Innehållsförteckning för 2025-07-25 från Cape Argus

Metal 4 Africa Winterfest This bi-annual festival is offering attendees a party that celebrates African rock music. It will feature dance styles from moshpits to extravagant performances from seven rock bands including Doom Trigger, Swazi Band, Corpse Fortress and TerroRaze. Various DJs are also expected to take to the decks. Where: Viben Lounge in Brackenfell. When: Tomorrow from 4pm. Greyton Fire + Wine Experience a two-day experience of wine tasting, warmth and fun with the community of Greyton. This event offers a curated range of red and white wines from over 20 wineries. As a way of giving back, 20% percent of proceeds raised during the event will go towards the Greyton House Village School Bursary Fund. Even in this cold weather you will be kept warm and cozy as…

The Western Cape Department of Social Development (DSD) launched its 11th GBV Ambassador programme in Metro East, boasting 37 trained volunteers. These volunteers will be spread across areas such as Kraaifontein, Khayelitsha, Eerste River, Mfuleni, and Somerset West, with the official launch taking place yesterday. DSD stated that the volunteers will provide information on GBV support services, refer domestic violence cases to SAPS and DSD, and some will volunteer at victim-friendly rooms. The GBV ambassadors are trained volunteers who will also bring intervention and prevention, DSD added. “They also do referrals of domestic violence cases to the SAPS and local DSD offices in their respective areas. Some ambassadors will also volunteer at their nearest police station’s victim-friendly room,” the department said. One of the volunteers, Loyiso Damoyi from Khayelitsha, emphasised…

THE Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) had its headquarters in Gauteng raided on Wednesday. The offices based in Braamfontein were raided by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (known as Hawks). This comes after claims of irregular tenders being awarded have risen. The tenders are alleged to be around R18 billion. The Hawks pounced on the officers of senior executives and seized items including laptops, cellphones, and documentation. The Hawks have been tight-lipped on the investigation. National spokesperson for the Hawks, Brigadier Thandi Mabombo, said: “An operation was conducted as part of an ongoing investigation. To protect the integrity of our investigation, we cannot disclose details about that operation.” IOL reached out to Prasa spokesperson Andiswa Makanda, who said they would not be commenting at this time. “We…

WHAT was meant to be an ordinary morning at the Gondwana Private Game Reserve, near Mossel Bay, turned into tragedy when its CEO and co-owner, FC Conradie, was killed by an elephant. The 39-year-old wildlife advocate and conservation leader lost his life during an incident that has left the reserve community and conservationists across the country shaken. According to Warrant Officer Kappie Kapp of the KwaNonqaba Police Station, the incident occurred at around 8am on Tuesday. Witnesses reported that Conradie had been on the property when the elephant charged and trampled him. “The elephant involved in the incident has since been moved from the area as a precaution,” said Kapp. An investigation is underway. A family friend and spokesperson for Gondwana Private Game Reserve, who chose to remain anonymous, described…

Former Stormer Marvin Orie has been named in the Bulls team for their Currie Cup opener against Western Province in Cape Town on Saturday, while tough loose forward Jeandré Rudolph, formerly of the Cheetahs and Pumas, is set to make his debut. Another Cape product, Nama Xaba, will captain the Bulls. He joins Rudolph and fellow Capetonian Junior Pokomela in a powerful loose trio. An away visit to their arch-rivals is as tough as it gets for the Bulls, but assistant coach Phiwe Nomlomo says his charges are up for the challenge. “The players have trained well,” said Nomlomo. “There’s full-on excitement at the minute. “There’s a really great vibe in the team, but there will be nerves. I’m not really a nervous guy. I’ll embrace what comes, when it…

There is no shortage of Springbok supporters considering the big question: Who will start at flyhalf for South Africa against the All Blacks in Auckland this September? Few fans have a definitive answer, and it’s doubtful whether Rassie Erasmus is entirely certain either. The fact that Erasmus must weigh up the unique strengths of Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Manie Libbok and Handré Pollard — and still not have a clear frontrunner — speaks to the Springboks’ remarkable depth as they build towards the Rugby Championship. That campaign kicks off with back-to-back clashes against the Wallabies on 16 August in Johannesburg and a week later in Cape Town. It is during those two Tests that Erasmus must settle on the half-back pairing that gives the Boks the best chance of claiming a historic…

Ben O'Connor won stage 18 of the Tour de France with a world-class climb over three Alpine mountains on Thursday, as defending champion Tadej Pogacar extended his race lead. Australian O'Connor, 29, broke away solo 15km from the finish and navigated through the mist to win 1min 45sec ahead of Pogacar atop the Col de la Loze. Vingegaard crossed the line in third place, nine seconds behind the Slovenian. "It was brutal — I've never experienced anything so hard. The team did well and we had a good plan, but I couldn't take any time off Tadej," said Vingegaard. Pogacar now holds a 4min 26sec lead over the Dane in the general classification with three days remaining before the finish in Paris. Starting the day with a deficit of 4min…

From the tragic loss of music and television icons to surprise pregnancy reveals and a royal heartbreak, the world of fame served a full plate of drama, nostalgia and a few unexpected plot twists. Here’s what happened this week in the entertainment scene: 1Rock royalty bows out: Ozzy Osbourne dies at 76 The entertainment world is mourning the loss of heavy metal pioneer Ozzy Osbourne, who died this week at the age of 76. The iconic Black Sabbath frontman had long struggled with health issues, including Parkinson’s disease, but he remained active in the music world until recently. Surrounded by family, the music icon passed away peacefully just weeks after his emotional final performance in Birmingham. Known for his gritty voice, chaotic stage antics and larger-than-life personality, Osbourne helped shape…

Local artists Lily van Rensburg and Haroon Gunn-Salie’s photographic artwork, Ons vir jou (2025), documents the annual December 16 proceedings at the Voortrekker Monument. This day, now Reconciliation Day, formerly marked the 1838 Battle of Blood River. The image captures the 2024 crowd witnessing the midday sunlight illuminating the “Ons vir jou, Suid Afrika”, symbolising the end of Afrikaner nationalism and apartheid. Van Rensburg’s photography journey began in matric and intensified at university, while Gunn-Salie has been an artist-activist for over a decade, utilising various media, including photography. Their shared interest in South African history, memory, and identity led them to document the Monument’s December 16 phenomenon, highlighting how thousands still gather to celebrate and reflect on the past. Ons vir jou is part of A Beast with Two Backs…

THE heartbroken family of a missing mother from Elsies River is urgently appealing to the public for assistance in locating Melissa Hills, a mother of seven who has been missing since last month. With her health in jeopardy, the family fears for her safety and is desperate for any information that could lead to her return. Melissa Hills lost a lung due to an infection. She was last seen on June 26 when she asked a neighbour to call her an ambulance because she was struggling to breathe. But by the time the person went to fetch their phone, Melissa was gone. Her heartbroken sister Nuraan Delgada explained that the family knows something is terribly wrong, because Melissa would always contact her or their mother. Delgada told the Cape Argus…

FORMER acting Eskom chief executive, Matshela Koko, will not challenge the ruling declining his bid to intervene in the R1.56 billion settlement agreement reached by the power utility and ABB South Africa. The Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, last month dismissed with costs Koko’s application to intervene in the matter in terms of an earlier judgment delivered in April last year. At the time, the high court ordered any interested party who has a direct and material interest in its orders on the R1.56bn settlement to apply within 30 days of the last date of publication of the order for leave to intervene and describe the nature of their interest in the relief and the relief sought. The court also ordered that interested parties must show cause, on a date and…

A new justice‑led movement is taking shape in South Africa’s legal corridors as human‑rights advocate Pearl Walsh unveiled Social Impact With Pearl, an initiative that vows to expose judicial dysfunction, protect the vulnerable and “bring humility back to humanity through human dignity”. Walsh, 37, is a Cape Town-based activist whose decade-long track record spans court-reform campaigns, gender-justice litigation, and anti-corruption drives aimed at the Legal Practice Council, the Ministry of Justice, and Parliament. Known for her uncompromising stance and direct challenges to authority, she says the movement is “not about politics, it’s about people”. “Constitutional rights are not optional. Humanitarian values are not negotiable. Justice must work for everyone or it works for no one,” Walsh told reporters on the Western Cape High court steps, flanked by survivors of domestic…

Removing Dr Nobuhle Nkabane, just before National Women’s Month, was poor timing. Her predecessor, Dr Blade Nzimande, whose hapless legacy on tertiary education is unfolding horribly, was undeservedly in the role for more than 15 years. Nkabane was dealt a poor hand. One must question the bona fides of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s commitment to gender parity and combating corruption. However, many will agree that the former deputy to Gwede Mantashe at the Ministry of Minerals and Energy was out of her depth in the tertiary education portfolio. But thrusting her into the higher education cesspool without considering the extent of the challenges was unfair. She had no chance of success and was destined to fail. This emerged especially after her botched list of appointees for Sector Education and Training Authorities…

Springbok lock forward Vainah Ubisi has revealed that her immense desire to be part of next month’s Rugby World Cup in England was the fuel that fired her towards a comeback against the Black Ferns XV at Athlone Stadium on Saturday. Ubisi, who has not featured for the Bok Women since last year’s WXV 2 clash at the same venue after rupturing her Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL), was included in Performance Coach Swys de Bruin’s starting team yesterday for the historic clash. The Bulls Daisies star has spent the intermittent months down at the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport (SAS) where she underwent an intensive individual rehabilitation programme. “When I got injured last year, that’s what was in my mind. If I’m going to make it to the World Cup squad,…

Max Verstappen and Red Bull seek a successful re-set of their season as they launch a new era at this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix, their first without Christian Horner in charge. As Formula One resumes after a mini-break McLaren duo Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris intensify their duel to succeed the Dutchman as world champion. While Norris seeks his third consecutive win in a bid to reduce team-mate Piastri's eight-point lead it will be Red Bull under the greatest scrutiny as they embark on a new adventure under Frenchman Laurent Mekies. Never before has a Red Bull team raced without the 51-year-old Briton Horner, who was dismissed unexpectedly two weeks ago following 20 years of success, including guiding Verstappen to four consecutive world titles from 2021-2024. His successor Mekies, promoted…

The curtain is officially falling on SA’s beloved soapie Muvhango. Since its debut in 1997, the soapie captured the hearts of many as it became SA’s first-ever soapie in Tshivenda. With its rich storytelling rooted in Tshivenda culture, Muvhango also explored the tension between tradition and modernity. Every weekday at 9pm on SABC2, families would gather around the TV, watching the Venda royal family as they navigated betrayal, drama and family dynamics. Over the years, characters such as Chief Azwindini, Susan Mukwevho, Thandaza Mokoena, Vho Mulimisi and KK Mulaudzi captured the hearts of many South Africans. Muvhango launched the careers of many household names, including Gabriel Temudzani, Dingaan Khumalo, Lindiwe Chibi and Macdonald Ndou. The cast and crew shared a behind-the-scenes glimpse of their last day on set this week…

A 32-year-old woman is expected to appear in court soon after she was arrested for possession of drugs at the Cape Town International Airport. The Western Cape spokesperson for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks), Lieutenant Colonel Siyabulela Vukubi, said a tip-off was received of a passenger en route to Cape Town from Brazil. Vukubi said a multi-disciplinary intelligence-led operation comprised of the Hawks’ South African Narcotics Enforcement Bureau (Saneb), Border Management Authority, Customs Cape Town International Airport, and the SAPS members based at the airport resulted in the arrest of the suspect for dealing in drugs on Wednesday. “On July 22 intelligence was received regarding a female suspect who was allegedly en route to Cape Town from Brazil,” Vukubi said. “Information was operationalised, and the suspect was identified…

ESKOM has been ordered to pay close to R1 billion to French nuclear contractor Framatome, after the Western Cape High Court found the utility refused to pay damages after it cancelled a contract to install steam generators at Koeberg nuclear power station. The ruling stems from a 2014 agreement Eskom originally concluded with Areva, which was later ceded to Framatome. The deal covered the design, manufacture and installation of six replacement steam generators – three for each unit at Koeberg. Framatome, which has been in operation for 60 years, was contracted to supply and install two sets of three replacement steam generators, one set to be installed in each of the reactor buildings at units 1 and 2 at Koeberg during separate planned outages of these units. These installations were…

HOME Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber says the outdated green bar-coded ID book will be discontinued by the end of 2029, and it will stop issuing the ID book by the end of 2025 as part of a major digital transformation campaign in South Africa. Schreiber outlined his department’s bold strategy to modernise services, expand access to smart ID cards, and bring Home Affairs into the digital era. According to Schreiber, 25 million smart ID cards have already been issued, while 18 million green ID books remain in circulation. However, the green book poses serious security risks. “It’s actually the most defrauded ID document in Africa,” Schreiber said. “It has a large financial cost.” Despite this, Home Affairs continues to issue green IDs at 25% of its 430 offices, which remain…

Jermaine Seoposenwe owes football everything. So, as she prepares for her last Banyana Banyana appearance, she bows out with gratitude and pride. Banyana will face Ghana in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations third-place play-off at Stade El Arbi Zaouli in Casablanca on Friday night (kick-off 6pm). The clash is set to mark Seoposenwe’s final outing with Banyana after she announced, prior to the tournament, that she would retire from international football after its conclusion. The 31-year-old will leave behind a decorated international career, having earned more than 100 caps, won the Wafcon title and played in two World Cups. Her journey with the national team endeared her to fans across the continent and the world, thanks to her silky playing style and eye for goal. Speaking at the pre-match…

Tylon Smith has completed a permanent transfer to Queens Park Rangers (QPR) from Stellenbosch FC, trading the vibrant fields of the Winelands for the bustling atmosphere of West London, marking a pivotal moment in his blossoming career. The 20-year-old defender’s growth in the footballing world has been nothing short of meteoric over the past year. Just a year ago, Smith signed his first professional contract following a successful run with South Africa’s U20 team, where he played a key role in lifting the COSAFA U20 Challenge Cup. His standout performance in the final against Zambia earned him the Player of the Match accolade and a place in the Team of the Tournament, signalling his potential on the international stage. Since then, Smith has only grown in stature, further enhancing his…