Ho italad tesforhindrance
elyamoment
living rooms.
Butbehindthe official updatesand reopened roads, recovery does notarrive at everydoorstep at thesametime. Formanyfamilies, the stormisnot over when therainstops
Thequestionthatremains is adifficult one: canour people affordwhatcomes after? Becauserecoveryisnot only aboutrepairing walls or clearing debris.Itisabout replacing what waslost.
Furniture. Clothing.Important documents. A senseofsafety. Forsome, support comesquickly.For others,itcomes slowly.And formany, it maynot come at all. That is theuncomfortable truthsevereweather continuestoexpose. The rain mayfallacrossthe same province,but recovery is rarely experiencedequally Forsomehouseholds, insuranceclaimsare filedand repairsbegin within days Forothers, rebuilding dependsonborrowed money, thegenerosityofneighboursorsimply learning to live with thedamagefor longer than they should have to This is whereinequalitybecomes visiblein itsmostpractical form.Not in statistics.Not in policy statements
Butinwho canreplace what waslost, andwho cannot. Thereisalsoanemotional cost that oftengoesunseen.Childrenreturntoschool carryinguncertainty.Parents attempttocreate calm whilecarryingprivate anxietiesabout repairstheycannotyet afford. Teachers aretaskedwithrestoring routine andstability forlearners, even whileknowing some arereturning from homesstill marked by disruption.Thisemotional labour formspartof recovery too.
Recovery is aboutrebuildingstability.Predictability. Security.The things that make a home feel like home.Myheart is with every family across theWestern Cape nowfacingthat difficult work
Thequiet,exhaustingtaskofbeginning again. Oftenwithlimited resources. Oftenwithno cleartimelinefor relief
Andoften whilethe worldhas alreadymoved on.Thisiswhathappens afterthe storm. Notclosure.Not instantrecovery. Nota neat return to normal.But thelong, uneven process of rebuilding
Untilrecoveryisexperienced more equally across ourcommunities,“normal”willremain somethingrestoredquickly forsomeand painfully outofreach forothers.
‘Small breakthroughs’ motivate
Retiredlensman‘tofocusonfun’
AVRILFILLIES
Policeare depicted in movies and sometimesinreallifewiththeir 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 Africa’s borders, travelling to severalcountries, whileshowcasinghis incredible talent
“His body of work canbedescribed as attractive andmasterful.Heleavesnot only as adecorated member butasa storytellerwho preservedthe historyofthe police throughhis lens,” shesaid.
During hiscareer of more than threedecades he captured photographsduringclandestine operations,surveillanceoperations, crimepreventionoperations, sports events on provincial, national andinternational levels.Hecaptured newsworthy events forinternaland external publications,and waspresent at drug,abalone and firearmseizures.
Hisother hobbies include fishing, diving and outdoor activities with hisfamily. Stillonhis bucket list is a fishingtriptoHentiesbaai,scuba diving in variouslocations,underwaterand wildlife photography.
Othercolleaguespresent at hisfarewelldescribedhis capturingofanimage as amoment in time that cannever be turned back.Soifyou missedit, it is gone forever.
Capt IanBennett, spokesperson forManenberg police,who sawSmitinactiononhis visits to theManenberg Precinct,saysthe photographer sees what others don’tsee andwhenthe camera clicks amomentiscaptured.
“Whatthe photographer sees throughhis lens, is the fleetingglance, thequiet sorroworthe unspoken joy. Smit hasthe abilitytoturnmomentsintomonuments andistestament that a memory wasmadevisible.May hisnew journey bringhim mirrorlessshutterspeed,ISO,aperture,clicksand aperfect picture,”hesays.
In hisfarewellspeechSmitthanked hiswife andtwo children fortheir support. He expressedgratitude forhis yearsinthe police service, saying it wasmorethanjusta work “Theywereabout people,experiences,growth
andmemoriesthatI will carry with me forthe rest of my life.One thingI have always believed is that discipline andrespect areamong the most importantvaluesinlife. Discipline keeps youfocused,groundedand committed, while respectshapeshow youtreat others,how you carry yourself,and howyou approach everyresponsibility entrustedtoyou.I have also always believed that wherever you find yourself,you should trytomakea meaningful contribution, no matterhow small, becausethatishow we make adifference,” Smit said He wasprivilegedtoworkwithdedicated colleagueswho throughthe yearsbecamefriends They shared busy days,difficult moments, deadlines, pressure andalsolaughsalong the way. Theseare thethingshe’ll remember most
SASAmatolachangeofcommand
KEANANHARMSE
KEANAN.HARMSE@NOVUSMEDIA.CO.ZA
Ahistoricmilestone forthe SouthAfrican Navy wasmarkedatNaval Base Simon'sTownon Thursday 14 MaywhenCaptain Zanele Madiba made historyasthe firstwoman to command aValourClass Frigateduringthe SASAmatola Change of Command Parade
Theceremonyformedpartoftwo official Change of Command paradeshostedbythe SouthAfrican Navy forSAS Amatola(F145)and SASKINGShaka Zulu (P1572), symbolisingthe formal transfer of leadership,responsibilityand trustbetween commanding officers
Senior navalleadership, government representatives,defence partners andmilitarypersonnelattendedthe parades, whichhighlighted theNavy'scommitmenttoprofessionalism, continuity andoperational readiness.
Madiba's appointmentwas regarded as asignificant achievementinthe transformation and progression of theSouth AfricanNavytaking over thereins whilemaintaining operationalexcellencewithinthe fleet,saidSANavyspokesperson,StaceyJonas
Theparadealsomarkedthe conclusion of CaptainDieterJones's tenure as outgoing officercommandingofSAS Amatola, during whichhereflectedonthe vessel'sremarkable turnaround from astrugglingplatformtoa fully operationalfrigate capableofinternational deployment
In hisfarewelladdress, Jonesdescribed the earlydaysofhis command as oneofthe most challengingperiods of hisnaval career
"Members of theNavyCommand Council, thankyou forentrustingmewiththiscommand,providing guidance andsupport,no matterhow insignificant,itall contributedto thesuccess achieved by this amazingships company," he said
In hisspeechhehighlighted thechallenges he encountered.
"WhenI assumedcommand,Amatola was dead.Wewerestuck with littleprogressor support;aswewerenot apriorityvessel, we needed to complete an EC 53 (completeengine change). Needless to say, it wasa challenging start,"hesaidcandidly.
He said that hisapproachfromday onewas to "unify theShips Company"
"The momentum startedshiftingwhenwe forced ourselvesintothe drydock. By nowthe ShipsCompany knew andunderstood thecommand vision andour approach to ourmaintenanceauthorities andcontractors wasalways, what canwedotohelpyou help us.I managed to gettoknowthese people well, many of them aresitting on my left today. Thankyou allfor what youhavedonetosupport my command vision," he said
Madiba said sheexperienced an extensive journeybeforethisnew role butsaysshe hopes to take SASAmatola to newheights Shewas born in UmzimkuluinKwaZulu-Nataland raised in Soweto "The vision forany OfficerCommandingisto make sure theshipisoperational andavailable, whichisyourjob to getthe ship at seaand fulfill themandate of theSANavywhich is protect ourshores, to remain at sea, fightatsea andto make sure that your crew is trainedand provide theSouth Africanpeoplewitha Navy that is capableand operational,"she said In hisspeechJones recalleda specialmemory:duringhis tenure with hiscrewitwas their journeyfroma "deadshiptocrossing theIndian Ocean",which wasinitially a"pipe dream" "Thisdeploymentwas the firstexternal deployment forthe SouthAfrican Navy in a decade.SAS Amatolavisited Indiafor participationinanInternational Fleet Review and Exercise MilanthenSAS Amatolaconducted goodwill visits to China, Malaysia,Kenya and Tanzania," he said JoneswishedMadibawellduringher historical journeyasthe "firstladytocommand"a
Valour ClassFrigate
"I am proudofthe hand Icould play in your developmentand thequalification that brings youheretoday.You have achallengingtask aheadofyou to keep AMAT operational, butI am sure youare equippedtobesuccessful," he said Jonesalsoexpressedgratitude to hisfamily, particularly hiswife, Vanessa,and theirtwo sons,Marno andReuben, acknowledgingthe sacrificestheymadeduringhis 24 yearsof serviceatsea "Noone will ever comprehend thesacrifices youhavemadefor me to serveatsea formore than 24 years,"heexplained Jonessaysheislookingforward to relaxing andspendingquality time with hisfamilyin Fish Hoek
Capt Piet Smit received the WesternCapePrestige AwardasAdministrativeEmployeeofthe Year and winning the National PrestigeAward as Employee of theYearin2016. PHOTOS: SUPPLIED
Retired provincial photographer Capt Piet Smit nevermisses ashot
