Cape Argus 2022-01-21

Bang Showbiz Ray Fisher has taken to Twitter to respond to Joss Whedon’s interview earlier this week, in which he defended himself against various claims of misconduct, including those made by the Justice League actor. Fisher, who previously accused the filmmaker of “gross, abusive, unprofessional and completely unacceptable” behaviour on the set of the 2017 DC movie, has mocked the director’s response to allegations made against his conduct in the workplace in a New York magazine profile earlier this week and suggested Whedon had damaged his own career with his rebuttals of the claims against him. After the piece was published, Fisher tweeted on Monday: “Looks like Joss Whedon got to direct an endgame after all… “Rather than address all of the lies and buffoonery today – I will be…

Nomalanga Tshuma nomalanga.tshuma@inl.co.za THE case of the Brackenfell police officer accused of raping a young woman on a farm in Stellenbosch on the pretext of helping her has been postponed once again. The officer, who was set to appear in the Blue Downs Magistrate’s Court yesterday, will now be making his first appearance on Monday due to the court not having running water. The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) announced the change of dates yesterday, stating that they were not concerned by the postponement of the officer’s appearance. Ipid spokesperson Grace Langa said: “We are not in a hurry, and we will let the law take its course. “Situations such as this need for us to allow things to move at their own pace because we are not the only…

Nomalanga Tshuma nomalanga.tshuma@inl.co.za POLICE are investigating an incident involving a police officer stationed at Mitchells Plain policing precinct after a video of him seemingly attacking his colleagues with karate moves went viral on social media yesterday. Police spokesperson Joseph Swartbooi said the officer had acted out of character, prompting his colleagues to try to subdue him before referring him to a medical facility. “The officer was referred to a medical facility for assistance. While that aspect is being attended to an internal investigation is under way.” Meanwhile, the City’s Safety and Security Directorate has warned the public about consuming alcohol in public, noting an increase in booze being confiscated by its officers over the festive season. Safety and Security member of the mayoral committee JP Smith said: “We have often…

Sisonke Mlamla sisonke.mlamla@inl.co.za CHAOTIC scenes played out along one of Gugulethu’s major thoroughfares as protesting residents sought to block an eviction from a community centre of a crèche which has served the area for decades. Yesterday a private company ordered occupants from the Uluntu Centre crèche, along NY108, to vacate the premises after a years-long battle finally ended in the Western Cape High Court. Uluntu preschool’s principal, Nombulelo Mzimkulu, said they had operated on the site for 40 years. She said things changed in 2012 when someone claiming to have bought the land arrived and demanded that she vacate, but they did not succeed. Mzimkulu said she was surprised when people came at about 4am yesterday to evict them from the site. When the Cape Argus arrived, one of the…

Nomalanga Tshuma nomalanga.tshuma@inl.co.za AT the start of the new school year, the City’s safety and security directorate says it will be keeping a closer eye on transport this year in an effort to safeguard school-going children as they travel to and from their schools. Safety and security Mayco member JP Smith made the announcement this week, stating that traffic officials will take to the roads throughout the year to ensure the compliance and safety of scholar transport vehicles. He said: “Children going back to school is an exciting and often daunting time for learners and parents. Many do not have the luxury of dropping their children off personally and rely on the services of public transport operators and those who provide dedicated scholar transport. “Often, children spend a large…

Samkelo Mtshali samkelo.thulasizwe@inl.co.za ONE of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture’s lead investigators, Frank Dutton, has died. He was 72. A career police officer and sought-after detective for nearly 40 years, Dutton succumbed to a long illness on Wednesday evening. Although there had been no official comment from the Presidency, it has previously described Dutton as having continually risked his life in the struggle for the advancement of human rights, justice and peace. Dutton retired from the SAPS in 2003 for medical reasons after 37 years of service, and after his retirement remained involved in human rights-related work as a policing expert, locally and abroad, the Presidency said. In recognition of his work, in 2012 Dutton was awarded the Order of Baobab in Gold by then…