People’s Post | Claremont | Rondebosch | E-Edition 14 October 2025

The University of Cape Town (UCT) has launched an internal probe after a parent reported that their child, a student living in one of the university’s residences, had been hospitalised for alleged food poisoning following meals served at the residence dining hall.

The incident was reported to Student Housing and Residence Life on Wednesday 24 September, prompting a review of food quality concerns raised throughout the month The university also received queries from a media outlet around the same time, which shared photographs and messages alleging poor food standards in

some residences

According to UCT’s internal findings, the student concerned had not scanned into the residence dining hall since Tuesday 4 September this year, despite consistent attendance earlier in the year Elijah Moholola, UCT spokesperson said: “From that date onward, the student had been redeeming daily meal vouchers at external food vendors, suggesting they may not have consumed residence meals at the time the alleged food poisoning occurred ”

The parent, however, told the university that their child had been requesting money and groceries over a long period, claiming they could not eat the food provided in the dining hall and had subsequently fallen ill

The university said in a press statement a review of Residence Catering records for September shows few complaints compared to the number of meals served across residences

“On Wednesday 17 September, two complaints were recorded, one about an undercooked beef burger and another about an undercooked chicken burger Both meals were replaced immediately by food service supervisors, ” read the statement

Other feedback logged through the university’s Pay & Connect app included complaints about “low-quality chicken”, “rude dining hall staff”, and “off-tasting water”

One student expressed disappointment that a dinner consisting of bread and turkey was served as an

a a ge o e u op o s, c ud g sticky chicken wings with savoury rice, lamb knuckle curry, grilled pork chops, and roasted chicken leg quarters, with vegan alternatives available at each meal

As part of the investigation, UCT examined a series of images shared by a media outlet

The university traced the origin of each photograph to verify authenticity and cross-checked them against internal catering records and procurement processes

One photograph showed coleslaw containing an insect, but UCT noted the food was served in an aluminium container, not packaging used by Residence Catering Another image showing a cockroach prompted pest-control checks; records confirm all kitchens have been on a weekly

ag a e e as u ed ou a e co firming the pasta type had not been served at the residence in September

Another image of a yoghurt past its best-before date (30 May) was linked to an early breakfast takeaway meal, which students collect for consumption in their rooms

UCT said it treats all food safety and student welfare concerns “with utmost seriousness” and continues to monitor its dining hall operations closely

“While we take every concern seriously, our investigation has found no systemic failure in food quality or hygiene within Residence Catering,” read the statement

The university said all food handling, pest control and supplier compliance processes remain in place and are “regularly reviewed”

Join the ‘Great Nurdle Hunt’

KAILIN DANIELS

KAILIN DANIELS@NOVUSMEDIA CO ZA

Save a Fishie, an environmental organisation, is calling on ocean lovers to join the Great Global Nurdle Hunt This month-long campaign aims to tackle one of the most dangerous forms of plastic pollution silently invading the shores nurdles.

These tiny, lentil-sized plastic pellets are the building blocks of almost all plastic products, from water bottles to car parts

Though small (typically less than 5 mm), their environmental impact is massive

Nurdles are considered microplastics, and because of their size, they often slip through the cracks of standard waste management and environmental monitoring systems Millions of nurdles end up in our oceans each year, either through industrial spills, poor handling, or improper waste disposal

Once in the ocean, they pose a deadly threat to marine life

"Nurdles, being mistaken for food by marine animals, are ingested

with grave consequences," explains Zoë Prinsloo, founder of Save a Fishie

"They clog digestive systems, cause internal injuries, and release harmful toxins that threaten entire marine ecosystems "

During Save a Fishie's recent Coast to Coast Campaign in August, volunteers found nurdles on 41 of the 111 beaches they visited: a stark reminder of how widespread the problem is "

They just keep washing up on our shores," Prinsloo said

"We managed to remove thousands, but that's only a drop in the ocean This is an environmental crisis that's largely invisible to the public "

The Great Global Nurdle Hunt is in full swing and will continue until Friday 31 October

Prinsloo said while all forms of waste will still be collected, the spotlight this month is firmly on nurdles And people don't have to join a formal clean-up to make a difference All they do is:

. Head to your nearest beach anytime during October

. Look out for nurdles – they're

small, usually translucent or pale-coloured pellets

. Collect and store them safely

. Record your findings: count the nurdles and make a note of where you found them

. Bring them to Save a Fishie, or

connect with the organisation to find out how to contribute

.For more information on how to join the Great Nurdle Hunt,send an email to info@saveafishie co za

Childrenatriskasvaccinationratesdecrease

With immunisation rates for children under 1 year dropping in 2024/2025, the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness is urging parents to make vaccinations a priority

Provincial data shows coverage has decreased to 67,4%, which is a 27,6% drop from the provincial expected target of 95% immunisation coverage

This leaves thousands of infants unprotected against serious diseases such as measles, polio, tuberculosis, diphtheria, whooping cough, and tetanus

Low immunisation rates have immediate consequences, such as the department providing mass vaccination due to a recent measles outbreak in Khayelitsha, where 60 cases were confirmed as of Monday 6 October

Measles can be life-threatening, particularly in children who are not immunised Declining coverage also weakens herd immunity, making outbreaks more likely and placing vulnerable children at risk

Dr Heather Finlayson, senior specialist in

It’s only October, but my body insists it’s already December The emails pile up, the deadlines loom, and yet I catch myself staring at the screen longer than I should, chasing sentences that don’t want to be found

The mistakes are petty, a misspelled name here, a missing comma there, but they feel heavier than they are Maybe it’s just fatigue

Maybe it’s the slow weight of a year that’s stretched all of us more than we planned for Does it feel that way to you too? Like the year has run ahead, leaving you slightly behind? Each month came and went, fast enough to blur, yet heavy enough to drain

It’s a strange tension, time moving quickly, but the body moving slowly And here we are, with less than three months left, but already counting down as if the year were over October is always a turning point It reminds us that the year is almost done, yet not quite Schools begin to speak of exams, offices whisper about leave schedules,

Infectious Disease at Tygerberg Hospital, said the World Health Organisation’s Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) celebrated 50 years in 2024

Finlayson said globally, vaccination prevents four million deaths each year

“The South African Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) protects children from diseases that can cause school absence, hospitalisation, or death ”

She said vaccines not only protect children who receive them but also those who are too young or medically vulnerable

“When rates drop below 95%, outbreaks of measles and diphtheria appear Vaccines are safe, well-studied, and essential for building healthy children and communities Even a small drop in vaccination coverage can undo years of progress, ” explained Finlayson

PARENTSAREURGEDTO:

. Visit their nearest clinic to check their child’s Road-to-Health Booklet

and shops quietly stock Christmas decorations in the corners

You see it in the malls, in the bright reds and golds peeking out on shelves, in the adverts that already hint at festive sales The reminders are subtle but sure, the finish line is somewhere up ahead

Even nature seems to know the rhythm The days stretch longer, the heat settles into the evenings, and there’s a certain shimmer in the air that signals summer is arriving whether we are ready or not

The purple bloom of flowers a seasonal clock we can almost set our moods to But fatigue doesn’t care about the calendar It sneaks in early It shows up in the form of writer’s block, in afternoons when focus slips through our fingers, in mornings when the snooze button wins It lingers in the sighs between tasks, in the half-written lists, in the quiet thought: “Just three more months ”

Yet the truth is, these are not empty days They still matter They still carry weight They still hold possibility

How do we honour them when we are this tired? How do we stay present when the temptation is to switch into autopilot and wait

. Ensure all scheduled vaccines are up to date

. Bring children who have missed doses for catch-up immunisations

. For more information or assistance,contact or visit your local clinic,and our healthcare providers will assist with immunising your child at no cost

for the year to end? Perhaps the answer lies in gentleness

To treat ourselves not as machines that failed to keep pace, but as humans who have carried much

To forgive the slip-ups, the missed calls, the drafts left unfinished

To recognise that being weary is not weakness; it is evidence that we have been engaged, that we have been present, that we have given of ourselves in ways that left a mark Because alongside the fatigue, there are still signs of life

Small joys that interrupt the haze: laughter at lunch with colleagues, the sight of flowers blooming in unexpected corners, the unexpected kindness of a stranger The way music can lift a dull morning, or how a simple walk can quiet the noise in the mind October carries its own gifts, if we ’ re willing to notice them

Maybe this is the invitation of these last three months to hold both truths at once To admit we ’ re tired and still be open to what the year can offer To rest when we can, but also to dream again, even if only in small ways

A new notebook bought A phone call made A promise kept to yourself These, too, are victories worth

noting So as the year tilts toward its end, I find myself asking, what unfinished thing still deserves my attention? What small habit of care can carry me into December stronger than I feel now? What new chance might still arrive before the fireworks and countdowns?

The temptation is to think it’s too late That if it hasn’t happened yet, it won’t But life doesn’t work that way

Opportunity doesn’t follow the calendar It shows up unexpectedly, in October, in November, in December, in conversations, in ideas, in second chances So yes, we might be tired Yes, the cursor blinks longer before the words appear Yes, mistakes creep in more often But fatigue is not the whole truth of who we are We are also resilient We are still showing up, still moving forward, still holding hope We are still making space for laughter, still pausing to notice beauty, still daring to believe that tomorrow can surprise us And even now, less than three months before the curtain comes down on 2025, the truth remains: Unyaka uyaphela kodwa akukapheli mathuba (The year may end but the opportunities are still there)

‘Embrace your language identity’

NAMHLAMONAKALI

The Cape Family Research Forum (CFRF) hosted an engaging public talk in Wynberg on Saturday 11 October, where award-winning author Gaireyah Fredericks inspired audiences with readings from her acclaimed short-story collection Een Voet innie Kabr

Founded in 2002, the CFRF is a Cape Flatsbased network of family historians and genealogy researchers committed to “social mapping”, rebuilding family trees and reconnecting communities fragmented by apartheid-era forced removals Through its monthly lectures the organisation continues to explore intersections of heritage, language and identity Saturday’s event, held at Muhammadiyah School in Batts Road, formed part of the CFRF’s ongoing series of public lectures aimed at preserving family histories, culture and community memory across the Cape Flats Fredericks, this year ’ s Western Cape Cultural

UCTpodcastrevisits‘TaungChild’

NAMHLA MONAKALI

NAMHLA MONAKALI@NOVUSMEDIA CO ZA

October marks mental health awareness month across the globe , and for more than three decades, the Cape Town International Kite Festival has been a safe and uplifting space for people to talk openly about their mental health, free from stigma or fear Since its launch in 1994, this flagship event by mental health care organisation Cape Mental Health (CMH) has united artists, ambassadors, mental health care users, volunteers, and supporters to share stories of struggle, healing, and hope Each story helps to break down barriers and build a more compassionate community, one where mental

health can be spoken about without judgment The festival will take place at the Youngsfield Military Base in Wynberg on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 October

The event follows World Mental Health Day (WMHD), which was commemorated on Friday 10 October This year, the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) has adopted the theme: “Access to Services: Mental Health in Catastrophes and Emergencies ” In South Africa, the South African Federation for Mental Health (SAFMH) is focusing on the theme: “Addressing Violence as a Significant Challenge to Mental Health ”

CMH warns that persistent violence in Cape Town through ongoing gang conflicts, gender-based violence,

alcohol and drug-related crimes and taxi wars, acts as a daily catastrophe with long-term mental health consequences

CMH said in a press statement despite more than 30 years of democracy, violent crime remains widespread, leaving communities trapped in cycles of trauma and fear

“Exposure to violence erodes mental health, causing anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and strained relationships,” read the statement

It further said children and young people exposed to trauma are especially vulnerable, often facing emotional and behavioural challenges that affect their education and future wellbeing

According to WFMH, one in five

people exposed to catastrophes develop a diagnosable mental health condition

Yet access to quality care remains limited, especially in low- and middle-income countries like South Africa CMH describes the violence crisis as both a social and mental health emergency, but emphasises that it is preventable

“Violence in South Africa is not inevitable , it’s a result of complex social, economic and systemic failures that can be addressed through coordinated prevention, better crime intervention, and stronger investment in mental health services,” the organisation said Greater access to psychosocial support, trauma counselling and community-based mental health care

can help survivors rebuild their lives and reduce the long-term impact of violence

For Professor Ingrid Daniels, chief executive officer for CMH, this year ’ s WMHD provides a vital opportunity to spotlight the “catastrophe” of violence on South Africans’ wellbeing

“World Mental Health Day is an opportunity to talk about the current situation, call for urgent multi-sectoral responses and solutions, but most of all to urge those affected to seek assistance and access mental health support ”

She added a powerful reminder

“Trauma is not your fault, but healing is your responsibility

“Life gets better when we prioritise mental health ”

From the classroom to red carpet

It’s matric ball season, and Grade 12 learners across the country are celebrating the end of their school journey in style with glamorous outfits, memorable moments, and lifelong friendships on full display.

For many, the matric dance is more

than just a formal event it's a rite of passage, marking the transition from high school to adulthood After years of hard work, exams, and latenight study sessions, the event offers learners a well-deserved evening of joy, celebration, and reflection

People’s Post asked readers to send us photos of their special day