Innehållsförteckning för 2025-12-11 från Cape Argus

A vibrant ensemble of top South African talent comes together for the new local Netflix film, Love and Wine. From rising stars to veteran entertainers, the romantic comedy features Gomora actor Ntobeko Sishi and Thandolwethu Zondi, from Netflix’s Go!, in the leading roles. The youngsters are joined by familiar faces such as Thando Thabethe, Desmond Dube, Thembsie Matu, Rorisang Mohapi, Masali Baduza and Bongile Mantsai, rounding out a warm, energetic cast. Together, they deliver a humorous, proudly South African spin on a classic love story – the perfect viewing escape this festive season. Beyond its on-screen talent, the film also showcases the best of Mzansi: shot in the scenic Cape Town region, it weaves in local cuisines, slang, landscapes and music, giving global viewers a taste of contemporary South Africa.…

The City of Cape Town has demolished the derelict Special Quarters in Langa, clearing a building long associated with crime, overcrowding and decades of community frustration. The demolition happened on Tuesday, bringing down a structure that City officials and residents have described for years as one of the township’s most troubled sites. “Today the City demolished the old Special Quarters in Langa, a site that had sadly become one of the area’s most notorious problem buildings,” said Mayco member for Safety and Security, JP Smith. “For years, it was a haven for drug use, stolen goods, cable-theft operations, and even a place where bodies were dumped.” Smith thanked the teams involved, adding: “Removing this one is a major step toward restoring safety, dignity, and progress for the people of Langa,…

Three double murders in three days – the latest took place in Stratford Green, Eerste River where the bloodied bodies of a woman and a man were found inside a bedroom on Tuesday morning. Police were called to the crime scene in Noord Street, Stratford Green, Eerste River just after 11.15am where the bodies of the two victims were discovered. The man lay in the bed while the woman was found on the floor, in a pool of blood. Police spokesperson, Captain FC Van Wyk explained that the motive is believed to be gang related. “Kleinvlei police registered two counts of murder following a shooting at a premises in Noord Street. Two adults (a female aged 35 and male of unknown age) were shot. “Circumstances surrounding this incident are under…

Rural Development and Land Reform Minister Mzwanele Nyhontso, the Pan African Congress of Azania (PAC) president, has been accused of seeking an inquest into the death of the party’s founding president, Robert Sobukwe, without the consent of the Struggle stalwart’s family. The family, through lawyers from Mgxaji Incorporated, has written a letter ordering Nyhontso to halt his request to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for the investigation into the cause of Sobukwe’s death. This controversy arose as the PAC was preparing to hold its elective conference in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, where Nyhontso would be expected to contest for re-election. Mgxaji Incorporated’s director, Sithembele Lawrence Mgxaji, wrote to Nyhontso on December 5 after being approached by Sobukwe’s only surviving child, Meliswa Sobukwe. According to the letter, which Meliswa, the Sobukwe family…

In an inspiring culmination of perseverance and dedication, Dyan Buis, the former Paralympic gold medallist and world champion athlete, graduated with a Master’s degree in education policy studies from Stellenbosch University. This milestone underscores a journey marked by resilience, driven by a personal philosophy of excellence that has guided him not only in sport but throughout his academic pursuits. Buis, from Riversdale, had to overcome many challenges in his youth. Diagnosed with mild cerebral palsy at a young age – a condition affecting movement and muscle control – he has consistently defied the odds, transforming what could have been a limitation into a launching pad for success. “My motivation was to always reach for the stars, to always give my best,” Buis reflected. “In sport, I learned that I do…

Hype is swirling, and the unbeaten buzz is loud, but the Stormers are tuning out the noise as they steel themselves for a seismic Champions Cup duel with La Rochelle in Gqeberha on Saturday. The Cape side will host the former champions at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium (3pm kick-off) as they look to keep their unbeaten run intact following a strong start to the season in the United Rugby Championship (URC) and elite European competition. While there is plenty of hype around the Stormers and the form they are currently in, director of rugby John Dobson has warned that getting caught up in it could be detrimental. It is an important match in the context of the season for the home team; they will look to maintain their winning…

South African netball spent 2025 in the pressure cooker – and by design. With the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow fast approaching, Netball South Africa (NSA) mapped out one of the toughest international calendars in Proteas history. The result was a season in which the Proteas were tested by world-class opposition, endured hard-earned growth and showed promising signs from the national pathway. Proteas embark on brutal but necessary Test schedule This year, the Spar Proteas faced the strongest teams in the sport: Jamaica, England, New Zealand and Australia – all ranked above South Africa and key benchmarks for a squad in transition. The year began with a demanding away series against Jamaica, whose physicality and aerial strength continue to set the global standard. While the Sunshine Girls’ towering shooting circle…

A man has appeared in the Ceres Magistrate's Court on a charge of murder and violation of a corpse by cutting off his arms and private parts and allegedly paraded around town with some of the human remains. Eric Ntabazalila, Regional Communications for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), said the accused, identified as Zwelinjani Mbola, 22, made an appearance in court on Tuesday. The State is set to prove that Mbola murdered Peter Joubert and then proceeded to mutilate his body by dismembering it. “The State alleges that the accused physically violated the deceased's body by cutting off his arms and private parts. His case has been postponed until December 17 for bail information and a possible referral to a district surgeon for mental assessment,” Ntabazalila said Witzenberg Municipality…

IN a stark warning regarding the integrity of South Africa’s pharmaceutical landscape, Minister of Health Dr Aaron Motsoaledi has unveiled alarming statistics concerning counterfeit and illicit medications. During a recent parliamentary session, he disclosed that the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (Sahpra) reported 507 suspected cases of counterfeit drugs in the 2024/25 financial year. Out of these, 110 were confirmed to be counterfeit, highlighting a pressing public health crisis and rampant illegal trading in medicines. Motsoaledi’s revelations come at the behest of EFF MP Thandiswa Marawu, who expressed concerns about the surge of counterfeit pharmaceutical sales across the nation. Her inquiry broadened into the specifics of the counterfeit crisis, from commonly faked medications to the scope of economic repercussions on both the health sector and legitimate pharmaceutical businesses. Among…

Newly-appointed Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment, Willie Aucamp, reaffirmed his commitment to annual financial disclosures required of MPs and Cabinet ministers. This comes in response to questions from MK Party MP Mzwanele Manyi, who sought clarity on Aucamp’s stance regarding the reporting of financial interests, particularly relating to his family’s involvement in game-breeding operations. Aucamp said while he, as an MP, is obliged to disclose his business interests, including trusts and companies, his family is not required to report their interests to Parliament. “As private citizens, however, my family is not duty-bound to report business to Parliament,” he said. Manyi had asked whether Aucamp would disclose the full list of entities in which he and his immediate family hold direct or indirect interest in game-breeding operations. He also wanted…

THE Philippi Horticultural Area (PHA), one of Cape Town’s most productive farming zones, is facing a surge in crime that farmers say is crippling operations and putting hundreds of jobs and small traders at risk. Ward 43 councillor and Sub-council 17 chairperson Elton Jansen said the Western Cape Government-commissioned 2018 Indego Report, later endorsed by the City, confirmed the PHA’s economic weight. He noted that Philippi Groente Verpakkers alone “provides jobs for more than 600 people… I don’t have to tell you how many families are empowered by them alone.” The PHA also supports township informal traders, who rely on its fresh produce. Farmers told national Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen during a November visit that rising crime is now their biggest threat. “This area is under siege and threatens…

South African rugby’s annual awards season always sparks lively debate, but this year’s race for SA Rugby Player of the Year feels especially spicy. The shortlist isn’t official yet, with nominations opening for the media this week, but if we’re being honest, there’s a clear cluster of contenders who’ve shaped the Springboks’ season: Malcolm Marx, Ox Nché, André Esterhuizen, Cobus Reinach and flyhalf bolter Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu. Marx is the obvious headliner. Being crowned World Rugby Player of the Year is no small feat – it’s the sport’s highest individual prize and a hat tip to just how brilliantly consistent he’s been. How he re-established himself as the Boks’ premier hooker and kept that form going in tough Test matches deserves the plaudits. But here’s the thing: there are a few…

Arne Slot dedicated Tuesday’s 1-0 Uefa Champions League win at Inter Milan to the players he took to Italy, refusing to further fuel a public row with star forward Mohamed Salah. The build-up to the match had been dominated by Salah’s extraordinary criticism of Slot, who on Monday admitted he had “no clue” as to whether the unsettled attacker had played his last game for the Reds after deciding not to take him to Milan. Salah sparked huge drama at Liverpool when he said he felt like he had been “thrown under the bus” by the club and no longer had a relationship with Slot after being left on the bench for Saturday’s 3-3 draw at Leeds. “In the rich history Liverpool have, they have had many of these evenings,”…

Xavi Simons said he wanted to "build my own legacy" after marking the return of Son Heung-min on a visit to Tottenham with another goal in the number seven shirt once worn by the former Spurs star. The Dutch attacking midfielder followed his commanding display in last weekend's win over Brentford with another impressive showing in a 3-0 Champions League win at home to Slavia Prague on Tuesday. Simons rounded off victory with a late penalty as Son finally bid farewell to the Spurs faithful after a decade of superb service with the north London club. "It is really nice to score the goals, but feeling great on the pitch, that is the most important for me and I'm enjoying it," said Xavi. The 22-year-old, a £52 million summer transfer…

Seasonal Mzansi radio presenter, Sizwe Dhlomo, has taken to social media to share his memorable encounter with hip hop mogul, Sean “Diddy” Combs. The chatter began when a curious follower asked Dhlomo if he had ever met the famous artist, to which he replied: “Yes lol ... Even went to one of his parties! At a place called NASA in Copenhagen.” Dhlomo shared that himself and Diddy used to tweet back and forth, “until Twitter changed”, and Diddy stopped tweeting. The revelation ignited the online conversations, especially after the release of rapper 50 Cent’s Netflix documentary Sean Combs: The Reckoning. Dhlomo discussed the documentary and the ongoing rivalry between Diddy and 50 Cent on his Kaya FM show, Siz The World. The segment, titled “What to make of the heat…

“She is not gone. She is coming home.” These are the heart-wrenching words of the mother of four month pregnant 23-year-old Shanice Rudolph, whose body was discovered hidden in a shallow grave at Klip Road Cemetery, in Grassy Park, on the eve of the end of the 16 days of activism of no violence against women and children. The young woman’s life was tragically snuffed out before she could realise her dream of becoming a mother. A 42-year-old man, identified as Rudolph’s boyfriend, is expected to make an appearance at the Wynberg Magistrates’ Court today on a charge of murder. It is understood Rudolph had allegedly been lured out of her Lavender Hill home on December 4 apparently by her partner and was never seen alive again. Police made the…

The family of a Western Cape farmer who mysteriously disappeared eleven years ago from Egypt, near Barrydale, says authorities and a private investigator are tight-lipped about the case. Police have confirmed that his two labourers are expected to be extradited from Lesotho following their arrest but that the matter was pending. Andrew Whittingdale, 56, was the owner of Makouvlei Olive farm on Route 62 between Barrydale and Ladismith in the Western Cape and vanished on January 3, 2014. This month, police spokesperson, Sergeant Wesley Twigg confirmed the extradition process was not yet finalised and the matter was still under investigation. “The suspect/s were traced to Lesotho where the extradition process is pending,” Twigg explained. The two men, identified as Meshack Mphatsoane and Ernest Mphatsoane from Lesotho, were employed by Whittingdale…

Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia has disclosed that only 16 out of 170 firearms reported stolen or lost from the SAPS armouries have been recovered over the past five years. This statistic is part of a broader issue – over 300 firearms altogether have disappeared during the same period, prompting the DA to raise alarms over the potential consequences of state mismanagement on public safety. Responding to written parliamentary questions from DA MP and Police Portfolio Committee Chairperson Ian Cameron, Cachalia confirmed that of the 170 firearms that had gone missing, only a meagre 16 were accounted for. Cameron said the majority of those unaccounted for are probably circulating within criminal networks now, posing a grave danger to public safety. Cameron noted that the lost firearms were not simply standard…

The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness’s Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) Programme has screened 40 000 patients to intervene in early domestic and family violence cases. The department said the programme offers critical support to anyone who may otherwise never want to disclose violence or access help. IAfter a successful pilot phase at the Mitchells Plain Community Health Centre, the programme will be fully rolled out at the facility in the new year. "Having already been implemented at Groote Schuur Hospital and Mitchells Plain District Hospital, this pilot has demonstrated that it can also be rolled out at primary-level community health centres," the department said. It was designed and funded by the Groote Schuur Hospital Trust, which seeks to strengthen the healthcare system's response to domestic and intimate partner…

The Western Cape Mobility Department has sounded the alarm following a worrying spike in road incidents during the first week of the festive season, from December 1–7. A total of 21 fatal crashes were recorded on provincial roads, resulting in 28 fatalities – a stark reminder of the dangers that lie ahead as holiday travel ramps up. Pedestrians represent a significant concern, with 12 of those who died falling into this category, making up the largest group affected during the this period. The grim tally also includes 10 passengers, three drivers, two motorcyclists, and one cyclist. Western Cape Mobility MEC, Isaac Sileku’s warning comes as a serious accident involving a police vehicle happened on Eisleben and Morgenster roads on Tuesday morning. According to witnesses a police van carrying suspects hit…

A pioneering South African research project is turning to the night sky to address rising mental health challenges, with early findings showing that stargazing can reduce depression and anxiety while strengthening social connections. Researchers from Stellenbosch University’s CoCREATE Health Hub and the International Astronomical Union’s Office of Astronomy for Development (IAU OAD) are leading the initiative to scientifically examine how awe, nature immersion, and “cosmic perspective-taking” influence emotional well-being. The project, Astronomy for Mental Health, explores how structured stargazing sessions, from community gatherings to overnight retreats, can support mental health. The research builds on Stephen Kaplan’s Attention Restoration Theory, which suggests that gentle, sensory environments help the brain recover from mental fatigue. The night sky, researchers say, offers “soft fascination” – a calming, restorative form of attention that requires no…

Red Bull Racing has entered uncharted territory following the announcement that long-time advisor Helmut Marko will leave the organisation at the end of the season. After more than two decades of serving as the team’s talent architect, enforcer and strategic voice, his departure is being described internally as the closing of an extraordinary era. Red Bull’s upper management reacted with an unusual level of emotion. CEO Oliver Mintzlaff expressed “deep regret” at Marko’s decision to walk away, emphasising the Austrian's decisive role in all major strategic milestones that shaped Red Bull Racing into a modern Formula 1 powerhouse. For a team that prides itself on controlled messaging and competitive focus, the tone of its statement was unusually heartfelt. Marko is not an ordinary executive, he is, in many ways, one…

It took him a while to reach 100 international matches for the Sharks after an overseas stint with Harlequins, but André Esterhuizen always knew that Durban was the place where his heart lies and where he was coming back to. The hybrid player, as he was dubbed at the Springboks for being comfortable both in the backline and among the forwards, will reach the milestone on Saturday when the coastal side faces Saracens at Kings Park in the second round of the European Champions Cup. Esterhuizen (31) will follow in the footsteps of his former centre partner at the Sharks, Lukhanyo Am, who reached his 100 caps in May this year. The Klerksdorp-born Bok will embrace the tough challenge ahead, but said that as a young boy, he never imagined…

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has given his full backing to young star Relebohile Mofokeng, insisting the midfielder possesses everything required to guide the team towards lifting the league title. The Buccaneers have sent out a strong early message in their intensifying rivalry with Mamelodi Sundowns, signalling that they are no longer merely pursuers but genuine contenders against the eighteen-time champions. As they approach the Christmas break holding a two-point advantage at the top of the standings, the Buccaneers have shown greater strength and consistency than in previous campaigns, delivering a sequence of standout performances that reinforce their ambitions. Ouaddou and his team have already secured two trophies this season, and their Carling Knockout success over the weekend further underlined their status as the standout side in the opening half…