People's Post Athlone/Lansdowne E-edition 20 January 2026

T FanWalk will come alive

Withoutrest,ourplansfeeloverwhelming

tivity?

Rest isn’ta reward forwork; it’s part of thework. This is afamousquote that Iwillbe taking to heartthisyear. It challenges themindset many of us have grownupwith–theideathatrestmustbe earned only afterexhaustion, burnout, or completion. Fora long time,I believed that slowingdownmeant falling behind.Thisyear, Iamunlearning that Youmight be wonderingwhy I’mtalking aboutrestwhenthe year hasjustbegun.Shouldn’t this be thetimefor biggoals,intense motivation,and constant produc-

Thetruth is that is exactlywhy rest matters now. Howwebegin theyearoften determines howwe experience it.Startingwithbalance,ratherthanburnout,setsa foundation forsustainable growth Taking care of yourself is nota distractionfromyourgoals;itisa crucialpartofachieving them Rest allows themindtoreset andthe body to recover. Without it,eventhe most ambitiousplans begintofeel heavyand overwhelming.Whenweare constantly pushingwithout pause, creativity fades, focusweakens,and motivation becomesforced.

On theother hand,whenrestis builtintoour routines,weshow up with more clarity, patience,and energy.Wemakebetterdecisions, manage stress more effectively, andremainconsistentratherthan

collapsinghalfway throughthe journey.

This year,I want to redefine productivity.Productivitydoes notmeandoing more at thecost of my health.Itmeans doingwhat matters well, with intention. Rest canlook differentfor everyone, it mightbegetting enough sleep, taking breaks withoutguilt, setting boundaries,unplugging from constant noise, or simply allowing yourself momentsof stillness.

Life oftenthrowsunexpected challenges ourway,and during thosemoments,takingextra care of ourselvesbecomes essential. I’ve come to realisethatprioritising my well-beingisnot selfish,it’s necessary.Wecan’t pour from an emptycup As Iget older, I’malsolearningto letgooffomo(thefearofmissing

out)

Insteadoffeelingpressuredtobe everywhere anddoeverything, I’m embracingjomo(thejoy of missing out).There is peaceinchoosingrest, boundaries,and what trulyalignswithme, rather than constantly chasingwhatI might be missing.Byhonouring rest, we also practise self-respect.We acknowledgethatour worthisnot measured by howtired we areor howmuchwesacrifice.Instead,it is reflectedinhow well we care for ourselveswhile pursuing ourgoals Forme, this year is notabout rushingtothe finish line;it’sabout building alifethatissustainable, fulfilling,and healthy. Rest isn’tsomething I’ll turn to only when I’mexhausted.Itwillbe part of my dailydisciplinebecause doingthe work also meansknowingwhentopause

FROMPAGE1

“Whatdid we do to achievethis? We used thePINTS model. P– Parent Partnership, whichincludedchatgroupsand theroleof parentswithhomework-checking,revisionand discipline;I –Intervention/Improvementplan with high-risklearnersand tutorials; N– Notes wh tebook ch ked, th d-

Aidfor highschoolpupil

AVRILFILLIES

ionFieli fr Ha rP k

Baboonsanctuaryplan

KEANANHARMSE

Theplanning anddevelopment of theproposed sanctuaryfor twobaboon troops in theSouthernPeninsula is currentlyunderway, theCityof Cape Town hasconfirmed

Last year,the Cape PeninsulaBaboon Action Plan forrelocatingthe primates wasapproved by theCity, SouthAfrican National Parks(SANParks),and CapeNature

TheCapePeninsula Baboon Management JointTaskTeam(CPBMJTT) is overseeing this operationwhich comprisesCapeNature, SANParks andthe City,who areresponsible for developing andimplementinga baboon managementprogramme in theCapePeninsula

This month, theCPBMJTT confirmed that they have approved theintention to captureand relocate twobaboontroopstoa purpose-built sanctuary.

“The globally recognised enclosurestandard forchacmababoons, as setbythe Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries(GFAS) Animal Care Standards, is 1,5hectaresper 20 adultbaboons.The Cape of Good Hope Baboon Sanctuarywillexceed this minimumguideline in ordertobettercater forthe twotroops,”said GreggOelofse,saidthe City’s managerofcoastal environmentalmanagement.

Themaingoalofthisactionplanisthe longterm conservation,healthand welfareofthe Peninsulababoonpopulation, theCPBMJTT explains

Theplanintroducessanctuaries,fencing, wastemanagementmeasures, andpopulation controls to manage thebaboon troopsacross theCapePeninsula

“Shouldthe sanctuaryproceed,eachtroop will reside in theirown purpose-builtenclosure that meetsorexceedsthe GlobalFederationof Animal Sanctuaries(GFAS)AnimalCareStandards,”Oelofse added.

However, theCPBMJTT stillfaces criticism andconcern from some activistswho hope the primates will be allowedtothriveand survivein theirnew environments

DavidBarritt, executivedirectoratNetwork forAnimals andAnimalSurvivalInternational, said he hasbeen in regularcontact with both theCityand theCPBMJTT on theirbehalf.

Animal Survival International(ASI) worksto help wildlife around theworld whosesurvival is threatened by climatechangeand habitat destruction.

“Weapproachthisfromananimalwelfare perspective. TheCityessentially planstotake wild animalsand confine them to alimited spacewhile vasectomisingmalebaboonsso they can’tbreed

“Thisraisesserious concerns.Itisalwayscruel to confine free-ranginganimals andsterilising themales will completely disruptthe social orderofthe troop.

“Enclosing wild animalsand allowing tourists to visitthemsoundsmorelikea zoothana sanctuary, andbaboonsmostcertainly do not belong in zoos,” he said

Spokesperson at theCapePeninsula Civil Conservation (CPCC) LyndaSilksaysshe is sad to seethe baboon troops be relocated.

This wasanopportunityfor theCityto turn certainareas into somethingmoretruly resembling an eco-village,where people live in harmonywiththe rare andpreciousnatural splendourthatsurrounds them

“Wehaveheard from theCitythatproperty values andtourism aregood industries,and that they pander to these, andthisiswhatwe areseeing play out.

“The cost of this is ourwildheritage. What does allofthismeanfor thelesswealthy residentsofour city andthe futureofother aspects of ourbiodiversity?,” shesaid.

CPCC is anon-profitorganisation(NPO) that focusesoneducating thecommunity on the importance of biodiversity,through various projects such as Baboon Wise,NatureCluband Safe in theSea Cape Baboon PartnershipNorthernareamanager,Jon Friedman reiterates that thewelfare of thebaboonswillbeprotected andthatthe Sanctuaryproject is beingdeveloped within a formal regulatory frameworkand is subjectto permitting,oversight andreviewbythe relevant competentauthorities

“The Sanctuaryhas been proposed explicitly to preventongoing harm to thebaboonsof Simon’sTownand to avoidlethaloutcomesfor specifictroopsfor whom existing management optionshavefailed.

“Portrayingthisassomething otherthana welfare-ledinterventionmisleadsthe public andinflames opposition on an inaccurate basis,”Friedmansaid.

FIVEKEYCOMPONENTS

Within theframework of theCapePeninsula Baboon Action Plan, five critical interventions areoutlined:

. Sanctuarycreation: Buildpurpose-designed baboon sanctuariesalong PlateauRoad.

. Northern fencing: Installa baboon-proof barrier stretching from Zwaanswyk to ConstantiaNek

. Wastemanagementstrategy: Introduce baboon-proof bins andenforce strict waste disposal protocols.

. Urbanwildlifeby-law: Enactnew legislation with azero-toleranceapproach to baboon interference, perthe action plan

. By-law enforcement: Implementhard boundaries andenforce strict population control measures

TROOPRELOCATIONTIMELINE

Theplansetsclear deadlinesfor relocating theaffectedbaboon troopsaspartofthe Cape PeninsulaBaboon Action initiative:

. Seaforth troop:Relocatetosanctuary by February this year

. Waterfalltroop:Relocatetosanctuary by Septemberthisyear

. CT1and CT2troops: Relocate to mountainside by MayorJunethisyear

INFRASTRUCTUREANDSAFETYMEASURES

Keyinfrastructuredevelopmentsinclude plansunder theCapePeninsula Baboon Action framework:

. Northern fence: Complete construction by July this year,fromZwaanswyk to Constantia Nek

. Baboon-proof bins:Deployinhigh-impact areasbyMay this year

. Sanctuarytrial:Start with a1,5-hectare enclosureonprivate land,featuring underground powercablestoreduceelectrocutions.

ThefullCapePeninsula Baboon Management Action Plan 2025 is availablefor public review

Thousands of learnersmissfirstday

LAURENO’CONNOR-MAY LAUREN.OCONNOR-MAY@NOVUSMEDIA.CO.ZA

Asparents proudlypostedpictures on social mediaoftheir children goingtoschool forthe firsttime on Wednesday14January,thousands of others joined thelongqueuesoutside educationdepartmentdistrictofficesto seek placementfor theirkids.

At theMetro SouthEducation District in Lentegeur, angryparents scoldedaneducation department official when he announcedthatthe queuewould be closed at around 08:45. Theofficial told parentsthatthe office could only accommodate 300peoplefor theday.The more than ahundred parentswho didnot make thecut-off were referredtothe department’s satelliteoffice afew kilometres away

Parentscomplainedthattheyhad been standinginthe line forhours andfor many it wasnot their firsttimewaiting Fruitlesshours in thesun KhumisaTunzi from Khayelitshawas among thenumberthatwerereferred. Shesaidthe

LATE APPLICATIONS CREATECONSIDERABLE PROBLEMS FORTHE DEPARTMENT

processwas unfair

Tunziwas trying to find aplace forher Grade 5daughterclosertohomebecause theschool sheattends in Zonnebloem is toofar.The schoolsnearher home aretoo full, shesaid.

“She leaves thehouse at 05:00and then only gets home at 18:00or19:00,”Tunzi said

Shesaidshe hasbeen trying to gether daughtertransferred sinceDecemberlastyearbut has hadnofeedback from thedepartment.

Chante JoubertofRocklands wasalsoamong thenumberwho were referred. Shesaidshe wastryingto find aplace forher brotherand cousin in Grades 7and 8.

“Wedidn’tknowabout theonlineapplication,” Joubertsaid, explaining that sheisthe main caregiverfor theboysbecause theirpar-

Placement in progress for 7540 Gr R, 1and 8learners

TheWestern Cape EducationDepartment (WCED) says it is currently processing asignificantnumberoflateschool applications forthe newacademicyear.

As of Wednesday7 January, theWCEDhas successfully placed 180960 (96% of)learners forwhomapplications were received forGrade R, 1, and8 forthisyear.

Placementisstill in progress for7540learners in thesegrades.

SinceSaturday1 November last year,the department hasreceived10666 late applications: Thedepartmentsayslateapplicationsdisrupt planningfor learnerplacement,resourceallocation,and staffing,and placeadditionalstrain on thedepartmenttoplace learners immediatelyduringa period when schoolsare closed forthe holidays.Accordingtothe department, essentialitems were procured anddelivered in advancetoensureimmediateteachingand learning across schools.

Schoolswereabletoorder top-up textbooks in Maylastyear, with fulldeliverycompleted by October, amountingtoR58,7 million Stationery fornon-section 21 schoolsvaluedat R25,3million wasdelivered by November last year,and an additional R31,6million worthof goodsweredelivered by December last year

Thedepartmentsaysitisready to respond to newrequirementsthatmay arisedue to late applications or unexpected demand

MOVINGFORWARD

TheWCEDiscurrently conducting its10-day

snap survey forten days,since schoolsopened last week

This survey provides accurate data on learner numbersineachgrade,allowing thesystemto settlebeforereporting

Theinformation gathered is critical for determiningwhere additional resources—such as furniture andequipment—are needed and wherefurther placementopportunitiesmay exist.

TheWCEDhas built175 newclassrooms throughthe building of newschoolsand the expansionofexistingschools.

No-fee schoolsreceive normsand standards funding to providestationerytotheir learners

Schoolsmay,however,request that parents contribute to theirchildren’sstationerylistor otherexpenses, butatno-feeschoolsthismust be voluntary.

“Ifparents areconcerned aboutany contribution they arebeing askedtomakeata no-fee school,weurgethemtohavea discussion with theschooltoclarify that it is voluntaryor urgently report themattertotheir education district office

“Inmostofthe casesraisedwithus, we find that it is amisunderstandingormiscommunication of arequest forvoluntary contributions,” explainedWCED.

Parentswho areinlimbo areencouragedto visittheir educationdistrictoffices.

District office details areavailablehere: https:// wcedonline.westerncape.gov.za/admissions-officials

WesternCapefatherandson buildrecord-breakingdrone

AWestern Cape father andson team hasmade SouthAfrican engineeringhistory by creating theworld’s fastestbattery-powered drone, reaching speedsthatwould make most cars jealous.

Luke Bell andhis father Mike Bell have officially earned theirplace in theGuinness World Recordsafter theircustom-builtquadcopter, namedPeregreen 2, achieved an averagetop speed of 480,23 km/h –fastenoughtotravel 142metresina second

Theachievement comesafter months of meticulous design,testing,and overcoming significant technicalchallenges

Thepathtosuccess wasn’t smooth,with severalmalfunctions during testing, including wiresand batteries overheatingtothe pointof causingelectrical fires.

To meet Guinness WorldRecords’strictcriteria, Peregreen 2had to complete twosuccessful flightsinopposite directions to eliminatethe effects of wind conditions

During theseofficial runs,the droneactually peaked at an extraordinary510 km/h,though

ents are“roamingaround”

Joubertclaimed she firstapplied at thedepartment in August.“I’ve hadnoresponsesince then.”

Thousandsstill need spaceatschools

Thegroup wasamong 7200 in theWestern Cape,accordingtothe Good Party, whostill needed placementwhenschoolsreopenedfor thecurrent academic year on Wednesdaylast week (14January).

“Thatis7 400pupilsleftinlimbo,uncertain abouttheir future, notbecause of alackofeffort or ability, butbecause thesystemhas failed to provideenoughspace forthemtocontinuetheir education,”Brett Herron, GOOD’s member of theWestern Cape Parliament,said.

“The WesternCapegovernmentisquick to branditselfasthe ‘best-run’ province in the country. Buta government that leaves thousandsofchildrenwithout access to schoolingat thestart of theacademicyearcannotcredibly claimsuccess. This nowraisesthe question: When will thesechildrenbeplacedinclassrooms? Howlongwilltheyhavetodelay their futurefor?”

Late applications

When People's Post sister newspaper, TygerBurger, posedthese questionstothe Western Cape EducationDepartment(WCED), spokesperson Millicent Merton said that sinceNovember, thedepartmenthad received over 10000 late applications

“Asof7 Januarythisyear, placementwas stillunderwayfor 7540 learners,” Merton said, adding that updated figureswould be made availablesoon.She said that sinceSaturday1 November last year,the WCED received 10666 late GradeR,1 and8 applications.Mostofthese were received in November andDecemberbut by Wednesday7 January, thedepartmenthad received 758new “extremely late applications

“Lateapplications create considerable challenges forthe WCED.Theydisrupt planning forlearner placement, resource allocation and staffing,and placeadditional strain on thedepartment to placelearnersimmediatelywhen schoolsare closed forthe holidays.Thismeans that discussionsaroundplacement canonlyresume once schoolsreopen, delaying theprocess further,” sheexplained

UWCdevelopsnewlow-cost healthscreeningtest

University of theWestern Cape researchers have achieved amajor breakthrough in medical diagnostics, developing an innovative electrochemical sensor capableofdetecting cancer, tuberculosis,and long Covid-19 at afractionof traditionaltesting costs.

Thecutting-edgesensor, developedatUWC’s SensorLabinthe Department of Chemistry, represents asignificant leap forwardinaddressing SouthAfrica’sdualburdenofcommunicableand non-communicablediseases. This portable device uses nanotechnology to detect specificdisease biomarkers in blood samples, offeringrapid andhighlysensitive resultsthat couldtransform healthcare delivery in underserved communities.

Dr JaymiLeigh January, theleadresearcher andrecentPhD graduate whospearheaded this development, emphasised thetechnology’s relevancetolocal health challenges

“Thisresearchaddressesa very real SouthAfricanhealthchallengebyproviding accessible, sensitive, andaffordabledisease diagnostics,” sheexplained

HOWTHETECHNOLOGYWORKS

Thesensoroperatesusing light-basedelectrical signalstomeasure traceamounts of disease-linkedproteinsinpatient blood samples. Itsremarkablesensitivity allows detectionof Covid-19 spikeproteinsatlevelsaslow as 0,04 picogramsper millilitre– farexceedingthe capabilities of many currentdiagnostictools.

Thedeviceidentifies specificbiomarkers foreachcondition:CapGproteinsfor cancer detection, interferon gamma fortuberculosis screening, andspike proteins foridentifying Covid-19 infections andlongCovid-19risk.

Unlike traditionallaboratory-baseddiagnosticsthatrequire expensiveinfrastructure, this sensor delivers fast,reliableresults in a portable format

JanGettemans andassociateresearcherOlivier Zwaenepoel

This collaborative approach hasbeen instrumental in developing asensorthatdemonstratesexcellent stability, reliability, and reproducibility– essentialfeaturesfor routine clinical application.

theofficial record reflects theaverage speed across both flights.

Thedrone features alightweight carbon fibre shellthatwas 3D printedata localworkshop.

TheBells worked alongsideaerothermal engineer ChrisRossertoperfect thedrone’s aerodynamics andcontrol systems, combining high-techmotorsand batteries with acompletely redesigned,streamlined shape.

Mike Bell, an accomplished architect, designed theiconicMbombelaStadium in Nelspruit,which hosted four matchesduringthe 2010 FIFA WorldCup

Luke Bell hasestablished himselfasa content creator, regularlyreviewing drones andcameras on hisYouTube andInstagram channels.He also serves as an ambassadorfor Sony,bringinghis technicalexpertise to awider audience throughdigital platforms.

Fordrone enthusiastsand engineeringfans wantingtofollowLukeBell’sfutureprojects, hiscontent canbefound on YouTubeand Instagramwhere he continuestoshowcase cutting-edgetechnologyand innovation

SouthAfricafaces significant challenges with tuberculosis,cancer, andongoing Covid-19 complications. Traditionaldiagnosticmethods oftenrequire costly laboratory facilities and lengthyprocessing times, creating barriersto earlydetection andtreatment,particularlyin resource-limited settings.

This technology offersa game-changingsolution by providingimmediate, accurate resultsat thepoint of care.The sensor’s abilitytodetect diseases at earlierstagescould dramatically improvetreatment outcomes andpatient survival rates.

ForlongCovid-19detection,the technology proves particularly valuable in identifying hiddenviral reservoirs andpatientsatriskof developing prolongedsymptoms– agrowing concernasthe pandemic’s long-termeffects become clearer.

Theproject represents successful international collaboration, with Januaryworking under thesupervision of Prof Emmanuel Iwuoha from UWC’sChemistry Department,alongside Dr NeliaSanga,a UWCpostdoctoralfellow. The team also partneredwithresearchers from the University of GhentinBelgium,including Prof

Thetechnology’smostsignificant advantage lies in itspotential to improvehealthcareequity.Byproviding affordable, portable diagnostics,the sensor couldbridgethe gapbetween advanced medicalfacilitiesand underserved communities across SouthAfricaand beyond Januaryreflectedonthe broaderimplicationsofher research:“Everychallengeduring this journeyhas been aformative moment that strengthened me,and I’mgrateful forthe guidance of supervisors, family,and co-researchers.”

LOOKINGAHEAD

Theresearchteamnow focusesonscaling up developmentand production forwidespread clinical use. Future plansinclude comprehensive clinical trials to further validate thedevice’s effectiveness andexpandaccessibility in resource-constrained healthcare systemsglobally AccordingtoSipokaziFokazi, from UWC’s InstitutionalAdvancement,the development represents notjusta technologicalachievement, buta step toward amoreinclusive healthcare futurewhere advanced diagnosticsare accessibletoall.