Innehållsförteckning för 2025-12-03 från Cape Argus

20 Years of the Tony Awards – A LAMTA Musical Revue Step into the world of Broadway with the talented students of Luitingh Alexander Musical Theatre Academy (LAMTA) in 20 Years of the Tony Awards – A LAMTA Musical Revue. This lively show celebrates two decades of the songs and stories that have made audiences fall in love with theatre. From the magical moments of Wicked to the energetic vibes of Hamilton, the heartfelt tales of Hadestown, the fun and fierce vibes of Six, and the glittery drama of Moulin Rouge, this revue brings it all to life. Where: Theatre on the Bay. When: Tomorrow until Saturday, December 13 with shows on Tuesdays to Saturdays at 8pm with matinees on Saturdays at 3pm. Colleen The Musical Cape Town comedian Marc…

The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) has reassured parliamentary members of its readiness to assume management of the Mangaung Correctional Centre (MCC) as the contract with Mangaung Correctional Services (Pty) Ltd reaches its natural expiry on June 30, 2026. Deputy chief commissioner Joseph Katenga expressed confidence in the department’s preparedness for the transition. “We are aware it is not going to be a smooth transition but as the department we are ready when the time comes,” said chief deputy commissioner for strategic management, Joseph Katenga. The Correctional Services Portfolio Committee was briefed on the takeover. In 2023, the department served the Mangaung Correctional Services (Pty) Ltd with a notice to terminate the contract in the wake of the escape of prisoner Thabo Bester. The 90-day takeover notice was not implemented…

A FRESH political fault line has opened between national government and the Western Cape over sweeping changes to SA’s gambling laws, after the province pushed back against some parts of the National Gambling Amendment Bill. The provincial legislature’s finance portfolio committee heard presentations from the trade, industry and competition department (DTIC) and the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board (WCGRB) on Tuesday. The bill includes a handful of changes that stand out. Right at the top is a plan to ban all dog-racing bets, scrapping the practice entirely in SA. The bill also gives government the power to grab “unlawful winnings” immediately, meaning payouts from illegal or unlicensed gambling can be seized on the spot without a lengthy legal fight. It also pushes for far tighter control over gambling machines…

Four young scientists are set to showcase their award-winning innovations at the World Innovative Science Project Olympiad (WISPO) in Bali, Indonesia. The learners, all Gold medal winners at the Eskom Expo International Science Fair (ISF), include Dzunisa Chauke, in Grade 12 at Khanyisa Education Centre (Mopani); Milla Vorster, in Grade 11 at Curro Durbanville (Stellenbosch); Ismaail (Miles) Hassen, in Grade 11 at Greenside High School (Johannesburg); and Albertus Willem (Wium) van Niekerk, in Grade 10 at Paul Roos Gymnasium (Stellenbosch). The learners will travel under the guidance of delegation leader Jane Wasonga, Eskom Expo Johannesburg Regional Science Fair director. The Olympiad is set to take place from December 10–13. Chauke will showcase his research project entitled “Synthetic vs non-synthetic voices”. He developed a fast, offline and highly accurate voice-classification system…

The year 2025 was one of contrasts for South African athletics. While several individuals delivered standout performances, Team SA once again struggled on the world stage. A contingent of 49 athletes tried to end an eight-year medal drought at the World Championships in Tokyo but returned with just one medal – the 4x400m relay bronze – underscoring the ongoing challenges of aligning the domestic season with the global calendar. For athletes like Bayanda Walaza, the year ended in heartbreak as injury robbed the young sprint sensation of a realistic medal chance. Simbine: Early-season spark The year began brightly with encouraging signs from South Africa’s sprint king, Akani Simbine, who won bronze in the men’s 60m final at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing on March 21. His fine early-season…

Arne Slot admitted yesterday that “superhuman” Mohamed Salah was unhappy about being omitted from Liverpool’s team for their vital 2-0 win against West Ham, but praised his attitude. The Egypt forward was an unused substitute at the London Stadium on Sunday as Liverpool boss Slot made changes following a terrible run of nine defeats in 12 games in all competitions. Misfiring Salah, 33, has scored just four Premier League goals this season — in stark contrast to his haul of 29 last season, a tally that won him the Golden Boot. Slot revealed that during his reign as manager at Anfield, Salah had been a “superhuman being” but that he had not been at his best in recent weeks. “As with all players around the world, there are phases in…

The Western Cape High Court heard arguments concerning the City of Cape Town’s fixed tariffs and its decision to link certain fixed charges to property values. Yesterday the court heard that the City possesses broad powers, with no restrictions on the impositions it can make. Judge President Nolwazi Mabindla-Boqwana, as well as presiding judges Judge Andre Le Grange and Judge Katharine Savage, were fastidious as they heard arguments from the South African Property Owners Association (Sapoa), AfriForum, and the City. In its court application, Sapoa is asking for the three tariffs in the budget, namely the Cleaning Tariff, the Fixed Water Charge, and the Fixed Sanitation Charge be declared unconstitutional and invalid. Sapoa’s membership currently comprises more than 90% of the country’s commercial and retail property industry, including some of…

In a significant update during the 58th Plenary Assembly of the Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC-PF), Speaker of Parliament Thoko Didiza presented a comprehensive report detailing South Africa’s advancements following the 57th assembly’s resolutions. Didiza highlighted the strides made in various legislative areas, including the ethical deployment of artificial intelligence (AI), prison reform, and initiatives targeting food security and gender-based violence (GBV). “This framework promotes a ‘human-centred AI’ approach and is intended to lay the groundwork for future legislation. Subsequent to the publication of the policy framework, the South African Parliament received submissions from state entities, civil society and academia on digital capabilities and the use of AI to tackle socio-economic challenges,” Didiza said. On progress on standing committee resolutions, Didiza said Parliament has integrated committee resolutions and…

The City’s massive MyCiTi expansion is reshaping the metro-south east and putting cash directly into residents’ pockets. Nearly 600 temporary jobs have been created in just two years, injecting R38.1 million into local households as construction rolls through Mitchells Plain, Khayelitsha, Gugulethu and Lansdowne. The Urban Mobility Directorate plans to spend R5.4 billion over the next three financial years to link commuters from Mitchells Plain and Khayelitsha to Wynberg and Claremont with safe, reliable and affordable public transport. “This is the biggest investment in public transport by any metro in South Africa to date,” said Mayco member for Urban Mobility Rob Quintas. “You can see the progress from Lansdowne to Gugulethu, from Philippi to Mandalay and Ikhwezi, to Mitchells Plain and Khayelitsha.” Quintas said the rollout was about more than…

Celebrated jazz guitarist Cameron Ward from Lotus River, has released his new single, Guitar Groove, a feel-good track for the festive season. With its infectious rhythm, the song is set to be a holiday favourite. Influenced by jazz greats Wes Montgomery, George Benson, Dr Jonathan Butler and Jimmy Dludlu, Ward’s journey into music began in Lotus River, where he still lives today. He was raised by a single mother who shielded him from the lure of street gangs through the grounding presence of church. Ward first took up the drums at the Pentecostal Protestant Church in Ottery at the age of six. His mother later enrolled him in music school, where he studied piano before forming a family band. It was there that Ward picked up the guitar, the only…

What began as ordinary kitchen chores beside her mother, peeling potatoes, chopping onions, tasting broth, has blossomed into a remarkable culinary ascent. From the vibrant streets of Mamelodi to the refined kitchens of Pretoria East, Zinhle Skosana’s journey is a stirring testament to passion, perseverance, and the courage to chase a dream one dish at a time. Now, at just 25, Skosana is fast becoming a rising force in South Africa’s culinary landscape. Her story, rooted in humble beginnings and seasoned with hard-earned skill, is as rich and layered as the sauces she so effortlessly creates, proof that greatness can grow from the simplest ingredients. In 2023, Skosana took a bold step in her culinary journey by enrolling at Capsicum. She graduated as a qualified professional chef from the Pretoria…

Tens of thousands of matriculants, together with thousands of parental homes, schools and teachers, are tensely awaiting the announcement by the Minister of Basic Education of the results of the 2025 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examination. In many ways, the NSC directs a learner’s opportunities and life chances on the road going forward, and the anticipated announcement is probably one of the most important events on the path of the Grade 12 school leaver. Admission to further study, opportunities in the world of work, and the licence to pursue aspirations – for every individual, these depend on the announcement that is about to be made. Every school leaver has dedicated 12 years or even more to preparation for the examination and has shown tenacity in pursuing this sought-after qualification. During…

The Stormers will step into unfamiliar territory on Friday when they open their EPCR Champions Cup campaign against Bayonne in France, and lock JD Schickerling says the squad is embracing both the challenge and the quick turnaround required to meet it. After a bruising arm-wrestle against Munster in Limerick last Saturday — when the Stormers beat the home side to keep their unbeaten record in the United Rugby Championship — the squad has had only a handful of days to reset before facing their French opponents. But Schickerling insists the team is unfazed by the schedule and fully focused on transferring their URC momentum into Europe’s elite competition. The Munster clash was, in many ways, the ideal preparation for what lies ahead at the Stade Jean-Dauger. Physicality, intensity and discipline…

Rachel John is apparently shaking up the Springboks WAG ecosystem, with Mzansi’s former first lady of rugby, Rachel Kolisi, also in the heat of the matter. This comes after Siya’s soon-to-be ex-wife dropped a cryptic bomb on Instagram – and fans are convinced it’s aimed squarely at John. In an eyebrow-raising Instagram Story, she posted: “Those fake checkups don’t work on me. I’m good. Mind your business … Kind regards.” If the subtext wasn’t loud enough, the timing had social media detectives sprinting. Why? Because just as she hit “unfollow” on Saskia Snyman – once one of her closest WAG allies – John has slid into the spotlight, forming new friendships and stepping confidently into the Springbok wives’ inner circle. And, according to fans, she’s not just stepping in ……

Police have confirmed that an arrest has yet to be made in the rape of a seven-year-old girl which is believed to have taken place inside a toilet at an Atlantis primary school. The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) said CCTV footage was being viewed and that the incident occurred on school property. Police confirmed that a case of rape was registered on November 13. This week, police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg confirmed that the case was still under investigation. “There are no new developments to report at this stage,” he said. Vanessa Le Roux, founder of Parents for Equal Education, said it was disturbing that weeks later, there were no arrests. “It is shocking that there are no arrests. Surely if they found out this child has been raped,…

The Department of Basic Education has revealed that 7 294 unqualified Grade R practitioners are currently employed in public schools across all nine provinces in South Africa, and that only 2 121 of them are eligible for qualification upgrades. These practitioners do not possess the minimum National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Level 6 qualification required to teach at this level. The figures were presented to the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education on Tuesday during a briefing on the status of regulations to the Basic Education Laws Amendment (Bela) Act as they relate to Grade R admissions. The briefing also included updates on Sections 4 and 5 of the Children’s Amendment Bill of 2025. In August, the Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube, gazetted the first two sets of regulations under the…

I’m deaf, and I’m a social worker. For 23 years, I’ve been a member of Parliament, where I’ve been in the position to advocate for access for deaf people, including people with disabilities. I chaired the committee that moved to have the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities ratified. Year after year, we mark Deaf Awareness Month, and we have Disability Rights Awareness Month as well as 365 Days Against Violence and Abuse. Given all that, we would have thought that those in the medical profession would be more empathetic and understanding towards deaf patients. Time and again, I’ve come to see that many in the medical profession just do not know how to communicate with deaf patients. They do not have empathy for deaf patients. I…

Proteas One Day International captain Temba Bavuma has expressed his satisfaction with the emerging talent in the team over recent years and the additional options their versatility has provided. South Africa will face India in the second ODI at the Shaheed Singh International Cricket Stadium today (10am SA time), aiming to claim their first win of the series after a 17-run defeat in the opener on Sunday. Bavuma will return to the squad after missing the first match due to illness. Despite his absence, several players stepped up, including Matthew Breetzke, who impressed with a top score of 72, while Marco Jansen (70) and Corbin Bosch (67) also contributed significantly. Under coach Shukri Conrad, the Proteas have rewarded consistent performances, and with a surge of young talent providing depth across…

Stellenbosch FC, buoyed by their recent resurgence and a noticeable shift in momentum, will have another chance to build on their revival in the Betway Premiership when they welcome Polokwane City to the Athlone Stadium tonight (7:30pm kick-off). For a team widely applauded for their progress in recent seasons, both Stellies and head coach Steve Barker have seen their resolve tested from the outset of the current campaign. They have spent much of it navigating deep and difficult waters, yet they appear to have just enough left in reserve to mount a genuine attempt to stay afloat and claw their way back into a competitive position. Their 2-0 defeat to Kaizer Chiefs on the opening day may initially have been viewed as a forgivable early stumble, but in hindsight it…