People's Post Athlone/Lansdowne E-edition 19 May 2026

A(NGO)established in 2015,works to addressdeeply interconnected social challenges,including gang violence, od insecurity,GBV andsocialfragmentation.

AccordingtoSeanSampson, spokesperson forthe foundation, AAF wasfounded by AvrilAndrews wholosther sontogangviolence, an experience that inspired hercommitmenttocreatingsafer andmore compassionatecommunities

Sampsonsaidthe firstevent took aceatthe GreenPasturesChurchof theNazareneinHanover Park,where 78 guests attended “Guestsincludedmothers,activists andrepresentatives from organisationssuchasHanover Park First SeniorsClub, theHanover Park Civic Organisation,ValleyofPlenty, the rstCommunity Resource Centre, theHanover Park Neighbourhood Watch, WomeninAction, Assembly God, Church of theNazareneand theRauda TulILM Muktab Madrassa,” Sampsonsaid MembersofAAF’s Moms Move for Justiceprogramme also attended the event. “Theyare asupport network rmothers whohavelostchildrento gang violence,” Sampsonpointed out, “providing emotionalsupport,workshopsand advocacy opportunitiesfor womennavigatinggrief andtrauma. Guests were served athree-course meal whileengagingindiscussions around gang violence,GBV and peacebuildingwithincommunities.”

During heraddress Andrewspaid tributetowomen andactivists who pavedthe wayfor communityresistanceagainst violence andinjustice Sheencouragedmothers to speak

openly aboutviolenceaffecting women andchildrenand urgedcommunities nottoremainsilentinthe face of abuseand violence Hermessage focusedonthe importance of “breakingthe silenceon gender-based violence andensuring womenand children areprotected andsupported.”

JamesFernie, director of Uthando SouthAfrica, also addressedguests aboutthe Pitchesfor Peaceinitiative. Theproject,spearheaded by Uthando SouthAfricaand itspartnersincludingAAF,aimstoinstall five-a-side soccerpitches at schoolsthroughoutHanover Park usingrecycled materials. It also seekstocreatesafe recreational spaces forchildrenin communities affectedbygangsterism whilealsoproviding opportunities forlocal employment throughthe construction process.

Fernie encouraged mothersto participateinthe peace-building initiativesconnected to theproject, includingcommunity peacewalks andmusic festivalsheldduringeach pitchlaunch. Pitcheshavealready been launched at Athwood andBlom-

vlei PrimarySchools, with another launch scheduledfor Belmor Primary School on Tuesday16June. Teachers Lynette Hearnand DeborahRinquestfromAthwood andBlomvleirespectivelyalsospoke during theevent,emphasising the importance of educationincreating pathways away from povertyand gangsterism. Rinquest reflectedonthe influence of hermotherand encouraged womentodrawstrengthfromone anotherand continue leadingwithin theircommunities despiteongoing challenges

During thesecondevent AAF hosted mothersand womenfromthe organisation’s community kitchen programme AAF’s community kitchenoperates from Monday to Friday andprovides mealstovulnerablemembers of the community

Guests attendingthe gatheringwere treatedtolunch andparticipatedin conversationsfocused on GBV, support systemsand theimportanceof seekinghelpand speaking outagainst abuse.

AccordingtoAAF,the events demonstrated theimportanceof partnerships andcollectiveactionin addressing thesocialchallenges facingcommunities on theCapeFlats

Theorganisationbelievesthat meaningful change is possiblewhen residents, activists, schools, andcommunity organisationsworktogether.

TheMother’sDay engagements form part of AAF’s ongoingworkin HanoverPark.

Theorganisationregularly facilitatesworkshops andprogrammes addressing GBV, positive masculinity, youthempowerment,and community healingthrough initiativessuchas Moms Move forJustice,its Fatherhood Programme,and school-based interventions.

ThroughprogrammeslikePitches forPeace andcommunity peace walksAAF formspartofa networkof organisationscreatingspaceswhere residentscan come together to advocate forsafer,healthier,and more united communities

AAF wouldliketothank Heinrich Böll formakingthisMother’sDay engagement possible, Andrewssaid.

RedCrossmarks70th withburnpreventioncall

Afterthe storm... is notmerelyamoment

alterthe course of ordinary days

Butbeyondthe tragedythat makesheadlines lies thequieter aftermathsomanyfamiliesnow face

We oftenspeak aboutstorms as if they endwhenthe rain stops. Theskies clear. Roads reopen.Schoolsresume.

Official updatesassure us that life is graduallyreturning to normal Andinmanyways, it does Butbehindthose updates, in homesacrossthe affectedareas, anotherreality is unfolding. Because“afterthe storm” is not amoment. It is along, unequal processofrebuilding. Last week’s severe weatherleftits mark across theWestern Cape Families were displaced, homes were damagedand livesweredisrupted in ways that cannotbemeasuredbyweather reportsalone

In Wynberg, thestorm turned fatalwhenane-hailing passenger PhathiswaMkhunjulwalosther life aftera tree fell on thevehicle In Zwelethemba, Worcester, a life wasalsolost. Ourchildrenare traumatisedand will live to tell thetaleofwhattheyexperienced as thedisastertorethrough their community

It wasa devastatingreminderof howquickly severe weathercan

It is theaftermath that begins when emergencycrews leave. When the floodwaterdrains. When thetelevisioncameras move on.Whenthe work of rebuilding begins.Weoften measurerecovery by therestoration of systems. If roadsare clear, if powerisrestored andifschools areopen, we assume normalityhas returned Butsystems canrecover farmore quicklythanhouseholds. Aschool canreopenwhile alearner returns to ahomewitha leakingroof Aparentcan report forwork whilequietly calculatingthe cost of replacinga soaked mattress.

Aneighbourhood canappear functionalfromthe outsidewhile families inside arestill trying to salvageclothing, documentsand whatever pieces of normal life remain

This is wherethe true cost of a stormreveals itself.Not in dramaticheadlines.But in quietliving rooms. In damp blankets.Inthe uncertaintythatsettles long after thecloudshavepassed.

Butbehindthe official updates andreopenedroads,recoverydoes notarrive at everydoorstep at the same time.For many families,the

stormisnot over when therain stops.

Aroof is stillgone. Amattressis stilldamp. Achild is stilltryingto sleep in aroom that no longer feels secure

Andthe question that remains is adifficult one: canour people affordwhatcomes after?

Becauserecoveryisnot only aboutrepairing walls or clearing debris.Itisabout replacingwhat waslost.

Furniture. Clothing.Important documents. Asense of safety.For some,support comesquickly.For others,itcomes slowly.And for many,itmay notcomeatall.

That is theuncomfortable truth severe weathercontinues to expose.The rain mayfallacross thesameprovince, butrecoveryis rarely experiencedequally

Forsomehouseholds, insurance claims are filedand repairsbegin within days

Forothers, rebuilding depends on borrowedmoney,the generosity of neighbours or simply learning to live with thedamagefor longer than they should have to

This is whereinequalitybecomes visibleinits most practicalform. Notinstatistics. Notinpolicy statements

Butinwho canreplace what was lost,and whocannot. Thereisalso an emotionalcostthatoften goes

unseen.Childrenreturntoschool carryinguncertainty

Parentsattempttocreatecalm whilecarryingprivate anxieties aboutrepairs they cannotyet afford.

Teachers aretaskedwithrestoringroutine andstability forlearners, even whileknowing some are returningfromhomes stillmarked by disruption

This emotionallabourforms part of recovery too. Becauserecovery is notsimplyabout rebuilding structures It is aboutrebuildingstability Predictability.Security. Thethings that make ahomefeel like home

My heartiswithevery family across theWestern Cape now facing that difficult work

Thequiet,exhaustingtaskof beginning again. Oftenwithlimited resources. Oftenwithnoclear timeline forrelief. Andoften whilethe worldhas alreadymoved on.Thisiswhat happens afterthe storm. Notclosure.Not instantrecovery. Nota neat return to normal Butthe long,unevenprocess of rebuilding Untilrecoveryisexperienced more equally across ourcommunities,“normal”willremain somethingrestoredquickly for some andpainfully outofreach for others

T Deaths raisealarm

Learnerslearncruciallifelessons

LearnersfromBokmakierie Primary School in Hazendal recently visited theAthlone Wastewater Treatment Works(WWTW) to seewhere theirused watergoes.

This is part of broaderwater-wiseawareness efforts theCityofCapeTown’sCommunity Engagement team hosted forthe learners Theday’s activities beganwithanexclusive behind-the-scenestourofthe plant, locatedin theareawhere many of thelearnersliveand attend school

Theplant treats wastewater andproduces treatedeffluent,givinglearnersinsight into a processthatoften goes unseen butplays avital role in everyday life

“Itisvital that ouryoung people understand theimportanceofprotectingour drinking water supplyand howwastewateristreated,because theseare part of ourdaily lives.

“Moreimportantly,it’sabout equipping the next generation with theknowledge andawareness to care forour waterresources in thelong term.While current damlevelsare 61,2%and water-saving remainsimportant,these lessons go beyond immediatechallengesbut areabout building lifelong habits,” says ZahidBadroodien,Mayco member forwater andsanitation.

“Weare continually lookingfor ways to share this message in away that connects with young people.Age-appropriateprogrammesnot only improveunderstanding butalsoencourage learners to take what they’velearned back to theirhomes andcommunities,” he says During thetour, learners explored keyparts of thetreatment process, includingthe inlet works, primarysedimentation tanksand the processcontrol building.Fromthere they could view theentireplant includingthe bioreactors andsecondary sedimentationtanks.Theyalso sawthe finaltreated effluent leavingthe plant viathe Vygekraal River.

Learners were also introduced to some of the

RetreatECDseverelydamaged

KEANANHARMSE

KEANAN.HARMSE@NOVUSMEDIA.CO.ZA

School roofscollapsed andfencesweredamaged at PhilisaAbafazi Bethucentre, severely affecting services rendered at thefacility.

PhilisaAbafazi Bethu(Xhosafor “HealOur Women”), anon-profitorganisation(NPO) with centresinRetreat andLavenderHill, offers shelterand comforttovictims of gender-based violence (GBV)and runs an earlychildhood developmentcentre(ECD)

On Monday 11 May, theNPO wasseverely damagedinthe stormand is nowappealing for donations.

TheNPO wasfounded in 2008 by LucindaEvanswho also supports victimsofGBV,domestic abuseand children throughsafehouses, legal/ counselling supportand community empowerment

During thestorm,the school alarmwas activatedafter thesafehouse gate andthe ECD’s roof blew away,livingthe victimsvulnerable Evansrecalls

Thechildrenweresenthomebeforethe storm worsened,she adds

“The gate just flew open andthe alarmwent off.I need welderstocomeand fixthe gate as well as someonetoinspect themotor of the gate

“The rail is completely broken.I also need 20 polesand 60 Vibracrete slabsto fixthe wall of thechildren’swarehouse

“Weare worried aboutthe security,” shesaid.

So farPhilisa hasachievedthe halfwaymark of theirfundraising target whichisR30 000, to repair theirfence througha donation by the Rotary Club of Newlands

“The entire fencecaved in butwehaven’t

received anyhelpyet with thegates forthe safehousewhich is stilla priority forus,”she said EarlierinMarch,Philisa celebrated thelaunch of theirYoung MindsAcademy (Pyma) anda largepartofthisfacilitywas also damagedin thestorm

Largesteel sheetsthatformedpartofthe ceilingwere flungintothe playground sectionof theacademy

Youngminds is an initiative that wasdeveloped througha collaboration between Pyma, theRotaryClubofNewlandsand Coca-Cola PeninsulaBeverages (“Pyma opensnew ECDin Retreat”, People’s Post,31March)

“Yoursupport will help us restoresafety, rebuildsecurityand continue offeringhope,” shesaid.

. Formoreinformation contact Evans on 073 4244665.

S Lookafter,andcheckyourhearing

NewheartforformerSA-bornWalesrugbyplayer

When Rhys Thomas (43) answered hisphone at 07:00a fewweeksago,hereceivedlife-changingnewsfromCapeTowncardiac surgeonDr WillieKoen. Therewas aheart availableto replacehis damagedone,and hislong-awaited transplant wouldtakeplace that morning. Previously aprofessional rugbyplayer, South AfricanbornThomasrosethrough theranks as atalentedproptoplayfor theWales national rugbyunion team.However,atjust29years old in 2012,his rugbycareer wascut shortafter he suffered amassive heartattack during training “You neverexpectthistohappentoyou,and then boom,ittakes youdown,”saysThomas. Despiteundergoingtwo heartsurgeries in the United Kingdom(UK), he wasleftwithendstageheart failure, physically ashadowofwhat he hadbeen as aprofessional sportsman. Later, doctorsinthe UK fitteda battery operated left ventricularassist device (LVAD) to help his

heartpumpblood around hisbody.

“Thisinterventionboughthim time,but not qualityoflife. Forsomeone wholived forsport, beingtetheredtobatteries andunabletoswim or shower normally is survival,not living,” commentsKoen.

In 2019,after yearsofharrowing battles with depression andaddictionfollowing thelossof hisprofession andidentity, compounded by his fragilephysicalcondition,his friendsrealised that Thomas needed urgent help to stop his self-destructive behaviour.

They intervened and flew himtothe Netcare AkesoStepping Stones in Cape Town,which offersin-patienttreatment forthe dual diagnosisofaddictionand underlying mental health conditions.Thomasdescribes hisstaythere as transformative,sayingithelpedhim getbackon theroadtorecovery.

Thomas hadlived in theUKfor 24 years.

“I wasonthe transplant list therefor eight years. Ihad alot of medicalcareinthe UK,but ultimately IlefttocomehometoSouth Africa becausethe UK doctorshad concerns around performing thetransplantsurgery andmy chancesofsurvivalafterwards. When I finally left theUK18monthsago,I hadtoleave my children there. My youngest is just 19 years old, so it wasnot adecisionI took lightly,”says Thomas Thomas nowlives in Cape Town permanently andhas founda newcareer workingasa breathwork practitioner

“I work with clientsinvarious ways,sometimesassistingthemthrough transformational momentsintheir livesand helpingthose who arelooking forchange. I’malso oneofthe co-foundersofSaunahaüs,a wellnessfacilityin Cape Town.”

Thomas’s health continuedtodeteriorate “I wasfeelingterrible. Iwas breathless, andI couldn’t walk very far. I’dbeen usingthe LVAD formanyyears,but towardsthe enditjustfelt very different. I’dhad afew issues with it over thelastyear, andI hadtogotohospitaltwice We knew themachine wasonits last legs “I then turned to Dr Koen forhelp. Ifeltthe time wasright andthathewas thedoctorto getmethrough thetransplantsurgery.Itwas a toughdecisiontogoahead with thetransplant, butI trustedmygut.”

Goingbacktothatmorning,Thomaswas alreadyatworkwhenthe call from Koen came “Hesaid, ‘Can youget to thehospitalby10:30?’ Iwas incredibly nervous, butexcited.I gotto thehospital, went fora shaveand shower,and spentthose last minutespraying andmeditatingwithmypartner,Kez Green.

“Mynextmemorywas waking up in thesurgicalICU twodayslater with my children around my bed. It wassospecial.Itwas my thirdopen heartsurgery,and Iknewthe transplant came with challenges.The wayI envisioned it was that if Iwokeupand sawmychildren, Iwould know Ihad made it.”

Thomas pays tributetoKoenand histeam at theNetcare Christiaan BarnardMemorial Hospital.“ThethingsDrKoendid during the surgerywereamazing.There wastwo inches of scar tissueinmychest cavity,and he managed to getthrough that.The team wasjustfantastic.”

Koen says thethick scar tissueinThomas’s chestfromhis previous surgeriespresented a unique challenge, butthe transplant hadbeen a success. “I wassotouched when Iheard about thedifficult journeyhehad walked to reachthis pointthatI felt compelledtohelphim.” Koen is concernedthatpatientsacross

SouthAfricaare dyingwhile waitingfor heart transplantsbecause of acriticalshortageof organdonors. He repeatedly sees this tragedy unfolding: “PeoplelikeRhys, whocould return to normal lives, working, raisingtheir children, contributing to theircommunities andtheir country, areinstead dyingonwaiting lists.”

Theshortagepersistsacrossall sectors. “It’s notjustabout resources; doctorshesitateto raiseorgan donation with grieving families Medicalteams arefocused on fighting to save livesinthe ICU(IntensiveCareUnit) and emergencydepartments,and when that battle is lost,navigatingculturalsensitivities around donation becomesanother challengeduringan alreadydevastating moment

“Asa country, we must thinkabout what we candoabout this.You must talk to your family if it is your wish to donate your organs.InSouth Africa,yourfamilymakes the finaldecision, and if they don’tknowyourwishes, people diewaiting. We need to normalisethese conversations. Onedonor cansaveseven lives, butonlyifyour family knowsthat’swhatyou wanted.Somany patients couldhavea chance forrealhopeif more donororganswereavailable,” he explains Thomas wantstohonourthe manwhose hearthereceived. “After theoperation,I was able to hold my oldheart in my hands. It wasa very emotionalexperience. Afterwards,I cried theentireday.Itwas arelease Ineeded,but also areckoning with what someonehad given me.” He joinsKoeninurgingSouth Africans to register as organdonors. “A stranger’s family, in theirdarkest moment,chose to save my life That generosity deserves to be honoured by living well.”

Speaking from hishome, Thomas said that although histimeinhospitalfeltlong, it was necessary preparationfor thechallenges ahead. “There’s agreat deal that needstohappen. I need alot of medication to stabilisemycondition andtogivemyselfthe best possiblechance of alonglifewiththisnew heart. I’mprepared forthat, andI’m lookingforward to taking things gently andslowly.”

He said he wasgoing forwalks of afew hundred metres each dayand wasfeelingwell. “Not only didmypartner,Kez,movehouse at sixmonthspregnantwhile Iwas in hospital,but she’sbeen my rock.She’s so supportive. Ihave such huge respectfor howshe’s held everything together.It’sbeen awhirlwind fewweeks, butI feel incredibly grateful andlucky.Havinga new heartfeelslikea dream; Ihavetopinch myself I’mgetting used to feelingmyheart beatingin my chest. Icouldn’thavedreamed of abetter outcome. At last,I feel like Ihavea futuretobe really excitedabout.”