Table of contents for 2026-04-10 in Cape Argus

The Two Oceans Marathon This is one of South Africa’s most iconic long‑distance running events, held annually in Cape Town each April. It features a 56km ultra‑marathon on Saturday and a 21km half-marathon on Sunday, attracting thousands of local and international participants. Both races start on Main Road in Newlands and finish at the UCT Rugby Fields on Upper Campus, Rondebosch. The ultra‑marathon route takes runners around the Cape Peninsula, passing through Muizenberg, St James, Kalk Bay, Hout Bay and Constantia Nek, while many of those participating in the half-marathon run along Southern Cross Drive and through the Southern Suburbs before ending at the same finish precinct. Known as “the world’s most beautiful marathon”, the Two Oceans Marathon courses are celebrated for their stunning ocean and mountain views, making it…

WITH nearly 700 delegates, the Western Cape is sending the largest provincial delegation to Johannesburg this weekend for the DA’s high-stakes elective congress. More than 2 000 delegates are set to attend the pivotal gathering that could reshape the party’s leadership and direction ahead of crucial elections. The two-day congress is taking place tomorrow and Sunday. Key policy positions are also expected to be debated. DA Western Cape chairperson Jaco Londt said excitement has been building as delegates begin arriving. “What I’m also quite excited about is for more South Africans to see how we practice internal democracy, but also, hear the ideas being put forward,” he said. Londt said the congress could usher in a new, younger leadership cohort. “We have such an exciting young crop of leaders who…

A MOTHER has been left distraught after learning that no arrests have been made four months after her son’s death in a hit-and-run, allegedly by an off-duty cop. Alex Scott, 21, died on November 30 after he was struck by a vehicle in Bellville. Reports later surfaced that the driver may have been an off-duty Ravensmead police officer, who was allegedly picked up from the scene by a marked police vehicle before investigators arrived. In a recent parliamentary reply on the investigation into the death of Scott, it was said that an arrest could only be made once the investigation is complete, despite cops knowing who the suspects are. MP, Nicholas Gotsell, who has been at the forefront of the case, said it’s concerning that the investigation has dragged on…

THE Constitutional Court has ordered Cash Paymaster Services (CPS) to pay the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) more than R81 million in profit gained from the contract that was declared unlawful. The ruling came after 12 years of legal battles, following the apex court’s 2014 declaration that the contract was unlawful. The declaration was suspended three times to ensure grants continued to be paid, as Sassa repeatedly failed to find an alternative or take payments in-house, leading to several court-approved extensions. Sassa, under the political leadership of former Social Development minister Bathabile Dlamini, awarded a R10 billion contract to CPS for the national distribution of social grants in 2012. The losing bidder, AllPay Consolidated Investment, challenged the award in court, citing serious irregularities in the procurement process. The court…

The Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) is proceeding with graduations and an on-campus return, along with an “action plan” to address issues for dental technology students. However, the South African Dental Technicians Council (SADTC) maintains that the university’s dental technology programme remains suspended, leaving students feeling abandoned and their futures jeopardised by the ongoing deadlock. “I feel sad because I’m supposed to be part of the cohort that will be graduating, but because of all these delays, I find myself forced to watch from the sidelines,” one fourth-year dental technology student said. The student added that the uncertainty is compounded by the lack of practical training, saying their graduation prospects remain unclear “since we still haven’t been to the labs”. The student’s concerns come amid tensions between CPUT and…

The recent declaration by the United Nations General Assembly, which recognises the ‘trafficking of enslaved Africans and racialised chattel enslavement of Africans as the gravest crime against humanity’, is historically significant. While it is long overdue, the world has finally named a devastating historical crime whose aftershocks continue to reproduce an unjust global order, unequal power relations, and economic and geopolitical imbalances. This historical declaration undercuts the well-peddled and false narrative of slavery that slavery is part of a distant, forgotten age, rather than an omnipresent feature in today’s racial hierarchies of economic extraction and distribution. Naming slavery as the gravest crime against humanity will not in itself disrupt global systems of power or root out uneven patterns of accumulation or the deep-seated structural inequality caused by this crime. Too…

Why should South African franchises send their strongest sides to away matches in the European Champions and Challenge Cups when they so often find themselves on the wrong side of the whistle? That’s the big question this week following a tough Round of 16, where both the Stormers and Bulls fell short. The Cape side, in particular, came off second-best against Toulon – and referee Christophe Ridley – in France. Small incidents disrupted their momentum, while the bigger calls consistently kept the home side in the contest and energised their supporters. One such moment came when a rolling maul was pulled down right in front of the try line. In most cases, that warrants both a penalty try and a yellow card. Instead, only a yellow was issued in the…

This week’s celebrity headlines struck an emotional chord after Jelly Babie detailed her abusive marriage, Naledi Aphiwe received a warm reception in Zimbabwe, and Jojo Robinson revealed her cancer diagnosis. Explore this week’s celeb gossip: 1 Jelly Babie reveals details about her alleged abusive marriage Popular South African singer and dancer Jelly Babie recently opened up about the alleged abuse she suffered in her marriage. The Bacardi star, whose real name is Karabo Khakhu, posted on social media that her husband, Koketso, abused her physically, financially and emotionally and said she wishes she had never got married. She added that while she survived being in an abusive marriage, she won’t be able to recover from the trauma that she was left with. She further claimed that her husband swindled her…

A six-year-old sustained a gunshot wound to her head in Valhalla Park after she was caught in a gang shooting yesterday morning. This comes despite the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) being deployed to the Cape Flats to assist in curbing gang violence. The incident took place at 9.20am. Western Cape police spokesperson, Sergeant Wesley Twigg, said the young girl was shot in Eleanor Street. “Upon arrival on the scene, they found a six-year-old girl who sustained a gunshot wound to her head. The victim was transported to a medical facility for treatment,” Twigg said. Police confirmed the shooting was gang-related. “According to reports, the child was caught in the crossfire when rival gangs started shooting. The suspects fled and are yet to be arrested. Bishop Lavis detectives are…

DIGNITYSA approached the North Gauteng High Court this week in a landmark legal effort to decriminalise and legalise assisted dying in the country. The constitutional challenge is the culmination of 15 years of advocacy, seeking to uphold the right for those facing unbearable and intractable suffering to choose a dignified end. The core application requests the court to declare the existing common-law prohibition of assisted dying unconstitutional and invalid, paving the way for a significant shift in the nation’s approach to end-of-life care. DignitySA, which has been at the forefront of the movement, defines assisted dying as medically-assisted death that can be either self-administered or administered by a doctor, subject to strict eligibility criteria and robust safeguards. Central to the legal battle is the assertion that the current legal framework…

Hangberg resident Shakeelah Moses is seeking justice after her dog, Funky, was stabbed to death in the early hours of Saturday while tied to his runner and unable to escape. Funky had been living behind in the yard, tied to a runner, but had a problematic neighbour causing him distress at all hours of the day, she said. Moses claims she had previously reported ongoing issues to the Hout Bay SAPS and the SPCA, including repeated trespassing on her property and the alleged abuse of Funky. According to Moses, a neighbour had on several occasions entered the property and assaulted her dog while he was restrained. “These people even threatened me if I should report them and what they did, but they murdered my dog, and I feel it’s not…

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has indicated that he needs his best players at peak form and fitness during their Betway Premiership title run-in, which is why he has asked supporters to trust the technical team’s decisions. Pirates are in a tight title race, sitting second on the log with 54 points, two behind serial champions Mamelodi Sundowns after 23 matches. Since squandering their lead at the top with a 1-1 draw against Siwelele, Pirates have bounced back emphatically, scoring 11 goals in two matches against TS Galaxy (6-0) and Golden Arrows (5-0). With goals and clean sheets flowing, Ouaddou has a better chance of managing his players’ workload until the end of the season. This allows him to substitute regular starters earlier, giving backups an opportunity to see out…

Springboks winger Cheslin Kolbe looks set to remain in Japan for the foreseeable future, according to his agency, Roc Nation Sports International – but when it comes to his final chapter, he still wants to come “home”. There had been talk earlier last year that the double World Cup winner could swap Tokyo Sungoliath for the Stormers in Cape Town. The inaugural United Rugby Championship winners moved to dispel those rumours, saying there were only informal talks with him and that no formal offer was made to sign him. Michael Yormark, RNSI president, confirmed this week that the 32-year-old Kolbe will stay in Japan’s League One for now. All indications suggest he will see out his contract at least until next year’s Rugby World Cup in Australia, after which a…

Manchester United will play pre-season friendlies in Finland, Norway and Sweden, the Premier League giants announced yesterday. The four games are in addition to a match against bitter rivals Leeds – their Old Trafford opponents in a league match on Monday – in Dublin on August 12. United face Wrexham, owned by the Hollywood duo Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, at the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki on July 18. The Red Devils then travel to Norway to play Rosenborg at Trondheim’s Lerkendal Stadium six days later. The Swedish leg of their tour features a game against Atletico Madrid in the Snapdragon Cup at the Strawberry Arena on August 1 before they take on Paris Saint-Germain in Gothenburg the following week. Manchester United director of football Jason Wilcox told the club’s…

Six-time champion Gerda Steyn will chase a record-extending seventh victory tomorrow at the Two Oceans Ultra Marathon, hoping to reach “seventh heaven” along the iconic 56km route in Cape Town. Smiling confidently at Wednesday’s pre-race media conference at the Southern Sun Cape Sun Hotel earlier this week, Steyn reflected on the winning mentality that has driven her unprecedented success. “I know I have done it before and so I believe that I can do it again,” said the Hollywood Athletics Club star, who first won the race in 2018. “But I don’t ever allow myself to be too comfortable just because I have six victories. Every athlete is focused on winning this race, so I have to give 110%.” Steyn’s path to a seventh title will not be easy. Among…

A HANOVER Park man who was paralysed after being shot in a crossfire as a child has completed his law degree, choosing a path of purpose over revenge. Riyaadh Kader, now an LLB graduate of the University of the Western Cape, was just 13 when he was shot in 2011, leaving him paralysed. More than a decade later, he has completed his Bachelor of Law, with his graduation taking place this week, a milestone he describes as deeply meaningful. “I am just a humble boy from the Cape Flats,” he said. “My journey started bitter, but it has been filled with so many meaningful moments.” While many assume his decision to study law was shaped by anger over the shooting, Kader said that could not be further from the truth.…

A CAPE Town woman says she is “heartbroken and angry” after her life partner died just days after seeking help at the emergency unit at Victoria Hospital. Philip Kruger died in the early hours of March 6 after what was later identified as a vascular emergency. His partner, Gerda Kruger, has since lodged a formal complaint with health authorities over the care he received. Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness spokesperson, Monique Johnstone, confirmed that hospital management had engaged with Kruger. “We convey our deepest sympathy for the loss of Ms Kruger’s loved one and regret her negative experience at Victoria Hospital,” Johnstone said. She said the patient had initially been triaged as “green”, indicating a stable condition, but was later re-assessed and upgraded to “yellow” as his pain…

THE widow of slain SACP leader Chris Hani, Limpho Hani, said she and her family walked out of the wreath-laying ceremony for her husband after the City of Ekurhuleni municipality “overstepped” at the event. The ceremony was held in Boksburg on Wednesday. Meant to be a simple annual tribute, the event was postponed after the Hani family withdrew. The family accused the metro of imposing itself on the programme without prior agreement. Speaking to eNCA on Wednesday night, Limpho Hani expressed frustration over what she described as an unnecessarily large and poorly co-ordinated event. “It was supposed to be a simple wreath-laying ceremony,” she said. “If you look at last year’s videos, it was small and dignified. What happened today was completely different.” She rejected claims that she had been…

As the second term for the 2026 school year commences, parents and guardians are urged to register learners for the 2027 academic school year. The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) opened admissions for Grades R, 1, and 8 on March 10, with its deadline fast approaching on April 14. The WCED has urged parents and guardians to make use of this time in order to prevent “no placement” problems for learners next year. The admissions process, administered by the WCED, allows parents to submit applications through an online platform designed to simplify the process and improve planning for the upcoming school year. The WCED emphasised the importance of submitting applications within the designated timeframe to ensure learners are considered in the first round of placements. Peter Johnson, MPP, DA Western…

A WOMAN crawled through a stormwater drain for nearly a kilometre after falling into what is believed to be a cordoned-off construction site in Epping on Wednesday night, raising questions about safety at the site. Emergency services were called at about 7.30pm after residents in Bonteheuwel heard the woman shouting for help from inside a drain near Assegaai and Amandel streets. According to the City’s Fire and Rescue Services spokesperson, Jermaine Carelse, crews from Epping were first dispatched to one location before being redirected to Bofors Circle near the railway line, where the woman was found trapped underground. “The incident location indicates that Prasa is the landowner,” Carelse said. He said the woman had fallen into the drain, estimated to be 2 – 2.5 metres deep, and sustained a suspected…

Mzwandile Stick has dreams of becoming the next Springbok head coach, and while Rassie Erasmus will remain at the helm until at least the 2031 Rugby World Cup in the United States, Stick will receive the necessary support to realise that goal. The current Bok assistant coach, who has risen through the South African coaching ranks, is tipped to be part of the succession planning for the four-time Rugby World Cup winners. And while there will be other candidates vying for the top coaching job in the country, Stick will have the backing of his agency, Roc Nation Sports International (RNSI), in his pursuit of the head coach role. Michael Yormark, president of RNSI, confirmed that the agency will support the former Blitzbok captain in every possible way to help…

LAMONTVILLE Golden Arrows head coach Manqoba Mngqithi didn’t seem to be stressed out about their upcoming encounter with Durban City this weekend. The two neighbours meet at King Zwelithini Stadium, Umlazi tomorrow for a 3pm kick-off. It’s the second Durban derby in less than a month between these two teams, with the Citizens sneaking a victory over Arrows in the Nedbank Cup quarter-final last time in the previous encounter. As the league enters a crunch time, Arrows and City will be looking to seize as many points as possible to prop themselves up for a top finish. For Arrows, with this being their home game, a win is crucial for the players to bounce back especially after their 5-0 loss to Orlando Pirates earlier this week. Despite that…

Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis believes the postponement of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) has been a blessing for the team as they prepare for international friendlies against Algeria in Durban. Initially scheduled for Morocco from March 17 to April 3, now takingplace between July 25 and August 16. CAF cited “unforeseen circumstances” in announcing the postponement just over a week before kick-off. Ellis says the delay has created valuable space for the former African champions to refine their tactical approach, build squad depth and better manage player conditioning. It has also allowed the team to build on the gains made during their alignment camp during the recent Cosafa Women’s Championship. “We had no games as a team and that would have been very difficult. Where we…