Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Khoikhoi man’s ‘special’ name costs him an ID
A FRUSTRATED mother is at her wits’ end after Home Affairs denied her son an identity document, all because of an exclamation mark (!) in his name. For nearly a year, 18-year-old!Khúboab Oedasoua Lawrence has existed in a bureaucratic limbo, even...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Varsity placement crisis hits matric top achievers
THE euphoria following one of the country’s best-ever matric pass rates has been tempered by the harsh reality that high marks do not guarantee a place at university. Across the country, universities face overwhelming demand as thousands of first-time...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Turning the tide? Bullish economic outlook for SA
WHILE there is a silver lining on the horizon for the South African economy, dark clouds still remain, warned economists on the outlook for 2026. They said South Africa enters the New Year with a fragile but improving economic outlook, buoyed by...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Santa brings joy to struggling families
SANTA arrived in Touws River to spread festive cheer, laughter and hope as one of the largest humanitarian distributions in the town’s history brought Christmas joy to hundreds of struggling families. With the sound of excited children filling the...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Rape kits crisis ignites a storm
■ RAPE survivors in the Western Cape will find it difficult to prove their cases in court after several police stations across the province ran out of rape kits, essential in collecting evidence, a claim denied by police. ■ Reports of rape kit...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Bafana face Mexico in World Cup
BAFANA Bafana will be out for revenge when they face Mexico at the 2026 Fifa World Cup opening match, having drawn 1–1 with them in the opening match of the 2010 tournament on home soil. Returning to the global stage for the first time since hosting...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Crime surge sparks calls to oust top cop
THE release of the latest crime statistics have intensified pressure on Western Cape Police Commissioner Thembisile Patekile, with mounting calls for him to be axed amid spiraling violence. Independent crime researcher Calvin Rafadi said Patekile...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Thousands unite against GBVF
IN an impressive display of solidarity and urgency ahead of the G20 Summit, thousands gathered across South Africa to draw attention to the pressing issue of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) in honour of those who lost their lives as a...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Forensic backlog crisis leaves SA families in despair
SOUTH Africa is facing a deepening crisis in its forensic and crime investigation systems, with massive backlogs in autopsies, toxicology, ballistics and DNA testing leaving thousands of families in limbo and countless gun-related cases stalled...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Proteas Women join golden era
WHEN the Proteas Women play hosts India in the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup final in Navi Mumbai tomorrow, love, care and trust will be at the centre of their game plan – the same philosophy that head coach Mandla Mashimbyi has championed since taking...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Emergency: first responder suicide crisis
EVERY day they rush to save others, but nobody comes to save them as they battle the mental trauma that comes with their jobs as police officers, paramedics, and firefighters. Every week, a South African police officer dies by suicide, and almost no...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘Ramaphosa agreed to disband Political Killings Task Team’
SUSPENDED police minister Senzo Mchunu testified that he briefed President Cyril Ramaphosa about his decision to disband the Political Killing Task Team (PKTT) and added that the commander-in-chief was in agreement with it. Mchunu said the short...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Integrity of judiciary under scrutiny
KWAZULU-NATAL’S police commissioner, Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, has ignited a firestorm of controversy this week as he made several high-profile requests to Parliament. During a two-day testimony at a parliamentary inquiry, Mkhwanazi urged...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Activists demand release of flotilla volunteers
PICKETS against the ongoing crisis in Palestine are a familiar sight, but yesterday, gatherings across South Africa focused on the detention of humanitarian volunteers captured by Israeli forces while en route to aid Gaza. The activists set sail in...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Dire impact of rogue parents 0n teachers
PARENTAL aggression has pushed already-stretched teachers past their limits, forcing many to leave the profession, and in some cases, the country. Experts warn that schools are becoming battlegrounds, where parents lash out at staff, use verbal and...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
City launches new tourism initiatives
VARIOUS initiatives were launched yesterday for the coming summer season as a key step in restoring inner-city tourism that was severely disrupted during the Covid-19 pandemic. The City of Cape Town relaunched its vibrant “Urban Safari” bus route,...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Parents blast ‘pro-Zionist’ comedian
POPULAR comedian Nik Rabinowitz was at the centre of controversy this week when parents at Rondebosch Boys’ High School found his appearance at a school fundraising comedy show not so funny because of his perceived pro Zionist stance. In spite of the...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘SA descending into a state of lawlessness’
Experts warn that South Africa might have lost its grip on law and order and may even have entered a state of lawlessness, with violent crime levels reaching alarming heights. Many cases brought before courts are withdrawn or dismissed, further...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
No ‘funeral vibes’ from Boks this time?
THE Springboks saw people walking around with sad faces after last weekend’s loss to the Wallabies, and they don’t want that “funeral vibe” in the Mother City again. Boks assistant coach Mzwandile Stick says they want to do everything in their power...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Work ahead is demanding, says minister
ACTING Police Minister, Professor Firoz Cachalia, National Police Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, together with Deputy Ministers Dr Polly Boshielo and Cassel Mathale, welcomed more than 1,900 newly trained constables to the ranks of the South...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
A rose for every 115 women raped daily in SA
TODAY, on National Women’s Day, 115 red roses will appear across Cape Town, not as symbols of romance, but as silent protests against the violence that women endure. The installation is the work of artist RA Searll, in collaboration with other artists...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
World watches as Gaza starves to death
AS GAZA slips deeper into famine amid relentless conflict, mass displacement, and blocked humanitarian aid, horror stories are emerging from mothers desperately seeking food and water for their children. The Integrated Food Security Phase...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
US tariffs: SA moves swiftly to cushion impact
SOUTH Africa is quickly expanding its global trade partners as a solution to the US’ 30% tariff on its exports, said Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen. Steenhuisen made the statement as the US tariff increase on South Africa is expected to come...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Survé Philanthropies make Mandela Day count in deserving communities
AS PART of honouring the legacy of Nelson Mandela, Survé Philanthropies spent Mandela Day giving back to the communities of Athlone and Simon’s Town. In Athlone, the staff and trainees of Athlone’s Training Workshop Unlimited, which is a project of...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
UCT study accuses City of water pollution cover-up
THE City of Cape Town has come under fire after a study by UCT accused them of misrepresenting scientific evidence around urban water pollution and failing to address the ongoing contamination of rivers, wetlands, and coastal areas. The study,...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
SA Rugby justifies high Test match ticket prices
SA RUGBY chief executive Rian Oberholzer has defended the current ticket prices for Springbok matches following recent criticism from the public. South Africans have turned to social media in recent months to vent their frustrations, with many...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Springboks set to bring the heat in titanic clash against Barbarians
CAPE Town is one of the best places for the Springboks to play in and they want to give the locals a good showing in their first match of the 2025 international rugby season. More than 40 000 tickets have been sold for the duel in the DHL Stadium, and...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Stellenbosch University welcomes Kganyago as new Chancellor
AS the rain fell steadily over Stellenbosch on Friday morning, a momentous occasion unfolded within the hallowed halls of Stellenbosch University (SU). The institution proudly celebrated the formal installation of its 16th Chancellor, Lesetja Kganyago,...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
BORN FREE, BLOCKED BY THE SYSTEM
FORTY-NINE years after the 1976 youth rose up for their future, a new generation is still fighting – this time, for access to basic survival. Blocked by digital dead-ends, outdated databases, and silent systems, many young South Africans are being...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
MEAT SHORTAGE CRISIS LOOMS
SOUTH Africa's consumers may face higher meat prices this winter as outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease, an avian flu-related ban on Brazilian poultry imports, and financial turmoil in the local poultry sector tighten supply. Prices of mechanically...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Dangerous conditions at Clifton’s Heron Waters
A BITTER standoff is brewing between residents of one of Cape Town's most expensive beachfront addresses and the City of Cape Town, over what residents and contractors call a dangerous and long-ignored safety hazard: a collapsed fence and a steep,...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
How technology can combat SA’s crime crisis
HOT on the heels of the release of the quarterly crime statistics, which showed a drop in the murder rate, crime experts are debating how technology can be used to put a further dent in the crime rate. This debate has heated up following President...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Cornal Hendricks: a legacy beyond rugby and a hero to Wellington
CORNAL Hendricks, remembered for his infectious smile and exceptional sidestepping ability on the rugby field, left behind a profound legacy that transcends the sport he loved. The celebrated Springbok star, who passed away this week at the age of 37,...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Pope Leo XIV: tradition meets modernity
IF PEOPLE around the world were hoping newly elected Pope Leo XIV will be more outspoken on issues facing the world and go further than his predecessor Pope Francis, they may be disappointed as it is widely expected that he will remain conservative on...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘KELLY, TELL ME WHERE JOSHLIN IS’
AS JUDGE Nathan Erasmus read out his judgment finding all three accused, including the mother of missing Joshlin Smith, guilty of human trafficking and kidnapping, spontaneous applause broke out in the public gallery of the Western Cape High Court...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
ALARMING TEACHER VETTING RATES
IN A shocking revelation, Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has confirmed that only 19% of teachers have been screened and vetted at public schools against the National Register for Sex Offenders. This data, concerning over 400 000 teachers...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
SOMBRE EASTER AMID CRISIS IN GAZA
AS CHRISTIANS around the world mark one of their holiest seasons with Easter, the genocide in Gaza overshadows the celebrations and Christian leaders have spoken out on the ongoing humanitarian crisis that has cast a sombre pall over the sacred...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
FEAR GRIPS WYNBERG COURT
FEAR is stalking the corridors of Wynberg Magistrate’s Court as prosecutors, lawyers and magistrates are scared they might be next after a man was shot dead outside a courtroom. They said repeated complaints about the lack of security at the court have...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
DIRE IMPACT OF TRUMP’S TARIFFS
AS THE world reels from US president Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs, those in South Africa are trying to make sense of why the country was slapped with a 31% tariff increase on exports to the US and what this will mean for ordinary citizens. Minister...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
South Africans f lee Myanmar’s quakes
TWENTY three trafficked South Africans narrowly escaped Myanmar’s two major earthquakes, when they were repatriated home just hours before the natural disaster struck the area where they were held captive. In an unbelievable rescue mission in which...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
UCT faces Gaza scrutiny while job losses loom
UCT is facing a serious backlash which includes the potential withdrawal of US funding that will lead to job losses and its ability to fund its research and training, all because of its stance on Israel's war in Gaza. The potential UCT funding crisis...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Kolbe reflects on his journey after winning SA Rugby Player of the Year
CHESLIN Kolbe didn’t think he would be crowned the South African Rugby Player of the Year coming up against big names such as Pieter-Steph du Toit, current World Rugby Player of the Year, Springbok centurion Eben Etzebeth and star inside centre Damian...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘My hours-long horror with corpse’
PATIENTS at False Bay Hospital have relived a harrowing ordeal where they were forced to eat and sleep next to a corpse which had been left in a shared ward for hours. One of the patients Kim Sanderson, a quadriplegic, said she and several other...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
FULLY CHARGED
AFTER nearly three years of meticulous preparation and a four-month-long journey through 16 African countries, Éric Vigouroux, the initiator and leader of the La Croisière Verte expedition, along with three other fully solar-powered electric vehicles...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
How a 2% Vat hike would affect you
A PROPOSED 2% VAT hike from 15% to 17%, unveiled in Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s postponed Budget speech, has ignited fierce debate, with farming associations decrying economic strain and the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice & Dignity Group...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Student housing a national crisis
THE scramble for student accommodation could turn into an avalanche this week as the full complement of students return to campuses across the country, bringing with it the potential for further confrontation and violence. President Cyril Ramaphosa...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Critics slam Ramphosa’s SONA promises
CRITICS have slammed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s ambitious promises in his State of the Nation Address, as lacking a “clear path” and not including important information as to where funds are going to come from in a struggling economy. In his SONA,...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Cape Town’s bid to host Formula 1 ‘derailed’
PLANS to bring the Formula 1 Grand Prix to Cape Town may have been derailed by Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie who seems to favour the Kyalami racing circuit north of Johannesburg. This as those hoping to submit a proposal to the...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
ARE THE TECH GIANTS DOMINATING YOUR OFFSHORE INVESTMENTS? |
INVESTMENT experts recommend diversifying your investments offshore, and many South African investors do that in a global equity index-tracking exchange traded fund (ETF). While this is an easy, inexpensive way to invest offshore (I extolled the...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Zama zamas families take legal action
THE families of dozens of illegal mineworkers whose bodies were recovered from a disused Stilfontein, North West, gold mine are planning to sue the government for damages, according to their legal representatives. The mineworkers, colloquially...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
South Africa’s economic outlook for 2025
THE year 2024 ended with modest growth and the country's economic performance will remain constrained by several key issues that will shape the trajectory heading into 2025. Experts agreed that while South Africa's economic growth was expected to...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Bela Act now in full effect
THE Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act has officially come into force following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s endorsement of its implementation yesterday. The move has stirred considerable debate among parties within the government of national...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Danger of teacher burnout in class of 2025
EDUCATION watchdogs and experts predict the loss of 2 407 teachers in the Western Cape will have a dire impact on teacher burnout, the overcrowding of classrooms, and a loss of educators to international recruiters. Areas such as Mitchell’s Plain...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Tiger Agriculture scams thousands
TENS of thousands of people are broke and some even homeless after investing their life’s savings in a fruit and veg ‘business’ which turned out to be a scam. Retirement packages, school fees, grocery money and rainy-day savings are all gone after...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
A mother’s 16-year wait for justice
AT THE start of the 16 Days of Activism of No Violence Against Women and Children campaign, a major victory was achieved in the Strand Regional Court when five men were convicted of raping and murdering a teenager 16 years ago. Seventeen-year-old...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
The pandemic of child gambling
“WE ARE hurting these youngsters by not doing anything about underage online gambling, we are damaging their future.” These were the words of a gambling counsellor who sounded the alarm about the rise in gambling addiction among children as young as...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Concern as festive season brings noise pollution to Atlantic Seaboard
AS THE festive season approaches, City Improvement Districts (CIDs) in Camps Bay, Sea Point, and surrounding areas are ramping up security measures to combat noise and safety concerns associated with increased tourism. The City Improvement Districts...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
All spaza shops should be shut down
ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula wants the government to use re-registration processes to deport undocumented immigrants. The government has been urged to shut all spaza shops after a spate of deaths caused by poisoned snacks. Mbalula, who said 12...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Castle evictions a ‘milestone’
SQUATTERS who occupied the land outside the Caste of Good Hope have finally been evicted after resisting a mandate by the Western Cape High Court to relocate by October 17. This after the court ruled in favour of the Department of Public Works and...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Family gathers for slain Stellies student
FAMILY and friends of slain Stellenbosch University student Jesse Mitchell gathered yesterday for his memorial service. The first year BSc student was riding his bicycle and carrying his other belongings when he was stabbed on his 19th birthday on...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Proteas can unite SA in equality
FORMER captain Dane van Niekerk believes the Proteas Women’s cricket team have the unique opportunity to overcome years of gender inequality if they win South Africa’s first-ever ICC T20 World Cup title in Dubai tomorrow. Laura Wolvaardt’s team...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
SA faces crisis of unclaimed bodies
THERE is a growing crisis of unclaimed bodies in South Africa, with over 3000 unidentified remains. Experts are urgently calling for improved systems to connect missing persons with these bodies, potentially solving cold cases and providing closure for...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Two-pot: Outcry over employer fraud
THE two-pot system has exposed thousands of employers who have left workers with no pension funds and other benefits because they have “stolen” fund money. The non-compliance only came to light when people were allowed to access a portion of their...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Civil suit over damage to classic Porsche
A SOUTH African professor of finance and law, working on an academic assignment in Switzerland, is seeking nearly half a million rand in damages from Biddulphs International, a removal and storage company claiming they damaged her classic 2006 Porsche...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Lost submariners honoured by SA Navy
ON the first anniversary of the submarine SAS Manthatisi tragedy which claimed the lives of three naval officers, the buildings where they worked and trained were renamed after them during a commemorative ceremony where family, colleagues and...
Read Full Story (Page 1)