Table of contents for 2025-11-21 in Cape Argus

Cape Town Spring Xperience This weekend, Cape Town Spring Xperience bursts to life with sun-soaked beats, fierce performances and crowds ready to dance. Epic local acts, electric energy and spring vibes. One of the acts, music artist Qaqamba Ntshinka, shared her excitement about performing: “What excites me most is sharing the stage with such a phenomenal, diverse group of artists and the scale of the event itself.” “As an artist whose goals include expanding my fan base beyond my neighbourhood, performing at the Cape Town Spring Xperience is a significant opportunity to connect with a wider audience. This performance builds on other major career milestones I’ve had in the music industry,” she says. The festival’s line-up is packed with South Africa’s top talent, including Big Zulu, DJ Zinhle, Nontokozo Mkhize,…

AS a nation of women stand together in solidarity against GBV, a brave Cape Town woman has placed an end to generational incest, coming forward after more than three decades as her teenage daughters and a niece have allegedly become the latest victims of her 74-year-old stepfather in Atlantis. Yesterday, President Cyril Ramaphosa took the bold step to declare GBV a national and global crisis. In an exclusive interview with the Cape Argus, the 42-year-old woman has shared her harrowing story of how she allegedly became a victim of rape and sexual abuse at the age of six - only to be silenced by her own mother. “She (her mother) questioned what would happen to our family as my stepdad was the breadwinner. He promised he would never touch me…

Murder accused Zurenah Smit’s courtroom drama intensified yesterday as medical evidence contradicted her claims of illness, with prosecutors alleging a “tactical delay” in her high-stakes trial. Just hours after being discharged from Victoria Hospital and declared medically fit to stand trial, Smit secured a sick note from a separate general practitioner (GP) claiming hypertension – a condition her hospital doctor testified was not present during her three-day medical observation. As submitted by State prosecutor Renee Uys, this was yet another “tactical move to unreasonably delay” the matter in which Smit and her co-accused, Derek Sait, were to commence with the defence case at the Western Cape High Court. The High Court has now ordered the GP to testify. On Monday, the court ordered that the attending doctor from Victoria Hospital…

South African homeowners and borrowers received welcome financial relief yesterday as the Reserve Bank announced a 0.25 percentage point cut to interest rates with immediate effect. This reduction brings the prime lending rate down to 10.25%, a move that economists widely anticipated. For property owners, the impact is immediate and tangible – monthly repayments on a R2 million bond will decrease by approximately R300, providing breathing room in household budgets. Adriaan Grove, founder and managing director at MyProperty, said “today’s rate cut delivered a welcome boost for new home buyers – lower borrowing costs immediately improve affordability and could help unlock much-needed activity in the real estate sector. Grove added that this may be a small adjustment, but big news for first-time buyers. Lesetja Kganyago, Governor of the South…

Earlier this year, the Cape Peninsula Baboon Management Joint Task Team (CPBMJTT) proposed a draft Action Plan aimed at the sustainable management of the Cape Peninsula baboon population. The task team consists of representatives from SANParks, CapeNature, and the City of Cape Town ,which issued a statement on the final plan, which serves as a framework for practical implementation, and was submitted to an independent expert panel in July for review and feedback. It was also shared with the Cape Peninsula Baboon Advisory Group. After considering all submissions, the task team said it finalised the Action Plan, which has now been approved by SANParks, CapeNature, and the City of Cape Town. The primary goal is to establish a healthy, well-managed, and sustainable free-ranging baboon population while minimising human interference and…

The Springboks would have relished marking RG Snyman’s 50th Test with a starting berth in Dublin tomorrow, but circumstance has handed him an equally crucial role. Instead of leading from the first whistle, the towering lock will bring his trademark impact off the bench — a responsibility he has fully embraced as South Africa gear up for a bruising battle with Ireland. Head coach Rassie Erasmus has selected his strongest possible side for the clash at the Aviva Stadium (7.40pm start) as the Boks look to end a 13-year wait for a victory in the Irish capital. He made only three changes to the team that beat France a couple of weekends ago. “RG would’ve loved to start and play as long as he can — most players do —…

If it wasn't for a pastrami sandwich and a cold beer to swallow it down with, Ireland would have ruined Paris for me. The City of Lights is on many people's bucket list to visit — the history, the landmarks, the food … it's all so romantic. With the Seine river cutting through its centre, world-famous monuments stand proudly overlooking the city. It makes for spectacular views and vistas. The French, so the saying goes, can live without the world, but the world cannot live without the French. On its outskirts, in Saint-Denis, and dominating the skyline there, stands the Stade de France — an 80 000-seater behemoth of a stadium that has seen some truly remarkable South African achievements. In September 2023, it hosted a Rugby World Cup group…

It’s another week of star-studded twists and unexpected turns. We have it all for you. From Nicki Minaj stepping into the political spotlight, to stars facing legal woes and Ratile Mabotja’s raw and emotional grief, here’s everything you might have missed: 1Nicki Minaj supports Trump’s stance on the persecution of Christians in Nigeria Multi award-winning rapper Nicki Minaj spoke out at an event hosted by the US embassy to the United Nations and thanked the US president for calling for an end to faith-based persecution in Nigeria. “No group should ever be prosecuted for practising their religion like I recently stated on social media. And we don’t have to share the same beliefs for us to respect each other,” Minaj shared. 2 Sol Phenduka earns a nomination at the upcoming…

A University of the Western Cape (UWC) student has accused a man of rape at a house near an off-campus residence – the latest in a string of sexual violence cases involving students in the province, and one that unfolds as national campaigns intensify against gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF). The incident, reported to police this week, comes just days before nationwide demonstrations planned for today, where institutions across the country, including UWC, will join the Women For Change movement who have called for GBV to be declared a National Disaster. The accused, who is not a UWC student, made his first appearance at the Bellville Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday. Groups of UWC students gathered outside the court in solidarity with the survivor, chanting and holding placards as they…

MORE than 1 500 people gathered at the CTICC yesterday for the 15th Desmond Tutu International Peace Lecture, an annual event that continues to draw strong emotion almost four years after Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s death. Tutu died on December 26, 2021, in Cape Town at the age of 90 after a long battle with prostate cancer. He had become one of the world’s most respected moral leaders, winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 and playing a central role in South Africa’s fight against apartheid. He later chaired the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and promoted ubuntu, justice and reconciliation throughout his life. The lecture opened with an animated Tu+Tu video that brought Tutu’s humour and voice back into the room. The event was supported by several partners, including the United…

CapeNature’s Walker Bay Nature Reserve has been recognised once again for its outstanding commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable coastal management, receiving a prestigious Green Coast Award from the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (Wessa) for the 2025/26 season. This accolade was announced during the national Blue Flag and Green Coast Awards ceremony held in Port Alfred, co-hosted by Wessa and the Ndlambe Municipality. The annual event celebrates excellence in coastal management, environmental education, and nature-based tourism along South Africa’s coastline. The Green Coast Programme, developed by Wessa, acknowledges natural, less-developed coastal sites that maintain environmental integrity while promoting responsible tourism and community involvement. Sites are selected based on their commitment to conservation, eco-tourism initiatives, and the protection of coastal biodiversity. Dr Ashley Naidoo, CEO of CapeNature, said:…

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus says the result of a close match against Ireland tomorrow will not define a season, in which his team have already won 11 of the 13 matches they have played. Erasmus added that while much is being made about the Boks losing four of their last five games against the Irish, the margins have been tiny. “I am not sure that Saturday’s result will define the season as being successful or not,” the coach said. “If we play at our best, but Ireland are better on the day, what can you say then? That is rugby. “It is about the level of performance that we deliver in our fourteenth match of the season. We have been together since the beginning of June. “To keep up the…

AHEAD of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children, the Western Cape Government has highlighted its integrated approach to crime prevention, violence reduction and gender-based violence (GBV) support through engagements in Delft and Khayelitsha. In Delft, where 130 Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (LEAP) officers work with the SAPS daily, safety partners outlined successes and challenges. Delft Police Station Commander Brigadier Celani Sihlali said, “This is not an ‘us and them’ issue. We are all in this together in preventing and fighting crime.” Premier Alan Winde said collaboration across government and civil society remained key. “We are utilising all the resources we have at our disposal to deal decisively with violent prevention. Every single person in this province deserves to feel safe,” he said. Earlier, Winde…

The Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati has enjoyed a mixed bag of results for Proteas teams recently. It was where Laura Wolvaardt’s team were bundled out for 69 in their ICC Women’s World Cup opener before returning to exact revenge over the self-same England side in the semi-final to make history by becoming the first senior South African cricket team to reach a limited-overs World Cup final. Temba Bavuma’s Proteas Men’s side will be chasing their own slice of history when the second Test gets underway on Saturday as they seek a first Test series win in India for 25 years. To achieve this feat, they would do well to give Proteas Women’s coach Mandla Mashimbyi a call regarding the conditions for they are still very much in the dark. “As…

Ox Nche is still processing his nomination for the World Rugby Men's Player of the Year award. Earlier this week, the burly Springbok was penned in on the shortlist for the prestigious honour, making history in the process by becoming the first prop to receive such recognition. Speaking as brand ambassador for The Braai Republic at their first franchise outlet at Northgate shopping centre in Johannesburg yesterday, Nche could scarcely suppress his shock at announcement. “I am still digesting it,” Nche said, with a chuckle. “I still can’t believe it … it’s overwhelming. “I think every single player aspires to be recognised as one of the best players in the world, but once it happens, you can’t believe it. You do get a bit emotional. “Even now, I’m getting goosebumps…