People’s Post Constantia/Wynberg E-edition 21 July 2026

CONSTANTIA |WYNBERG

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.

DFFE not awareofcocaine action

NAMHLAMONAKALI

The Department of Forestry, Fisheriesand theEnvironment(DFFE)saysitis unawareofa report linking Hout Bay’sabalone-poaching economytooffshorecocaine trafficking.

Thedepartmentresponded after People’s Post sent questionsfollowingits investigationintocriminal networks allegedlyusing poaching vessels to retrieve cocaineoffshore (“Drug sales, extortionfunddeeds”, People’s Post,Tuesday 14 July).

Zolile Nqayi, thedepartment’s director of communicationsand advocacy,saidithad notbeen awareof theGlobalInitiativeAgainst Transnational OrganisedCrime (GI-TOC) report’s findings

“The department is notaware of the GI-TOC forthe report’s findings.The SouthAfrican Police Servicewillbe made awareofthisfor further investigation throughexistingstructures such as Initiative 5ofPhakisa,” Nqayi said Initiative 5ispartofOperation Phakisa, amulti-agencyprogramme covering SouthAfrica’scoastal waters.Itbringstogetherthe Hawks, police,the National ProsecutingAuthority(NPA) andother government departments.

Nqayisaidthe programme supported regularjoint operations in Hout Bay. Theseincludedlandand sea inspections, investigations anddeploymentsaimed at stopping illegal, unreported andunregulated fishing.

“Initiative5 hasbecomethe basis forall collectiveresponses to poach-

TheNational ProsecutingAuthorityand policewarereceiving training in marine and environmentallegislation to improve prosecutions PHOTOS: NAMHLA MONAKALI

ingactivitiesinthe Hout Bayarea,” he said Thedepartmentalsousesthe platform to shareintelligencewith theHawks andpoliceabout poaching andrelated criminal activity Nqayisaidadditionalresources were needed to conductlongerand more continuous jointoperations. Theseincludedfunding,drones, radarsystems andhigh-speedinflatable boats.

Thedepartmentwas also reviewing

THE SAPS WILL BE MADE AWARE OF THIS FORFURTHER INVESTIGATION

theMarineLivingResources Act to strengthen action againstillegal fishing.

Nqayisaidthe NPAand police were

Friends of TableMountain volunteers joinedMedX and Rondebosch Boys’High School at Silvermine fora MandelaDay conservation effort on Thursday 16 July PHOTO:SUPPLIED

MandelaDayfixforSilvermine

NAMHLAMOANAKALI

FriendsofTable Mountain volunteersjoined MedX andRondeboschBoys’ High School in Silvermine fora MandelaDay conservation effortonThursday16July.

Thevolunteersremoved Port Jackson, an invasive alienplant from Australia, as part of the SugarbirdProject’s work to restorefynbosand protectthe Cape Floral Kingdom.

Glen Mabekha, member of Tablemontain volunteers, said invasive alienplantsthreatenthe region’s watersupply, biodiversity andwildlife.

“The Cape Floral Kingdomisthe smallest of theworld’s six floral kingdoms,yet it contains about9 000 plantspecies.Around70% of these speciesoccurnowhere else,” he said “Manyofthese plants face growingthreats from invasive alienplants, includingPort Jackson.”

TheCapeFloralKingdom includes fynbos, Afromontaneforestand renosterveld.Invasive plants spread quicklyand competewithnative vegetation forwater,space andnutrients

AccordingtoMabekha,alien trees canuse significantly more waterthanfynbos. Clearing them helpsprotect waterresources andallows indigenous plants to recover.

Theproject also aims to restorehabitat for pollinators andnectar-feedingbirds,includingthe Cape sugarbirdand orange-breasted sunbird.

“These birdsdependonnectarfromproteas

andericas,”Mabekha said.“When invasive plants take over,those nectar sourcesdisappear.Byclearingalien vegetation,wecan restorefynbosand bringbackthe flowersand birds.”Fynbosalsosupportsuniqueplant andanimalspecies.Invasiveplantscan alter thesoil, shadeout indigenous vegetation and increase theintensity of wildfires.

TheSugarbird Project’sapproachissimple: remove invasive plants,restore fynbos,protect waterand create saferhabitatsfor biodiversity

“Itisnot just weeding,”Glensaid. “Itisecosystem restorationthatprotectswater,reduces fire risk andsafeguardsthe Cape Floral Kingdomfor futuregenerations.”

receivingtraininginmarineand environmentallegislation to improve prosecutions.GI-TOC, whoseresearch wascited in theinvestigation, told People’s Post:“Ourreports are publicly availablefor anyone to read.”

Theorganisation’sWestern Cape Gang Monitorhas examined organisedcrime andilliciteconomies in theprovince. Its findings have raised questionsabout thepossible overlapbetween poaching networks, fishingvessels anddrugtrafficking.

TheDepartment of Forestry,Fisheries and theEnvironment says it was unaware of areport linking Hout Bay’s abalone-poaching economytooffshore cocaine trafficking

TheSouth AfricanPelagic Fishing Industry Association(Sapfia),which represents theanchovy andsardine sectors, said it couldnot comment on thematter.

Itschief executive, Mike Copeland, said theorganisationhad no physical presence at Hout BayHarbour since thelastsmall pelagicfactory closed in 2019

“Weare thereforenot in aposition to provideany comment on this matter, forwithnophysicalpresencein theharbour we really have no current localknowledge,” Copeland said Thedepartmentsaidjoint operationsthrough Initiative 5remained themainplatformfor responding to poaching in Hout Bay.

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 services help peoplewithpsychosocialdisabilitiesrecover,livewithdignity,exercisetheir rights, andparticipate fully in society.

This year’s campaign highlights theimportanceofmovingawayfromapproachesthat 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.

WynbergSector1 gets‘hoodWatch

NAMHLAMONAKALI

Wynberg residentshaveshown theirwillingness to take action afterattendingthe WynbergCommunity Policing Forum’s(CPF) Sector 1 Community MeetingonTuesday,14July.

Held at WynbergGirls’HighSchool,the meetingaimed to establisha Sector 1CPF Sub-Forumand beginthe processofcreatinga formal Neighbourhood Watch(NHW) forthe area

Severalresidents volunteered to help establish theinitiative, whileothersexpressedinterestin joiningthe NHW.

“Several residentsput up theirhands to help getthisballrolling,” said Suzanne Japhta, chairofthe WynbergCPF.“We also hadseveral memberswho expressedinterestinstartingup aNeighbourhood Watch.”

An interimworking grouphas been formed andwillbeled by CPFexecutive members. A follow-up meetingisplannedfor thefollowing week to discussthe formal establishmentofthe NHW, includingits structure, responsibilities andcommunity patrols.

Residentsidentified threekey safety concerns: vagrancy,druguse amonghomelesspeopleand thetheft of personal belongings from residential properties

TheWynberg CPFexplained that aCommunity Police Forumisa statutorybodyestablished underSection 19 of theSouth AfricanPolice ServiceAct andsupported by theConstitution.

TheCPF does notreplace theSouth African Police Serviceorperform policing duties.Instead, it acts as abridgebetween residentsand police by encouragingcooperation, communication,accountability andcommunity involvement in crimeprevention.

ACPF Sub-Forumfocuses on aspecificsector or neighbourhood.Itrepresentsresidents’concerns, workswiththe police Sector Commander,identifies localcrime trends,coordinates safety initiativesand encourages greaterpublic participation.

ForNancy Krisch,formerchair of theSector1 CPFSub-Forum,the turnoutdemonstratedthat residentswerepreparedtobecomeinvolved.

THEPEOPLEWHOSHOWED UPWEREPREPAREDTOSIGN UPANDTHATISIMPORTANT

“The people whoshowedupwerepreparedto sign up andthatisimportant.Theywerethere to puttheir handsupand volunteer.Wynberg requires allhands on deck,” shesaid. Krisch said Wynberg’sroleasa busy community hubdue to thepublictransport interchange,two hospitals, Home Affairs,several courts,large police precinct,a mall, busy retail area in theMainRoad, required greaterattention from government andlaw-enforcement ANeighbourhood Watchwillworkinpartnershipwithpoliceand theCPF by conducting visiblepatrols,reporting suspicious activity, sharingsafetyinformation andsupporting emergencyresponses

Volunteerswillserve as an additional setof “eyesand ears”for Saps

.Residents interested in joining cancontact the WynbergCPF at wynbergcpf5@gmail.comor WhatsApp070 3759769.Emergencies shouldbe reportedtoSapson10111.

MinstrelscallforCityfairness

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 battlewiththe CTMCA. JudgeMokgoatji Lekhuleniruled that the City’s appeal hadnoreasonableprospects of successand said allowing 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.OnMonday29Decemberlastyearthe WesternCapeHighCourt 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 newreasonfor itsdecisionafter thefact.

TheCityemphasisedthatthe official Tweede

Repairsunderwayoncrucialroute

Motoristscan expect Kloof Road,the road that linksCamps BayDrive with RoundHouse Road in CampsBay,toreopenbymid-December as rehabilitation work on thestorm-damaged routeremains on schedule

TheCitysaidsteadyprogresswas beingmade despitechallengingterrain andthe area’s environmentally sensitiveconditions.

Thesection wasclosedafter theembankment supportingKloof Road wasdestabilisedduring aLevel 9storm in September2023.

Furtherdamageoccurredin2024, when heavyrainfallcausedanadditional slipfailure during thewinterseason.

Kloof Road linksthe City Bowl with the Atlantic Seaboard suburbsofCamps Bay, Clifton, Bantry Bayand SeaPoint RobQuintas,Mayco member forurban mobility,saidhehad visitedthe site recently andwas pleasedwiththe progress made in meetingthe December deadline

“Great care is takenasweare workinginan environmentally sensitivearea. We undertook asearchand rescue exercise to locate and exhume indigenous plantspecies andtook a varietyofclippings.

“These arebeing looked afterata nurseryand will be transplanted at thesiteafter theslopes have been reconstructed.”

He said thestormwaterculvertswerealso beingupgraded.

“The relocation of thewater pipe in thework area is nearly done by ourcolleaguesfromthe Waterand Sanitation Directorateand is now beingtestedbeforeitisreconnected to theexisting watermain. We aregrateful forthe good weatherofthe past fewdays, whichalso helps to getthe work done.”

Quintassaidthe road is expected to reopen to trafficbymid-December,providedthere areno weather-relatedorother unforeseen delays Thecontractorwas carefully planning work around winter weatherconditionsand using temporarydrainage, sandbags andberms to protectthe site during heavyrainand strong winds. Quintassaidworktodateincluded clearing thesite, rescuing indigenous plants forreplanting, andexcavationand preparation work forthe gabion walls hadbeen completed. He addedthatthe soil nail drilling at the larger slopefailure was finished,the first gabion rowhad been completedwithwork underway on thesecond, whiledrilling at the smallerslope failureisnearing completion He said the11-monthproject focusessolely on repairingthe storm-damagedroad, with no additional upgrades such as walkingorcycling lanesplanned.

Utilityservicesare beingrelocated or protected during construction,while thesteep terrain, difficult site access andextentofthe damage have extended therepairtimeline.

Nuwe Jaar Festival,organised by theCTMCA,remainedunaffectedand didproceed as plannedonMonday5 Januaryatthe newvenue in GreenPoint.Igshaan Alexander, chairofthe CTMCA, describedthe ruling as groundbreakingfor theassociation andother smallgroups.

“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.Responding to queries, theCitysaidina statement it provided variousavailable datesatAthlone stadium, “but thesewerenot takenup” by the CTMCA. “While theeventslinkedtothe court matterare alreadyinthe past theCitywillkeep striving to support theminstrelcommunity to achievegreater heights, as wasthe case with this past festiveseason’srobustand successful TweedeNuweJaar andminstrelcompetition programme.”The City encouraged theCTMCA to “act timeouslytosecureavailable dates” in either public or privatevenues, whichthe City says arelimited over thebusyfestive season 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.But Alexanderfeltthe informationsession offered littlenew information forthe CTMCA,

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

WhileMandela Daywas officially

THOUSANDSGAVE67 MINUTES OF THEIR 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 positive difference

More than 150 volunteers joinedthe TwoOceans Aquarium’sTrash Bash beach cleanup at Monwabisi BeachonSaturday 18 July,collecting 611kgoflitteralongside Clean Coast SA and the Mayine eAfrikaFoundation. TwoOceans Aquarium spokesperson

Thenon-profit organisation, Community Chest of the Western Cape transformed Bree Street in Cape Town intoa1600seat outdoor “Langtafel”,bringing peopletogether to shareamealand celebratethe spirit of giving.

Youth return home inspired

KEANANHARMSE

Agroupofyoung de Town’s Cape Flat buzzing with idea Festival26,aninterna powermentevent held States of America(US to Monday 13 July

Thedelegationreprese Your Dreams”, aSchaap organisation (NPO)found Oasisusessport –speci netball– as avehicle to em marginalised communiti life skills training,violenc grammesand community forat-risk youth. The five youngdelegates Ruiters, Nathan Harriso andLiyanda Narwele– ha Grassy Park,Ottery andP They were accompanie Damons and flew outofC tional Airportonthe mo (“AhistoricUSA trip fory Post,7 July). Theirparticipation wasm Oasissuccessfully reache target of R240 000– ag appealingtothe public to before departure. Festival26 broughttoget 400young people from 24

michael.roberts@novusmedia.co.za

Advertise your Services,Products, Promotions and build your Brand in the greater Constantia/Wynberg area NM10066438-QK210726

Unearthing youngtalent

HaashimPead, scrumhalf, from the Bo Kaap is oneofninetalentedrugby playerswho joined thenon-profit organisation (NPO)Connect in Khayelitshain2014whenMurrayIngram foundedthe programmetofacilitate scholarships foryoung people at “traditional rugbyschools” in Cape Town. Pead progressedthrough theage groups in WesternProvinceRugby Unionand therestishistory.

Theother bursarykidswereRidhauBey; currently playingfor Montpellier, Lukhanyo Vokozela,Lamla Nunu,Sesethu Mtshazi, Akha Mjawule, Eugene Solomons;matriculated at Sacs andhas an honoursdegreefromthe University of theWestern Cape (UWC), Aya Machuli; matriculated at Sacs)and Endi Peter; studying at Cape PeninsulaUniversityofTechnology (CPUT)

Theimmensepotentialin the youngpeoplebut very limitedaccess to quality coaching

leveland together with Riyaad Bam(fullback) from BosmandamHighSchool,who joined the Blue Bulls andiscurrently playingwing, and were WesternProvince(WP)teammates in 2023 forthe u-18 National School Week Bamwas the firstprovincialplayerfromBosmansdamHighafter thepartnership between Connect andthe school Bayand Pead were both in action in theMariusSchoeman7sand Frogfoot 7s in September 2022.

Bey, wing at Montpellier,alsostarted with them in 2014 andtosay that Ingram is like a proudfatherofall theirachievementsisthe understatement of theyear.

Ingram sawthe immensepotential in the youngpeoplebut very limitedaccess to quality coaching,facilitiesand opportunitiesand