People's Post Grassy Park/Retreat E-edition 03 February 2026

AWesternCapeteacher hasbeen chargedwithassaultfollowing an incident involvinga learneron Thursday 15 January, whilethe education department continuestoaddress overcrowding concerns at Zeekoevlei PrimarySchool.

TheWestern Cape EducationDepartment (WCED) confirmed they were informed of the allegedassaultonFridaymorning 16 January, with theincidentcurrently underinvestigation by theLabourRelations sub-directorate. A60-year-old female wasarrested on

he allegedassaul nciden ol ng a Grade3 teacheriscurrently underinvestigation.Atthisstage,weare unable to provide further details, as thematterforms part of an active internal process,”saidWCEDspokespersonBronagh Hammond

Sheemphasisedthatthe teacherhas notbeen foundguiltyineitherprocess, as both investigationsremaininearly stages with outcomes yet to be determined.“Therehas been no previous complaints of corporal punishment,abuse or assaultagainst this (teacher),”Hammond noted,adding that theteacher is currentlyonleave whilethe affectedlearner hasbeen placed in an alternativeclass.

Meanwhile, tensions persistbetween Zeeko-

at Zeekoe ei,” People’s Post,27January 2026).

TheSchoolGoverning Body (SGB)chair Rose-Aan Presence told People’s Post that she felt thedismissalofsomeofthe staff members that were undercontract, wasunfair. “Wehad ameetingwiththe school to saythatwe’re not goingtolet theSGB andnon SGB(teachers)go becausewedon’t have replacements forthem andthatwe’ll review theircontracts at theend of Marchthisyear. We lost acook,a counsellor, whichiswhatthe school desperatelyneeds, a Grade7 andGrade 1(teacher) andthe school’s bursar.The SGBhas no say,”she said TheWCEDstronglyrefuted dismissalallegations, clarifying that five SGB-fundedcontract positions, includingtwo teacherposts,a bursar,

cook,and counsellor– expiredatyear-endand weren’trenewed duetofunding constraints.

“These employees were informed last year, with discussionsbeginning in October, that theircontracts wouldnot be reneweddue to funding issues.The SGBwereveryaware of this,” Hammond explained. Shesaiddistrictofficialshavebeen working on-sitetoaddressoperational matters

TheWCEDacknowledgedthatthe concluded teacherpostimpactedGrade 7class structure andhas been workingto finalise revised arrangements TOPAGE3

ReadyDturning tables

KAYLYNNEBANTOM

The name ReadyD brings to mind legendaryturntables, packed dance floorsand nearly four decadesof influenceinthe musicindustry.

Deon Daniels, betterknown as GrandMaster ReadyD,has been entertaining forthe past 39 yearsand wasformerlypartofgroupslike Prophets of Da City andBrasse VannieKaap. ReadyD wasselectedasone of 12 champions forthe 16th editionofthe Cape Town Carnival taking placeinGreen PointonSaturday21 March.

JayDouwes, Cape Town Carnival Chief ExecutiveOfficer, says theinitiativecelebrates individualswho arealready making adifference andusing theirstories to inspireothersthrough thecarnival’ssub-themes.

This year over 1500 performers will showcase theirtalentunder thetheme “FollowYour HeART.”

Danielssaysbeing raised in amusic-filled home ignitedhis passion forthe art.

“Wewerelucky to have ahi-fi with arecord player andthat’show Icould relate to thevinyl When Isaw aHip Hopmusic videofor the first time Iwas blownawaybythe fact that someone wasscratchingrecords.Inthatsamevideo there were kids breakdancing anddoing graffiti art.”

He says that whilehis career hashad many highlights,startinga non-profitorganisation (NPO), sharinghis knowledgewithyoung peopleand travelling theworld standout as some of hisproudestachievements.

Danielssayshehas also been actively involved in theradio industry forover17years

“I have produced musicfor TV andmovies. When Istarted,I didn’t know on what journey this role wasgoing to take me.All Iknewwas that Iwantedtoshare this skillofmakingmusic

OVER 1500 PERFORMERS WILL SHOWCASETHEIR TALENT UNDER THETHEME

‘FOLLOW YOUR HEART’

with as many people as possible.”

He believes hiscraft cannever be fully replaced by artificial intelligence(AI).

“WhenI speakabout scratching Imeanyou arebringingmoreofa humanelement into the music. Howyou executethe scratching techniquehas gottodowithyourexpression.AIcan also scratchbut youare able to tell if it’s human or artificial.”

Danielssaysbeing aDJisa skill.

“You must be able to read thecrowd andthe energy andcreatethe energy as well andtake people on ajourney.”

AccordingtoDaniels,staying eagertolearn andexperimenting with musicare what keep himmotivated

Danielssayshefeelshonouredtobepartof thethisyear’sCapeTownCarnival. He made aguest appearance with localrapperYoungsta CPTinlastyear’sevent

“I am excited. It givesmeanopportunityto participateinsomething that Ifeel is specialfor Cape Town.Being giventhe freedom to do what Idoand representthe cultureand bringsome additional elements to thecarnival. We will be bringing custom cars to theevent –torepresent theroadsafetyprogrammesour organisation does.”

He says audiencescan look forwardtobeing takenona hip-hopjourney

Danielsencouragesaspiringcreatives to believeinthemselvesand to be committedtotheir craft. “Build your ownpresence. Youngpeople arebeing exploitedbecause they arehappy to play at acluband getpaidverylittlefor value.

“Don’t undervalue yourself.Bepreparedfor late nights andremembernotwo events arethe same.”

Novusmedia,which publishes People’s Post, is aproud printmedia sponsorofthe carnival

ArtsandCulturefundingopportunitiesavailable

TheDepartmentofCulturalAffairs andSport in theWestern Cape invitesapplicationsfor its annual arts andculture funding

Fundingisavailable across keyareas,includingculturaltourism,literature, film,language promotionand preservation,and theperformingarts. Applications will closeonMonday9 Marchat 23:59.

RicardoMackenzie,the WesternCapeMinisterofCulturalAffairs andSport,says: “The arts andculture sector playsa crucialrolein theWestern Cape in creating jobopportunities, bringing visitors to ourprovinceand growing ourlocal economy. We have awealthoftalent in ourprovinceand we arecommittedto supportingour localartists andorganisations in this sphere to ensure they cancontinuetheir work.”

Applicants areencouragedtosubmittheir requests at least24– 48 hoursbeforethe deadline

Late applications will notbeconsidered. .Thecriteriaand categories forfunding,as well as application forms,areavailableonline at https://www.westerncape.gov.za/cas/service/ arts-and-culture-funding

Toagewithgracethroughseasonsofchange

expect from someonewho just turned 100. Shesat in hercouch whilst herwalkerstood at her knees

“Whenyou look up,say thank you. Youmay notknowwhat youreceive.Every dayyou arecovered,inyourcar and anything canhappenonthe way, butGod makesyourpath clear.”

Theseare wordsfromFreda Naidoo, agreat-grandmother from Fairways that Irecentlyinterviewed fora storyuponreaching 100years of age. Aweek later, I find herwords of advice forthose wishingto live ahealthy andprosperouslife stillechoand intrigue my mind whetherI’m drivingtothe office or daydreamingonthe balconyofmy apartment.

During theinterview,I found myself dumbstruck at thesheer optimism andinfectioussense of humour Naidoo displayedasshe shared herstory

As Iapproached herhome, Isaw herexoticallydecorated porchwith shrubs whilst agroup of cats layon herstoep in theafternoon sun. Upon introducingmyself, she greeted me with theutmostrespect andenthusiasmone wouldnot

Once Iswitchedonmyvoice recorder andthe interviewunfolded, Ifelttransported to asimpler time wherethe flow of life wasallowed to move at amoremoderate, yet oppressive pace,considering it was theheightofapartheid

Isaw hereyesgleamed as she recalledher fond childhood memories of aforgottenversion of Piketberg, whereshe wasborn. Sheenthusedwithchildlike delightasshe told me abouther mother’s love forbakingcakes At theage of 23 shegot married, as most of ourgrandparentsand parentsdid at that time,and started herlifeasa furrier when she movedtoDiepRiver

However, notlongafter their move,tragedy struck when she, her husbandand 12-year-olddaughter, were forcibly removedand ordered to move to Fairways duetothe GroupAreas Act.

Hervoice wasstirring and filled herloungewitha haunting wisdom. Shewas theyoungestoffour siblings,all of whom have passed, andasI listened to her, Iwondered what theweightofher life felt like To comprehend thethought of witnessing so much change,trag-

edy, aWorld Warand countless advancements in technology

From theradio,tothe television, thefax machines,computers, cellphones, theInternetand now Artificial Intelligence(AI).

Andyet as Irelived themisty momentsofher life with her, I couldnot detect an ounceofworry, regret,spite or bitternessofeither thepastorpresent ageinher voice.

Of course,she felt hurt being disrespected andoverlooked as an upcoming andyoung female evangelist by some of herpeersinthe 70’s,but shetook this criticismas fueltofeed herdedication, to live alifehonouring JesusChristand remainingperseverant

She is amotherto five children; hereldestdaughtersadly died when shewas forty. She experiencednochronic illnessesnor anyaddictiontoalcohol or smoking.

Hersharp andinfectioussense of humour wasevident as shetold me whyshe neversmoked. “I’lltell youexactly whyI neversmoked! Iboughta pack of cigarettesand told myself,‘todayI’llsmoke them!’ andthatnight thestrangestthing happened,”she told this storywithOscar-worthygestures andpassion.“As soon as Iput the cigarette to my lips,it flew outof my mouthand landed on the floor

andfromthatday on,I said I’ll neversmoke again,”she laughedas sheclappedher handsand closed hereyesgleefully

In herninetiesshe wasstruck by aQuantum taxi whiletrying to crossthe road, flungoverthe vehicle, crackedher skulltwice and suffered abrokenhip

Sherecovered in hospital forten months only to endure aruptured vein

Andyet she’sstill standing,still laughing andbakingtrifles for Christmasand taking Ubersfor a weekly shopping When theinterview ended, Ifelt atremendoussense of gratitudeto be alive.

Hergrit, determinationand never-say-dieattitude will always remain with me wherever Igo. Before Ireached my car, sheheld my hand andlooked me in theeye andsaidshe sees aprosperous futurefor me

Theinspiration,the lessons we need to help us mature andappreciatethe present, cancomefrom theelders.

They arethe ones whohavesufferedand enduredlikegreat toweringtrees with deep rootsanchoring themselves throughthe seasons of rain,heatand uncertaintylife throws us as we tackle 2026 and theyears beyond

School’sn

KEANANHARMSE

Anewlyappointed school counsellor aims to enrich andnurture thelives of theyouth as shesteps into her newroleatChristelHouse SouthAfrica.

NajmaFakierwas welcomed by theschool as theirnew high school counselloronWednesday 28 January, bringing with herseven yearsof specialisedexperiencesupportingchildrenand

Dramaticallytransformed

KEANANHARMSE

Two localschoolsfromRetreatand Heathfieldwere crownedfor displaying greatimprovementsintheir matric resultsthisyear.

It wasannouncedthatbothHeathfieldHighSchool andCrestwayHigh School achieved oneoftheir most dramatic educationaltransformations in theWestern Cape,atthisyear’s National Senior Certificate (NSC) Awards Ceremony,which washeld at theremier’sofficial residencein Leeuwenhof on Thursday 29 January. Last month, HeathfieldHighcelebratedan89,9% pass rate,showcasing asignificant improvement compared to last year’s 73,5%average (“Startstudy early, warn achievers,” People’s Post,20January 2026)

HeathfieldHighsecured 67 Bachelorpasses, 55 diplomas and30higher certificates.

This year HeathfieldHighearned thetop-five spot as oneofthe most improved school pass ratesthisyear. Crestway skyrocketedfromthe province’s lowest pass rate in 2023 to an impressive 84,5%passratefor last year “Candidatesincreased theirbachelor’spassratebyover30percentage points between 2023 andlastyear,

andshownosigns of slowingdown this year.WhenI visitedCrestway High School afterthe resultswereannounced, some of theschool’s current Grade10s –who arealready referring to themselves as theClass of 2028 –told me they have aclear message: ‘Weare coming forBishops!’ It is possible!,” said provincial education minister,David Maynier.

HeathfieldHighprincipal Nadia Aanhuizenisbeaming with pridefor theClass of 2025

Theschool wasacknowledgedfor itssteadyincreaseinpassratefrom 2023 to last year

They were fifthinthe province

“It’sa moment to acknowledge diligence, vision andperseveranceof educatorsand learners alike.

“Success breedssuccess; theaward andthe NSCresults have hada positive impact on staff andlearner body Teachers have communicatedtheir targetstolearnersand parentsand learners arebuyingintothe vision of striving towardsholisticexcellence.

“The Grade12interventionprogramme is goingfromstrengthto strength andattendance at classesis at 100%,” shesaid.

People's Post triedcontactingthe learners forcomment buttheycould notrespond before thetimeofgoing to print.

HEATHFIELD HIGH SCHOOL AND CRESTWAYHIGH SCHOOL IMPROVE RESULTS

Express delivers deeds in Lotus

Local residentscould expresstheir grievances on housingissues and some received titledeeds,during TheCityofCapeTown’sroadshowprogramme

Theevent washeldatthe LotusRiver Civic Ce Th sd Ja nd sh d

DEEDSREPRESENT

SECURITY,DIGNITY,AND A LASTING LEGACY

From gang lifetoguiding youthtowardhope

KAYLYNNEBANTOM

KAYLYNNE.BANTOM@NOVUSMEDIA.CO.ZA

“AsI waslying in the street Icried outand askedGod to forgive me formysins. Ifelta sense of peace. That’s when Isaw an angelatmyright hand.”

Mervyn Matthys(28), once ahardened gangster andnow asecond-year Unisastudent studying Information Science, recallsthe nighteverything changed, amomentofsurrender that transformedhis life andlefthim paralysedfromthe waistdown.

Matthys’lifehas been shaped by

trauma andheartache from an early age, drivinghim into aseriesofdestructivechoices

“I wasnamed aftermyfatherand theonlything Iinherited from him wasthe violentmemoriesofhow he used to abusemymother. Igrewup scared andlonely. Butmymother wasmysupport system,” he tells People’s Post

He says as a12-year-old he wasalreadyexperimenting with drugsand hadjoineda gang

“ItfeltlikeeverywhereI went Ihad asignonmyheadthatsaid, ‘bully me’. At school andinthe community, children wanted to bully me

“I hada choice:eitherallowpeople to do what they wanted to do with me,orI couldstand up formyself. Standing up formyselfgot me into a lotoftrouble.”

Matthys says witnessing what hisfather didtohis mother filledhim with anger, andhelashedout at others as aresult.

“WhenI gottohighschool,the bullies gotbiggerand were twicemysize. Icouldn’t fightthem. That’s when I joined agang. Once Iwenttoschool with 25 gang memberstoconfront thebully

“I knew it waswrong,but it felt good becauseI wasgetting even.This made me feel betterabout myself People wouldcommend me forwhat Idid.”

At 16 he wasfound guilty of stabbing someone. “The courtsentenced me to adiversion programme where Ihad to attend angermanagement classes. Iwas expelledfromschool.I couldsee thedisappointmentonmy mother’s face.Mymotherdid thebest shecould.I made thewrong decisions

on my own. ”

NIGHTOFSHOOTING

Matthys describes27May 2017 as a dayhewillnever forget.“On this day Icould feel deathwas in theatmosphere.Myfriendand Ilefta shebeen andwewerewalking in thestreet.It wasjustafter 23:45. Iheard avoice telling me to turn around.Almostlike Godwarning me.I turned around andsaw four guys approaching. We stoodstill andone approached us.Hewalkedstraighttomyfriend andpulledout agun andshothim repeatedly.”

He says he frozefor amoment, unsure of what do andthenstarted running

“I didn’t getfar,I couldhearthe bullets flying past me.I knew at this pointthathewas shootingatme. I fell face firstintothe ground.WhenI wanted to getup, Icould notfeel my legs.”

He says theperpetrator rantowards him. “The guyran towardsmeand shot me in thechest.I waslying in thestreetonmyback. He came closer leaned over me andpressedhis gun directly againstmychest andpulled thetrigger five times. Butnothing came out. AllI heardwas thesound of thetrigger.”

AccordingtoMatthys,the gunman then fled leavinghim fordead.

“I wasjustlying thereand watched them ranaway. Iturnedtosee if my friend wasokay, andI knew he was

gone.I couldn’t breatheproperly.” In adesperate moment,Matthys says he remembered hismother’s voicetelling himabout God “After Iprayed, Ifeltatpeace and that gave me theenergytoshout for help.” He explains that twopeople arrivedonthe scene. However, they were family membersofthe rival gang andtheyrobbedhim andhis dead friend

Matthys tells People’s Post when they left,hestarted calling forhelp. “Mymothereventually arrivedwith ablanket andknelt next to me.She didn’t expect to find me alive. She whisperedinmyear that Ineed to make rightwithGod.”

He hadtoundergo an emergency operationasmostofhis majororgans were damaged. “AsI waslayinginthe hospital beda fewdayslater,I could notdenythatitwas thehandofGod that savedme.”

Matthys says hisjourney to recovery waschallengingashehad to re-learn howtodothingsfor himself.

Aftera three-year legalbattle, the shooter wasfound guilty andsentenced to 25 yearsinjail.

“I wouldliketoteach children howtoreadand write. He hopesto become alicensedyouth minister andestablish ayouth centre in his community.I am abetterfatherto my kids than my father wastome. Thebad things that happenedtome pushed me to be thepersonthatI am today.”