City Vision E-edition 02 October 2025

disabled

mbers of Mangwana Foundation carrying their books HOTO: SUPPLIED

“Some of us were able to express how we felt because we were given a platform to do so,” said Mutsi

She urged parents to stop keeping their disabled children indoors, but allow them to grow and mingle with other kids.

health

Regular check ups are necessary

Halthiercommunities

Sanjith and Kafi both stress that oral health is community health

Preventing disease, improving access to care, and ensuring strong collaboration between dentists, dental technicians and oral hygienists is key

“Oral health must be seen as part of general health,”says Sanjith. “The dentist not only treats pain, but is a partner in prevention.”

Kafi adds: “We may work behind the scenes, but every device we create helps restore dignity.

“When someone smiles again without pain or embarrassment, we know we’ve done our job.”

Book regular check-ups, encourage children to build healthy brushing habits, and remember that protecting a smile today helps protect health tomorrow

Cheating is not worth the risk!

With roughly three weeks left before the start of the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations, the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) is appealing to candidates to familiarise themselves with the rules

In preparation for the exams, candidates are required to sign two key documents: a matric pledge, and a commitment agreement.

“The matric pledge is a document signed by the candidate, in which they promise to dedicate themselves to their studies for their exams and do their very best, to follow the rules of the exams, and to report any contravention of the rules that they become aware of,” the WCED announced. “The commitment agreement spells out the rules in detail, as well as the consequences for breaking them. It is signed by both the candidate and their parent or guardian, so that both acknowledge that they are aware of the rules and the consequences.”

Ikamva Labantu celebrates oldies

UNATHIOBOSE

Hundreds of people, including Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis, gathered at Ikamva Labantu in Khayelitsha yesterday (1 October) to celebrate the International Day for Older Persons.

The International Day of Older People was declared by the United Nations in 1990 as a way of highlighting not only the immense contributions of older people to society, but also to raise awareness of their plight and challenges.

Lulama Sigasana, the project manager of Ikamva, described the event as dedicated to the senior citizens.

She confessed that she has a soft spot for the seniors.

With over 60 years of service and working with people in the townships, Ikamva Labantu supports and empowers seniors in township communities.

“Almost all our staff live in the communities we serve. This gives us unique insight and expertise into our community’s needs.

“We nurture our two most vulnerable groups (oldest and youngest) through our three core programmes which is early childhood development, child- youth and parenting, and older persons,” explained Sigasana.

The organisation has professional nurses who include physiotherapists and occupational therapists to look after the older persons.

Hill-Lewis described elders as pillars of the communities.

“Our older people play a vital role in their families and their broader communities. Very often, they are the mainstay of the family, raising grandchildren and looking after not only the physical, but also the emotional well-being of several generations. And in our poorer communities, these older people often have to

do so with very few resources, relying on tiny pensions to cover as many costs as possible,” said Hill-Lewis.

He described Ikamva Labantu as a home to many people. He said it is open to everyone.

“There are so many areas in which older people in townships require assistance, from physical needs such as meals, healthcare screenings and frail care to emo-

tional and psychological needs like companionship and belonging. Ikamva Labantu answers all these needs, and more At a care club like this, the elders will not only receive warm meals in a safe and dignified setting, but they will also get to spend their time in the company of others,” he explained.

The founder of the organisation, Helen Lieberman, said it felt great

to see seniors gathered under one roof and happy.

She stated that it wasn’t easy when she started the organisation, but with the assistance of board members and other community members they managed to pull through.

Lieberman wished her peers to have fun and enjoy the day

One of the senior citizens, Nolwandle Magingqika (76), described the day as special for them. She said as old people they have a burden to keep the families united.

“We can’t relax It is us who are making sure that our grandchildren have eaten or bathed because their parents are nowhere to be found

“We were supposed to enjoy ourselves by now, but we are the ones who are taking care of the family,” she said

However, she expressed gratitude to Ikamva Labantu for making the event happen for them.

UNATHIOBOSE

2 injured in Lusaka shooting

Nyanga police are investigating three cases of murder and two of attempted murder after a shooting incident at the corner of Klipfontein Road and Borcherds Quarry Roads in Lusaka, Nyanga on Friday 19 September.

The identities of the three men, aged 19, 31 and 44, have not been

released.

Provincial police spokesperson Capt Frederick C van Wyk said: “Reports from the scene indicate that Nyanga police responded to information and discovered the bodies of the three deceased persons with gunshot wounds.”

Van Wyk added that two other males were transported to a nearby hospital after sustaining gunshot

wounds. “The shooting is currently handled by the provincial serious and violent crime detectives. No arrests have been affected yet,” he concluded Nyanga Community Policing Forum (CPF) secretary Dumisani Qwebe said the community has been traumatised He urged all the community stakeholders to come on board and work together.

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Engineers discuss, explore

NAMHLAMONAKALI

The role of artificial intelligence (AI) and digitalisation in the future of infrastructure was put under the spotlight at the Fidic Global Infrastructure Conference on Tuesday 23 September at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC)

Experts warned that while technology promised faster and smarter delivery it also raises urgent questions of ethics, access and ownership.

Organised byFédération Internationale

Des Ingénieurs-Conseils (Fidic), an international federation of consulting engineers that represents more than a million engineering professionals and 40 000 firms in over 100 countries, the annual conference is a flagship gathering for engineers, policymakers and industry leaders shaping the future of the built environment.

The organisation is best known for its global standard contracts used on major projects, but it also provides thought leadership on infrastructure, sustainability and professional practice.

This year’s panel, which engaged on the theme “AI, Digitalisation and Sustainability in Infrastructure”, featured Mark Coates of Bentley Systems, Nicolas Miravalls of Oris, Stacy Sinclair of Fenwick Elliott, Rob Morson of Pinsent Masons and Martina Hess of CES Consulting Engineers Salzgitter.

Morson cautioned that as projects moved into the digital era the question of who owns the data becomes increasingly contentious.

“Digitising data is a currency,” he said.

“Over a project’s life cycle the data you generate becomes very valuable. Understanding ownership and governance of that data upfront is absolutely vital.”

Miravalls noted that while AI offers powerful tools, it cannot replace community context.

“Much of Africa’s local knowledge is not digitised nor is it available online in multiple languages,” he said.

“AI results are limited to the data it is fed.

“We must balance global systems with

ground realities.”

Hess raised concerns about affordability and fairness. “As AI adoption accelerates questions of bias, transparency and accountability must be addressed,” she said “Emerging economies need affordable access and training, otherwise the gap will only widen.”

Sinclair emphasised the role of professional oversight. “Engineers and lawyers alike must ensure that safeguards and checks don’t become barriers to innovation,” she explained “Our responsibility is to integrate ethics into practice while still enabling progress.”

Delegates from Zambia and other emerging economies pressed the panel on how engineers in less-resourced regions could

access AI tools

In response, panellists pointed to training, collaboration and partnerships through Fidic’s member associations

The Fidic Digital Transformation Committee also announced it would soon launch a podcast series on AI and digitisation to support knowledge sharing and capacity building worldwide

As discussions wrapped up the panel agreed that AI’s promise would only be realised if issues of equity, inclusivity and governance were placed at the heart of infrastructure delivery

“Technology is here to stay,” said Coates. “But the choices we make today will decide whether it empowers everyone or deepens divides.”

Help mayor‘Wear the Hope’

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Ten teams will take part in the inaugural T20 Blind Cricket National Tournament from Monday 6 to Friday 9 October at Maties Cricket Club in Stellenbosch.

The teams are the hosts Boland, Dolphins, Dragons, Eastern Cape, Free State, Inyathi, Limpopo, Lions, Titans and Western Province.

parti p specif y to contribute towards breakfasts, lunches and suppers for 240 people, as well as for 260 people who will attend the final lunch.

The refreshments include water and energy drinks for all participants, consisting of players, officials and volunteers,” says Frankford Williams, president of Blind Cricket South Africa.

Teams will be residing at the Athlone School for the Blind in Bellville South and

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having won the tournament four times,” says Williams.

The costs for Boland and Western Province is between R30 000 and R50 000, which includes transport and attire. For up-country teams, the costs range from R60 000 for transport up to over R100 000 if they fly, purchase apparel, and hire a bus in Cape Town.

“Besides the tournament we are looking y t, -long equipment that can be shared among our players, as most of them currently have to share. We also believe it is important to offer prizes, such as cash or goods, for the Man of the Match Awards. Tangible prizes like a new bag, bat, gloves or a pair of trainers/spikes would make a significant difference in their ability to play the game. For many, cricket is more than just a sport, it is an outlet and a place where they feel