Innehållsförteckning för 2025-10-14 från Cape Argus

Given the speed at which criminals are shifting to digital platforms to lure victims out of their hard-earned money, ordinary South Africans must learn how to protect themselves against scams. According to the South African Banking Risk Information Centre (SABRIC) 2024 crime statistics report, digital banking fraud accounted for 65,3% of all reported incidents. Cases almost doubled in volume, rising from 31,612 in 2023 to 64,000 in 2024, while losses increased from R1 billion to over R1.4 billion. SABRIC highlights that these incidents were the result of scammers tricking people into sharing personal details, rather than technical compromises of banking platforms. Similarly, the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) has warned of a rise in scams via SMS, WhatsApp, Telegram, fake social media pages, and fraudulent banking apps. In its 2024…

Thakzin, born Thabang Mathebula, has become one of the most recognised forces in South African music. His debut album, Gods Window Pt.1, marks a turning point in his career – not as a declaration of dominance, but as a gesture of service. Known for innovation and his role in the rise of 3-Step, he positioned this project not as a showcase but as an offering. “I wanted this album to take people on a journey,” he said. “Honest music, spiritual music – from the start to the finish, no escape. You must go through every emotion. It is vulnerable, it is spiritual and you must feel all of it.” Gods Window Pt.1 spans 18 tracks, structured as a passage through past, present and the future. It draws from ancestral rhythms,…

A horrifying trend has hit the Cape where the bodies of babies have been found dumped in communities in the metropole in the past few weeks. Six cases where babies were left for dead were reported in just under a month. The most recent incident took place on October 8 when a pre-term foetus was found discarded in Central Park, Muizenberg. Five babies were found dumped in September. These are criminal acts under the South African Births and Deaths Registration Act. According to the law, foetuses over 26 weeks are required to be buried. Minister for Police Oversight and Community Safety Anroux Marais said that finding the perpetrators poses extreme challenges. “Often, the babies are found in isolated areas without eyewitnesses, no CCTV footage, and no immediate leads, which makes…

The Department of International Relations and Co-operation (Dirco) finds itself at the centre of a storm after its audit opinion regressed from an unqualified audit with findings to a qualified audit with findings for the 2024/25 financial year. This decline, following three consecutive years of unqualified audits, has ignited a debate within the parliamentary Portfolio Committee, with opposition parties and even members of the Government of National unity expressing shock and demanding accountability. The Auditor General of South Africa (AGSA) delivered the damning briefing to Parliament last week, highlighting Dirco’s significant financial regression. While the AGSA had reported an improvement in Dirco’s audit outcomes in the 2021/22 financial year, moving from financially qualified to unqualified with findings, the latest report paints a grim picture. The DA claimed that the department’s…

Members of Parliament, part of the Ad Hoc Committee investigating allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner, Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, have raised concerns about the connection between suspended deputy police commissioner, Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya, and alleged criminals. The MPs shared their thoughts on the testimony by Sibiya, where he admitted that he had spoken with alleged murder mastermind and tender kingpin Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala and controversial North West businessman Oupa Brown Mogotsi. Matlala, believed to be connected to fraudulent transactions in the Tembisa Hospital R2 billion ‘looting’, was arrested in April, this year on unrelated charges. He was arrested for allegedly orchestrating the 2023 attempted murder of his ex-girlfriend, actress Tebogo Thobejane and is currently in custody after being denied bail. Mogotsi has been implicated in the alleged unlawful interference at…

Two cases of fraud are currently open at Mitchells Plain and Grassy Park police stations against the owner of BT Football Academy. The parents who opened the case have alleged that they paid the full amount for a trip to Spain but were never refunded for the unbooked return flights. The club has since closed down, leaving parents and coaches seeking answers. BT Football Academy faced backlash after 38 people travelled to Spain for the Donosti Cup. After the tournament, 10 returned home independently, but the remaining 28 – mostly children and three coaches – were left stranded without return flights, sparking widespread concern. Captain FC Van Wyk confirmed that a criminal case was registered at Mitchells Plain police station as theft. No arrests have been made, and the investigation…

Cape Mental Health (CMH) commemorated World Mental Health Day last week, addressed fears around healing and tackling violence as a mental health crisis. The theme for this year’s World Mental Health Day, according to The World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH), was “Access to Services – Mental Health in Catastrophes and Emergencies”. The Observatory-based non-profit organisation, which provides mental health programmes to support its clients, stated that persistent violence in Cape Town, through ongoing gang and gender-based violence, alcohol and drug-related incidents, and taxi wars, acts as a catastrophe with severe mental health consequences. Public relations and communications officer at CMH, Barbara Meyer, said exposure to violence erodes mental health, causing anxiety, depression, sleep problems, post-traumatic stress disorder, and strained relationships. “Children and youth exposed to trauma face heightened emotional…

It’s been a long time since Liverpool fans approached a home clash with Manchester United feeling this uneasy, with Arne Slot facing the first real test of his fledgling Anfield reign. Three straight defeats across all competitions have stripped away the early-season optimism from a mammoth spending spree that brought some of the world’s most desirable football talent to the champions. Suddenly, there are cracks all over the show – some of Slot’s own making, it must be said – with some of the stalwarts of last season’s title-winning campaign looking jaded, while one of the new puzzle pieces is still trying hard to prove his worth. There is also a growing recognition of the role that Trent Alexander-Arnold played in Liverpool’s attacking blueprint, with Mo Salah becalmed down the…

Two elements were vital for the Proteas to be in contention in this first Pakistan Test. One of the spin trio selected had to step in and fill the void left by the injured Keshav Maharaj. And the other was the batters needed to find a way to counter Pakistan's potent spin threat. Towards the end of a second day in Lahore, the foundations were being laid to achieve those objectives with the Proteas moving to 174/2 in response to Pakistan’s 378 all out. The home team had lost their last four wickets for just 26 runs, largely due to Senuran Muthasamy’s 6/117 – the left-arm spinner’s maiden Test ‘Michelle’. “I've got a few in first-class cricket, but that was my first fiver in Test cricket. “It’s really special. It's…

Estate planning is often misunderstood as something that only comes into play at death. In reality, it is an ongoing process of structuring and managing your assets and liabilities during your lifetime so that your financial goals can be met both while you are alive and after you are gone. At its heart, estate planning is about creating certainty for yourself, your loved ones, and your legacy. Below, we outline seven compelling benefits of estate planning. Safeguarding liquidity in your estate: One of the most important elements of an estate plan is ensuring that your estate has sufficient liquidity to cover costs, taxes, and debts, keeping in mind that during estate administration, Sars and creditors must be paid before any inheritance can pass to your heirs. If there is not…

Kwaito legends have long echoed the phrase, “Kwaito will never die”. That statement continues to ring true as new sounds like kwapi emerge, not as replacements, but as extensions that preserve kwaito’s legacy. While South African music has evolved through genres such as amapiano, Lekompo and 3-Step, kwapi now stands out as a sound that carries kwaito’s DNA into the present. To understand kwapi, it is important to first know where kwaito and amapiano come from. Kwaito was born in the early 1990s, primarily in the townships of Johannesburg, during the post-apartheid era. Artists like Arthur Mafokate, Mdu Masilela, Trompies and Mandoza played a key role in shaping the genre. Kwaito adopted slowed-down house beats paired with township slang, chants and stories that reflected the realities and daily lives of…

AN Inspection in loco, a total of 18 State witnesses including a handwriting and ballistic experts, marks the beginning of the end of the case of the 2019 murder of Stellenbosch farmer, Wynand Stefanus Smit allegedly at the hands of his wife, Zurenah Smit and her co-accused Karel Derek Sait. The investigating officer, Warrant Officer Stephen Adams was set to take the stand as the final State witness yesterday at the Western Cape High Court. This week, the National Prosecuting Authority said that via an inspection in loco held earlier, shots were fired to illustrate the audibility as accused number 2 (Sait) denied hearing the fatal shots while on the premises, five metres away from where the victim was lying in the kitchen. The trial took its twists and turns…

More than 500 people in the Western Cape were poisoned by common cleaning and household products in just six months, prompting renewed warnings from health authorities about the dangers lurking in everyday items. From January to June, the Poisons Information Helpline recorded 6 142 poisoning cases, of which 514 were linked to everyday items such as bleach, detergents, air fresheners, and polishes. Children are among the most affected. Of these household product-related cases, 243 involved children under five, many of whom accidentally ingested brightly coloured or scented cleaning agents. “Many poisoning incidents occur not from neglect, but from everyday accidents,” said Cindy-Lee Golding, a specialist at the Tygerberg Poisons Information Centre. “A momentary lapse, such as leaving a bottle open or storing a cleaner within reach, can have serious consequences.…

There is much work that still needs to be done to address the infrastructural woes plaguing the Tshwane Fresh Produce Market despite the 2022 court order compelling the municipality to repair and maintain the facility. This observation was made by members of the Section 79 Committee for Economic Development and Spatial Planning during their recent oversight visit to the facility. The visit follows a Gauteng High Court case, where the Institute of Market Agents of South Africa (IMASA) sought a contempt order against the city for non-compliance with a 2022 ruling which ordered the city to invest R18 million in the market’s maintenance and provide essential services. The recent court ruling threatened to imprison Tshwane Mayor Nasiphi Moya and city manager Johann Mettler if they fail to provide essential services…

A festive jersey concept designed by Somerset West resident Marnus Botha won Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis’s inaugural annual Festive-Wear Top competition. The City of Cape Town launched the public design competition last month, and challenged crafters from young designers, fashion students to sewing clubs, and elders to create fun festive-wear. It was launched to contribute ideas that reflect the City’s resilience, cultural diversity, and spirit of togetherness, as part of this year’s Festive Lights Switch-On celebration. The winning creation will make its first public appearance, together with its creator, at the testing of the City’s festive lights on Tuesday, November 11, before being worn by the mayor at the official Festive Lights Switch-On concert on the Grand Parade on Sunday, November 30. While the final garment remains unknown until its official…

African penguins are now listed as Critically Endangered on the International Union Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species as scientists warn they could vanish from the wild by 2035. It is for this reason that CapeNature and the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (Sanccob) are collaborating to protect the species at their annual Penguin Palooza event at Stony Point Nature Reserve. The free public event, starts at 10am on November 8, and will focus on the crisis facing one of South Africa’s most beloved seabirds. This year, visitors can enjoy an outdoor market featuring local food, crafts, and community stalls, alongside interactive exhibits and children’s activities. The highlight of the day will be the release of rehabilitated penguins back into the wild,…

The Sharks have not had the best start to the URC season, but the good news is that Springbok prop Thomas du Toit will be parking “The Tank” in his old space at Kings Park next year. The Sharks have won a bidding war with Du Toit’s current English club, Bath, and French club Bordeaux, with the 30-year-old choosing to return to the green grass of home in 2026 to see out his career. French giants Bordeaux offered big money for the 29-cap Springbok, who was a starter in most of the Springboks’ recent Rugby Championship matches, but he has preferred to return to the KZN east coast. Du Toit is hot property after Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus often used him to soften up the opposition front row before Wilco…

South Africa’s women’s hockey team began their Africa Cup of Nations title defence with a commanding 10-0 victory over hosts Egypt in Ismailia, while the men finally got their campaign under way with a 3-1 win over Kenya. The South African women wasted no time asserting their authority, leading 5-0 at half-time after taking the lead inside the opening three minutes through the first of veteran Thati Zulu’s goals – an emphatic reverse strike. The hosts dug deep to resist the South African pressure in the third quarter, but the floodgates reopened in the final phase. There were braces for Taheera Augousti and Kayla de Waal, while Ntsopa Mokoena, Hannah Pearce, Ongeziwe Mali and Tegan Fourie also got on the scoresheet. The experienced South African side boasts nine members of…

In a bid to help consumers recognise scams and take appropriate action to protect themselves, the Southern African Fraud Prevention Service (SAFPS) has launched an awareness campaign. According to the SAFPS, the scam in question involves fraudulent phone calls, commonly referred to as “vishing”, where criminals manipulate unsuspecting individuals into divulging sensitive banking information or clicking on malicious links. These links often redirect funds straight into the fraudster’s account. It says the deception hinges on psychological manipulation and impersonation. Fraudsters frequently pose as representatives from reputable institutions such as banks, mobile service providers, insurers, retailers, government departments, or IT support companies. Their goal is to create a false sense of urgency and legitimacy. Manie van Schalkwyk, CEO of SAFPS, says: “In South Africa, this scam tactic has become a preferred…

The City of Cape Town has welcomed the swift arrest of four suspects linked to the hijacking and murder of Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (LEAP) officer, Yonke Pakade, who was attacked at the weekend. Pakade, 26, was off duty when he was hijacked and assaulted by a group of suspects in Sheffield Road, Philippi. According to the City, he was stabbed multiple times and stoned before managing to flee towards the nearby Marikana Informal Settlement, where his colleagues found him in the early hours of Sunday. He was rushed to hospital but succumbed to his injuries. LEAP officers arrested one suspect at the scene. A manhunt led to the arrests of three more suspects. “The team received a tip-off which led them to the Covid Informal Settlement where they arrested…

President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his condolences to the nations of Zimbabwe and Malawi after a horrific bus crash near Makhado (formerly Louis Trichardt), Limpopo, claimed 42 lives. The passengers, mostly Zimbabwean and Malawian nationals, were travelling from Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) in the Eastern Cape to their home countries when the bus veered off a mountainous section of the N1 and plunged down an embankment. Dozens more were injured. Ramaphosa said the tragedy was compounded by the fact that it occurred during Transport Month, a time when South Africa highlights the importance of road safety. “This incident is a tragedy for South Africa and our sister states of Zimbabwe and Malawi alike. Our roads are economic networks that bring the people of our region together across our national borders. “We…

Former Minister of International relations, Dr Naledi Pandor, has called on women to join the fight against the ongoing humanitarian crisis plaguing the people of Palestine and other conflict-regions of the world. Pandor, who addressed a Women20 (W20) gathering in Krugersdorp yesterday, said world peace and the respect of international laws should be at the centre of discussions with all those leading the fight agenda against the Gaza genocide. She said this is because wherever war emerges, children and women remain at the receiving end of war crimes and the humanitarian crisis. “We must argue for multi-polarity as we face threats to reproductive rights, and groupings such as this should provide support against an onslaught on these rights. When nurses and hospitals are targeted in Gaza and other parts of…

TWO brothers, who are also the children of Bonteheuwel ward councillor, Angus Mckenzie, are flying the SA flag high for wrestling after bringing home gold and silver from their latest competition. The brothers, Connor, 15 and Carter, 13, competed at the South African Wrestling Federation (SAWP) National Youth Championship held from October 9 to 11 at the Heartfelt Arena in Pretoria. Connor, who is in Grade 9, secured gold and became the SA U20 champion while his brother, Carter, 13, who’s in Grade 7, brought home three silver medals and one bronze in his category. The brothers practice four times a week and are part of the Parow Wrestling Club. Their father, Mckenzie said he and his wife Kelly were incredibly proud of their sons. “To see them carving…

The Rugby Championship-winning Springboks are closing in on their November tour to Europe. With a short United Rugby Championship break, they resume action with a five-match tour. What has Rassie Erasmus learned that he can take into the end-of-year campaign? Sacha FM blares loud and clear In 2023, no rugby player would have imagined that Handré Pollard would, in two years, go from star to third-choice flyhalf behind Sacha Fynn and Manie Libbok. That is the reality. Erasmus’ rotation policy has thrown the flyhalf selection open, with the best man prevailing. This is not to say that Pollard can’t have a “2023” and lead the Boks to World Cup glory in 2027. He will be there — form dips and injuries happen. Attack is cool, but rugby is not about…

Proteas all-rounder Nadine de Klerk drove South Africa to a three-wicket victory in yet another close run chase, this time against Bangladesh Women in Visakhapatnam in the ongoing ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup. There seems to be something about Visakhapatnam that gets De Klerk into her element. The right-handed batter rescued South Africa against India at the same venue last week and produced a similar performance to secure a three-wicket win over Bangladesh on Monday night. The 25-year-old finished unbeaten on 37 off 29 deliveries, showing nerves of steel in the final over when South Africa needed eight more runs to win, hitting a four and a six to take the Proteas home. With the victory, South Africa sit safe inside the qualification zone with six points from four matches.…

No country has ever won the World Cup with a foreign-born coach, but Carlo Ancelotti said on Monday that there is "always a first time" as he eyes glory with Brazil. The Italian became Brazil's first overseas coach in six decades when he took over in May and helped the five-time champions secure their place at next summer's World Cup. Brazil face Japan in a friendly in Tokyo on Tuesday, fresh from a 5-0 hammering of South Korea in Seoul last week. Ancelotti said he is aiming to make history for himself and his team at the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. "My goal is to give my best for the Brazil national team, to try to get them to perform at their best and to…