Latest news with #CapeArgus
IOL News
3 days ago
- IOL News
Elsies River parents fear for children's safety after deadly daytime shootings
A 27-year-old man was gunned down in an alleged gang-related shooting. Elsies River parents are concerned about the safety of their children after two separate shooting incidents in the middle of the day left three people dead on Wednesday. Communities such as Eureka Estate, Clarke Estate, Uitsig, Ravensmead and surrounding areas have been under siege from continuous gun violence. School learners had to scramble to safety when a 27-year-old man was gunned down in an alleged gang-related shooting in Gladiola Street at 2.10pm when returning from the shop. Earlier in the day, two people aged 30 and 40 years were also gunned down in a drive-by shooting in Eureka Estate around 12.30pm on the corner of 40th and 42nd Avenue. Residents are fearing for their lives and one parent is hoping that her kids will stay indoors during the school holidays as the gangsters run riot on the streets. The parent said: 'I am a bit relieved that the schools are closing, but we still have people who need to go to work early and come back safe. 'When they are not shooting, they are targeting the cars, smash-and-grab and throwing cars with stones.' Another added: 'They shoot at any time. I have to fetch my children from school and be vigilant always because they don't care if it is children or adults, they shoot. 'We stay in the house but we are still not safe because bullets travel and we need to go to the shop and they like standing on the corners.' Police say that additional boots on the ground have been deployed in the Ravensmead policing precinct. Police spokesman Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi reported: 'Ravensmead police responded to a complaint on Wednesday June 18 2025. Upon their arrival in Gladiola Street at about 2.10pm, they found the body of a man who sustained a gunshot wound. 'The victim was declared deceased on the scene by the medical personnel. Reports suggested that the victim returned from a local spaza shop when an unknown gunman opened fire, fatally wounding the 27-year-old man. 'The motive for this attack is believed to be gang-related. The unknown suspect fled the scene and is yet to be arrested.' Of the drive-by shooting, Sergeant Wesley Twigg said that SAPS detectives are investigating two counts of murder. He confirmed: 'Police members responded to a complaint of a shooting and upon arrival on the scene they found the victims with gunshot wounds to their bodies. Both victims were declared deceased on the scene...' According to reports a white Toyota Corolla drove up to the victims and opened fire. Cape Argus
IOL News
10-06-2025
- IOL News
Community rallies to find missing 16-year-old Chanelle Plaatjies
Chanelle Plaatjies Image: Facebook Paarl East community activists and the family of missing 16-year-old Chanelle Plaatjies combed dense bush behind Allandale Prison on Monday night, hoping to find her or evidence of what may have happened to her. Plaatjies was reported missing by her mother on May 28, police spokesperson FC van Wyk told the Cape Argus. Police spokesperson Joseph Swartbooi last night confirmed that a body had been found. "We can confirm that forensic experts responded to information earlier today (Monday), which led to the recovery of a body of a victim near a local dam in Paarl policing precinct. "The body is yet to be identified. An autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause of death. "Paarl police registered a murder for further investigation. The suspects are yet to be arrested. "We appeal to anyone who can shed light on the circumstances surrounding this incident to please call Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or alternatively use the mobile application MySAPS anonymously," said Swartbooi. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Activists together with social media went abuzz that she was buried in a shallow grave and that her shoe was also discovered. Executive director of the Rural and Farmworkers Development Organisation, Billy Claasen, said he was with the family after her body had been found. Van Wyk told the Cape Argus: 'This office can confirm that 16-year-old Chanelle Plaatjies has been reported missing by her mother on Wednesday, May 28. At the time of her disappearance she was wearing maroon track pants and a grey jersey." Via the Facebook page EJ Breaking News, live updates of the search for the missing teen were shared, where it showed the police's tape enclosing the area. Claims were that a search started involving the teenager's family, community members and a political party, in which a shoe was discovered and claims of a shallow grave. Relatives and community members could be seen collapsing to the ground in tears. In a statement, Claasen said there was a scene at Allandale Correctional Facility. Get your news on the go, click here to join the Cape Argus News WhatsApp channel.
IOL News
09-06-2025
- IOL News
Investigation launched after toddler found dead at home in Mitchell's Plain
Authorities investigate the tragic death of a 3-year-old boy discovered alone at home in Mitchell's Plain, raising concerns about child safety and welfare. The Western Cape Department of Social Development has stepped in following the death of a 3-year-old toddler who was found home alone in Eastridge, Mitchell's Plain, last Wednesday. The body of the toddler, who suffered from a disability, was found in the house in Olive Street. It is claimed the mother left the child home alone, with speculations that the body may have been left there for more than a day. It is also alleged that the mother abuses drugs and has more children. Monique Mortlock-Malgas, Western Cape Department of Social Development spokesperson, said the matter is under investigation and she cannot divulge into more information regarding this case. 'The Western Cape Department of Social Development cannot comment on the specifics of the case. However, we can confirm that the department is investigating. 'In general, if a report is received of possible neglect or abuse of children, social workers will conduct safety and risk assessments to determine the level of intervention needed to safeguard the child or children, and other interventions for family members where appropriate. These interventions are all based on the individual outcomes of assessments. 'We strongly urge anyone who suspects a child is being abused or neglected to report this to their nearest DSD office, a designated child protection organisation, or the police.' Police spokesperson Joseph Swartbooi said the circumstances surrounding this incident are under investigation. 'Mitchell's Plain police responded to a complaint on Wednesday June 4, 2025. Upon their arrival in Olive Street in Eastridge at about 7:30pm, they found the body of a 3-year-old boy. 'The victim was declared deceased by the medical personnel. Mitchell's Plain police registered an inquest for further investigation.' Police are appealing to anyone who can shed light on the circumstances surrounding this incident to call Crime stop on 08600 10111 or alternatively use the mobile application MySAPS anonymously. Cape Argus
Daily Maverick
05-06-2025
- Daily Maverick
Rashid Lombard — legendary photographer and jazz pioneer who forged greatness in the struggle
Rashid Lombard, who died at his Cape Town home this week and was buried according to Muslim rites on Thursday, was a legend as a photographer and pioneer of the Cape Town Jazz Festival. Dennis Cruywagen remembers him. Thirty-six years ago, in August 1989, in Gugulethu township, near Cape Town, I watched the highest-ranking Anglican clergyman in South Africa deliberately being teargassed as he resolutely tried to protect young, defenceless pupils from the fury of the riot police. That priest was the leader of the Anglican Church in southern Africa, Archbishop Desmond Tutu. On that day, he led at least 500 pupils who had resolved to show their support for the national defiance campaign launched by the mass democratic movement. The arrival of police derailed their plans. They fled into Holy Cross Catholic Church. When the Arch, as Tutu preferred to be called, arrived, he negotiated what he thought was a safe passage for the young people with the men in camouflage uniforms. The rector of the University of the Western Cape, Professor Jakes Gerwel, was with him. I was there as a reporter for the Cape Argus newspaper. Also, there was the slim, renowned and fearless photographer Rashid Lombard. As usual his black hair was tied in a ponytail. A black beret sat on his head. Black as his hair was his moustache. We watched teargas being fired at the Arch, Professor Gerwel and the teenagers. Young people scattered. On that winter's day in Gugulethu, while many were coughing and trying to wipe away tears, which are wont to flow in a teargas attack, Rashid stood firm. He calmly raised his camera and started taking photographs that would become world famous. He captured on film images of the Arch walking through a cloud of teargas. They were stunning images. He offered his pictures to my newspaper. They were declined because of the State of Emergency press restrictions. The Cape Times used them the next morning. Gutsy deputy editor Deon du Plessis was infuriated that our newspaper had turned down Rashid's pictures. Rashid allowed the paper to use them. They were subsequently splashed across the front page. His evocative pictures moved Cape Town's English-language newspapers to disregard press restrictions. I recalled this event on Wednesday when I was informed that Rashid had passed away at the age of 74. And as the recollections came gushing, I recalled his gentle, kind eyes, visionary and pioneering spirit, and his great love for his wife, Colleen, their children and grandchildren. Colleen, whom he married in 1970, was held as a detainee from 14 August 1987 until 29 January 1988. Not by choice, he became a single parent of their three children, Yana, Chevan and Shadley, for a while, as his ANC courier wife was held incommunicado. I remembered how, between 1985 and 1990, we were part of a group of news people who were reporting on the struggle. It was a job that consumed our lives and forged strong bonds. In this group were news legends such as Jimi Matthews, Adil Bradlow, Benni Gool, Ayesha Ismail, Sahm Venter, Willie de Klerk, Obed Zilwa, Eric Miller, Guy Tillim, Mike Hutchings, Azziz Tassiem, John Rubython and many others. It takes the death of a former colleague to bring back their names and the times in which we lived and reported on. To me there was a common belief that held us together: we wanted to tell the story of the struggle, the bravery of people – many of them so very young – yet not enough to stop state-sanctioned violence gleefully delivered by cruel men. We were the witnesses; Rashid's camera faithfully recording this infamous history. A lover of jazz who went on to pioneer the Cape Town Jazz Festival in post-apartheid South Africa, Rashid and I teamed up for an interview with uMkhonto weSizwe chief of staff Chris Hani. After the unbanning of the ANC, the charismatic leader and other exiles returned home. On his first open visit to Cape Town, a senior ANC member called me. I was informed that Comrade Chris would be meeting senior newspaper executives at the University of the Western Cape. I was not on the guest list. Miffed, I called Buyiswa Jack, a former detainee incarcerated under section 29 of the notorious Internal Security Act, which has mercifully been repealed, to apprise her of the situation. She contacted her brother, Pro Jack, who was assassinated years later, his killers never apprehended. I was sitting in the Argus newsroom when I was called, instructed to bring only Rashid along, and meet Pro in front of the Langa Post Office. The MK legend, Hani, had insisted that Rashid be the photographer, even if he was not an Argus staffer! Such was his reputation. We spent more than an hour interviewing Hani. The next day the Cape Argus had a poster that alerted readers to an exclusive interview with Hani. Rashid's pictures were used. Reminiscing about past stories and scoops, I went to my bookshelf and retrieved a slim publication, To the Moon and Back: A Detention Memoir. Years ago, I bought the book with the purple-blue cover at Clarke's Bookshop, an institution on Cape Town's Long Street. The author is Colleen Lombard, Rashid's widow, and fellow jazz aficionado. She was arrested with her friend and comrade, the late Zurayah Abass, as they tried to smuggle Nicklo Pedro (also late) and Yasmina Pandy across the border. During her detention she came close to taking her own life, while at home Rashid was taking care of their three children. Those were very hard years. The book, which was a project that Rashid strongly believed in and supported, was first published in 2021. Colleen wrote it 10 years after her incarceration and subsequent court appearance as an accused in what became known as the Rainbow Trial, which started in the Supreme Court in February 1989, a year before Nelson Mandela was freed from jail. The Western Cape's last so-called terrorism trial, it spluttered on until March 1991 when all charges were withdrawn against the accused. In 2014, the national government recognised Rashid's enormous contribution to the reopening of the rich well of jazz music in South Africa and awarded him the National Order of Ikhamanga in Silver for his excellent contribution to arts and culture and his dedication to jazz music. That was a richly deserved honour. Rest well, Rashid. You were a legend. You were on first-name terms with great men and women who recognised your greatness, yet you never lost the common touch and your humility. DM
IOL News
29-05-2025
- IOL News
Beaufort West incident highlights racial tensions faced by black students
A racist confrontation in Beaufort West has highlighted the experiences of black students in the town. Image: X A racist confrontation in Beaufort West has highlighted the experiences of black students in the town. In the latest incident, captured on video, female Black African students were allegedly confronted by two white males near their residence after visiting a food outlet on Monday. One of the white males sprays a liquid, which is understood to be water from a spray can, and chases a student while hurling racial slurs, 'I will remove your blackness, I will change you.' The videos of the incident were shared on social media, where the man can be seen running after the student and in another, he is attempting to enter their residency with the water can. A third video shows angry community members confronting the man, who is a neighbour of the women, outside of his home. Words were exchanged and the man claimed he had anointed the water while the residents stated it was laced with chemicals. A case was opened with police and the Cape Argus awaits a response on this. EFF provincial treasurer and MP, Aishah Cassiem, said counter cases were made by the man and the women, along with those from the community. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading WATCH: A Beaufort West Racist torturing black EFF students in their female student complex | Racist : 'I will remove your blackness ' 25 May 2025 😳😳😳 — Aishah Cassiem (@CassiemAishah) May 27, 2025 It is understood that the women's case was closed due to a lack of evidence and police have yet to confirm this and why. Cassiem said the EFF they would continue to seek justice. "These are incidents that many black students experience in their residence across the country, especially in communities occupied by white racists, who continue such actions, as a result of not being held accountable. 'The EFF will never allow for such a case to be swept under the carpet and will make sure those responsible for ensuring the safety of these young girls do so, especially when they are running to the police or courts for protection. We will not step back until justice has been served." Cassiem said that according to the students they left their home to purchase food at a nearby take away on Monday night. 'They said there were two men involved (who are neighbors). The one stormed their student residence, invading the space of young girls who were in pajamas, and half naked as seen in the video, while the other tortured them in the street, shouting 'I will erase your blackness' as seen in the video,' she added. "It is understood that the students opened a case with Beaufort West Police Station immediately and were told two days later the case has been closed. One of the men involved has been arrested and appeared in court this morning. Get your news on the go, click here to join the Cape Argus News WhatsApp channel. 'He had also opened a case against angry residents who showed up at his house after the incident circulated on social media." Beaufort West Mayor Sias Reynolds took to his Facebook account where he expressed concerns about the incident. 'This whole incident saddens me immensely. Then, showing how racial issues can be so easily misused by individuals to spike racial tension on social media, only worsens the situation.' Cape Argus
