People's post | Grassy Park |Retreat E-Edition 02 September 2025

Friday

New school bus

The learners at Christel House South Africa (CHSA) can look forward to enjoying their school trips with a brand new school bus.

The new Hino 35-seater school bus was unveiled as a donation courtesy of Peter and Pirjro Carr and Ann Schneider on Friday 29 August The bus, valued at R1, 5million, will help provide more transport access for disadvantaged learners Christel House South Africa is a no-fee,

35-SEATER HINO BUS DONATED TO CHRISTEL HOUSE SOUTH AFRICA

non-profit school based in Ottery and supports learners from disadvantaged communities, starting from Grade RR until age 18 and five years post matric, according to school spokesperson Lara Black

Drugdealercaughtredhanded

A 39-year-old man was arrested for dealing in drugs after he was caught with 798 Mandrax tablets on Thursday 21 August

At approximately 21:30 that evening, the sector commanders of Grassy Park Police Station received information regarding drugs being sold at a house in Eland Avenue, Lotus River, and upon arrival at the premises, the owner was seen holding a blue plastic bag When he noticed the police, he attempted to flee The police ordered him to stop, at which point he dropped the bag,” he said The bag was recovered and opened in his presence, revealing 798 Mandrax tablets inside

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The City’s Recreation and Parks Department says that historically the park was developed within a public open space owned by the Western Cape Government

“Now that the property is being developed by the Western Cape Government as a school, the property will no longer be a park The play equipment on site will be removed by the recreation and parks department and will be stored at a depot until such time a decision is taken to be re-installed at an identified location within the same ward,” explained the City

When People’s Post enquired as to whether a new park will be built and when this would happen the City referred our queries to the Western Cape Government

The WCED reiterated that it met with the community prior to the start of construction

“A Noise Impact Assessment and Noise Management Plan has been completed for the school, which was approved by the City,” Hammond added

At the protest on Friday 22 August some senior residents feared that the school could bring noise and criminals to their community

The WCED says it is not aware of any reports related to the disturbance of the elderly, due to the proximity of these schools

“School forms an essential part of any integrated residential development and is essential for the development of a functional society

Schools around the world are located near retirement homes, retirement villages, etc

Both Steenberg High School and Steenberg Primary School, located in the area, have been in operation for many years and is located near Mandolin Place which is a facility for persons over the age of 60,” said Hammond

To aid their ongoing protest the CPRRA have partnered with the National Coloured Congress (NCC), confirmed vice-chair Keegan Ford

When asked whether the WCED is engaging with the protesters to solve this issue and come to an agreement, Hammond said: “The WCED did engage the community (ratepayers and councillor) prior to the start of construction and no formal request for further engagement has been made The WCED has development rights and building plan approval to build a high school for 375 learners, which will comprise of 12 classrooms The WCED will continue with its vision of establishing good quality education facilities throughout the city and province ” People’s Post reached out to Ward 68 councillor Marita Petersen for comment but she could not respond before the time of publication

Junior School Career Days call

KEANANHARMSE

Anon-profit school based in Ottery is appealing to the public to assist them with guest speakers for their upcoming Junior School Career Days

Christel House South Africa (CHSA) is inviting professionals and entrepreneurs to participate in its upcoming two-day workshops taking place on Wednesday 1 October (Foundation Phase) and Thursday 2 October (Intermediate Phase), says spokesperson Megan Losper

“We are giving (learners) the opportunity to explore the exciting world of work Through engaging 45-minute speaker sessions and offsite career learning journeys, (learners) will be introduced to different professions and industries,” she said

In one recent success story, a young singer and Grade 11 learner from Philippi, Esona Thwalintini, made her school proud when she achieved second place at the Namaste Desi Star singing competition which was held in Johannesburg

“With youth unemployment at an all-time high, it is vital that we prepare our learners for the jobs of tomorrow,” says Louise de Marillac St Julien, Career Development Manager at the school

“By introducing them to critical and highgrowth sectors, and connecting them with

professionals from diverse industries, we help our (learners) imagine new possibilities and see pathways to a brighter future,” Losper said For 2025, the focus areas include: green economy and renewable energy, tourism and hospitality, film and entertainment, healthcare and medical services, digital and information technology, construction and engineering, fintech, education & E-learning

Blue economy professionals, entrepreneurs, and subject matter experts can support Christel House SA students by: speaking at career speaker sessions (junior and high school students)

Professionals, entrepreneurs, and subject matter experts can support the school by: speaking at career speaker sessions (junior and high school students), hosting career learning journeys (on-site visits for small groups), job shadowing, internships, learnerships, vacation work, or mentorship opportunities (for older students and alumni)

. For more information contact Megan Losper at mlosper@sa.christelhouse.org.

Blind wine master triumphs

Blind wine tasting got a whole new meaning when the Institute of Cape Wine Masters celebrated its first blind graduate among four new Cape Wine Masters, three of whom are from the Western Cape and one from Johannesburg.

Jacques Lombard from Cape Town made history by being the first blind candidate to participate in the Cape Wine Masters programme

He was joined by fellow Cape Wine Master graduates Riaan van der Spuy, cellar master at Swartland Winery, Janine van Zyl, a sommelier and international account manager at global wine and spirits social media agency FirstPour, and Bradley Wood from Johannesburg, a specialist urologist in private practice

Since its inception in 1983 120 Cape Wine Masters to date have achieved this elite selfstudy qualification, making this year ’ s achievements all the more remarkable

The new Cape Wine Masters were celebrated at a prestigious awards luncheon hosted by the Institute of Cape Wine Masters on Friday 22 August, together with the Pinotage Association and the Lanzerac Hotel and Spa

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After losing his sight in 1996 at the age of 26, Lombard’s introduction to the wine industry came through an invitation by Hermann Kirschbaum, then winemaker at Buitenverwachting, to join Wine Insight, a wine-tasting group for visually-impaired wine enthusiasts

This unique environment, free from influence by labels, brands, or appearance, honed his reliance on aroma, flavour and texture, skills that proved invaluable in his wine career

DISTINCTION

Twenty years later, in 2016, Lombard founded Winebrands, a Cape Town-based wine retail business supported by a dedicated team

A JOURNEY DEFINED BY RESILIENCE,PASSION AND UNWAVERING BELIEF

A customer’s remark about purchasing only award-winning wines sparked his curiosity about South Africa’s awards system

His research revealed that most judges on leading panels were Cape Wine Masters or Masters of Wine, a discovery that inspired him to enrol with the Cape Wine Academy

Progressing through the certificate and diploma courses with distinction, Lombard earned an invitation to join the demanding five-year Cape Wine Masters programme

Throughout his studies he received guidance from no fewer than 84 industry leaders, whose

mentorship and generosity he credited as instrumental to his success

For Lombard the Cape Wine Master title is the culmination of a journey defined by resilience, passion and the unwavering belief that wine is best judged by the pleasure it brings in the glass

His dissertation examined the formation, health effects and mitigation of biogenic amines in wine, dispelling common myths about sulphites and highlighting the amine compounds as a key cause of wine-related discomfort

The dissertation investigates the complex role of biogenic amines in wine; nitrogen-containing compounds produced and broken down in the human body through normal metabolic processes

While essential for regulating functions such as heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, brain activity, digestion and immune response, these compounds can present significant health

risks when consumed in excessive amounts from certain foods and beverages, particularly red wine

The research provides an extensive literature review of factors influencing biogenic amine formation in wine, including microorganisms, terroir, grape cultivar as well as viticultural and cellar practices

Central to their formation is the activity of lactic-acid bacteria, naturally present in the winemaking environment An exploratory consumer survey within the study revealed limited public awareness of biogenic amines and their potential effects, underscoring the importance of education in this area

Beyond wine, Lombard maintains an active lifestyle, training weekly on a tandem bicycle and participating annually in the Cape Town Cycle Tour

He lives in Welgemoed with his wife, Petro, and their son, Daniel

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Thousands of people walk for the needy in Cape Town

THOUSANDS OF WALKERS TOOK TO THE STREETS ON SUNDAY 31 AUGUST TO RAISE FUNDS AS PART OF THE ANNUAL BLISTERS FOR BREAD CHARITY WALK HOSTED BY THE PENINSULA SCHOOL FEEDING ASSOCIATION(PSFA).