Table of contents for 2025-11-27 in Cape Argus

The kooky fraud played by Jeff Goldblum in Wicked: For Good has a ditty explaining how he maintains his wizardly dominance: once people believe in something, he shrugs, they’ll keep on believing no matter what. Given its already record-breaking box office, the same appears likely to hold true for the less marvelous second half of director Jon M Chu’s behemoth adaptation of the Broadway musical. Even after a year-long intermission, anyone whose jaw hung open during the final moments of Wicked: Part 1, as Cynthia Erivo obliterates “Defying Gravity” while tearing through the night sky, would have to be insane (or dead) not to return. Unfortunately, the laws of physics are back in effect and the second film is a letdown. How could it not be? The kids are grown…

A 15-year-old Sea Point High learner is the latest victim in a surge of bullying incidents at Western Cape schools this year, claiming his alleged attackers threatened to end his life. Police have since confirmed that a case of assault is being investigated. The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) said it was made aware of the physical attacks and that disciplinary action would take place for the learners allegedly involved. During an exclusive interview with the Cape Argus the learner, accompanied by his father, described months of violence. They said these attacks went unchecked. The Grade 8 learner broke his silence with his father last week, when the “attacks” escalated and were caught on videos. He said the abuse has been constant and that a group of older learners terrorised…

Former Road Accident Fund (RAF) CEO Collins Letsoalo could be the first person to be charged criminally for failing to appear before Parliament after being issued with a subpoena to give evidence at the parliamentary inquiry led by the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa). Scopa resolved to request the concurrence of National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza for Parliament to lay criminal charges against Letsoalo, yesterday. The move comes after Letsoalo failed to appear at public hearings scheduled by the committee, despite being officially subpoenaed to attend. The hearings, aimed at investigating allegations of maladministration, financial improprieties, and misuse of public funds at the RAF, were set to take place on Tuesday and yesterday. Scopa chairperson Songezo Zibi expressed his frustration over Letsoalo’s absence, noting that the committee had exhausted…

Noisy neighbours can be nightmares, but there are laws in South Africa that protect people’s rights to a peaceful home environment. “Late-night music, barking dogs, and even regular domestic rows are disturbances that can negatively impact your health and well-being,” says legal expert Cor van Deventer, director at VDM Incorporated. He explains that in South Africa, your right to a peaceful living environment is protected by the Environment Conservation Act and local municipal by-laws, depending on the types of noise in question. “First is disturbing noise, which can be scientifically measured in decibels – think music, power tools, and machinery – whereas the second – noise nuisance – is more subjective, referring to noise that disturbs the peace over a period of time, such as incessant dog barking.” Van Deventer…

A Labour Court, sitting at the Western Cape High Court, has overturned an arbitrator’s decision and ruled in favour of an employee who resigned due to “intolerable working conditions”. The court awarded the former employee of a Gauteng-based debt collection company compensation exceeding R310 000, finding that the employer’s actions – including abruptly terminating remote work arrangements and mishandling her medical leave – constituted constructive dismissal. During the 2020 lockdown, the employee requested remote work from Cape Town due to her son’s acceptance at a prestigious school. The company agreed to her request, but a dispute arose regarding the permanency of her move. The employee claimed she was allowed to permanently relocate to Cape Town due to her circumstances, but her employer viewed it as a temporary arrangement subject to…

Grovel. A term that has for long carried negative connotations within cricket due to former England captain Tony Greig’s comments almost 50 years ago ahead of the series against the all-black West Indies team. It was a different world back then. South Africa was still deep in the throes of Apartheid, and Greig, a South African-born white man, made his statements only a few weeks before the 1976 Soweto Uprising, when police opened fire on schoolchildren protesting to be taught in their mother tongue. So when Proteas coach Shukri Conrad, who was himself denied the opportunity to represent his country due to the colour of his skin, loosely tossed up the grenade on the eve of arguably one of the finest days in the Proteas’ Test history, the Indian media…

Tijjani Reijnders has insisted there will be no loss of nerve at Manchester City following their surprise defeat by Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League. City manager Pep Guardiola felt confident enough to make 10 changes to his team, only for the side to lose 2-0 at home to the Bundesliga outfit on Tuesday. The defeat ended City's unbeaten start to the league phase of European club football's elite competition ahead of a tie with Spanish giants Real Madrid, and came just days after their loss to Newcastle in the Premier League last weekend. "Of course it's a bummer (but) we should not lose our confidence because we did great before and we have to get back on that winning streak, and that's by being ready for the next game…

After the Sharks’ unfortunate start to the United Rugby Championship and the resulting turbulence off the field, the November break from the competition is the best thing that could have happened to them. The Durbanites languish in 13th place with one win from five matches, and a play pause has meant they can take a deep breath and press the restart button ahead of their two-match tour to Connacht and Toulouse. Captain Vincent Tshituka agrees that the break they have had while the Springboks have been touring has been a blessing. “It’s been really good to have a bit of time off and actually prepare properly for this challenge against Connacht,” he explained. “The guys have put in a lot of hard work to fix the errors from the beginning…

There’s a special kind of chaos that happens when a character humiliates themselves, pauses mid-mess and looks straight into the camera like, “Please confirm I’m not the only one seeing this madness.” That, dear reader, is the mockumentary, where fiction pretends to be reality and comedy lives in uncomfortable silence. When characters break the fourth wall to speak directly to us, it’s called direct address or the talking head style, and frankly, it’s one of television’s finest inventions. Shows like The Office and Modern Family turned awkward stares, dry pauses and brutally honest mini interviews into pure comedic art. And let’s be honest, it’s hilarious. This format has slowly become a favourite because it feels dangerously real. The messy energy, the side eyes, the exaggerated politeness hiding pure irritation. It’s…

Cape Town’s paragliding community is reeling after a licensed pilot was killed in a crash on Lion’s Head this week – in an incident involving a newer, highly reactive type of wing that has previously prompted concern among experienced local pilots. The crash occurred on Tuesday. The pilot had been flying a Flare Moustache parakite, described by the South African Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association (Sahpa) as “a new, highly responsive hybrid wing designed for strong-wind coastal soaring and speed-focused flying”. While parakites fall within the paragliding category under aviation rules, Sahpa noted that they “handle very differently from the larger wings used in conventional paragliding training or tandem operations”. Nine months ago, the Cape Argus reported warnings from veteran Cape Town pilots who said the fast, compact wings required…

THREE men have been convicted after a working horse named Willamina collapsed under an overloaded scrap cart in Wetton. A case that ended in arrests, criminal charges and the mare’s death. In March, inspectors were called to Plantation Road in Wetton, where a dark bay mare was being forced to drag a scrap car mounted on a cart weighing 880kg. Three men were riding on top of the scrap. By the time the SPCA arrived, Willamina was collapsing repeatedly, her legs buckling as she was still being driven forward. Inspector Julian Van Der Zandt detached her from the load and issued a seizure notice. She was rushed to the SPCA Horse Care Unit for emergency care. Severe fractures made recovery impossible, and she was humanely euthanised. Her owner, Moestakiem Jacobs,…

Former president Jacob Zuma’s MK Party heads back to the Pretoria High Court today, insisting that President Cyril Ramaphosa’s appointment of Prof. Firoz Cachalia as police minister without removing Minister Senzo Mchunu was unconstitutional. The case, dismissed twice previously on technical grounds, returns to the Pretoria High Court for a third attempt, with the party demanding that the merits finally be tested. In a statement yesterday, MKP spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela said Ramaphosa’s conduct amounted to an abuse of executive power. Ndhlela cited three core complaints: the decision to place the then-Police Minister Senzo Mchunu on “leave” rather than formally removing him; the appointment of Prof. Firoz Cachalia as Acting Police Minister despite his not being a Cabinet member; and the choice to appoint a sitting judge to oversee an inquiry…

Sometimes, Cape Town feels like it smiles back at you. It happens when the sunlight hits the mountain just right, when the ocean breeze reminds you to breathe, or when your favourite spot in the city gets global attention. This year, the list published by Time Out crowned Rio de Janeiro’s Rua do Senado as the coolest street on Earth, with Osaka’s Orange Street and Porto’s Rua do Bonjardim following in second and third place. Heavy hitters like Montreal, Thessaloniki, and New York City dominated the top 10, making Kloof Street’s inclusion even more impressive. Ranked 22nd globally, Kloof Street sits comfortably between Madrid’s Calle del Barquillo and London’s Blackstock Road, rubbing shoulders with destinations that travellers plan entire holidays around. For many Capetonians, it’s simply the street you choose…

Proteas spinner Simon Harmer showed gratitude to Test captain Temba Bavuma and coach Shukri Conrad for affording him the opportunity to play Test cricket again. About seven to eight years ago, South African cricket found itself losing key talents to lucrative deals in the United Kingdom. One of those talents was Simon Harmer, who signed a Kolpak deal with Essex, essentially ruling out the idea of playing international cricket for the duration of the contract. Harmer signed the deal after being dropped from the Test squad in the 2015-16 season, as his hopes of playing Test cricket looked grim with spinners Dane Piedt and Keshav Maharaj having taken up space in the Proteas Test team at the time. Harmer wasn't alone, as former Proteas fast bowlers Kyle Abbott and Duan…

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has warned their counterparts not to predict their starting line-up or match-day squad, as they have enough depth at their disposal to tweak and change the team. Pirates have been the most consistent side domestically. They are the record-extending four-time MTN8 champions, and have reached the Carling Knockout final for the first time since its inception two seasons ago. But that’s not all. They are making strides where it matters most: the Betway Premiership. Pirates haven’t won the league since 2012, and they know that the greatest honour they can achieve is being crowned kings of the land. Given the fact that they are level with reigning champions and log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns on 25 points — following their 2–0 win over Chippa United on…

World Rugby’s annual failure to recognise the Springboks’ global supremacy by acknowledging Rassie Erasmus as Coach of the Year is farcical. The manner in which the blazered denizens of the World Rugby boardroom go out of their way to give the award to anyone but Erasmus would be amusing if it weren’t offensive. Indeed, South Africans are sometimes accused of having a persecution complex, but this reminds me of the old saying: “Just because I’m paranoid, that doesn’t mean they’re not out to get me.” This year, the award went to England Women’s coach John Mitchell. Mitch is a fine coach. He has my utmost respect for what he achieved with the All Blacks, the Lions, the Bulls, the Chiefs and the Western Force. But the much-travelled Kiwi has hardly…

Civil society organisation Judges Matter has called on Gauteng High Court Judge Portia Dipuo Phahlane to immediately step down from her judicial duties following her arrest by the Hawks over allegations of taking a bribe worth millions of rand in a long-running church leadership dispute. Phahlane was one of four people arrested by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) on Tuesday night in connection with a major corruption and money-laundering investigation. The investigation is linked to a succession dispute within the International Pentecost Holiness Church (IPHC). The suspects face charges including corruption and money laundering. Judges Matter, which monitors South Africa’s judiciary, said it noted with “shock” the arrest and called on the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) to urgently advise the president to suspend Phahlane under section 19 of…

Deputy President Paul Mashatile has blamed the ongoing failure of municipalities across the country to supply water to communities on poor governance and infrastructure, corruption and criminal activity linked to water-tanker operations Mashatile made the remarks on Tuesday while responding to oral questions in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) in Cape Town. He was answering a question from NCOP ANC chief whip Kenneth Mmoiemang about expanding public–private partnership investment. Mashatile acknowledged that communities in numerous municipalities are experiencing an ongoing water-supply crisis. He attributed the continued challenges, which have persisted for several years, to poor governance and inadequate infrastructure. “Indeed, many of our municipalities are grappling with challenges related to the provision of water and sanitation due to a combination of factors, including poor governance, lack of technical and…

With Knysna’s rivers running bone‑dry and dams at record lows, the municipal manager has recommended tightening the taps further by raising water restrictions all the way to level four. And for families and small business owners in the area, the looming stricter restrictions bring real worry, as every drop of water counts for cooking, cleaning, and keeping holiday makers comfortable during the busy festive season that helps the town’s economy stay afloat. The municipality, which currently has level three restrictions in place, will make the final decision at a special meeting tomorrow, Mayor Thando Matika said. Matika said a suggestion by municipal officials to escalate the restrictions had been made, but that such a decision will only be taken at the next meeting after considering the latest data on water…

The Western Cape Mobility Department has reported 24 arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol in just one week, as authorities step up road safety enforcement ahead of the festive season. Between November 17 and 23, Provincial Traffic Services carried out 168 roadblocks, vehicle checks, and speed control operations across the province. Officers stopped over 30 000 vehicles, issued more than 9 000 fines for driver and vehicle fitness violations, and recorded 200 speeding offences. In total, 46 arrests were made during this period, with the majority – 24 – linked to drunk driving. The remaining arrests included three for reckless or negligent driving, six for goods overloading, six for possession of fraudulent documentation, and three for undocumented persons. Additionally, there were isolated incidents involving vehicle tampering, bribery, obstruction,…

Munster forwards coach Alex Codling says his side are bracing for a full-blooded, Springbok-style onslaught when they host the table-topping Stormers in Saturday’s top-of-the-table United Rugby Championship clash in Limerick. Both teams head into the match unbeaten after a top start to the campaign. The Stormers occupy the top position on points difference ahead of the second-placed Munster. After winning their first two matches at home, the Stormers ended their three-match tour unbeaten and are brimming with confidence. For Codling, the challenge in front of Munster is crystal clear, as they expect Test-match intensity on Saturday.. “We’re playing the URC leaders,” Codling said. “There are a lot of similarities between themselves and the Springboks. South African rugby is on a real high at the moment, just how they’re going after…

Enzo Maresca on Tuesday played down comparisons between Estevão and Lionel Messi after Chelsea’s wonderkid scored a spectacular solo Champions League goal in a thumping 3-0 win against Barcelona. The 18-year old Brazilian emphatically won the battle of the teenage prodigies against Lamine Yamal as the London club secured their third victory in five matches in the league phase of the competition. Estevão’s moment of magic came 10 minutes after half-time when he received the ball on the right, beat two defenders and lashed his shot into the roof of Joan Garcia’s net. It was the winger’s 10th goal of the season for club and country, just months into his first campaign at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea’s other goals came via an own goal from Barcelona defender Jules Koundé and a…

Blitzbok flyer Shilton van Wyk returns to the scene of a triumphant desert debut at the Dubai Sevens four years ago, hoping to recreate past successes and get the Springbok Sevens team’s campaign off to a fast, winning start this weekend. Van Wyk burst onto the international rugby sevens stage in the UAE in November 2021, at 21-years old, immediately turning heads by scoring a try in each of his first three matches against Japan, Ireland, and Great Britain. The Blitzboks went on to win the tournament and followed up with another title just a week later. “It was a dream come true to make my debut for the Springbok Sevens, especially here in Dubai, where the Springbok Sevens had massive success over the past years.” said the Saldanha speedster.…