Theseare thesentimentsexpressedbyone of the70participantswho showed theirsupport forthe homeless by experiencing what it felt like to “sleep underthe stars” andendurewet
04 ya symb ge solidarity with thosewho sleep roughdaily Thecampaignorganised by theShelter aims to shinea spotlightonhomelessnesswhile showcasing theorganisation’scapacityto support thoseinneed.Withwinterapproach-
sb ug reintegrationprogrammes. Howeversponsorsprovidedthe groupwith campingbedsand torchestoclaim theirown littlepiece of thegrounds People’s Post spokewithtwo localparticipants
whobravedthe cold to hear theirthoughtson theexperience.
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
Thesecyclesare notrandom. They grow from patriarchy, inequality,economicstrain, anda culturethatstill struggles to confrontabuse directly
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.
Communities gather,outrage rises, promises aremadeand then thepattern returns.
Theperpetratorsare different.
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.
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
AJOURNO’S VOICE
NAMHLA MONAKALI
Health care workers commemorateWorld TB Day. PHOTO:SUPPLIED
Threesuccessfulrescuesfor NSRISimon’sTownindays
TheNationalSea Rescue Institute(NSRI)in Simon’sTownsuccessfully re-floatedand securedanunmannedsailing yachtthathad broken free from itsmoorings during strong windsonMonday23March
AccordingtoNSRIstation commander Darren Zimmerman,crews were alertedafter urgent reportsthatthe 50-foot vesselwas adrift in False Bayunder gustyconditions.
Coordination wasimmediatelyestablished with theFalse BayYacht Club (FBYC) andthe yacht’smanagementthrough theNSRIEmergencyOperationsCentre.
By thetimerescuersarrivedthe yachthad run agroundalong Long Beach. Fortunatelyno-one wasonboard when it brokeloose.
With aspringhightideapproaching, within an hour ajoint decision wasmadetoattempta refloatoperation.The NSRI launched itsrescue craft, Donna Nicholas,while rescue swimmers were deployed from shoretosecurea towlineto thestrandedvessel.
As thetidereached itspeakcrews carefully tightenedthe towline, allowing therescuecraft to gently pull theyacht off ashallowledge Thevesselwas successfully re-floatedwithout sustaining damage
NSRI swimmers remained on boardtoassist with navigation as theyacht wastowed to deeper waterand safely re-moored at FBYC’s emergencymoorings
Despitechallengingweather conditions the operationconcluded withoutincidentat19:34
In separate incidents, theNSRISimon’s Town duty crew respondedtotwo separate maritime emergenciesonSunday15March,ensuringall involved were broughtsafelyashore.
In the firstincidentthe crew wasactivated following arequest forassistance from asolo yachtsmanwhose vesselsuffered rudderfailure approximately15nauticalmiles southofCape Point, near RockyBanks.The NSRI Emergency Operations Centre coordinatedthe response
TheNational SeaRescue Institute(NSRI)Pink Rescue Buoys areplacedatselectedbeaches alongthe coastline as well as at some inland dams andrivers.
PHOTO:SUPPLIED
whileTelkomMaritimeRadio Services maintained communication with thesailor.
Rescuers launched Donna Nicholas and reachedthe stranded yachtat16:07, findingthe sailor safe butadrift. Atowline wassecured, andinanoperation that continuedintothe evening, theyacht wastowed withoutincident to Simon’sTown. Asecondrescuecraft,Jack &Irene,assisted with mooringatthe FalseBay YachtClub. Theoperation concludedat20:57
Whilethisoperation wasunderway, NSRI crewswerealerted to asecondemergency at 16:10. Eyewitness reportsindicated that two paddlersona double surf skihad capsized about500 metres offshorenearArk Rock.A distress flarewas spotted, andanemergency alertreceivedvia theNSRISafeTRX system
Both paddlerswerereturnedtothe NSRI base unharmed andrequirednofurther assistance
‘Shattered’ CPCC raises burial funds
KEANANHARMSE
AMasiphumelelefamilyand the widerDeep Southcommunity are mourning thetragiclossof15-yearoldLuveBukwana,whose body was discovered at Fish Hoek Beachlastweek following an extensivesearch.
Accordingtopolice, Bukwana, wholived on Ntantiso Road in Masiphumelele, wasreported missing on Tuesday17March at approximately 23:50.
“Enquiries were done in OceanView, Masiphumeleleand Noordhoek. Theareawas patrolledalong with family membersand the victim’s friendswerecontacted with no success.
Membersattached to FCSMuizenberg, Ocean View police,Masiphumelele Community Members,neighbourhood watchand Pink Ladies were allsearching forhim,” VanWyk said.Sadly,two days later, Bukwana’sbodywas foundat Fish Hoek Beachinthe water.
“His body wasremoved by thepolice’sdiving unit.Aninquest wasregisteredatFishHoek police,” he said Police couldnot confirm thecause of the death.
Bukwanawas aGrade 10 learneratSimon’s Town School
Theschoolrecentlyposteda heartfelttribute on theirFacebook page to sharetheir condolences with thefamily. “The loss of astudent is atragedy that affects ourentireschool community.Our hearts andthoughtsare with
Luve’s family andfriends during this incredibly difficult time.Weextendour deepestsympathytothe family,friends,classmates,and staff affectedbythisloss,”readthe school’s post To help raisefunds to coverthe funeral costs, an animal rights activist group, theCapePeninsula CivilConservation(CPCC),announced that they have organiseda fundraiserontheir Facebook page Bukwana’sfather, Mpindezelo,assisted CPCC formorethan20years as theirlongest serving baboon ranger.Theywereshatteredtohear thetragicnewsofthe boy’sdeath.“Aseriesof strokesleftBukwana senior with greatdifficulty walking, usingone armand greatdifficulty talkingand communicating.His wife caresfor him. Theloadonthe family hasbeen heavy withoutany adults able to earn andalsoit’sjust alot to deal with.Tosupport thefamilywehave opened acollectiontohelpcover funeral costs andtransport to theEastern Cape.” .To make acontribution emailthe CPCC at info@cpcc.org.za
Luve Bukwana, whose body was discovered at Fish HoekBeach last week
PHOTO:SUPPLIED
OpenStudi
KEANANHARMSE
Noordhoek’svibrant artcommunity hashighlighted thepower of creativity andcollaboration fora good causeafter raisingR45 000 fora non-governmental organisation (NGO) MasiSports (MS) during this year’s NoordhoekOpenStudios exhibition
Theexhibitionwas held over twodayson Saturday 14 andSunday15March.The annual eventwelcomedover350 visitors whoexplored 28 studiosacrossthe valley.
Atotal of 28 localartists featured at this year’s event.
NoordhoekOpenStudios beganinthe 1990s as acharity-driveninitiative, away forartists to come together andraise much-needed funds for localcauses.
Last year’s eventraisedR43 000 with this year’s proceedssurpassing it by reaching R45 000.The moneywillassist theprogrammesat
MS
TheNGO wasfounded in 2017.Itempowers children in Masiphumelelethrough sportand life-skills training
It also provides coaching,equipment,and facilities at UkhanyoPrimary andMasiphumelele High School to promotesocialupliftment, gender equality,and community cohesion
During theexhibitionguestswereinvited into intimate creative spaces,fromgardenstudios to gallery rooms, wheretheyengaged directly with artistsand gained insightintotheir work
Some of theartworksondisplay included painters from Masiphumelele.
Some of thelearnersfromMasiphumelele were also presenttoexplain themeaning behind theirartworks.
Theinitiativeisspearheaded by localartistAimeeKruger, ownerofthe NoordhoekArt Point Gallery,who said theweekendhad been filled with astrongsense of connection andpurpose
“There wassuchbeautiful energy across the
FROMPAGE1
They areJenny Martin from Fish Hoek and CarlyBethOctotel from Fairways Octotelsaidbeing part of this initiative alongsidethe Shelterwas a“deeply meaningful experience”. Spending thenight at Clovelly Golf Club allowedus, as ateam, to step outsideof ourcomfort zonesand gain asmall butpowerful insightintothe realitiesfaced by people living on thestreets,”she recalled. Shesaidthe experience wasboth“humbling andemotional”.
“Listening to thedaily challenges andpersonal storiessharedremindedusofthe importance of empathy, dignity, andconsistentcommunity support.Whatstood outmostwas howsomethingassimpleasa warm meal,a cupofcoffee, or asafespace canmakea significant difference in someone’slife,”she said Martin said theatmospherethroughoutthe nightwas “incrediblywarmand uplifting. There wasplentyofhumour, abundant laughter.”
“A highlightofthe eveningwas thetestimony of Nathan Caswell, aclientfromKalkBay Shelter, whosharedhis journeythrough The Havensystem. Nathan is nowcompletinghis InternationalLifesavingCourse, atestament to thetransformativeimpactofThe Haven’s programmes,”saidShadrickValayadum,CEO of theShelter
He welcomed everybodyand thankeddonors andsponsorsfor theirbacking andstressedthat homelessnessisnot an isolated issue, butone that requires collectiveactionfromcommunities,organisations andindividuals
“Homelessnessisa shared societal challenge,” he said,calling on residentstoworkwiththe Shelterinaddressing theissueinpublicspaces. In thecomingmonths, TheHaven will roll out severalinitiatives to bolsterits impact.These includethe DignityProject,67DaysofGiving, thePassportProgramme andthe Buy-a-Bed vouchercampaign, allaimed at providingboth immediatereliefand long-termpathwaysout of homelessness.
Valayadumencouragedcommunities to partnerwithThe Haven, emphasisingthat collaboration remainskey to restoringdignity andcreatingsustainable change forvulnerable individuals.
Jazz fest offered avariety forall
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
Localartist JimmyNevis on stage. PHOTOS: KAYLYNNE BANTOM
Marasha familyand Jazz enthusiasts from Gugulethu,fromright;Desiree, Lindiwe, Thulisa, Litha and Liziwe, took amomentfor afamilypicture.
Percussionist,singer,and performer SheilaE returned to the festival stageafter afew years
Localartist from Gugulethu, Luukhanyo and his band HiiRollers madetheir debut at festival.
Rorisang Sechele,a South African vocalist andsongwriterfromPretoria.
Singer Siobhan King, betterknown by her stagename Sio,captivated the audience.
HEROESCLAIMVITAL SILVERWARE
EsihlePulaofOtha United in Gugulethunarrowlymisses the face of LinomthaNdyambo of Dangerous Heroes with aclearance during theRygateLadiestournamentinAthlone on Sunday29March. Heroes, who were crowned inauguralchampions after beating Rygate Ladies 7-6onpenalties, wonthe encounter 3-1. Thefinal againstthe hosts ended 1-1. PHOTO:RASHIED ISAACS
Kavanagh claimsher
Tayla Kavanagh delivereda stunning performanceon Sunday 29 March, earning her firstvictory in aSparGrand Prix race at theopening legof this year’s 10km women’sroad running series in theMother City
Kavanagh,representingHollywood AthleticsClub, held on to thebackof defendingserieschampionGlenrose Xaba (Boxer AthleticsClub) formost of theracebeforelaunching afurious kick to snatch thewin
The24-year-old athletecompleted thecontest in 31:33, chopping eight secondsoff herpersonalbest(31:41) setinCapeTowninOctober last year Shewas just 21 secondsoutside the
national 10km record (31:12)heldby Xaba
Xaba was five secondsoff thepace, crossing the finish line in 31:38, while herBoxer teammate Kyla Jacobs took abig step forwardinher comeback to elitecompetition by taking thirdplace in acareer best 32:16.
Kavanagh wasall smiles afterhandingXabaa rare defeat andtakingthe earlyleadinthe Spar series
“Wehad agoodbattleout there. Theracewentwelland I’mhappy to walk away with apersonalbest today,”Kavanaghsaidafterwards.
“I’veput in alot of work in training, so I’mreally proudofmyselfand the team,and I’mveryblessedand grateful to walk away with thewin.”
Xaba admittedshe hadhoped Kava-
dI proudo er Caster Semenyaalsocompetedin Sunday’s 10km race finishinga credi-
bo More andKaraboMailula al us give credit to theSparGrand Prix series fortheir success. ”
Glenrose Xaba and Tyla Kavanagh chase victoryinthis year’s race PHOTO:SUPPLIED
