People’s Post Athlone/Lansdowne E-edition 21 July 2026

Tuesday, 21 July 2026

NAMHLA MONAKALI

NAMHLA.MONAKALI@NOVUSMEDIA.CO.ZA

About 30 people remain withoutelectricityata provincial rental property in Athlone.

TheFortune family haslived at Taurus Road, SurreyEstate, since1957. Theestateisowned by theWestern Cape Government (WCG)and formspartofWCG’s rental housingstock Today, about30people, includingfamily membersand backyard residents, live on the property.Fourtoddlers, aged betweenone and four,are amongthem.

ForVictorSteyn (64),the daybeginsatabout 06:00whenheheats wateroveranopen flame. Thewater is used forwashing,cookingand bathing. By 08:00, thehousehold must be readyfor theday “Sometimes youstrip in thecoldbecause you don’twantyourclothes to smelllikesmoke whilepreparing thewater,” Steynsays.

Thefamily’shardshipbegan aftera fire reportedly damagedthe home in 2024.The family says the fire occurredonSunday26May In public reportsthe Department of Human Settlements in theWestern Cape haspreviously referredtoitasa June 2024 fire

Thefamilyclaimsthe fire wascausedbyan electrical fault. However, thegovernmentsays theopposite,attributingthe incident to an open flame. This is aclaim that residentshave denied

The fire destroyedpersonalpossessionsand left thefamilywithout electricity. They endured thewinters of 2024 and2025and arenow facinga thirdwinterwithout arepairedhome.

TrudyFortune (55),the eldest daughter of the late Bernie Fortune, theleaseholder,works as a

pr

living conditions andexposuretosmoke from theopen flames

On Wednesday6 August last year,Steyn said they metofficialsfromthe HumanSettlements Department at itsofficesinWaleStreet

He says thefamilyexpecteda writtenresponse anda clearrepairplan. He says they arestill waiting.

ForSteyn,the issueisnolongeronlythe fire

It is theprolonged wait fora safe home,electricityand proper sanitation.Every morning, thehousehold stilldepends on an open flameto heat waterand preparefood

Thefamilyiscalling forclarity on the fire investigation, arepairtimetable andsuitable temporaryaccommodation whilerepairworkis carried out.

People’s Post sent questionstothe Western Cape Government on Thursday last week,16 July,about some of theproblemsand claims made by thefamilybut no response hadbeen received by thetimeofgoing to print.

Ward 46 CouncillorAslam Cassiem,who initially vowedtorespond,saidhecould only comment once he received informationfrom therelevantCitydepartments By thetimeofpublication,healsohad not respondedto People’s Post

Walkthetalkforchildren

KAYLYNNEBANTOM

Whena 10-year-old

Robert Knutsen first took part in Blisters forBread in 1969, he tackled theroute in hisschool shoes and finished with theblisters to proveit.

More than five decadeslater, Knutsen(67)willreturntothe eventthathas grownfroma small school initiative into oneofthe WesternCape’sbiggest fundraisersinthe fightagainst childhood hunger

Organisedannually by thePeninsula School FeedingAssociation (PSFA),the Blisters forBread in associationwithLucky Star will take placeonSunday16August in GreenPoint.The eventaims to raisemuch-needed funds and awarenesstohelpfeed vulnerable children across theprovince.

Thecharity walk beganin1968 when staff andlearnersofSavio College in Lansdownelaunchedthe initiative to support school feeding programmes

Lookingbackonhis firstBlisters forBread walk from Simon’sTown to Lansdowne, Knutsentold People’sPost theevent left himwith lastingmemories.

“WhenI firstparticipated, Iwas a learneratthe school.Backthen, we were youngand hada lotofenergy, so we raninstead of walking. Iremember my firstrun becauseI did it whilewearing school shoesbecausewedidn’thavefancy shoes. I hadrealblistersafter that run. ”

He recalled howlearnerspersonally raised funds forthe walk by visiting homesintheir communities andaskingresidents to support thecause

“Backinthose days,itwas safe to walk thestreetsatnight and knockonpeople’sdoorsaskingfor sponsorships.”

BLISTERSFOR BREAD IS ON SUNDAY 16 AUGUST

Commentingonthe upcoming event, Knutsensaidhewas determinedtohelpafter readinga People’sPost articleearlier this year warningthatthisyear’sBlistersfor Breadcould be cancelleddue to financialconstraints

“I took aphotographofthe articleand posted it on ourfriends’ WhatsApp groupand askedhow we canrescuethe initiative.I thoughtitwould be sadifthisinitiativewould come to an end.”

He explainedthatone of his friendsisJonathanProcter,group ChiefExecutive OfficerofPrimedia, whodecided to come on board as aradio partner.

ProctersaidBlistersfor Bread holds“deep personal andcorpo-

rate significance” as he attended SavioCollege.HesaidKfm 94.5’s partnershipwiththe charityaligns with Primedia’s commitmentto community upliftment

Procterhighlighted therecord-breaking2022radiothon, whichraisedR20 million forthe PSFA

He addedthatthrough Primedia Caresand Kfm’scommunity initiatives, theorganisationcontinues to support education, disaster relief andyouth developmentacross SouthAfrica, with afocus on creatinglasting hope andopportunity.

“SupportingBlistersfor Bread is thereforenot only an honour rooted in my personal history, but also astrategic andethical imperativefor Primedia.Itexemplifies thespiritofUbuntu, ourshared humanity,which compelsusto take action againstinequalityand hunger

Participationinsuchinitiatives invigoratescommunities,nourish-

es children,and strengthensthe social fabric that bindsusall.” KnutsenbelievesBlistersfor Breadisa lastingreminderofthe values that definedSavio College andits commitmenttoserving the community Aftermorethan five decades, Knutsenispreparing to lace up hisshoes once againfor this year’s event.

“I am lookingforward to take part butI am lookingmostforward to notgetting blisters,” he said jokingly Participants canchoosebetween a10kmwalkstartingat07:30 and a5km walk starting at 08:00. Entrycosts R125 perperson, whichcan provide23childrenwith anutritiousbreakfast andlunch forone day.

Entriesare limitedto10000 participants,and registrations closeatmidnightonSunday2 August.Onlyonlineentries will be accepted

We arefacingmorethan ahousingcrisis

housing, toolittletoqualify fora bond on amarket-priced home

My work dayusually starts hoursearlier.The alarmgoes off before dawn

Everymorning teachers,nurses,policeofficers andthousands of othermiddle-income workers make thesamejourney.Theydo nottravelbecause they enjoyit. They travel becauselivingcloser to wheretheyworkhas become financially outofreach

That is whya recent housing market studyshouldconcern far more than aspiring home owners Cape Town residentialproperty prices rose 9,1% between September 2024 andSeptember last year.Average housepricesnow sit between R2,1 million andR3,36 million dependingonproperty type.Only43% of homessoldin Cape Town were priced belowR1,5 million.There is oneformalhouse forevery 3,3familiesearning less than R26000 permonth.More than 80%ofSouth Africanhouseholdscannotaffordpropertiesin theirown city

Thesenumbers were neverdesigned to addup. Consider theworkers:a teacher earnsR21 000 –R30 000 a month, an enrolled nurseR20 000 –R27 000, aprofessional nurse R28000 –R35 000, apoliceconstable R15000 –R20 000. They fall squarely in the“missing middle” toomuchfor state-subsidised

Thearithmeticisbrutal. To qualifyfor abondona R2,5 million suburban home,a householdneeds anet monthlyincomeofapproximately R55000 to R60000. Half of allCapeTownhouseholdsearn less than R20700 permonth.That is nota lifestyleproblem.Itisan arithmetic problem. No discipline closes agap that wide.Thisisnot apersonalfailure.Itisa structural wall.

Home ownershipisactively declining. Theshare of mortgage-linked, owner-occupied homesinSouth Africa fell from 7,5% in 2019 to 6,3% by last year Rentinghouseholdsrosefrom 21,9%to25,8%.These arenot signsofa market correctingitself. They describe amarketdesignedto exclude. Andthenthe City adds its ownweighttothe squeeze. Property ratesrose7,96%,after 5,7% the year before.Electricity increased by 7,2%,after an 11,78%hikelast year.Water costsrosethrough tiered pricingthatpushmiddle-income households into higher-rate bands.

Theseincreases arrive on topof already-stretchedrentand transport.For thosealready stretched on transportevery additional municipalcostfurther reduces what littleremains forsavings or investment

Theaffordability benchmarkis 10%. TheMyCiTiMonthly Pass rose by 50%, from R1 000 to R1 500inJulythisyear. Minibus-taxi usersreportmonthly costsofR1

200toR1500 fora single route. Workersdisplaced to outlying areastravel15-20 km or more.Those whocannotaffordtolivenearwork travel thefurthest, paythe most andlosethe most time

When teachers cannotaffordto live near theirschoolstheyspend hourscommuting insteadof preparinglessons or eating dinner with theirfamilies. Nurses finish demandingshiftsonlytoface anothertwo-hourjourney home Police officers servecommunities they cannotaffordtolivein. We should askhonestlywhether our cities aredesignedfor thepeople whokeep them functioning Perhapsthe most revealingfact aboutthe City’s commitments is this:the City of Cape Town promised 12 000 affordable-housingunits targetinghouseholds earninguptoR32 000 permonth As of mid-2025 nota single gapopen-market unit hadbeen completed. TheR5,1billion social packageexists. Thepolitical will to deploy it whereitisneeded most does notyet appear to SouthAfrica’snationalhousing backlogstandsatapproximately 2,4million units. More than 90% of individualsfromhistorically marginalised groups remain in areasdesignatedunder apartheid spatial-planning,) areasthatconcentrate poverty, limitopportunity andguarantee long commutes. Fewerthan8%oftracked householdsinsocialhousing ever transition to privatehomeownership When thesystemtraps people geographically thepromise that

honest work leadstosomewhere betterbecomes no more than an attractive butinfinitely elusive prospect

At what pointdid full-time employment stop beingenoughto builda life?Not alifeofluxury. A modest one. Aplace to call home Areasonablecommute.Timeto eatdinnerwithyourfamily. The chance to save.The possibility of building wealth insteadofspendinga growingshare of your salary on rent,transport andrisingmunicipalcosts

We have accepted adangerous contradiction. We tell youngpeoplethateducation is thepathway to opportunity, that hard work pays off,thata stable career leads to stability. Yetanincreasing number of graduatesand professionalsare discoveringthateven with permanentemployment, home ownershipinthe city where they work is notjustdelayed,but structurally impossible. Perhapsthe biggest question is notwhether theWestern Cape has enough affordablehouses. It is whetherwehavequietly accepted that an entire generation can do everything societyasked of them:study, find work,pay taxes, contribute to theeconomy andstill neverown ahomeinthe city they help build. If that is becoming normal,then we arefacingmorethana housing crisis.Weare witnessing theslow erasureofone of themostfundamental promises of adulthood: that honest work should make it possibletobuild afuture.

Minstrelscallfor Cityfairness

KAYLYNNEBANTOM

TheCapeTownMinstrelCarnivalAssociation (CTMCA)has calledonthe City of Cape Town to treatall minstrel organisationsfairlywhen allocating eventvenues, saying it hopeda recent High Courtvictory wouldpavethe wayfor constructiveengagementahead of future Tweede Nuwe Jaar celebrations

Last monththe WesternCapeHighCourt dismissedthe City’s applicationfor leavetoappeal in itslegal battle with theCTMCA JudgeMokgoatji Lekhuleniruled that the City’s appeal hadnoreasonableprospects of success andsaidallowing thematterto continue wouldbea colossal“wasteofjudicial resources”

Thecasearose afterthe City hadcancelled CTMCA’sconfirmed bookingofVygieskraal Stadium, wherethe associationhad plannedto host its TweedeNuweJaar events in January this year

On Monday 29 December last year theWesternCapeHighCourt delivereda victoryfor Cape Town’s minstrel community,orderingthat theCityprovide appropriatevenuesfor their cultural traditions

Therulingcameafter intenselegal proceedings,withthe CTMCAsuccessfully challenging theCity’scontroversial withdrawal of venue permissionsand parade permits.

In itsappeal theCityarguedthatthe bookinghad been confirmed by “mistake”because Vygieskraal Stadiumdid notmeet therequirementsofthe Safety at Sports andRecreational Events Act.

Thecourt rejected theargument, ruling that theCitywas trying to introducea newreason forits decision afterthe fact

TheCityemphasisedthatthe official Tweede Nuwe Jaar Festival,organised by theCTMCA,remainedunaffectedand didproceed as plannedonMonday5 Januaryatthe newvenue in Green Point.

Igshaan Alexander, chairofthe CTMCA, describedthe ruling as groundbreaking forthe

associationand othersmall groups

“Wehavebeen trying forthe past nine yearsto engage with theCity, asking them to be fair to ourorganisation.

“Weare appealingtothe City to providea list of venues that areconducive to hostingsuchan event.

Insteadofjustissuingrefusals, many of them last-minute, or usingdelayingtactics.”

He also calledonthe City to engage with the associationonthe wayforward andonfuture events,sayingvenue allocation should not favour certainorganisations over others

CITYRESPONDS

Responding to queries, theCitysaidina statementitprovidedvarious availabledates at Athlonestadium,“butthese were nottaken up ” by theCTMCA

“While theeventslinkedtothe courtmatter arealready in thepastthe City will keep striving to support theminstrelcommunity to achieve greaterheights,aswas thecasewiththispast festiveseason’srobust andsuccessful Tweede Nuwe Jaar andminstrelcompetition programme.”

TheCityencouragedthe CTMCAto“act timeouslytosecureavailable dates” in either public or privatevenues, whichthe City says are limitedoverthe busy festiveseason.

MEETINGWITHCITY

TheCityhostedaninformation session at the City Hall on Tuesday14Julytobrief Christmas bands, Malaychoir andminstrelgroupson itsevent permit andvenue bookingprocesses aheadofthe busy festiveseason.

Representativesfromassociations,troupes, bandsand choirs whoregisteredinadvance attended thesession

ButAlexander felt theinformation session offered littlenew informationfor theCTMCA, saying it focusedmainlyonvenue applications andcompliancerequirementsthatthe association wasalready familiar with

Heideveld meter syndicatenabbed

AVRILFILLIES

The spineofthe watermeter syndicate in theHeideveld residential area wasbrokenwhenRoland Lawrence (24),Rianna vanReenen (42) andBrent vanHeerden(25), allfrom Heideveld, appeared in theAthlone Magistrates’Court on Thursday 16 July and were chargedwiththeft of watermeters andvandalism of infrastructure in the Heideveldresidential area.Theywere remanded in custody.

DetectiveSgt Darylvan Noie from Manenberg Police Station, whoisknown forhis investigative skills,arrested them at an addressin Laingsberg Road in theearly hoursofWednesday15Julyafter following up allavailable leads andinterviewingseveral keywitnesseswhich lead himtothe Laingsberg Road address.

Watermeterswithinthe Heideveldareahave been stolen thepastfew months to such an extent that acrechehad to closeits doorsbecausethe building wasdeemed unfittoinhabit, disrupting thelives of thevulnerable.

Capt IanBennett, spokesperson forManenberg police,saysthe children’s livesare putat risk becausecertain community membersbecame involved in theftand syndicates destroyingvital andcriticalinfrastructureinresidential areas.

“These watermeterswerestolenbyits own residents, vandalisingthe fresh-watersupplytothe homesand institutions of themost vulnerable persons. This copperequipment formspartofthe critical infrastructure and supportsthe survival of communitiesaswater is asourceoflife. Thecommunity’s livelihood hasbeen affected, basicday-to-daylivingde-

SYNDICATES DESTROYING VITAL ANDCRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Thewater meters found in possession of one of the threesuspects whoappeared in theAthlone Magistrates’ CourtonThursday 16 July.

stroyedthrough acriminalnetwork that hasnot thoughtofthe livestheydestroyed,” he says Theearly morningraidonthe addressbyVan Noie with thesupport of lawenforcement was an integrated operation. Allthree maleswere foundinpossession of thevandalisedwater meters andarrested

“Van Heerdenwas foundtohavea warrant for hisarrest fora similaroffence.The community cannotturna blindeye or overlook criminals when thevital andcriticalinfrastructurethat livesdependonisdestroyed in frontoftheir eyes.The community cannotbesilentonthis criminal behaviour,”saysBennett.

. Anyone with information about crimes in the Policing Precinct cancontact Manenbergpoliceon 021 6999400 or Crime Stop on 08600 10111.

Mental healthtakes centrestage

Julyispsychosocialdisabilityawareness monthand Cape Mental Health, together with theSouth African Federation forMentalHealth(SAFMH), arecalling on communities forgreater investment in community-basedmental health services.These serviceshelppeoplewithpsychosocialdisabilitiesrecover,livewithdignity,exercisetheir rights, andparticipate fully in society.

This year’s campaign highlights theimportanceofmovingawayfromapproaches that isolatepeoplewithmentalhealthconditions. Instead, it encourages communities to create opportunitiesfor people to live,learn,work, andbeincludedineverydaycommunity life

AccordingtoBarbara Meyer, spokesperson forCapeMentalHealth, they areappealingfor investment in community-based mental health services that promoterecovery, dignity, human rights,and social inclusionfor people living with psychosocial disabilities

This year’s theme, “FromInstitution to Inclusion: TheImportanceofCommunity-Based Mental Health Care”, highlights theneed to move beyond approaches that isolatepeople with mental health conditions andinstead createopportunitiesfor them to live,learn,work, andparticipate fully in theircommunities

Thecampaignaimstoraise awarenessabout psychosocial disability,challengestigmaand discrimination,and advocate forthe rights of people living with severe andlong-term mental health conditions

Apsychosocialdisabilityoccurs when aperson living with along-term mental health condition experiencesbarriersthatlimit theirability to participateequally in society. Thesebarriers mayinclude stigma,discrimination, lack of support services,unemployment, poverty, or limitedaccess to healthcare andeducation

Accordingtothe WorldHealthOrganisation (WHO), community-basedmentalhealthcare

ARANGE OF COMMUNITYBASEDMENTAL-HEALTH SERVICESISAVAILABLE.

is oneofthe most effective ways to support recovery andsocialinclusion.Unlikelong-term institutionalcare, community-based services allowpeopletoremainconnected to theirfamilies, friends, workplaces,schoolsand support networks whilereceiving thecaretheyneed “The longestpartofmentalhealthrecovery journeys happensoutside of hospital walls,” says Santie Terreblanche, Cape Mental Health’s Deputy ExecutiveOfficer. “Truehealing takes placewithinour communitiesand families, amongpeoplewho accept andembrace us Why, then,are community-basedmentalhealth services stillunderfundedand outofreach for most?Every community deserves easy access to mental health care that restores hope and dignity.”

PSYCHOSOCIALREHABILITATIONSERVICES

Theorganisationprovidesa rangeofcommunity-based mental health services designed to empowerindividuals andsupport theirrecovery journey. Theseservicesinclude counselling, psychosocial rehabilitation andsupport, family education, support groups,community outreach programmes, treatmentadherence support,skills development, andpubliceducation initiatives.

Akey componentofCapeMentalHealth’s community-based approach is itsFountain HouseProgrammesinObservatory andMitchells Plain. Theseprogrammesformpartof ClubhouseInternational andoffer psychosocial rehabilitation services that help membersbuild confidence, developworkand life skills,access supported employment opportunities, and strengthen social connections

Kimber House, aCapeMentalHealthresidential facility in Observatory, provides supported independentlivingfor adults with psychosocial disabilities.Residents receivepsychosocialrehabilitation,lifeskills development, social work support,and assistance to participateactivelyin community life

COMMUNITY-BASEDMENTAL-HEALTHCARE

Peer supportprogrammesfurther contribute to recovery by creating safe spaces wherepeople with livedexperienceofmental-health conditionscan support oneanother,share experiences,reduceisolation andfosterhope.

Despitegrowing recognitionofthe valueof community-based mental health care,significant challenges remain.Mental-health services continue to be under-funded, thereare shortages of trainedmental-health professionals, and stigma continuestoprevent many people from accessing education, employment,housing and community participationopportunities.

During Psychosocial Disability Awareness Month, Cape Mental Health encourages government, employers, health-careproviders, teachers,community organisations, families, andthe public to play an active role in creating more inclusivecommunities

Theorganisationiscalling forincreased investment in community-based mental health services,greater access to psychosocial rehabilitation programmes, stronger support networks, andthe protection andpromotion of therights of personswithpsychosocialdisabilities. Untilthe endofJulyCapeMentalHealth will be raisingawareness throughsocialmedia campaigns, community educationinitiatives, mediaengagement, peer support activities,and open days at itsFountainHouse programmesin Observatoryand Mitchells Plain.

.Formoreinformation about Cape Mental Health’sservicesand Psychosocial Disability contact BarbaraMeyer on 082897 8176 or info@ cmh.org.za.

Mandela Daycelebrated widely

Communities across South Africa came together on Saturday,18July, to mark MandelaDay throughactsof serviceaimed at upliftingthose in need andhonouring thelegacyofformerpresident Nelson Mandela.

In Cape Town,schools, businesses, non-profitorganisations,community groups andvolunteersrolleduptheir sleeves to take part in awiderange of initiatives, includingfood drives, beachand neighbourhood clean-ups, educationalactivities, tree planting, meal preparationand community outreach projects

THOUSANDSGAVE67 MINUTESOFTHEIR TIMETOGIVEBACK

commemoratedonSaturday, many organisationshostedtheir events on Friday,allowingthousands of people across themetro to giving back From feedingvulnerablefamilies andsupportingearly childhood developmentcentres to protecting theenvironment andimproving public spaces,the initiativesreflected Mandela’senduringmessage that everyone hasthe powertomakea siti difference

FOURPAWSSouth Africaand Mdzananda Animal Clinic donated 67 dog kennels and morethan 670food parcels to support animalsand their families in Khayelitsha.

CRAWFORD Room in 3bedroom Housefor Singlelady to share

NOTICE OF SURRENDER OF A DEBTORS ESTATE (SECTION 4(1) OF THE INSOLVENCYACT 24 OF 1936)

Noticeishereby given that applicationwillbe made to the High Courtof South Africa, Western Cape Division, Cape Town on the6th dayofAugust 2026 for the acceptance of thesurrender of the estate of HISHAAM

JOHNSTONE Identity Number: (981102 5840 084) 8OpelRoad, Lansdowne, Cape Town, andthat astatementof his affairswill liefor inspectionatthe officeof the Master of the High Court WesternCape, Cape Town fora period of 14 daysfromthe 15th day of July 2026. 13 July 2026

Attorneys for the Applicant ADAM, ALLIE & MORARATTORNEYS 289BelgraviaRoad Penlyn Estate Cape Town TEL: 082891 2244 Email: disha@aamlaw.co.za REF:DM/HJ002