People’s Post Athlone/Lansdowne E-edition 4 August 2026

Heartwarmingm

AVRIL FILLIES

RevisitingLeliebloemHome in Crawford,where he had livedfor awhile as achild in the1970s,and seeing therenovations anddonations arrivingthere,was aheartwarming experience forJames Hendricks from Strandfontein, in which many memories were brought back

Therenovations were part of Heart FM’s 16 Days forYouth in June, whichsaw localcommunity and businessesbring donationsaspartof thecampaign.

ForHendricks,who arrivedatthe home at averyyoung age, it wasa good feelingtobebackafter allthese years.

“I wasatLeliebloemfor 12 yearsbefore my eldest brother’swifetook me in,and Ilived with them in Mitchells Plainuntil Ireached adulthood

“Leliebloemwas asafeplace,one of hope andgoodgovernance, where good life learningsweregiven to the children there. We hadpropereducational activities,and afterschool we hadextramuralactivities, such as dramaclasses at theJosephStone Memorial Hall in Athlone, home of theEoanGroup School of the Performing Arts,visual-artclassesat HewatTrainingCollege in Belgravia Road,Crawford, andwealsojoined sportcodes at variousschoolsand outsideclubs.”

Some of thechildrenrepresented theWestern Province Senior Schools Associationinathletics,rugby,soccer andnetball,and then went on to presentWestern Cape Schoolsand rugbyclubs belongingtothe then City andSuburbanRugby Union.

“Wealsojoinedthe BoyScoutsand Girl Guides in theCrawfordand Athlone Areas,”Hendricks said.“After beinginterviewed by LungaSingama when Ivisited the‘new’ home in my shorttimeonthe airwaysasa celebrity,myworkcolleaguesand management approached me,wanting to do

somethingfor Leliebloem Home

“One school friend,TrevorTurner, whofollowedthe broadcastwentto Leliebloem to drop food off that week afterI wasonair,ashefeltinspired by theinterview Idid andwantedto do somethingfor thehome.”

Hendrickshas worked in theretail sector for38years,18ofwhich were at Pick nPay as amanager before moving to Woolworths,where he also worksasa manager.

“I am very appreciative of theguidance andlearningthatwas givento me by Leliebloem Home,a guidance that gave me lots of good learning andopportunitiesinmylifeand kept me on theright path mentally and spiritually.”

James Hendricks, second from right; with three of his contemporarieswho were with him at Leliebloem Home in the 70sontheir recent visit following its renovation. With him are, from left;WO Zita Norman, spokesperson forAthlone police, Patricia Langenhoven, Lunga Singama of Heart FM, Bonnie Opperman and Jerome Pannel

PHOTO:SUPPLIED

PSFA beneficiariesscore vital sporting vouchers

KAYLYNNEBANTOM

The countdowntoone of Cape Town’s biggest charitywalks is underway, with just 11 days to go before thousandsofparticipantslaceupfor the annual Blisters forBread CharityFamily FunWalkinGreen Point.

Thefundraiser, organisedbythe Peninsula School FeedingAssociation(PSFA)inassociationwithLucky Star,takes placeonSunday 16 August at theGreen PointCommonSports Grounds.

Entriestothe walk closed on Sunday 2Au-

gust

On Tuesdaylastweek,28July, People’s Post visitedtwo long-standingbeneficiaryschools to witnesshow thePSFA’sfeedingprogramme continuestomakea difference in thelives of theirlearners.

Thetwo beneficiaries, Spurwing Primary School andForestHeights PrimarySchool,both in EersterRiver,alsoreceiveda R1 000 Sportsman’sWarehouse gift vouchereach, to buysport equipment.

Spurwing hasbenefitedfromthe programme for33years.Principal Hadley Wentzelsaidthe programmeplays apivotal role.“We cansay with pridethatweappreciate what thePSFA does forthe school.Itisnot just aboutgiving them food,itisabout restoringtheir dignity. So much thoughtgoesintothe menusthatare chosenfor thechildren. Thefeedingschemealso hasa bigimpactonthe children’s academics.”

Grade2 teacherBronwyn Kaysaidmany learners rely on themeals they receiveatschool “The feedingschemehas ahugeimpactonour children.Wedon’t always know theircircumstancessothe food they receiveisimportant.It allows theirbrainstoopenup. When thekids return from thefeedingscheme, they arealways hypedupand happybecause they just hadfood, youcan seethe change in theirpersonality.”

Kitchenstaff member Angeline de Vos, who hasworkedatthe school for15years,saidpreparing mealsfor thelearnersisrewarding

“I love howthe kids’facelight up when they receivetheir food.And when they aredone, they wouldcomplementusfor thenicefood.It makesmyheart happyknowing youare feeding achild whoperhaps hadnothing to eatthe nightbefore.”

THE PSFA’S FEEDING PROGRAMME CONTINUES TO MAKE ADIFFERENCE IN THE LIVESOFLEARNERS

Forest Heightshas also been aPSFAbeneficiaryfor 33 years.

Francine Julius,who hasworkedinthe school’s kitchenfor 16 years, said servingthe learners is more than just ajob

“The children areimportant to me.I feel happy that Ican preparefood forthem. Many of them come from homeswhere there’snothing to eat."

PrincipalChris du Plessissaidthe feeding scheme provides avital safety netfor many families

“Our learners come from diversebackgrounds wheresomeparents arestruggling. Theschool is theonlyplace wheresomeofthemcan receivea warm andnutritiousmeal.”

Participants canalsocollect theirracenumbers at selected Sportsman'sWarehouse stores across thecity.

‘Thingsfallapart’:LearningfromclassicsasSA’scentreslips

people’s trust. That question feels closetohomenow

My father hasa habitof handingmebookswithan instructionratherthana recommendation. “Readthis,”he says.“Then tell me what you think.”

Theassignmentcameintwo parts: William Butler Yeats’s TheSecondComing andChinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart. Nearly acentury separatesthe twoworks Yettheyask thesamequestion: what happenswhenthe ties bindinga community together beginto break?

Yeatsgaveone of themost famous linesinEnglish literature: “Things fall apart; thecentrecannothold.”Hewrote it in 1919,after WorldWar I. Societiesdonot fall only from outsideblows.Theyfall becausethe moralcentreholding them together growsweak. Achebe took that line nearly 40 years laterasthe titleofhis 1958 novel. Hismaincharacter,Okonkwo,is crushedbycolonialism.Yet Things Fall Apart also showsa society alreadycrackingbeforeEuropean rule arrives. Colonialismspeeds up thecollapse. It does notcause everycrack Societiesbecomeweakwhenthey lose theability to adaptand keep

SouthAfricaisnot afailedstate Yetthe gapbetween what theConstitutionpromisesand what people live throughishardtoignore. Servicedeliveryfailures, broken localgovernmentand fading trust have made people’s faithweaker than theinstitutionsthemselves. Governmentschange. Trustis harder to rebuild.

On Friday 24 July,the Western Cape High CourtgavePresident CyrilRamaphosa acourt order haltingParliament’simpeachment processoverthe PhalaPhala scandal.

On Monday 27 July,Ramaphosa accepted thesuddendeparture of Advocate Andrea Johnsonashead of theInvestigating Directorate againstcorruption(IDAC), theunit setuptochase complexcorruption cases. Johnsonsaidshe facedwhat shecalledunprecedented attacks on heroffice.The Presidentholds up theprocess meanttoholdhim accountable. Theanti-corruption chiefwalks outthe door Meanwhile, 63%ofSouth Africa’s municipalities arein financialtrouble, accordingtoNationalTreasury figures. Police face what experts call asystemincollapse. TheGovernmentofNationalUnity,formed afterthe AfricanNationalCongress (ANC) lost itsmajorityin2024, strainsunder budget fights and public quarrels between theANC

andthe Democratic Alliance (DA) RamaphosawarnedonMonday that government is readytotake over waterservicesfromfailing municipalities.Thata president must threaten action to deliver cleanwater says enough Yeatssaw this coming when he wrote: “The best lack allconviction, whilethe worstare fullofpassionateintensity.” Loud certaintyoften pays betterthancareful truth.

Former presidentJacob Zuma, nowleading theuMkhontoweSizweParty,spent thelastweek of July tightening hisgriponthe party. He scrappedhis presidential task team,took away hissecretary-general’s powers andremoved everyparty official’s access to the party’sbankaccounts Zuma stillowesthe stateabout R29million in legalfees andis fighting to keep histax records hidden.His partymembers in the KwaZulu-Natallegislature face claims of faking medicalreports to getstate-paiddrivers He holdsloyalty throughforce of personalityand anger. He gives certaintywhere care is needed and rage wherethought is needed Achebe understood something today’sleaders forget.Institutions draw theirstrengthnot from laws alonebut from shared habits of trust. Communities last because people believethe rulesare worth following,evenwhenfollowing them is hard.Whenthatbelief

fades, thefallisnot sudden. It showsinlowered hopes, accepted failureand cynicism.Peoplestop seekingaccountability because they no longer believeitpossible. This maybewhatYeats meant by “the ceremony of innocence” Notinnocenceasfoolishness, but thehabitsand values that show asociety stillcares aboutjustice, accountability anddutytoothers. Once thosehabitslosemeaning, building them againisfar harder than keepingthem.

In the firstquarter of this year, 3,9million SouthAfricansbetween 15 and24had no education, work or training.Socialcohesion researchersscoredthe country56 outof100.

When I firstspoke to my father aboutYeats andAchebe, their images felt farawayand their warnings seemed hollow. Time has made them feel less like oldtexts andmorelikemirrors of today. Both writersremindusthat strong leadersorwrittenlaws alonedonot hold societiestogether.Theylastbecause enough people keep believinginstitutions matter, truthmatters andself-restraintisworth defending. ThequestionYeats leaves is not whetherthingscan fall apart. They always can. Themorepressing question is whetherpeoplestill seethe centre whileitslips and whethertheyhavethe will to hold it before historyrepeats itself

Inspiring hope

AVRILFILLIES

Manenberg Community Policing Forum(CPF) in collaborationwith thelocal police andother organisations held aworkshoponSaturday, 25 July,inthe Shalimar GardensHotel, Surrey Estate,toencourage active mentorship andcommunity engagement foryouth in theManenberg Policing Precinct

Theother partners were Cape Crisis Coalition, C4 Crisis Team andCo-Design.Theyaim to addressand push back againstthe gang ecosystembycreatinganinclusive,community-driven safety plan

“Thisinitiativeispartofa five-year-plan to change thefaceofManenberg by encouraging active mentorship andmeaningfulcommunity engagement,” said Abduragman Govind,chair of theCPF.“We cancreateopportunitiesthat inspirehope, strengthen social cohesion and empoweryoung people to make positive life choices.”

Investinginthese preventative approaches is essentialtodisruptingthe cycle of thegang ecosystemcreatingand building saferand more resilientcommunities

TheC4CrisisTeamhas demonstrated exceptional leadership andcommitmentbyembracingManenberg’s Five Year Community Safety Plan anddriving itsimplementationbeyondthe bordersofthe precinct

“The C4 Crisis Team recognises thevalue andimpactofthiscommunity-centred approach,” Govind pointedout,“andhas committedtoleading theexpansion of theplanas abest-practice modelacrossthe broaderCity of Cape Town Policing District.Thismilestonereflects asharedvisionofcollaborative governance,evidence-basedinterventionand sustainablecommunity safety

“The expansionofthe plan represents asignificantsteptowards strengtheningpartnerships amonglaw enforcement, government departments, community organisationsand residents throughadoptinga coordinatedand inclusive approach

“The initiative seekstoaddressthe root causes of violence,disruptingthe gang ecosystemand building safer, more resilientcommunities.”

C4 leadership will ensure thelessons,successes andbestpractices developedinManenberg serveasa blueprintfor otherpolicingprecincts, contributing to asafer andmoresecurefuture forgang-ridden communities across thecity’s policing districts.

TheCo-Design approach is builtonthe belief that lastingchangebeginsbylistening to communities andworking with themtodevelop practicalsolutions

Throughcollaboration,sharedresponsibility andgood governance this partnershipseeks to strengthen community safety andresiliencevia theCPF

“Togetherweare committedtoprofessionalising, humanising andrefining ourapproach to crimepreventionand communitydevelopment,” Govind said,“ensuring everyvoice contributestoa saferand more hopeful future forManenberg Policing Precinct

“The gang ecosystemhas become deeply entrenched within thecommunity,drivenin part by theabsence of sustained, impactful programmesthatpromote positive youthdevelopment. Addressing this challengerequires

Police search for Pecosassailants

Manenbergpoliceare seeking help insolving amurderwhich occurredonSunday 26 Julyat20:05.Two males, aged 54 and38, were gunned down, leavinga 74-year-oldwoman with serious gunshot wounds.

Capt Ian Bennett,spokesperson forManenberg police, says ablack Yaris allegedlydrove down Pecos Walk in Manenbergand stopped at the endofthe road.

Twomales gotout andwalked to the victims who were standing at the front of ahouse. They opened fireonthe victims killing them instantly. The74-yearoldfemalewas also caught in thegunfire and was takentohospital. Atotal of 50 spent cartridgeswere found at the scene.

Twocounts of murder and an attempted murder has been opened forinvestigation. No arrestshave been made .Anyone

Partnershipnurturesyoung talentsaroundCapeTown

Atotal of 38 performers from HanoverPark andits surroundingswereonstage at thethird UrbanOutreachConcert in theFirst Community Resource Centre recently

Theevent,hostedbyArtscapeand supported throughthe City of Cape Town’s Formal Partnerships programme,saw theperformers performina three-hour concertonSaturday11 July

Theinitiativebringsartsand cultural experiencesdirectlyintocommunities across Cape Town Concerts were held in Atlantis andAthlone over thepasttwo years, creating opportunities forresidents from differentareas to participate andcontributetoCapeTown’sculturallife.

In this waythe programme showshow culture connectsCapeTownthrough shared experiences,creativityaswellascommunity participation.The acts included role-playing,singing and dancing.

Artscape identified theperformerswho attended preparatoryworkshops andhad the opportunitytoperform alongsideestablished professional musicianstosupport theirartistic development.

“Through ourpartnership with Artscape, we arebringingthe performing arts closer to residentswhile providingemerginglocal talent with ameaningful performanceexperience,” said Francine Higham,Mayco member for community services andhealth.

Mural triggers behaviour change

AVRILFILLIES

The muralonthe wall of theLansdowneLibrary incorporates themes identified by thecommunity,includingsustainability, community pride, environmentalresponsibility,growth andcollectiveaction.

“The muralforms part of theEnergyDirectorate of theCityofCapeTown’sFutureEnergy Festival,aninitiativeled by theSustainable Energy MarketsDepartmenttoempower residents andbusinessestomakeinformedand sustainable energy choices,”saidRowayda Ahmed, senior librarianatthe Church Street facility

“The projectreflects theCity’scommitmentto

China Town �ery Founder'sLegac Mandela DayWin

500 familiesreceivedessential winter supplies as the community paid tributeto the lateMr Shu-ing Liou, one of China Town'sfounders, on what would have been his 88th birthday

On Sunday,19July,China Town Ottery held its annual winter donation, continuing a longstanding Mandela Day tradition. As in previous years, 500 needy families fromOttery and surrounding communities were identified by alocal community leader to receive support. Each family received abucket filled with soup mix, afleece blanket, instant noodles, soap, and porridge, proudly sponsored by China Town. The TsuChi Foundation also contributed a10kg bag of rice for every family. China Town extends its thanks to Captain KeithBlake for his role in organising the event and securing sponsors for awarm meal for all attendees. Thanks also go to the many China Town tenants who donated money and sponsored cups, Yasmine Abrahamsfromthe Jabulani Foundation for making warm soup, Sue Fester along with her husband Craig and the many volunteers from the WettonSoup Kitchen for making and serving food and Wayne Mealing from Mealing Recycling for donating money towards additional viennas and sweets. Ottery Sasol also took part, donating chips and sweets to the community's children, who performed amovingrendition of the South African National Anthem. All these contributions helped to make the day possible and memorable. We also thank the Grassy Park SAPS, community watch, and Zone Securityfor ensuring the safety of the event and the community at large. Our appreciation also goes to the Ottery Boyz MCC Biker Club for theirmeaningful salute in honourof Mr Liou.

Thisyear'sevent carried specialsignificance, as it honoured the late Mr Shu-ingLiou, oneof thefounders of China Town. Mr Liou initiated thecommunity donations many yearsago driven by agenerosityand commitmentto giving back that knew no bounds.Hepassed away on 15 May,and this year'sdonation coincided withwhat wouldhave been his88th birthday on 17 July.Inhis memory China Town unveiled aplaque on thewallwitha beautiful pictureofMrLiou.

His impact on China Town andthe Ottery community remains lastingand profound.In his honour,the ParkwoodLove Connection Seniors sang aheartfeltrendition of "You Raise Me Up."

China Town remains committed to continuing this legacy of giving back to thecommunity

About China Town

CChinaTown operates retail centresacrossCapeTown, includingOttery, Parow, and Sable Square,each home to acommunity of localtraders and small businesses. Beyondretail, ChinaTown hasalong-standing tradition of community involvement,including itsannualMandela Daywinterdonation supportingfamilies in need, asummerdonation,a familyFun DayinParow andregularAsianFoodMarketsatSableSquare. www.chinatownsa.co.za

THE FINAL ARTWORK INSPIRESA SENSE OF CIVIC OWNERSHIPAND COMMUNALPRIDE.

building amoreenergy-conscious, resilientand climate-responsive futurethrough innovative educationalapproaches andmeaningful community engagement.”

Recognisingthe powerofpublicart as atool foreducation andstorytelling,the City used acollaborative co-designprocess to create a muralthatreflects theaspirations,valuesand vision of thelocal community

Acommunity workshop washeldwithlibrary staff andlocal residents, providingparticipants with an opportunitytoshare theirideas on sustainableliving, energy efficiency,community well-beingand thefuturetheywould like to see fortheir neighbourhood

“The insights gathered during theworkshop informed thedevelopment of themural concept anddesign, whichwas translated into avisual blueprintbythe appointedservice provider, Afrivest Business Solutions.

“The finalartwork incorporates themes identified by thecommunity.Local artist Kyle Murphy wascommissioned to bringthe vision to life,transformingthe community’s ideasinto avibrant public artworkthatnow serves as both alandmarkand an educationalresource.”

Theartwork is more than just amural;itis intended as abehavioural-changetool that encourages residentstoconsiderthe role they canplayincreatinga more sustainablefuture by fosteringa senseofownership andcommunalpride

Ahmedsaidthe library’smural stands as a reminder that smallactions cancontributeto significant change andthatcommunities are centraltoshaping Cape Town’s shared energy future.

MyCiTibusstops

TheCityofCape Town’sUrban MobilityDirectorate willreplacetemporaryMyCiTibus stopswith permanent structures along Victoria Road in Hout Bayand Albert Road in Woodstock.

Construction started in Julyand willrun in phases until November,the Citysaid. Twotemporarystops in Hout Bayand four in Woodstock willbeupgraded after apublic participation process confirmed their locations.

RobQuintas, Maycomember forurban mobility, said the newstops willinclude passenger shelters and improvementstopedestrian infrastructure. Each stop willfeaturebranded MyCiTitotem poles withlighting, leaning rails, bus serviceinformation and universal access measures such as tactilepaving and wheelchair-accessibleramps Shelters withseating willbeinstalledathighdemand locations.

APSheritagestatus under review

Womenand inclusivity honoured

The internationally acclaimed Bold Beauty Project(BBP),which originated in theUnitedStatesof America(USA) andhas become aglobal movement promotingvisibility, dignity andinclusion,willbepresented in South Africa forthe very firsttimethrough a month-long exhibition at 33BREE in collaboration with TheArtists Gallery.

Theexhibitionopens tomorrow (5 August)as part of theHEATArtsFestival, with TheArtists Gallery participatingasanofficial venueinthe festival programme.The exhibition will run untilSaturday29August.

Forits Africandebut theproject hasbeen reimagined througha uniquely locallens. Seventeen womenfromacrossthe WesternCape have been newlyphotographedbya groupof acclaimedSouth Africanphotographers,creatinganentirelynew body of work that celebrates theirindividuality,resilienceand personal journeys.Accompaniedbytheir ownstories, thesestrikinglarge-scale portraits offer an intimate anddeeplymovingexploration of identity, beauty andrepresentation. Rather than focus on disability,the exhibition invitesvisitorsto seethe women first, theirpersonalities,their strength,their confidenceand theirhumanity.Togetherthe portraitschallenge long-held perceptionsofbeautyand encouragea broader, more inclusiveunderstanding of what it means to be seen.Originallyfounded by Shelly Baer andDrEva Ritvofromthe USA, theBBP hasreceived widespread internationalrecognition for itsuniqueability to sparkmeaningfulconversationsondisability, inclusionand representation throughthe language of photography. The project’smostrecentinternational milestone wasits presentation at the61stVeniceBiennale, whereitformedpartofthe prestigious Personal Structures –Confluences exhibition at Palazzo Mora,organised by theEuropeanCultural Centre

THE BOLD BEAUTY PROJECT AIMS TO CHALLENGE PREVAILING PERCEPTIONS ABOUT DISABILITY.

Displayedalongside more than 150artists from over 40 countries, theexhibitionattracted significant internationalattention. Following previous internationalexhibitions in Panama, theWestern Cape chapterrepresentsthe BBP’s firstAfrican exhibition anddemonstrateshow theuniversal language of photographycan connect communities across cultures while giving voices to humans whotoo oftenremain unseen.“Arthas theuniqueability to challenge perceptionswithout raisingits voice. TheBold Beauty Projectisnot aboutdisability; it is about visibility,dignity,and celebratingremarkable

to SouthAfricafor the firsttimeand to present thepowerful storiesofseventeen extraordinary womenfromthe WesternCapethrough the eyes of some respectedphotographers.“This exhibition hasbeen shaped from theground up throughgenuine collaboration;Marlene le Roux served as co-curator andmentor throughout theentireprocess, workingclosely with thestylists, photographersand models to bringeachstory to life with authenticity and purpose. Herinsight as adisabilityactivistand herdeep advocacy forvisibilityand dignity have been absolutely foundational to everything theWestern Cape chapterofthe Bold Beauty Projectstandsfor.Together, we hope to inspire meaningful conversationsthatcontinuelong aftervisitorsleave ourgallery space,”saysJaret Loggenberg, Managing Director,The Artists Gallery &33BREE. “Persons with Disabilities must neverbereduced to problemstobe fixed, or hiddenfromview,”addedLeRoux, awoman

with adisability. “Thisproject is aboutsensuality, strength,and theradical actofaccepting yourself fully with everychallenge, everyscar, everystory.Tobea person with disabilities is to navigate aworld notbuilt foryou,and yet here we are. This exhibition givesvoice to that truththrough Art. It says:Look at her. Seewho sheis. As sheis. Theexhibitionseekstoinspire dialogue,encourage inclusionand promote greaterawareness throughthe powerofvisual storytelling.Itcelebratesdiversity notasan exceptionbut as an essentialpartofsociety,remindingvisitorsthatbeautyexistsincountless formsand deserves to be recognised without limitation.Presented underthe exhibition title As SheIs,the projectisultimatelyaninvitation to move beyond assumptions, to seeeach womannot throughlabelsorstereotypes,but throughher individuality, courageand authenticpresence.

Admission is free andthe entrance is in WaterkantStreet .Visitwww.33bree.comfor details

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