Eikestadnuus - E-Edition - 5 March 2026

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Franschhoek policing issue resolved

Following locals’ concerns raised around the imminent removal of officers at Franschhoek Police Station,provincial minister of Police Oversight and CommunitySafety Anroux Maraishas engaged provincial police management for clarity.

Marais was apparently informed that 15 police officers stationed at Franschhoek Police Station had been served withletters of intentiontosuspend or transferfollowing ongoing investigations into alleged irregularities at thestation.

Residents reachedout to Marais, sharing their fears that policinginthe precinct would be crippledbythe officers’ removal. But during the meeting, provincial police management assuredMarais that service delivery in Franschhoek would notbe affected, as replacement personnel have already beendeployed to thestation to ensurecontinued policingservices.

Maraissaid herdepartmentwould continuetoclosely monitor the situationto ensureaccountability and the maintenance of effective policing servicesinthe community.

Residents dissatisfiedwiththe levelof service received are encouraged to raise their concerns withstation management Shouldmatters remain unresolved service-delivery complaints may be submitted via email on WC.ServiceComplaints@saps. gov.za, or to the WesternCape policeombudsman on westerncape.gov.za/police-ombudsman.

Allegations of police misconductcan also be reported to the IndependentPolice Investigative Directorate on 021 9414800 or Complaints.WesternCape@ipid.gov.za.

FSIlooks into expansion

Jana Scheepers

The FranschhoekSafety Initiative (FSI), acommunity-funded safety project launchedin2022 to improve securityalongthe town’s MainRoad, recently held itsfirst annual general meeting(AGM)todiscuss the initiatives, successesand plansfor the future.

The FSI was established in response toconcerns aboutpetty crimeand the need foravisible security presence in the village’s mainstreet and,where funding allows, surrounding streets. The initiative operates primarily through dedicated foot patrols, aimed at creating asafer, hassle-free environmentfor residents, workers andtourists alike.

From theoutset, it focused on two coreobjectives, namely creatinga visible deterrent by deploying experienced security guards at strategic points along Main Road, connecting those guards directly with the Franschhoek Police Station, local LawEnforcement and privatesecurity to ensure quick and

proportionate responses to incidents.

In practice, this has meant deploying four trained guards, named the“red caps” from the red coloured beanies they wear from the Dogs And All private security company during peak season, operating from10:00to23:00, seven days aweek, andscaling down to two guards daily during winter months from 10:00 to 22:00.

The guards are linked by walkie-talkie to the control roomatPepler Alarms, which coordinates responses with surrounding role-players.

Two such role-players include the Franschhoek First Responders (FFR), avoluntary medical service, as well as Franschhoek police.

During the meeting,FSI chairperson Neal Douglass shared that cooperation with the local police as well as the FFR hasbeen asuccess with assistance readily available to the foot patrollers should they need it.

According to Douglass, local security companies have indicated to the FSI thatharassement of visitors to the Main Road have decreased by 30%since the

patrolling of thesecurityguards. Kurt Maske, avolunteer at FFR, also indicated that FSI simplifies theirwork as incidents are reported and attended to quicker.

The initiativeisentirely funded by thecommunityand has achieved public benefit organisation status, enabling it to issue Section 18A taxreceipts to donors.

Beyond thepatrols, the initiativehas also formally engaged withwelfare services and local youthprojects, including Franschhoek Resource and Network Coordination Organisation (Franco), to assist in cases involving vulnerable or homeless minors.

More than 140 businesses and residentshave already contributed,however theFSI encouraged more businesses and residents, especially those in Main Road, to sign up as members forR3900 per year or R390per month.

If funding targets are met, theFSI plans to increase coverage to five guards for nine months of the year and three in winter, withexpansion dependent on community support

De Koker-moordsaakop16Maart in hof

 Elizabeth Japie, wat teregstaan op die dood van haar susterkind,Zandre Japie, sal weer Woensdag 25 Maart in die Stellenbosch-streekshof voorkom.

DiéJamestown-inwoner is Woensdag 22 Mei 2024 aangeklavir die dood van diesesjarige Zandre.

Japie word verdink vandie moord nadat haar suster vroeg in 2024 haar seun na Stellenbosch gestuurhet, in die hoop om vir hom plek hier in ’n skooltekry Die vermoede is egter datJapie die seun

hul amptelike borgaansoek. Darren Stephanus (38) en Ryan Munnik (20) wordverdink van die moord op De Koker wat Saterdag17Januarie dood in die Onder-Papegaaiberg-begraafplaas gevind is.

Die Strand-inwoner het gereeld sy seun se graf in dieplaaslike begraafplaas besoek wanneer hy in die dorp was.Dié betrokke Saterdag het hy nie vir ’n braai by sy dogter, Liezel Vermeulen, wat steedsindie plaaslike

 ’n Plaaslike skoolhoof wat deur ’n voormalige kollega van seksuele aanranding aangekla word, was Donderdag 26 Februarie nie in die Stellenbosch-hof nie, weens sy gesondheid. Die hoof se regsverteenwoordiger het Donderdag aan die hof ’n mediese sertifikaat ingedien en verduidelik haar kliënt kon nie verrigtinge bywoon nie weens sy gesondheid. Intussen het die staat aangedui die saak word steeds ondersoek

!Khuboab’s ID victory

Yaël Malgas

Alocal law student made history in Stellenbosch last Thursday (26 February) by becoming the first ownerof aSmart Card ID to include aname with an exclamation mark

For almost two decades

!Khuoab Oedasoua Lawrence’s mother fought with the Department of Home Affairs to have her son’s name appear correctlyon his official documents.

As aresult of the uncommon punctuation mark in !Khuboab’s name, the department’s system could not issue his birth certificatewith the correct, traditional Khoi spelling of his name

Now, 18 years later, the firstyear law studentisthe proud ownerofa Smart Card ID with the traditional spelling. The exclamation mark in !Khuboab’s is nced lick

SamanthaConana,supervisorofcivicsat

StellenboschHome Affairs, makes sure allthe properpaperwork is completedto issue !Khuboab Lawrence’s newSmart Card ID Photo: Yaël Malgas

before reachingout to the family

At birth, Jansendecided to adaptthe spellingofher son’s name to “Kh-Boab”. Herplan was changitatalaterdate, not realising how long it would take

!Khuboab means “man of God” anditwas important forJansen that her son carried that meaningwith him.

!Khuboab saidhaving his real fl tinghis culture d

knowing other Khoiand San peoplecan register their true names bringsdignity to SouthAfricans who have been overlooked and marginalised for fartoo long. The department’s system predominantlyfeaturesRoman characters andincluded 32 special characters.The exclamation mark has been added as the 33rd special character, but Schreiber invites all SouthAfricans to inform the department of additionalcharacters thatshould be added.

Schreiber said using the corrected Smart Card ID is more thana bureaucratic achievement, but atestament to the department’s commitment to help restore marginalised South Africans’ dignity. “This is exactly what public service shouldbe,” he pointed out.

Schreiber added whatespecially struck achord with him was Jansen’sobservationthatthe KhoiSan phrase “!ke /xarra

Outdoor adventures withCubsClub

Youngchildren and their familiesflocked to Jonkershoek NatureReserve to participateinaday of learning, laughter and connection in natureaspart of CapeNature’sCubsClubprogramme on Saturday21February. Around 70 children andtheir familiesparticipated in the Cubs Club Connect2026 eventtocelebrate this year’s theme,“Water”.The event highlighted the importanceoffreshwater ecosystems, conservation and responsiblewater use, andfeatured awide range of interactive, water-inspired activities designedtoengagechildren aged four to 13.Teachers, group leaders and three cubsclubgroupsalsoattended.From hands-on educational gamestooutdoor challenges,participants were encouraged to explorethe valueofwater in sustaining life whilehaving funinasafe, family-friendlyenvironment.There wasalsoa lively potjiekoscompetition, adding acultural andsocialelement to the programme.Tobepart of the adventure andexperiencefuturecubsclubevents, sign-up at www.capenature.co.zaorsend an email to learning@capenature.co.zafor moreinformation.

Big-screen magicnow in Stellies

Abrand-new cinematic experience is coming to the heart of Stellenbosch as Road House Cinema officially opens its doors at TheNeelsie tomorrow (Friday 6March).

The Road House Cinema brings the magic of the big screen tothe City of Oaks’ vibrant community.

Open seven days aweek, the cinema will showcasethe latest blockbuster releases and much more.

In addition to screening the newest movies, the cinema will also presentconcert films, opera, live stand-up comedy, documentaries,art on-screen as well as special event screenings, creating adiverse entertainment destination not only for students of Stellenbosch University, but also forthe broader public.

Audiences can look forward to an exciting and diverse selection of films during opening week, including: Scream 7, the K-Pop World Concert StrayKids:The DominATE Experience, and the sci-fi thriller Cold Storage.

Road House Cinema is designed as an inclusive entertainment space, welcoming students, families and film enthusiastsof all ages.

 Formoreinformationonthecinema, tobookticketsortofindourmore aboutthescreeningtimesandmovies, visitwww.roadhousecinema.co.za.

Newguides ready foraction

Yaël Malgas

Anew group of cultural and adventureguides willsoon beambassadorsofgreater Stellenboschaftergraduating from the DepartmentofEconomic Development andTourism’s(Dedat) Stellenbosch Tourist Guide Training.

The groupoflocals have been learningfirst-aid,Stellenbosch’s historyand safety procedures on hikes at the Bergzicht Learning and Development Centre sincethe beginningofthe year.

Theprogramme,which is a NQFLevel4qualification, was born from businesses within theStellenbosch tourism sector afterthe need for competent, experienced,job-ready tourism guideswas identified.

According to Nicolette Booyens, managing directorofCause Development Agency, it is preciselythissector-ledtraining that makesthe programme so different.

“The success of the programme is allthanks to the Visit Stellenboschnetwork which came on board, andwith thefinancial backing of Dedat we helped to shapeguides immediately ready for asectorthat trulyneeds them.”

AnnemarieLiebenberg,CEO of Visit Stellenbosch, said the region welcomed 2,8 million visitorslast year. She told the graduating class:“These aren’t just numbers;theyare families

sustained, schoolfees paid, jobs created andfamilies supported. Tourism drives real impact and, as guides, you are at the heart of it. You arethe storytellers You connect people with place andhistory. You ensure every visitor to ourbeautiful destination.”

The17graduates were chosen frommore than400 applications.

According to Hantie Nelson, deputy directorofTourism Regulation at Dedat, it is pleasing to see a100% retentionand pass-rate for the programme. She said the departmentwould continue supporting the guides through further training and by sharing opportunities.

Adventure guideChulumanco

Sihlabeni(24) from Lanquedoc,who told of earlymornings andmuddy shoesduring his training, said he was excited for welcomingvisitors. “We didn’tclimb thishillalone;we did it alltogether. Through every challenge,every training session, everyshared laugh,we supportedone another,”hesaid.

“While todaymarks an achievement, we knowthisis only the beginning.Weremain humbleenoughtoknowthat there is still much to learn,but we’re alsoexcitedtoknowthat the adventure industry, including the cultureindustry, holds a lotfor us to learnaswell.”

Cultural guide Fierhouz Holliday(28) said shelooked forward to workingtomakeStellenbosch

more halaal-inclusive andshow visitors thatthe Winelands are about more thanjustwine.

“Myaim is to help create a tourism sectorthatismoreinclusive,” Holliday explained.

“Manypeople aren’t really sure what being halaal means; it is more thanmerelynot drinking alcohol andnot eating pork. It hastodowith the preparation of foodand having an imam praying overit. To build amoreinclusivesector, collaborationwith the boarder Stellenbosch tourism sectoris needed.”

Among the various partners andsponsorswho made the programmepossible are Kleine Zalze Wines, CapeAdventure Brands andVisit Stellenbosch.

Jonges rolmoue op Jongesrol moue

Die jong lede vanAfriForum Jeug se Maties-tak het Saterdag 21 Februarie, as deel vanhul voortgesetteverbintenis totgemeenskapsdiens en verantwoordelike burgerskap,’nsuksesvolle skoonmaakprojek is in sentraleStellenbosch aangebied. Die aksie het by Die Braak plaasgevind, asookindie omliggende gebiede vanBird-, Plein- en Andringastraat.Aan die einde vandie dagis13 vullissakkevol rommel verwyder,soos (van links) Ruben Killian, Dani Blythe, BernardCoetzee,Christiaan Kershoff en Hanno Koster,hierwys.Die aksie maak ’n tasbareverskil en het ook prakties gewyshoe jongmensedeur dienslewering ’n positiewe impak kanhê. AfriForum Jeugmoedig studenteeninwoners aan om gedurende die jaar betrokketeraak by plaaslikeprojekte en saam te werk om praktieseoplossingsvir gemeenskapsuitdagingstebou.

Yvonne Gerber,die jeugbeamptevir ontwikkeling by AfriForumJeug, het ook aan die skoonmaakprojekdeelgeneem.

Rabiewerp

merkwaardigevroue

YaëlMalgas

Velevan Suid-Afrika se merkwaardige vroue is gekompliseerde en formidabele mense –enword deur die gesoute joernalis en navorser LizetteRabie in haar boek 101 Remarkable SouthAfrican Women uitgelig.

Ná jare se navorsing en skryfwerk het Rabie haar boekverlede

Dinsdag(24 Februarie) by die Universiteit Stellenbosch se joernalistiekdepartement bekendgestel –’n gepasde venue aangesien Rabie vir langer as ’n dekade hoof van dié departement was.

Rabie sê hoewel sy ’n feminis is, is die boek geen “manne-haatmanifes” nie. In teendeel, sy hoop die boek is vir enigeen toeganklik.

“Ek dink nie enigeen, vrou of man,moetbangwees om hulself ’n feminis te noem nie,” sê Rabie. Op die geleentheid was Rabie in gesprek met dr. Manet Jordaan, haar oud-student en tans hoof van die departement.

Rabie sê terwyl sy aan die stuur van Sarie was, het sy oor die jare brokkies oor merkwaardige vroue bymekaargemaak. Hierdie knipsels het die idee vir die boek aangewakker.

Hoewelsyaanvanklik gedink het die boek sou eenvoudig haar eerste projek ná aftrede wees, het

Diejoernalis en navorser LizetteRabie op die Stellenbosch-bekendstelling van haar boek 101 Remarkable SouthAfrican Women by die joernalistiekdepartment vandie Universiteit Stellenbosch. Foto:YaëlMalgas

die samestelling haar drie jaar besig gehou. “Die moeilikstetaak was om te besluit wie om uit te laat,”biegRabie.

Sy vertel die idee was om ’n boek te skryf wat die diverse vroue van Suid-Afrikaverteenwoordig. Dit het beteken skrywers, aktiviste en sporthelde is deel van die 101 uitgekosene vroue. Rabie meen hoewel Suid-Afrika met’nuitnemendeGrondwet en ’n vrouehandves virdoeltreffende gelykheid spog, is daardie dokumente virvele vroue net dit, dokumente. “Hierdie regteblyk niks meer as woorde op papier te wees nie. Wat ons daagliksen

vir sommige vroue, elkeaand, rondom ons sien, hoor en ervaar, is dat vroue steeds fisiek en sielkundig aan die ontvangkant van ’n wrede manlikechauvinistiese samelewing is,” skryf sy, Daarom het Rabie ditbelangrik geag om vroue soos “Eva vandie Weskus”, Maria van Riebeeck, die fluitjieblaser Babita Deokaran, die Grammy-wenner Tyla en diewyle digter Diana Ferris uit te sonder.

“In die geval vanTylaissy deur Amerikaners uitgekryttoe sy na haarself as coloured verwys, maar sy het aangedring dat sy nie van Amerikaisnie, en sy nie in ’n Amerikaanse kontekspraat nie. Sy is Suid-Afrikaans en het as ’n Suid-Afrikaner gepraat,” vertel Rabie.

“Ek dink toeomop21jaar só sterk te kanstaan, beteken sy moet in die boek wees en so is sy die 101ste vrou. En nou het sy haar tweede Grammy gewen en op die verhoog gestap met die Suid-Afrikaanse vlag.”

Terwyl Jordaan meen Rabie is die plek van102ste vrou op die lys werd, sê Rabie sy hoop die boek prikkellesers om meer te leer oor al die formidabele vroue in Suid-Afrika.

 101RemarkableSouthAfricanWomenworddeurJonathanBall-uitgewers uitgegeeenisbyboekhandelaars beskikbaar

Klavierfeesindie Endler

Die tweejaarlikse Stellenbosch Internasionale Klaviersimposium wordvan Woensdag 25 tot Sondag 29 Maart by die UniversiteitStellenbosch Konservatoriumaangebied.

Simposiumgehore kon deur die jare heenplaaslike debuut-uitvoerings deur pianiste soos Antonio Pompa-Baldi en Emanuil Ivanov geniet. Dié hoogtepunt van die plaaslike musiekkalender vier vanjaar sy 10de aanbieding Benewens uitstekende solo-klavier aandkonserte sal gehore die gewilde Klavier-extravaganzavan 10klaviere op 29 Maart kan geniet.

Die simposium bied ’n geleentheid vir plaaslike pianiste en onderwysers om hul netwerke en vaardighede uit te brei met ongeewenaarde toegang tot openbare meestersklasse, lesse en lesings van plaaslike en internasionale kunstenaars.Die publiek kan ook toegangtot die volledige simposium-aanbieding krydeur ’n dagpas of konsertkaartjies te koop.

Die simposium bied ook die Hennie Joubert-klavierkompetisie aan, in samewerking metdie Kaapse Filharmoniese orkes.Dit breidie simposium-ervaring uit om aan gevorderde jong pianistedie geleentheidtegee om hul vaardigheid te ontwikkel in ’n wêreldklaskompetisie

Die finale ronde word Saterdag 28 Maart in die Endler-saal gehou met die gewilde opkomendedirigentJacobusde Jageropdie podium. Die eerstetwee rondes op 23 en 24 Maart in die Endler is gratis vir die publiek.

Die simposium brei uit met’njunior afdeling wat ook vir pianiste rondom graad 4standaard of hoër die kansgee om onderrig te ontvang. Alle pianiste kan ook kies om lesse in solo- of ensemble-genres te ontvang.

’n Groot nuwe verwikkeling is die insluiting van ’n jazz-afdeling, wat gehoor geeaan die groeiende neiging van pianiste om in meer as een genre vaardig te wees.

Die Bulgaarse pianis, Ludmil Ange-

lov, sal ook tydenssyeerste SuidAfrikaanse besoeksybuiging by die simposium maak.Met optredes in alle groot internasionale konsertsale op sy kerfstokhet hy ’n reputasie rondom die werke van Chopin ontwikkel ná verskeie uitvoerings van dié komponisse volledige werke ’n Gehoorgunsteling, die pianis Emanuil Ivanov(ook vanBulgarye), sal vir sy tweede simposium terugkeer,terwyl die Estlandse pianis KärtRuubel ook sy buiging maak

Die openingsfunksie (25Maart) begin metdie openbare bekendstelling van ’n nuwekunswerk deurdie bekende kunstenaar, Gavin Rain ’n Gratis openbare uitvoering van Peter Louis van Dijk se werk “The Selfish Giant” (vir koor, soliste, verteller en orkes) salvoor dieKonservatorium-gebouplaasvind. Daarna sal die simposiumfeestelikhede in die Endler voortgaan met ’n klavier-uitvoering deur die opwindende jong Suid-Afrikaanse pianis, LeoGevisser

Deelnemers het tot 28 Februarie tyd gehad om vir die Junior-afdeling aansoek te doen, en tot 2Maart om vir die klassiekeenjazz afdelings in te skryf.  Dagpasse vir die simposium is aanlynby www.stellenboschsymposium.comtekoop, terwyl konsertkaartjies aanlyndeur Webtickets beskikbaar is.