People’s Post Athlone/Lansdowne E-edition 31 March 2026

Tuesday, 31 March2026

Race confidenc

Over500 athletes from workshopsinAthlone, Retreat, Khayelitshaand Mitchells Plaintook part in the annual TrolleyRaceheldon

Thursday 26 MarchatTraining WorkshopsUnlimited in Athlone as part of theIntellectual Disability AwarenessMonth (IDAM)

TheTrolleyRace, an exciting sports andfun dayhostedbyCapeMental Health,isusedtoshine thespotlight on therights, safety andinclusion of people with intellectualdisabilities.

Theracesaw thecomingtogetherof theathletestoshowcasetheir teamwork,sportingspiritand talent

Activities included thetrolley race, thebasketrace, thewheelchairrace anda lively dancecompetition

Atuckshopwas opened,selling hamburgers,hotdogs,koesisters, and snacks to raisefunds forthe skills programme

Whilethe daywas allabout theathletes, parentsjoinedinthe festivities to cheer participants along.

Theparents also clubbedtogether to organise thelunch forthe trainees andthe staff

Pots of akni were distributed.

At theend of theday twotrophies were handed out, onefor thewinning team andanother trophy forthe workshop that raised themostfunds

“The TrolleyRaceismorethanjust afun day, it is aday to buildconfitalentsofpeoplewit

disability

BreakthroughinTBfight

Nearly40000 people were tested fortuberculosis(TB)inFebruary this year,the WesternCape Department of Health and Wellnesssays.

This is thehighest monthly figure ever recorded in theprovince, markinga majorbreakthroughin the fightagainst thedisease

Theincreasesignals an intensified push to find andtreat TB early. Between 2023 andlastyear, annual testingspikedfrom207 496 to 356331,anincreaseofnearly 150000 testsinjusttwo years, as efforts ramp up around WorldTB Daycommemoratedon24March

TB remainsone of SouthAfrica’s most seriouspublichealthchallenges

AccordingtoStatisticsSouth Africa,TBisthe fifthleading underlying naturalcause of deathin thecountry

Mireille Wenger,provincial health andwellnessminister, emphasised theimportanceofputting theneedsofthe most vulnerable firstinthe fightagainst TB

ShesaidTBispreventable and curable, andnoone should be left behind becauseofwhere they live or theircircumstances

CelebratingWorld TB Daywith a flagship eventinCaledon the

FIFTH NATURAL CAUSEOFDEATH

department in partnershipwith theNationalDepartmentofHealth andthe SouthAfrican National AIDS Council, marked theday by bringing together residentsand servicepartners, drawingover3 000 people

In thebuild up to this eventand underthe theme“Yes, youand I canbeatTB”,healthcareteams, partners andcommunities across theprovincehosteda rangeof outreach events,takingscreening, health educationand support directly into communities

TheseincludedTBscreeningsin Khayelitshaand Eerste River, and educationsessionsatschoolsand in Kraaifontein.

Between Aprillastyearand Februarythisyear, more than 48 000 people were diagnosedwithTBin theWestern Cape

Nearly half of thesecases were amongyoung adults aged 25 to 44, thoseinthe most economically active yearsoftheir lives.

Accordingtothe department, only 90%(approximately43200) of thosediagnosed with TB during this period startedtreatment, despitetreatment beingfreeand

effective Wenger said clinicsoffer combinedTBand HIVservicesbecause thesediseasesare “deeply interconnected” Throughinitiatives such as the Closethe Gapand EndTBcampaigns,the department continues to expand testing, strengthen linkagetocare, andsupport patients to

remain on treatment.

Theseefforts aregroundedin partnership, bringing together government,civil society, the privatesectorand communities in asharedresponse.

Wenger encouraged residents to seek care earlyand remain on treatment.

Conformityismistakenfor righteousness

Thegrief is familiar

Iwrote astory on aGender-basedviolence(GBV) case before aboutThandokazi(not herrealname) whoreached out, hadher partnerarrested andleftanabusive partner only to meet someonewho mirroredthe same controlling behaviour.

Theactorschanged,but thestory felt identical.

Hello partner! Life hasa wayof repeatingitself. That is thelens throughwhich Ioften view the world, theideaof“same script, differentcast”

Icomefroma placewhere storiesare livedbeforetheyare told.Where laughter,heartbreak, survival,and loss sharethe same stage. Wherelifedoesnot move in straight linesbut in loops. The scenes change.The faceschange. Butthe patternsreturn.

This is what unsettles me Iworry abouthow harm becomes normalised,how silenceprotects injustice, andhow culturecan quietlyteach people to endure what they should be empoweredto challenge.

Iworry aboutthe cycles in our communities andthe ways human behaviourrepeats across homes, streets, institutions,and generations.

This is whyI pick up my pento observe, to reflect, andtounderstand.

WHENVIOLENCEBECOMESROUTINE

GBVisa script ourcountry knowstoo well.

Across SouthAfrica, storiesof womenattackedintheir homes, survivorsseekingjustice,and grieving families dominate headlineswithpainful regularity Communities gather,outrage rises, promises aremadeand then thepattern returns. Theperpetratorsare different.

Thesecyclesare notrandom. They grow from patriarchy, inequality,economicstrain, anda culturethatstill struggles to confrontabuse directly Violence is learned. Silenceis learned. Powerimbalancesare learned.

In my community,conversations with friendsand family echo the same national story. Someone always knowssomeone.A neighbour.A cousin.A colleague

Recognisingthe pattern is uncomfortable, butnecessary.We cannotinterrupt what we refuseto name.Through my writing, Itry to hold up amirrornot to sensationalisepain, buttomakerepetition visible.

LOVEREPEATSWHATWEDONOTHEAL

Love carries itsown reruns

People often find themselves drawntothe same kindsofpartners emotionally distant, controlling,unpredictable,orunavailable.Differentnames.Familiar wounds

Ourearliestlessons aboutlove come from what we seeathome, what we aretaughtinfamilies, and what culturequietly rewards. Who to love.Whentomarry.Whatto tolerate.Whattoforgive Theseexpectationssettledeep Butloveisnot only repetition;it is also possibility.Eachnew relationship offersa moment of recognition,a chance to say: “Not this again.”A chance to setboundaries. Achancetochoosedifferently. Reflection is what turnsexperience into growth

Still, onetruth matters:what worksfor onepersonmay notwork foranother.Survivalstrategiesare personal.Healing is personal.Our experiencescan guideand inspire, buttheyshouldnot become universal instructions

Lessons aremeant to lightthe path,not dictatethe journey.

FAITHBETWEENHEALINGANDHARM Churches andfaith communities hold complicatedroles in ourlives

They offer prayer,counselling, food support,belonging,and spaces wherepeoplesearchfor meaning. They help people survive grief, addiction, andhardship. Formanyfamilies, faithisa lifeline

Butfaith spaces canalsoecho society’srigid scripts. Gender rolesare reinforced Harmful relationshipsare sometimespreserved underthe language of forgiveness. People are urgedtoenduresufferingquietly Conformity is mistaken forrighteousness.

Thesemessagesare rarely loud, buttheyare powerful

Yetfaith spaces arealsocapable of transformation.Support groups, trauma counselling,community activism,and open conversations aboutabuse arereshaping what care lookslike. Whereawareness grows, choicesexpand.

This is wheremyreflection becomesurgent. Pain canteach.Survivalcan inspire. Testimonycan strengthen others

Butnoone person’s livedexperience should become doctrine

We arenot thestandard. People canlearn.Peoplecan be moved. People canaspireto change

Butlives aretoo complexfor onesize-fits-all answers.

WHENSOCIETYRECYCLESSTRUGGLE

Thesamescripts appear beyond ourpersonallives

Povertypassesfromone generation to thenext. Under-resourcedschoolslimit opportunity. Youngpeopleinheritbarrierstheydid notcreate. Workplaces reproducecultures of harassmentand marginalisation.Political speechesrecycle old promises in newlanguage. Theactorschange, newleaders, newmanagers, newpolicies. Butthe storylinefeelsfamiliar. What lookslikeindividualfailure is oftenstructuralrepetition. Systemsshape behaviour. Environments shapechoices.History

lingersinthe present. Writingabout thesecyclesis my wayoftracing thethreads.If we seethe pattern clearly, we can begintochallengeitdeliberately.

AWARENESSCHANGESTHEENDING Thandokazi’s storydid notend whereitbegan At first, shefelttrappedina familiar loop.But with support and guidance,she learnedtorecognise earlywarning signs. Shenamed controlling behaviour. Sheset boundaries.She chosedifferently. Theactorschanged.Her awareness changedthe script Notevery storyoffersneatclosure.However recognitioncreates possibility.Reflection creates distance.Choicecreates change Life’s reruns arenot always signs of failure. Sometimestheyare lessons waitingtobeunderstood

WHYIKEEPWRITING Iwrite becauseitpains me to watchthe same storiesunfold. Iwrite becauseitunsettles me howoften we recognisepatterns only aftertheyhurtusagain Iwrite becauseI am concerned abouthow culturequietly,persistentlyscripts livesbeforepeople realisetheyhaveoptions “Samescript, differentcast” is more than an observation. It is a meditation on humanbehaviour, culture, power, andchoice. My pen is my witness. My reflection.My quietformofresistance. People canlearn from thesestories.Theycan find comfort, warning, or courageinthem. They can feel seen.Theycan feel inspired Butthisisnot arulebook Life mayhandusfamiliarplots, butthe endingsare not fixed. Each newface, each newmoment, is an invitation to responddifferentlyto interrupt harm,toquestionnorms, to breakcycles. Awarenessgives us language Couragegives us movement Reflection givesusdirection Even when theactorschange, we stillholdthe powertorewrite the narrative

Prayer challenges residentstoact

AVRILFILLIES

Strongmessagesweredelivered by representativesofthe different organisationsatthe Easter Prayer ServiceonThursday26March at the CalvinistProtestantChurchinKewtown to uniteand partnertomakethe broader Athlonea crimefreecommunity.

TheAthlone police spiritualcrime prevention unit andAthlone Community Policing Forum partneredwithAthlone SpiritualCrime Prevention PastorsFraternal andthe Employee Health andWellnessDepartment(EHW) to host the service.

Thesemessagesofencouragement were clear andcalledfor asafer community andultimately forthe nation to putGod at thecentreof everything.Speakerssaidspiritual upliftment is theonlyway in breaking thebackofcrime and criminal activity

Theproceedings within thechurchwerelead by Chaplain Reverend ClintSolomon,provincial EHWChaplainServices. TheWestern Cape Police Band lifted thespirits of allpresent by presenting themusic ministry underthe baton of Lt ColAshleyChandler.

Bishop Mike Williams, deputy chairofthe spiritualcrime prevention unit,brought the message in hissermon.

“ThisperiodbeforeEasterobservedby Christians,wefound ourselvesina profound position.The very people that celebrated and acknowledged thekingofthe Jews arethe ones that shoutedcrucify him. Howdoesthis relate to ourmoderncommunity?Our moderncommunity seem to find themselves in a position wheretheydemandservicesfromthe police andgovernmentbut when themen and womeninbluerespond,theyare oftenstoned,

THEREISADIFFERENCE INBEING APIEMPER AND DOING THE RIGHT THING

yetthese people refusetocommitthemselvesto active participationinpreventingcrime.Unless we need to followa path of righteousness, the communities cannotwantthingstheir waybut don’twanttobepartofthe implementation of somethingthatisgood,” he says ColJunaidAlcock, StationCommander at AthlonePoliceStation,acknowledgedthatalthough Easter is aperiodofrestand celebration formany, police officers will be on duty readyto serve. He called on thecommunity to be partners in actively preventing andreporting crime. In hisaddressBrigMarkHartzenberg,Acting District Commanderofthe WesternCape andCityofCapeDistrict, reiterated Alcock’s message “Whendoesthe community begintodothe rightthing by reportingcrime?There is a difference in beinga piemper anddoing the rightthing.Weshouldrefrain from excusesand standupfor what is good andagainst what is notgood. Standing together will make communities resilientand will pave theway fora safercommunity andultimatelya saferWestern Cape,” he says

In hisaddressGregory Forbes,the CPFrepresentative, thankedthe community forgathering at thechurchand making theEasterPrayer Servicemeaningful andsuccessful “Takingthe community forwardliesinsincere prayersfor thepoliceand ensuring thecommunity sees thevalue of everypoliceofficer,”he says

Help them geta newbakkie

TheHoutBay Seal Rescue andRehabilitation Centre (HBSRC)has become alifelinefor injured, orphaned andentangled Cape fur seals alongthe WesternCapecoast

Thecentrerehabilitates sealsand releases them back into theocean,while teaching local communities aboutconservationand wildlife safety

Thecentrenow facesa critical challenge. Its rescue vehicle, an ageing Ford Bantam bakkie, is nearingthe endofits serviceablelife, limiting itsability to respondquickly to strandings along remote coastalareas.Tokeep operations running,HBSRC launched aBackaBuddy crowdfundingcampaigninNovemberlastyear.

As of Marchthisyear, thecampaignhas raised R30307 from 47 donors,around6%ofthe R500 000 target Fundsare used to maintain thecentre, respondtorescues andsupport education initiatives.

“Every seal rescuedisa life saved. Every community reachedisa step toward amore humane future. We alreadyhavethe facility, nowweneed to keep it alive, mobile andready,” said KimKrynauw,Fundraising andOperations

Belgianpoliceofficersvisit Manenbergtomakemovie

AVRILFILLIES

AcameracrewfromBelgium andthe TopCop from thecountry,BertrandCaroy,visited ManenbergPoliceStation on Thursday 12 March to document policing within theWestern Cape Thecrewtravelledaroundthe Manenberg Policing Precinct with localpoliceofficers With theguidanceofNationalCorporate Communication,the WesternCapeCorporate Communication andthe mediacentre, theBelgian officers partenered with Manenbergpolice andconducted an operationaldocumentary and theinternational film crew were takentowithin thevarious precinctsgivingthema fair tasteof theWestern Cape’s “no-nonsense approach” on addressing crime, illegalgangactivity, illegalguns, illegalliquoroutlets underadverse conditions

“The basiccrime prevention strategies were executed making it easy andsimpletoshow that with afocus-approachdrivenbyintelligence, whichinclude stop andsearchesiniden-

tified hotspots,a crimepreventionoperation canbehighlysuccessful.The Belgiancrewis here on afour-daymission andI coordinateda highly successful internationalpolicingshowcase that showed thecapabilitiesofthe police Thepolicecan surely standtalland be proudof this importantinternational policing showcase,” says Capt FC vanWyk,Western Cape police spokesperson BelgianTop Cophas indicatedthat first impressionsare lastingimpressionsand he was impressed, grateful andamazedatwhatthe police canachieve underwhatcould be called impossibleconditions.

“Policingisuniquearoundthe worldand the WesternCapepolicecan be praisedfor notjust policing underuniqueconditionsbut have the abilitytoadapt to so many differentneedsofan ever growingand evolving community,” says Caroy. Brig JayceNaidoo, StationCommander,says they were proudtohostthe Belgians

Let’sACTatHomeexpo teachesaboutenergychoices

RiversidePrimary School learners in Athlone gottoexperiencethe City’s Let’sACT at Home Exhibition recently as Grade6 and7 learners explored areal-life exampleofa future-fit, net-zero carbon home linked to theirnatural sciences curriculum.

THEINTERACTIVEEXHIBITIONALLOWSLEARNERS

TO:

. Learnhow buildingscan be designed to save energy andwater;

. Discover practicalwaystolivemoresustainably;

. Engage with expertsand askquestions;

. Be inspired to take action at home andat school

XantheaLimberg,Mayco member forenergy, said thesepractical examples help learners understand howsmall changesathomecan contribute to amoresustainable andresilient city

“Our Let’sACT campaign drives themessage that smallactions canleadtobig changes. We allhavethe powertomakea positive contribution to ourschools,homes,workplaces, neighbourhoodsand communities.”

Limbergsaidthe exhibition is part of the Cape Town Future Energy Festival,a city-wide movement to empowerresidents in theirenergy choices.

“Byproviding residentswithknowledge, practicaltoolsand inspiringexperiences,the festival is helpinghouseholdswhile creating awarenessabout thechangingenergylandscape andclimate impacts,”explained Limberg.

Capetoniansofall ages areinvited to visitand explorehands-onwaystoreduceenergyuse andmaketheir homesmoresustainable

Theexhibitionisopentothe public,but schoolsare encouraged to book atour.

. To book email: SustainableEnergyMarkets. enquiries@capetown.gov.za

M Networkgives Saps women hope

Jazz fest offered avarietyfor all

Jazz

KAYLYNNEBANTOM

filledthe airasthousands of jazz enthusiastsmoved from onestage to thenext, spoilt forchoicebyanimpressive line-upofbothlocal and internationalartists over two nights during this year’s Cape Town InternationalJazzFestival(CTIJF).

TheFestival, held on Friday 27 and Saturday 28 March, offered somethingfor both youngeraudiences and soulful oldsouls alike.

Thebuild up to thefestivalsaw variousmasterclassesbyartists includingthe popularfreejazzconcert held on Green Market Square on Wednesday25March

On Friday,the Rosies Stageauditorium filledupquickly as spectators seized therareopportunitytosee 91-year-oldlegendary pianistAbdullahIbrahim perform.

Wheeled onto thestage in awheelchair, Ibrahimtook theaudienceon amovingjourney,evoking nostalgia anddeep emotionasheplayedsome of hisbeloved andtimelesscompositions.

At theMoses Molelekwastage audience were captivated by thesoulful sounds of Rorisang Sechele, aSouth Africanvocalistand songwriter from Pretoria Laterthatevening JacobCollier,an Englishsinger, songwriter,multi-instrumentalistlit up thestage with his innovative approach to music, blendingjazz, pop, classical, andmore.

Sipho“Hotsix”Mabusetook the

INTERNATIONAL JAZZFESTIVAL ENTERTAINEDYOUNG ANDOLD

audience straight back in time with histimelesshits, getting thecrowd on theirfeet as they sang anddanced along.

Otherperformersincludedmodern jazz powerhouse YussefDayes who appeared with TheYussefDayes Experience,Maliansinger-songwriter FatoumataDiawara andthe CTIJF Jazz Orchestra.

Localartists whomadetheir debuts at thefestivalincludedKeziah Meyers,whose stagenameisLordkez andGugulethu star Sive Marasha, popularlyknows as Luukhanyo.

Speaking to People’s Post,Luukhanyosaid: “Thiswas exciting notonly formebut foreveryonethathas been involved in my journey. This is abig opportunity. Threeyears ago, this wasone of ourgoals…Havingthe luxury to be on thestage is nothing shortofa blessing.”

Percussionist, singer,and performer Sheila Ereturnedtothe festival stage afterfew years.

GeorgiaJones,directorofthe festival, describedthe eventasa festival forthe people.“This year we wanted to create anew experience sonically We looked at nostalgiabringingin theold andthe new. Andcreating aplatformfor artiststhatare yetto jump to otherinternational festivals.”

year ma age, gh ghting momentsfromthe engagement andwedding to their firstroadtrip and finaloverseasjourney Shealsowritesabout celebrations,threats, births anddeaths. Thenarrative focusesonthe

Quarry,CasaLabia Mu enberg andthe ei KarooKlassique in Oudtshoorn. They also performedinthe undergroundcaves of theGüray CeramicMuseuminCappadocia, Turkey

or emailberyl.botman60@gmail.com.

HEROESCLAIMVITAL SILVERWARE

EsihlePulaofOtha United in Gugulethunarrowlymisses the face of LinomthaNdyambo of Dangerous Heroes with aclearance during theRygateLadiestournamentinAthlone on Sunday29March. Heroes, who were crowned inauguralchampions after beating Rygate Ladies 7-6onpenalties, wonthe encounter 3-1. Thefinal againstthe hosts ended 1-1. PHOTO:RASHIED ISAACS

Kavanagh claimsher first

Tayla Kavanagh delivereda stunning performanceon Sunday 29 March, earning her firstvictory in aSparGrand Prix race at theopening legof this year’s 10km women’sroad running series in theMother City

Kavanagh,representingHollywood AthleticsClub, held on to thebackof defendingserieschampionGlenrose Xaba (Boxer AthleticsClub) formost of theracebeforelaunching afurious kick to snatch thewin

The24-year-old athletecompleted thecontest in 31:33, chopping eight secondsoff herpersonalbest(31:41) setinCapeTowninOctober last year Shewas just 21 secondsoutside the

national 10km record (31:12)heldby Xaba

Xaba was five secondsoff thepace, crossing the finish line in 31:38, while herBoxer teammate Kyla Jacobs took abig step forwardinher comeback to elitecompetition by taking thirdplace in acareer best 32:16.

Kavanagh wasall smiles afterhandingXabaa rare defeat andtakingthe earlyleadinthe Spar series

“Wehad agoodbattleout there. Theracewentwelland I’mhappy to walk away with apersonalbest today,”Kavanaghsaidafterwards.

“I’veput in alot of work in training, so I’mreally proudofmyselfand the team,and I’mveryblessedand grateful to walk away with thewin.”

Xaba admittedshe hadhoped Kava-

dI proudo er Caster Semenyaalsocompetedin Sunday’s 10km race finishinga credi-

bo More andKaraboMailula al us give credit to theSparGrand Prix series fortheir success. ”