People's Post False Bay E-edition 19 May 2026

RedCrossmarks70th withburnpreventioncall

Afterthe storm... is notmerelyamoment

alterthe course of ordinary days

Butbeyondthe tragedythat makesheadlines lies thequieter aftermathsomanyfamiliesnow face

We oftenspeak aboutstorms as if they endwhenthe rain stops. Theskies clear. Roads reopen.Schoolsresume.

Official updatesassure us that life is graduallyreturning to normal Andinmanyways, it does

Butbehindthose updates, in homesacrossthe affectedareas, anotherreality is unfolding. Because“afterthe storm” is not amoment. It is along, unequal processofrebuilding. Last week’s severe weatherleftits mark across theWestern Cape Families were displaced, homes were damagedand livesweredisrupted in ways that cannotbemeasuredbyweather reportsalone

In Wynberg, thestorm turned fatalwhenane-hailing passenger PhathiswaMkhunjulwalosther life aftera tree fell on thevehicle

In Zwelethemba, Worcester, a life wasalsolost. Ourchildrenare traumatisedand will live to tell thetaleofwhattheyexperienced as thedisastertorethrough their community

It wasa devastatingreminderof howquickly severe weathercan

It is theaftermath that begins when emergencycrews leave. When the floodwaterdrains. When thetelevisioncameras move on.Whenthe work of rebuilding begins.Weoften measurerecovery by therestoration of systems. If roadsare clear, if powerisrestored andifschools areopen, we assume normalityhas returned Butsystems canrecover farmore quicklythanhouseholds. Aschool canreopenwhile alearner returns to ahomewitha leakingroof Aparentcan report forwork whilequietly calculatingthe cost of replacinga soaked mattress.

Aneighbourhood canappear functionalfromthe outsidewhile families inside arestill trying to salvageclothing, documentsand whatever pieces of normal life remain

This is wherethe true cost of a stormreveals itself.Not in dramaticheadlines.But in quietliving rooms. In damp blankets.Inthe uncertaintythatsettles long after thecloudshavepassed.

Butbehindthe official updates andreopenedroads,recoverydoes notarrive at everydoorstep at the same time.For many families,the

stormisnot over when therain stops.

Aroof is stillgone. Amattressis stilldamp. Achild is stilltryingto sleep in aroom that no longer feels secure

Andthe question that remains is adifficult one: canour people affordwhatcomes after?

Becauserecoveryisnot only aboutrepairing walls or clearing debris.Itisabout replacingwhat waslost.

Furniture. Clothing.Important documents. Asense of safety.For some,support comesquickly.For others,itcomes slowly.And for many,itmay notcomeatall.

That is theuncomfortable truth severe weathercontinues to expose.The rain mayfallacross thesameprovince, butrecoveryis rarely experiencedequally

Forsomehouseholds, insurance claims are filedand repairsbegin within days

Forothers, rebuilding depends on borrowedmoney,the generosity of neighbours or simply learning to live with thedamagefor longer than they should have to This is whereinequalitybecomes visibleinits most practicalform. Notinstatistics. Notinpolicy statements

Butinwho canreplace what was lost,and whocannot. Thereisalso an emotionalcostthatoften goes

unseen.Childrenreturntoschool carryinguncertainty

Parentsattempttocreatecalm whilecarryingprivate anxieties aboutrepairs they cannotyet afford.

Teachers aretaskedwithrestoringroutine andstability forlearners, even whileknowing some are returningfromhomes stillmarked by disruption

This emotionallabourforms part of recovery too. Becauserecovery is notsimplyabout rebuilding structures

It is aboutrebuildingstability

Predictability.Security. Thethings that make ahomefeel like home

My heartiswithevery family across theWestern Cape now facing that difficult work

Thequiet,exhaustingtaskof beginning again. Oftenwithlimited resources. Oftenwithnoclear timeline forrelief. Andoften whilethe worldhas alreadymoved on.Thisiswhat happens afterthe storm. Notclosure.Not instantrecovery. Nota neat return to normal Butthe long,unevenprocess of rebuilding

Untilrecoveryisexperienced more equally across ourcommunities,“normal”willremain somethingrestoredquickly for some andpainfully outofreach for others

City’sresponsetobeachpain

TheCityofCapeTownrespondstoa resident’s letter, “Why is Fish Hoek Beachbeing neglected”, People’s Post,5 May

Theproperty(portions of erven10699 and 16033FishHoek) have been auctioned, andthe City’s Economic Growth Directorateisinthe processof finalising thelease agreementwith theincominglessee.

Both theCityand theincominglesseeneed to meet certainlease conditions before thelease cantakeeffect. Theseconditionsprimarily relate tostatutory land useapplicationsand the

requisiteapprovals that theincominglessee needstoobtain. In orderfor theCitytoproceed with thepreparation of such applications, access to site-specificinformation is required, including, butnot limitedto, site measurements. We canconfirm that therehas been extensivecorrespondencebetween theCityof Cape Town andthe current tenant regarding theCity’srequest foraccess to thepremises. Such access, andthe outcomethereof,isessential forboththe incoming lesseeand theCityto finalise certainoutstanding conditions of the leaseagreement

‘Smallbreakthroughswith patients’,motivatesnurse

KEANANHARMSE

KEANAN.HARMSE@NOVUSMEDIA.CO.ZA

Formorethanfourdecades,seniornurse Linda Shah hasdedicated herlifetocaringfor some of themostvulnerablemembers of thecommunity.Based at LotusRiver Community Day Centre,the specialisedpsychiatric nursesays compassion,patienceand kindness remain at theheart of nursing, values shebelievescan change lives.

As theworld marked InternationalNurses Day, celebrated on Tuesday12May,the City of Cape Town stated that itshealthdepartment celebrated thededicationand commitmentof its689 nurses whocontinuetoserve communities across themetro underoften demanding circumstances.

Nurses Dayisaninternational dayobserved around theworld on 12 Mayeachyear, to mark thecontributions that nurses make to society. Accordingtothe City,thisyear’stheme,“Our Nurses.Our Future.EmpoweredNursesSave Lives,”highlightsthe need to strengthen and support nurses throughfairworking conditions, safe environments,and stronger leadership opportunitieswithinhealthcare.

ForShah, nursingwas always more than just a career choice “Nursing hasalwaysbeen my passion and calling,” shesaid. “Comingfroma family where nursingrunsdeep,I knew from ayoung age that caring forotherswas thepathI wanted to follow.”

Herjourney in healthcare beganin1982when shestarted training as astudent nurse. Shequalified as ageneral nursein1985before completing aDiploma in Midwiferythe followingyear.

Shah gained valuable experience at Groote Schuur Hospital,working across severaldepartments, includingthe cardiacintensive care unit In 1991,she joined LentegeurHospital, where shedeveloped apassion forpsychiatric nursing. Shelater completeda diplomainpsychiatry, worked with psychiatricand intellectually dis-

abledpatients, andfurthered herqualifications with anationalhigherdiploma in community health sciencein1999 andadvancedpsychiatry in 2012

Sincejoining LotusRiver Community Day Centre in 2013,Shahhas continuedserving the community as aspecialised psychiatricnurse, helpingpatientsnavigateemotional andpsychological challenges

“The most rewardingpartismakinga positive difference in patients’lives.Supportingthem throughemotional andpsychological challenges andseeing theirprogress,”she explained.

Shesaidone of themostmeaningful aspects of herworkisbuildingtrust with patients and helpingthemfeel safe,respected andheard

Despitethe rewards, Shah acknowledges that nursingcomes with many challenges

Staff shortages, increasedworkloads and burnoutremainamong thebiggest pressures facing healthcare workerstoday

“Nursesfacemanychallenges,including staff shortageswhencolleaguesare booked off illor have family emergenciestoattend to,which increasesthe workload forthose on duty,” she says

Sheadds that balancingthe emotionaldemandsofnursing with family andpersonallife canoften be difficult,particularlyinthe mental healthcare environmentwhere emotionalresilienceisessential.

Yetevenindifficult moments, Shah says small breakthroughswithpatientsremindher why sheentered theprofession

Onepatient interaction, in particular,has remained with herthroughouther career

“I caredfor apsychiatric patientwho had completely lost hope andstoppedcommunicating.

With patience andkindness, Icontinued to support him.”

Over time,the patientslowlyimprovedand eventually opened up again.

Shah hopesher storywillinspire more young people to consider nursingasa career

Tbutbythe endo he challenge, dona onshad reachedanimpressive R282 590. Accordingto9MilesspokespersonMargo CarAllthe guests were treatedtoamealand agoodie bagonthe day.

I Photo club invites all to join in

RetreatECDseverelydamagedafterstorm

KEANANHARMSE

School roofscollapsed andfences were damagedatPhilisa Abafazi Bethucentre, severely affecting servicesrenderedatthe facility PhilisaAbafazi Bethu(Xhosafor “HealOur Women”), anon-profit organisation (NPO)withcentres in Retreatand Lavender Hill, offers shelterand comforttovictims of gender-based violence (GBV)and runs an earlychildhood development centre (ECD).

On Monday 11 May, theNPO was severely damagedinthe stormand is nowappealingfor donations.

TheNPO wasfounded in 2008 by LucindaEvans whoalsosupports victimsofGBV,domesticabuse and children throughsafehouses, legal/ counselling support andcommunity empowerment.

During thestorm,the school alarm wasactivated afterthe safehousegate andthe ECD’sroof blew away,living thevictims vulnerable Evansrecalls

Thechildrenweresenthomebefore thestorm worsened,she adds

“The gate just flew open andthe alarmwentoff.I need weldersto come and fixthe gate as well as someonetoinspect themotor of thegate.

“The rail is completely broken.I

FROMPAGE1

JoneswishedMadibawellduringher historical journeyasthe “firstladyto command”a Valour ClassFrigate “I am proudofthe hand Icould play in your developmentand thequalification that brings youheretoday Youhavea challengingtaskahead of youtokeep AMAT operational, butI am sure youare equippedtobe successful,” he said Jonesalsoexpressedgratitude to

also need 20 polesand 60 Vibracrete slabsto fixthe wall of thechildren’s warehouse.

“Weare worried aboutthe security,” shesaid.

So farPhilisa hasachievedthe halfwaymarkoftheir fundraising target whichisR30 000, to repair theirfence througha donation by the Rotary Club of Newlands

“The entire fencecaved in butwe haven’treceivedany help yetwiththe gatesfor thesafehouse whichisstill a priority forus,”she said EarlierinMarch,Philisa celebrated thelaunchoftheir YoungMinds Academy(Pyma)and alarge part of this facility wasalsodamaged in the storm.

Largesteel sheetsthatformedpart of theceiling were flungintothe playground sectionofthe academy.

Youngminds is an initiative that wasdeveloped througha collaboration between Pyma,the Rotary Club of Newlands andCoca-Cola Peninsula Beverages(“Pymaopens newECD in Retreat”, People’s Post,31March)

“Yoursupport will help us restore safety,rebuild security andcontinue offeringhope,”she said . Formoreinformation contact Evans on 073424 4665.

hisfamily, particularly hiswife, Vanessa,and theirtwo sons,Marno and Reuben,acknowledging thesacrifices they made during his24years of serviceatsea

“Noone will ever comprehend the sacrificesyou have made formeto serveatsea formorethan24years,” he explained.

Jonessaysheislookingforward to relaxing andspendingquality time with hisfamilyinFishHoek.

Retiredlensman‘tofocusonfun’

AVRILFILLIES

Policeare oftendepictedinmovies andsometimes in real life with their finger on thetrigger when they burst into homesorofficestryingtodefusea crimescene.CaptPietSmit, aretired provincial photographer andprominent face across allWestern Cape police stations, prefershis finger on thetriggerof acamera.

“I retiredafter 37 yearsthisyearatProvincial CorporateCommunication andLiaison after joiningthe police on 24 December 1986.I’ve seen andexperienced thebad,veryemotional anduglysideoflife. Nowisthe time to enjoy thegoodsideoflife,”hesays.

Thehighlightsofhis career were in 2015 when he wasawarded thewinnerofthe WesternCape

SMITHAS THE ABILITY TO TURN MOMENTSINTO MONUMENTS

Prestige AwardasAdministrativeEmployee of theYearand winning theNationalPrestige AwardasEmployeeofthe Year in 2016 “Mylovefor photographystarted in 1987 when Iperformed duties at the flying squadand dogunitinMaitlandwhere Itook sportand action pictures.I latertransitionedtoCorporate Communication andLiaison untilI retiredin Marchthisyear,”hesays.

At hisfarewellfunctionatCattleBaron on Friday27March hiscareer wasdescribed by Brig Novela Potelwa, police spokesperson,asone that offered himopportunitiesbeyondSouth

S Lookafter,andcheckyourhearing

NewheartforformerSA-bornWalesrugbyplayer

When Rhys Thomas (43) answered hisphone at 07:00a fewweeksago,hereceivedlife-changingnewsfromCapeTowncardiac surgeonDr WillieKoen. Therewas aheart availableto replacehis damagedone,and hislong-awaited transplant wouldtakeplace that morning. Previously aprofessional rugbyplayer, South AfricanbornThomasrosethrough theranks as atalentedproptoplayfor theWales national rugbyunion team.However,atjust29years old in 2012,his rugbycareer wascut shortafter he suffered amassive heartattack during training “You neverexpectthistohappentoyou,and then boom,ittakes youdown,”saysThomas. Despiteundergoingtwo heartsurgeries in the United Kingdom(UK), he wasleftwithendstageheart failure, physically ashadowofwhat he hadbeen as aprofessional sportsman. Later, doctorsinthe UK fitteda battery operated left ventricularassist device (LVAD) to help his

heartpumpblood around hisbody.

“Thisinterventionboughthim time,but not qualityoflife. Forsomeone wholived forsport, beingtetheredtobatteries andunabletoswim or shower normally is survival,not living,” commentsKoen.

In 2019,after yearsofharrowing battles with depression andaddictionfollowing thelossof hisprofession andidentity, compounded by his fragilephysicalcondition,his friendsrealised that Thomas needed urgent help to stop his self-destructive behaviour.

They intervened and flew himtothe Netcare AkesoStepping Stones in Cape Town,which offersin-patienttreatment forthe dual diagnosisofaddictionand underlying mental health conditions.Thomasdescribes hisstaythere as transformative,sayingithelpedhim getbackon theroadtorecovery.

Thomas hadlived in theUKfor 24 years.

“I wasonthe transplant list therefor eight years. Ihad alot of medicalcareinthe UK,but ultimately IlefttocomehometoSouth Africa becausethe UK doctorshad concerns around performing thetransplantsurgery andmy chancesofsurvivalafterwards. When I finally left theUK18monthsago,I hadtoleave my children there. My youngest is just 19 years old, so it wasnot adecisionI took lightly,”says Thomas Thomas nowlives in Cape Town permanently andhas founda newcareer workingasa breathwork practitioner

“I work with clientsinvarious ways,sometimesassistingthemthrough transformational momentsintheir livesand helpingthose who arelooking forchange. I’malso oneofthe co-foundersofSaunahaüs,a wellnessfacilityin Cape Town.”

Thomas’s health continuedtodeteriorate “I wasfeelingterrible. Iwas breathless, andI couldn’t walk very far. I’dbeen usingthe LVAD formanyyears,but towardsthe enditjustfelt very different. I’dhad afew issues with it over thelastyear, andI hadtogotohospitaltwice We knew themachine wasonits last legs “I then turned to Dr Koen forhelp. Ifeltthe time wasright andthathewas thedoctorto getmethrough thetransplantsurgery.Itwas a toughdecisiontogoahead with thetransplant, butI trustedmygut.”

Goingbacktothatmorning,Thomaswas alreadyatworkwhenthe call from Koen came “Hesaid, ‘Can youget to thehospitalby10:30?’

Iwas incredibly nervous, butexcited.I gotto thehospital, went fora shaveand shower,and spentthose last minutespraying andmeditatingwithmypartner,Kez Green.

“Mynextmemorywas waking up in thesurgicalICU twodayslater with my children around my bed. It wassospecial.Itwas my thirdopen heartsurgery,and Iknewthe transplant came with challenges.The wayI envisioned it was that if Iwokeupand sawmychildren, Iwould know Ihad made it.”

Thomas pays tributetoKoenand histeam at theNetcare Christiaan BarnardMemorial Hospital.“ThethingsDrKoendid during the surgerywereamazing.There wastwo inches of scar tissueinmychest cavity,and he managed to getthrough that.The team wasjustfantastic.”

Koen says thethick scar tissueinThomas’s chestfromhis previous surgeriespresented a unique challenge, butthe transplant hadbeen a success. “I wassotouched when Iheard about thedifficult journeyhehad walked to reachthis pointthatI felt compelledtohelphim.” Koen is concernedthatpatientsacross

SouthAfricaare dyingwhile waitingfor heart transplantsbecause of acriticalshortageof organdonors. He repeatedly sees this tragedy unfolding: “PeoplelikeRhys, whocould return to normal lives, working, raisingtheir children, contributing to theircommunities andtheir country, areinstead dyingonwaiting lists.”

Theshortagepersistsacrossall sectors. “It’s notjustabout resources; doctorshesitateto raiseorgan donation with grieving families Medicalteams arefocused on fighting to save livesinthe ICU(IntensiveCareUnit) and emergencydepartments,and when that battle is lost,navigatingculturalsensitivities around donation becomesanother challengeduringan alreadydevastating moment

“Asa country, we must thinkabout what we candoabout this.You must talk to your family if it is your wish to donate your organs.InSouth Africa,yourfamilymakes the finaldecision, and if they don’tknowyourwishes, people diewaiting. We need to normalisethese conversations. Onedonor cansaveseven lives, butonlyifyour family knowsthat’swhatyou wanted.Somany patients couldhavea chance forrealhopeif more donororganswereavailable,” he explains Thomas wantstohonourthe manwhose hearthereceived. “After theoperation,I was able to hold my oldheart in my hands. It wasa very emotionalexperience. Afterwards,I cried theentireday.Itwas arelease Ineeded,but also areckoning with what someonehad given me.” He joinsKoeninurgingSouth Africans to register as organdonors. “A stranger’s family, in theirdarkest moment,chose to save my life That generosity deserves to be honoured by living well.”

Speaking from hishome, Thomas said that although histimeinhospitalfeltlong, it was necessary preparationfor thechallenges ahead. “There’s agreat deal that needstohappen. I need alot of medication to stabilisemycondition andtogivemyselfthe best possiblechance of alonglifewiththisnew heart. I’mprepared forthat, andI’m lookingforward to taking things gently andslowly.”

He said he wasgoing forwalks of afew hundred metres each dayand wasfeelingwell. “Not only didmypartner,Kez,movehouse at sixmonthspregnantwhile Iwas in hospital,but she’sbeen my rock.She’s so supportive. Ihave such huge respectfor howshe’s held everything together.It’sbeen awhirlwind fewweeks, butI feel incredibly grateful andlucky.Havinga new heartfeelslikea dream; Ihavetopinch myself I’mgetting used to feelingmyheart beatingin my chest. Icouldn’thavedreamed of abetter outcome. At last,I feel like Ihavea futuretobe really excitedabout.”