People’s Post Grassy Park/Retreat E-edition 5 May 2026
JUNIORSCHOOL LEADERSHIPTEAM
Christel HouseSouthAfrica(CHSA)had thehonour of electing their Junior School leadership team on Wednesday29April. Theschool recognised agroup of learners whoconsistentlyembodythe school’s core values of respect,responsibility, independence,and integrity. Theselearners have been entrusted withthe role of guiding and inspiring their peerswithin thejunior school. Picturedisagroup of learners who posedfor their photoalongsidesome of CHSA’sstaff members. CHSAisano-fee, non-profit school basedinOtteryand supports learners from disadvantaged communities, starting from Grade RR until age18and fiveyears post matric. PHOTO:SUPPLIED
Boulder lai odium s
thenumber-one position. PHOTO:SUPPLIED
balappeal ne ca destinaon,saidthe erange of ncredible es.Fromthe dshoresof surf-friendly SouthAfrica talexperiraveller,”
Sheaddedthatthe best time to visitthe country’ssouthern coastlineisduringthe summer months between December and March, when conditions areideal forswimming,surfing andother beachactivities.
In contrast,the Cape of Good Hope offersa more ruggedand dramatic coastalenvironment Situated within TableMountain National Park,the area is known forits powerful waves, steep cliffs andsweepingocean views.
Thereisexposure, butnot always explanation. Politics is notanimage.Itisnot public relations. It shapes thecostofliving, thesafetyof ourcommunities.Itrequiresmorethanfollowingpersonalities or slogans. It requires looking at leadersand partiescritically,weighingtheir positions, manifestos andgovernancerecords, andmakingdecisions grounded in understandingratherthanallegiance
Now, sevenyears later, as thecountry approaches anotherlocal government election,I find myself returningtothatsamequestion. Not whetheryoung people will vote,but whether they arebeing prepared to decide
Becausevoting, on itsown,isnot theendpoint of democracy. It is only meaningful when it is informed.A ballotcastwithout clarityisparticipation in form,but notalwaysinsubstance
Politicalunderstanding remainsfragmented. In some spaces it is actively discouraged, treated as divisive or unnecessary
In others,itisreduced to slogans, partyloyalty,orsurface-level debatesthatdolittletobuild critical thinking
Theresultisa generation expected to participate in asystemtheyare notalwaysfully equippedtonavigate. If we areserious about strengtheningdemocracy,thenpolitical education cannotbetreated as optional or incidental It must be intentional, accessibleand ongoing. It must create room forquestioning,for disagreement, foruncertainty
It must allowyoung people to wrestlewith ideas, to make mistakes,and to refine their understandingwithout fear of beingdismissed or ridiculed.
Importantly, theseconversations cannotbe confinedtoformalspacesalone.Theymustexistinhomes,schools, campuses,communities andmedia platforms. They must be normalised amongpeers, notavoided
Politicalliteracyshouldnot requirea specialised interest or professional background.It should be part of howweunderstandthe world we live in.The challengeisnot apathy.Itisaccess, to knowledge, to dialogue,tospaceswhere politicalunderstanding is developedratherthan discouraged.
As localelections draw closer,the question should notonlybehow many youngpeoplewill show up at thepolls
It should be whethertheyare arriving there with clarity, confidenceand asense of urgency. Whethertheyunderstandnot just whothey arevotingfor,but why. Becauseparticipation withoutunderstanding is notenough.
FBKaratespitituallyhome
KEANANHARMSE
After more than twodecades away, FalseBay Karate Academy(FBKA) marked atriumphantreturntothe Unicity–Karate AssociationWestern Province (KAWP) tournament circuiton Saturday 25 April, delivering an outstanding performanceacrossall divisions. As theoldestkaratefederationin theprovince—andcurrently theonlyone offeringbothsemi-contactand full-contact divisions—KAWP provided an ideal platform forthe academy’slong-awaited comeback,saidFBKAsensei, Hilton Jordaan,
FBKA is amartial arts school basedinGrassy Park.Itwas establishedin1999bythe late Sensei William Jordaan
It is recognised as acommunity-focused institution that combines traditionalkaratetraining with social empowermentfor localyouth.“The tournament beganwithkata, whereevery False BayKarateentrant secureda podium finish,an incredible achievementand atestament to the academy’shighstandards.Following this,competitors took part in weaponsand team kata divisions—areasinwhich FalseBay Karate has zero experience.The academyhas committedto expandingintothese divisionsinfuturetournaments, embracingnew challenges andgrowth opportunitiesfor itsstudents,”Jordaan said Despitelimited preparationtime, competitors demonstrated composureand precisionagainst strong opposition.The team then ventured into weaponsand team kata divisions, unfamiliar territory forthe academy.
“The highlightofthe daywas thekumite (fighting). Representing theKyokushin style, widely regarded as oneofthe toughest full-contact karate systemsinthe world.
FalseBay Karate students were,however, required to competeunder “clicker”rules dueto limitedfull-contactparticipation.Thispointbasedsystemwas unfamiliar territory forall FalseBay competitors. Despitethis, thelearners
Allfourinstructors areformerSouth African championsinthe clickersystem, enabling them to effectively prepareand supporttheir students during thetransition.
Daniel Jordaan ledthe team with a first-place finish in hisdivision, earningspecial recognition from refereeShihanCobeJaphtaofKenpo Karate Forthe Jordaan family andthe broaderFalse BayKaratecommunity,the return to KAWP carried deep emotionalsignificance.
RECONNECTING
Theorganisationwas closelylinkedtothe late founderand Sensei Jordaan,who played a keyroleinpromoting unitywithinthe karate community
Reconnectingwiththe federation after more than 20 yearshighlighted theenduring strength of thoserelationships andtraditions. Reflecting on thetournament, Shihan Evelyn Jordaan acknowledged initialconcernsabout limitedpreparation butpraised thestudents’ resilience.She notedthattheir abilitytoadapt underpressure echoed herown experiencesas acompetitor, when sheand herpeerssuccessfully enteredunfamiliarformats with minimal preparation. In aremarkableoutcome,every FalseBay Karate competitor finished on the podium
Beyond competitionresults,the tournament offered valuable exposure.The presence of
Abdullah, Presidentofthe United MartialArtsFederationSouth Africa,further elevated theoccasion.FBKAnow looksahead to itsnextcompetition on Saturday 30 Mayin Belhar,hostedbyEricSnyders (7th Dan).The academyaimstogrowits participationand the team is actively fundraising foranupcoming tour to Namibialater this year Contact Hilton Jordaan at Falsebaykarate@ yahoo.com or 074994 9785 formore.
Learningto readandwrite
AVRILFILLIES
Living ThroughLearning(LTL),a Western Cape-based educationalnon-profitorganisation (NPO)focused on improvingfoundationalliteracyinunder-resourced communities,recently hosted an Easter back to school activation at its partnerschool,PerivalePrimary in Grassy Park Theschool is oneofninewhere LTLdelivers itstargetedliteracyprogrammes.
Theother eightschoolsare:Lotus River PrimaryinLotus River, Levana PrimaryinLavenderHill, Hillwood PrimaryinLavenderHill, CypressPrimary in Bridgetown,StAugustine’s RomanCatholicPrimary School in Belhar, Vorentoe PrimaryinRavensmead, Valhalla PrimaryinElsiesRiver andWestEnd Primary in Lentegeur.
“While theevent waslight-hearted andcelebratory, it also highlighteda critical message: theimportanceofstrongreading andwritingskills in theearly yearsofeducation.The Foundation Phaseisa crucialperiodwhere learners developthe building blocks forall futurelearning. Withoutthe abilitytoreadwith understandingand expressthemselvesthrough writing, learners oftenstruggletokeep up academically in latergrades.
“This, in turn,impacts theirprospects of becoming contributing citizens in theSouth Africaneconomy,” says DagnyBaleson,general managerofLTL Living ThroughLearningaimstospark alove forliteracywhile reinforcingthe importance of earlyintervention. By creating positive, engaging learning experiences, theorganisation supportslearnersinbuildingconfidence, comprehension, anda lifelong connectionto reading.
•Tosupport Living ThroughLearningor make adonation, visitwww.livingthroughlearning.org.za or contactDagny Balesonatdagny@ livingthroughlearning.org.za
Impactful opportunityawaitsentrants
SISKAMARTIN
Formorethan 40 years, the Matriculantofthe Year competition has been making adifferenceinthe livesofhundredsofyoung people whohavestarted their career path at the Universityofthe Free State (UFS)
This year it will be no different, withthe 45th competition starting this week.
Notonlyisitthe launchofthe 2026competition, butthe UFSis also excited to welcome Novus Media as anew media partner for thecompetition.
NovusMedia, asubsidiaryof NovusHoldings, hasanational footprintof36freecommunity papers;anational paper, Die Papier; and astrong digital and social media presence.
All articles aboutthe competition willbepublishedinthese printed publications, as well as on their websites,inaddition to being available to read forfreeonthe national websitenovanews.co.za
Onceagain, multi-talentedmatriculants from all over the country canenter themselvesfor the competition, whichwas wonlast year by KiaraSubramanian, nowa former learner of the Eunice High School in Bloemfontein.
Kiarasaysshe will always be grateful forwinning the competition.
“Not just becauseofthe title,but becauseofthe peopleitbrought into my life. It allowedmetoconnect withsuchinspiring,kind, and drivenindividuals, manyofwhom Inow gettowalk this journeyof studying medicine with.”
Forher,itbecame farmore
meaningfulthan acompetition –it extends to friendships,support, and ashared understanding that“we were all striving toward something bigger than ourselves”
“Looking back,I think what the competition really taughtmeis
the importanceofconnection and encouragement. “It showedmehow powerful it is to be surroundedbypeople who uplift and motivate you.”
Matriculants from across the country whoare leadersand achieversinacademics, cultureand sport, and whoplan to studyatUFS next year,can enterthe competition.
Bursaries and prizemoneytotalling about R500 000 areupfor grabs
forthe top25participants,thanks to sponsorsincluding UFSStudent RecruitmentServices,the Kovsie Alumni Trust, Forvis Mazars, Absa and Pick nPay Preller Walk.
Learnersmay enterthemselvesor be nominatedbytheir schools, with formssignedbythe principal and bearing the official school stamp.
Atotal of 25 semifinalistswill be selected,fromwhich 14 finalistswill advancetothe final round from 5to 7October in Bloemfontein.
The winner and finalistsreceive prizemoney, bursaries,and gifts, while semi-finalistsare also awarded prizes and bursaries
Entriesclose on Friday 31 July
Scan the QR code above, download the entryform,complete it, and send it back to Linda Greyling at greylinl@ufs.ac.za. Shecan also be contactedfor more information.
Imtiyaaz
DanielJordaan sportingthe trophyhewon at the Unicity–Karate Association WesternProvince (KAWP) tournament circuit PHOTO:SUPPLIED
EllenPakkie running fo
KEANANHARMSE
EllenPakkies,a Lavender Hill mother whosestory drew global attention in 2007 afterbeing convictedfor the deathofher drug-addicted son, recently announcedher candidacyfor Cape Town mayor.
Representing theNationalColouredCongress(NCC),Pakkies says herdecisiontoenter politics stemsfroma desire to addresswhat shesees as deep-rooted social neglectaffecting communities on theCapeFlats Pakkies became awidelyrecognised figure afterreceiving asuspended sentence andcommunity servicein2008,a case that highlighted thelackofsupport forfamiliesdealing with tik (methamphetamine)addiction. Sincethen, she hasbeen an outspokenadvocatefor affected families
Speaking on CapeTalk’s Good MorningCape Town with Lester Kiewit on Friday 17 April, Pakkies said herlived experience gave hera clear understandingofthe dailychallenges facedby residentsinareas such as Lavender Hill. Shebelievesthese communities have been overlooked foryears andrequire urgent and meaningful intervention.“Ihavejoinedthe NCC becauseitrefuses to ignore thepeople that thesystemhas failed.For toomanyyears ourcommunities have been treatedlikean afterthought.I just want to make achange, it’s notabout themoney.Our communitieshave been failed andnobodycared aboutit; it’s just nowand then we seethe government come to ourcommunities.Too many mothers, fathers andyoung people’s liveshavebeenruinedand nothinghas changed,”she said on air. Hercampaignfocuses on tackling drug abuse, fp
FROMPAGE1
SalesconsultantJacky Nelidentified the opportunitywhenthe vehiclebecameavailable throughanother department andacted quickly to secure it at adiscountedrate, making the purchase financially viable
Beyond acquiringthe vehicle, AROalsohad to addressoperational challenges.Eachmobile clinic requires trainedpersonnel, including an Animal WelfareAssistant anda Mobile Assistant. This meantrecruitingand preparing additional staff to ensure that services couldbe deliveredsafelyand effectively
Site accessibility andsafetyremainongoing concerns.The communities most in need of veterinary supportare oftenthe hardestto reach, requiringcareful coordination with local ward councillors andcommunity leaders. Identifyinglocations that arebothaccessibletoresidents andsafefor staff continuesto
demand flexibilityand detailed planning Despitethese obstacles, AROhas remained committedtoits mission.The newmobileclinic is expected to significantly improveservice delivery by reaching more communities,reducing waitingtimes andproviding more consistent access to essentialveterinarycare. This includes primaryhealthcare, sterilisationservices andeducational outreach aimedatpromoting responsiblepet ownership. ForConcerand herteam, thelaunchrepresentsmorethanjustanadditional vehicle. “Thisisa meaningful expansionofcaretothe animalsand families whoneed it most,” she said With thethird mobile clinic nowready to roll, AROispoisedtomakeanevengreater impact—bringingvital veterinary services where they areneeded most andcontinuingits work to improveanimalwelfare across theregion.
Animal Rescue Outreach (ARO)willcelebrate thelaunch of its thirdmobile veterinary clinic on Thursday 8 May. PHOTO:SUPPLIED
EffortstopreserveAfricanpenguins
The City of Cape Town marked World PenguinDay on Saturday 25 April with astark warning: thebeloved Africanpenguin is facing a fightfor survival.
Whilethe global eventcelebratesall 18 penguin species, localauthorities saythe African penguin, theonlyspecies native to SouthAfrica andNamibia,isnow amongthe most at-risk populationsworldwide
Following its2024uplisting to critically endangered on theInternational Unionfor Conservation of Nature RedList, thespecies hasseen adramaticdecline
AccordingtoDeputyMayor andMayco memberfor spatialplanning andthe environment EddieAndrews fewerthan10000 breeding pairsremain. “Without drasticintervention scientists predictthischarismatic speciescould be extinctinthe wild by 2035.”
ASPECIESVITALTOECOLOGYANDTOURISM
TheAfrican penguinisconsidereda keystone species, playinga critical role in maintaining thebalance of marine ecosystems
It is also amajor drawcard fortourism,with colonies at Boulders BeachPenguin Colony and RobbenIslandattracting visitors from around theworld
Theirpresencesupportslocal businesses, tour operatorsand thebroader hospitality sector,reinforcing Cape Town’s reputation as a nature-based tourismdestination
Officialssay thespecies is underpressure from acombination of environmentaland human-relatedchallenges
Climatechangeisdisruptingbreedingand moulting patterns, with extremeweather events causingnestabandonment
Food scarcity,drivenbycommercial fishingof
FOLLOWING ITS2024 LISTING AS CRITICALLY ENDANGERED THE SPECIESHAS SEEN A DRAMATIC DECLINE
sardines andanchovies,isforcing penguins to travel further forfood, leavingchicksvulnerable to predators.
Urbanpressures arealsotakinga toll, particularlyinSimon’s Town,where penguins face threatsfromdomesticanimals,trafficand humandisturbance
RANGERSONTHEFRONTLINE
In response,the City hasinvestedina dedicated PenguinRangerTeaminpartnership with TheSouthernAfrican Foundation forthe Conservation of CoastalBirds (Sanccob) and SouthAfrican NationaParks (SANParks)
Theserangers monitornests,collect data on breedingsuccess andrespond to injuredor distressedbirds.Rescued penguins aretaken to Sanccob, whichhas an 80%rehabilitation andrelease success rate.Their work includes managing thedelicatebalance between humans andwildlifeinurban coastalareas
Despitethe challenges officialssay extinction is notinevitable. “The 2035 extinction predictiondoesnot have to be ourreality,” says Andrews. “Byworking together we canprotect theseiconicbirds andpreserveour coastlinefor futuregenerations.”
As Cape Town marked WorldPenguin Daythe message wasclear:savingthe Africanpenguin will requireurgentactionand collectiveresponsibility
HOWRESIDENTSCANHELP
Residentsand visitors areurged to play an active role in protecting penguins by reporting injuredordistressedbirds to authoritiesrather than interveningdirectly.
TheCityencouragesthe public to send a WhatsApp message with aphoto,description andlocationtothe PenguinRangerTeam.
Helptheseabandonedanimalsgetnewhomes Helpthesea
To shinethe spotlightonthousands of pets that areabandoned or in need of newhomes, People’s Post hasteamedupwithTEARS Animal Rescue to help some of thesefour-legged pets getnew homes. Once amonth we will publishseveral dogs andcatsupfor adoption TEARSisa pro-life non-profitorganisation (NPO)established in 1999 to rescue,treat,rehabilitate,reunite andre-home lost,abandoned, abused andneglected companionanimals and to educatepet owners andthe youthlivingin thefourunder-resourced communities. The NPOremains theonlyfacilityinthe Cape Peninsula’s farSouth availablesevendaysper week, includinganafter-hours mobile clinic service from 16:30to19:00 with limitedveterinary care.TEARS treats hundreds of animalsfor variousconditions, illnessesand injuries
DOGS: .Nikolai: abig,goofyBoxer-Pitty-Africanis mixwitha resilientheart.Rescued in terrible
condition—starvedand battlingtick-bornedisease—he’stransformed into agentle, easy-going companion. Toy-obsessedand water-loving, he walkswellonleadand hasbasic obedience training.Dog-socialoutside butselective at home,nocats. Afterthree yearswaiting,he needsanexperienced ownertoshowhim lastinglove.
.Demi:a sweet,intelligent Pibblecross balancingcuddlyaffection with high energy Toy-loving andbeach-obsessed, shethrives in an active home andmakes agreat hiking companion. Sheprefers beingthe centre of attentionbut canlivewiththe rightdog.Independentand strong-willed, she’salsogentleat heart—andnow even helpsbuild confidencein otherdogs.
.Gracie:a playful ginger catwho’s traded her calm mama days fora life of funand mischief Energeticand cheeky, sheturns everything into agameand keepsyou entertainedwithher bold personality. Beneaththe chaosisa loving companion.Graciewould thrive in ahomeready for laughter,play, anda littleadventure
.Lexy:a shybut striking calico with beautiful markings anda gentle,curious nature.Found
in Muizenberg,she’s lookingfor apatient home that understandsher need forquiet,cosyhiding spots. Beneathher timidexteriorisa playful soul readytobonddeeply.Withtimeand love, Lexy will grow into aloyal,affectionatecompanion
.Merlot:a striking black-and-whitetuxedo catwitha rich,affectionatepersonality.A true people’s cat, sheloves attentionand thriveson laptimeand closecompanionship.While she toleratesother cats,she prefersbeing thecentre of attention. Loyaland devoted, Merlot is ready to become aconstant, cuddlypresenceina home that’s allhers.
.Paprika: asassy calico with aplayful,mysteriouspersonality.Initially reserved,she needs time andpatiencetobuild trust, butonceshe does,she becomesaffectionate, playful,and full of charm. This “calicoqueen”enjoysinteraction on herterms andrewards patience with cuddles andfun.Paprika is lookingfor acalm, understanding home to help hershine
