The Muizenberg Historical Conservation Society plans to hold a ceremonial cannon shot at Het Posthuis to commemorate the Battle of Muizenberg, which had a decisive impact on South African history.
The event will take place at noon on Saturday, August 8th, and will be part of a free program. The program also includes historical presentations, refreshments, and a demonstration from the Cape Town Society of Model and Experimental Engineers.
The Battle of Muizenberg occurred in 1795 when British naval forces attacked Dutch troops on the slopes of Muizenberg mountain. As a result of this attack, the Dutch were forced to surrender, allowing Britain to gain control of the Indian trade route.
The shot is overseen by the Cannon Association of South Africa (CAOSA)—the only police-registered organization in South Africa authorized to conduct public cannon firings with filled barrels. CAOSA Chairman and master gunner Martin Winter stated that the event recreates part of the historical battle while adhering to strict safety standards.
He noted that reports indicate that British troops fired 800 cannonballs during the Battle of Muizenberg from their ships in False Bay. CAOSA will use a 6-pounder cannon located in front of Het Posthuis, and CAOSA member Peter Wright will fire from his 1/4 pd cannon. Black powder, rather than real cannonballs, will be used to recreate a similar military process.
The event will include presentations explaining the process of firing a cannon, the history of the battle, as well as the features of the Het Posthuis site and the nations involved. West Cape Guide Chris Taylor emphasized that the site of the Battle of Muizenberg is one of the most significant historical locations along the False Bay coast.
Taylor added that the area above Het Posthuis holds centuries of history and represents one of the most interesting historical sites on the False Bay coast. He also mentioned that the oldest evidence of human presence in this area is an unexcavated shell mound of the indigenous Khoi and San people, which may date back thousands of years.
The event will also feature an indigenous perspective on the battle. Executive Director of the Gri-Guriqua |Xam Research Institute, Dr. Hermanus Smith, expressed gratitude to the institute for participating in the Ceremony commemorating the Battle of Muizenberg and presenting an indigenous historical perspective on this important national heritage. The institute will present a paper highlighting the often overlooked role of the Khoi people and the Pandoeren Corps in the Battle of Muizenberg, acknowledging their bravery, military experience, and contribution to a defining moment in South African history.
Founded in 2005, CAOSA aims to discover and preserve 1058 filled-barrel historical cannons it has identified across South Africa. Furthermore, the organization will promote its cannon collection drive, which will take place on Heritage Day, September 24th, uniting cannon shots across the peninsula with firings from Noon Gun and other historical artillery nationwide.
Organizers asked spectators to follow the instructions of CAOSA members and traffic police officers, keeping the road and verge opposite Het Posthuis clear for five minutes during the firing.
Award-winning vocalist Brenda Mtambo is announcing an upcoming album while presenting a powerful gospel-theatrical production titled 'Amahubo Ka Gogo'. This production is a tribute to faith, family, and the hymns passed down through generations.
'Amahubo Ka Gogo' holds deep personal significance for Mtambo, as it is inspired by her late grandmother who raised her through singing, prayer, and discipline. Mtambo shared these feelings during a press event before the premiere of the new show at the Marcellus Theatre in the Imperial Palace in Johannesburg on July 18.
The production goes beyond a mere theatrical performance; it is a tribute to the women who shaped families through faith, music, and tradition. 'Amahubo Ka Gogo' celebrates family, healing, and the memories that connect generations, drawing inspiration from the hymns, prayers, and songs of her childhood.
Mtambo notes that this presentation allows her to honor her grandmother's legacy while creating a space where audiences can reconnect with their own memories, faith, and the people who spiritually nurtured them. The show also marks her return to gospel music and serves as a preview of her forthcoming album, which shares the same title.
After many years of support from fans who wished for Mtambo to return to the music that first introduced them to her powerful voice, 'Amahubo Ka Gogo' answers this call, blending familiar hymns with African musical influences, fresh arrangements, and a narrative reflecting her own life journey.
Audiences can expect an evening filled with live music, beloved hymns, and moments that prompt reflection and celebration. The production promises impressive vocal performances backed by a live band, creating an experience that honors South Africa's rich musical and spiritual heritage. Previously, Mtambo won the hearts of many South Africans performing with Joyous Celebration, where her voice became one of the group's defining characteristics.
She later built a successful solo career, releasing songs such as 'Ungenzela Konke Okuhle', 'Ixesha Lami', 'Themba Njalo', 'I Love You', and 'Mhlaba Wethu'. Following the Johannesburg debut, 'Amahubo Ka Gogo' will travel to Durban, where it will be presented at the Playhouse Company Opera Theatre on August 15.
Various artifacts were discovered during excavations of a Roman tomb in the city of Antalya, among which was a magot skull. These findings were made by Turkish scientists who described the monkey skull that had been found back in 2010.
Researchers concluded that a resident of ancient Attalia was buried with a macaque between the end of the 2nd and beginning of the 3rd century AD. It is assumed that this was a young magot that may have arrived in Asia Minor from North Africa. This information is presented in a publication in the International Journal of Osteoarchaeology.
The site of the modern Turkish resort city of Antalya was an Hellenistic and Roman settlement called Attalia. The city was named after the Pergamene king Attalus II, who founded it in the mid-2nd century BC. Between 2008 and 2010, archaeologists conducted research in the extensive necropolis of this ancient city, discovering a total of 840 different burials, including burial chambers, stone boxes (cists), and hamosoria, which are tombs carved into the rock.
One of the studied tombs, designated as M267, was originally built in the Hellenistic period and later reused for burials in Roman times, presumably in the late 2nd – early 3rd century AD. The burial chamber contained the remains of 22 people, as well as household items such as fragments of an unguentarium (small vessel), an oolpe (pitcher), and a bronze strigil (scythe-shaped skin scraper), along with many animal bones, including a complete dog skeleton and a skull that became the subject of scientific analysis.
The study of the almost complete monkey skull with preserved teeth was conducted by Ahmet Ihsan Aytekin and Alper Ener Yavuz from Mehmet Akif Ersoy University in Burdur. This find, kept at the educational institution, was significantly deformed, likely due to pressure from the deposits in which it lay for about two millennia. Analysis showed no signs of pathologies or artificial alterations on the skull.
Scientists determined that the remains belonged to a young animal that lived for approximately 20–24 months. Although researchers could not definitively determine the sex, a male is the most probable. The skull was identified as a representative of the genus Macaca (Macaca sp.), with the magot (M. sylvanus) being the most likely candidate, although the possibility of it being a rhesus macaque (M. mulatta) cannot be entirely ruled out.
Researchers hypothesized that the magot might have come to Asia Minor from North Africa. This is consistent with the fact that Attalia and other cities in Anatolia had trade links with the provinces of North Africa, evidenced by amphorae found at archaeological sites. Scientists believe that this domesticated monkey could have been a pet of a wealthy resident of Attalia, whom it may have been buried with. Nevertheless, other versions remain open for consideration. It should be noted that previously, remains of non-human primates had not been found in ancient burials in modern Turkey, except for some little-known finds from a Byzantine monument.
Pop star Dua Lipa has expressed her support for the 'Flamingo Revolution' movement in Albania, which is protesting a large-scale project associated with the Trump family planned for one of the country's most ecologically vulnerable areas.
The British singer, who has Albanian heritage, called the movement 'inspiring' during a conversation with Albanian academic and author Lea Ypi for the Service95 book club podcast. Lipa noted that she greatly admires how much people care about the situation, especially during the sixth week of demonstrations.
Her involvement has once again drawn global attention to the movement, which the Albanian government has found difficult to ignore or stop, as protests have been ongoing for forty-six days. The protests arose due to plans to build luxury properties on the island of Sazan and the Zvernec peninsula, located near the protected Vjosa-Narta landscape. Jared Kushner's investment firm, Affinity Partners, the son-in-law of Trump, heads this $1.6 billion project, which includes plans to construct around 10,000 rooms along most of the undeveloped Adriatic coast.
These wetlands are a habitat for flamingos, seals, sea turtles, and migratory birds. The government of Prime Minister Edi Rama paved the way for this construction after parliament amended Albania's protected area legislation in 2024, weakening restrictions on construction in areas of high ecological sensitivity. Furthermore, the government granted the developer the status of a strategic investor, ensuring access to expedited approval procedures.
Lipa highlighted the lack of transparency in this process, stating: 'What really worries me is the principle that the government can simply change the law to remove environmental protection without any public discussion.' Rama described the investment as a 'gift to Europe' and a 'blessing,' refusing to halt the project despite weeks of demonstrations. He previously stated: 'There is absolutely no possibility that the investments will stop while I am here.'
