PE Express - E-Edition - 5 November 2025

Fouryearswithoutjustice

NATASHA BEZUIDENHOUT

AS another Christmas approaches, Juanita Scott continues to seek justice for her son, carrying the weight of unanswered questions and a mother’s enduring love for a life cut tragically short

Instead of festive trimmings, sharing jokes and enjoying a braai with their favourite dessert this Christmas, the Cotswold mother is dreading another holiday without her son Henrique

The teenager was stabbed to death outside a party venue in Slater Street, Central, in the early hours of Christmas morning 2021

For Scott, that fateful day will forever be etched in her memory as she continues the battle for answers as the fourth anniversary of her teenage son’s brutal stabbing approaches

“It is difficult to look at his pictures,” the mother said softly in conversation with the PE Express “The last time I saw my son was on 24 December 2021 It was in the afternoon, around 14:00 or 15:00, and he told me that he was going out with friends ”

Her voice trembling and body shaking, tears spill down her cheeks as she vividly recalls that day

“I was ill with COVID and Henrique was looking after me for the week,” she shared “He mentioned that he hadn’t been out for a while, so he planned to go out with friends That was the last time I saw him ”

Unbeknown to the traumatised mother, as she woke up that Christmas morning, Henrique’s body was already in a government hospital mortuary

A Christmas Day search

“On Christmas Day, a friend of Henrique called to ask how we were doing I thought that he was referring to me having COVID,” she recalled “But then he mentioned that Henrique was badly stabbed, and he didn’t look good ”

A frantic search for her son at state hospitals, police stations and friends’ houses ensued

“At this point, I was searching for Henrique and didn’t know where my child was ” Another two days of searching followed, with no sight or word of Henrique or the friends he went out with that night

“On 27 December, my cousin called to say I needed to come to the police station they wanted to know what clothes Henrique was wearing ”

Then a mother’s worst fear, that afternoon, the family learnt that Henrique’s body was at Livingstone Hospital

“My child was basically in the morgue from 25 December up until 27 December,” an emotional Scott shared “And the police detective at the time told me that they would find the killer before New Year’s Eve, but it’s been four years and still no answers ”

The grieving mom has many questions, but unfortunately, there have been no answers or closure

“I don’t receive any answers from the police So far, there had been one arrest, but the suspect was released on bail, and nothing has come of the case ”

The traumatised mom is struggling to find peace while the perpetrator is still walking free

The PE Express repeatedly reached out to provincial police for an update on the case Questions about whether the murder case is still open, or if any arrests had been made, went unanswered

SANRALrolloutR300milliontoenhancehighwaysafety

SHANTI JAFTA

A MAJOR R300 million technological transformation is underway along national roads in the Eastern Cape, as the South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) rolls out an extensive network of solar-powered concrete poles designed to revolutionise highway management and safety

According to SANRAL spokesperson, Lwando Mahlasela, these vandal-resistant installations, costing between R1 million and R1 5 million each, are being strategically positioned along key routes, including the N2 from Baywest to Coega, the R335 from N2 through Motherwell, and the R75 from N2 to Kariega

“These are concrete poles, not steel or metal They are vandal-proof and long-lasting

“The poles are therefore strong enough to carry solar panels, electronics boxes, and surveillance cameras,” Mahlasela told PE Express

Far more than simple lighting fixtures, these sophisticated poles form the backbone of SANRAL’s new Freeway Management System (FMS), equipped with CCTV cameras, electronic message boards, and advanced monitoring technology

The system has four core objectives:

Congestion management

The system actively monitors traffic flow patterns through advanced camera technology and traffic detectors, identifying bottlenecks in real-time

This allows traffic management centres to implement dynamic responses such as adjusting traffic signal timing and deploying alternative route recommendations

Incident identification and management

Sophisticated surveillance cameras equipped with infrared technology can automatically detect when vehicles have stopped unexpectedly, accidents have occurred, or debris has fallen onto the roadway

This immediate detection capability means emergency responders can be dispatched within minutes, potentially saving lives through faster medical response

Real-time information dissemination

Electronic message boards mounted on the poles provide motorists with up-tothe-minute information about road conditions, travel times, incidents ahead, and alternative routes

This information is simultaneously fed to traffic apps like Waze and Google Maps, SANRAL s website, and commercial radio stations

Security and vandalism prevention

The continuous surveillance capability specifically targets copper theft and infrastructure vandalism that cost SANRAL millions annually

Cameras can detect unauthorised personnel near critical infrastructure, triggering immediate alerts to security forces to prevent theft before it occurs

Mahlasela explained that SANRAL aims to create a safer road user experience

through two key approaches: preventing crashes by sharing real-time road conditions with motorists, and reacting faster when accidents occur

This aligns with road safety being one of SANRAL’s five core operational pillars, moving the agency from passive road maintenance to active safety management

“Response times to scenes will be shorter, and earlier detection of theft and vandalism as security forces can be notified Motorists will also be informed in almost real-time about traffic conditions on apps, message boards and in the media,” he said

The project budget is split among the Nelson Mandela Metro (60%), Buffalo City (30%), and rural applications like Olifantskop Pass and Mthatha (10%)

Mahlasela added that “SANRAL maintains regular meetings with relevant stakeholders, including the municipality’s electrical department, metro and traffic police officers, tourism stakeholders, business chambers and emergency services to integrate the project with local government safety initiatives

“This comprehensive technological upgrade promises faster emergency response times, enhanced road security, and real-time traffic information for motorists across the Eastern Cape’s major transport corridors,” he concluded

NMUwinsSustainableWaterManagementAward

NELSON Mandela University (NMU) celebrated a double triumph at the HEFMA (Higher Education Facility Management Association) 2025 Annual Conference, securing the Sustainable Water Management Initiative Award whilst also seeing Senior Director Melvin Syce receive the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award

The recognition came before 300 delegates from across southern Africa's higher education sector at this year’s conference, which was hosted by North West University on 16 October

“Managing large universities is effectively like running a municipality,” says Syce, a registered architectural professional with a Master’s degree in the built environment, focusing on facilities management

HEFMA is the flagship association for best practice in facilities and infrastructure management for higher education institutions in southern Africa It strives to benchmark infrastructure, facilities and financial management against the best institutions in southern Africa and internationally, with strategic partner associations in the UK, USA and Australia

Syce, who has served on numerous HEFMA panels and during his three-year term as the association’s president – from 2013 to 2015 – also represented South Africa at conferences in Tasmania, California and Scotland

“All universities, local and international, face the same facilities and infrastructure issues,” he shared “These include funding for maintenance, ageing buildings, optimal space usage, suitable and updated software for the range of facilities management needs, safety and security, shortage of residence beds and sustainable water and energy systems ”

The HEFMA award for sustainable water management was in recognition of the University’s

best practice Water Sustainability Plan on all seven of its campuses

“It’s really good to have the recognition as we have put considerable effort and finance into implementing it, and it’s ongoing,” says Dr André Hefer, the Mandela University’s Sustainability Engineer who is leading the institution’s Water Sustainability Plan

The multi-faceted water sustainability initiatives, implemented according to the plan

carried the Gqeberha campuses through the severe drought and threat of Day Zero from 2021 to 2023, when the feeder dams were down to 12%

“Drought cycles in our part of the Eastern Cape occur approximately every eight to ten years, and we have a five-year strategy to 2029,” says Hefer “This will ensure water resilience and full business continuity to buffer emergencies, including municipal breakages and the next drought, which we are anticipat-

ing from about 2029 The strategy is also aimed at reducing our considerable municipal water bill ” At full capacity, the University’s total water usage across all its campuses is 1 5 megalitres (Ml), or 1 5 million litres, per day during peak periods Up to 70% of this usage is on the largest of its seven campuses, South Campus in Summerstrand, Gqeberha

“To supplement the potable water we purchase from the municipality, boreholes have become

our most reliable and biggest alternative water source,” Hefer explains “We have eight licensed boreholes with quality water on our Summerstrand North and South campuses and our Second Avenue Campus Borehole water is used to irrigate all sports fields and gardens ”

He adds that groundwater use is monitored according to sustainable yield research to ensure groundwater resources remain strong At the Missionvale and George campuses, large water storage reservoirs have been constructed

“On all our campuses, where required, we are also replacing old water reticulation systems to stop breakages and leakages,”

Hefer continues “And we are well on our way to replacing the traditional flushing mechanisms in all the toilets as these account for approximately one-third of all water usage on our campuses every day ”

These are being replaced with a cistern-less system using flush valves They flush directly from the water supply, using up to half the water of a cistern system

Hefer adds that water meters and electronic water-use readers have been installed on all campuses and at all residences to determine water usage and the number of people linked to usage, to keep track and address any overuse

“Over the next four years, the university will be spending approximately R13 million to upgrade our water sustainability systems to ensure we are resilient and adaptive for all scenarios,” he explains

“The University’s Communication and Marketing Division is partnering with us to promote behavioural change and encourage students and staff to use less water The strategy is intended not only for water shortage and drought periods, but also to advance our ongoing institutional water conservation and sustainability drive ”

Twosisterstransformgriefintogiving

NATASHA BEZUIDENHOUT

IN a cosy sitting room in Walmer Heights, two elderly sisters sat surrounded by friends and neighbours as scissors snipped away decades of carefully grown hair

However, this wasn’t just any haircut – it was an act of love born from profound loss and an unshakeable determination to turn grief into hope Jennifer Strong (77) and Polly van Niekerk (74) have watched cancer steal too much from their lives: A beloved baby brother, a cherished friend and even their four-legged family member But rather than retreat into sorrow, the sisters chose to fight back – one strand of hair at a time

“We knew we wanted to do something meaningful,” says Jennifer

On Thursday, 23 October, the sisters opened their home for a fundraiser, inviting friends and neigh-

bours to witness their hair donation to the Cancer Association of South Africa (Cansa) – an organisation working tirelessly against a disease that claims more than 100,000 South African lives each year

Whilst the audience looked on, the four-legged guests seemed happy that it was the humans receiving a trim and not the pooches

For Jennifer, this haircut represented the end of an era spanning over six decades Her relationship with hairdressers had been virtually non-existent since childhood, when her mother would march her off to the barber for practical “English schoolboy” cuts

“I had such thin, mousy hair as a child,” she remembers with a gentle laugh “My sister Polly had these gorgeous long blonde locks, and there I was, looking like a boy because it was easier for swimming Every time my hair touched my ears, off to the barber I’d go ”

The tradition continued through

her school years until matric, when a school dance finally convinced her to let her hair grow “I couldn’t go to the matric dance looking like a boy,” she smiles, the memory bringing warmth to her eyes

Since then, only her daughter –a professional hairdresser – had touched her hair “She always needed a victim to practise on,” Jennifer chuckles “I was her willing subject through perms, trims, and that dreadful frizzy afro phase ”

For Polly, a retired teacher who had visited a salon only twice in her life, the decision was equally momentous Her long hair had been her signature, but love proved stronger than vanity

The sisters’ motivation runs deeper than charitable goodwill – it flows from wells of personal anguish

“Our baby brother was only 69,” Jennifer says “When the doctors said it was liver cancer and that it

was aggressive ”

The speed of his decline shocked them all “I kept thinking that if I visited him, he might give up hope So I stayed away, believing somehow that would keep him fighting longer ” Her voice grows quiet “His three daughters managed to fly out from the UK to see him on the Friday He passed away on Saturday ”

The grief was still raw when cancer struck again, this time targeting a dear family friend – the mother of Polly’s daughter-in-law “She was so young, only in her early sixties It happened so quickly, so unexpectedly One day she was there, and then she wasn’t ”

Even their beloved pet couldn’t escape cancer’s cruel reach

The final blow came when Jenni-

fer’s son-in-law, a vibrant 42-year-old cyclist in peak physical condition, received his own devastating diagnosis “He’s the healthiest person you could imagine – always cycling, eating well, full of life ” Thankfully, he’s now in remission, a glimmer of hope

Rather than be consumed by their losses, the sisters channelled their pain into purpose The hair donation was just one part of their mission –they also organised a fundraiser for Save-A-Pet, ensuring that even fourlegged family members fighting cancer wouldn’t be forgotten “We wanted to do something, even if it seems small,” Polly explains “If our hair can help make wigs for cancer patients who’ve lost theirs, if our fundraising can help save animals ”

Women’sracegivesgender-basedviolencetherunaround

WHILE the recent Women’s Challenge saw a sea of mint-green participants run, jog and walk along the Gqeberha beachfront, the fight against gender-based violence was the true winner of the event

Zwide-based Ubuntu Pathways, which collaborates with partner organisations to provide safe spaces for victims and counselling to women in distress, was one of two non-profits to benefit from the ladies-only race “This is one of the biggest events in the metro,” Ubuntu deputy principal, Gcobani Zonke, said “It stands out because it focuses on our women who are so often pushed to the back ” He said the rape statistics in townships “are terrible,” so it was logical

that the organisation, which also supports orphans and vulnerable children through education, healthcare and household programmes, needed to be there

“GBV occurs in various ways, and we need to change the situation ” Tommy Mokgotla, a representative from fellow beneficiary, LifeLine SA, explained that events such as the SPAR Women’s Challenge were crucial platforms for the charity to relay the fact that help was available for victims

He was thrilled with the turnout as it meant their message could be spread far and wide, while also empowering the organisers to raise much-needed funds for non-profits

like itself

LifeLine has been running the retailer’s End GBV helpline for several years, which makes it the perfect partner in fighting gender crimes Managing director of SPAR Eastern Cape, Solly Engelbrecht, thanked every woman present for helping make the event successful

“We’ve had a lot of fun on this beautiful day and you’ve made this very special for us,” he said Novice runner, Zimkhitha Siqiti, said the experience was exactly what the doctor had ordered after giving birth to her third child three months earlier

“I took everything at my own pace; nobody rushed me, and I really en-

joyed it,” she recounted her experience

“I was running before I had kids, so now that I have had my children I’m going back to it This is the start of more to come ”

Three-time participant, Ziyanda Skeyi, last entered the 10km five years ago and was determined to break the 50-minute barrier on her return – until the fun factor intervened

“I was enjoying myself so much I forgot all about that Running along the beachfront on such a beautiful day was so refreshing ”

Another highlight was the 500m race for people living with disabilities

It saw participants from the Association for the Physically Disabled NMB, Amputee Support Group, Cheshire Homes and Bona uBuntu programme for the visually-impaired taking on each other in a spirited affair

Cecilia Fourie, executive director of APD NMB, said the offering had been “absolutely beautiful”

Despite the official cap of 5,000 runners, more than 6,500 entrants joined the human train that departed Pollok Beach in beautiful conditions on the day

ENTRIES for the PE Express Christmas Baby competition 2025 are now open!

We are looking for a baby to grace the front page of the last edition of the year, which will be published on Wednesday, 17 December The competition is for Gqeberha babies who are celebrating their first Christmas; therefore, babies who are entered need to be born after December 25, 2024

ProDesign Photographers are once again this year's official photography sponsor and will be photographing the winner for the front page, as well as taking family photographs during the front page shoot

Parents can enter their own photos, or if they would like to have professional photos taken at a special rate, they can take advantage

of open studio days at ProDesign Photographers in Westering Dates for the open days will be announced next week

To enter, parents need to complete a form that is available via a link on the PE Express Facebook page

Qualifying entries will be uploaded to our Christmas Baby 2025 album on the PE Express Facebook page

Allow at least one to two working days for entries to be reviewed and uploaded online

The competition is not a voting competition – the number of likes/ reactions will not affect the outcome of the finalists A panel of judges will choose the winner of the competition

The closing date for entries is 16:00 on Monday, 1 December 2025 No late entries will be accepted

Howtoenter:

A link to the competition will be available on our Facebook page Look for "Enter now for Christmas Baby competition"

• Complete the form and upload your photo,which should be at least 1MB in size and in jpg format.

Competitionrules:

• Only babies who are celebrating their FIRST Christmas may enter

• Only babies who reside in Gqeberha may enter

• Only entries received via the Christmas Baby form will be accepted No photos that are posted on our Facebook timeline or inbox will be entered

• You may only enter once for the duration of the competition and only one photo per entrant will be allowed – choose your photo submission carefully No collages allowed

• Once a photo has been submitted,it can-

not be swopped with another photo Photos do NOT need to have a Christmas theme

• Entries open today 29 October and the competition ends on Monday,1 December,at 16:00

• The winner will be rephotographed by Pro Design Photographers, and these photos will

be used on the front page The winner will also be photographed with his/her parents

Takenoteofthefollowing:

• Baby’s face needs to be clearly visible Avoid photos of the baby with a pacifier in his/her mouth

• The photo must be as recent as possible Baby needs to be fully clothed

• Baby needs to be alone in the photo (except in the case of twins triplets etc )

• The person entering the baby must be the parent/legal guardian or have permission from the parent/legal guardian

For queries, send an email to peexpress@ novusmedia co za and type “Christmas baby”in the subject line For professional photo shoots by Pro Design Photographers, call 073 161 3176, send an email to liezel@pro-design co za or follow them on Facebook

HillsideHighSchoolclaimsthirdchesschampionshiptitle

IN a stirring display of grit, teamwork and determination, Hillside Technical High School secured their third Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB) Schools Chess Playoffs title in the school’s history, following a nail-biting final round victory against Westering High School at St Thomas Auditorium in Gelvandale

The annual tournament, held on 18 October, saw sixteen qualifying teams from across the NMB Municipality compete in a Swiss round-robin format, with Hillside coming from behind to claim the prestigious title Westering High School finished second, whilst Nzondolela A took third place

“This team is very special and humble, and they never get ahead of themselves,” said team coach, Ashwell Hart “Despite many of them coming

from less affluent areas, this does not deter them from performing well and giving their best We had three matriculants participating, and we are already looking ahead to building this team to become a force to be reckoned with going into the new year ”

The emotional scenes following the victory showcased the team’s unity and determination

Hillside Technical High School

Principal Nythil Paulsen praised the team’s character: “This team has made our school proud," he shared

"To come from behind and still win shows character when it matters most This is the culture that we try to instil in learners at our beautiful institution ”

Outgoing team captain Ihshaan

Darling reflected on the experience: “It was a humbling experience to be leading such a talented

and skilful team Going into the final round, we had a belief that we could do this We are grateful and blessed ” Chess at Hillside Technical High School was established in 2015, with the programme showing significant growth amongst school learners

The school’s 35-member chess club is divided into two categories: 20 juniors (Grades 8-9) and 15 seniors (Grades 10-12) Students also participate in online tournaments through platforms such as lichess org and Chess com to gain exposure and rating points

Provincial and national recognition

This year has been particularly successful for Hillside, with the team winning the Northern Areas Playoffs on 11 October before claiming the High Schools

League title a week later, ranking first out of 16 qualifying schools

Ten Hillside players were selected to represent the school based on their performance throughout the year:

Hart noted that whilst there were no Winter Games for chess this year, schools were encouraged to participate in the online AlexForbes Battle Boards 2025 Provincial Championships – Eastern Cape competition

“The Department of Education, in collaboration with the Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, annually hosts the Winter Games,” he explained

“The criteria to reach the Provincial Trials are that the seven top players in various age categories are selected at District Trials, with the top seven are then selected to represent the province at the National Chess Champion-

ships Tournament ”

The team’s victory represents not just athletic achievement but a testament to the power of perseverance and community support in overcoming socio-economic challenges

The Hillside Chess Team’s achievements continue to be a source of pride for our school

Our learners have demonstrated outstanding skill, discipline and sportsmanship in both local and national competitions," said Paulsen

"The dedication and support from our teachers, parents and our coach have been instrumental in achieving these excellent results As a school, we look forward to building on this success and inspiring more learners to join chess as an enjoyable and competitive co-curricular activity ”

Remarkableseven-timechampionheadlinesEPPUseasonend

THE Eastern Province Pigeon Union (EPPU) racing season has ended, with the season starting in May every year

The Young Bird series progresses to the main series, commencing in June of every year and ending in mid-October

According to the EPPU Publicity Officer Ryan Andrews, the EPPU consists of three federations, namely: the Port Elizabeth Pigeon Federation (PEFED, 80 active fanciers), the Uitenhage/Despatch Federation (UDFED, 40 active fanciers), and the Gamtoos Federation (20 active fanciers)

The Overall Champion for 2025 has been crowned, with Niezaam Jappie from Gqeberha walking away with the top prize for the seventh time in the last ten years

He has also been crowned the PEFED Champion for 2025

"The 17-bird Champion for the 2025 season is André Horak from Gqeberha He has now achieved this feat for the second time, having previously been Champion in 2023 The 17-bird championship recognises the fancier with a smaller loft and smaller team of racing pigeons," Andrews said

He added that the Junior Champion for 2025 has been crowned and is none other than Micayla Solomons, a learner at Cape Recife School, Gqeberha

She has won her maiden title

"The Junior Championship is for members 18 years old and younger who also compete in the racing pigeon sport "

The Young Bird Champions for 2025 were crowned earlier at the

end of May

The winners are the husband and wife partnership of Hannes and Alida Botha from Gqeberha, who claimed their maiden Young Bird Championship

The EPPU has a weekly slot on local radio station BayFM on Saturday mornings at 09:45 for those interested in hearing more about the racing pigeon sport

The show is hosted by veteran presenter Sarel Botha (Saterdagjolyt)

"With the racing season now complete, the next event will be the annual prize-giving dinner and awards evening in honour of our champions, which will be held at the Hellenic Hall in Parsons Ridge on Saturday, 29 November 2025," Andrews concluded

StPeter’sRainbowVillage:Agatheringofhearts

HEIDI BOTHA

WITH the recent opening of the St Peter’s Rainbow Village in South End – housing the ruins of the former St Peter’s Anglican Church, which once served as the heart of a multi-racial community displaced during the forced removals of the 1960s – it’s hard to imagine a more fitting gathering place to celebrate the enduring spirit of humanity and the importance of connection, inclusivity and unity

Recently revived to showcase the diverse range of cultures that flourished here, there are many interesting combinations of activities underway and already taking place in this historic space

In collaboration with the MBDA, a variety of organisations and contributors are involved in bringing life back to this previously forgotten space Damian Williams of Earthbound, a regenerative farming specialist, has been preparing the sloped land to implement a community garden And The Rooted Home and Gathering of Hearts are collaborating on several activities to celebrate the area’s rich legacy in a renewed way

I spoke to Lian Taylor, a Yoga and Meditation Teacher and founder of Gathering of Hearts (formerly Evolution Collective), a local holistic community started some years ago Her sincerity and enthusiasm rang true as I heard more about the heart and vision of this com-

munity platform Her primary goal is clear:

Fostering a culture in our region that is more integrated, cohesive and thriving, facilitating understanding of and access to holistic modalities, so that people can be more wholly supported and better resourced in their healing journeys and life in general

“Gathering of Hearts is a Gqeberha-based community, platform and movement for the Eastern Cape created around holistic wellbeing and natural living,” Lian explains

Here, holistic health professionals can promote their services, are encouraged to find and connect with others, to collaborate, combining skills and expertise, and in so doing create an enhanced and more supportive network for individuals seeking natural and integrative approaches to health and wellness

“Our mission is to help people empower themselves We provide a platform and are building a framework so that individuals can effectively resource themselves with the support, tools and practices to enable them to create better health, to stabilise themselves so that they can navigate life and experience it more joyfully ”

Lian’s personal healing journey began while she was still working in the corporate sector

She followed her inner guidance, but it became clear that many of the kinds of resources that provided the most impact in achieving true healing, balance and peace

were not commonly known about, and thus difficult to access and benefit from On having left her corporate career and becoming a full-time yoga teacher, she has also felt and observed how many healers and practitioners in the local wellness industry – offering truly beneficial modalities and practices

–

struggle to attract enough clients to be supported and thrive This kind of environment can bring a competitive air, but “nothing good ever came about from being lone wolves and in competition with each other,” she adds “We always make more when we come together in unity ”

Yourinvitationtoanenchantingreaders’gala

STEP beyond the page, slip behind a mask, and embrace Gqeberha’s first annual book club extravaganza dedicated to fervent fanatics of romance and mystery when Enchanted Events, in conjunction with Bargain Books, elevates the book lovers’ social scene with the allure of classy elegance on Saturday, 15 November, at Centrestage@Baywest Sweep in with dramatic flair, draped in your most chapter-worthy finery

Savour a three-course festive feast by Fat Cats Catering while the BookMaster of Ceremonies and top Gqeberha performer, Thuba Myeki, curates social activities, interactive games, character showdowns, special giveaways and prizes to be won, together with explosive live themed entertainment

He will be joined by Idols Top 3 songstress, Micayla Oelofse, as well as Faith Footie and Monique Tobias

The evening’s wow factors in-

clude selections from The Phantom of the Opera as well as the music of romance and passion of the last decade

Every detail is designed for the patrons’ social feed: pose against the stunning custom book wall (constructed using preloved books!) and the striking mask wall

Co-host Bargain Books will line the venue with the best reads, specially handpicked for discerning book lovers, fiction fanatics, genre aficionados, and enthusiastic page-turners

Book club regulars will also get to mingle with fellow enthusiasts to rave about their favourite reads!

“Romantasy” is a blend of romance and fantasy a subgenre where both the romantic plot and fantasy elements are central and deeply entwined throughout the story

Bargain Books regional branch manager, Tracy Terblanche, said, “Attendees will be swept up in

the magic of reading, as if they are travelling into a land of wonder by stepping into the pages of a book

“I want people to fall in love with reading, and I want them to know that reading loves them back

”

Bargain Books has agreed to sponsor a 15% discount voucher for the event, which can be collected at any of their stores in the region

“As an avid reader myself, I have always dreamed about hosting this kind of magical event, and I am extremely grateful to Bargain Books for helping to make this a reality,” said Enchanted Events founder, Genevieve Hemmings

Tickets after this discount cost R335 (including a three-course meal and a mask) or R205 for a ticket only and a mask

Bookings can be made through Quicket or by calling Wendy at 083 225 5401

The evening starts at 18:00 for 18:30

Thus, motivated to create a warm and welcoming, inclusive, mutually supportive platform, what began as a simple WhatsApp group has since evolved into a private Facebook group, offering a space for those who both require and offer support, holistic in nature, understand the importance of mindfulness, and work in an aligned way towards holistic wellbeing

“Always listen to your own inner sense, but if required, people can search this group for the offerings, tools and modalities that resonate with them,” Lian advises “This is a safe space for all faiths, shades and orientations of humans where people can announce themselves, others can know you’re there, and everyone can find what they need on their individual path ” While the group is not publicly accessible, anyone can request to join by answering a few straightforward – but important – security questions designed to maintain the integrity and safety of the community

A series of weekend get-togethers at St Peter’s Rainbow Village will showcase a curated mix of practices and practitioners drawn from the community, like breathing exercises, Yoga and Pilates sessions, different talks and interactive workshops

For more information, follow @ gatheringofhearts gq or @therootedhomehealing on Instagram, and visit or join the Gathering of Hearts page and private group on Facebook

16 West Street,Newton Park (between Tiger Wheel and Newton Park Spar) A space where men can relax get together to talk work together have a cup of coffee and create friends All ages are welcome WhatsApp Willie at 071 142 3771 CheshireHomeBookBarn: The book barn at Gomery Avenue Summerstrand offers a huge selection of books ranging from R5 Open Tuesday to Friday from 10:00 to 14:00 Alien Clearing: WESSA Algoa Bay Branch’s next alien clearing will be on Saturday 8 November, from 09:00 to 11:00 Meet at the Fat Tracks Adventure Trail Centre in Overbaakens Road opposite the Astron Filling Station on the William Moffett Expressway Look out for the WESSA feather banner Some tools will be provided but bring your own bow saw or lopper (if possible),as well as a hat,water,sunscreen and

normal garden gloves For more info contact Gisela at 073 124 2045

Diabetes Wellness Group (Malabar): A meeting will take place at the Malabar Community Centre Minor Hall in Haworthia Drive on Tuesday 11 November at 19:00 Podiatrist

Stuart Alexander will speak about The Diabetic Foot – What’s New’ Contact Surendra Daya at 083 653 1491 or 041 457 4576

Diabetes Wellness Group (Springdale): A meeting will take place at the Gospel Hall on the corner of Geldenhuys and Olympia Streets on Tuesday 11 November at 19:00 All in atten-

dance will speak about The Challengers and Victories of 2025' Contact Clive Burke at 083 500 9394

Diabetes Wellness Group (PE Branch): A meeting will be held at the Caritas Service Centre in West Street Newton Park on Wednesday 12 November, at 19:15 for 19:30 Diabetic edu-

cator Sr Sheradin Williamson will speak about ‘Living Well with Diabetes’ Contact Martin/Elizabeth at 082 579 9059 or 041 367 2810

Dr Ambrose Cato George Skills Development Centre AGM: The centre will host its annual general meeting on 19 November at its premises, 70 Kobus Road, Gelvandale, at 10:30 for 11:00 Dr Ambrose Cato George Skills Development Centre is an NPO that makes provision for skills training to learners with learning difficulties, enabling them to become self-sustaining members of our society For more info contact Ruth Tobias at 063 274 1232 or Jenny Johaar at 083 791 2652 Craft,HobbiesandToyFair: The fair will take place on 29 November from 08:30 to 13:00 at the Walmer Town Hall in Main Road, Walmer There will be loads of craft stalls, dolls, bears and a collectable model car display as well as a Lego display There will be tea, coffee and love-

ly goodies to eat as well Entry is free Contact Jennifer Endemann at 082 397 8383 Christmas Market - Weihnachtsmarkt: The market will take place at the Lutheran Church in Springfield on the corner of Martin Road and Luke Avenue on Saturday 29 November, at 09:30 There will be lots to eat and drink, handcrafted Easter gifts and decorations a white elephant table a raffle and children's activities

PEChristmasExpo: The 11th Annual Port Elizabeth Christmas Expo will take place at Walmer Town Hall Main Road Walmer on Sunday 21 December, from 09:00 to 14:00 If you have something to sell antiques and collectables toys jewellery accessories home décor vintage items, gifts, arts and crafts and more, contact us for an application

AlgoaParksettodominate

HANNES SCHOEMAN

THERE will be no stopping the Algoa Park Wrestling Club when they contest the Eastern Province championships in the Ernest Swanepoel Hall in Despatch on Saturday, 8 November

With almost 20 national champions in action, the Gqeberha side will continue its dominance of the last four years

As Eastern Province is not one of the bigger unions, Algoa Park is a real powerhouse

When asked what Algoa Park's recipe is, EP president Wouter Nell said: "These wrestlers train very hard and therefore they deserve to shine at national level

"They also attend extra training sessions, which include a Sunday afternoon as well

"So yes, Algoa Park is one big happy family "

One of Algoa Parks stars in action will be three-time South African champion, Deoleen Stuurman

She should be the big attraction and outright favourite to win another EP title

Another to look out for is rising star, Liam van Jaarsveld With so much talent, he should be hard to beat

Despatch will have four SA champions on the mat and Uitenhage two

INTHESADDLE:

Three-time SA champion, Deoleen Stuurman, will be a big drawcard.

Action will start with the u/6 and u/7 age groups before the u/8, u/9, u/10, u/11, u/13, u/17, u/20 and seniors take to the mat

HENK STEENKAMP

The females and senior women will compete in the same categories

Action starts at 09:00 and the entrance is free

Onlypolysurfaceactionleftonthisyear’sline-up

THE action at the Fairview race track in Greenbushes will be on the poly surface for the rest of the year, starting with a meeting of eight races this afternoon.

Horses who don't like the all-weather surface will have to wait until next year to get a chance to run on the turf track.

There are ten Fairview poly meetings left for the year, and plenty to look forward to.

The November Stakes and the Glendore Sprint are the highlights this month, but first, the focus will be on a very competitive meeting starting with the first race at 12:25 today.

Although the racing will be just as competitive, Fairview will be a lot quieter than last Friday when the big Algoa Cup meeting took place.

There was a vibrant atmosphere at the track and the six-year-old Zatara Magic was an emotional winner for everyone.

The victory was dedicated to

Gavin Smith, who passed away after a battle with cancer, 13 days before the running of the R350,000 Algoa Cup over 2,000m

Smith was the trainer of Zatara Magic and had numerous discussions with his son, Dean, about how to win the Eastern Cape's most prestigious race with their special horse.

"I told my dad we are going to win the Algoa Cup this year. That was always the plan with Zatara Magic

"The preparations for the race went really well and (the jockey) Craig Zackey rode the horse beautifully," Dean explained.

Dean will now be in charge of the Smith stable The impressive 25-year-old has officially passed his trainer's examinations and received his licence.

Zackey was full of praise for the Smith stable for the work they have done with the gutsy Zatara Magic Zackey also won the Algoa Cup last year with Firealley when

he did duty for the Jacques Strydom yard

"Zatara Magic is a special horse. He has been taking on top-class opposition for most of his career and deserved to win a race like this."

The jockey was even more impressed with the four-year-old Kingdundee, who won a Pinnacle Stakes over 1,000m earlier in the day

Smith confirmed that the plans for Kingdundee are to travel to participate in two of the country's top sprint races the Cape Flying Championship in Cape Town and the Computaform Sprint next year.

These are going to be exciting times with Kingdundee for the Smith stable, and the local fans will be right behind them.

The good news for the Kingdundee supporters is that Zackey was prepared to make a huge statement after he won on Kingdundee.

"This horse can win anywhere in the world," he said

SELBY MADIKANE

Tomorrow Stars FC win Motherwell NU9TeamsPreseasontournament

TOMORROW Stars FC managed to defeat their neighbours, Bay Eagles FC, 2-1 during the exciting finals of the Motherwell NU 9 Teams Preseason tournament at Motherwell NU 9 Community Grounds on Sunday Stars came out strongly against Eagles, but their defence formed a solid wall Hard work paid off for Stars as they registered their opening goal courtesy of Aphelele Gxabuza

Stars' forwards continued to keep the Eagles’ goalkeeper busy Stars increased their lead to 2-0 after Someleze Kani found the back of the net

Eagles' diligence paid off for them as Zubenathi Ntsundwana scored the consolation goal in the final minutes of the game

In the third-place play-off, Sheykin Future Stars FC won 5-4 on penalties over Manchester United FC after a 1-1 draw

Stars went home with the prize money of R1,000 plus a floating trophy Eagles settled for R500, while Sheykin received R250

One of the tournament's organisers, Patrick Rasana, expressed his gratitude to all the teams that took part in the tournament

Rasana said, "I would like to thank all the teams that played in our tournament The aim of the tournament is to unearth talent for the upcoming season I would like to express my congratulations to Tomorrow Stars for winning the tournament They gave a good account of themselves, but Bay Eagles put up a good fight We look forward to improving this tournament next year "

Trainer develops boxing at Qunu VillageinChatty

ISQALO Boxing Club founder and trainer Thembile Tyani revealed to PE Express that his club was growing in leaps and bounds

Tyani, who moved from Zamukukhanya Primary School in Zwide to Qunu in Chatty, said his club has more than 20 boxers, most of whom are learners and unemployed youth

According to Tyani, his boxers are passionate about boxing, and their parents show moral support to their children

The Isqalo Boxing Club venue is situated at Rasta Boxing Gym in Qunu, while Tyani lives at Military Veterans Village in Chatty

During the recent boxing tournament that was held at Tambo Village Sport Centre Hall in Kariega, Tyani saw many of his boxers win away from home

Tyani said, "The recent victories are attributed to the dedication, discipline and determination displayed by my boxers The future is very bright for our club, and we will achieve our goal in time ”

The club appealed to the community to make a donation of at least two or three punching bags, ten pairs of gloves of different sizes, hand wraps, jump ropes, gum shields, head guards, boxing pads, vests, shorts, groin guards, boxing boots of different sizes and anything else for boxing

Contact trainer Thembile Tyani at 078 820 6313

Shining Stars FC records first victory oftheseason

THE Motherwell side, Shining Stars FC, claimed their first victory of the season when they defeated Red Lions FC 2-0 during the SAFA Nelson Mandela Bay Hollywoodbets Mens Regional League Stream A clash at Chevrolet Stadi-

um in New Brighton on Saturday Akhona October scored Stars' first goal of the season in the 10th minute that guided his side to a first-half 1-0 lead In the second half, Stars continued to search for their second goal Simamkele Ndongeni, who found the back of the net in the 77th minute, guided his side to the 2-0 win Stars are in seventh place on the log table in their Stream A A week ago, Stars went down 2-0 to the newly promoted Park United at Motherwell NU 11 Stadium A win for Stars is regarded as a massive morale booster

Park United FC drew 1-1 with Royal Bucks FC at Arcadia Fields, while Mr X Caders FC, formerly Real Madrid FC, dropped from second place to fifth place after they succumbed 4-3 to Stinging Bees FC in their Stream A clash on Saturday

Stream A log-leaders Camper United shared a goalless draw with the newcomers Khayelitsha Stars at Motherwell NU 11 Stadium on Saturday Lion City FC snatched a 2-1 victory over EC Celtics FC at Motherwell NU 2 Stadium on Saturday

StreamBresultsareasfollows: Major Chiefs Sports Club 3-0 Madibaz Football Red City FC 0-0 Peace Makers FC Highland Spurs 1-2 Caledonian AFC Saints FC 1-1 Young Aces FC

RealCelticsFC2-0DespatchPioneersFC

Highbury FC keep position despite midweekloss

GQEBERHA-based side, Highbury FC, managed to maintain their third position after they lost their Motsepe Foundation Championship midweek game 2-0 against Hungry Lions FC at Mxolisi Dicky Jacobs Stadium in Upington

Amajuba, as Highbury are known by their supporters, showed resilience when they claimed an away 2-1 victory over Upington City FC on Saturday Currently, the log leaders are Milford FC with 20 points from their 10 games

The KwaZulu-Natal side also lost 1-0 to Kruger United at Harry Gwala Stadium on Wednesday, and they drew 1-1 with Leicesterford City FC in Soweto on Saturday Casric Stars FC drew twice: 1-1 with Venda FC at Solomon Mahlangu Stadium in Mpumalanga Province last Wednesday and drew goalless with Gomora United FC at TUT Stadium in Pretoria on Saturday Stars have accumulated 19 points from 10 games, while Highbury have 18 points from their 10 games

Other Motsepe Foundation Championshipresults: University of Pretoria 5-0