Innholdsfortegnelse for 2025-08-14 i Daily Voice

THE way one’s property – and other assets – are divided in the event of divorce or death, even if there is an antenuptial agreement in place, could be impacted by the proposed amendments to South Africa’s family law. “This is one of the most substantial adjustments we’ve seen in matrimonial property law in some time,” said Grant Smee, CEO of Only Realty Property Group. “The goal is to promote fairer outcomes, particularly for spouses who’ve made meaningful non- financial contributions to the marriage.” According to Statistics South Africa, 130 806 civil marriages were registered in 2023, while in decline, Smee says that marriage remains a commonplace institution in South Africa with significant legal implications for property ownership. Equity Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi plans to table the…

FORMER accused-turned-witness Lourentia Lombaard has been granted immunity from prosecution for her part in the Joshlin Smith kidnapping and trafficking case. “You played no active role in the trafficking and kidnapping of Joshlin Smith,” Judge Nathan Erasmus said in his much-anticipated judgment granting indemnity to Section 204 witness Lombaard. Lombaard was the State’s star witness in the trial over the disappearance of the green-eyed girl from Middelpos, Saldanha. Kidnapping Initially arrested and charged alongside Kelly Smith, Jacquen “Boeta” Appollis and Steveno van Rhyn for the kidnapping, Lombaard later opted to become a Section 204 witness, providing evidence that helped secure convictions against the trio. Judge Erasmus reiterated that she may not be prosecuted on charges related to trafficking in persons or kidnapping in the matter. Lombaard, who has been in…

Progress Ramokgopa opened by acknowledging the progress while tempering expectations. He said: “What we’re seeing is a recovery trajectory delivering real results – lower unplanned losses, higher reliability metrics, and a clearer path to secure generation capacity for the 2025/26 summer. “We are not claiming victory, but we are confident that the combination of disciplined maintenance, returning units to service, and strategic upgrades will continue to strengthen the grid’s resilience.” Key numbers presented in the briefing portray a sector moving away from the worst days of load shedding toward a more stable operating envelope. There has been no load shedding since 15 May 2025, with only 26 hours of disruption between 1 April and 31 July 2025. Between 1 April and 7 August 2025, the Unplanned Capacity Loss Factor (UCLF)…

THE informal settlement of Overcome Heights was rocked by another mass shooting yesterday morning when four men were gunned down. The deadly shooting incident took place around 5.30am in Mountain Road when four men between the ages of 20 and 37 were slain. Police say that the matter is under investigation and state that gangsterism has not been ruled out as a possible motive for the attack. Police spokesperson Colonel Andrè Traut reported: “The circumstances surrounding the deaths of four men in Overcome Heights, Muizenberg, earlier [yesterday] morning are under police investigation. “Detectives attached to the Anti-Gang Unit are working tirelessly to determine the events that led to the incident. “At approximately 5.30am, the bodies of four men, aged between 20 and 37, were discovered in Mountain Road, each with…

MAYOR Geordin Hill-Lewis and City boss for safety and security JP Smith have called on mense to piemp criminals. Hill-Lewis and Smith held an awareness drive in the Mitchells Plain neighbourhoods of Beacon Valley and Tafelsig to encourage residents to report illegal firearms using the City’s Informant Reward System. The Mayor said that they want to build the confidence of Cape Town residents to fight back against crime in their communities. He added that locals can trust that their tip-offs will never endanger them. Hill-Lewis addressed the media saying the program aims to build up a network of informants in the city. He explained: “People can trust that we will keep their information absolutely confidential and secret, and who can tip us to where an illegal gun is being housed…

Confirmed Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi confirmed the incident, saying: “Mitchells Plain detectives are hard at work following up leads in a bid to apprehend those responsible for the attempt to kill four males in Boekenhoudt Street, Eastridge in Mitchells Plain when unknown assailants fired numerous gunshots on four occupants of a Toyota Tazz motor vehicle on Tuesday 12 August 2025. “The motive for this attack is believed to be gang-related.” Chairperson of the Mitchells Plain Community Police Forum, Norman Jantjies said that the shooting is possibly related to a court case. He explained: “Our information is that four persons were shot in a motor vehicle [on Tuesday]. None of them were fatally injured. Our information is that this is gang related and possibly be linked to a case…