Table of contents for 2025-11-19 in Cape Argus

Vannie Wal, Af Adam and Jethro’s story unfolds in the kind of shadowed corners many queer couples still know too well. Set in Stellenbosch their stolen kisses and quiet embraces speak to a world that hasn’t fully caught up with them. Actors Angelo Bergh and Dean John Smith bring these two characters to life with a softness that feels like real, lived moments. It’s the only place where a first-year student and a master’s student can stand close without feeling the world’s eyes on their backs. Mikyall Harris built this story from his own scars – growing up as a brown gay boy in a small town, then being thrown into a “liberal” campus where you still have to juggle family, identity, and longing. That rawness sits at the…

After yet another delay in the murder trial of slain wine farmer Stefan Smit, the doctor who attended to murder accused Zurenah Smit after she collapsed in the dock on Monday will testify in the Western Cape High Court tomorrow. On Monday, Zurenah appeared alongside her co-accused Derek Sait, when she suddenly collapsed in the dock as State prosecutor advocate Rene Uys read out the indictment. Zurenah was wheeled out of court by emergency services, and afterwards was hospitalised. The matter has been marred with delays, which included an application to have the presiding Judge Derek Wille recuse himself from the case. A week before the recusal application, Judge Derek Wille denied Smit and Sait’s Section 174 application, in which they sought to have criminal charges against them discharged. The…

THE Western Cape Education Department (WCED) said they were made aware of a serious allegation of the assault of a Grade 1 learner allegedly at the hands of three fellow learners at a Fisantekraal school who are believed to have beaten her in the stomach and shoved toilet paper into her private part. The WCED confirmed that disciplinary action was being taken against the learners. Yesterday, during a heart-wrenching interview with the Cape Argus, the girl’s mother said her seven-year-old daughter had developed a liver infection following the attack. The family has not opened a case with police as yet while waiting for guidance from the Thuthuzela centre. The incident allegedly took place inside a toilet on the school grounds on November 7. “She came home and just went to…

The government has detailed the millions of rand spent throughout South Africa’s G20 presidency and the upcoming two-day leaders’ summit this weekend. An amount of R131.3 million has been allocated to various departments to cover costs related to the country’s G20 presidency. The Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation has set aside R1.5m towards payments for capital assets for the FortiGate next‐generation firewall, according to the national estimates of expenditure presented after Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s medium-term budget policy statement presented last week. This includes R500 000 for branding and promotional items for the G20 development working group ministerial meeting. Another R5m was paid towards venues and facilities for the G20 second energy transitions working group meetings at Cape Town International Convention Centre and Sun City. The Presidency spent over…

A team of orthopaedic surgeons at Tygerberg Hospital has performed an innovative limb reconstruction procedure, which Stellenbosch University (SU) described as the first surgery of its kind in the country, and among only a few completed worldwide. The SU stated that the team, affiliated with the university’s limb reconstruction unit, implanted a Fitbone Transport Nail (Fitbone TLN) in a 64-year-old former police officer who suffered a gunshot wound to his right femur in 2018. Despite multiple surgeries, his fracture failed to heal, leaving him in chronic pain and with a significant limb length discrepancy. The operation was led by Professor Nando Ferreira, head of the clinical unit for tumour, sepsis and reconstruction at Tygerberg Hospital. He was joined by Dr Edward Fuzy, Dr Jayesh Haribhai and Dr Tino-Vito Orlandi. “Fitbone…

Families in Sir Lowry’s Pass say they have been left without livestock they depend on for their livelihood after the Cape of Good Hope SPCA, supported by SAPS and the City’s Animal Control Unit, seized 96 pigs from a property. The SPCA says the removal followed months of unsuccessful attempts to improve animal-welfare conditions, while community representatives allege the operation was unlawful and harmful to small-scale farmers. The SPCA said inspectors found pigs living in “filthy, unhygienic, and wholly unacceptable” conditions last week despite repeated efforts to assist the owners since May. Inspector Lwazi Ntungele said: “When it rains, the pigs were stranded in mud and their own excrement, without access to clean water. When it’s hot, we find them with no water at all and still living in filth.…

Images of children participating in sport are widespread across social media, club websites, newsletters andbroadcasts. While such images celebrate achievement and community, they also expose minors to risks such as exploitation, cyberbullying, identity theft and digital permanence. In South Africa, legal protection for children’s images arises from the Constitution, common law personality rights and the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPIA). Yet these frameworks only partially address how children’s images intersect with safeguarding in digital environments. Image rights should be situated within a child-safeguarding framework, guided by the constitutional principle that the best interests of the child are paramount. The right to be forgotten, constitutional principles and international child rights norms are central to protecting the digital identity of child athletes. While South African law does not…

Former India Test captain and ICC Hall of Famer Anil Kumble believes Proteas skipper Temba Bavuma deserves to sit at the table of the modern-day greats of world cricket. Bavuma has previously received plenty of criticism, primarily due to the Proteas disappointments in the white-ball formats, but his stature as a Test leader has grown exponentially over the past two years. Since being appointed the full-time Test captain by coach Shukri Conrad in February 2023, Bavuma has yet to lose a series. In fact, he’s guided the Proteas to 10 victories out of 11 matches. The 35-year-old also brought unbridled joy to the nation when he led the Proteas’ to the World Test Championship title after a historic victory over Australia at Lord’s back in June. It was South…

Germany captain Joshua Kimmich said his side “wanted to send a message” with Monday’s 6-0 thumping of Slovakia in Leipzig which sealed their progress to the 2026 World Cup. Leroy Sane struck twice and Nick Woltemade scored for the third straight Germany. The win put Germany through atop Group A and into next year’s tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Slovakia finished second and will go into a play-off. “Everyone wanted to send a message today. Everyone knew what was at stake,” Kimmich told Germany’s ZDF. “In Germany, we’re not used to it being difficult to qualify - that’s why I’m very happy with how we played.” Germany have laboured past underdog opponents in this campaign but were 4-0 up at half-time and humming in Leipzig. Woltemade continued…

The man accused of brutally raping and assaulting a 21-month-old boy in Tafelsig has been identified as the child’s uncle, while furious community leaders and residents are calling for his bail to be denied. The 21-year-old man, who cannot be identified, made his first appearance at the Mitchells Plain Magistrates’ Court yesterday, where he indicated he would be applying for bail. The matter was postponed to November 25. Irate residents attended the court case and told the Cape Argus they would petition against his bail request. Community activist Widaahd Williams, who also runs a feeding scheme and knows the family, said they were calling for bail to be denied. It is understood the mother had worked a night shift, and when she returned home, she learned that the child was…

Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy has revealed plans to introduce eight-year driver’s licences for ordinary South Africans. Meanwhile, commercial drivers will still need to renew their licences every two years for safety reasons. This comes as South Africa struggles with substantial backlogs in issuing driver’s licences, a situation exacerbated by ageing equipment and reliance on a single card-printing machine. Answering questions before the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) , the minister said a study conducted before her appointment recommended different renewal periods for commercial and ordinary drivers, which forms the basis of the proposed eight-year validity. “I read that study when I was appointed. It is an interesting study. It talks about, if you are having a public driver’s licence, so you are driving a bus or a taxi or…

George has undergone a political shake-up as the DA announced a new leadership team ahead of the local government elections. Browen Johnson will take over as mayor, with Gert van Niekerk of the Freedom Front Plus as deputy mayor, and former mayor Jackie von Brandis stepping in as council chief whip. The comes after a new coalition was formed between the DA, FF Plus, and ACDP. The team will be inaugurated on Friday. The changes follow months of uncertainty after three DA ward councillors resigned, leaving the party without a clear majority. Now, with support from four FF Plus councillors and continued ties with the ACDP, the DA said it was ready to push forward its agenda. DA Western Cape leader Tertius Simmers welcomed the agreement. “After constructive engagements with…

Residents, visitors and stakeholders are being invited to share their views on the long-term vision for Miller’s Point, the popular coastal resort along False Bay near Murdoch Valley. The area, which includes a tidal pool, beach, resort, and boat launch site, is also of great ecological and historical significance. The City’s Coastal Management Branch is developing a long-term vision for Miller’s Point, which will outline improvements to revitalise and conserve the site over time. The process begins with an online survey where the public can share their experiences and ideas for the area. The survey is available on the City’s website at Coastal Water Quality and will close on Sunday, November 30. Miller’s Point is a 300-metre-wide strip of land forming a transition zone between the Table Mountain National Park,…

Access to safe drinking water is essential for health and well-being, yet across South Africa, water quality is not always reliable. Some cities meet health standards, but national reports show that only 14-16% of municipal water systems consistently provide water that is safe to drink. Ageing infrastructure, rapid urban growth, and climate pressures make it difficult to maintain consistent quality. Leaking pipelines, overburdened treatment plants, and poorly functioning wastewater systems often release partially treated sewage into rivers and dams. Many assume tap water is safe, but the reality is that quality can vary widely, even within the same province. Why systems are under pressure Municipal water systems face serious challenges. Treatment plants in many areas are outdated or poorly maintained, making it difficult to keep up with growing demand given…

Red cards are not ruining rugby — inconsistent officiating is. And the sooner the sport’s powerbrokers admit that, the sooner we can stop pretending that the chaos unfolding weekly across Test arenas is anything other than a failure of interpretation and consistency. This past weekend once again exposed the gulf in how referees and TMOs deal with head-contact incidents, and how the colour of a jersey — or the hemisphere a team hails from — too often appears to influence outcomes. The narrative that strict sanctioning is protecting players and the safety of the game is only believable if those sanctions are applied evenly. Right now, they’re not. Take Franco Mostert’s straight red card against Italy on Saturday. Officials claimed head contact. The replays suggested something else: no clear contact…

The Proteas Test team have a song that they sing when coming together for a picture at the end of a big win or a triumphant series. “We make you look good, we make you look good! Shukri Conrad, we make you look good!” has rung out on the field with plenty of spontaneous laughter over the last couple of years. It is clearly an inside joke, with the players having a bit of fun at their coach’s expense. The song, however, is draped in sarcasm, with the players actually celebrating Conrad’s contribution to their performances, especially during the last World Test Championship cycle, when the Proteas managed to win seven Test matches in a row before beating Australia in the final at Lord’s in June this year. Conrad, together…

THE Department of Correctional Services (DCS) has confirmed the death of Moyhdian Pangaeker, who was sentenced for the rape and murder of eight-year-old Tazne Van Wyk. Her parents confirmed they had not been informed about his passing but heard the news for the first time from the Cape Argus yesterday. They said that despite his death, his actions destroyed their lives due to the negligence of the state after he was released out on parole and that justice would now never be served for their daughter. In a statement shared with the media, DCS spokesperson, Singabakho Nxumalo said Pangaeker had died in his sleep. “The Department of Correctional Services confirms the passing of offender Moyhdian Pangaeker. He died in his sleep and was discovered by officials on November 18. Pangaeker…

The family of three-year-old Khy’ree Jordaan is struggling to come to terms with the little boy’s death after an off-duty law enforcement officer allegedly drove over him in Clarke’s Estate, Elsies River, before fleeing the scene. The horror incident happened on November 9 in Alard Road, where Khy’ree was sitting at his usual spot on the pavement with his friends, his mother close by enjoying a piece of cake from his auntie’s confirmation. What happened next would shatter the life of the bubbly, friendly, Spider-Man-loving toddler and leave his family devastated. According to Khy’ree’s grandmother, Jolene Jordaan, she and her husband were standing in the kitchen when they heard screaming from outside. “All we could hear was people shouting Khy’ree!,” she said. “When I ran out I saw his daddy…

ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has confirmed that ANC NEC member and former public enterprises minister Dr Malusi Gigaba has been charged with corruption, and that he will step aside from party activities. Mbalula was speaking during a post-NEC media briefing, outlining key decisions and organisational directives arising from the weekend NEC meeting held in Ekurhuleni. “The Malusi case has been dealt with. We got a report towards this media briefing,” Mbalula said. “From the ANC’s side, Malusi has been charged with corruption. He will have to step aside. He will do that voluntarily. And there will be a statement to that effect, even now when I finish this media briefing.” He was responding to a question on whether Gigaba would be required to step aside under the ANC’s step-aside rule,…

ANC MP Xola Nqola said that they were disappointed by the testimony of Dr Mary de Haas to Parliament yesterday, describing it as the opposite of what they anticipated. Yesterday’s proceedings at Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee investigating allegations made by SAPS KwaZulu-Natal provincial commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, began with evidence leader Advocate Norman Arendse SC taking De Haas through her affidavit. Throughout the morning, De Haas jumped around from an array of topics, before landing on the disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT), where she delivered a blistering critique. An established violence monitor and long-time analyst of political violence, De Haas spoke candidly about alleged abuses, lack of transparency, and operational failures within the embattled unit. De Haas revealed that many cases were arbitrarily designated as “political…

THE Two Oceans Aquarium was honoured with the Mayor’s Medal for Conservation at the City of Cape Town’s prestigious Civic Honours Ceremony. This award, presented by Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis, recognises the Aquarium’s significant three-decade contribution to marine research, conservation, rehabilitation, and environmental advocacy. The recognition arrived a day after the aquarium marked its 30th birthday. “I am honoured to have received this award on behalf of the Two Oceans Aquarium,” said Michael Farquhar, CEO. “The aquarium was acknowledged among several high calibre Cape Town organisations, including Friends of the Liesbeek, the Mountain Club of South Africa, the Haven Night Shelter and the Service Dining Rooms, as well as individuals such as Babalwa Latsha, captain of the Springbok Women’s Rugby team, Professor Brian Kantor, Dr Joan Parker, and actor…

As South Africa prepares to host the G20 Summit, a striking message has taken hold across the country: many South Africans are not disappointed that US President Donald Trump will not be attending the event. Instead, they are relieved. The phrase that now captures the public mood has been repeated on radio shows, in community forums, and across social media: “Trump can keep his America; we keep our South Africa.” While the government remains polite in its formal statements, several planners involved in the high-level event say the atmosphere has become noticeably lighter. Organisers no longer need to brace for sudden shifts in tone or last-minute political drama that often follow Trump at major international gatherings. Without that looming uncertainty, South Africa believes the summit can stay more focused on…

It’s well known that the curtain will come down on Hugo Broos’ Bafana stint after the 2026 Fifa World Cup in North America. And so, with barely a few months before that happens, the burning question remains: who will succeed the silver-haired Belgian and build on the foundation he has laid during his five-year spell with Bafana? Well, that remains to be seen. If it were up to him, Broos would hand over the baton to his right-hand man Helman Mkhalele, who has experience, knows South African football with its pros and cons, and is familiar with the ins and outs of the team after being part of Broos’ backroom staff from day one. But it’s not in Broos’ hands, nor those of the association, Safa, to appoint Mkhalele as…

Former UFC champion Dricus du Plessis still remembers the first time he stepped into an EFC arena — an experience he describes as electrifying and unforgettable. That moment would later become a driving force behind his KNOX brand partnering with the EFC to further elevate professional MMA in South Africa. Following an exclusive report by Independent Media, the EFC — in partnership with KNOX Hydrate and the City of Cape Town — has officially announced the KNOX Legacy Series, a world-class mixed martial arts event set to debut at GrandWest Casino and Entertainment World on 26 February 2026. The inaugural showcase will feature some of the Western Cape’s top athletes facing elite international opponents, marking a major return for professional MMA in Cape Town after the EFC last staged an…

KAIZER CHIEFS will be looking to do away with a somewhat wretched record in Egypt when they kick-start their CAF Confederation Cup group campaign this weekend. Amakhosi are on a mission to win their second continental title since being crowned CAF Cup Winners’ Cup champions back in 2001. To do that, they will have to get the better of two strong opponents from the land of the Pharaohs starting with El Masry whom they face away this weekend. With former champions Zamalek also in their group, the Glamour Boys face a tough challenge in their quest to get back to the top table of African football, Chiefs having last been to a continental final back in 2021 when they suffered a 3-0 defeat to – wait for it – Al…