Indice dei contenuti per 2026-04-21 in Cape Argus

THE proposed overhaul of South Africa’s eviction laws has sparked debate as Cape Town grapples with mounting pressure from unlawful land occupations. The Prevention of Illegal Eviction from and Unlawful Occupation of Land (PIE) Amendment Bill, now open for public comment, aims to strengthen enforcement and improve clarity in how evictions are handled. Human Settlements Minister, Thembi Simelane, said the changes are intended to clamp down on unlawful occupations. “The proposed amendment seeks to empower municipalities, State entities, and private property owners to respond more decisively to illegal occupations and evictions,” Simelane said. Key proposals contained in the Bill include: introduction of additional offence – to include those who incite or organise illegal occupations, even where no money is exchanged; imposing a fine of R2 million or imprisonment on…

A SCOTTISH complainant who travelled to South Africa to confront former teacher Iain Wares says his “fear is turning to anger” after the extradition case, in which Wares appeared last week, was postponed in the Simon’s Town Magistrate’s Court due to the State advocate being ill. Women and Men Against Child Abuse (WMACA) released a statement, quoting Roy Hurhangee speaking outside court. “I came here to try and get some closure. Today was surreal. I was nervous and at one point I thought I was going to pass out,” he said. Hurhangee said he made arrangements to attend proceedings and would return if necessary. “I now know, if necessary, I will come back to see it through to the end. We’ll take what we can from that, get confirmed dates,…

The Worcester Regional Court has sentenced a 31-year-old man to effective life imprisonment for rape, alongside additional prison terms for assault and kidnapping. Gerald Joseph was convicted on three counts of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, one count of kidnapping and one count of rape. He was sentenced to 10 years’ direct imprisonment on each assault count, five years for kidnapping and life imprisonment for rape, resulting in a combined sentence of life plus 35 years. The court ordered that the victim be notified of any parole proceedings. According to National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson, Eric Ntabazalila, the accused and the 25-year-old victim had previously been in a relationship. “In the first incident, on April 23, 2023, at Sterkwater Farm in Prince Alfred Hamlet, the accused attacked the…

STATISTICS released by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health have revealed a shocking number of child and teenage pregnancies in the province for the 2025/26 financial year, involving children as young as 10 years old. A total of 421 children aged 10 to 14 became pregnant and 28 108 pregnancies were reported among children aged 15 to 19. Thabisile Hlatshwayo from the uThukela Health District Office shared the numbers of child and teenage pregnancy in the current financial year. Hlatshwayo said 421 children aged 10 to 14 became pregnant in the province in the 2025/26 financial year. She said eThekwini had 130 cases of child pregnancy, followed by uMkhanyakude, 65, King Cetshwayo 52, and then uMgungundlovu with 50. She said all 11 districts in the province had cases that had been…

THE fourth-oldest mosque in the province, the Javia Mosque (Masjid) in Strand, has been declared a Provincial Heritage Site. The designation took effect on March 27, and applies to the mosque at 43 Market Street. It formally recognises the site under Section 27 of the National Heritage Resources Act, providing it with legal protection as a heritage resource. The Strand Moslem Council (SMC) said the mosque is regarded as one of the oldest places of worship in the Western Cape and is listed as the fourth-oldest mosque in the province, following the Auwal, Palm Tree and Buitengracht mosques in Bo-Kaap. The announcement coincided with the 204th anniversary of the establishment of the Muslim community in Strand and the 60th anniversary of the SMC. “The community expresses gratitude and pride, recognising…

If Stellenbosch FC were hoping to catch Mamelodi Sundowns still suffering from a hangover after the Pretoria club’s exceptional CAF Champions League semi-final exploits over the weekend, they are in for a rude awakening. The two sides are set to meet in a crucial Betway Premiership encounter at Loftus Versveld on Wednesday. It is the same venue at which Sundowns booked a second consecutive CAF Champions League final berth through a 2-0 aggregate victory over Tunisian giants Esperance last Saturday. It was an exceptional achievement, cheered on by a sold-out Loftus crowd, which included luminaries such as SAFA President Danny Jordaan. But such is the professionalism of Sundowns that their coach Miguel Cardoso is already focusing on facing Stellies, especially with an in-form Orlando Pirates having overtaken the Brazilians…

South Africans are living longer, but not necessarily better, and that gap is becoming one of the most expensive risks. For decades, the conversation around aging has been dominated by a single metric: lifespan. We celebrated the fact that medical advancements and improved living conditions were adding years to our lives. But amidst the reality of modern longevity, a more critical question is the quality of those extra years. In South Africa, where our socio-economic landscape adds unique layers of complexity to aging, the distinction between lifespan (the total number of years we live) and health span (the period of life spent in good health, free from chronic disease and disability) has never been more important. While living longer is a milestone, living well is the goal. The shift from…

Top Billing has finally got a date for its comeback season, and it’s days away. Viewers have been waiting patiently since last year’s announcement, and now it has all been revealed. Top Billing, South Africa’s longest-running and most iconic entertainment and lifestyle programme, returns to screens on April 30. As anticipation builds ahead of the premiere, one question remains on everyone’s lips: Who will be the new faces of Top Billing? The channel is keeping things tight-lipped, with a reveal announcement teased for “soon”. Batsetsana Kumalo, the original executive producer who steered Top Billing under the Tswelopele Productions, shared in a video on Instagram. “There are brand new faces joining Top Billing, and I think you’re going to love them. Trust me, this is next level.” The much-loved brand returns…

THE major cold front that made landfall over Cape Town has triggered political mudslinging over the cause of widespread disruption across the metro. Flooding, electricity outages and transport interruptions unfolded as heavy rainfall and strong winds over the weekend caused havoc. The City of Cape Town warned that restoration of electricity outages may be delayed due to dangerous working conditions and a surge in service requests. “Rain and high wind speeds make electrical work dangerous, but City energy teams are attending to the various outages with urgency,” the City said in a notice yesterday. Severe weather warnings remained in place, including a Level 2 alert for damaging waves along the coast, with risks to small vessels, coastal infrastructure and people near shoreline areas. Transport services were also affected, with Metrorail…

Two people were brought to safety on Sunday after becoming stuck in a void in a canal in Pinelands. As water levels rose rapidly, firefighters set up the ropes and had a ladder, assisting Metro Rescue Teams who donned wetsuits and harnesses to get to the trapped individuals. The adult male and female were treated for hypothermia and transported to hospital. “This assist is the third incident in just four weeks where our rope rescue technicians were involved,” said Safety and Security mayco member, JP Smith. “The others were the rescue of a woman who fell into a drain in Bonteheuwel and Sable the canine in Durbanville. “Once again, they were available to assist and ensure a positive outcome. “Rope rescue is a specialised skill within the Fire and Rescue…

HOMES in some of Cape Town’s most sought-after areas are selling quickly, and – in some cases – for as much as R30 million in Newlands and R65m in Bantry Bay. Propstats data cited by Seeff Southern Suburbs shows that Newlands is one of the fastest-selling areas in Cape Town, with properties selling in about two weeks on average. At the same time, the average property price in the area reached R9.9m last year, up 16% year-on-year, with limited stock driving faster sales. BetterBond’s April Property Brief noted that average home prices across South Africa reached new highs, with first-time buyers entering the market at R1.35m. Overall, average home prices gained 5.3% year-on-year in the first quarter to R1.67m, its data shows. In Newlands, Seeff said, high-value transactions dominate, with…

CAPE Town musicians are backing a petition calling for fair pay, written contracts and basic protections, as part of a new campaign targeting working conditions in the city’s live music industry. The petition forms part of the WE DON’T PLAY! campaign led by the Ad Hoc Committee for Organising Musicians (AHCOM), which is seeking support for a set of minimum standards developed by working performers. Musician Sanelisiwe “Sane” Singaphi said current practices leave many artists struggling to make a living. “Getting a drink or a meal is not payment. What if I need to feed a family? I can’t take that home,” she said. “The campaign says conditions in the live music sector are “unsustainable and often exploitative”, with musicians frequently working without contracts, facing unclear payment structures and covering…

Liam Rosenior said yesterday that Chelsea’s owners had been “magnificent” in their support despite an alarming slump that has left their Uefa Champions League qualification hopes hanging by a thread. The Blues are seven points behind fifth-placed Liverpool after four straight English Premier League defeats and their chances of finishing in the top five look bleak. Boos greeted the full-time whistle following Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Manchester United at Stamford Bridge after some supporters staged a street protest against owners BlueCo ahead of kick-off. Chelsea co-owner Behdad Eghbali last week said the club were still behind Rosenior and remained optimistic about long-term success under his management. Asked yesterday if he felt that support, Blues head coach Rosenior, who replaced Enzo Maresca in January, said: “One-hundred percent. “They have been supportive…

As market conditions continue to evolve, homeowners interested in selling need to approach the process with clarity and preparation. Listing a property without asking the right questions beforehand can lead to delays, missed opportunities, and pricing missteps. Selling a home is one of the most important financial decisions many people will make, and asking the right questions before listing can make a significant difference to the outcome. From pricing strategy to agent selection, informed sellers are better equipped to navigate the process more efficiently and confidently. One of the first questions sellers should consider is whether it is the right time to sell, noting that the decision should be based on what best suits their lifestyle and personal circumstances. However, he advises sellers to also consider market conditions such as…

A small protest, ‘Hands Off Malema,’ took place in New York City, rallying activists against the sentencing of EFF leader Julius Malema, highlighting international political tensions. Protesters included activists linked to the Partisan Defense Committee (PDC), the Spartacist League, and the Internationalist Group. The East London Magistrate’s Court sentenced EFF leader Malema to an effective five-year direct prison term after finding him guilty on multiple firearm-related charges linked to a 2018 Mdantsane rally. His legal team was granted leave to appeal the sentence, meaning he has not been immediately imprisoned while the matter continues through the courts. The protest took place outside the South African Consulate-General in Manhattan. Protesters claimed that US President Trump had a hand in the sentencing. “Malema has been sentenced to five years in prison on…

POLICE have urged motorists to avoid road rage situations. This, as the man who allegedly shot dead a motorist and seriously wounded his wife in full view of their minor children, in Emmarentia, on Sunday, has been arrested. The suspect is expected to appear in court today on charges of murder and attempted murder. According to Gauteng police spokesperson, Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi, the 58-year-old driver has been arrested and is expected to appear before the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court. “An alleged road rage incident led to the murder of one man and injury of two people. It is reported that on the afternoon of April 19, two male drivers were involved in a road rage incident at Emmarentia, which led to a physical altercation.” Police allege that during the confrontation, a female…

CHRISTOPHER “Chippie” Solomon was remembered fondly by his colleagues during a memorial service at Kuils River Rugby Football Club on Sunday. Affectionately known as “Uncle Chippie”, Solomon was the DHL Stormers’ long-serving team manager before he died of a heart attack on April 11. He is survived by his widow, Pearl, and children Nina and Chad. He was a father figure within Stormers Rugby, providing guidance and support to generations of players who knew him. Solomon served as DHL Stormers team manager from 2004 until his passing on Saturday , taking charge of over 350 matches in that time and providing presence on the touchline through the highs and lows of 21 seasons. He represented Western Province Schools under the banner of the SA Rugby Union and was involved in…

The Stormers face what backline coach Dawie Snyman has described as a “Test match” when they host log leaders Glasgow Warriors in a blockbuster United Rugby Championship clash this weekend. With first playing second in the standings and the regular season entering its decisive phase, Snyman acknowledged the magnitude of the encounter – not just in terms of points, but as a benchmark for the Cape side’s title credentials on Saturday (kick-off 1.45pm). “Glasgow are doing really well this season. They’re top of the log and we’re second, so it’s a big clash which will probably decide who can push on and finish at the top,” Snyman said, on Monday afternoon. While the fixture also marks the Stormers’ final home game before a crucial tour — they face Ulster and…

The injury-plagued Springbok Women's Sevens face a mountain to climb in their bid for promotion after finding the intensity of the Hong Kong Sevens a bridge too far. Missing "big guns" like captain Nadine Roos and winger Patience Mokone, the side struggled to adapt to the intensity of the top-flight teams. A lack of cohesion was evident in the opening pool matches, where heavy defeats to powerhouses Canada and Australia highlighted the gulf in class. Coach Cecil Afrika acknowledged the challenge of jumping from the second tier to the world’s premier stage. “We are not used to that intensity and could not respond well enough. Our kick-offs and kick-off receipts were not up to standard and that is an area we will work on one once we come back…

While Sunday’s clash against Manchester City was billed at the season-defining moment for Arsenal’s title credentials, in truth the killer blow can be traced back a lot further than that. Some may think it was landed in that dramatic League Cup final defeat to Pep Guardiola’s Citizens. But it goes back even further than that ... a few seasons, in fact. Arsenal’s Achilles heel remains the stretch in the league championship race from January to May. And it is no coincidence that the cracks in the facade started showing at that stage this season. Things seemed to be going swimmingly for the Gunners in the first half of the season as they roared to the summit after strengthening in almost every department. They saw Liverpool’s early title challenge fade, with…