Cape Town Buzz
Western Cape dam levels report for Tuesday, 22 April 2025
Western Cape dam levels fell to 61.8% on 22 April 2025. Water storage in both major and minor dams dropped again, with little rainfall recorded.
Crime
Joshlin Smith trial watch: What to expect on Day 32, how to watch live in South Africa [video]
The Joshlin Smith trial resumes today as the court expects the State to present its roadmap for the main trial following the judge’s ruling on the admissibility of statements by two accused.
![Joshlin Smith trial watch: What to expect on Day 32, how to watch live in South Africa [video]](https://www.swisherpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/joshlin-smith-trial-watch-daily-streams-day32-768x512.jpg)
Cape Town Buzz
Court halts further work on luxury Stellenbosch mountain estate
Botsmaskop development stopped, pending a full court review
Crime
Joshlin Smith trial: Judge rules Jacquen and Steveno confessions admissible in main trial
The judge ruled that the out-of-court statements made by Jacquen Appollis and Steveno van Rhyn are admissible in the Joshlin Smith trial.
Crime
Prominent CATA boss killed in Nyanga taxi rank
A well-known CATA taxi boss, Mongi Titi, was gunned down at Nyanga taxi rank, prompting a police manhunt and renewed fears of taxi-related violence.
Crime
Joshlin Smith trial watch: What to expect on Day 31, how to watch live in South Africa [video]
Final arguments in the trial-within-a-trial are expected as the court decides whether Jacquen Appollis and Steveno van Rhyn’s alleged confessions were made voluntarily.
![Joshlin Smith trial watch: What to expect on Day 31, how to watch live in South Africa [video]](https://www.swisherpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/joshlin-smith-trial-watch-daily-streams-day-31-768x512.jpg)
Crime
Joshlin Smith trial watch: Here’s what happened on Day 30
Day 30 of the Joshlin Smith trial saw continued cross-examination of Steveno van Rhyn, with the state and judge scrutinising his version of alleged police torture and forced confession.
Crime
Joshlin Smith trial watch: What to expect on Day 30, how to watch live in South Africa [video]
The Joshlin Smith trial continues on Day 30 with further cross-examination of Steveno van Rhyn as the court weighs the admissibility of his contested confession.
![Joshlin Smith trial watch: What to expect on Day 30, how to watch live in South Africa [video]](https://www.swisherpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/joshlin-smith-trial-watch-daily-streams-day-30-768x512.jpg)
Crime
Joshlin Smith trial watch: Here’s what happened on Day 29
Day 29 of the Joshlin Smith trial saw Jacquen Appollis and Steveno van Rhyn offer starkly different accounts of police abuse and confession fabrication during their testimony in the trial-within-a-trial.
Cape Town Buzz
Western Cape dam levels report for Monday, 14 April 2025
Western Cape dam levels dropped slightly to 62.8% on 14 April 2025. Major and minor dams continued to decline, while light rainfall offered limited relief.
Crime
Joshlin Smith trial watch: What to expect on Day 29, how to watch live in South Africa [video]
The Joshlin Smith trial continues today with Jacquen Appollis expected to face further cross-examination as the state challenges the credibility of his shifting testimony.
![Joshlin Smith trial watch: What to expect on Day 29, how to watch live in South Africa [video]](https://www.swisherpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/joshlin-smith-trial-watch-daily-streams-day-29-768x512.jpg)
Crime
Joshlin Smith trial watch: Here’s what happened on Day 28
Day 28 of the Joshlin Smith trial saw Jacquen Appollis take the stand to challenge his alleged confession, but under cross-examination, inconsistencies in his testimony were exposed by the State and the presiding judge.
Crime
Joshlin Smith trial watch: What to expect on Day 28, how to watch live in South Africa [video]
Judge Erasmus is expected to hear final arguments today on whether the accused’s confessions will be admitted as evidence in the main trial.
![Joshlin Smith trial watch: What to expect on Day 28, how to watch live in South Africa [video]](https://www.swisherpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/joshlin-smith-trial-watch-daily-streams-day-28-768x512.jpg)
Crime
Joshlin Smith trial watch: Here’s what happened on Day 27
Day 27 of the Joshlin Smith trial featured the final cross-examination of Captain Philip Seekoei and renewed focus on Kelly Smith’s medical condition, with the trial-within-a-trial nearing its end.
Crime
Joshlin Smith trial watch: What to expect on Day 27, how to watch live in South Africa [video]
Captain Seekoei’s cross-examination is expected to conclude today, with final arguments in the trial-within-a-trial likely to begin as the court decides on the admissibility of key confessions.
![Joshlin Smith trial watch: What to expect on Day 27, how to watch live in South Africa [video]](https://www.swisherpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/joshlin-smith-trial-watch-daily-streams-day-27-768x512.jpg)
Crime
Joshlin Smith trial watch: Here’s what happened on Day 26
Day 26 of the Joshlin Smith trial focused on the cross-examination of Sgt Fortuin and Captain Seekoei, with the defence challenging the legitimacy of Steveno van Rhyn’s alleged confession.
Crime
Joshlin Smith trial watch: What to expect on Day 26, how to watch live in South Africa [video]
Day 25 of the Joshlin Smith trial saw intense cross-examination of Sgt Fortuin over the police’s interrogation strategy, setting the stage for today’s focus on Captain Seekoei and the admissibility of key confession videos.
![Joshlin Smith trial watch: What to expect on Day 26, how to watch live in South Africa [video]](https://www.swisherpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/joshlin-smith-trial-watch-daily-streams-day-26-768x512.jpg)
Crime
Joshlin Smith trial watch: Here’s what happened on Day 25
Day 25 of the Joshlin Smith trial focused on the cross-examination of Sgt Fortuin, with defence probing procedural flaws and police conduct during the alleged confessions of Jacquen Appollis and Steveno van Rhyn.
Crime
Man killed outside Wynberg court: Here are the latest updates
A man was fatally shot outside the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court in Cape Town; the motive is suspected to be gang-related.
Cape Town Buzz
Western Cape dam levels report for Monday, 7 April 2025
Western Cape dam levels dropped to 63.6% on 7 April 2025, with a decline of 1.5% over the week. No rainfall was recorded in any of the province’s key catchment areas.
Crime
Joshlin Smith trial watch: What to expect on Day 25, how to watch live in South Africa [video]
The Joshlin Smith trial continues in Cape Town as police testimony on how confessions were obtained from two accused faces scrutiny in the court’s bid to determine the admissibility of key statements.
![Joshlin Smith trial watch: What to expect on Day 25, how to watch live in South Africa [video]](https://www.swisherpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/joshlin-smith-trial-watch-daily-streams-day-24-768x512.jpg)
Crime
Joshlin Smith trial watch: What to expect on Day 24, how to watch live in South Africa [video]
The Joshlin Smith trial resumes with cross-examination of Captain Phillip Seekoei over a contested confession, as the court weighs whether statements from the accused were obtained lawfully.
Crime
Police turn to public for help in Gugulethu mass murder
Four men were gunned down in Gugulethu on Friday night, prompting a murder investigation and a public call for help from police.
Viral News
Gerda Steyn wins sixth Two Oceans Ultra Marathon in a row
Gerda Steyn has won her sixth consecutive Two Oceans Ultra Marathon, finishing with the third-fastest time in the race’s history.
Crime
Joshlin Smith trial watch: Here’s what happened on Day 23
Day 23 of the Joshlin Smith trial focused on video recordings of alleged confessions by Jacquen Appollis and Steveno van Rhyn, exposing disturbing claims about Joshlin’s disappearance and Kelly Smith’s alleged role.
Crime
Joshlin Smith trial watch: What to expect on Day 23, how to watch live in South Africa [video]
Day 23 of the Joshlin Smith trial resumes with cross-examination of Captain Seekoe, as the court focuses on the admissibility of video-recorded statements made by Steveno van Rhyn amid concerns over poor audio and incomplete transcripts.
![Joshlin Smith trial watch: What to expect on Day 23, how to watch live in South Africa [video]](https://www.swisherpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/joshlin-smith-trial-watch-daily-streams-day-23-768x512.jpg)
Crime
Joshlin Smith trial watch: Here’s what happened on Day 22
Day 22 of the Joshlin Smith trial featured the state’s video evidence of Steveno van Rhyn’s alleged confession, which was criticised by the judge for missing crucial content and poor audio quality.
Crime
Joshlin Smith trial watch: What to expect on Day 22, how to watch live in South Africa [video]
Day 22 of the Joshlin Smith trial will focus on video evidence of Steveno van Rhyn and Jacquen Appollis’s confessions, as Colonel Clark returns to the stand to verify how the interviews were conducted.
![Joshlin Smith trial watch: What to expect on Day 22, how to watch live in South Africa [video]](https://www.swisherpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/joshlin-smith-trial-watch-daily-streams-day-21-768x512.jpg)
Crime
Joshlin Smith trial watch: Here’s what happened on Day 21
Day 21 of the Joshlin Smith trial focused on questions over Ayanda’s role, challenges to the credibility of detention records, and testimony that scrutinised how confessions were obtained from the accused.
Crime
Joshlin Smith trial watch: What to expect on Day 21, how to watch live in South Africa [video]
Day 21 of the Joshlin Smith trial continues with cross-examination of Brigadier Leon Hanana, as the defence challenges whether confessions by Jacquen and Steveno were made voluntarily or under duress.