Innehållsförteckning för 2026-01-12 från Cape Argus

Documentaries like this aren’t made for comfort. Kids are involved, so yeah, expect to feel sick to your stomach. But if there’s one thing Netflix nails, it’s showing how deep cults can burrow into ordinary lives, and Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story is a horror story that doesn’t quit. If there’s one thing every wild cult has, it’s a leader. In this case, it’s Hildebrandt, a Utah-based therapist who had people wrapped around her finger while abusing children and teaching others to do the same. Her manipulations escalated over the years, culminating in 2023 when Ruby Franke’s 12-year-old son escaped from Hildebrandt’s house. His hands were still restrained when he ran to a neighbour, which finally forced the authorities to intervene. Both women were arrested. The documentary doesn’t just…

An eight-year-old was among 17 people arrested in Manenberg last week as police cracked down on daily stone-throwing incidents that have become so frequent they now start as early as 6am, police have said. Manenberg police spokesperson Captain Ian Bennett said the suspects were charged and sent to court, but the case was withdrawn as the court required detailed information on each person’s actions and descriptions during the incidents. Videos online show that the presence of law enforcement officers does not stop the attacks. A police vehicle was nearly damaged, and officers narrowly avoided a violent clash as a group of children advanced on the van, said Manenberg police spokesperson Captain Ian Bennett. Captain Bennett said the suspects were charged and sent to court, but the case was withdrawn as…

Former DA Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), Dr Dion George, has accused the party’s leader, John Steenhuisen, of actions “tantamount to cadre deployment” after he removed him from his position and appointed in Willie Aucamp his place. George claims that Aucamp’s appointment suited Steenhuisen’s personal and commercial political objectives. This is according to an 85-page affidavit submitted to the Public Protector, in which George alleged that Steenhuisen orchestrated his removal from the Cabinet to install a successor who would protect specific commercial interests, specifically of the captive lion breeding and hunting industry. This comes ahead of the DA’s elective congress in April this year, with Steenhuisen hoping to be elected for a third term. George wants the Public Protector to investigate Steenhuisen’s “unlawful interference with the DFFE’s…

The breach of 2025 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examination papers originated from within the Department of Basic Education’s (DBE) secure national examinations environment, but the integrity of the overall matric results remains intact, according to interim findings released on Friday. Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube released the findings of the independent National Investigation Task Team (NITT), which probed the leak of NSC question papers. The findings were accepted by Umalusi, which approved the release of the 2025 matric results and confirmed the credibility of the examinations. The interim report found the breach was localised and involved 40 candidates in the Tshwane area – a small fraction of the more than 900 000 learners who wrote the NSC exams in 2025. Seven question papers were confirmed to have been compromised, covering…

Ryan Rickelton is “chilled” with missing out Proteas’ T20 World Cup selection and is focusing squarely on helping MI Cape Town defend their Betway SA20 crown. The MI Cape Town opener was overlooked for the 15-man national squad heading to the short-format jamboree in India and Sri Lanka next month. But instead of sulking over his omission, the southpaw has responded by topping the League’s run-scorers charts, which included his second century of the competition against the Joburg Super Kings at the Wanderers on Saturday evening. Rickelton’s undefeated 113 off 60 balls saw him become the only batter to score multiple SA20 centuries, and also reignited MI Cape Town’s campaign with a 36-run victory to keep the defending champions in the race for the playoffs. “I’m over (the World Cup)…

Durban Super Giants breathed fresh life into their Betway SA20 campaign with a thrilling two-wicket victory over Sunrisers Eastern Cape at St George’s Park yesterday. The visitors required just four runs off the final over, but with only last man Noor Ahmad to come they needed Evan Jones to hold his nerve by striking Anrich Nortje for a boundary. Tristan Stubbs has largely played a peripheral role thus far this season, but the Sunrisers Eastern Cape captain burst into life with an undefeated 47 off 30 balls to push the table-toppers up to 158/5, but the Super Giants edged home to just three balls to spare. Stubbs’ predecessor Aiden Markram returned to St George’s Park for the first time since leaving the Sunrisers and he returned with a vengeance. Markram…

Thomas Frank insisted he retains the support of Tottenham’s hierarchy after Saturday’s FA Cup exit against Aston Villa piled pressure on the beleaguered boss. Frank’s side crashed out in the third round as first-half goals from Villa’s Emiliano Buendia and Morgan Rogers inspired a 2-1 win in north London. Wilson Odobert reduced the deficit in Tottenham’s improved second half display, but it was too little, too late for Frank. The former Brentford boss has lost seven of his last 13 matches in all competitions, with Tottenham out of both domestic cups and languishing in 14th place in the Premier League. They remain in contention to reach the Champions League last 16 but Frank faces a fight to ensure he is still in charge by the time the group stage ends.…

Mohamed Salah scored as Egypt won 3-2 to dump defending champions Ivory Coast out of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in a thrilling quarter-final on Saturday. Omar Marmoush and Ramy Rabia netted for Egypt, then Ahmed Aboul-Fetouh conceded an own goal before half-time. Salah then edged closer to a first AFCON winners medal by doubling the lead soon after the break before Guela Doue pulled a goal back for Ivory Coast, but it wasn’t enough for the holders. The jubilant Egyptians will face Senegal on Wednesday in Tangiers with the winners meeting hosts Morocco or Nigeria four days later in the final. “I’m so happy with this win and reaching the semi-finals,” said Salah. “I am proud to wear the Egyptian national jersey and all the players know the…

Global reality TV hit dating show Love Is Blind is coming to South Africa. The series follows singles who form emotional bonds without ever seeing one another, before testing whether love can survive the realities of physical connection and real life. The South African version promises high emotional stakes and intimate storytelling as participants navigate the intricacies of modern relationships. Local viewers are buzzing with excitement for the experimental dating show, anticipating the drama and potential connections that will unfold. The original US series of Love is Blind has inspired numerous international adaptations. By late 2025, the American version had aired nine seasons, alongside adaptations in countries including Brazil, Japan, Sweden, the UK, Germany, Argentina, Mexico, France, Italy, and an Arabic version known as Habibi. A celebrity power couple from…

Emihle Kanityi was at work when the fire raged through her home in Dunoon, destroying everything in its path including her children’s uniform and stationery which she had prepared for the new school year. The fire has left 5 500 homeless with the City allocating R12 million for the site to be reblocked. The fire that tore through Site 5 in Dunoon is believed to be the largest informal settlement blaze in the Western Cape since the Khayelitsha fire of 2013, according to Imtiaz Sooliman, founder of Gift of the Givers, as thousands of residents remain displaced and emergency relief continues. Kanityi is one of the residents who shared her great loss with the Cape Argus, said she had been at work on Friday when she heard about the fire.…

A licensed gun owner escaped with his life after being shot in the neck during a brazen attack by apparent hijackers and drove himself to hospital. The 47-year-old man had fought back, firing shots at his attackers. The drama unfolded on Friday in Westridge, Mitchells Plain. Police have yet to confirm whether the incident was linked to an apparent hijacking. According to police spokesperson Constable Ndakhe Gwala, the incident occurred at about 10.18pm on January 9 in Sayed Abdul Samad Road. Gwala said the man was searching for a friend in the area when he stopped at a house to ask for directions. He was directed to another address a few houses away. “As the man was returning to his vehicle, gunshots were fired in his direction,” Gwala said. The…

“A learner’s academic progress and access to report cards can and must never be used as leverage to compel parents to contribute financially or participate in fundraising activities,” said chairperson of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Basic Education, Joy Maimela, during a recent discussion. This comes as Parliament has raised serious concerns over reports that some schools and school governing bodies (SGBs) are unlawfully withholding academic report cards from learners and placing financial pressure on parents at no-fee schools. She also noted growing complaints and social media reports indicating that parents at no-fee schools were being required to purchase stationery, a practice she described as unlawful and a direct violation of learners’ constitutional right to basic education. “Government makes provision for learner teacher support material (LTSM), including stationery, at no-fee paying…

Authors, poets, moderators, and performers are set to take part in the fifth annual Cape Flats Book Festival, which will be held from Saturday, January 31 to Sunday February 1 at West End Primary School in Lentegeur, Mitchell’s Plain. The free festival, hosted by literacy non-profit Read to Rise, is open to the public and aims to celebrate reading, writing, and storytelling across generations. More than 90 speakers are expected to participate across more than 50 sessions for children, young adults, and adults. These include poetry readings, writing workshops, storytelling sessions, a puppet show, giveaways, books, food stalls, and exhibitors, said programme director Roscoe Williams. Read to Rise was founded in 2013 and is a non-profit organisation that promotes youth literacy in under-resourced communities across South Africa. Read to Rise…

South Africa has taken a major step towards workplace equality. The Constitutional Court’s ruling now allows parents to share a total of four months and 10 days of parental leave after the birth, adoption, or surrogacy of a child. This replaces a system that offered mothers extended maternity leave, while fathers were limited to just 10 days. The change gives fathers a real opportunity to participate in early childcare and signals a cultural shift in industries traditionally dominated by men, including mining, construction, engineering, renewable energy, and petrochemicals. Changing family roles In many male-dominated sectors, workplace culture has long assumed that caregiving is the mother’s responsibility. Fathers were expected to return to work almost immediately, leaving mothers to manage the majority of early childcare. The new ruling challenges that norm.…

Former Kaizer Chiefs and Cape Town Spurs coach Ernst Middendorp has weighed in on the debate sparked by Hugo Broos’ comments following Bafana Bafana’s exit from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). South Africa were eliminated in the Round of 16 after a defeat to Cameroon in Morocco, bringing a disappointing end to their AFCON campaign. The Indomitable Lions exposed defensive frailties that plagued Bafana throughout the tournament, with the team conceding six goals in four matches at the Nations Cup. Despite the early exit, Broos’ side had progressed to the knockout stages after finishing second in Group B with six points from three matches. Bafana collected victories over Angola and Zimbabwe, and suffered a defeat to Egypt in the group stages. Upon the team’s return from Morocco, Broos…

Liam Rosenior hailed “outstanding” Chelsea’s “strong start” to his reign as the new Blues boss savoured a 5-1 rout of Charlton in the FA Cup third round on Saturday. Taking charge of Chelsea for the first time following his arrival from Strasbourg, Rosenior watched as goals from Jorrel Hato, Tosin Adarabioyo, Marc Guiu, Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez gave him the perfect introduction to his new club. The 41-year-old has replaced Enzo Maresca, who parted ways with the club last week after a turbulent campaign marred by reports of rifts with the club’s hierarchy. Some critics have questioned whether Rosenior will be a puppet for Chelsea’s powerbrokers because Strasbourg are in the same ownership group as the Premier League club. Rosenior, sacked by second-tier Hull in 2024, has much to…

The SA women’s hockey team claimed a 2-0 victory over Canada in the third Test at HS Menlopark in Pretoria yesterday, reasserting control of the five-match series after a comfortable 5-0 opening win and goalless draw in the second match. The match marked a special occasion for goalkeeper Jana Marie Botha, who made her senior international debut between the posts for South Africa. From the opening whistle, the game was played at a high tempo with chances at both ends. South Africa enjoyed sustained pressure and earned more than 10 penalty corners over the course of the match but were unable to fully capitalise, thanks in large part to an outstanding goalkeeping display from Canada. The breakthrough eventually came through a moment of individual brilliance. Ntsopa Mokoena surged into…

Achraf Hakimi is an idol across Africa Cup of Nations host country Morocco, but there is a particularly strong feeling of pride in Ksar El Kebir, his mother’s home town. Far from the tumult of the six Cup of Nations host cities, including Casablanca and Marrakesh, Ksar El Kebir is a small provincial city of 120,000 inhabitants not far off the road linking the port of Tangiers to the capital, Rabat. The mother of Paris Saint-Germain superstar Hakimi was born there before emigrating in her youth to Spain, where the current African Footballer of the Year was born in 1998. “There are no Moroccans who are not proud of him, so imagine how we feel here,” says Hassan El Mouden, the 57-year-old owner of a cafe in the centre of…

Education watchdogs have criticised the provincial and national government for their placement strategy, citing that they must take responsibility for racial profiling in schools and that the system is flawed. This while political parties said it noted that 23 000 children nationally have yet to be placed for the 2026 school year. Bronagh Hammond, Director of Communication – Western Cape Education Department, confirmed that as of January 7, the WCED has successfully placed 180 960 (96%) learners for whom applications were received for Grades R, 1, and 8 for the 2026 school year. Placement is still in progress for 7 540 learners in these grades. Hammond said the WCED built 175 new classrooms through the building of schools and the expansion of existing schools, which will contribute towards the…

The SAPS has seized counterfeit and illicit goods valued at more than R350 million and arrested 33 suspects during nationwide operations conducted at the height of the festive shopping season. Police say the operations were carried out in December in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape and were led by national and provincial Counterfeit, Contraband and Illicit Goods Units. “During the busiest retail season of the year, the SAPS and its crime-fighting partners collectively seized counterfeit and illicit goods worth more than R350m during nationwide takedown operations,” police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Amanda van Wyk, said. Nearly 600 000 counterfeit and illicit items were confiscated, including high-end designer-branded clothing, sports apparel, footwear, jewellery, cosmetics and cellphone accessories. Police also seized illicit pharmaceuticals valued at more than R1m, along with illegal cigarettes,…

Young people in Rustenburg have defended themselves against bold and controversial claims recently made by ANC chairperson, Gwede Mantashe, who stated that the youth are too lazy to look for jobs. Mantashe’s assertions come amid service delivery challenges that have resulted in frustration in the North West Province. Last week, Mantashe said the country’s youth are too lazy to look for jobs and want the government to provide these jobs for them. In Moruleng township, where President Cyril Ramaphosa gave his keynote address in celebration of the ANC’s 114th anniversary on Saturday, young people told of the pain of being unemployed while attempting to find new ways of making a living. Lebogang Kgosi, 25, said that efforts to find a job and the high crime levels in Northam forced him…

A woman's effort to remain in her matrimonial home, from which she had been evicted, came to an end as she sought legal recourse during ongoing divorce proceedings. Despite her attempts to secure further occupancy, the home had already been sold. The Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) reviewed her application for reconsideration and upheld the ruling made by the Western Cape High Court. The divorce proceedings of the couple, who were married out of community of property under the accrual system, have yet to conclude, having begun in June 2010. In those proceedings, the wife claimed payment of half the difference in the accruals of her and her estranged husband’s respective estates, as well as lifelong spousal maintenance. The property was purchased by the husband in 2003. Although he was…

The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (Sahpra) has issued a health warning to parents following a safety alert regarding products currently on the market that contain zinc picolinate and selenium, both of which are intended for use in children. According to the regulator, neither ingredient is permitted in health supplements for children under the age of 18. “Sahpra has been made aware of products in the market containing zinc picolinate (as a source material for zinc) and/or selenium intended for use in children,” the authority said. The regulator said the ingredients have been flagged in its official guidance on complementary medicines and health supplements as unsuitable for children, due to safety concerns. Sahpra explained that zinc picolinate, regardless of dose, may cause a range of side effects in children,…

Forgive & Forget Swantje Opperman Narrated by Chase Brown, Georgie Maguire Audible Originals SWANTJE Opperman’s latest audiobook, Forgive & Forget, narrated by Chase Brown and Georgie Maguire, spins a web of emotions that grips listeners from the moment the first chapter begins. Set in Santa Barbara, California, the story takes us through a tailspin of romance, psychological intrigue, and supernatural elements that will leave you questioning the very fabric of trust and memory. Marlie’s life seems flawless; she excels in her studies, basks in the sun-soaked beauty of her coastal town, and revels in a budding romance with her beloved Tristan. However, the tranquillity of her existence is shattered when Callan, Tristan’s estranged twin brother, arrives unexpectedly at her doorstep, claiming a familial bond Tristan never mentioned. This revelation…

The Stormers’ defensive frailties were brutally exposed yesterday as they delivered their poorest performance of the season, conceding nine tries in a humbling 61-10 loss to Harlequins in London. The defeat not only ended their unbeaten run across all competitions, but also raised serious questions about the much talked about depth and cohesion of their squad in a Champions Cup clash that unravelled alarmingly quickly. Fielding an understrength side, the Cape outfit were always facing a stern test against a fired-up Harlequins team, but few could have predicted just how one-sided the contest would become. Any talk of fringe players staking a claim or showing fight evaporated within the opening 25 minutes, as the Quins ran in four tries to secure an early bonus point. By that stage, the scoreboard…

World number one Aryna Sabalenka warmed up for a tilt at a third Australian open title in four years in ominous fashion by winning her second successive Brisbane International crown yesterday. Sabalenka scored a dominant 6-4, 6-3 win over Marta Kostyuk in just 78 minutes. “Every day you go out there and prove your level, and I think this week I did it really well,” said Sabalenka after a tournament in which she powered to the title without dropping a set. Looking ahead to the Australian Open, which began yesterday, Sabalenka said: “The only thing I know is that I’ll be there, I’ll be fighting.” Sabalenka lost in the Melbourne Park final last year to Madison Keys, having been Australian Open champion in 2023 and 2024. “I’ll do my best…

Adriaan Wildschutt achieved the best result by a South African in the senior men’s race at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee, Florida on Saturday, but his time of 29:32 in the 10km was only good enough for 13th place. Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo crossed the line in 28:18 to become the fourth man in history to win three consecutive world cross-country titles. Wildschutt’s achievement improved on the 15th-place finishes by Shadrack Hoff in the senior men’s race in Stellenbosch in 1996, and Stephen Mokoka in Punta Umbria, Spain, in 2011. Wildschutt, who is based in the US and previously competed for Florida State University, led the SA men’s squad to ninth position in the men’s team competition. “It was a nice race; went out really fast. I knew…

The AFCON 2025 champions are set to be crowned on Sunday, and such has been the quality of the tournament that the new kings of African football will be reclaiming the crown for yet another term. The four semi-finalists – Senegal, Egypt, Morocco and Nigeria – have all won AFCON before, albeit on different occasions. Senegal claimed their maiden title in 2021, while Egypt, who will face them in the first semi-final on Wednesday night (6pm kick-off) at the Tangier Grand Stadium, are chasing a record-extending eighth crown. Interestingly, this will also be a repeat of the 2021 final, where the Teranga Lions edged the Pharaohs on penalties to win their maiden continental crown under son of the soil Aliou Cissé. In addition, the clash between the Teranga Lions and…