People’s Post Claremont/Rondebosch E-edition 31 March 2026

CLAREMONT |RONDEBOS

Tuesday, 31 March2026

ZIMELEPROVIDESCONTINUEDR

Helping

NAMHLA MONAKALI NAMHLA.MONAKALI@NOVUSMEDIA.CO.ZA

For many people wholosea limb,recovery does notend when they leave hospital.

Zimele,a Pinelands-basednon-profitorganisation (NPO), is helpingamputees rebuildtheir livesthrough ongoingcareand support

Forthose adjustingtolifeafter limb loss, thejourney canbephysically andemotionally demanding. Withoutcontinued rehabilitation, many struggle to regain mobility andindependence.

Zimele workstobridgethisgap by providing long-termsupport to people from disadvantagedcommunities

Foundedin2020, theorganisationbrings together ateamofhealthcareprofessionals,includingdoctors,physiotherapists, occupational therapists,psychologists andspecialists who design and fitartificial limbs.

Theaim is to support patients physically, emotionally andsocially

Thename“Zimele”, meaning“independence” in Xhosa, reflects this goal

This monththe organisation is taking itswork beyond theclinic.

On Saturday 23 andSunday24May,Zimele supporterswilltakepartinthe Cape Town Marathonweekendtoraise funds andawareness.

“Thisisnot just aboutcrossingthe finish line,” says Dr SarahWhitehead,co-founder of Zimele “Itisabout helpingamputees take their first stepsagain.”

“Wewanttochangethe waypeoplesee disability from shameand limitation to understanding,inclusion andrecognising potential when theright support is in place.”

About40supporters, includingsix beneficiaries,willtakepartinthe 5kmand 10 km Peace Run. Others will complete thefull42,2km marathon,including Whitehead, whowilltake part in herwheelchair.

Theinitiativeaimstoraise both funds and awarenessabout disability andthe importance of rehabilitation

Since2022, Zimele hassupported 45 beneficiaries, with 14 currently in theprogramme

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

Foreignersseethingsdifferently

NAMHLAMONAKALI

AUniversity of Cape Town (UCT) studyhas foundthatlocal andinternational visitors experience World Heritage Sitesdifferently, highlighting theneed fortailoredtourism strategies.

ThePhD research in MarketingbyShoni Khangala examined post-Covid-19visitor experiencesattwo of SouthAfrica’smost iconic sites, RobbenIslandMuseumand Table Mountain

Thestudy foundthata one-size-fits-all approach to tourismisineffective,asvisitors responddifferentlybased on theirbackgrounds, expectations andexperiences

It also revealed that simply knowinga site is aWorld Heritage Site does notautomatically enhancethe visitorexperience.

Khangala said theresearchaimed to understandthe fullvisitor journey, with afocus on howCovid-19reshapedtravelbehaviour

“I examined severalkey influences,whether visitors know they areata WorldHeritageSite, howlingering pandemic concerns affecttheir

behaviour, andhow elements such as learning, entertainment, escape andnatural beauty shape theiroverall perception,” he said.Headdedthat thestudy explored howmeaningful experiences caninfluencevisitorsona personal level, includinghow avisit becomespartoftheir identity andencouragesdeeper engagement

The findings showed that factorssuchas education, enjoyment, escape from everyday life andappreciationofnatural beauty play akey role in shapingsatisfactionand loyalty.

“The findings show that carefully managing thevisitor experience is essentialfor thelongterm sustainability of WorldHeritageSites, especially in developing countries,”Khangala said.Hesaidthe research is significant as there is limitedcomparative research on visitorexperiencesatculturaland naturalheritagesites, particularly in developing countries.

Khangala,who hasworkedatbothRobben Island andTable Mountain,saidhis personal experience informed thestudy

“I wasinspiredbythe desire to contribute to global understandingofhow WorldHeritage Siteshavebeen impacted by theCovid-19 pandemic andhow they candevelop recovery

Girlstaketheleadatnationalfestival

NAMHLAMONAKALI

More than 450learnersfrom17schoolsacross SouthAfricatook part in atwo-day all-girlsfestivalatWynberg Girls’ Junior School,celebratingleadership, learning andexcellence.

Theannual event, hosted this year by the school,bringstogetherlearnersfor apacked programme of sport, academicsand technology-drivenactivities.

Fixtures startedat07:00 on Friday 27 March andran until18:00, with asimilarschedule plannedfor Saturday 28 March.

Participants competed in netball, hockey and tennis. They also took part in debating,chess, boti deSp ts ltiple

School,saidthe experience hasencouraged connectionand enjoymentamong participants “Itinspiresmetoconnect with everyone and to have fun playingsportsand beingall together,” shesaid. Thefestivalalsoprovidesanopportunity for learners from differentprovinces to interact andexchangeideas,particularlyinemerging fields such as roboticsand eSports. School leadership highlightedthe importanceofcreatingenvironmentswhere girlsare encouraged to excelinbothtraditional and non-traditionalspaces.

Jeanne Liss head of Sports at Rustenburg Girlsj io chool id thef ti loff sl

MANAGING THE VISITOR EXPERIENCEISESSENTIAL FORSUSTAINABILITY

strategies,” he said

He addedthatthe research highlights theimportance of sustainabletourism,which benefits both communitiesand heritage conservation “Ultimately, abettervisitor experience means more people leavewitha deeper appreciation forour shared heritage,which benefits thesites, thelocal economyand thepublicwho visit them,” he said

Khangala said thestudy serves as abenchmark forunderstanding changing visitor behaviourduringthe recovery phaseafter the pandemic

“Aswemoveforward,thisdatawillserve as a crucialreference pointfor researcherstounderstandhow touristbehaviour hascontinued to change,” he said

He is settograduatewithhis PhDinMarketing from UCT’sFaculty of Commerceatthe SarahBaartman Hall tomorrow(1April).

from herschool’s

Gr 9onthe brink ofhistory

KEANANHARMSE

Abright future awaits 14-yearoldKendraErinAbrahams, a high-achieving learnerfromLotus Riverwho hasbeen selected fora prestigiousAcademicAchievers Tour to the United Kingdom(UK)and Scotland later this year

Currently aGrade 9learner at Sans Souci Girls' High School,Abrahamsearnedher place on the11-daytourafter achievinganimpressive 76,4%overall averageatthe endoflastyear.

Heracademicexcellencewas further recognisedather school's recent awards ceremony, whereshe received five subjectawardsand a meritaward

ForAbrahams, whowas born in HanoverPark andnow livesinLotus River, theopportunity represents farmorethanjusttravel.

"WhenI foundout Iwas selected,I was shockedand excitedatthe same time.Itmade me feel like allmyhardworkpaidoff.Italso showed me that Ican dreambiggerand that my future canbemorethanwhatI seearoundme everyday," shesaid.

Thetourwillexposelearnerstosomeofthe world'smostrenownedinstitutions,including University of Oxford,UniversityofCambridge, University of Edinburghand Queen Mary University of London

Participants will attend lectures,explore histori nd with global ad

IPROMISE TO MAKE THEMOSTOFTHIS OPPORTUNITY

travel,accommodation andprogramme fees Throughsavings andfundraising efforts,the family hasraisedR31 000, leavinganoutstandingR51000.

"Asparents,you neverwantyourchild to miss outonanopportunitylikethisbecause of money," they said."We'vehad to make sacrifices andstretch ourselves, butseeing howhardshe hasworkedkeepsusgoing."

They describe Abrahams as disciplined, focusedand determined —qualities shaped by herupbringing.

"Growing up in HanoverParkand LotusRiver taught me to stay focusedand work hard fora differentfuture. It made me stronger," Abrahams said Beyond academics, Abrahams is actively involved in leadership andcommunity activities, servingonher school's Representative CouncilofLearnersand participatinginchurch outreach programmes. Shealsoenjoysnetball, swimming andcreativepursuits.

"Thisisnot just abouthelping onechild," they said."It's aboutinvesting in potentialand showingyoung people that it is possibletorise abovecircumstances."

Ab ha ."Th ky fo rtin

Networkgives policewomen hope

AVRILFILLIES

Mental wellnessand substanceabuse among lawenforcement andpoliceofficers were highlightedata symposiumattended by more than 100femaleofficers from theWestern Cape on Wednesday25March at theCommonGround Church in Rondebosch

Thesymposium washostedbythe Women’s Networkunder thechairmanshipofCaptMaryAnnNaidootoencourage each othertotake care of themselves,while servinginthe police force.

Representativesof160 precinctscametogether at thesymposium,spoke,listenedand shared theirstruggles with mental health and substanceabuse

They came from variousprecincts in theCity of Cape Town,including Nyanga SubDistrict, KhayelitshaSub District,Mitchells Plainand Tygerberg.

“The themewas Give to Gain andbylisteningand sharingtheir storiesthe symposium exploded into awealthofencouragement and care.Seedswereplanted of growth,nurturing womeninemotional healingand professional resilience,while servingonthe frontlines of an ever changing butgrowing nation,” says Naidoo.

Thesymposium broughtgreat mindsinlaw enforcementand policing together as women, to continue the fighttoprotect andserve but nevertoforgetabout themselves

“The women’sconcernswerehighlighted andaddressedtogivehopetosomething that looksand seemshopelessattimes.Someofus arewives andmomsand have to jugglework andfamily, whichisnot an easy task.Ifweall

support each otherinour struggles,thenitisa united effortand notone person having to deal with aproblem on herown,” shesays.

“Using theanalogy of beingrefilledsoyou whoare able to help yourself will also be able to help others.Every womanneedstoberefilled in ordertogive. Don’tforgetabout youasthe individual,whenalwaysreachingout andhelpingothers. We allmustremember, youcannot give if youdon’t have to give.Women of this nation have acommitmenttoall womenacross this countryand theworld,tobeheard through continuous dialogue.Strengthening women meansyou strengthen thefamilycreatinghealingfor families,breakingthe cycleofbecoming dysfunctional,”Naidoosays.

Wordsofencouragement echoed throughthe auditorium,a reminder that when womenin lawenforcement areempowered,the entire nation gains.

Naidoo also says theworld is thepossibility Mental andemotional wellnessare thecore valuethatneed to take preference in theirlives Everyindividualforms part of agreat puzzle, no piececan be lost,nopiece canbeforgotten, no pieceisthe same,everyoneisthe perfectpiece

“The open placemustspecifically be filled, everyone fits aspace to create thebiggerpicture of this world.

“Missing apiece createsa chaosand distorts thepicture of theworld.Wedon’t need to compete in life becauseeveryonehas aspecificrole to contribute to thepuzzleoflife. Theawesome powerofwomen as crime fighters make them nurturersand it ties in with thetheme.By giving from yourself to others,you gain andvice versa,”Naidoosays.

Work continuesacrossthe city

The City of Cape Town says in astatement that it hasverified over 5000 of approximately7 000 trench reinstatementcases as it continuestorepair roads, pavementsand drivewaysacross themetro as part of itsBreakaway Project, acomprehensive initiative aimedat addressing thelong-standing reinstatement notificationsthatfalloutside the ServiceLevel Agreementtimeframe.

Theproject is focusedonaddressing the backlogand directingresources to areaswhere work is needed

Trench reinstatements arecarried outafter undergroundwater andsanitationrepairs, whereroads andpavements areopenedto

CITY SAYS IT HAS STRENGTHENED OVERSIGHT TO ENSURE WORK IS TO STANDARD

teamstoworkmoreefficientlywhile improving oversightand accountability,” he said Completedworkpackagesinclude areassuch as Malibu,Sarepta,Kuils River, Blue Downs, Belhar,Blackheath, Eerste River, Somerset West,Gordon’sBay,Khayelitsha andDelft

Asixth work package, whichwillinclude additional areas, is underway Meanwhile, reinstatementworkiscontinuing

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

Asoiréeisthe ghtway to honour my podcastguestsand launch my latest book to readers,”saidBotman. . Fordetails call Botman on 082829 2442 or emailberyl.botman60@gmail.com.

CANCERTAKESCENTRESTAGEDURINGCANSARELAY