Cape Town - From a Church scandal, the murder of an alleged underworld boss, the parole of Najwa Dirk was suspended, to first hand accounts of the George building collapse, the 2024 elections, City tender fraud, killers sentenced after 16 years of trial to Stellenbosch University’s Wilgenhof’s fate and the genocide in Gaza and racial slurs and actions is among the news that made headlines this year.
- Najwa Dirk
Najwa Dirk, the wife of slain Cape muso, Taliep Petersen was set to be released out on parole but it was suspended following a decision by Minister of Correctional Services, Dr Pieter Groenewald after his family called for it to be reviewed.
During an exclusive interview with the Weekend Argus, Petersen’s daughters revealed they had forgiven her and needed to set themselves free spiritually and emotionally.
The Department of Correctional Services also confirmed that one of the men fingered as being identified as the hitman, Waheed Hassan had been granted parole
- The Anglican Church of South Africa’s saga
Archbishop Thabo Makgoba of The Anglican Church of South Africa appointed a three-person panel to review the handling of the church following the reports of abuse by former British lawyer and camp master, John Smyth. The scandal was blown open last month following the resignation of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby after the Makin review revealed an entrenched cover-up of abuse by Smyth, who had lived in Cape Town and worshipped at St Martin’s in Bergvliet.
At least 85 boys were believed to have been Smyth’s victims in various countries.
The review called for a full independent review of Smyth’s activities in Zimbabwe and South Africa. The Archbishop also called for public input after indicating they would launch an inquiry.
- SA Navy Board of Inquiry
The outcome of the Board of Inquiry was held a year after three naval officers Lieutenant Commander Gillian Hector, Warrant Officer William Malesela Mathipa, and Warrant Officer Mokwapa Lucas Mojela were killed during a storm when high waves impacted a vertical transfer (VERTREP) exercise involving the South African Air Force (SAAF) Maritime Lynx helicopter and the SA Navy’s submarine SAS Manthatisi in Kommetjie on September 20 2023.
The submarine was en-route to Cape Town. Seven crew members were swept out to sea during the incident, of whom four survived.
In a detailed report shared with the media, Chief of the Navy, Vice Admiral Monde Lobese said equipment such as safety gear and the safety line and life jackets could not withstand the force of nature.
He later held a renaming of three buildings at Simon’s Town naval base to commemorate the three.
- George building collapse
The George Building Collapse made headlines globally and locally after a five-storey building in Victoria Street collapsed on May 6 where 81 construction workers had been on site and left 34 people dead and trapped under the rubble. The Directorate of Public Prosecutions said they would decide if anyone was responsible for the tragedy. Witnesses and victim accounts portrayed the horrific scene which carried on for days.
- Cytheria Rex
The Weekend Argus exclusively followed the case of 17-year-old Cytheria Rex who had been raped and stabbed 39 times in Kraaifontein following a party with a group of acquaintances and revealed that the case had been postponed more than 115 times, with over 50 relating to the accused changing their legal counsel.
With the pressure of the media, the legal team and State were tasked to complete the trial.
After waiting for 16 years for justice, Cytheria mother, Jacqueline Rex finally received it when her daughter’s killers, Virgill Sass, Oswill Grootboom, Imeraan Hendricks, Lee Cloete and Rhonwan Rhode were found guilty of the rape and murder of Cytheria.
It was highlighted as the longest-running trial at a Regional Court in South Africa. DNA and witness evidence was the pillar in the investigation. Sentencing has been set for February 2025.
- Mark Lifman’s murder
Underworld kingpin Mark Lifman was shot and killed on November 3 at the Garden Route Mall in George.
In the latest development, investigators probing the murder, carried out a raid at the head office of PPA security and confiscated firearms.
- Prince William, Earthshot Prize
The 2024 Earthshot Prize giving ceremony was held with the visit of Prince William, Prince of Wales.
The event featured a grand Green Carpet arrival, was co-hosted by Emmy, Grammy, and Tony Award-winning star Billy Porter alongside South African television presenter Bonang Matheba and was broadcast live across 50 African countries, and celebrated groundbreaking environmental solutions.
Prince William’s journey was documented, retracing the footsteps of his mother, Princess Diana where he engaged with the youth, played soccer with them and visited townships and communities such as Ocean View, Langa and others..
- Wilgenhof, Stellenbosch University
The submissions of the fate of Wilgenhof follow social media and the media’s exposure of the initiation ‘chamber of horrors’ at the 120 year old male residence of Wilgenhof.
Shocking images showed Ku Klux Klan-like hoods, and drawings of men involved in violent sexual acts and former students also shared their horror stories with the media.
Students together with their parents said they would be approaching the Cape High Court following the decision of the Stellenbosch University Council to close the doors of Wilgenhof for a year for its new rejuvenated and reimaged residence for 2025.
- Palestine/Israel saga
A Stellenbosch University Medical student and qualified paramedic is being investigated by the University’s Equality Unit after recommendation from the Student Discipline Committee in that he used his Twitter account to allegedly incite violence and make genocidal remarks on Palestinians by apparently calling on a nuclear weapon to remove them from Gaza. Several protests were held nationally.
The newspaper covered extensive insights into the role of the various universities, involvements in calls for peace and ceasefire.
- Two-Pot Retirement System payouts
The Two Pot System which applications for payouts began in September had everyone asking what the financial implications were or how much they would be taxed. Old Mutual confirmed that they had received over 200 000 in claims totalling R2.3 billion since the launch of the Two-Pot Retirement System.
- Wendy Kloppers case/Malusi Booi R1bn tender and Ralph Stanfield
Former DA Mayco Member Malusi Booi who is set to head to trial alongside alleged 28s gang boss, Ralph Stanfield, is embroiled in a tender corruption case worth R1billion. The case was blown wide open following an investigation by City manager, Lungelo Mbadanzayo into links between city officials and human settlements specifically, companies owned by Stanfield and his wife, Nicole Johnson.
Stanfield is also facing a charge of murder for Hard Livings gang boss, Rashied Staggie who was shot and killed outside of his Salt River home in December 2019. Booi was arrested alongside Suraya Manual, Abdul Kader Davids, Mohammed Amod, Brenda and Randall Mullins, Thuli Mgibi, former wife Nomvuyo Mnyaka, ex-girlfriend Lorna Ndoda and former colleague Siphokazi September.
The group are facing several charges including the murder of slain City staffer Wendy Kloppers, who was murdered at a housing development site in Delft in 2023 and was the catalyst for the investigation.
- Eskom’s 44% electricity hike and suspension of load shedding
According to Eskom, Load shedding remains suspended for more than 233 consecutive days from 26 March 2024. Load shedding efforts have made headlines the past year as electricity hikes concerns also grew with a possibility of a 44% increase.
Eskom said investments made in the Generation Recovery Plan have contributed to South Africa’s energy security and a structural improvement in the coal-fired fleet.
The plan they indicated resulted in year-on-year diesel savings of R15.16 billion, approximately 69.9% less than the R21.69 billion spent during the same period last year.
- May 2024 elections/ GNU
South Africans raced to the polls on May 29 and it saw the country delve into the concept of a coalition and this was when the GUN, Government of National Unity was born. The elections saw not one single party which had won by a majority with the ANC winning 40 percent of the votes with 159 seats in the National Assembly and the DA and newcomer, Mkhonto Wesizwe, MKP, managing 87 percent and 58 seats respectively. The elections saw the new National Assembly and new ministers in the cabinet.
- Pinelands High School “Slave trade” incident
Pinelands High School was flung into a controversial saga after learners filmed their peers “selling off” their black classmates. The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) said five people were suspended in which the video footage showed black learners being kept in what was allegedly portrayed as an auction site with them being caged.
The Student Governing Body also called for disciplinary action to be finalised.
- Table View K- word saga
Table View High School was also flung into the headlines when a white substitute teacher was accused of using a racial slur i.e. the K-word during a lesson with Grade 12 pupils.
An investigation ensued with the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) and Department Labour.
- Bela Bill Act
This week, the South African Democratic Teacher’s Union (Sadtu) said they believed President Cyril Ramaphosa's decision to postpone his decision on the controversial implementation of the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act, was political. Ramaphosa was expected to make a decision on the Bela Act.
Sadtu called for sections 4 and 5 of the Bela Act to be implemented by or no later than December 13. The sections relate to the provincial departments being responsible for admitting pupils into a public school and removing the responsibility of school governing bodies (SGB) while others determine the school’s language policy.
- Teacher posts
The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) reported that they had no choice but to terminate 2407 teaching posts in the province. Education MEC David Maynier said more than R800 million had to be allocated to the department but that it would not help save teacher posts. Costau has threatened strike action due to the cuts.