Table of contents for 2025-11-05 in Cape Argus

Far Gone is a gripping exploration of loss, resilience and the human cost of war. Through the lens of a young boy’s forced recruitment into the Lord’s Resistance Army in Northern Uganda, the production highlight themes of innocence stolen, survival amid trauma and the enduring strength of the human spirit. Combining humour, poetry and physical theatre, John Rwothomack’s one-man show confronts the brutality of conflict while highlighting hope, courage and the power of storytelling as a tool for healing. Where: Baxter Theatre. When: Tuesday, November 11 to Saturday, November 15 at 8pm. The Vulgarians This unsophisticated sex comedy explores desire, curiosity, marital dynamics and honesty, revealing how intimacy, secrets and playful indulgence test relationships while highlighting humour and human vulnerability. Where: Masambe Theatre. When: Runs until Saturday, November 22. Joseph…

The Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture was presented with an overview of the R150 million rejuvenation project at Robben Island yesterday. The department revealed that R15m has been spent on completed projects at the Robben Island Museum (RIM), which include a memorial wall, the Nelson Mandela museum, and the refurbishment of sports facilities. Six statues commemorating historical figures – Autshumato, Krotoa, Nelson Mandela, Robert Sobukwe, Herman Toivo Ya Toivo, and Khotso Seatlholo – were completed in September and feature inscribed plates. Robben Island Museum has also completed the production of 2 700 name plates of Robben Island’s ex-political prisoners with names, years of incarceration/ banishment and prison number. Names were unveiled by the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture in September, but a contractor is currently attending to…

Despite a string of recent violent crimes in the province, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has declared it ready and prepared to host the G20 Leaders' Summit. Lesufi addressed the media on the province's state of readiness for the two-day summit, which kicks off at the Nasrec Expo Centre on November 22 and 23. The much-anticipated gathering, which will be held under the theme "Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability", is expected to host no less than 20 heads of state and other prominent travellers. Lesufi sent a strong warning to criminals who are planning to disrupt the gathering, saying they will regret their decision as his administration has a comprehensive plan to deal with them. Lesufi said enough measures have been taken to improve certain areas of concern to ensure a crime-free and…

GIFT of the Givers founder and CEO, Imtiaz Sooliman, has warned that indecision and infighting among municipal leaders are costing the nation dearly. “We’ve seen municipalities fail because they can’t make a decision and 65 million people pay the price because three or four guys can’t get along,” he told editors and senior staff at Independent Media’s offices yesterday. He welcomed commissions and enquiries that expose wrongdoing in both government and business. “There are still people in government who are taking bribes under the table but corporate guys also inflate their prices to government,” Sooliman said. He also highlighted the often-overlooked dedication of honest public servants. “Government then seems to be the bad guy but we fail to see how many good guys there are. When we say that government…

Africa’s independence since the beginning of the 1960s has been hugely characterised by dictatorship, authoritarianism, ineptitude, corruption, and maladministration. Those who were known to be the freedom fighters have come to be known as the oppressors of the same people they used to claim to fight on their behalf. The African youth who were born in the post-colonial years are subjected to poor governance, poverty, lack of education and economic opportunities, unending wars and conflicts. The decision by the 92-year-old, Paul Biya, to stand for presidency in the recent elections in Cameroon has proved that Africa is regressing in terms of adding youth leadership in its political ecosystem rather than electing old people who are collapsing their respective countries. It is clear that the Cameroonians were and are not happy…

Proteas Women's captain, Laura Wolvaardt, highlighted an increase in support from South Africa as a feat that gave them the strength to break records in the recently concluded 2025 ICC Women's Cricket World Cup in India. Wolvaardt led the Proteas Women's team to the country's first-ever ICC Cricket World Cup final, where they fell short by 52 runs against hosts India women in Navi Mumbai this past Sunday. However, the Proteas Women - coached by Mandla Mashimbyi - achieved record-breaking results at the showpiece event. Behind their success, Wolvaardt highlighted support from South Africa as what gave them the strength to push the boundaries. Wolvaardt added that having such a successful tournament helps inspire young girls and boys to pick up the sport of cricket, a feat that is of…

South African golf legend Gary Player’s recent and pointed critique of modern South Africa, specifically his condemnation of the Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) Act and his bleak description of the country as a “land of squatter camps”, has sparked justifiable outrage. His observations, delivered from a perch of enormous privilege, betray a fundamental lack of historical introspection, raising the unavoidable question: how can a man who benefited so immensely from the very system that created the nation’s wounds now feel entitled to lecture about its ongoing recovery? Player’s argument is clear: BEE is inefficient, corruption is rife, and infrastructure is failing. Yes, corruption is rampant and the government has largely failed its people over the past 31 years. But this critique is delivered without recognising that the economic inequality he…

THE National Commissioner of Correctional Services, Makgothi Samuel Thobakgale has revealed shocking details of the gang-related stabbing at Pollsmoor Prison a week ago, where three inmates lost their lives and two correctional officers injured. According to the department, the attack occurred shortly after breakfast when remand detainee Bonginkosi Jali, 46, requested to use the toilet. Two other detainees Ricardo Krotz, 28, and Andre Gouws, 22 were cleaning the passage at the time. All three were armed with sharpened objects. During a media briefing held yesterday, Thobakgale gave a blow-by-blow account of the attack. “The assault began when Jali emerged from the toilet facility and attacked Mr Mendo Somdyala, stabbing him. Despite his injuries, Mr Somdyala managed to run to the unit office for assistance, where Mr Wuve Rubushe was stationed.…

The Cape of Good Hope SPCA has condemned a case of animal cruelty involving the killing of several kittens in Ruyterwacht. The incident has left the community outraged and sparked renewed calls for harsher penalties against those who abuse animals. On October 29, the SPCA received a distressing report that an individual had been seen attacking and killing kittens in Pringle Close, Ruyterwacht. Residents intervened and detained the suspect until SPCA Inspectors and officers from the City of Cape Town’s Animal Control Unit arrived on the scene. Inspectors discovered a yellow plastic bag containing three deceased kittens. Their bodies were bloodied and showed clear signs of blunt force trauma, suggesting they had been viciously beaten before being discarded and buried in the sand. A post-mortem will be conducted to confirm…

Crime Intelligence Head, Lieutenant-General Dumisani Khumalo, said organised crime cartels or hit organisers were increasingly recruiting serving police officers to be hitmen in political and commercial assassinations. Testifying before the Madlanga Commission yesterday, Khumalo said this disturbing trend was uncovered by investigators who realised that the perpetrators were within the SAPS. “They want members who have experience or are still serving within the criminal justice system,” Khumalo said. “We have seen hit coordinators and orders adopting this new way of recruiting serving SAPS members to act as hitmen.” Khumalo said the arrest of Warrant Officer Michael Pule Tau, accused of being part of the hit squad that killed engineer Armand Swart, was not a surprise. Tau is the alleged killer who killed Swart on April 17, 2024 in Vereeniging. “That…

The Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (Sanccob) has taken urgent action to strengthen its biosecurity protocols amid a serious outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) affecting wild seabirds along South Africa’s coastline. HPAI, also known as bird flu, is a viral disease that causes rapid, severe illness in birds. The type of HPAI affecting seabirds in South Africa is officially known as H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b. Since July, a new outbreak of HPAI has been confirmed in wild seabirds across the Western Cape. These are the first wild‐bird detections in the province since April 2024. Wild seabirds infected with HPAI often develop neurological signs such as tremors, head twitches and seizures. Although HPAI occasionally infects mammals and humans, the risk to the public remains very low…

Faisalabad had not had any international cricket for 17 years, but Pakistan and the Proteas served up a thriller in the first ODI yesterday. The hosts ultimately crawled over the line with two wickets and two balls to spare to draw first blood in the three-match series. Corbin Bosch had four runs to defend in the final over with Pakistan still three wickets in the hut, but lost Mohammad Nawaz with the scores level to increase the drama and intrigue. But a leg-bye off Bosch's fourth delivery was enough to see Pakistan home. The series opener was in the balance throughout after the Proteas had set the hosts 264 on a surface that assisted the slower bowlers appreciably. Both innings were virtually a carbon copy of each other with the…

On Saturday night, if selected to captain South Africa, Siya Kolisi will stride onto the same patch of turf where he lifted the Webb Ellis Cup for a second consecutive time just over two years ago — the Stade de France. However, this time around, it won’t be for a prestigious trophy, but the occasion itself is the prize: his 100th Test in the Springbok jersey. It’s a milestone few achieve in their careers — he will become the ninth player in green and gold to do it — and even fewer do so with the resilience and emotional weight that Kolisi carries. His journey to the milestone over 12 years has been anything but smooth sailing, despite achieving so much with the national team. The Bok captain has faced…

During a recent guest appearance on the SMWX podcast, Tony Forbes, father of the late award-winning rapper Kiernan “AKA” Forbes, revealed that he has forgiven the men accused of killing his son. AKA and his friend Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane were shot dead outside the Wish restaurant on Florida Road, Durban, in February 2023. Seven men have been charged with the murders. The men face trial in June 2026. “I have forgiven those people. I had not forgiven them before I knew who they were, but now that I know, I have forgiven them, but I’d like to see justice. I need to see justice. “I have not walked around in the last 2 to 3 years thinking about the case or being angry, because if I did, that’s all I…

Brown Mogotsi, the controversial North West-based businessman is yet to open a case of attempted murder after his bullet-ridden car was found on Mdhlebe Street, Vosloorus Extension 25, on Monday night. The SAPS has described him as unco-operative in the investigation. Mogotsi, who has been linked to alleged political interference by some of the witnesses at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry and the Parliamentary ad hoc committee – both are investigating allegations of political interference at the highest levels of the police. The incident takes place just days before Mogotsi’s scheduled appearance at Parliament’s ad hoc committee later this month, where he is expected to provide testimony on his alleged links to controversial members of a drug cartel, criminal syndicates and his alleged connection to suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu.…

The grandmother of murdered Stellenbosch University student, Jesse Mitchell, in her victim impact statement, described her grief and shared their last conversations leading up to his 19th birthday. His killer, Rudolph Hufke, was sentenced in the Stellenbosch Regional Court to life imprisonment and 30 years of direct imprisonment. The 20-year-old accused entered into a plea and sentencing agreement with the State, where he confessed to the murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances of Mitchell, a BSc student, and the robbery with aggravating circumstances of Sikho Matimba. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said that in the early hours of October 15, 2024, Hufke was in Borcherd Street, Stellenbosch, looking for people he could accost and rob using a knife he carried. CCTV footage shows Mitchell riding past on his electric bicycle,…

The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) says it is ready to administer an election on the first Wednesday in November 2026, should that be the date chosen by the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Velenkosi Hlabisa. As it currently stands, elections are expected to take place between November 2, 2026 and January 31, 2027, although a final date has not yet been set or announced. IEC Deputy Chief Electoral Officer Masego Sheburi said consultations were ongoing. “The Commission has commenced with the Minister. The Minister at the last meeting indicated that he was consulting with Cabinet. Planning scenarios have considered a number of things,’’ he said. Sheburi explained that the planning scenario had considered several factors, including matric examinations, tertiary institution exams and weather patterns across…

The City of Cape Town has won the right to prevent members of the Khoi-San community from unlawfully occupying vacant land in Mitchells Plain. The legal battle revolves around Khoi-San representative Johannes van Rooyen, who had previously told the South African Human Rights Commission that the community would be repossessing land. The judge noted that Van Rooyen said he had a mandate to secure land for his people. This led the City to seek an anti-land-invasion interdict against Van Rooyen and others he represented. An anti-land-intrusion interdict is a court order that allows a landowner to stop unlawful occupation before it occurs. It differs from an eviction, which is used to remove people already illegally occupying land, often under the Prevention of Illegal Eviction from and Unlawful Occupation of Land…

As frail as he appears, Gen. (Rtd) Moses Ali, the 86-year-old second deputy prime minister of Uganda, recently danced while running for the East Moyo County seat he aims to contest in the 2026 general election. One could understandably feel sympathy for the octogenarian, as he should be residing in a retirement community or enjoying his remaining years with loved ones. Sadly, this man still harbours political ambitions to become a national official. Due to age-related speech impairments, he struggles to communicate clearly. He cannot walk unaided and is always accompanied by helpers to ensure they catch him if he loses his balance. He is not alone, however, as he is among certain African leaders who seem committed to holding on to power until the very end. Paul Biya of…

Stormers rugby star Seabelo Senatla will get to fulfill a dream that has been ‘brewing in his mind and heart for a long time’ when the Senatla 7s Tournament for Cape Town’s young rugby talent kicks off at Connect NTK Rugby Club in Parow on Friday and Saturday. It’s a full-circle moment for the celebrated multi-code rugby star, World Rugby Men’s Sevens Player of the Year in 2016 and record-setting Blitzboks try scorer. The 32-year-old wants to give the opportunity for the untapped talent in some of Cape Town’s marginalised communities to be seen and recognised, in the same way he was years ago in Welkom, where he is from, and to share some of the gifts he has been given. The tournament, a partnership between Senatla and the Connect…