Table of contents for 2025-11-17 in Cape Argus

For all those wondering: Sydney Sweeney gives a perfectly competent performance in the new sports drama Christy. She believably portrays real-life figure Christy Martin, a West Virginian who overcame adversity to become one of the most well-known female boxers of the 1990s. Heartbreak spills from Sweeney’s eyes as Christy suppresses her lesbian identity to marry Jim Martin (Ben Foster), a man twice her age who serves as her manager and coach. The actress’s body language shrinks as Jim abuses Christy throughout their 19-year marriage, during which she channels her frustration into landing punches. Sweeney is good as Christy but not “great”, in part because director David Michôd (War Machine, The King) doesn’t offer her material that’s sufficiently nuanced. The film – which Michôd co-wrote with Mirrah Foulkes, based on a…

Police divers are still searching for a 25-year-old man who went missing off a boat near to Hawston Harbour, between Hermanus and Kleinmond, on Friday. National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) spokesperson, Craig Lambinon, said police divers are continuing their search. The NSRI Kleinmond received the alert on Friday at 12.38pm. “NSRI Kleinmond duty crew was activated following witnesses reporting what they believed to be a capsized boat, with two persons onboard, 200m offshore of Hawston Harbour.” One man was reported to be safely ashore and one man was suspected to be missing. “An NSRI Kleinmond rescue vehicle was dispatched and the NSRI Kleinmond rescue craft Spirit of Surfski II was launched while the SAPS, Overstrand Traffic Services, Overstrand Law Enforcement and a WSAR (Wilderness Search and Rescue) member, responded,” said…

THREE men have died in an alleged act of vigilantism in Siqualo in Philippi after they were set alight. Police were called to the scene on Saturday, along Weltevreden Road in Philippi, where the remains of the men were found. Police spokesperson, Colonel Andre Traut, explained: “The Western Cape police have launched a murder investigation following the discovery of the bodies of three unknown men in the Siqualo informal settlement, Weltevreden Road, Philippi, at approximately 5.30pm on November 15. The victims were found set alight, and preliminary indications suggest that the incident is linked to vigilantism.” Traut said the SAPS condemned the act of vigilantism. “Acts of mob justice are criminal and pose a direct threat to the safety and stability of our communities. No individual or group has the…

South Africa is stepping into a new era of nuclear energy, with Minister of Electricity and Energy, Dr. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, announcing significant developments in the country’s nuclear programme, including the lifting of the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR) from care and maintenance and the extension of Koeberg Unit 2 operations. Speaking during media briefing, Ramokgopa said the move marks a decisive step towards revitalising South Africa’s nuclear capabilities and contributing to global nuclear technology innovation. “The need for us to beneficiate the critical minerals that are going to underpin the decarbonisation agenda is going to rely on clean baseload technologies, and nuclear is going to feature significantly,” he said. “As a country, we say we are not going to be left behind. We have built a body of knowledge over…

The ABC Murders Agatha Christie, Anna Lea – Adaptation Multi-cast narration Audible Originals THE latest adaptation of the renowned novel, The ABC Murders, now available as an audiobook, brings a fresh yet familiar twist to a timeless story. Featuring a remarkable cast and an immersive soundscape, this production is worth a listen. The audiobook recreates the eerie anticipation of a serial killer’s game, a plot that thrusts famed detective Hercule Poirot and his companion, Captain Hastings, into a nail-biting race against time. At just under five hours, the audio experience dives straight into heart-pounding action. The drama unfolds as the story opens with an intense scene that immediately sets a frenetic pace, ensuring that listeners are hooked from the very start. Sound design is a critical component of any audiobook,…

While Springbok captain Siya Kolisi and coach Rassie Erasmus are in awe of their team’s fighting spirit, they are at their wits’ end regarding the red-card plague that has beset the team. The Boks had to dig deep to beat Italy in Turin on Saturday after receiving an early red card for the second week in a row. In the 11th minute, lock Franco ‘Sous’ Mostert received a red card for a dangerous tackle, as did fellow second-rower Lood de Jager last week in the 38th minute of the Boks’ defeat of France. Kolisi, commenting on his team’s impressive ability to adapt to dire situations, said: “We went through it last weekend, and this week we went through the same thing. So, we make plans in the game as we…

SCOTLAND face a winner-takes-all shootout against Denmark tomorrow, with an automatic Fifa World Cup 2026 berth at stake, despite a 3-2 defeat against Greece. On a dramatic Saturday evening, Steve Clarke's men narrowly failed to recover from 3-0 down, while Belarus held Group C leaders Denmark 2-2 in Copenhagen in a shock result. The Danes, on 11 points, lead Scotland by a single point after five matches ahead of their decisive meeting in Glasgow. With a far superior goal difference, they can afford to draw. Scotland must secure all three points to reach their first World Cup since 1998. Scotland captain Andy Robertson said his team were relieved to still be alive. “Winner takes all on Tuesday, that's all we could ask for,” he told the BBC. “People were writing…

THE Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements has urged the Department of Human Settlements (DHS) to expedite a forensic investigation into Communicare’s property ownership and adherence to the Social Housing Act, following the eviction of elderly tenants since 2018 and for ongoing evictions to be halted. The affected residents welcomed the committee’s intervention but called it “long overdue.” The committee stressed the need to clarify Communicare’s Social Housing Regulatory Authority (SHRA) funding and legal compliance. Meanwhile, Communicare welcomed the call for a forensic investigation, stating that it had not been contacted by an appointed audit firm and are committed to transparency. Nocks Seabi, chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements, made the announcement of the forensic investigation into the ownership of building stock owned by Communicare. Seabi said the committee…

THE community of Kalbaskraal is reeling after six people were brutally murdered in the past eight weeks. Among the victims was a young pregnant woman who was wounded when her home was set alight a week ago. Police spokesperson, Captain FC van Wyk, said the incidents were linked to gang violence. Nine suspects were arrested in total following a wave of violence in the community in the past month. “On Sunday, November 9, members attached to POPS, with assistance from the Malmesbury SAPS, conducted operations to address the current gang violence in Kalbaskraal,” Van Wyk explained. “Over the past month, sporadic incidents of random shootings occurred. Attempted murder cases have been opened at SAPS Malmesbury. “During the police operation from Sunday to Monday, a total of nine suspects were arrested,…

Former Western Cape Social Development MEC and Speaker of the Provincial Parliament Sharna Gail Fernandez is being remembered as a leader whose life embodied resilience, compassion and an unyielding commitment to justice. Born in 1959 in Retreat, Fernandez’s early life shaped her empathy for vulnerable communities. Before entering public office, she spent more than 30 years in banking, rising to senior management. Colleagues often described her as meticulous, principled and deeply people-centred. Her transition into politics began in 2011. In 2014, she was elected to the Western Cape Provincial Parliament (WCPP) and, on the same day, appointed Speaker, one of the legislature’s most demanding roles. She served until 2019, gaining a reputation for fairness, discipline and her strong stance against gender-based violence. Speaker Daylin Mitchell described her as “a fierce…

Three years after a blaze ripped through Parliament’s National Assembly and Old Assembly, MPs received an update on the progress of the long-awaited restoration of the severely damaged buildings. MPs conducted a walkabout of the construction site on November 5. The Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), which has been tasked with overseeing the restoration, provided members of the Joint Standing Committee on Financial Management of Parliament with a comprehensive overview of the status of the project, which includes the reconstruction of the National Assembly and Old Assembly buildings and the refurbishment of 90 Plein Street offices. The committee said the visible progress on site and commended the DBSA, which is the implementing partner, for what members of the committee described as an informative and inspiring presentation and walkabout. Special…

The Western Cape’s fight against gender-based violence (GBV) has reached the West Coast. The Department of Social Development (DSD) has launched its 14th and 15th GBV Ambassador programmes in the Matzikama and Cederberg municipal areas. Forty-one volunteers, 26 in Matzikama and 15 in Cederberg, will provide information about support services for survivors of abuse and domestic violence. They will also raise awareness about GBV. For some volunteers, the work is personal. Lutzville resident Jane Skippers has assisted survivors for years. “With the training I received from the department, I am empowered to become even more involved (in) helping my community,” she said. Retired teacher Hilda-Ester Job from Lambert’s Bay said she joined to continue giving back. “I want to encourage other residents to get involved, whether to help a child,…

The State of Israel last week embarked on a diplomatic charm offensive, with its president, Isaac Herzog, becoming the first leader to undertake a presidential visit to his Zambian counterpart, Hakainde Hichilema. It was a historic bilateral and diplomatic session that aimed at strengthening working relations between the two countries. For Israel in the post-conflict between Israel and Hamas, it is important to strengthen ties with countries around the world, especially in Africa. Israel views Africa as a strategic partner in security, economy, trading, agriculture, and other spheres. It shares geographic and historic features with Africa. In 1958, Israel established formal diplomatic relations with Ghana under Kwame Nkrumah, which was in its early years of independence. Other African countries, such as Kenya, Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, Gabon, Uganda, the Central African…

PROTEAS captain Temba Bavuma may be a little man, but he certainly is the one for the big moments. Bavuma had brought back left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj into the attack after Aiden Markram had produced a golden-arm three-over spell. The match-up was not in Maharaj’s favour with left-hander Axar Patel still at the crease, but Bavuma was backing his gut feel. The first ball was dispatched to the leg-side boundary where Ryan Rickelton lost sight of it in the vast Eden Gardens crowd. Worse was to follow with Patel swiping two heaving sixes off Maharaj’s next three deliveries to send the home crowd into a frenzy. India’s target was whittled down to 30 runs within four balls. All eyes were on Bavuma. Had the skipper erred in tossing the ball…

Aprilia rider Marco Bezzecchi won the Valencia MotoGP yesterday to bring the season to a close and cap a fine end to his year. South Africa's Brad Binder, meanwhile, finished off a tough season with an eighth-place finish. The 27-year-old had secured third place in the championship in the sprint on Saturday and, starting on pole, edged out Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse) to celebrate in style. Bezzecchi also triumphed last weekend in Portugal, giving Aprilia back-to-back MotoGP victories for the first time. The Italian’s third-place finish also marked Aprilia’s first top-three championship result. Marc Marquez, who did not race on Sunday due to injury, clinched his seventh world title with five events to spare in Japan in September, while his brother Alex secured second place overall in October. "I had a…

The story of serial killer Aileen Wuornos is well known, especially to South African audiences as Charlize Theron played her in the 2003 movie Monster, but that Hollywood production failed to mention one crucial detail which was revealed in the Netflix documentary Aileen: Queen of the Serial Killers. That, of course, was the fact that the first victim of Wuornos was a convicted rapist, Richard Mallory. Though in the movie, viewers witness a brutal sexual assault on Wuornos before she wrestles free and kills him – it’s never established that he was previously convicted of rape. In the conclusion of the movie, very little is presented in terms of evidence as the movie reaches an emotional climax. Therefore, the viewer would not know that Mallory had been previously convicted unless…

Former South African Ambassador to the US, Ebrahim Rasool, has urged people of colour to be more cautious when travelling to the US. This after health and political activist Zackie Achmat was detained by the US Customs and Border Protection for several hours while returning from Canada. Achmat, 63, was detained by US customs and border agents at Pearson Airport. He was travelling to Cape Town with a connecting flight through Newark. Achmat had received the inaugural Paul Farmer award for Global Health Equity, which was established in honour of the late Dr Paul Farmer, a physician, advocate, and global health icon. He received the award last year, but only arrived last week to accept it in person. Speaking on his ordeal, Achmat said: “A very dumpy MAGA member, who…

Within three months, four areas where gunshot detection technology was deployed, 54% of firearms were recovered. This is according to the City of Cape Town which said this was achieved from April to June. The City’s Law Enforcement and Metro Police Departments confiscated 57 firearms between April and June this year; 34 imitation and homemade firearms, and 644 rounds of ammunition. Of these, 31 firearms, 18 imitation and homemade firearms and 467 rounds of ammunition were recovered from the ShotSpotter deployment areas of Manenberg, Hanover Park, Nyanga and Steenberg. Mayco member for Safety and Security, JP Smith explained: “The data underpins the value of the gunshot detection technology which enables more frequent, rapid, and precise responses. “And, by revealing patterns of gunfire, such as time of day or week, and…

As South Africa prepares to host the upcoming G20 summit in Johannesburg, the absence of United States (US) President Donald Trump has sparked considerable discussion. South Africa’s High Commissioner to India, Professor Anil Sooklal, has expressed regret over this high-profile absence, but showed confidence in the resilience of the G20’s framework. Sooklal aired his views in an exclusive interview with World is One News (WION), describing Trump’s absence from the G20 as regrettable, saying: “It’s unfortunate that as the most powerful global economy that we don’t have the USA around the table.” He stated that the US absence will definitely have an impact on the G20 summit, but that it is unlikely to undermine the outcome. “The G20 has been and continues to be a collective of countries addressing our…

An Atlantis police officer, previously thought to have received only a minor penalty for gross misconduct, has been dismissed from the SAPS following a review by the Labour Court. The Police Ministry and the national police commissioner appealed an arbitrator’s decision to the Labour Court in Cape Town after the officer was suspended without pay during disciplinary proceedings. The police officer and two colleagues were convicted of serious misconduct, including kidnapping, assault causing grievous bodily harm, and behaviour damaging to the image of the SAPS. The applicants argued that although the employees were found guilty of serious misconduct, the sanctions of suspension without pay (instead of dismissal) were inappropriate. They further submitted that the light sanction imposed, if not reviewed, will impact negatively on the culture within the SAPS in…

The Proteas have recorded a memorable first victory at India’s citadel of cricket since 1996. Independent Media’s Zaahier Adams looks at five great come-from-behind Test victories by the Proteas over the years. Second Test | Sydney | January 2-6, 1994 South Africa: 169 & 239; Australia: 292 & 111 South Africa won by five runs After the great Shane Warne dismantled the Proteas with seven first innings wickets, the visitors trailed by 123 runs in the first innings. A courageous 79 not out from Jonty Rhodes in the second innings helped set the Aussies a paltry 117-run target. This set the stage for Fanie de Villiers to produce a heroic bowling effort of 6/43 to drive the Proteas to a miraculous five-run win. Second Test | Melbourne | December 26-30,…

Springbok Women’s head coach Swys de Bruin has cast his net wide, inviting a mix of rising talent and household names from the Women’s Rugby World Cup in England in September to a 42-player alignment camp in the Western Cape. Several stars from the U20 Women’s Week in Johannesburg last month were rewarded for their performances, earning the chance to rub shoulders with 21 World Cup stars. The camp began on Sunday at the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport. Among the call-ups are Anja le Roux and Logan Welman from the victorious DHL Western Province team, both attending a second senior camp. Leading try-scorer Lithalethu Nombakuse from Eastern Province and Junior Springbok Women’s player Lidene Kruger from Griquas were also invited. Two players named in the Dream Team at last month’s…

As the international Fifa break has closed, local football enthusiasts are preparing for an action-packed weekend brimming with regional and continental fixtures. Three PSL teams — Mamelodi Sundowns, Kaizer Chiefs, and Stellenbosch FC — will kick off their group stage journeys in the prestigious CAF competitions. In comparison, eight other teams resume their campaigns in the Betway Premiership. The excitement begins on Saturday as AmaZulu FC welcomes Siwelele FC to their home ground. AmaZulu, renowned for their fierce tenacity and spectacular home support, will be eager to bounce back after a shocking defeat to Polokwane in their last outing. That unexpected outcome saw the team drop to sixth place in the league standings, making this a crucial match for them as they strive to regain lost ground against a vastly…