Tabla de contenidos para 2026-04-15 en Cape Argus

A FOREST Heights Secondary School teacher has been axed after an arbitration ruling found him guilty of misconduct for sexually abusing a Grade 12 learner, with the case raising concerns about how earlier complaints were handled. According to the arbitration award, issued by the Education Labour Relations Council, the incidents took place at the Eersteriver school in the third or fourth term of last year, when he allegedly sexually abused the learner by touching her buttocks and/or waist. In a second charge, Cornwell Joseph was accused of inappropriate comments, including telling her “your body is beautiful” and asking for her number to discuss a “relationship”. Joseph pleaded not guilty to the allegations. However, arbitrator Arthi Singh-Bhoopchand found the learner’s evidence to be “clear, consistent and steadfast”. “She testified that she…

A family in Drommedaris, Mbekweni in Paarl has been struggling to come to terms with the death of their 26-year-old daughter, Ntombi Ntsondwa, who was found murdered in her boyfriend’s home. Speaking to reporters in their home, relatives described the loss as sudden and difficult to process, struggling to understand how she was gone just days after they last saw her. Ntsondwa was found lying on her back, on a large pillow and blanket, undressed, with her arms twisted. Her boyfriend was nowhere to be found. Community members who entered the home were confronted with the scene. “When we walked in, I saw her immediately that she had passed. I saw the blood, I saw the wound above her eyebrow, and her arms were blue and grey,” said an elderly…

AN AFRIKAANS medium school in Mpumalanga has turned to court to overturn a unilateral decision by the North West Department of Education to place 78 English-speaking learners in the school. The Swartruggens Gekombineerde Skool, a single-medium Afrikaans school and its governing body, told the North West High Court, sitting in Mafikeng, that it is not geared to educate English-speaking learners. The placement occurred via the SA-SAMS system during last year’s December holidays, allegedly without prior warning or agreement on the infrastructure of the school, its staffing capabilities, or its resources. The current learner population at the school is 366. Approximately 53% of the existing learner population consists of black learners, while the remaining 47% consists of white and coloured learners. At the beginning of January last year, the department engaged…

Suspended Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi has told the Madlanga Commission that his boss, suspended police chief, Isaac Mapiyeye, may have lied to the Commission about the recruitment and promotion of senior officials. Last year, Mapiyeye told the Commission that Mkhwanazi pushed through more than 55 senior appointments and promotions without his knowledge, consent, or involvement between May and July 2024. He highlighted that numerous job positions were not publicly advertised, thereby bypassing standard recruitment and promotion protocols. He accused Mkhwanazi of often appointing individuals from his previous specialised unit, which he said sparked worries about favouritism and internal capture. Mapiyeye even questioned the legitimacy of Mkhwanazi’s own appointment as deputy chief. Yesterday, Mkhwanazi told the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry that the recruitment process was initiated…

A GATHERING of early Mitchells Plain residents brought living memory back to Westridge as families who first moved into the area reflected on arrival, community, and change more than five decades later. Doneven McLaughlin, a Westridge resident, said it was important that the first families of one of Cape Town’s oldest townships be celebrated for laying its foundation. The first families to move into the area included the Croy, Flowers, Payne, and Van Niekerk families, arriving in Westridge when the area was still open sand and newly marked roads. A panel of Westridge residents, Amina Agherdien (Croy), Ganief Sauls, Rodney Brown, and Ebrahim Abdullah, shared their earliest memories of life in the developing township. Agherdien, who still lives in Westridge, said she was one of the four families who moved…

Trade unions play a vital role in modern democracies, representing workers, negotiating fair wages, and safeguarding labour conditions. However, their rights are not and should not be unchecked. Like all institutions operating within a broader society, unions must function within legal and ethical limits that balance their interests with those of employers, the public, and the economy. First, unrestricted union power can disrupt economic stability. Strikes, for instance, are a legitimate and often necessary tool for workers to assert their demands. Yet, if exercised without restraint, they can paralyse essential services such as healthcare, transport, and energy supply. Governments therefore impose regulations, such as notice periods or limits on striking in essential sectors, to ensure that the public interest is protected. Second, unchecked union authority can infringe on the rights…

The Stormers will need to put the emotion aside of losing long-serving manager Chippie Solomon in this weekend’s crunch United Rugby Championship (URC) clash against Connacht at DHL Stadium. John Dobson’s team have been visibly shaken by Solomons’ death last week, and while they will be using it as motivation, the focus cannot be shifted away from their pursuit of a home play-off spot. The Stormers are currently in second place on the URC table — four points adrift of table-toppers Glasgow Warriors — with three matches remaining before the knockout stages. And while Connacht may be in a lowly ninth position, Dobson is fully aware that his charges cannot let their guard down on Saturday (1.45pm kick-off). “It's a hell of an important game. Obviously, it's crucial in the…

Flavio Da Silva may have established himself as Kaizer Chiefs’ knight in shining armor during a difficult period for the club, but he knows he cannot do it alone, which is why he is benefiting from the overall support of his teammates. Chiefs are currently enjoying a purple patch. They have won their last four games in the Betway Premiership, putting themselves in a strong position to finish third on the log, potentially behind Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates. Silva has been a key contributor to Chiefs' newly found winning streak, scoring two goals in the last two games against Orbit College and TS Galaxy. His goal tally now stands at eight strikes and one assist in 24 games across all competitions so far. Given that Silva was heavily scrutinised…

ACTIVIST group PAGAD has raised objections to the presence of US Marines training Cape Town Metro Police cadets, as questions continue over the nature and authorisation of the exercise. The development follows earlier reports that the national Ministry of Police was not aware of the drills conducted on Muizenberg Beach, prompting questions about the legal basis and authorisation of the engagement. Footage of the session, which circulated on social media, showed uniformed Marines putting cadets through beach drills sparking public debate about the nature and oversight of the activity. “We categorically oppose any United States military presence in Cape Town. There is no such thing as a benign foreign military footprint on African soil,” PAGAD said. The group added that it viewed the presence of foreign military personnel, even in…

THE State is looking into consolidating the 2022 murder case of a taxi boss with the subsequent murders of rapper Kiernan ‘AKA’ Forbes and his friend, chef Tebello ‘Tibz’ Motsoane. The request was made by the State on Monday in the Durban High Court. Siyanda Eddie Myeza, who is the third accused in the Forbes and Motsoane murders, appeared briefly in the high court. Senior State prosecutor, Advocate Elvis Gcweka, informed the court that evidence of May 2022 murders of taxi owner Sibongiseni Gift Khanyile and Nhlakanipho Msani was received last week. In the 2022 case, Myeza faces additional charges, including theft, conspiracy to commit murder, and two counts of attempted murder. The State alleges that Myeza, Msani, and others currently unknown conspired to kill Khanyile. Khanyile owned taxis operating…

THE National Lotteries Commission (NLC) has admitted it has no records of whether or not the Minister of Finance approved over R9.59 billion in investments in financial institutions made over a four-year period. The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) is probing the investments made between January 2014 and May 2017. Between January 2014 and March 2015, the commission invested over R5.6bn and more than R3.23bn between June 2015 and November 2015. Another R599m was invested between August 2016 and February 2017 as well as R137m between April 2017 and May 2017. According to the SIU, one of its mandates is to investigate the investment of funds by NLC. The NLC has indicated that it invested the funds in various financial institutions. “With regards to the other financial institutions, used for investment…

Cape Town is set to host a major stand-up comedy showcase this month, as Laughter Is Culture brings 14 of South Africa’s top comedians together for one night. The event takes place on Saturday at the Grand Arena at GrandWest, with veteran comedian David Kau leading the line-up as host. The bill includes Loyiso Gola, Mpho Popps, Celeste Ntuli and Skhumba Hlophe, along with Trevor Gumbi and Chris Forrest. They are joined by Kagiso KG Mogadi, Dillan Oliphant, Virgil Prins, Roni Modimola, Ntosh Madlingozi, Yaaseen Barnes and Mbali Gudazi, each established acts on the local circuit. The showcase positions comedy as more than entertainment, reflecting everyday South African life through humour, from politics to personal experience. “Comedy has always been a powerful way for South Africans to process life,” said…

THE City says infrastructure upgrades at the Milnerton Lagoon are beginning to yield results, but an independent expert has cautioned that it may be premature to conclude that conditions have meaningfully improved. According to residents and environmental groups, there has been longstanding concern about pollution and declining water quality in the lagoon and surrounding waterways. The City said it updated residents at a public meeting on March 25 on its intervention programme, which it said is aimed at improving water flow, reducing contamination and strengthening infrastructure across the Diep River catchment. Last week, Water and Sanitation mayco member, Zahid Badroodien, said early gains were becoming visible. “We are beginning to see the results of our investments. Fewer blockages and reduced odours are just some of the benefits. These interventions are…

Mikel Arteta has warned Arsenal that fatigue is no excuse for their damaging stumble as he urged his side to hit back by finishing off Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League quarter-final second leg. Chasing a second successive appearance in the semi-finals of Europe's elite club competition, Arsenal host Sporting tonight with a 1-0 lead from last week's first-leg win in Lisbon. But the Gunners go into the second leg in the midst of a bout of soul searching after losing three of their last four games in all competitions. Arsenal's untimely dip cost them two chances for silverware as Manchester City won 2-0 in the League Cup final and second tier Southampton knocked them out of the FA Cup quarter-finals. As if that wasn't frustrating enough for Arteta, Saturday's…

Marcelo Allende is under no illusions that Mamelodi Sundowns have wrapped up their CAF Champions League semi-final and urged his teammates to remain “focused” in Saturday’s second-leg tie against Esperance at Loftus Versveld. Sundowns claimed a historic 1-0 victory in Tunis last Sunday, and will now have the added advantage of an away goal in Pretoria. But Esperance showed during the previous round that they are excellent travellers by overcoming Egyptian giants Al Ahly 3-2 in the second-leg quarter-final in Cairo. Allende is therefore fully aware of the challenge that awaits Sundowns in the nation’s capital. “We know that Esperance is a strong team in many ways, so we need to keep focused,” the Chilean playmaker said. “We need to play from the first minute and go for the win.…

MAKING history as the first and fastest woman to complete a quadruple Robben Island crossing in “skins” (without a wetsuit), Karen Kennedy, 59, covered nearly 30km in the icy Atlantic waters between Blouberg and Robben Island in just over 10 hours, a feat currently pending official ratification by Guinness World Records. A quadruple crossing requires a swimmer to transit the channel between Bloubergstrand and Robben Island four consecutive times. The “skins” category follows strict marathon swimming rules, prohibiting wetsuits and allowing only a standard swimsuit, cap, and goggles despite the cold Atlantic temperatures. Approaching her 60th birthday, Kennedy – a former provincial swimmer who returned to the sport in her 40s – aimed to inspire women over 50 to pursue long-held ambitions. “Dreams do not have an expiration date,” Kennedy…

A SHIFT from plant poaching to mass seed harvesting has triggered alarm in the Western Cape, with more than one million seeds illegally stripped from the province in just five months. Figures revealed in a recent parliamentary reply show that between October last year and February, a total of 1 064 032 seeds and 8 642 indigenous plants were recorded as illegally harvested or poached, pointing to what officials describe as an evolving and increasingly sophisticated criminal trade. The issue was set to come under scrutiny at a briefing to the Western Cape Standing Committee on Environmental Affairs and Development Planning yesterday, where multiple agencies were expected to outline their response to organised poaching syndicates. Stakeholders scheduled to present included SANParks, the SAPS, the Western Cape Department of Environmental Affairs…

FORMER presidents Jacob Zuma and Thabo Mbeki will take their legal challenge for Justice Sisi Khampepe to recuse herself from the TRC inquiry to the Constitutional Court. They filed an application for leave to appeal against last month’s judgment in which they lost their legal bid to have her removed. The first prize for Mbeki and Zuma is for the Constitutional Court to hear the appeal and they petitioned the apex court in this regard. They simultaneously filed an application for leave to appeal with the Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg. In the event of the Constitutional Court refusing to hear their application, the former presidents hope to obtain leave to appeal before the Supreme Court of Appeal. They made it clear that this application is conditional in the event that…

A SPECIAL Investigating Unit (SIU) progress report presented to President Cyril Ramaphosa has shown how sham marriages are used as a vehicle for foreign nationals to secure permanent residency in South Africa. The report highlights that fraudulent marriages and life partnerships are primary mechanisms for the immigration fraud, often involving foreign “pastors and prophets” who would enter on visitor visas before entering into unions to secure Permanent Residence Permits (PRPs). Corrupt officials and religious leaders collaborated to facilitate “marriages of convenience” and fraudulent life partnerships. The findings follow an interim report submitted in February, which detailed how South Africa’s immigration system had been sold to the highest bidder, with officials earning less than R25 000 per month allegedly receiving over R16.3 million in direct deposits. The SIU described the immigration…

A week may seem like a long time in politics, but in professional football it may seem like an eternity. Seven days ago, Gavin Hunt was lamenting a first Betway Premiership defeat since joining Stellenbosch FC at the beginning of the year. Hunt, though, can console himself that he still has a job, unlike Eric Tinkler who was dismissed as head coach at Sekhukhune United on Monday. In reality, the two coaches experienced the exact same results in their last five League matches, having each one won, lost one, and drawn three. Tinkler’s dismissal at Sekhukhune, however, reflects more the ambitions of the respective clubs ahead of their Betway Premiership encounter at Athlone Stadium on Friday (6.30pm start). The Sekhukhune top brass had issued Tinkler with clear mandate at the…

One of the most famous quotes by the Brazilian football great Edson Arantes do Nascimento, famously known as Pelé, was that ‘at the turn of the century, an African team will win the World Cup’. Having passed away at the age of 82 in December 2022, Pelé lived long enough to see whether his prophecy would come true, but it simply never materialised. In fact, even now, there are no signs of it coming true, especially given the latest scandals within CAF. As we speak, the continent’s governing body is in the news for the wrong reasons: stripping Senegal of the Africa Cup of Nations title and awarding it to the beaten finalists and neighbours, Morocco. These are controversies that no organisation would want to be associated with, let alone…