People's Post Grassy Park/Retreat E-edition 24 March 2026

AD NHF

Apr rg (NPO), NewHeritage Foundation (NHF), is making significant stridesinadvancing gender equality andyouth empowermentafter ascoopingan awardatthe Voiceand Choice SummitinJohannesburgon Tuesday17March

Thesummitbrought together over 200activists,community leaders, entrepreneursand mediafromacross Africa to learn, connect andshare experiencesinadvancing gender equality,diversity andinclusion

Thegathering concludedwiththe Voiceand Choice Awards,recognisingoutstanding leadership,innovation andimpactadvancing gender

justiceacrossSouthernAfrica.

As afounder of NHF, awomen-led NPO, Chantelle Goliathhelps to providesanitarypadsand workshops foryoung girlsindisadvantaged communities wholackaccess to these products andknowledge of howto cope with menstruation

NHFisdedicated to ending period poverty. They focusonperiodimpact initiatives, aiming to ensure no young girl or womanisleftbehinddue to menstruation.The NPOwon the Sexual Reproductive Health “Story of Change”Award forits sexual reproductive health programmesin schools.

“Thisisthe second year we winthis

,T ay 17 h)

Since2020, theNHF haspartneredwithGenderLinks (GL),a Johannesburg-basedorganisation focusedonpromoting gender justice andwomen’s rights across Southern Africa.Through this partnership, thefoundationhas received funding, training,and developmentsupport that hasshapedits growth over the past sixyears

“Wereceive ourgrantsfromGender Linkstodeliver ourprogrammesin schools. With theVoice andChoice Summitevery year,weare encouraged to entercategoriesinwhich we feel strong enough to pitchour work,” shesaid.

Much of this supporthas been channelledintoprogrammesdelivered

ap ug ng anddevelopment we’vereceivedfrom Gender Links,”she said

ForGoliath,their mission as an organisation is “not just aboutsanitary pads.”

“Thisisabout dignity, education, andagency. We work in spaces where conversationsaroundsexualand reproductive health arestill silenced —treated as ‘homeissues’or‘girls’ problems’.Inreality,thisisa societal issue. Ahumanityissue,”she said

Theproblem stemsfroma lack of educationthrough thegenerations

“Manyyoung people arenavigating puberty, relationships, andhealth withoutguidance. Parentsthemselves were nevertaught.

TBloodstocksarerunning‘dangerouslylow’

Blood stocks in theWestern Cape arerunning dangerouslylow aheadofthe Easter weekend, a traditionally critical period marked by increasedemergencies,prompting an urgent call fordonorstostepforward

TheWestern Cape Blood Service(WCBS)is appealingtoall eligible donors to donate blood, as suppliescontinuetodecline across allblood groups

Theservice currently hasonlya two-day supplyofO-negativeblood,far belowthe minimum five days needed to maintain astableand sustainablesupplyfor communities across the province

Forthe past twoweeks, O-negative stockhas been underseverepressure,withworrying dropsnow seen in otherblood groups as well.

on allblood donors to donate blood this week to help restoreour blood stocks to ahealthy level,”

says Marike Carli, Public RelationsManager at WCBS

If youare between 16 and75, weighatleast 50kg,are in good generalhealth, andfollow asafesexuallifestyle,you areencouragedto donate

Ablood donation takesjust30minutes,and each unit collected playsa vitalroleinsustainingthe province’s blood supply.

“Ifyou have been thinking aboutbecominga blood donor, nowwould be agreat time to start donating,” addedCarli

“Whether youare an existing donorordonatingfor the firsttime, your donation couldsavea life when it matters most.”

O-negative stock has been under severe pressure.

“O-negativeblood is oftenusedinlife-threateningemergencies when thereisnotimeto determinea patient’sblood type.Weare calling

.To find your closest blood donation clinic,visit www.wcbs.org.za or contact WCBS viaWhatsApp at 060 5497244.

Kindnessisnotjustvirtue,it’saresponsibility

Have youbeen kind today? It’s a simple question,but onethatcarries weight.Ina worldthatmoves fast anddemands more from us each day, kindness oftenbecomes an afterthought,something we assume we’llget to when life feelsa littlelessoverwhelming.

Butthe truthis, kindness doesn’t requiretime, money, or perfect circumstances. It asks only for intention.

Oneonlyneeds to scroll social media, listen to theradio or switch on thetelevisiontosee howunkind we humans have become toward oneanother

Murders, rape,gender-based violence,bullying. Thelistisendless. Iama Christianand theBible teachesusthatweneed to love our neighbourasweloveourselves Butsadly,wehavesomehow lost sightofthiscalling,allowing hatred,anger,and indifference to take over

Somewherealong theway,many of us have become so consumed by ourown struggles,deadlines, finances,stress, anduncertainty that we forget thequiet powerof howwetreat others.Werushpast people,avoid eyecontact,and sometimesrespond with frustration insteadofpatience. Yetthe smallest gestures canleave the deepestmarks It costsnothing to offer asmile to someoneata trafficlight insteadof turningaway. It takeslittleeffort

to speakgently, to listen fully,orto chooseunderstanding over judgment.These momentsmay feel insignificant,but to someoneelse, they canmeaneverything.

Imaginehow differentour communities wouldfeel if kindness became adaily habitratherthan an occasional act. Kindness builds connection.Itsoftens difficult days.Itreminds people that they areseen,valued, andnot alone. Andsometimes,itcan even save alife.

Theheartbreaking storyofan eight-year-old girl from theEasternCape, whoreportedlyfeltthat escaping bullyingwas only possible throughendingher life,isa devastating reminder of what happens in theabsence of kindness. No childshouldeverfeel so alone, so unheard, or so hurt that they see

no wayout

Herstory forces us to confront an uncomfortabletruth:our words andactions mattermorethanwe realise. What we say, what we ignore,and howwetreat others can shapetheir senseofworth

Kindness is notweakness. It is notsomething reserved forwhen it’s convenient.Itisa deliberate choice that requires empathy, awareness, andevenrestraint So,atthe endofeachday, perhapsweshouldall pauseand askourselves:HaveI been kind? Notjusttothose Iknow, butto strangers, to colleagues, to the people whoselives brieflyintersect with mine

Becauseina worldwhere so many aresilentlystruggling, kindness is notjusta virtue.Itisa responsibility

SPCAvowslegal

KEANANHARMSE

The Cape of Good Hope SPCA is taking legalactionfollowing asocial-media post alleging itsstaff had mistreated acritically-ill puppy at oneof itsmobileclinics last week

Accordingtothe association’swebsite,the post on theTable View Facebook group, on Thursday 12 March, wasmadebygrooming-parlouremployeeand quicklygained traction,attracting over 1000 comments,many criticisingthe organisation andthreatening to withdraw support

However, theSPCAsaidthe post wasbased entirely on third-hand informationand thepersonwho made theallegation wasnot present when theincidentoccurred, said SPCA spokesperson BelindaAbraham

“No-onefromthe SPCA wascontacted.No attemptwas made to verify thefacts.Noopportunity wasgiven to theSPCAtoexplain what actually happened. Yetthe post hasportrayed ourstaff as heartlessand uncaring,damaging thereputationofanorganisationthathas spent decadesprotectinganimals andserving the community.”

Theassociationsaidit“does notobjecttocriticism” buttook what wastantamounttodefamation very seriously. “Whensomeone publicly accusesanorganisationofwrongdoingbased on hearsay, withoutverifying thefacts,thatis notcriticism,” Abrahampointed out. “Thatis defamation,which hasconsequences.”

Theposthas sincebeen removedbyFacebook. However, Abrahamsaid, theSPCAwilltake legalactionfor the“organisation,our staff and ourmission deservethe protection of thelaw “Whenthe post wasbrought to ourattention we immediatelyappointedtwo senior staff memberstoconduct afullinvestigation.The animal-welfare assistant(AWA) whoattended to thepuppy wasinterviewed andgiven the opportunitytoexplain exactlywhathappened.

Hisversion of events wasmaterially different from theclaimsmadeonFacebook.”

TheSPCAsaidithad reviewed theadmission form completedwhenthe puppy wasbrought to themobileclinic, butnoted theinformation provided by the finder wasnot accurate

Theaccuser’s cellphone number andaddress were false, whichmeant we were unable to contact theoriginal finder to obtain further details.

Theorganisationsaysitalsocontacted employee directly and, in arecordedphone conversation,she hadconfirmed shehad not witnessedthe incident andthe informationshe hadpostedonFacebook came from someoneelse. “She also confirmed somethingvery important,”Abraham said,“thepuppy was extremelysick. very weak andcould notwalk.”

Shesaidthe puppyhad been broughttothe SPCA’s mobile clinic as astray andhad already been in acriticalstate.“Thepuppy wasnot forcibly takenfromthe finder as claimedby thepost. The finder voluntarilyhandedthe puppy over to ouranimal-welfareassistantasa stray. ”

TheSPCAalsosaidthe Facebook post also claimedthe finder was“told shehad to pay moneybeforethe puppycould be helped “Thisiscompletelyfalse.Why wouldthe SPCA demand moneyfromsomeone fora stray puppy that does notbelongtothem? Ourstaff accepted thepuppy immediatelyand arranged forveterinarycare.”

Theorganisationsaidthe puppy wasextremely weak,unabletowalk, unwilling to eatand attempting to vomit. ”

Staff immediatelysuspected infectionwith canine parvovirus,a seriousand highly-conta-

Popular flowersellers up in arms

KAYLYNNEBANTOM KAYLYNNE.BANTOM@NOVUSMEDIA.CO.ZA

Aproposed tradingplanbythe City of Cape Town hassparked concern amongthe popularTrafalgar flower sellers on Adderley Street

Accordingtothe City,the proposal aims to formalisethe site,protect long-standing traders, andbring it in line with the City’s governance modelunder theInformalTrading By-Law

TheCitysaysall registered tradersand markets in Cape Town operateunder tradingplans that ensure fair andsafeconditions.

Thekey proposed improvements include: . 20 secure stalls, includinglockablestorage andanexternaldisplay area

. Anew lightweightcanopytoreplace the damagedroof andprovide proper shelterand naturallight

. Aformalloading anddeliveryareavia Parliament Street

. Better sanitation andwaste management

WHENTOURISTS COME TO OURMARKET THEY WALK THROUGH (LIVING) HISTORY

Tradinghours will also be limited, andthe flower sellers will also be required to obtain permits.

Apublicparticipation processonthe draft TradingPlanfor theTrafalgar PlaceFlower Market concludedThursday12March

AccordingtoJames Vos, Maycomemberfor economic growth,the number of secure stalls hasbeendeterminedinthe City’s consultation with the flower sellers,who advisedthatstalls should be increasedtoaccommodate thosewho operateintermittently

People’s Post spoketoa few flower sellers to gettheir input.

Daniel Williamsbelievesthe move is to accommodate foreigninvestors whom he claims are“taking over thecity”

“The Standard Bank building (right next to the flower market)was sold afew yearsago and then underwentrenovations.Wesuspect that theowner of that building wantstoexpand, nowall of asudden, they want to getrid of us.”

AccordingtoWilliams, themarketwas upgraded afew yearsago,but he says that wasnot sufficient.

“Where will they move us to once they start therenovations here at themarket? They renovatedthe market afew yearsago,but we stilldon’t have access to thetoiletthatwas built here.The gate is locked.”

FellowsellerGlendaBowmanbelievesthe proposal will negatively impact theirbusiness.

“Informaltraders aresometimes told that they need to closetheir stalls when thereare bigeventswithinthe vicinity of thetraders.We don’twantthat. Currentlywedon’t have trading hours, when we have abig order, we work until late at night.”

Bowman said “big tradingdays” includeValentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Eidand Christmas. ClaudiaMenyachosaidas flower sellers they arenot informal tradersbut form part of heritage.“TheCitydid notdiscuss theirplans with us.Thismarkethas been here foryears everyonecomes here becausetheyknowthe market Tourists come here andtheywalkthrough history. Ilovetalking to tourists andhearing theirstories,” sheexplained Faldiela Williamstook over thebusinessfrom hermotherover40years ago.

Shesaid: “The City must firstmoveTable Mountain then they canmoveus. We areone with TableMountaintouristscometosee us andTable Mountain.”

Shesaid flower selling is alegacybusiness whichshe hopestopassontoher children and grandchildren.

“IfI diemychildrenand grandchildrencan carry on.For thepast40years,noone tells me what time Imustworkand what time Imust pack up.”

Shesaidtheir business struggled during the Covid-19 pandemic andhas been trying to recovereversince

“WhatI earn here goes towardsfood.I can’t even buymyselfa pair of shoes. They thinkwe make millions. Ijustlove flowersthat’swhy I am stillhere. It’s apleasuretomake flowersfor differentoccasions.”

TheCitysaidcommentsfromthe public participationprocess arebeing reviewed to refine theproposedtrading plan.The finalplan, together with public feedback,willthenbesubmittedtothe City Councilfor approval If approved,implementationwillberolledout gradually in consultation with the flower sellers

Ratepayers group warns of ratesincreases

Morethan 200volunteerscametogether on Saturday21 March to take part in alarge-scale clean-up of Robben Island, in an initiativeled by the Western Cape DepartmentofCultural Affairs andSport HeldonHuman Rights Day, the eventhighlighted theimportanceofprotecting the islandasavital national heritagesite. Western Cape Ministerof Cultural Affairs and Sports Ricardo Mackenzie encouraged residents to take pride in preserving sharedheritage, noting that smallacts of service canmakealasting impact PHOTO:SUPPLIED

CarnivallightsupGreen Point

KAYLYNNEBANTOM

KAYLYNNE.BANTOM@NOVUSMEDIA.CO.ZA

The spirit of unitytook over Cape Town as the16thCape Town Carnival turned HumanRightsDay into avibrant showcase of localtalentand cultural pride.

Music, danceand dazzlingdisplays

filledthe GreenPoint FanWalkon Saturday 21 Marchasthousands flockedtothe eventtowitness the spectacle.

Tracey Carter,carnivalperformance director,saidover1200performers took part in thefestivities

“Every year we saynot again. But then we do it.Wedothisfor Cape Town.Whentheycomeout to see theperformers, it feelsgood.Wehad some challenges with thewind, butit allcametogetherbeautifully.”

With this year’s themeof“Follow your heART”,the eventfeatured theartisticenergyof12“Carnival Champions” from thecity’screative community.The Championsincluded singer Zolani Mahola whoperformed on theUvuyo float, acelebration of joy, cultureand thepower of voiceto unitea nation

Artist Anslin Gysman andactress Natashavan derMerwe wowedthe crowdwithclassiclocal songsfrom theTrapvir Trap float.

Activist NyanisoTutu-Burris featured on theAmandla floata tributetoSouth Africa.While media personalityDylan Majaviewowed the crowdonthe floatabout transformation,Morph

Providingyet anotherhighnotewas Cape Town legend DJ ReadyD and graffiti artist RizahPotgieter on the

ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE EVENTSIN CAPE TOWN

BPM: Beats| Paint| Move float. Blending traditionwithinnovation, anew addition this year wasthe procession of modernised cars,adding a newhighlight forthe crowd.

JayDouwes, Carnival ChiefExecutiveOfficer, said:“We calledthem ourChampions becausetheyhave voluntarilyand proudlybeen part of theprocess of telling theirstories andinspiring carnival participants to followtheir dreams.Their excitement to be part of thecarnivalhas been inspiring.”

Prof Rachel Jafta, chairofthe Cape Town Carnival Trust, said the performers puttheir “hearts, soul and bodies”intobringingthisspectacle to life.“We areabout community, humanconnection, joyand creating somethingmagnificent…wefeel so honoured to be able to bringthis eventtothe heartofCapeTownevery year.”

JP Smith, Maycomemberfor safety andsecurity, said thecarnivalwas oneofover30eventsthattook place across thecitythispastweekend.

“Thisisone of themostdiverse and inclusiveeventsinCapeTown. Alot of planning andlogistics goes into it Thankyou to theorganisers, andspecial thankyou to the firemanand law enforcementofficers whohas been goingtothe gymall year to be part of theeye candy.”

TheWPMedia team, consisting of People’sPost and our sistertitles, CityVision and TygerBurger,kittedintheirnewspaperoutfits. PHOTO:SUPPLIED

Jazzwillbegenre-defying

The Mother City is settocomealive with world-classmusic as theCapeTownInternational Jazz Festival (CTIJF)unveils itsfull, star-studdedline-up forthisyear’shighlyanticipatedevent at theCapeTownInternational Convention Centre (CTICC)

This year’s programme,onFriday27and Saturday 28 March, brings global innovators, SouthAfrican legendsand rising starstogether, reaffirmingthe CTIJF’sreputationasAfrica’s grandest gatheringand oneofthe continent’s most anticipatedmusic events

Leadingthe internationalline-up is Grammy-winning Britishmulti-instrumentalist JacobCollier,whose genre-defyingperformances andmusical virtuosity have captivated audiencesworldwide

He is joined by thelegendary American jazz-fusionensembleYellowjackets,bringing decadesofinnovation andmusical masteryto thefestivalstage

Modern jazz powerhouse Yussef Dayes appearswithThe YussefDayes Experience, delivering thedynamic rhythmic energy that

hasearnedhim global acclaim.

Theinternational programme is further enriched by Malian singer-songwriterFatoumata Diawara, Indian bass virtuoso Mohini Deyand Indian vocalist and flautist VarijashreeVenugopal, whoseblend of Carnatic classicaltradition andjazzintroducesa unique cross-cultural dimensiontothe festival

Headlining theMoses Molelekwastage is Raveena, theIndianAmericansinger-songwriter celebrated forher lush fusionofR&B,jazz andSouth Asianinfluences

Knownfor heretherealvocalsand immersive soniclandscapes, Raveenahas builta devoted internationalfollowing throughemotionally rich songwritingand captivatingliveperformances Beyond theperformances, thefestivalcontinuesits commitmenttocommunity upliftment andartistdevelopment throughyouth workshops, mentorship programmes, andeducational initiatives.

.Tickets areavailableonTicketmaster,withBuy NowPay Lateroptions on Loot

From Londononthree wheels

LAURENO’CONNOR-MAY LAUREN.OCONNOR-MAY@NOVUSMEDIA.CO.ZA

“Thisisthe worstthing I’ve everdonebut the greatest,” said Seth Scott, aVancouver native whobecameone of the firstmen to driveacross Africa in athree-wheeled car.

“Itwas f*ckingterrible,”saidOllieJenks cheerfully,after thepair finallymadeittoCape Point, themostsouth-westerlypoint of theAfricancontinent on Wednesday11March

Theduo made thejourney in aReliant Robin, acheap fibreclass carthathas motorcycling ambitions. Thecar is considered iconic in Britain whereitwas produced between1973and 2002 andwhere it canbedrivenwitha motorcycle licence.

AccordingtoScott andJenks’Instragram channel, @hold.mygear,the cartheydrove to achievethe worldrecord, nicknamedSheila, wasthe last of itskind.

THEYMET,THEYPLANNED,THEYDROVE

Theunlikelypartnership beganduringthe 2018 Mongol Rally when Scottand Jenks first metatthe Iran-Armenia border,bothdriving “crapcars” from EnglandtoMongolia.

“The idea hasbeen in my head forabout seven years, growing,”Scott said as he chattedwith fans whograduated from beingsocialmedia followers to literalfollowers on theday Scottsaidittook aboutanother eightmonths of extensiveplanning before they chosethe notoriouslyunstableReliant Robinfor their Africanadventure.“Isaw someonedriving aReliant Robinonthe Mongol Rally,and I thought, ‘whatcould be somethingevencrazier to do in aReliant Robin?’” Scottsaid.

POTHOLESANDPERILS

The24000kmjourney wasplagued with problems includingenginefailures, multiple brakebreakdowns, andcountless border delays, allofwhich they chronicled on social media. Theirbiggest setbackcameinCameroon when theirenginesuffered complete failure.

Scottenthralledlocal carenthusiasts with the storiesofdestruction when they metatCape Point. He said they hadtohavea replacement engine shippedtothe Congoregion, wherethey rebuiltitthemselves.

Butenginefailure wasjustthe beginning of theirmechanicalwoes. They replaced five wheel cylindersand four sets of brakeshoes during thetrip, with brakes failingevery 5000 kilometers duetothe weight distribution on the Robin’sdrumbrake system

“Itwas alot of stress andanxiety,being push mechanics,”Scott said

An axle failureinCongo presented another challenge, as they needed to find avehicle with approximately50horsepoweronthe rear end —nearlyimpossibleina region dominatedby heavy-duty trucks

BORDERBATTLESANDROUTEREALITY

Administrative challenges proved almost as difficult as mechanical ones.Whatshould have been 30-minutebordercrossings often stretchedtotwo to threehours,withMorocco’s border controltakingsix hoursdue to strict documentationrequirementsfor theirunusual vehicleand carnet de passage,essentially a passportfor thecar “Visaplanning,logistics,also judgingconflicts,looking into conflicts,coups.There were

coupswhile we were on theway here,” Scott said Road conditions varied dramatically across thecontinent.While Namibiaand Angola offered“quitegood roads”,mostother countries were “pretty dodgy”,accordingtoJenks

STRANGERTHINGS

Scottand Jenksalsoencountered many Samaritans andsponsorsalong theway,includinginCapeTown, wherea stranger promptly handed abottleofchampagne andglassesto them on theirarrival.

Severalother “crank heads” were also eagerly awaiting theirarrival, includingmembers of theCrankhandle Club,based in Wynberg, who arrivedinanimpressive collectionofvintage cars andmet theadventurers at theirpitstop in Constantia

Theentourage followedthe cranky Sheila as shetrundled, almost Flintstone’s style— at an averagespeed that appeared to be about40km an hour,tothe pitstops alongthe Cape Town leg. ThesewereEngen N1 WinelandsSouth, Constantia Village,LakesideFireStation,Cape Point, Chapman’sPeakLarge Lookoutand The Bay, FalseBay RC

By thetimetheyreached Cape Point, hours laterthanplanned, theirfollowing hadgrown to includeseveral more fans,including Presley Ofsowitz (18) andLukeHare(19)ofFishHoek.

Theteensare huge fans of the@hold.mygear channeland encounteredthe pair by sheer good luck.Ofsowitzsaidtheywerecontemplating a beachoutingand haddeferredleaving several times, duetothe heat wave,until eventually they decidedtogo, andjustastheyweregetting outofthe carSheilacamecycling by

“Assoon as we stopped, we were getting out of thecar andsaw theChevand thought, ‘ooh that’s nice’,”Presley said referring to oneof theCrankhandle Club’s cars.“Then we turned around andsaw them andwerealisedstraight away.”

They immediatelyjoinedthe entouragein theirbrightred Volkswagen Beetle

ON-ROADSUPPORT

Thepair’sbiggest followerhowever is Jenks’ girlfriend Rachel Garrison. Garrison flew to Cape Town on theduo’s expected duedate, only to find they were severely delayed.

Afterspendingsometimeinthe city,surfing andmeetingfriends,GarrisontravelledtoNamibiatomeet thepairatthe country’snorthernmostpoint with asupport vehicle.

“They’dmadeituntil therewithout asupport vehicle,”Garrisonsaid, adding that this was likely whyithad takenthemsolong.

“But they wouldhavemadeitone wayoranother,”she said.“They were determined.”

What’s next?

Therecord-breaking ReliantRobin finally made it to Cape Town after130 days,a month laterthanplanned.

Shewillnow likely find atemporary home at a museum,withthe Franschhoek MotorMuseum beingconsideredasa displayvenue.The car club membershaveoffered to help facilitate the arrangement.

Theduo hasn’t ruledout futureadventures, though,mentioningpotential plansfor “another onecominghomemaybe like that,um, butyou know,the east coast,”Scott said,amidchampagnecelebrationsatthe Cape of Good Hope

From Kommetjie to Perthtotourist

KEANANHARMSE

KEANAN.HARMSE@NOVUSMEDIA.CO.ZA

“WhenI askedMrGool whyhe went to so much troubleto locate me,his replywas:‘you must neverbenefitfromanother person’stears’.”

This sentimenttells thestory of adedicated search that spannedcontinents, afteranAustralianvisitor,LynnMatthews, wasreunited with herlostcellphone by Grassy Park resident andlocal upholsterer, Impiaz Gool,onSaturday 14 March.

Matthewshad travelledtoSouth Africa fora specialfamilyreunion with 13 cousins, the first time they hadall been together in 36 years.

During theirvisit,the groupenjoyed ahikeat Silvermine Nature Reserve. However, as they prepared to leave, tragedystruck.

“I foolishlyleftmymobilephone on theroof of ourcar as we were packingupafter the hike.Wedrove off unawareofmyroof-riding iPhone!” sherecalled.

Sheonlyrealisedthatthe phonewas missinguponarriving at theirlunch destinationin Noordhoek.

“Were-traced oursteps to no avail. Iquickly accepted that my iPhone waslostforever,along with many memories from ourweekend.

However, thefollowing morning, Matthews wascontacted by herhouse-sitterinPerth to tell herthatGrassy Park resident Gool had foundher iPhone andwas trying to find her.

Gool is also theowner of Gool’s Upholsterers

“Shortly aftermyiPhonehad fallenoff ourcar roof,MrGool wasdriving to Noordhoekwhen hisdaughterspotteditonthe side of theroad. Here followed astory of goodwill, friendship andproof that ‘weare one, butweare many’,” sherecalled.

With thephone locked,identifying theowner proved difficult.However,Gool’s sondiscovered aWestAustraliandriver’slicence tucked inside thephone cover.

Thefamilyattemptedtotrack down theowner viasocialmedia,but when thoseefforts failed, they expanded theirsearchinternationally “Theytried unsuccessfully to locate me on social media. They phoned theircousininMelbourne (EastCoast of Australia)

“Thiscousinphonedanestateagent in Perth (WestCoast of Australia) andgavehim our addresswhich wasonmylicence,” shesaid.

GOODWILL AND PROOF THAT‘WE ARE ONE,BUT WE AREMANY’

Theestateagent drovetothe Matthewshousehold in Perthand told theirhouse-sitterabout therecovered phoneand that Gool waslooking forher By thenextday,Sunday15March,the phone wassafelyreturnedwhenMatthews finally met Gool at hisupholsterybusinessinGrassy Park “Hewas hard at work in hisupholsterybusiness when we drovetocollect my iPhone.A kinder,morehumblegentleman onecould not find.There aremanyangelsout thereparadingaspeople, Mr Gool is oneofthem,”she explained.

Describing himashumbleand kind,she expresseddeep gratitudefor theeffortand compassion shownbyhim andhis family People’s Post reachedout to Gool butheopted nottocomment

CapeTown explores newmarkets