Table of contents for 2025-12-30 in Cape Times

Bruce Willis is known for his big personality, action roles, comedic talent and lasting presence in Hollywood. Away from the spotlight, though, his family is facing a personal journey that goes far beyond his film career. In an act of profound love and purpose, the family has decided to donate Bruce’s brain to scientific research after his passing. This decision, while heart-wrenching, reflects a commitment to raising awareness and advancing our understanding of frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a condition that has reshaped their lives forever. Bruce, now 70, was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia in early 2023. Before that, he was diagnosed with aphasia in March 2022, which led him to retire from acting. FTD is a rare brain disorder that affects the frontal and temporal lobes, causing gradual problems with memory,…

South African rugby union player, Ruan Venter and his partner, Anchen Du Plessis, just took their love to the next level as they recently got engaged. The 23-year-old took to Instagram to announce the engagement, sharing photos that captured the moment he went down on one knee and proposed to his girlfriend. The beach proposal, which took place at Sea Park in Kwa-Zulu Natal, was a picnic, and it was decorated with multiple bouquets of red roses, with the words “Marry Me” on the ground. The Lions flank simply captioned the post with the date of the engagement: “21.12.2025”. In addition, the couple has been together for two years and, in January, they celebrated their second anniversary. To celebrate the anniversary, Du Plessis shared a post on Instagram and wrote:…

A Muizenberg hiker has died in hospital after falling several metres while scrambling above a trail. He was found critically injured before being airlifted for emergency care, but later succumbed to his injuries. Wilderness Search and Rescue (WSAR) teams said they were called to Muizenberg on Sunday morning following a serious fall near Bailey’s Kloof. “A small team on board the Western Cape Government Health and Wellness EMS / Air Mercy Service (AMS) rescue helicopter was deployed to the scene, where rescuers worked swiftly to stabilise the patient. “Advanced medical care was provided by a Western Cape Government Health and Wellness EMS paramedic on site, and the hiker was then airlifted to hospital for further treatment,” said WSAR. “Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and loved ones during this…

WITH 2026 around the corner many countries will be happy to shut the door on an unsavoury and unpleasant 2025. The year 2025 saw the total destruction of Gaza with over 70 000 Palestinian deaths …half of whom were innocent women and children. We saw the illegal invasion of Ukraine by Russia going into its third year with no clear end in sight. We saw Donald Trump's Gestapo-type ICE agents arresting and deporting so-called illegal aliens, many of whom had been in the USA for 20 and 30 years, describing them as trash, murderers and rapists. We also saw Trump illegally sending Federal troops into Washington DC and other Democratic States under the fabrication of fighting crime. We saw Trump illegally instructing that bombs be dropped on an Iranian military…

The Gauteng High Court’s decisive rejection of the secretive R54 billion settlement between Eskom and Nersa is not merely a legal technicality; it is a vital defence of the democratic process and economic justice for every South African. Judge Jan Swanepoel’s ruling, which blocks a backdoor deal that would have saddled consumers with billions in additional costs, is a commendable stand for transparency and accountability. At the heart of this case was a brazen attempt by two powerful state entities to circumvent public scrutiny. As the judgment reveals, Nersa admitted that a key “advantage” of the closed-door settlement was to avoid exposing its own errors in open court. Eskom, in turn, sought a court order to sanctify this arrangement, which would have triggered steep annual tariff hikes. The guiding principle…

Britain has imposed visa restrictions on nationals from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) over the country’s “poor co-operation” on returning illegal migrants, the UK government said. Further measures, up to a complete halt on visas, will follow unless co-operation “rapidly improves”, Britain’s interior ministry said in a statement at the weekend. The DRC said at the weekend it has started discussions with Britain to resolve the matter. The curbs mean that DRC VIPs and decision makers will lose preferential treatment on visas, while fast-track visa processing has been revoked for all DRC nationals. They come after Britain’s interior minister, Shabana Mahmood, in November threatened the DRC, Angola and Namibia with visa bans unless they accepted the return of irregular migrants. The interior ministry said the three African countries had…

BEIJING: China will on January 1 launch an “action plan” for boosting management and operations of its digital currency, a deputy governor of the country’s central bank said. “The future digital yuan will be a modern digital payment and circulation means issued and circulated within the financial system,” People’s Bank of China Deputy Governor Lu Lei wrote in Financial News, a media outlet. In the next step towards that goal, a “new generation” arrangement for digital yuan will be launched on January 1, Lu said, encompassing a “measurement framework, management system, operating mechanism and ecosystem”. The “action plan” will see banks pay interest on balances held by clients in digital yuan – a move to incentivise broader adoption of the currency. The plan also includes a proposal to establish an…

Language is a funny thing, isn’t it? It has the power to connect us, divide us, and sometimes, give us a reason to laugh until our sides hurt. There are a few things that can summon South Africans faster than the smell of a braai, my fellow South Africans, or a word that means something else in isiZulu, Afrikaans, English and pure chaos all at once That said, a video of a cute dog has gone viral after its Australian owner misspelt its name, turning it into a derogatory Afrikaans word. The dog named Poe was referred to as “Po*s”, which left Mzansi in stitches. The adorable Border Collie has now unwittingly become a viral sensation among South Africans. Jennifer Martin, who owns Wildhunde, an Australian company that makes high-quality,…

OVER the past 30 years as a democratic rainbow nation, careers were upended, the fall from grace has become a tsunami of monumental proportions. Power and prestige do not last forever and in many cases over the past decade, it has been graphically proven that it can dissipate in the blink of an eye. In an age of social media, those who have done wrong are more vulnerable than ever. Rock bottom is littered with famous faces. Many of our political leaders appear to be saints for as long as they wield power without facing the consequences, but tumble off that pedestal of cleanliness once they lose power or are ousted from power. It has been grimly proven that politics is indeed not a cathedral of morality when one…

Social workers are often the first to arrive at scenes of gender-based violence and femicide. They often enter unsafe homes without backup or protective equipment. As one told me: “We go alone for home visits … You do not have a clue what you will find when you get there.” This everyday risk is seldom acknowledged. Yet it sits at the centre of a country’s response to its crisis of violence. South Africa has some of the highest rates of gender-based violence in the world. Femicide is the murder of girls and women, and in South Africa it’s nearly five times the global average. The country’s police recently recorded more than 10 000 rape cases in one quarter. These are reported cases; many never report rape. The government has now…

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was expected to meet Donald Trump in Florida yesterday, with the US president pushing to move to the next stage of the fragile Gaza truce plan. The crucial meeting at Trump’s lavish Mar-a-Lago resort comes as some White House officials fear both Israel and Hamas are slow-walking the second phase of their ceasefire. Trump, who said Netanyahu had asked for the talks, is reportedly keen to announce – as soon as January – a Palestinian technocratic government for Gaza and the deployment of an international stabilization force. The two leaders are to meet at 1pm, the White House said. Israeli government spokesperson Shosh Bedrosian said Netanyahu would discuss the second phase, which involves making sure that “Hamas is disarmed, Gaza is demilitarised.” But Netanyahu will…

People gathered in several towns in the breakaway region of Somaliland at the weekend to celebrate its recognition by Israel – a decision condemned by the Somali president as a “threat” to stability in the Horn of Africa. Israel announced last week it was officially recognising Somaliland, a first for the self-proclaimed republic that in 1991 declared it had unilaterally separated from Somalia. At the weekend, the leader of the Houthis warned that any Israeli presence in Somaliland would be considered a “military target”. Somaliland, which has for decades pushed for international recognition, enjoys a strategic position on the Gulf of Aden and has its own money, passport and army. Thousands of people thronged a stadium in the capital Hargeisa, where many dressed in the green, white and red colours…

ADDIS ABABA: The Gifaataa Festival, which celebrates the Ethiopian New Year among the Wolaita people, has been officially inscribed on Unesco’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This is reported by ENA, a partner of TV BRICS. The decision was announced during the 20th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, currently taking place in New Delhi, India. Celebrated for generations, the Gifaataa Festival symbolises the transition from one year to the next and holds deep cultural meaning for the Wolaita community. Its recognition is also expected to support Ethiopia’s cultural tourism, offering international visitors greater insight into the country’s living traditions and heritage. Speaking at the session, Ethiopia’s Minister of Tourism Selamawit Kassa highlighted the importance of preserving and promoting…

Venus Williams, the iconic tennis legend, has once again captured the world’s attention, not with her legendary forehand, but with a love story fit for a modern-day fairytale. The 45-year-old sports superstar said “I do” to actor and producer Andrea Preti, sealing their love with not one, but two unforgettable wedding celebrations. Their journey is more than a tale of romance; it’s a heartfelt ode to love, family, and the relationships that shape us. According to Vogue, Venus and Preti tied the knot in two stunning ceremonies, each radiating its own unique charm and significance. The first took place on September 18 in the picturesque island of Ischia, Italy. She shared that Italy had always been their dream wedding destination, but logistical challenges meant they couldn’t make it official there.…

TLEGO Tawana Secondary School principal Pogiso Tshipo in the North West was expecting matric pupil Onalenna Booi to be among the top achievers when the school releases its results next month. Instead, he will be trying to navigate the news that the 19-year-old was found dead after he was allegedly forcefully taken to an initiation school. Booi, from Ditlhakong East Village, near Mafikeng, was taken to the initiation school after writing his matric examinations in late November. It has been reported that his family was unaware of his whereabouts. He was found dead on December 26, after a case of a missing person was reported to the police. Expressing his sadness, Tshipo said he was expecting a bachelor's pass from the deceased learner. “As the school principal for this…

THE City has been accused of “systematic discrimination” against minstrel associations outside the Kaapse Klopse Karnival Association (KKKA) in a Western Cape High Court case challenging its refusal to issue permits for venues to host the Tweede Nuwe Jaar (The Second New Year) and related cultural celebrations. The application, by the Cape Town Minstrel Carnival Association (CTMCA) was brought on an urgent basis on Saturday and heard before the Western Cape High Court yesterday. They have asked the court to compel the City to provide a suitable venue for hosting minstrel competition events on January 1, 10, 17 and 24. “The first event is scheduled for 1 January 2026, being only four days away from the date of this application. The Association's booking for Vygieskraal Stadium for 1, 10,…

DECEMBER in South Africa is a season of contradiction. It is the only time when grave national crises must compete with beach traffic, the smell of boerewors on the braai, and the stubborn hope that next year will somehow be better. As families search for shade and rest, the state often appears at its most restless. Year-end decisions are announced, policies are “clarified”, and trust is quietly tested. Too often, the pattern is familiar: haste, opacity, and public confusion. This year followed that script almost perfectly. As the calendar crept toward December 31, many South Africans were absorbed in the ordinary mathematics of survival. New Year’s clothes versus January school shoes. A tank of petrol versus groceries. Meanwhile, the burden carried by the Minister of Police, first Bheki Cele and…

She identifies three challenges faced by parents and grandparents when children emigrate: financial constraints, logistical strain, and the emotional weight of saying goodbye. These are real and unavoidable, but for many families they are merely the tip of the iceberg. There is, I believe, a significant fourth challenge that deserves attention — one that is more complex and less often articulated. It is the challenge of cultural fit and friendships, both for those who live abroad and for grandparents who travel to visit them. Friendships are built and matured over many years. They are shaped by shared history, humour, values, and lived experience. While new acquaintances may be welcoming, they often lack the depth and commonality that come with long‑standing friendships at home. For visiting grandparents, adapting to a different…

BELGIUM’S declaration to intervene in South Africa’s International Court of Justice (ICJ) case accusing Israel of committing genocide in the Gaza Strip only seeks to clarify the interpretation of international law in the context of the matter. The UN's highest court, based in The Hague, recently confirmed in a statement that Brussels had filed a declaration of intervention. Belgium's intervention does not mean it fully supports South Africa's accusations, nor that it defends Israel, but that it intends to clarify its interpretation of international law in the context of the case. Belgium was among a string of countries to recognise the State of Palestine in September, a status acknowledged by nearly 80 percent of UN members, though Belgium said it would not formally take the step until Hamas has…

ANCYL demands a radical shift from policy paralysis to action It is a melancholy fact that the most profound failures of democratic capitalism often manifest not as sudden collapses, but as slow, grinding tragedies of exclusion. Nowhere is this structural pathology more blatantly illuminated today than in South Africa. More than three decades after the formal end of apartheid, the country is grappling with an economic malaise that threatens not just its social fabric, but the very stability of its democratic experiment. The statistics are not merely sobering; they are a profound indictment of the post-1994 economic settlement. With a headline unemployment rate hovering around 34%, and youth unemployment soaring to an astonishing 60.8%, South Africa possesses the dubious distinction of having one of the most dysfunctional labour markets on…

Bondi Beach shooting hero Ahmed al Ahmed recalled the moment he ran towards one of the attackers and wrestled the gun from him, saying in an interview published yesterday with a US outlet he wanted to protect “innocent people”. Father and son Sajid and Naveed Akram are accused of targeting a Hanukkah event on Sydney’s Bondi Beach on December 14, killing 15 people and wounding dozens in what authorities have described as an antisemitic terrorist attack. Despite the tragedy, tales of heroism emerged of those who tried to stop the two gunmen during their deadly rampage. Among them was Ahmed al Ahmed, a fruit seller, who went viral for ducking between parked cars as the shooting unfolded and then wresting a gun from one of the assailants. “My target was…

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump at the weekend refused to say whether he expects a peace deal over the Ukraine crisis to be reached by the end of 2025. “I don’t have deadlines. You know what my deadline is? Getting the war ended,” Trump told reporters at the start of his meeting with visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida. Asked whether their talks will lead to a peace deal, Trump said: “It depends – I do believe we have the makings of a deal,” noting that the Ukraine crisis was difficult to solve. Zelenskiy said his talks with Trump will focus on the latest draft of a 20-point peace plan and the sequencing of a settlement. Ahead of the meeting with Zelenskiy, Trump…

ORLANDO Pirates were arguably the best team in the first half of the season, winning two trophies — the MTN8 and the Carling Knockout — while finishing top of the Betway Premiership standings. Should they continue with all the positives they displayed during that part of the campaign, they could all but be crowned champions of the land come May, ending a 14-year title drought. But that is easier said than done. They need to take lessons from their shortcomings, as they will be the first to admit that they are still far from being a well-oiled machine. Below, we look at five areas that coach Abdeslam Ouaddou and his technical team need to strengthen in order to ensure a watertight campaign in their bid to reach the promised land.…