Table of contents for 2025-11-20 in Cape Argus

Playdate, Amazon Prime Video’s new movie, proves that not even an interesting cast can save an insufferable production. Directed by Luke Greenfield and written by Neil Goldman, I was initially intrigued by the action-comedy’s line-up. The lead roles include Kevin James – a comedy star I once held in high regard – alongside Alan Ritchson, who has earned widespread acclaim for his portrayal of Jack Reacher in the streamer’s hit series Reacher. As a fan of classic odd-couple buddy pairings such as Kevin Hart and Will Ferrell in Get Hard, as well as dynamic duos in Men in Black, Rush Hour and 21 Jump Street, I was excited to see the chemistry between James and Ritchson. In Playdate, they star as awkward dads Brian (James) and Jeff (Ritchson), who get…

AS the National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) celebrates a landmark Eastern Cape High Court judgment in Makhanda, which significantly strengthens its authority to prevent animal cruelty during live animal exports by sea, in a separate action, Stop Live Exports South Africa (SLESA), representing over 70 animal protection organisations, directly challenged the government by making a presentation to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Agriculture. The High Court ruling overturns restrictive measures imposed by the East London Magistrates’ Court in July 2023 during the loading of over 53 000 animals on to the vessel Al Messilah, which had limited the NSPCA to only four officers and prohibited all photographic and video evidence gathering. The High Court set aside the magistrate’s order in full, affirming the NSPCA’s constitutional and statutory mandate to “police…

JUST weeks after a devastating fire, Phumlani Village was hit by another tragedy when a blaze destroyed over 100 homes, leaving the community in despair. While the exact cause of the fire is unknown, City of Cape Town Disaster Risk Management Centre (DRMC) spokesperson Sonica Lategan said that department officials have conducted an assessment in D-Section, Riemvasmaak Informal Settlement and Eagle Park. Lategan reported: “The assessment concluded that 106 structures were destroyed, and 141 persons displaced – most of them single adults. In terms of infrastructure, 11 toilets and taps were damaged, along with electrical cables. “The Disaster Risk Management Centre will activate Sassa to provide relief beyond the immediate aftermath.” Humanitarian aid organisation Gift of the Givers were on the ground on Tuesday evening and the City’s Solid Waste…

The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) has dissociated itself from researcher and crime activist, Mary De Haas, following her ‘disappointing testimony’ before the Parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee. De Haas, who appeared before Parliament on Tuesday, is an honorary research fellow at the university. During her appearance, De Haas provided the committee with the information she received from confidential sources but refused to divulge their names and identities. She also declined to reveal the names in a private session. This resulted in her testimony being described as “disappointing, unreliable and hearsay” by several members of the committee. The MPs also argued that her refusal to disclose the names made her evidence impossible to verify. The Ad Hoc Committee is investigating allegations of police corruption, criminal infiltration, and political interference within the SAPS…

CAPE Town is heading into the festive season with one of its largest safety deployments yet, a move officials say is designed to protect residents in gang-affected communities while managing packed beaches, roads and tourist hotspots. The City confirmed it will maintain its daily support for SAPS in gang-violence hotspots, with more than 1 000 LEAP officers deployed in shifts. At the same time, the City is bolstering its summer plan with widespread visibility on beaches, braai areas and major attractions including Table Mountain. Road users can expect checkpoints across the metro, and the Highway Patrol Unit will monitor major routes around the clock. An extra 40 officers will focus on the N2, forming part of the 700 new officers deployed since September. This includes dedicated neighbourhood policing in every…

Bleary-eyed Scotland fans woke yesterday morning still pinching themselves after their World Cup dream finally came true, following a night of drama in Glasgow on Tuesday that ended decades of heartbreak. The Scots have not appeared at the finals since 1998 – missing six straight tournaments – but they will be packing their bags for North America next year. Supporters at Hampden Park on Tuesday were taken on an emotional rollercoaster in their 4-2 win over Denmark, pegged back twice before sealing victory in the dying minutes. Midfielder Scott McTominay opened the scoring with a breathtaking early overhead kick, only for Rasmus Hojlund to equalise from the penalty spot. Lawrence Shankland then restored Scotland’s lead in the 78th minute, but Denmark – needing just a draw to qualify automatically –…

“Maybe Shuks missed a trick.” It’s not often that Proteas coach Shukri Conrad is not on top of his game, but these were Kagiso Rabada’s words prior to the Test series against India. Rabada was, of course, humorously referring to the absence of his long-time new-ball partner Lungi Ngidi and the value he could possibly add with his cutters and slower balls on the subcontinent tour. Little did Rabada know that Ngidi would be sent an SOS to fly over to India as backup for him after the Proteas’ premier fast bowler sat out the first Test in Kolkata with a rib injury. With the Proteas enjoying two days of extra rest after the Eden Gardens Test finished in three days, Ngidi was able to join the team in Kolkata…

Former Mamelodi Sundowns defender and captain Thabo Nthethe is tipping his former side to correct Orlando Pirates’ mistake against St Eloi Lupopo whom they face in their opening Caf Champions League group stage opener at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday afternoon at 3pm. It is nothing short of a coincidence that Sundowns open with Lupopo, the Democratic Republic of Congo side that eliminated Pirates – the Brazilians’ closest domestic rivals – in the final preliminary stages. Nthethe, a key figure in Sundowns’ historic 2016 Champions League triumph, expects a demanding battle in the opener but remains confident that his former club have enough quality to stamp their superiority. “It’s going to be a tough encounter for Sundowns,” Nthethe told Independent Newspapers. “But I definitely know that they will do their homework…

The Springboks faced a few tough selection calls ahead of Saturday’s clash with Ireland in Dublin, especially after Franco Mostert’s red card was rescinded. With the match set to play a major role in defining their European tour, every decision matters. This showdown at the Aviva Stadium is more than just another Test – it’s a crucial measuring point for Rassie Erasmus and his players as they build towards the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia. It will also decide whether the Boks can stay unbeaten on tour, and whether Erasmus can finally claim his first win in Ireland as Springbok coach. The world champions haven’t tasted victory in Dublin since 2012, adding an extra edge to the occasion. The starting XV is expected to look much like the one…

The Western Cape High Court delivered a landmark judgment, dismissing an eviction application against a 78-year-old woman. The court characterised the application as “opportunistic”, “disingenuous”, and ultimately “unlawful”. According to housing rights activists and law group, Ndifuna Ukwazi, Noor-Banu Allie lives in a street in District Six that is among the few remnants to have survived the demolitions under the Group Areas Act. Crucially, she has a pending land claim for a family home that the apartheid regime destroyed. This land claim is currently stalled in the second round of applications. The first round had not been finalised, leading to the creation of the second round by an Act of Parliament in 2014. However, the Constitutional Court later declared this second round unconstitutional in the 2016 LAMOSA judgment (Land Access…

CAPE Town’s roads resembled a battleground on Tuesday with police shootouts and high-speed chases. One suspect was killed and four arrested. A chase brought traffic to a standstill on Jakes Gerwel Drive when police pursued a runaway vehicle near Westgate Mall yesterday morning. Several cars were damaged. Videos and images of the crime scene shared on social media showed a BMW’s windscreen shattered by bullets. No bystanders were injured during the chase. Members of the National Intervention Unit, acting on intelligence that armed suspects were travelling in a Toyota Hilux, followed the vehicle from Nyanga until it reached Jakes Gerwel Drive in Mitchells Plain. When police moved in, the suspects allegedly opened fire – triggering a shootout in peak-hour traffic. Police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg said: “The vehicle was followed…

ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has criticised Vice-Admiral Monde Lobese, the Chief of the South African Navy, after Lobese suggested that Cabinet officials responsible for budget cuts to the defence force might be “in the pockets of drug dealers.” Mbalula said that the important issue of funding for the SANDF and the broader security framework should be dealt with through proper channels. “South Africa is faced with a difficult situation of outbursts by people in security positions. This general was not speaking in the army, he was speaking at a party or something. I saw him in a very nice suit at a gala dinner. It’s unheard of that generals address gala dinners and talk big things. No man, it should be worrisome,” Mbalula told journalists in Johannesburg. “This country has…

The last time Darren Thomas made headlines he had just returned from winning a bronze medal at the Wodapalooza Fitness Festival, one of the biggest fitness events in the world with a strong focus on CrossFit. The event attracts more than 40 000 spectators and competitors, and Thomas became the first adaptive male CrossFit athlete from Africa to medal at this international stage. More than a year later, Thomas has gone a step further and is now a world champion, not at the same event, but at the Hyrox World Championships held in Chicago in June. Thomas said he was already deep into his training for the upcoming qualifiers in Johannesburg in two weeks, where he hopes to defend his Hyrox world-champion title. Thomas competed in the adaptive “seated without…

The Springboks will return to Dublin this weekend chasing a victory that has eluded them for more than a decade. South Africa last beat Ireland at the Aviva Stadium in 2012, and Saturday’s clash (7.40pm kick-off) offers the world champions a chance to end a 13-year wait for success in the Irish capital. They came agonisingly close on their previous visit in 2022, falling 19–16 in a bruising Test that still sticks with Bok winger Cheslin Kolbe. Clashes between Ireland and the world champions have been tight contests in recent years, and Kolbe admits that the Boks’ inability to grab key moments during encounters proved costly. “We came close in 2022, but we didn’t capitalise on a few opportunities and shots at goal, and that definitely cost us,” Kolbe said…

Jose Riveiro is chuffed to be tipped by some to succeed Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos, but he argues that it’s not up to him to decide – which is why the masses should continue celebrating the team’s trajectory for now. Broos will vacate his national team hot seat after the 2026 Fifa World Cup, bringing to an end an illustrious five-year tenure that already includes qualifying for back-to-back AFCON tournaments, as well as next year’s global showpiece in North America. Given that Broos’ shoes will be difficult to fill, a number of pundits and Bafana followers have backed Riveiro to take over the reins from the silver-haired Belgian. Their motivation is inspired by the fact that Riveiro had an equally impressive three-year spell at Orlando Pirates – winning five…

The Las Vegas Grand Prix arrives at a pivotal moment in the championship, with Max Verstappen needing a big result to keep his title hopes alive. The good news for the Dutchman is that the fast, low-grip street circuit suits his driving style perfectly at a time when every point matters. With the Dutchman needing a maximum haul to revive his title prospects, a full 25 points under the neon lights would go a long way towards restoring momentum. Crucially, the styling of the circuit and the expected cool desert conditions favour Verstappen far more than they do the McLaren pairing he is fighting in the standings. Las Vegas is defined by long straights, low-downforce set-ups and heavy braking zones. Drivers must commit aggressively into corners, rotate the car quickly…

A CHILD rapist’s appeal to overturn a conviction and life sentence was denied by the Western Cape High Court At the Wynberg Regional Magistrate’s Court, Nicholas van der Schyff was jailed for raping twin sisters and another minor but denied this, maintaining the evidence against him was fabricated. The children testified regarding events that allegedly occurred in 2015, when the twins were 9 and the friend would have been about 7 years old. Van der Schyff, who was a friend of the twins’ grandfather, was convicted on a charge of rape, six charges of sexual assault and three charges of exposing or displaying pornography to children after his complainants testified in 2023. The court heard Van der Schyff would, from time to time, take the three girls to his home,…

THE body of Susan Kok, 78, from Fisantekraal was found dumped on Sunday in an open field in Waarburgh Road, Joostenberg Vlakte after she was last seen on November 8. Kok was spending the night with family on Joostenberg Vlakte when she disappeared. Her daughter, Shireen Christians said that her mother did not have any dementia or mental illness. She explained: “I dropped her off the Saturday at my cousin’s place and I went to work. I was going to pick her up on the Sunday afternoon but in the morning, I got a message to say that my mother is gone and is no longer at my cousin’s house.” “When we got there, we were told that my mother left around 3am without saying anything but knowing my mother,…

Cedrick Nkabinde, chief of staff of suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, said yesterday that he met controversial North West and ANC-aligned businessman Brown Mogotsi once when he facilitated a meeting on behalf of the minister. Continuing his testimony at the parliamentary inquiry probing allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, Nkabinde said Mchunu had, on August 24, 2024, instructed him to make arrangements for him to go and visit Stilfontein, where there was a crisis of illegal miners. “It was at this meeting that the minister provided me with contact details of Mr Mogotsi from North West. The minister instructed that I should contact Mr Mogotsi and ask him to come with local leaders to brief him on the situation before his visit,” he said. A meeting was scheduled…

WHEN 83-year-old Joan Wessels opened her back door on Sunday, May 25, she walked into what she describes as “a nightmare no human being should ever go through”. Raw sewage – knee deep in some places – had surged across her sloping back garden in Alwin Street, Brooklyn, filling her swimming pool and covering the western side of the yard in faeces. Wessels, who moved to South Africa from Holland in the 1970’s, said the overflow followed a blockage in the main sewer pump earlier that month. According to her, the City’s pressure-blasting took place further down the street, but the force of the water caused the manhole lid in her garden to lift, sending raw sewage gushing into her pool. A cleaning team disinfected the area and told her…

As Kaizer Chiefs prepare for their maiden appearance in the CAF Confederation Cup group stage, a coach who previously led them to continental glory advises Amakhosi not to set overly lofty expectations. Few know better than Muhsin Ertugral the pressure that comes with being at the country’s most glamorous club, the Turk having coached Chiefs on multiple occasions. “Of course, at Chiefs you are always expected to win things,” Ertugral said. “The history of the club dictates that there is pressure automatically. “But, for this one, I think everyone needs to be realistic and not look at winning the competition as the ultimate goal. I would say to the management: ‘don’t put too much pressure on this young team that is being built’.” Do not misinterpret that to mean the…

Test cricket has been on its last legs since I can remember. A niche sport that exclusively keeps British aristocrats and its Commonwealth Asian diaspora entertained. This is, of course, a great generalisation. But one that holds plenty of truth with a format of the game that is already only played by 12 nations being virtually extinct in the once global power West Indies. And yet, I can’t help feeling that Test cricket is arguably in its rudest health. It was never meant to be ‘the world’s game’ – that is the domain of football – that attracts the masses ... It’s far too nuanced for that. I have a penchant for scrolling through the archives on YouTube, and often come across Test matches played during the 1980s. This was…