Catch up on CapeTalk: 10 most-read articles of the week

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1. He’s done 36 Two Oceans, 27 Comrades… Let’s help Sidney Cleophas get to Boston Marathon!

Sidney Cleophas's (66) story is one of true South African grit.

Cleophas worked full-time as a technician at Telkom in Cape Town while bartending part-time to boost his income before recently retiring.

Between all this, Cleophas also clocked over 150 marathons, including 36 Two Oceans (31 of these Two Oceans were done consecutively), and 27 Comrades finishes - one of only 22 runners in the world to achieve that.

Now, he is lacing up for something new - his first international race: the world-renowned Boston Marathon, which he is self-funding.

Friends and family have launched a BackaBuddy campaign to help support his journey to Boston titled: 'Run Sidney Run.'

2. Two Oceans Marathon faces backlash from running community: 'Stop just thinking of the top runners!'

A permit breach by the Two Oceans Marathon organisers has cost them their City of Cape Town sponsorship.

The event, which was launched in 1970, has come under increasing scrutiny in recent weeks, with some running clubs voicing strong criticism following this year’s races.

Wietse van der Westhuizen, a runner, says that the Two Oceans Marathon's organisers appear to cater primarily to elite athletes – the top 20 to 30 runners – while overlooking the broader running community.

3. Tshwane Councillor leads tree-in-pothole protest over service failures: 'You can stand inside of them!'

Quentin Meyer, Ward 2 Councillor in the City of Tshwane, recently led a protest in Pretoria North, where residents planted trees in potholes to highlight persistent road maintenance issues and long-standing service delivery complaints.

According to Meyer, the potholes are so large that 'you could literally stand inside of them'.

However, the City of Tshwane’s Roads and Transport Section 79 Oversight Committee condemned the protest, labelling it as “vandalism” and a violation of municipal by-laws, which prohibit unauthorised planting on public roads.

4. Cape Leopard Trust camera survey captures rare leopard footage in Piketberg Mountains

The Cape Leopard Trust (CLT) runs surveys of Leopards in the mountain regions of the Western Cape to better understand the movements and population count of Leopards for each area.

In this survey, a rare moment caught three hours of two leopards' mating behaviour on camera.

"It was absolutely amazing and we are out of our skins with excitement," says Jeannie Hayward, from the Cape Leopard Trust.

5. PICS: Criminal investigation launched after 4 dead in cable car crash

Four people have died after a mountain cable car cabin plunged to the ground near Naples in southern Italy, emergency services have confirmed.

A fifth passenger was 'extremely seriously injured' in the crash and was airlifted to the hospital, where he remains in critical condition.

According to local officials, the tragic incident occurred on Thursday when one of the supporting cables snapped, causing the cabin to fall.

The cable car operator reported that the system had passed a safety inspection two weeks prior.

Authorities have since launched a criminal investigation into the incident.

6. City of Cape Town to raise property rates and tariffs on 1 July

Cape Town homeowners are preparing to challenge the City’s proposed municipal tariff structure, set to take effect on 1 July.

The new tariff structure introduces fixed charges for water, sanitation, and a city-wide cleaning fee, all scaled according to property values.

Property economist Dr François Viruly says that, under the new system, a household with a property valued at R750,000 will see a 5.97% increase in rates and taxes.

For properties valued around R3 million, the increase rises to 13.62%, while homes worth R6 million could face an approximate 23% hike.

7. Govt is nowhere to be seen as SA's HIV programme collapses

The US has abruptly suspended almost all foreign development assistance globally, including the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) research grants.

Two decades ago, South Africa’s HIV crisis was defined by denialism and delay. Then President Thabo Mbeki and the late Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang presided over a period in which scientific consensus was rejected and the rollout of antiretroviral medicines was obstructed, and preventable deaths spiralled into the hundreds of thousands. Their names are now linked to one of the worst public health failures in modern history.

The consequences of today’s inaction will also be deadly.

8. Sea Point luxury apartments sell out in 24 hours – but most Capetonians can’t afford to buy

Mont Reve, a new mixed-use development in Cape Town’s Sea Point, recorded over R500 million in sales within 24 hours of its launch in March.

While the development’s rapid success highlights ongoing demand for luxury coastal property, it has also reignited criticism of Cape Town’s housing market.

Ndifuna Ukwazi has condemned the development as another example of a system that caters almost exclusively to the wealthy, while sidelining the urgent need for affordable housing.

9. Who are the 3 African cardinals in running to succeed Pope Francis?

The passing of Pope Francis has left the Catholic Church – and the world – wondering what comes next.

Already, several prominent cardinals have been named as potential successors to lead the Church, including three notable African contenders: Cardinal Peter Turkson, Cardinal Robert Sarah, and Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu.

10. 5 ways to earn money on TikTok in South Africa

TikTok's Creator Rewards Program is not yet available in Africa, but there are still ways for creators to make money on the platform. 

Five ways creators can utilise the platform to earn money:

• LIVE gifts – creators go live on TikTok and enable the LIVE gifts feature. Viewers can send virtual gifts, which are exchanged for real money
• Video gifts – monetising pre-recorded content
• Effect creator rewards – creators can create AI art or interactive game effects that other users can interact with
• Subscription model – building loyal communities with subscriptions that offer exclusive perks and unique experiences for a monthly fee
• Work with artists – promote your favourite artist’s song and earn some cash

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