEARS's argument was that the payment was a loan for…

A WAVE of complaints from tenants in social housing facilities across Cape Town has led to calls for an urgent and independent investigation into the situation. GOOD Party councillor Axolile Notywala said the complaints, particularly from residents at the DCI Social Housing facility in Goodwood and Conradie Park in Thornton, include excessive utility charges, poor service delivery, and restrictive rules on visitors. On June 22, Notywala attempted an oversight visit to the DCI Goodwood facility with fellow councillors but was barred from entering. The incident, which he documented in a video, drew over 200 public comments from tenants echoing similar complaints across other social housing developments. Messages sent to him privately paint a disturbing picture. One message read: “The deposit is outrageous. People signed petitions. I know of an old…

Disability arrives uninvited. Sometimes it comes with a birth. Sometimes with a diagnosis. Sometimes, as in my case, it comes violently, in a flash of steel, a spasm of pain and a slow, quiet aftermath that rewrites your life. I was 30 years old when I was stabbed in my right hand during a robbery – the hand I used to write, sign court documents, to hand over title deeds, shake hands and, ironically, protect others. That single act of violence left me with a permanent disability and forced me to enter a world I had never truly seen before, the world of the disabled. And let me tell you, South Africa is not kind to disabled people. Recovery was not just medical. It was existential. Multiple surgeries later, I…

Iga Swiatek said she had "goosebumps" after reaching the Wimbledon semi-finals for the first time in her illustrious career, following a 6-2, 7-5 win against Russia’s Liudmila Samsonova on Wednesday. The Polish eighth seed will now face former Olympic champion Belinda Bencic for a place in Saturday’s final​,​ after the Swiss player won her quarter-final against Russia’s Mirra Andreeva 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/2)​,​ also on Wednesday. Swiatek has won four titles on the clay at the French Open, as well as the US Open in 2022, but has struggled on the lawns of the All England Club. Her previous best result at Wimbledon was a run to the quarter-finals in 2023. Swiatek, a four-time French Open champion and winner of the US Open in 2022, has previously struggled to find…

I have an admission of guilt. Not since the 2010 Fifa World Cup here in Mzansi, have I purchased a ticket for a sporting event. It is one of the perks of being a sports correspondent — with some timeous application for media accreditation, I usually find my way through the turnstiles. I even had the privilege of watching the first-ever Major League Baseball (MLB) game held in Europe, when the New York Yankees faced off against the Boston Red Sox at London Stadium, thanks to media credentials in 2019. And even when not accredited, there’s usually a contact who ensures I don’t need to part with my hard-earned cash to watch live sport. But here I was, back in London six years later, coinciding with the week of Wimbledon…

VITAL bail information is expected to be revealed by the State today, as accused baby kidnapper, Sameemah Jacobs, returns to court. The 37-year-old mother of three is due to make her second court appearance in the Bellville Magistrate's Court this morning. Jacobs is facing two charge - that of kidnapping and defeating the ends of administrative justice. Following Jacobs’s arrest last week, the State revealed that they had to account for her bail information before a formal hearing could proceed. They also indicated that they would be opposing her bail. The purpose of the bail information proceeding is to determine whether Jacobs has any previous convictions or pending charges, or cases which may impact her case and her application. The State will also have to determine what criminal schedule the…

It seems like Rassie Erasmus and his coaching staff have turned up the heat at training over the past few days ahead of the Springboks' second Test against Italy in Gqeberha on Saturday. The Springboks looked like deers in the headlights at times in the second half of the first Test in Pretoria, as the second-string Italians matched them in the physicality department and even dominated the breakdown. To add insult to injury, Italy also overpowered the Boks during a second-half maul which resulted in a try. And, if it wasn't for the Boks fantastic start in the first half, the final scoreline of 42-24 could have been a lot closer. Flank Marco van Staden, one of the few players to retain his place in the starting side from the…

Marcus Smith and Ollie Chessum got on the scoresheet as a defiant British and Irish Lions side fought past a gutsy ACT Brumbies 36-24 on Wednesday, breaching their defence five times in a high-tempo clash. On a frigid Canberra night, the visitors made a sluggish start but soon found their rhythm, converting a 19-10 half-time lead into a convincing fourth straight win on tour as preparations intensify for the first Test against the Wallabies in Brisbane on 19 July. The Lions’ previous two encounters with the Brumbies had been nail-biters — a narrow 30-28 victory in 2001 and a 14-12 defeat in 2013 — but this time Andy Farrell’s side emerged as clear winners, with players eager to impress ahead of the Brisbane showdown. “The Brumbies were very good. They…

Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca hailed João Pedro and expressed his delight at reaching the Fifa Club World Cup final after the new signing’s brace secured a 2-0 win over Fluminense in the semi-final on Tuesday. “We are very happy and very proud to be in the final on Sunday because this is the first edition of the Club World Cup and the best clubs in the world are here,” said Maresca. João Pedro was making his first start since arriving from Brighton & Hove Albion for a reported £60 million (about R1.45bn) last week, fresh from an off-season break. The Brazilian made an immediate impact at the MetLife Stadium, just outside New York, with two clinical finishes on either side of half-time to book Chelsea’s place in Sunday’s final against…

WHEN thinking of Shauwn Mkhize, one is tempted to think of that musical lyric proclaiming one’s allure: 'I'm too sexy for my shirt'. The excessive cleverness and cunning of Mkhize, the larger-than-life, enigmatic owner of the beleaguered football club Royal AM, have tripped her up again. She has been overly clever, too cunning, and was caught out by her schemes to save her beloved club, Royal AM, named after her son Andile Mpisane. The ruling announced on Tuesday by the Pretoria High Court may finally end Royal AM's efforts to regain its Premier Soccer League (PSL) status. The court dismissed her case with costs. Last week, Judge Boitsheko Seleka reserved judgment and decided on a later date for the verdict. Around this time, there was speculation that Royal AM…

THE State has provisionally withdrawn charges against the Gugulethu siblings accused of fraud and money laundering following the murder of actor David “Gums” Manuel. Wanda Mbele and his sister Sindiswa Mbele briefly appeared in the Athlone Magistrate’s Court yesterday, months after being arrested in connection with the case. The charges were withdrawn pending further investigation. Manuel, best known for his role in Noem My Skollie, was shot dead alongside his best friend Alfonso Fisher at his Gugulethu home on October 8, 2024. The Mbele siblings, who live across the road from the victim’s house, were initially linked to the double murder. However, they were only charged with fraud and money laundering after allegedly altering a funeral policy taken out on Manuel shortly before his death. During yesterday's proceedings, the State…

ALLEGATIONS of collusion between Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and the criminal underworld are to be urgently considered by three committees, as assigned by National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza. The Portfolio Committee on Police, the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development, and the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence have been instructed to investigate the claims. This comes after KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, accused Mchunu of obstructing police operations and shielding tenderpreneur Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala. Mkhwanazi further alleged that Mchunu interfered with police work by unilaterally disbanding a task team investigating political killings, bypassing consultation with both national and provincial commissioners. Didiza has requested that the committees investigate the various allegations made by Mkhwanazi concerning national security, and subsequently report their findings to the National Assembly. However, Didiza declined requests…

“I WAS not pressuring her.” This is the maintained statement of sexual harassment accused, Eastern Cape High Court Judge President Selby Mbenenge, about his attempts to engage sexual harassment complainant, Andiswa Mengo, despite a bout of silence from her for five days and prolonged delays in responses to his messages. Judge Mbenenge has been cross-examined by evidence leader, Salome Scheepers since he started his testimony on Monday, defending his case before the Judicial Conduct Tribunal. It is Judge Mbenenge’s maintained stance that he did not sexually harass Mengo over a period of about 11 months and that the “embarrassing” WhatsApp conversations were “flirtatious” and “sensual” as he tried to “explore a romantic relationship which started off by way of flirtation”. During cross-examination, Judge Mbenenge reiterated that he never asked the…

AFRICAN Anti-Corruption Day is observed on July 11 annually to commemorate the adoption of the AU Convention on Preventing and Combatting Corruption in 2003. Corruption remains a major obstacle to economic development and continues to deepen poverty across the continent. The Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) measures and ranks 180 countries for the perception of corruption using a scale of 0 to 100 where 0 is highly corrupt and 100 is very clean. According to the 2024 CPI, Sub-Saharan countries continue to score the lowest with 90% of countries below 50. For example, Equatorial Guinea, South Sudan, and Somalia scored dismally with the lowest scores of 17, 13 and 11, respectively. Seychelles, Cabo Verde and Botswana show positive progress in controlling corruption and are regarded as the region’s top…

Christian Horner was on Wednesday sacked by Red Bull after 20 years as team principal of the Formula One outfit. The 51-year-old, who had led Red Bull Racing since its inception in 2005, oversaw eight drivers’ titles and six constructors’ championships during an era of sustained success. Dutchman Max Verstappen claimed the last four world titles, matching the achievements of Sebastian Vettel, who won four in a row for the team from 2010 to 2013. Horner’s dismissal as both CEO and team principal comes 17 months after he was accused by a female colleague of “inappropriate behaviour”. Though cleared twice by Red Bull GmbH — the team’s parent company — the saga continued to cast a shadow over the paddock. Throughout the ordeal, his wife, former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell,…

Belgian rider Remco Evenepoel won the fifth stage of the Tour de France on Wednesday, a 33km time trial around Caen that saw Slovenian rider Tadej Pogacar take the yellow jersey from Mathieu van der Poel. World and Olympic champion Evenepoel completed the course in 36min 42sec at a blistering average speed of 54 km/h. He finished 16 seconds quicker than Pogacar, with the Italian Edoardo Affini 33sec off the stage lead in third. Pogacar now leads the general classification with a 42sec advantage over Evenepoel, who collected his second stage win in the Tour de France, having triumphed in the time trial at Gevrey-Chambertin last year on his debut in the Grande Boucle. "I knew I had a good chance but, of course, the legs still have to be…