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Tuesday, 1 September 2026

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Living Through Learning (LTL) is looking forward to celebrating International Literacy Day at Hillwood Primary School on Tuesday 8 September. PHOTO: SUPPLIED.

LEARNING TO READ WITH MEANING

African Story Time KEANAN HARMSE

KEANAN.HARMSE@NOVUSMEDIA.CO.ZA

Literacy-support group Living Through Learning (LTL) is hoping to inspire the youth of Lavender Hill when they visit Hillwood Primary School to celebrate International Literacy Day on Tuesday, 8 September. LTL will host African Story Time at the school in the hopes of helping children develop stronger reading, language and learning skills, according to its spokesperson, Natalie Maliqua. International Literacy Day is an annual global observance held to highlight the importance of

literacy as a matter of dignity and human rights. LTL is a registered non-proﬁt organisation (NPO) that focuses on improving foundation-phase literacy among young learners in the country. Founded originally in 1990, and operating independently as LTL since 2010, the organisation focuses heavily on supporting disadvantaged schools and teachers in the Western Cape region. It is currently working in 10 schools across the province, supporting approximately 400 Foundation Phase and Grade R learners and training more than 40 teachers annually. The organisation uses creative, interactive educational programmes to make literacy exciting, meaningful and memorable, particularly for learners who need additional support.

NEWS

[This is] an interactive literacy experience Natalie Maliqua “The production follows Una Mzansi on an African bush adventure, using storytelling to encourage learners to engage with reading while exploring themes of knowledge, imagination and learning.” Foundation Phase learners will take part in performances and interactive activities, providing an opportunity to showcase the importance of literacy and the impact of creative learning experiences within communities.

NEWS

Heathﬁeld High School learners win big at Cape Town Regional Science Fair - 3

More than 80% of South African Grade 4 learners cannot read with understanding, according to LTL. Maliqua said the group chose Lavender Hill for this event because “children who enjoyed reading are more likely to read voluntarily, and the more they read the stronger their literacy skills become, especially in communities where children may have fewer books, resources or opportunities. “Creating positive and exciting experiences around reading is particularly important. Literacy gives children greater conﬁdence and expands their future possibilities. “This year’s celebration will feature African Story Time, an interactive literacy experience combining storytelling, puppetry, learner participation, character performances and dance.

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2 NEWS

PEOPLE’SPOST | GrassyPark|Retreat Tuesday, 1 September 2026

20% of Gr 4s can ‘read’

ore than 914 000 South African Grade 4 learners cannot read for meaning in any of the country’s 11 oﬃcial languages, according to the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (Pirls).

People’s Post is published by WP Media, a subsidiary of Novus Media.

Whom To Contact EDITOR Thulani Magazi

( 021 910 6530

* thulani.magazi@novusmedia.co.za JOURNALIST Kaylynne Bantom

(021 910 6584

* kaylynne.bantom@novusmedia.co.za EDITIONS: Atlantic Seaboard, City Bowl, Maitland, Woodstock, Athlone & Lansdowne JOURNALIST Namhla Monakall

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( 021 910 6504

2022, concentrated in North West, the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. The World Literacy Foundation (WLF) estimates the cost to South Africa’s economy at approximately US$5,13 billion a year in lost productivity, foregone earnings and reduced workforce participation, applying Unesco’s economic model for illiteracy. Earlier WLF estimates have ranged as high as US$6,7 billion.

That ﬁgure represents 81% of the cohort. It places South Africa last among the 57 countries and regions assessed in the most recent study, released in May 2023. The country also recorded the steepest decline among the 33 participants with comparable trend data. The proportion of learners unable to read for meaning rose from 78% in 2016 to 81% in 2021, erasing a decade of slow gains. In 2019, President Cyril Ramaphosa set a national goal: every 10-year-old should be able to read for meaning by 2030. Four years out, the trend is moving the other way.

Illiteracy is not only a South African problem. Unesco estimates that 739 million adults worldwide cannot read. The WLF works across ﬁve continents to close that gap, one classroom, one book and one reader at a time. “South Africa has the researchers, teachers and programmes that know how to close this gap,” said Andrew Kay, CEO and founder of the WLF. “Those voices belong on the world stage.”

ADULTS LEFT BEHIND

OXFORD SUMMIT CALLS FOR PAPERS

Adult literacy tells a similar story of averages hiding gaps. South Africa’s adult literacy rate stood at 91,15% in 2024, according to the United Nations Educational, Scientiﬁc and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) Institute for Statistics. However, the Department of Higher Education and Training reports that 3,9 million adults remained functionally illiterate in

A GLOBAL CHALLENGE

This research will feature at the World Literacy Summit at Oxford University in March next year. Researchers, policymakers and teachers from more than 85 countries will meet under the theme “Literacy in a Connected World”. Literacy specialists working on South African reading outcomes, mother-tongue instruction, foundation phase teaching or adult

Nearly one million South African Grade 4 learners cannot read for meaning, according to the latest Progress in International Reading Literacy Study. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

3,9 MILLION ADULTS ‘ILLITERATE’ education are invited to submit a paper or presentation proposal. The deadline is 30 August.

The WLF operates in 54 countries with a mission to eradicate illiteracy by 2040. According to the foundation, 92% of online donations go directly towards books, learning spaces and literacy programmes for children and adults in need.

* keanan.harmse@novusmedia.co.za

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The City’s community, arts and culture development department invites community organisations to apply for funding for programmes addressing substance abuse prevention, gender-related needs and early childhood caregiver training in vulnerable communities. Community organisations play an important role in reaching residents who need support and responding to needs within their communities. “This R5 milion in grant-in-aid

funding will support registered organisations to deliver programmes in vulnerable communities, including substance abuse prevention, gender programmes and early childhood caregiver training. I encourage organisations that qualify to apply before the deadline and to make use of the City’s assistance if they need help with the process,” said Mayco member for community services and health, Francine Higham. Registered organisations can

submit proposals to implement substance abuse prevention programmes, gender programmes and early childhood caregiver training within vulnerable communities for the 2026-’27 ﬁnancial year. For information on the programmes to be funded, the process to follow and contact details for assistance, go to Get Grants-in-Aid funding. Deliver the completed application, with supporting documentation, to the Research and Programme Development Branch,

13th Floor, Civic Centre, Hertzog Boulevard, Cape Town or e-mail to Public.Participation@capetown. gov.za. The closing date is Monday 14 September at noon. No late or incomplete applications will be considered. All applications will be assessed in accordance with the Grants-in-Aid Policy and must conform to the Municipal Financial Management Act. For further information, contact Anrich Ras on 021 427 7063.

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Reinvent yourself before life reinvents you NAMHLA MONAKALI

A JOURNO’S VOICE

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Press Code People’s Post subscribes to the South African Press Code and we are committed to journalism that is honest, accurate, fair and balanced. Under our editorial policy, we invite readers to comment on the newspaper’s content and we correct signiﬁcant errors as soon as possible. Please send information to the news editor at thulani.magazi@novusmedia.co.za or phone 021 910 6530. Alternately, please contact the Ombudsman of Novus Media Community Press, George Claassen at mediaombud@novusmedia.co.za or 083 543 2471. Complaints can also be sent to the SA Press Ombudsman on telephone 021 851 3232 or via email hermans@ombudsman.org.za

Disclaimer People’s Post and Novus Media have not veriﬁed whether any of the services or products advertised in this publication are safe to use or will have the desired e�ect or outcome. Readers are warned that they should carefully consider and verify the advertiser’s credentials. People’s Post and Novus Media do not accept any liability whatsoever in respect of any of the services or goods advertised. NM10053605-QK280726

Today, Spring day, is the start of days become longer as we enter the final stretch of the year. For many of us, it is a reminder that another year is moving quickly and that perhaps some of the things we promised ourselves in January have not happened. But perhaps September is a better time to take stock than January ever was. We often treat the beginning of a new year as our only opportunity to change. We make resolutions, set goals and convince ourselves that we will become different versions of ourselves from 1 January. Yet life does not wait for January. Life changes in the middle of the year, in the middle of a career and sometimes in the middle of plans we were certain would work out. A job disappears. An application is rejected. A relationship ends. Money becomes tight. A business fails. A qualification takes us somewhere we did not expect to go.

We discover that the career we worked so hard to build no longer makes us happy. Sometimes the uncertainty is external. Sometimes it is internal. You simply wake up one day and realise that the person you have become is no longer comfortable with the life you are living. That is where reinvention comes in. Reinventing yourself does not necessarily mean throwing your entire life away and starting from scratch. Sometimes it means repositioning yourself. It means asking: Where am I now? Where do I want to go? What do I need to change to get there? The qualification that once seemed like the key to a particular career may no longer be enough. But experience matters. So does adaptability. Perhaps you do not need to start over. Perhaps you need to present yourself differently. Update your CV. Learn the skill you have been putting off. Build a portfolio. Apply for the position you keep telling yourself you are not qualified for. Speak to someone working in the field you want to enter. Take the course. Start the side project. Position yourself for the opportunity before it arrives. Too often, we wait

until we are forced or desperately need change before preparing for it. There is also something else that holds many of us back: age. We have created timelines for our lives as though everyone receives the same instruction manual. By 25, you should know what you want. By 30, you should have a successful career. By 35, you should own a home. By 40, you should have everything figured out. But I’ve lived long enough to see life does not work that way. Some people find their calling at 22. Others at 42. Some build successful careers and later realise they want something completely different. Others have to start again because circumstances leave them with no choice. There is no expiry date on ambition. We should also be honest about what reinvention can do. It cannot protect us from uncertainty. You can make sensible plans and still lose your job. You can work hard and still be overlooked. You can prepare carefully and still have life disrupt your plans. Reinvention is not pretending that these things do not hurt. It is refusing to believe that a setback has to become your identity. Perhaps that is what makes a new

season such a useful metaphor. Spring does not ask whether winter was successful. It simply arrives. We should give ourselves the same permission. If the career you chose no longer fits, you can reconsider it. If your goals have changed, you can change them. If the version of yourself you created years ago no longer reflects who you are, you can let it go. You do not need to have the next five years figured out. You need to know what you are willing to do next. So perhaps the question is not whether you have achieved everything you wanted this year. Perhaps it is: Are you positioning yourself for the life you want next? There are still months left in the year. More importantly, there is still time. Life will continue to change whether we are ready for it or not. We may not be able to control what comes next, but we can decide whether we remain stuck in what no longer serves us. Sometimes reinvention is not about becoming someone new. It is about becoming ready for who you are still capable of becoming. And there is no better time to begin than now.

NEWS 3

PEOPLE’SPOST | GrassyPark|Retreat Tuesday, 1 September 2026

Heathﬁeld High science gold F

KEANAN HARMSE

our Heathfield High School learners are looking back proudly on their achievements at the Cape Town Regional Science Fair, held at the University of Cape Town (UCT) on Tuesday 11 and Thursday 13 August, returning with two gold medals, two Highly Commended awards and the Best Project in the Mathematics Category. This year’s Science Fair was hosted by the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists where 333 learners took part and in total presented 235 research projects. Grade 10 learners Resego Mpshane and Rishile Sambo each received a gold medal for their project, “The Collatz Conjecture: The 3n + 1 Rule”, which explored an unsolved mathematical problem, according to Heathfield High teacher, Mee-chay Jacobs. The duo’s project was also named Best Project in the Mathematics Category. Grade 9 learners Corbin van Wyk and Tshepo Kanase also each received a Highly Commended award for their project, “Which Storage Method Preserves Food Best?” It was the first time any of the learners had participated in the Expo. The three-day event began with learners setting up their project displays and completing the project approval process. On the second day, each learner presented their research to a panel of two or three judges and confidently answered questions about their project. On the final day, the fair opened to parents, community members and the wider public before concluding with the awards ceremony. Sambo and Mpshane said they were surprised to have achieved such impressive awards. “Winning these gold medals means a lot to us. We are grateful for each other and to the newspaper for letting the community celebrate

THIS YEAR’S SCIENCE FAIR HOSTED BY ESKOM EXPO FOR YOUNG SCIENTISTS with us. This achievement is our motivation to keep working hard and achieve even better, to represent our school and community.” Their achievements took place during Women’s Month, adding further signiﬁcance, added Jacobs. Mpshane and Sambo also won gold medals in the u-17 Girls division at the District South Chess League. Mathematics teacher and Science Expo Coordinator Bongani Masilela highlighted the connection between the science expo, science, mathematics, other STEM subjects and chess. “Rishile and Resego are excellent examples of this connection,” he said. “Their success goes beyond simply increasing female participation in chess. It highlights the growing presence, excellence and leadership of young women in science, mathematics, STEM and competitive chess. “Young women across the southern suburbs are not only ready to participate — they are ready to excel, innovate, compete and lead.” Jacobs said: “Our foundation has been laid. Every teacher and learner at our school has an opportunity to build things up. It takes sacriﬁces, but we have to do or watch the world moving forward when we can actually be the ones moving it.” School principal, Nadia Anhuizen, was also highly involved and continually encouraged the learners to do their best, according to Jacobs.

Heathﬁeld High School Grade 10 learners Rishile Sambo and Resego Mpshane at their station where they presented their science projects.

Resego Mpshane with her award. Alongside her is Heathﬁeld High School teacher Mee-Chay Jacobs.

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4 NEWS

PEOPLE’SPOST | GrassyPark|Retreat Tuesday, 1 September 2026

Bequeath to Red Cross NAMHLA MONAKALI Cape Town residents can have their will drafted for free during Wills Week, from Monday 14 to Friday 18 September, while supporting children’s health care across the Western Cape. Many participating attorneys oﬀer free basic will-drafting services during the week. The Children’s Hospital Trust is encouraging residents to consider leaving a bequest a gift in their will to support paediatric health care. NEVER TURNS A CHILD AWAY

The trust raises funds for the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, which treats children from all walks of life and never turns a sick or injured child away, according to longtime supporter Wendy Ackerman. The connection of the Ackerman family, founders of the Ackermans and Pick n Pay supermarket chains, to the hospital spans three generations. Ackerman’s father-in-law, Gus Ackerman, helped fundraise to build the hospital. She and late husband Raymond later lost a grandchild who had been cared for at the hospital. “It wasn’t merely a big building opposite Rondebosch Common. It was an important part of the lives of the children in Cape Town and environs. Children came from all over the country.” HOW A BEQUEST WORKS

A bequest is a gift left in a will. Donors can leave a speciﬁc amount of money, a percentage of their estate, or assets such as property or shares. The trust, established in 1994, is run on strict governance principles, said Ackerman. “Every cent that is donated to the Children’s Hospital Trust is placed in a project for the beneﬁt of the children.” Bequests are among the trust’s most critical sources of long-term funding because they allow the organisation to plan ahead.

Raymond and Wendy Ackerman. The Ackerman family’s connection to the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital spans three generations. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

The trust has been approved by the South African Revenue Service (Sars) to issue tax certificates, allowing donors to deduct donations against their taxable income. Bequests are also excluded from an estate for estate duty purposes, and assets donated may qualify for capital gains tax relief. Residents should consult their financial adviser, attorney or estate planner to understand the benefits relevant to their circumstances. HOW TO TAKE PART

Many legal practitioners have agreed to draw up wills for free during Wills Week, said Ackerman. Residents should contact their attorney or legal adviser to conﬁrm whether they oﬀer this service. Donations can also be made directly through the trust’s website at childrenshospitaltrust.org.za.

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The dog play park located behind the Cape of Good Hope SPCA in Grassy Park is appealing for volunteers to assist them with dog walks. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

Woeﬁe Wandel back September KEANAN HARMSE ncreased admissions in abandoned stray dogs and added strain at the Cape of Good Hope SPCA in Grassy Park, has inspired the launch of their annual fundraising dog walk that will assist the animal sanctuary with pet food and operating costs.

PREPARING ONE DOG FOR ADOPTION COSTS THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE SPCA R7 143

The annual Woeﬁe Wandel dog walk and Pet Fair returns to Reddam Field on Sunday, 20 September, in Green Point Park, as the number of dogs entering SPCA care reaches 13 417. People’s Post spoke with SPCA spokesperson Belinda Abraham who unpacked the needs and pressures they’re experiencing at the facility. A morning out with your own dog will help fund food, veterinary treatment, shelter, protection and responsible rehoming for dogs arriving at the Cape of Good Hope SPCA, she added. “That support is urgently needed. During the past year, the number of dogs admitted to the SPCA rose from 10 577 to 13 417, representing an increase of 26,9% in just one year. Dogs now account for almost half of all animals admitted by the organisation,” Abraham said. Each dog must be received, assessed and cared for. Some need immediate veterinary treatment. “Others require rehabilitation, behavioural support or time in the adoption kennels while the right home is found. The cost begins the moment they arrive,” she added. “The SPCA does not make money by rehoming animals,” says Abraham, but has to raise funds to make their responsible rehoming eﬀorts possible. “On average, preparing one dog for adoption costs the Cape of Good Hope SPCA R7 143. This covers food, clean bedding, veterinary care,

behavioural assessment and support, infection control, daily attention and follow-up after adoption. The SPCA must fund that care before an adopter is found,” she explained. The dog walk will help fund the food, veterinary treatment, shelter and daily care those animals depend on. The SPCA in Grassy Park is also appealing for volunteers to assist them with dog walks. On the day participants can choose a relaxed 1,3 kilometre walk or a longer 19 kilometre route through Green Point Park. The day will also feature the Absolute Pets Pop Up Shop and Pet Spa, stalls from leading pet care brands, training demonstrations, a photo booth, food stalls, a mini funfair, spot prizes, grand prize draws and popular competitions including Happiest Dog, Best Lookalike and Mutt of the Year. The SPCA Mobile Clinic will provide free rabies vaccinations. Microchipping will be available for R150, giving pet owners an aﬀordable way to improve the chances of being reunited with their animals if they are ever lost. Very Important Pet Parent tickets cost R220 with parking or R180 without parking. Each ticket includes admission for one person and one dog, together with a gift bag valued at more than R1 500. General entry costs R80 per person and R60 per dog. Tickets are available at: https://www.quicket. co.za/events/388637-woeﬁe-wandel-dog-walkpet-fair-2026/#/For more information email comms@spca-ct.co.za.

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NEWS 5

PEOPLE’SPOST | GrassyPark|Retreat Tuesday, 1 September 2026

Cable car used in a ‘rescue’ drive

able Mountain’s iconic cable car became the setting for a high-stakes rescue simulation on Wednesday 26 August as Wilderness Search and Rescue (WSAR) volunteers practised evacuating an injured patient from the mountain in a race against time.

The exercise involved the cable car being suspended above the mountain path, evacuating an injured patient from this pathway by hoisting them up into the cable car and transporting them to the Lower Station where an ambulance would normally be waiting to transport them to hospital. The scenario tested the coordination between WSAR rescue teams and Table Mountain Aerial

WSAR volunteers sharpened their emergency response skills during a simulated rescue exercise using the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway.

Cableway Company’s (TMACC) operational staff, as well as the procedures required to use the Cableway safely during a rescue. Wahida Parker, managing director of TMACC, said WSAR’s volunteers do some of the most demanding and critical work on the mountain. “We have enormous respect for that work, and see it as part of our responsibility to support it in every way we can, through training, and access to our infrastructure. We also support WSAR through fundraising initiatives such as our annual Cableway Charity Challenge and Golf Day.” Parker said as visitor numbers increase towards peak season, access to the Cableway during a real emergency can significantly reduce the time it takes to evacuate an injured or ill visitor. David Nel, spokesperson for WSAR, said the exercise was a crucial part of how they prepare for the season ahead. “For a rescue service built almost entirely on volunteers, that kind of capacity is exactly what helps us keep pace with a busier mountain. “The technical rescue skills involved are ones our teams know well, but the Cableway environment is unique. This training lets rescuers become familiar with the cabin’s rigging, access points and procedures, so they can operate safely and efficiently should a real emergency ever call for it.” Nel said the partnership’s value goes well beyond training. “Without access to the Cableway, rescues we can currently complete in minutes would take hours. That’s a serious delay before a patient reaches definitive medical care, and it places significant physical demands on our volunteers. Every hour saved on one incident is capacity we can put towards the next emergency.” With hiking activity expected to increase over the coming months, both organisations urge visitors to prepare properly before heading onto the mountain.

Wilderness Search and Rescue volunteers took part in a simulated mountain rescue on Table Mountain on Wednesday 26 August. PHOTO: GARY HIRSON

THIS IS SENSITIVE, OFTEN DIFFICULT WORK, CARRIED OUT BY PEOPLE WHO GIVE THEIR TIME FREELY Nel advises hikers to plan routes within their group’s ability, carry suﬃcient water, warm clothing and a charged phone, check weather conditions, stay together, and call WSAR on 021 937 0300 early if they think they may need

help. “Reaching the summit is optional, getting home safely is not,” he says. In an emergency, hikers should note that an emergency phone is located at the Upper Cable Station and is managed by Metro Rescue. “This is sensitive, often diﬃcult work, carried out by people who give their time freely because they care about this mountain and the people on it. We are proud to support WSAR’s work and to play our part in ensuring that, should an emergency happen, our teams are prepared and able to respond together,” concludes Parker.

6 NEWS

PEOPLE’SPOST | GrassyPark|Retreat Tuesday, 1 September 2026

Art brings in record amount for animals

Airlink adresses issues A pre-match aerial display has ignited intense debate across South Africa after a pair of commercial Airlink aircraft performed an ultra-low flypast over Cape Town’s DHL Stadium on Saturday 29 August. The dramatic stunt took place just moments before the highly anticipated second test of the “Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry” series between the Springboks and New Zealand’s All Blacks, leaving spectators awestruck. According to precise tracking data analysed by Flightradar24, the lead aircraft cleared the top of the stadium roof by about 15metres. Determining the exact height above the terrain required a meticulous calculation using ADS-B altitude data. While the aircraft reported a baseline barometric altitude of about 15 metres above mean sea level at standard pressure, correcting for the local air pressure (a QNH of 1019 hPa) placed the planes at an actual altitude of 62,48 to 64,1 metres. Given that the Cape Stadium stands near sea level at a structure height of 49,9 metres, the structural clearance for the lead aircraft was calculated to be a razor-thin 12,5 to 14,02 metres. Public reaction to the breathtaking spectacle has been highly polarised. While many rugby fans inside the stadium and online celebrated the flypast as a thrilling, others quickly took to social media and online forums to voice sharp criticism. Aviation enthusiasts and citizens alike expressed deep concern over the risks of manoeuvring large commercial jets so close to a densely packed stadium structure and a populated urban area. Airlink directly addressed the mixed reactions on Sunday morning 30 August. The regional carrier acknowledged the online public anxiety but strongly defended the operation, emphasising that the entire flight was heavily regulated.Airlink revealed that the complex formation demanded careful planning and physical rehearsals, specifically designed to safely navigate the low altitude at a controlled

A pre-match aerial display has ignited intense debate across South Africa and abroad after a pair of commercial Airlink aircraft performed an ultra-low ﬂypast over Cape Town Stadium when the Springboks faced New Zealand’s All Blacks on Saturday 29 August. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

speed of approximately 150 knots. Furthermore, the airline credited the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) and Air Traffic Navigation Services (ATNS) for providing the necessary guidance, formal approval, and operational support to pull off the event. To mitigate risk, the two-ship formation was operated by an elite, highly experienced flight crew. Each individual aircraft carried three senior captains onboard, serving respectively in the vital roles of commander, co-pilot, and safety/technical officer. Airlink confirmed that recorded flight data from both jets validates that the flypast complied entirely with the SACAA’s approved safety limits. The visual display featured two distinctly branded aircraft. The lead jet was an Embraer E195, registered as ZS-YDE, sporting a sleek, custom black “Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry” livery. It was flanked closely by a second Embraer E190, registered as ZS-YAE, which wore a vibrant green version of the exact same commemorative style.

KEANAN HARMSE

orgotten paintings and animal artworks all contributed to funding a record R70 200 for the animals in need at TEARS Animal Rescue through this year’s RePAWposed TEARS Art Exhibition and Auction.

The total amount was announced on Monday 24 August by TEARS and marks a significant increase on last year’s effort of R50 500. TEARS Animal Rescue is a non-profit organisation (NPO) based in Sunnydale. Founded in 1999, it rescues, rehabilitates, and rehomes abandoned, abused, and injured companion animals. It operates a veterinary hospital and mobile clinics providing free sterilisation and subsidised care for low-income communities. The exhibition featured 40 one-of-a-kind pieces, each carrying not only a creative story but also the promise of making a real difference. Each year, artists and members of the public are challenged to select a thrifted painting and transform it into something completely new by adding their own artistic vision. Hosted by Noordhoek Art Point Gallery on Saturday 25 July and Friday 31 July , the annual fundraising exhibition brought together local artists, animal lovers, collectors and community members in support of TEARS. This year’s R70 200 represents an increase of almost 39%, providing a valuable boost to TEARS’ ongoing rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming work across the South Peninsula. For Noordhoek Art Point Gallery owner and artist Aimee Kruger, the result is a powerful reminder of what can happen when a community comes together behind a shared cause. “We are absolutely thrilled with the amount raised this year. To see the total grow from R50 500 last year to R70 200 this year is incredibly rewarding, but more importantly, we know that this money will make a real difference to animals who desperately need help,” says Kruger. RePAWposed is about celebrating what can happen when we give something a second chance. “The paintings are given a new life through the creativity of artists, the rescue dogs became artists themselves, and ultimately the funds raised give animals at TEARS another chance at a better life. That is what makes this event so

Rescue dogs also joined in the fun by creating their own artworks with their painted paws. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

REPAWPOSED TEARS ART EXHIBITION AND AUCTION special.” The exhibition featured around 40 artworks, each beginning life as a pre-loved or unwanted painting sourced from TEARS charity shops before being transformed by artists and members of the public into original new pieces. In a creative twist that captures the spirit of the event, some of the rescue dogs at TEARS were also given the chance to create their own artwork, adding paw prints and colour to canvases that found their way into the auction. The growing success of RePAWposed reﬂects the generosity of the Noordhoek community and the broader South Peninsula, where support for animal welfare organisations continues to strengthen year after year. For more information about future events, visit www.noordhoekartpoint.co.za

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NEWS

PEOPLE’SPOST | GrassyPark|Retreat Tuesday, 1 September 2026

Zwaanswyk Academy is 50 Z

waanswyk Academy in Retreat recently celebrated 50 years at its current premises, marking half a century of educational excellence that has transformed it from a white Afrikaans school into a thriving English-medium institution serving its community.

People’s Post spoke with school principal Anthony Adams who unpacked the school’s rich history and community roots. The school moved into its current buildings in 1976 with Ambro Hayward as its first principal. Huibrecht Nel took over in 1996, followed by Wilhelm Dreyer in 2002, and Godfried Olivier as caretaker principal in 2005. Current principal Adams was appointed in January 2007 as the school’s fifth principal. Under Adams, who has been at the helm for 19 of those 50 years, the school has undergone a complete demographic transformation, shifted to English medium, and been rated an “Outstanding” school by the Schools Evaluation Authority last year. Adams said the school is built on three pillars of excellence — academics, culture, and sport — and its greatest achievement has been affording a quality education to learners in a way that was not previously accessible without travelling out of the area. “Learners are able to develop their culture through music, debating, drama, computers, and art, and participate in swimming, netball, rugby, cricket, chess, athletics, and cross-country, amidst outstanding academic results,” he said. In 2024, Adams won the Kader Asmal Lifetime Achiever Award at the National Teaching Awards. Deputy principal Helen Steyn has been at the school for 26 years, as has Tannie Sandra Koen in After Care. At the 50th birthday function for alumni earlier this year, founding principal Ambro Hayward

THE SCHOOL IS BUILT ON THREE PILLARS OF EXCELLENCE — ACADEMICS, CULTURE, AND SPORT

Wildlife trade-social media link Social-media platforms are fuelling an illegal wildlife trade that is growing faster than it can be policed, according to a major global review co-authored by a University of Cape Town (UCT) researcher. The study, published in Nature Reviews Biodiversity, found that thousands of animal, plant and fungal species, including many threatened with extinction, are being traded through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. Researchers monitoring online activity for six weeks in mid-2025 found more than 1 600 primates advertised for sale across the four platforms. Birds, snakes, frogs and orchids are increasingly traded the same way. Dr Annette Hübschle, chief research oﬃcer and co-lead of the Global Risk Governance Programme in UCT’s Faculty of Law, is the study’s only Africa-based co-author. Her contribution brings a Global South and community-centred perspective to a ﬁeld that has largely focused on detection technology and enforcement. “The online illegal wildlife trade is not simply a technology problem that can be engineered away,” said Hübschle. “It spreads across platforms faster than any single company or country can police it, and it represents a growing, evolving threat to biodiversity.” AFRICA IN THE TRADE ROUTES

Africa features prominently in the trade routes the study documented. Between 2010 and 2021, roughly 800 000 African grey parrots were traded internationally. Researchers monitoring public Facebook accounts of exporters in Togo found more than 200 species advertised for sale. The review found that online trade spans the entire traﬃcking chain, from harvesters and intermediaries locating specimens through social media to direct-to-consumer shipments that bypass large-scale smuggling networks. A COMMUNITY-CENTRED RESPONSE

Zwaanswyk Academy school principal, Anthony Adams seen cutting the birthday cake celebrating the school’s 50th birthday.

marvelled at the school’s progress. As part of the celebrations, learners built a time capsule containing items, letters, and photographs to be opened in 50 years. This year’s school theme is “To Inﬁnity and Beyond,” captured in a theme song displayed throughout the school. Adams said his dream for the future is the establishment of a science laboratory so learners can experience science in a proper context.

Hübschle argues that enforcement alone will not solve the problem. The study’s call to centre communities draws on her 2025 chapter in the Routledge Handbook of Wildlife Crime, which extends the “harmscapes” framework developed by the Global Risk Governance Programme at UCT. The framework treats wildlife harm as something produced across diﬀuse, interconnected sites rather than a series of discrete crimes to be policed and asks who is positioned to act at each of those sites, including actors that stateled responses typically overlook. “Much of the current response is enforcement-heavy and modelled on Global North

regulatory systems,” said Hübschle. “But communities, local practitioners and frontline conservation actors are often the ﬁrst to notice emerging code words, shifting routes and the unintended harms of punitive approaches.” LESSONS FROM THE SUCCULENT KAROO

Hübschle’s fieldwork in the Northern and Western Cape, part of the Safeguarding Succulents project, offers a concrete illustration. Conophytum, a succulent genus targeted by international collectors since 2019, has seen its illegal price collapse by up to two orders of magnitude over three years as the number of harvesters grew and the market became oversupplied. Rather than ending the problem, the price collapse is pushing harvesting towards other plant genera and reptiles. “On the ground we’re seeing communities read these shifts in real time, and in some cases propose their own solutions, including access-and-benefit-sharing models, before formal policy catches up,” said Hübschle. “That local knowledge is exactly what a whole-of-society response needs to draw on, whether the trade is happening in a Cape Town Facebook group or a Succulent Karoo veld.” FIVE STRATEGIES

The authors set out five complementary strategies: AI-assisted monitoring and detection; stronger platform policies and content moderation backed by independent audits; whole-of-society coordination among technology companies, regulators, non-governmental organisations and affected communities; demand-reduction campaigns informed by behavioural science; and international policy frameworks such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites) and the EU’s Digital Services Act. Lead author Prof Enrico di Minin from the University of Helsinki said addressing the trade is “complex but not insurmountable.” Co-author Dr Neil d’Cruze, from Manchester Metropolitan University, said the harms mirror those of traditional wildlife trafficking but can unfold at greater speed and scale. The study identifies major gaps in the evidence base, particularly around how online trade routes are documented in the Global South. It calls for research that better reflect the regions most affected by wildlife trafficking and its consequences for biodiversity, conservation and public health. For Hübschle, stopping illegal wildlife trade online will require more than taking posts down or closing accounts. The people who live alongside the targeted species must have a meaningful role in shaping the response.

8 NEWS

PEOPLE’SPOST | GrassyPark|Retreat Tuesday, 1 September 2026

N2 wall: residents question safety NAMHLA MONAKALI esidents and community activists have questioned the City of Cape Town’s proposed N2 safety wall, saying communities living alongside the highway should have a greater say in how public money is spent and how safety interventions are designed.

Residents from across Cape Town gathered at Cissie Gool House in Woodstock on Wednesday evening for a meeting convened by community organisation Movement for Care to discuss the proposed project. The meeting brought together residents from Khayelitsha, Nyanga, Langa, Gugulethu, Bonteheuwel and Mitchells Plain, as well as people from Woodstock, Salt River, the City Bowl and other parts of Cape Town. The discussion focused on the concerns of communities living alongside or near the N2 and whether the proposed safety intervention would address the problems they face in their daily lives. The City has said the project, known as the N2 Edge Safety Project, is aimed at improving safety along a 9km stretch of the highway near Cape Town International Airport. It includes a wall along a section of the highway, as well as pedestrian crossings, lighting upgrades, access control and reinforced barriers. Movement for Care coordinator Nkosikhona Swartbooi said residents questioned the extent to which communities directly aﬀected by the project had been consulted. “The very communities that are next to where the wall would be built have not been consulted,” Swartbooi said. He said residents were concerned that the City could proceed with the project without meaningful public participation from communities living alongside the N2. “They also raised an issue to say if the wall is a safety project, whose safety is being prioritised?” he said. WHOSE SAFETY IS BEING PRIORITISED?

Swartbooi said residents argued that crime associated with the N2 could not be separated from the broader safety problems experienced by communities in surrounding areas. He said residents raised concerns about incidents such as hijackings and smash-andgrabs, but questioned whether protecting motorists travelling along the N2 would address

THE PROJECT IS IN ITS EARLY PLANNING PHASE, WITH SEVERAL PROCESSES STILL UNDER WAY the underlying safety problems faced by people living in neighbouring communities. “Those are things that these communities are subjected to,” he said. Swartbooi said residents believed a broader approach to safety was needed, including interventions within communities themselves. Among the issues raised at the meeting was the need for better street lighting, particularly in areas where residents walk at night to access work, public services and basic amenities. Swartbooi said residents questioned whether money allocated to the N2 project could instead be used for interventions such as lighting in communities. He said residents were particularly concerned about the safety of women who have to walk through poorly lit areas when travelling to and from work or accessing basic services. However, he stressed that residents were not necessarily opposed to safety projects. “They have made it clear that they are not against any safety project that the City wants to embark on,” he said. Rather, he said, residents wanted to be involved in decisions aﬀecting their communities. CALLS FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

Swartbooi said public participation should be central to the planning of major municipal projects. “Public participation becomes the cornerstone of our democracy,” he said. He said residents wanted clarity about the process, including who was involved, what stage the project was at and what opportunities communities would have to provide input. The City has said the project remains in its early planning phase, with technical, statutory and governance processes still underway. This means the details of the project and the process through which aﬀected communities will be engaged remain important questions for residents and community organisations. MOVEMENT FOR CARE PLANS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENTS

Residents and community activists have questioned the City of Cape Town’s proposed N2 safety wall, saying communities living alongside the highway should have a greater say. PHOTO:SUPPLIED

Movement for Care said Wednesday’s meeting was the first in a series of planned engagements with communities it considers affected by the project. The organisation said it intends to hold further meetings in Bonteheuwel, Langa, Nyanga, Philippi, Gugulethu and Khayelitsha. Swartbooi said the organisation would use the meetings to hear directly from residents and ensure their views are represented. He said residents would be free to express whether they supported the proposed wall, opposed it or wanted greater involvement in the planning process. The organisation also indicated that residents could consider demonstrations or other forms of public action, while observing constitutional rights and responsibilities. Swartbooi said the organisation wanted communities to have an opportunity to make their views known before decisions affecting them were finalised. QUESTIONS OVER COST AND RESPONSIBILITY

Residents also questioned the amount of public money being committed to the project and whether those funds could be better directed towards safety and basic services in communities. Swartbooi questioned how the project would

Changes in provincial government Western Cape Premier Alan Winde announced two new provincial cabinet appointments recently, with Jaco Londt taking over the education porfolio while Wendy Kaizer-Philander took over as the Western Cape Minister of Social Development. The reshuﬄe saw Londt move from social development, where he had served as minister since June 2024. He replaced David Maynier in the education department who has been elavated to the National Assembly. Winde said both ministers brought extensive experience and principled leadership to their new roles. “Their new portfolios will allow them to build on their respective track records and bring fresh energy, insight and collaborative leadership to two critical areas of government,” said Winde. LONDT’S RECORD IN SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

During his time at the Department of Social Development (DSD), Londt oversaw 21 gender-based violence (GBV) ambassador programmes across the province. He also launched the Cape Care Fund to support social development non-proﬁt organisations. In addition, he ensured the rollout of the Social Work Integrated Management System (Swims) app. Londt holds a Bachelor’s degree in Humanities from the University of South Africa (Unisa). He also holds an Honours degree in Public Admin-

KAIZER-PHILANDER STEPS INTO SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

Jaco Londt was appointed as the Western Cape Minister of Education. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

istration from Stellenbosch University. Before his current role, he served for 10 years as a Member of Parliament in the National Council of Provinces. Londt said he did not take the responsibility lightly. “I am looking forward to building on the solid foundation that was laid by my predecessor, David Maynier. The last two years at DSD have been a great privilege and pleasure. I am proud of what we’ve been able to achieve in strengthening support for vulnerable residents across the province and leading the way with innovation,” said Londt. He thanked DSD management, staﬀ and partner organisations for their work.

Kaizer-Philander has served as a Member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament since 2018. Before that, she was a councillor and Mayco member in the Drakenstein Local Municipality. She has held senior parliamentary leadership positions, including Chief Whip. She also chaired the tuberculosis (TB) Ad Hoc Committee and the Conduct Committee. Kaizer-Philander is completing a BAdmin Honours in Public Administration at the University of the Western Cape. She said she was honoured by the appointment and thanked Winde for the opportunity. “I look forward to continuing the excellent work of Minister Londt, who has already achieved signiﬁcant milestones in the department. I am deeply passionate about supporting vulnerable communities, particularly children, families, women, older persons and communities facing social and economic challenges,” said Kaizer-Philander. Winde concluded by expressing conﬁdence in both ministers. “With their respective experience and commitment to public service, I have full faith in both ministers to advance the Western Cape Government’s work to create more opportunity, improve lives and build a province in which all residents can thrive,” said Winde.

be implemented and which authorities were responsible for it. He also raised questions about the respective roles of the City and national government, given the N2’s status as a major national route. CITY RESPONSE

The City has said the project is intended to improve safety along the N2 through a combination of physical barriers and other interventions, including pedestrian crossings, lighting, access control and reinforced barriers. Mayco member for urban mobility Rob Quintas has said the project remains in its early planning phase, with several technical, statutory and governance processes still under way. For residents living alongside the N2, the debate is not simply about whether a physical barrier should be built. It is also about whether safety interventions designed to protect people travelling through the city adequately consider the people living in the communities surrounding the route. As Movement for Care prepares to take the discussion into aﬀected communities, residents are expected to continue debating what safety should look like — and who should have a say in how public money is spent

Exporters want clarity about harbour plans Exporters Western Cape (EWC) has called for clarity from Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) over the scope of its latest request for proposals for a private terminal operator at the Port of Cape Town. The request for proposals, issued on Friday 17 July, seeks to appoint an operator to design, ﬁnance, operate, maintain, refurbish and transfer a multi-purpose terminal at B, C and D berths under a 25-year concession. EWC chair Terry Gale said the announcement had caused confusion in the logistics and export sectors, with many stakeholders interpreting it as a concession of the existing Cape Town Multipurpose Terminal. “This is not the case. The request for proposals speciﬁcally covers B to D berths, which are currently used by the Fresh-produce Terminal.” According to Gale, it was important for TNPA to clarify the distinction, for the future operation and development have direct implications for exporters and other port users. “The fresh-produce terminal has operated B to D berths over the past few years, consistently achieving its performance targets. Since management was transferred to Africa Global Logistics in April 2025 the operation has also made use of A berth,” he said. “The private sector has an important role to play in improving the capacity, reliability and competitive-

Terry Gale, Exporters Western Cape chair. PHOTO:SUPPLIED

ness of the port. However, stakeholders need certainty about what will happen to the existing operator and how the concession will aﬀect current cargo operations.” EWC said the Cape Town Multi-purpose Terminal (CTMPT) should be prioritised for further investment and upgrading, given it is less aﬀected by the summer south-easterly wind. “During our weekly stakeholder engagements EWC has consistently called for better use of the CTMPT,” Gale said. “We believe it should be upgraded and equipped with ship-to-shore gantry cranes so that it can provide additional container-handling capacity when the main container terminal becomes wind-bound.”

NEWS 9

PEOPLE’SPOST | GrassyPark|Retreat Tuesday, 1 September 2026

Show love and adopt a family pet

o shine the spotlight on thousands of pets that are abandoned or in need of new homes, People’s Post has teamed up with TEARS Animal Rescue to help some of these four-legged pets get new homes. Once a month we will publish several dogs and cats up for adoption.

TEARS is a pro-life non-proﬁt organisation (NPO) established in 1999 to rescue, treat, rehabilitate, reunite and re-home lost, abandoned, abused and neglected companion animals and to educate pet owners and the youth living in the four under-resourced communities. The NPO remains the only facility in the Cape Peninsula’s far South available seven days per week, including an after-hours mobile clinic service from 16:30 to 19:00 with limited veterinary care. TEARS treats hundreds of animals for various conditions, illnesses and injuries.

DOGS:

Buster is a strong, affectionate and intelligent Pibble who loves training, toys and exercise. He thrives on structure and would suit an active, experienced owner familiar with power breeds. Buster is dog-selective, prefers personal space and would be happiest as an only dog. He is not cat-friendly and would suit a home with teens and up. Coco is a playful, athletic and loving girl who has spent years waiting for her forever home. She adores toys, especially fetch, and is eager to learn. Reserved at first, she soon becomes an affectionate cuddle-bug. Coco is dog-selective, not cat-friendly, and would suit a home with older children. She’s ready for adventures and a family to love! Demi is a loving, intelligent and energetic Pibble cross who adores cuddles, toys and adventures. She’d thrive in an active home and would make an excellent hiking buddy. Independent and strong-willed, she needs patient guidance. Demi is good with dogs out

THE ONLY FACILITY IN THE CAPE PENINSULA’S FAR SOUTH AVAILABLE SEVEN DAYS PER WEEK SEVEN DAYS PER WEEK and about, prefers older children, and cats are unknown. She has a food allergy requiring a speciﬁc diet. Jonah is a gentle, easy-going Greyhound-Pibble mix who loves people, scenic walks and serious couch lounging. He walks beautifully on a lead and enjoys other dogs but can also thrive as an only dog with regular social time. Jonah would suit a calm, social home with children around 8+. Cats are unknown. He’s aﬀectionate, well-mannered and ready for his forever home!

Buster is intelligent.

Coco is a loving girl.

Demi is energetic.

Jonah loves people.

Dobby is cautious.

Polka loves attention.

Saffron loves interaction.

Valya loves to “talk”.

CATS:

Dobby: This fiery feline is cautious with love and an abundant hisser, making them a challenge for the brave! But beneath that foxy exterior is a cat waiting to bloom. With time, patience and trust, you’ll earn the privilege of watching their beautiful personality unfold. Polka is a former devoted mama who has discovered her inner dance queen! Since her kittens found homes, she’s traded motherhood for playful hops, bounces and hilarious little wiggles. Sassy, affectionate and full of personality, Polka loves attention and knows she’s fabulous. If you’re looking for a fun-loving cat who’ll keep you smiling, Polka is ready to dance into your heart! Saffron is a spicy little queen with plenty of personality! A devoted former mama, she’s affectionate, playful and full of cheek. Saffron prefers to be the centre of attention and would be happiest as an only cat, or possibly with one

laid-back feline. She loves interaction, games and being adored. If you’re looking for sass, love and endless entertainment, Saﬀron is your girl! Valya, a beautiful, chatty calico with a big personality! She loves to “talk” and has a seri-

ous weakness for treats —the quickest way to her heart! A devoted mama whose kittens have found homes, Valya is now waiting for hers. She needs a patient family who will let her settle in at her own pace. Once comfortable, she’s aﬀectionate, entertaining and full of love.

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10 ENTERTAINMENT

PEOPLE’SPOST | GrassyPark|Retreat Tuesday, 1 September 2026

Jetsetting with Janet creates Local author a different culinary journey shines a spotlight on a n*****

What happens when food becomes more than something on a plate? When does it become a doorway into culture, travel, wellness, storytelling and meaningful connection? That question took centre stage late last month as Jetsetting with Janet oﬃcially introduced its new immersive culinary experience, Beyond the Plate, at the International Hotel School (IHS) in Salt River. Jetsetting with Janet is a culinary and travel storytelling concept founded by Janet Pillai, bringing food, culture, travel and meaningful experiences together. The travel and culinary storyteller hosted the intimate media launch that brought guests and industry voices together for an experience designed to challenge the traditional idea of dining and to explore where food, travel and culture intersect. Rather than simply introducing a new concept, it oﬀered a glimpse into the thinking behind Jetsetting with Janet, that some of the most memorable journeys begin around a table.

LAUREN O'CONNOR-MAY

ia Arderne created the distance she needed to recover from traumatic experiences by shifting them onto a n***erige book character named Lucian. “It helps to have a protagonist because you can externalise yourself and your experiences,” she writes. “It’s easier to have a character go through the tougher stuﬀ. It doesn’t have to be so intense.” However, the author picked up some secondary trauma while researching the barbarism of an apartheid-era torturer for her latest novel, How to Stop Being a Naai. “I ended up reading the TRC transcript,” she said. “I read the whole thing. I haven’t recovered.” The result is a story that takes dark turns but still maintains the laugh-out-loud satirical humour the title promises. “I wasn’t trying to get super heavy with it,” Arderne says. “But I ended up going down rabbit holes and becoming deeper and more sincere at places I didn’t really expect.”

BEYOND THE PLATE

WHO IS MIA ARDERNE?

Arderne is a young writer based in Mowbray. Her debut novel Mermaid Fillet, was long-listed for the Sunday Times/CNA Literary Award in 2021 and taught as a prescribed text at the University of Cape Town from 2022 to ’24. She has also written a young-adult romance, A Thousand Eyes on You, and several short stories. How to Stop Being a Naai is her third book, which she wrote after a period of being “institutionalised,” working on her mental health. WHAT IS HOW TO STOP BEING A NAAI ABOUT?

Arderne said the book began as a personal guide of nine steps to becoming a better person. The cover synopsis describes Lucian as a “Philanderer. Alcoholic. Sell-out.” “Lucian stumbles his way through nine steps, from ruthless self-acceptance to ultimately channelling his inner naai,” it reads. “In other words, he will try anything except go to actual therapy.” Curiously, Arderne said the character of Lucian is based on herself, “... maybe more than I would like to admit.” She also drew on her own family history. “I drew quite a bit on the paternal line of my family because I learnt some toxic behaviour from them. A lot of those people are no longer with us. I was, like, speaking to ghosts a little bit.” The process was both healing and painful. “There’s an element of that which was maybe more healing than traumatising. And there’s also a mourning; like, you grieve for these people again when you mine those relationships and those memories.” The book also went deeper than expected. Research for a character named Archie led her to explore apartheid-era South African Defence Force soldiers, how they interacted with one another and the kinds of crimes they committed. In the end what started out as a satirical self-help book turned into a novel that explores morality through deeply ﬂawed characters. “You could replace that word,” Arderne says, referring to the title, “with morality or a measure of morality. We all have lines that we get to where we’ll say ‘now this is over the line for me. This is immoral for me.’ I wanted Lucian to represent the weaknesses we all have. He’s representative of my weaknesses, people’s weaknesses.” NOT A SELF-STEP BOOK

Publishing the book came with a lot of surprises for Arderne. The ﬁrst was the interest from her editor. “I spoke to my editor and my publisher almost, like, in jest and she was, like, ‘okay, send it through.’ I did. It was just a guide. It was just nine steps. And then she was, like, ‘look, I think you need to add a character.’ So Lucian came.” The next surprise was people’s reaction to the

Mia Arderne is a young writer from Mowbray.

AUTHOR MIA ADERNE WANTED HER CHARACTER LUCIAN TO REPRESENT THE WEAKNESSES THAT EVERYONE HAS. book. “I have a lot of people who want to buy it for other people in their lives because they have n***s in their lives that they think need this help,” she said, adding that she frequently needs to remind people that this is ﬁction and not a real self-help book, despite a disclaimer inside the book . “It says on the cover it’s a novel, but I think it reads as a self-help book. I really hope they’re not expecting real advice. I mean, I’m not a psychologist.” Social-media posts also attracted a lot of surprising ire. “Some guys are quite defensive about Lucian. A lot of the men commenting were, like, ‘why are you dragging this guy?’ not realising it’s a ﬁctional character. ‘You’re defending someone who’s not real!’ “And then I have all these Lucians in my comments, just lots of guys named Lucian who were not happy with me. And I’m, like, it’s just a name.” Mia said she chose the name because it was one of her favourites, ironically. “The Lucians of the world are not happy with me, man. They are not happy with me at all!” Conversely, women have commented on the social-media posts lambasting the character as a “f**cker”.

Pillai took guests into the heart of the new concept with a conversation entitled “Why Beyond the Plate Matters: Culinary Tourism is the Future”. It explored the growing role of culinary tourism and the way food can become a powerful lens through which travellers experience destinations, people and cultures. For Jetsetting with Janet Beyond the Plate brings together food, culture, storytelling, wellness, travel and connection to create experiences that extend beyond the meal itself. The launch then moved from conversation to experience with The Tasting Table, featuring Lynn Naidoo and Peter Badenhorst, whose wine presentation added another layer to the relationship between food, drink and storytelling. Guests were also introduced to The Marlene, a signature cocktail developed by Pillai, a tribute to the charismatic spirit of Artscape CEO Dr Marlene le Roux. WHERE FOOD MEETS CONNECTION

Jetsetting with Janet is a culinary and travel storytelling concept founded by Janet Pillai. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

During the networking and cultural conversations, guests shared meals, experiences and insights while connecting with others across the industry. The setting encouraged collaboration and highlighted the role that food can play in bringing people together in a way that feels natural, personal and memorable. The launch demonstrated how culinary experiences can become a starting point for deeper conversations about destinations, heritage, creativity and the stories that live behind the food we eat. It also reﬂected the importance of creating spaces where the next generation of hospitality and culinary professionals can engage with evolving ideas within the industry. A NEW CHAPTER FOR JETSETTING WITH MARLENE

With Beyond the Plate, Jetsetting with Janet is opening the door to a diﬀerent kind of culinary journey, where the destination is not just where one arrives, but what one discovers along the way. All food experiences have curated tours taking one to the source, literally a farm-totable experience. The tours and annotated cooking experiences are being marketed to local and national tourists.

‘MAMMA MIA!’ set to be an entertaining family outing The hit international musical MAMMA MIA! is heading to Cape Town this month, bringing 70s Swedish pop group ABBA’s iconic songs, a star-studded cast and a feel-good story of friendship, family and love to the Artscape stage. Produced by Showtime Management, MAMMA MIA! will run from Thursday 3 September to Sunday 11 October. The production follows Donna Sheridan, a ﬁercely independent single mother, and her daughter Sophie, who is preparing for her wedding on a Greek island. As Sophie gets ready to walk down the aisle she secretly invites three men from her mother’s past to the island, hoping to discover which one could be her father. The unexpected reunion sets the stage for a story ﬁlled with laughter, emotion, romance and some of ABBA’s best-known songs. Leading the cast is acclaimed South African performer Amra-Faye Wright as Donna. She is joined by Samantha Peo as Tanya and Lindy Abromowitz Sachs as Rosie, reuniting the trio known as Donna and the Dynamos.

Representing the younger generation is Leah Mari as Sophie Sheridan, alongside Jordan Rogers as Ali and Michelle Juncker as Lisa, Sophie’s closest friends. The production also features a talented ensemble, while the creative team includes producer Hazel Feldman, director Janice Honeyman, costume designer Birrie le Roux and wig designer Frances Moerdyk. Audiences can expect to sing along to timeless ABBA favourites, including “Dancing Queen”, “Knowing Me, Knowing You”, “I Have A Dream” and “Voulez-Vous”. Feldman described the musical as a celebration of strong women and said the production’s characters and story continue to resonate with audiences. With its upbeat music, colourful characters and a story spanning generations MAMMA MIA! promises an entertaining outing for the whole family. The Cape Town run will be followed by a season in Johannesburg. Tickets are available through Showtime and Ticketmaster.

WELL-RECEIVED

Overall, Arderne said the book has been well received and sales at the recent launch were good, but she jokes it may well have been because of the “provocative” title. The most common reﬂection, though, is that the book is funny. “Most of the feedback I got was that it was quite funny, and yet my writing isn’t generally funny. So it’s been quite cool to hear that.” Mostly, though, people have said they related to the characters, especially Lucian. “People tend to sympathise with Lucian more than I would have thought,” Arderne said.

The hit international musical MAMMA MIA! is heading to Cape Town this month. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

CLASSIFIEDS 11

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NOTICE OF SURRENDER OF A DEBTORS ESTATE (SECTION 4(1) OF THE INSOLVENCY ACT 24 OF 1936) Notice is hereby given that application will be made to the High Court of South Africa, Western Cape Division, Cape Town on the 29th day of September 2026 for the acceptance of the surrender of the estate of HISHAAM JOHNSTONE Identity Number: (981102 5840 084) 8 Opel Road, Lansdowne, Cape Town, and that a statement of his affairs will lie for inspection at the office of the Master of the High Court Western Cape, Cape Town for a period of 14 days from the 7th day of September 2026. 1 September 2026 ____________ Attorneys for the Applicant ADAM, ALLIE & MORAR ATTORNEYS 289 Belgravia Road Penlyn Estate Cape Town TEL: 082 891 2244 Email: disha@aamlaw.co.za REF: DM/HJ002

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TEAMS BATTLE FOR LFA HONOURS HAZENDAL SHOWS THORNHILL HOW IT’S DONE

Nur Williams of Thornhill United (red) and Ali Davids of Hazendal United show pure intensity to gain possession of the ball during a Rygate LFA u-10 league match played at Johnson Road, Athlone, on Saturday 29 August. Hazendal won 2-0. PHOTO: RASHIED ISAACS,

Ncedo Mangqizo of Greater Philippi LFA outjumps Reagan Eybers of Cape District LFA to the ball during a SAFA Cape Town inter LFA u-18 knock- out match played at William Herbert Sports Ground, Wynberg, on Sunday 30 August. The Philippi based team won 5-4 on penalties after the scores were tied on 0-0 at regulation time. PHOTO: RASHIED ISAACS

GAVIN MANUEL INTERSCHOOLS LEGACY CUP

Schools ready for cup AVRIL FILLIES

ourteen u-18 girls and sixteen u-16 boys from schools across Cape Town will participate in the Gavin Manuel Interschools Legacy Cup on Monday 28 and Tuesday 29 September at Chukker Road Sportsground in Kenwyn In the girls section Steenberg and Mondale high schools are the debutants, while Tafelsig, Blasc Adacemia and Zwaanswyk will contest the boys section for the ﬁrst time. Bergvliet boys and girls and Steenberg boys

The launch is on Wednesday 13 September at 15:30 at Mondale High return after a one year break. Nigel Crowie, the eldest brother of former Bafana player Duncan, is the tournament director. His ties with the late Gavin Manuel goes back to their ﬁrst meeting in 1979 and their friendship lasted until the passing of Manuel in 2015. Crowie met Manuel when he was a learner at

Cathkin High in the ﬁnal of the Western Province Senior Schools Sports Union (WPSSSU) against Parkwood High and Manuel was the referee. Their parts crossed again in 1984 when Crowie qualiﬁed as a teacher. At that time Manuel was the convenor of soccer for the WPSSSU, and Crowie represented Mondale High School at a meeting held at Spes Bona High. Back then, all school sports codes fell under the single umbrella of the WPSSSU. “I was nominated and became the convenor of soccer in Mitchells Plain. “Manuel would organise planning sessions to ensure that every school was included and able to participate, especially in soccer,” says Crowie.

FOLLOW THE ACTION 2026 season finale

EPISODE #30

03 SEPT

FROM THE TRYLINE TO YOUR TIMELINE The Rugby Factory's ﬁnal episode for the season, proudly brought to you by BOSSA, features a special farewell to Sean Erasmus. One of South Africa's most successful schoolboy coaches in recent years departs Paarl Boys High to take up the head coach role at Stellenbosch University. The episode celebrates Erasmus's remarkable achievements in school rugby and marks the end of an era at Paarl Boys High whilst looking ahead to his new challenge at university level.

Manuel was also the ﬁrst to organise a WPSSSU soccer team to travel to the United Kingdom (UK), exposing learners to the world beyond apartheid South Africa. The launch is on Wednesday 13 September at 15:30 at Mondale High School. The following schools have conﬁrmed their participation: Girls: Ocean View, Bergvliet, Muizenberg, Zeekoevlei, Steenberg, Wynberg High, Beacon Hill, Oval North, Portland, Mondale, Rocklands, Glendale and Strandfontein. Boys: Ocean View, Bergvliet, Zeekoevlei, Steenberg, Wynberg High, Beacon Hill, Oval North, Blasc Academia, Portland, Mondale, Rocklands, Glendale, Paramount, Tafelsig, Westridge and Zwaanswyk