Tabla de contenidos para 2026-02-17 en Cape Argus

In just the first few months since the Two-Pot system launched, South Africans have withdrawn over R20 billion from their retirement savings. This moment of financial relief for many is also a turning point: the choices made now will echo for decades. How can employees and employers navigate this new landscape wisely? As the new financial year begins, many South Africans are experiencing a rare sense of financial relief. Bonuses are being paid, salary increases are reflected, and for a brief moment, there's a sense of possibility. But this window is also an opportunity to make decisions that will shape your financial well-being for years to come, especially your retirement. This year, major legislative changes are reshaping how South Africans approach retirement. Globally, countries are grappling with similar reforms, each…

Protests over fee debt and financial exclusion have erupted at the University of Cape Town (UCT), with some campus entry points temporarily blocked yesterday morning including the busy M3 entrance in Rondebosch. The M3 entrance to UCT in Rondebosch was blocked by protest action, with services on the scene. In a social media update, UCT said it “notes with concern that some of the entry points to campus were momentarily blocked” earlier in the day. “Campus Protection Services (CPS) has attended to these incidents and the affected entry points have been cleared. CPS is monitoring developments across campus,” the university said. UCT added that, “At this stage, academic activities and university operations are proceeding as planned. Course convenors and line managers will provide more specific updates should circumstances change.” Responding…

A ride-hailing driver was arrested in Parow after Metro Police officers discovered what the City of Cape Town described as a fraudulent driver’s licence and a device allegedly capable of producing similar documents. The arrest forms part of enforcement operations that resulted in 365 suspects being arrested in the past week. According to the City, officers were on patrol in Parow at 9.30am on Thursday when they noticed a motorist behaving suspiciously and attempting to avoid eye contact. Officers conducted a traffic stop and, during an inspection, determined that the driver’s licence was fraudulent, the City said. A search of the vehicle allegedly uncovered a device which, according to the City, could be used to produce fraudulent licences. The driver was arrested and was detained at Parow SAPS. The matter…

Cape Town’s dam storage levels are at 58.3%, with water consumption still above the City’s target as officials warn against complacency amid a dry summer and uncertain rainfall outlook. In its latest update on February 13, the City of Cape Town said weekly usage had dropped slightly to 1 052 million litres per day (MLD), down from 1 073 MLD the previous week. Despite the decrease, consumption remains 77 MLD above the target of 975 MLD. Mayco Member for Water and Sanitation, Councillor Zahid Badroodien, welcomed the reduction but stressed that more savings are needed. “It’s good to see the usage figures come down. Thank you for being water wise. Let’s continue to do so, so we can get below the target. It takes all hands on deck to bring…

The distance between Ahmedabad, situated in north-central Gujarat along the banks of the Sabarmati River, all the way north to New Delhi, positioned between the Himalayas and the Aravalli Range, is just under 1 000km. It may as well be on a different continent for the Proteas after spending the first week of their ICC T20 World Cup journey at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, picking up three crucial wins from three matches, to book their ticket to the next Super Eights phase. Afghanistan’s victory over UAE yesterday ensured the Proteas’ passage to the next round with a game to spare. Aiden Markram’s men have, though, now packed their bags and travelled to India’s capital for their final Group D match, effectively a dead-rubber, against the UAE at the…

Traditionally, the Springboks have relied on their versatile loose-forwards to cover the No 6 jersey, with less emphasis on selecting specialist fetchers to strengthen the squad. However, it might be time for Rassie Erasmus to consider that approach ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup. In the United Rugby Championship, a handful of ball poachers have been delivering strong performances for their franchises, knocking on the Bok door. With the position currently belonging to captain Siya Kolisi, it’s time to start looking beyond the 2027 tournament heading into the next 13 international matches. We take a look at the flankers who have put their hands up for that spot. Paul de Villiers | Stormers Arguably the top No 6 flank in the country at the moment. De Villiers stepped out…

February is traditionally a time when people seek companionship with the hope of finding true love. But while many are searching for genuine relationships, scammers are equally active, preying on emotional vulnerability and the desire for connection. The Southern African Fraud Prevention Service (SAFPS) warns that romance scams spike during this period, with criminals using increasingly sophisticated, tech‑driven tactics to deceive their victims. Romance scams are no longer obvious. They are highly elaborate, psychologically engineered, and technologically enabled, while romance scams are a reality all year round, scammers actively target and exploit people’s emotions more around Valentine’s Day. We want South Africans to be alert, informed, and protected. The illusion of connection: How scammers build trust In today’s hyper‑connected world, social media platforms and dating apps have become mainstream avenues…

While the Muslim Judicial Council (MJC) has come out against a new White Paper by the Department of Home Affairs that has proposed a system that may require an electronic death certificate before burial can take place, the Western Cape Muslim Undertakers Forum has said that the system is not new. The MJC has undertaken a considered review of the Draft White Paper on Citizenship, Immigration, and Refugee Protection, Government Gazette No. 53853 of December 12, 2025, “insofar as its proposed administrative architecture may bear upon the release of deceased persons for purposes of burial”. The MJC said that it is within Islamic jurisprudence that the burial of the deceased is done as quickly as reasonably possible, which is derived from established principles of Shari’ah. “The prompt burial of the…

The Atlantis man alleged to have bludgeoned his mother-in-law to death with an axe is now shifting the blame to a neighbour. Janet Jordan, 67, was laid to rest on Saturday. Moegamat “Ikie” Tabisher, 35, appeared in the Atlantis Magistrate’s Court in a wheelchair, battered and bruised. He faces charges of murder and assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm. Residents from Pearl Mansion assaulted Tabisher on the day of the incident, January 26. He was officially arrested on February 9 and had been under police guard while still in the hospital. Tabisher is applying for bail, and while testifying in his own defence, he claimed a neighbour murdered Jordan. He told the court he only took the axe away from the neighbour and ran to a…

Another member of the SAPS stationed in Athlone is facing corruption charges after he allegedly helped a drug syndicate but remains on duty. This is according to DA MP Nicholas Gotsell, who made the allegations in a video posted on social media on Friday following an oversight visit to Athlone SAPS. In the video, Gotsell said a sergeant, who works as a court orderly at the Athlone Magistrate’s Court, had been charged with two counts of corruption. “Cops helping drug syndicates while still wearing the SAPS uniform is a betrayal of every law-abiding resident in Athlone and surrounding communities,” Gotsell said. According to Gotsell, the officer allegedly solicited money on January 12 to secure the quicker release of a detainee. He further alleged that the sergeant assisted an inmate in…

Lukhanyo Calata, the son of anti-apartheid activist Fort Calata, one of the Cradock Four victims, has accused both the apartheid regime and post-apartheid governments of betrayal. During his testimony yesterday, Calata claimed that the NPA and President Cyril Ramaphosa have failed the families of the Cradock Four, who were murdered in 1985. This comes as the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into alleged political interference in Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Cases, chaired by retired Constitutional Court Judge Sisi Khampepe, continued to hear testimony from Calata. The commission, established by President Cyril Ramaphosa last year, is chaired by Khampepe and aims to investigate potential misconduct by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) concerning TRC referrals. The inquiry revisits the tragedy that unfolded in 1985 when Fort Calata, Matthew Goniwe, Sparrow Mkhonto, and…

A personal loan policy to secure debt on an overdraft cannot be used to pay everyday expenses, a judge said following an application by a father who wanted a financial services company to immediately release money to him so that he could pay his children’s school fees. The man, only identified as CM (applicant) to protect the identities of his children, in desperation turned to the Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg for an urgent order to obtain the money so that his children would not be kicked out of school. In turning down his application, Judge Susan Wentzel-Thompson said the basis for the application and the urgency arose from a fundamental misunderstanding by the applicant of the nature of his personal loan protection policy. He earlier concluded this policy with Standard…

Benfica coach Jose Mourinho insisted he is capable of saying “no” to Real Madrid president Florentino Perez as he played down rumours of a return to the Spanish giants yesterday. Mourinho’s Benfica host Real Madrid in a Uefa Champions League play-off round clash tonight, before the second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu next week. The 63-year-old Portuguese coach, who led Madrid between 2010 and 2013, has a clause in his contract with Benfica which would allow him to depart the club, fuelling rumours that Perez may turn to him again next season. Mourinho guided Benfica to a dramatic 4-2 victory over Alvaro Arbeloa’s Real Madrid in the league phase of the Champions League late last month. That result — sealed by a 98th-minute header from goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin — forced…

If you are a parent, you have likely felt the rising pressure of school fees, stationery costs, and the growing list of school activities. While many families save for education, far fewer have a clear plan showing how much they need to put away, which options may suit them, and how rising costs could affect their goals. The best place to start is not with a product but with a personalised financial plan. All families’ circumstances are unique. The trick is to match the right financial solution to your goals, whether you want predictable contributions, tax-free growth, or higher long-term returns. A plan clarifies your time frame, priorities, affordability, and risk comfort before any product choice is made. Parents should begin with the basics: their aspirations for schooling, the age…

Not only has renowned politician and anti-apartheid activist, Reverend Dr Allan Boesak, said President Cyril Ramaphosa should fire officials implicated in Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee and Madlanga Commission, but he would also advise the president to resign. In an interview with Newzroom Afrika on Sunday, Boesak said Ramaphosa should fire officials who have been implicated in criminal activities brought to light at the commission, chaired by Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga. The commission identified prima facie evidence of criminal conduct and corruption, prompting immediate referrals for criminal investigation, urgent prosecutorial decisions, and disciplinary action. Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee have been investigating allegations of police corruption and political interference ventilated by KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Police Commissioner General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Boesak criticised how the president has kept the interim Madlanga report private, and only relayed…

Nearly R70 million owed to the Garden Route District Municipality is unlikely to ever be recovered, with most of it linked to unpaid fire service accounts – even as the municipality secured another clean audit. That is the picture painted in the oversight report on the municipality’s 2024/25 annual report, which was served before councillors at a special council meeting on Thursday. The Garden Route District Municipality oversees and supports several local municipalities across the Garden Route in the Western Cape, including George, Knysna, Mossel Bay, Oudtshoorn, Hessequa and Kannaland. The report, compiled by the Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC), is the council’s formal review of the municipality’s financial and service delivery performance for the year ended June 30. The Auditor-General issued “an unqualified audit opinion with no material findings”.…

There was a time not too long ago when Orlando Pirates were spoken of as brave challengers, a side capable of pushing the champions but ultimately falling short when the race tightened. Two seasons on, that narrative has shifted. The Buccaneers are no longer chasing shadows — they are setting the pace. Heading into Wednesday’s top-of-the-table clash against Mamelodi Sundowns at FNB Stadium, Pirates sit six points clear. It is a position built not on hype, but on continuity, depth and a growing sense of belief within the dressing room. For veteran midfielder Makhehleni Makhaula, now in his third season with the club, the shift has been gradual but deliberate. Having finished second twice behind Sundowns under José Riveiro, Pirates have finally learned what it takes to turn promise into…

The romance of the FA Cup has always added something special to the month of love, with the chance of an upset – not roses and candlelit dinners – getting the hearts of fans fluttering, and red cards the ones that truly matter. The English game’s oldest competition once reigned as a blazing romantic David-versus-Goliath tale. But has that glow dimmed in the modern era of football pragmatism? Fixture congestion, squad rotations, and packed Premier League schedules mean that for some big clubs, the FA Cup is no longer the main romantic interest. Still, if this season has taught us anything, it’s that English football never quite lets the magic die – especially when the underdogs get to write their own love stories. Take the most jaw-dropping moment of this…

England survived a major scare to qualify for the Super 8 of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup yesterday, as a swashbuckling Italian chase fell agonisingly short in Kolkata. Will Jacks smashed the fastest T20 World Cup 50 by an Englishman to help his side post 202/7 — their highest total of the tournament. Despite being the lowest-ranked team in the competition, Italy threatened a historic upset before eventually being bowled out for 178 off the final ball. “We haven’t played our best cricket, but at the end of the day, we’ve made it through and we’re heading to Sri Lanka, so we can be happy about that,” said England captain Harry Brook, after the match. Most of England’s batsmen earned solid starts after Brook won the toss at Eden…