Innehållsförteckning för 2025-08-14 från Cape Argus

The Pickup may have star power but even they can’t rescue this action comedy from falling flat. The Amazon Prime Video movie, which was released earlier this month, sees an assembly of Hollywood heavyweights. It features Eddie Murphy and Pete Davidson as the leading stars but their jokes don’t quite land and the chemistry between the co-stars is far from electric. Then there is Keke Palmer whose performance as the film’s leading criminal mastermind is also unconvincing. Meanwhile, Eva Longoria, who plays Murphy’s wife Natalie Pierce – an erratic and colourful character – is the film’s most vibrant presence, though even her charm couldn’t mask its lack of spark. This illustrious line-up of diverse talents in different phases of their comedy careers promises viewers an enthralling adventure but the dull…

ANTI-gender-based violence activist June Dolley Major said the woman who turned State witness in the case of missing Saldanha Bay girl Joshlin Smith, should have served time in prison. Her comments come after Lourentia “Renz” Lombaard was granted full immunity from prosecution by Western Cape High Court Judge Nathan Erasmus yesterday. Lombaard was arrested in March last year alongside Joshlin’s mother, Racquel “Kelly” Smith, Jacquen “Boeta” Appollis, and Steveno van Rhyn, and she turned State witness. All three were convicted of kidnapping and human trafficking and are serving life sentences. Judge Erasmus found that Lombaard had provided “key evidence” and testified “honestly and frankly” in her Section 204 statement. But Dolley Major, speaking outside the court, said she believed any crime involving a child warranted some form of punishment. “Lots…

POLICE are probing the murder of four men after their bodies were discovered with fatal gunshot wounds in Overcome Heights, Muizenberg yesterday. SAPS police spokesperson, Colonel Andrè Traut said they have not ruled out the possibility of the murders being gang-related. “The circumstances surrounding the deaths of four men in Overcome Heights, Muizenberg, earlier this morning are under police investigation. Detectives attached to the Anti-Gang Unit are working tirelessly to determine the events that led to the incident. “At approximately 5.30am, the bodies of four men, aged between 20 and 37, were discovered in Mountain Road, each with fatal gunshot wounds. While gangsterism has not been ruled out as a possible motive, investigators are pursuing all lines of enquiry in an effort to bring those responsible to justice,” said Traut.…

Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson has revealed that 57 infrastructure projects have incurred delays, leading to total cost overruns of R444.7 million over the past three years. The overruns are broken down as follows: R110.8m in 2022/23, R64.3m in 2023/24, and R269.6m in 2024/25. This emerged when he was responding to parliamentary questions asked by EFF MP Sharon Letlape, who asked about the actions the department has taken to hold the contractors and implementing agents accountable, among other things. According to Macpherson, his department has instituted firm measures to hold non-performing contractors accountable. “The defaulting contractors have been terminated or are in the process of being restricted, and legal letters of demand have been issued.” Contractors have had their contracts terminated for non-performance, and he named at least…

FORMER President Jacob Zuma, alongside the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party), have lodged an urgent application in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria challenging President Cyril Ramaphosa's decision to appoint a non-member of Parliament as a Minister. The application follows a recent defeat at the Constitutional Court on July 31, where the party was dismissed on grounds that it failed to engage court's exclusive jurisdiction. The legal battle comes after Ramaphosa placed Police Minister Senzo Mchunu on leave, facilitating the temporary appointment of Professor Firoz Cachalia as the acting Police Minister. MK Party has maintained that appointing Cachalia is unconstitutional, flagging serious legal and procedural violations. In this new legal manoeuvre, the party is not only opposing the appointment of Cachalia but it's also disputing the establishment of…

THE Western Cape's apple and pear export industry is sounding the alarm after estimating that logistical bottlenecks and delays at the Port of Cape Town have cost the sector approximately R1 billion in 2024 alone. Industry leaders are now calling for the urgent fast-tracking of the port’s privatisation to prevent further losses and protect South Africa's market share in key global markets. The urgent plea was made during a strategic discussion and site visit yesterday between the Western Cape Department of Mobility and key industry players, including Two-a-Day and its logistics partner, Link Supply Chain Management. The meeting highlighted the critical, time-sensitive nature of fruit exports. Roelf Pienaar, managing director of Tru-Cape Fruit Marketing, articulated the challenge. “We work in a complex, time-sensitive value chain. If a vessel to Europe,…

Stormers Rugby stepped into a bold new era on Wednesday as they revealed a changed logo for the side ahead of the 2025/26 rugby season, stating that an upgrade was long overdue. While the change is set to meet resistance from parts of their supporters’ base, the decision-makers of the company, the Red Disa Group, feel the time for change is right since they have taken over. After rescuing the Stormers from bankruptcy, after which the side captured the inaugural United Rugby Championship title (URC) against expectations, the next step for the Cape side was to continue with progress off the field. For over 25 years, the Stormers’ previous logo, featuring a lightning bolt through the S, served the side, only slightly changing in appearance since the dawn of the…

Paul Pogba’s return to Monaco this summer set tongues wagging as the 2018 World Cup winner made his comeback to football after nearly three seasons on the sidelines – a turbulent period blighted by injury, blackmail and an 18-month doping ban. Now with the 2025-26 Ligue 1 season looming large, the former Manchester United star must put all that behind him and get to work if he is to light up Monaco’s Stade Louis II and realise his “dream” of winning back his spot in the France national team. “It’s the wish of every French football player to represent the France national team, but there are stages,” Pogba said during his unveiling at Monaco in July. “Today I’m at stage one: coming back and performing well.” Pogba’s words attracted attention…

IN presiding over the refusal by a father that the child’s mother take her along to a trip to Europe, a judge voiced his displeasure at the fact that the parents used foul language in their court papers in referring to each other. A Western Cape High Court judge noted the history of acrimony between the parties and said this much so is evinced by the foul language used and the profanity that decorates the acrimony between the parents. “These profanities are most evident from the First Respondent’s (husband) papers. For example, he accuses the applicant (mother) of ‘being a con artist, blatantly lying under oath and behaviour representative of borderline and narcissistic traits,’” the judge said. He noted that the mother too has thrown similar profanities at the father…

A DAY before its scheduled start, the National Dialogue is facing a crisis of legitimacy, with several organisations withdrawing their participation due to concerns over transparency, funding, and the ANC's intentions. More organisations have withdrawn from the National Dialogue, citing concerns over its legitimacy, transparency, and effectiveness. The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party) has questioned the financing of the event, while the Freedom Front Plus, ActionSA, Solidarity, and Afrikaner Leierskapsnetwerk (Afrikaner Leadership Network, ALN) have all announced their decision not to participate. This follows the withdrawal less than a week ago of the Mbeki Foundation and other prominent legacy foundations, including the Steve Biko Foundation, Desmond and Leah Tutu Foundation, and FW de Klerk Foundation, from the event. The foundations stated that a key factor in the decision was the…

Cape Town’s Cruise Terminal has been ranked 12th among the world’s most beautiful ports in a recent eye-tracking study by travel insurance specialists AllClear. The research assessed which ports capture travellers’ attention quickly and maintain it, with "Cape Town’s stunning views of Table Mountain, the V&A Waterfront, and the vibrant harbour contributed to its top 15 placement. Thirty-three ports were analysed around the world, each known for offering stunning views for passengers arriving by boat. A group of 100 participants from around the world took part in the research. Each participant was presented with a series of images showcasing these cruise ports, and their visual engagement was measured using eye-tracking technology. Cape Town Cruise Terminal ranked 12th worldwide with an ‘eye-catching’ score of 70/100. They shared 12th place with Port…

The Springbok Women plan to ride the momentum from their recent top performances into the Women’s Rugby World Cup, which starts next weekend in England. The South Africans will take on Brazil in their opening match on Sunday, August 24, coming off the high of beating a Black Ferns XV in their second match at Athlone Stadium. The Bok Women are currently in camp in Johannesburg before they jet off to the United Kingdom. In Group A, they will also face Italy and France. The Bok Women have had four tough matches — two against second-ranked Canada and two against the Black Ferns XV — over the past month and a half in preparation for the World Cup. The Tests against Canada were rather one-sided but gave the Boks a…

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso believes Arthur Sales is a very good player who will be key to the club’s success – but he was quick to dispel any suggestion that the lanky forward is a direct replacement for his Brazilian compatriot Lucas Ribeiro. The Portuguese coach essentially confirmed speculation that Ribeiro will be leaving the club while speaking to the media during the post-match press conference following their 2-0 Betway Premiership victory over AmaZulu on Tuesday night. Ribeiro – the standout performer of last season and winner of both the Footballer of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year awards, as well as the Golden Boot for the 2024/25 campaign – is believed to be heading to Qatar. Sales played on the right-hand side, the very position where…

“AS a group we are so humble to talk up other players that we don’t give credit to our own players.” This was one of Shukri Conrad’s first statements after being appointed Proteas Test coach just over two years ago now. And for those still wondering what Conrad meant, he doubled down with: “It's time we drool over our own players.” Being one of the more savvy coaches going around, who certainly knows how to “play the media game”, Conrad was sending out a dual message. The first was, of course, for the Fourth Estate to begin backing his young team and processes whilst creating local heroes for the South African public to support. Concurrently, Conrad was also speaking to his own players. Filling them with the belief that they…

The Sharks XV are back on the road for the third time in four weeks as they travel to Kimberley to take on the Griquas in a Currie Cup fourth-round clash against the 2022 finalists on Friday afternoon. Coach JP Pietersen, buoyed by his team’s brave effort against the Cheetahs last weekend in going down 5-7, has stuck with his young blood and has handed Junior Springbok heavyweight Bathobele Hlekani his first start this season. The 20-year-old will be playing in his familiar role at flank, although he made his debut for the Sharks XV last year, also in week four, but selected at lock. Another change in the pack sees Bryce Calvert returning at hooker for Jacques Marais. Friday’s clash at the Suzuki Stadium in Kimberley kicks off at…

Taylor Swift has revealed her next project, confirming that her 12th studio album will be titled The Life of a Showgirl. She announced it during an appearance on New Heights, the podcast hosted by her boyfriend, Travis Kelce and his brother Jason Kelce. Speculation began earlier this week when a countdown clock appeared on Swift’s official website. The timer reached zero at 12.12am ET (6.12am SAST) on Tuesday leading to the launch of pre-orders for the album in vinyl, CD and cassette formats. While no official release date has been confirmed, product descriptions indicate that physical copies will be shipped before October 13, hinting at an early October launch. The official cover art and tracklist have not yet been revealed. Current pre-order listings show a placeholder design featuring a blurry…

THE State continues to protect its witnesses by keeping its cards close to its chest, refusing to give the defence names of the unknown additional witnesses and their statements in the murder cases of South African rapper Kiernan ‘AKA’ Forbes and his friend Tebello ‘Tibz’ Motsoane. The friends were shot dead in Florida Road, Durban, outside Wish Restaurant in February 2023. Lindokuhle Mkhwanazi, Lindani Ndimande, Siyanda Myeza, Mziwethemba Gwabeni, and Lindokuhle Lindo Ndimande are accused of the murders; additionally, they are facing 10 other charges, including attempted murder. During the pre-trial conference at the Durban High Court yesterday, the Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, advocate Lawrence Gcaba told the court that the State made it clear from the onset that they were not going to give the defence the names…

NATIONAL Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza has urged South African women to ensure their deliberations on the theme of the P20 Parliamentary Speakers' Summit were from their perspective. Speaking at the P20 Women’s Parliament in Cape Town, Didiza said women should make sure that the G20 Summit of Heads of State and Government not only speaks about the economy, the environment, and other issues, but must also talk to them. “So as you engage with the P20 theme from the women's perspective, I'm sure you will be able to deliberate on those issues, so that when you host the other women a day before that Speakers’ Summit, you'll be able to say, as South African women, not as ANC, PAC, EFF, but collectively as women of South Africa, we can say,…

According to the latest data from Statistics South Africa, the official unemployment rate has climbed to 33.2% in the second quarter of 2025, an increase from 32.9% in the previous quarter. This rise signifies the second consecutive quarterly uptick in the unemployment rate. The number of unemployed individuals grew by 140 000 to reach 8.4 million, while employment saw a modest increase of 19 000, bringing the total number of employed persons to 16.8 million. The labour force expanded by 159 000, or 0.6%, during this period. Youth unemployment remains a critical issue, with the number of unemployed individuals aged 15–34 increasing by 39 000 to 4.9 million. Despite a rise in employed youth by 31 000 to 5.7 million, the youth unemployment rate remained unchanged at 46.1%. Despite the…

The eThekwini Municipality in Durban is facing a severe crisis due to an escalating shortage of burial space. All 66 municipal cemeteries in the city reached full capacity in 2020, driven by rapid urbanisation, historical mortality surges, and a strong cultural and religious preference for burial over cremation. The influx of immigration and business development nationally has posed a major problem for urban areas throughout South Africa, where city residents, especially in Durban and Johannesburg, have limited and/or no burial spaces for their deceased loved ones. This shortage has led to ‘undignified practices’, such as grave re-usage, a pervasive lack of maintenance, and alleged instances of bribery for gravesite acquisition. These issues undermine citizens’ constitutional right to a dignified interment according to their beliefs and have profound societal implications, affecting…

Springbok fullback Aphelele Fassi knew he would be part of the goal-kicking strategy for Saturday’s Rugby Championship match against Australia when he was told last week to pack his kicking tee in his luggage. While starting fly-half Manie Libbok is enjoying one of his better goal-kicking streaks, his radar has been known to go haywire. Coach Rassie Erasmus is famous for his meticulous planning, and he has covered all eventualities by having Fassi in goal-kicking mode – just in case. The Boks don’t have Handré Pollard or Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu on the bench, so the backup kicking duties will fall to Fassi or, possibly, Damian Willemse. The latter, who is on the bench, is also known to be somewhat inconsistent with the boot. At Monday’s team announcement press conference, Erasmus confirmed…

PROTEAS Women's all-rounder, Nadine de Klerk, has described the eight years playing for South Africa as a rollercoaster ride, filled with many lows and highs along the road. De Klerk, 25, made her international debut in 2017, at the tender age of 17, and has mostly been playing international cricket since then. In those eight years, De Klerk has described being dropped from the team as the lowest point in her career. However, having played in two consecutive ICC Women's T20 World Cup finals in the last two years, De Klerk told Independent Media that those two games are the highest highs of her career and that they overshadow all the negatives in her career. "It's crazy to think that it's been eight years; it doesn't even feel that long,…

MI Cape Town captain Rashid Khan is hoping the Betway SA20 champions will be able to retain Proteas star Dewald Brevis at next month’s auction in Johannesburg. Brevis has been playing alongside the Afghanistan superstar Khan since SA20’s inception three seasons ago, while they were also on the winning side together for MI New York in the inaugural Major League Cricket Season. However, it was last season when Khan saw the best of the talented youngster after Brevis played a pivotal role in guiding the Newlands-based franchise to their first SA20 title with 291 runs at an average of 48.50 and strike-rate of 184.17. Coupled with a few stunning catches in the outfield, it earned Brevis the SA20 Rising Star award. But this was still not enough to entice the…