People’s Post Grassy Park/Retreat E-edition 7 July 2026
GRASSY PARK |RETREAT
Tuesday, 7July 2026
KEANAN HARMSE KEANAN.HARMSE@NOVUSMEDIA.CO.ZA
Young LotusRiver gymnastSaarah Boschcontinues to make her community proudafter being crownedone of thechampions at a WesternCapeArtisticGymnasticsChampionships(WCAGC) that took placeat theMulti-Purpose Centre,Saldanhaon Sunday 28 June
Thechampionships startedonThursday25 andconcluded on Sunday 28 June andwas hosted by theWestern Cape Gymnastics Association(WCGA).
WCGA organisesand oversees theregional pathways that allowgymnastsfromlocal clubs to advancetonationalcompetitions.
WCAGCfeaturedregionalathletescompeting across variouslevelstoqualify forthe upcoming SA GymGames andnationaltrials.
Earlierthisyear, shequalified forthe Western Cape gymnastics trials, bringing herone step closer to achievingher dreamofrepresenting SouthAfricaonthe internationalstage
Reflecting on hervictory in Saldanha,Saarah said shetrained twicea week forthe artistic gymnastics competitionand thankedcoach Enrico MarinusfromFutureStars forallowing them to usethe training venue.
Future StarsGymnasticsisa prominentgymnasticscluboperating in Melkbosstrand and Lansdowne.
Theclubofferstrainingfor both men’sand women’sartisticgymnastics(MAGand WAG) as well as tumbling,preparing athletes fordistricttrialsand forprovincialchampionships
“The competitionwas toughbecause there were many excellent gymnasts trying to improveontheir previous scores,” shesaid. Saarah addedthather favouriteevent wasthe floor routinebecause sheenjoysthe dancing element, even though theroutine is performed to prescribed music.
“I am very excitedtohavewon gold,and I’m
Level3goldfor Saarah
“I’m grateful to my coaches”
grateful to my coachesfor helpingmeachieve my goal,” shesaid.
The finale wasthe culminationofa competition weekendfeaturing Level1 throughLevel 3
Women’sArtisticGymnastics(WAG) gymnasts WAGLevel 3isa foundational competitive levelwhere gymnasts focusondeveloping compulsory routines,improving strength,and masteringcoretechnical skills across four apparatuses: vault, uneven bars,balance beam, and floor
Saarah’s next challengeisthe WesternCape Aerobics Championship,which will be held at SidG Rule PrimarySchool on Saturday 25 July Thosewishing to supportSaarah cancontact hermother, Rushana, on 062775 7131
Boschislooking forwardtosecuring more silverwareatanupcoming WesternCapeAerobics Championship,which will be heldatSid GRule Primaryschool on Saturday25July.
Saarah Bosch
Saarah
Saarah Boschcelebrating
‘Blis ’n
justawalk
PAXTON FIELIES,STEVEN LEE LEWIS AND SKETCHY BONGO HEADLINE THE ENTERTAINMENT LINEUP
forBread walk as ameaningful initiative that promises plenty of fun forparticipants.
“I’m superhonouredtobeperformingat Blisters ForBread.Thisisanamazing initiative, andit’salsogoing to be asuper fun dayfor everyone,” says Bongo.
Paxton says sheisexcited to return,encouragingCapetonians to come outintheir numbers andsupport thelong-running initiative
“I am so honoured to be performing at the Blisters forBread CharityFun Walk this year This will be my second time andI know this year will be even bettersocomeout in your numbersand celebratethiswonderful initiative with us.”
“I love everything aboutit, theinitiative, the people andthe good vibes. Ican’t wait to seeall thebeautiful people in Cape Town andmake more amazingmemoriesand experiences.”
identity,unity
sporting ymbolof sonMandetcould heal geswhere next etes learn as disciveranceand growingup munities see nd women anddeteredifficult eldbeunityand r. of sport ebrated also ns.Losing requires continuous Bafana’s nded the
dreamoflifting atrophy, butitalso showed howdeeply SouthAfricans care abouttheir national team
Thepainofdefeatisevidenceof thepassion andunity that football continuestoinspire
As anation, we should continue investinginschool sport, community facilities andathlete development.Sportingsuccess does nothappenbychance. It requires proper planning,funding andsupport from government,businesses andcommunities.Itrequiresusto recognisesport as an investment in social cohesion rather than merely entertainment.
Thetruevalue of sportcannot be measured by trophies alone. Itsgreatestachievement lies in its abilitytounite people,inspire hope andremindusthatweare stronger together than apart.
Sportmay notsolve everyproblemSouth Africa faces, butitcontinues to give us reasonstobelieve in oneanother andinthe nation we arebuildingtogether.
Despitethe reductionatthe pumps, motorists arestill paying aboutR6,18 more perlitre for inland 95 unleaded petrol than they were at the startofthe year,leaving many with little financial breathingroom
Debt Rescue CEONeilRoets,one of SouthAfrica’s topdebtcounselling companies, says fuel prices influencefar more than what motorists payatthe pumps.
“They filter throughthe entire economy, affecting transportcosts,food prices,logistics,municipal servicedeliveryand ultimately householdcash flow.While theJulyreduction is welcome, it is simply toosmall to offsetthe cumulative inflationary pressure consumers have absorbed over recent months.”
Roetssaysconsumers rarely experience inflationasisolatedprice increases. Instead, financialpressure builds cumulatively as multiplecostincreases occursimultaneously, steadily reducing disposable income
He says theongoing MiddleEastcrisis, volatile global fuelprices, andthe loomingdomestic impact of theElNiñoweather pattern on food production,threatens to spikedomesticfood inflationand strain agricultural inputcosts, significantly raisingthe threat of second-round priceeffects
UNCERTAINOUTLOOK
AccordingtoRoets,the outlook beyond is uncertainwithrenewed attacksinthe MiddleEast recently raisingthe risk of higher international oilprices.
YoungSA needsfunds
KEANANHARMSE
Atalented youngbaseballplayer from Grassy Park,HaydenGarth Chamberlain(15), haskickstarted hisown rafflefundraisertocover the travelling costswhenherepresents SouthAfricaonthe internationalstage afterearning selectiontocompete in this year’s WorldBaseballSoftballConfederation(WBSC)u-15BaseballWorld Cup.
This 12-nationtournamenttakingplace in Mexico from Friday 25 SeptembertoSunday 4October will featurethe SouthAfrican team whoqualified afteranundefeatedchampionship runinKenya
TheWorld Cupincludesrosters made up of thebest13-to-15-year-old baseball players across theglobe Matcheswillprimarily be held at theParque Kukulcán Alamostadium,which seats15000 fans andwillbestreamedglobally on Gametime
Growingupina baseball-loving family,he spentSaturdays on thesidelines watching his father play before joiningSilverTreeBaseball Club in Southfieldatthe ageof five However, thefamilynow facesthe challenge
Agrihubtobela
KEANANHARMSE
ThelearnersatPelican Park High School can look forwardtogrowing andtending to their ownorganic vegetablegardens once theschool officially launches itsclimate-smart hydroponic agriculturehub tomorrow(8July)
Thehub is aimedatimproving food security, skills developmentand promotingsustainable livelihoodsinthe community
Theproject is apartnership betweenIslamic Relief SouthAfrica(Irsa)and PelicanParkHigh School
AccordingtoIrsa, it will be officially launched during aMemorandumofUnderstanding (MoU)signing ceremony from 13:30to15:30 at theschool
Theinitiativeisdesignedtoprovide learners andcommunity memberswithpractical agricultural skills whilepromoting environmentally sustainablefood production
Irsa is an independent, faith-inspired humanitarianand developmentnon-governmental organisation (NGO)thatworks to alleviate poverty, deliveremergency disaster relief and empowervulnerablecommunities
As part of theproject,13verticalhydroponic growingsystems will be installedatthe school
Thewater-efficientsystems will enable yearroundvegetable production whileintroducing learners to modern farmingtechnologiesina practicallearningenvironment
TheAgriHub will servea dual purposeby providinglearnerswithhands-onexperience in climate-smartagriculture,entrepreneurship andagribusiness, whilealsocreatinga production spacewhere trainedwomen from thecommunity canapplytheir newlyacquired agricultural skills.
During phase1 of theproject,50women com-
Vandals damagenew vlei bridge
KEANANHARMSE
Justthree weeksafter the official openingofthe new Princess Vlei circulatory trail, vandalshavereportedly removedone of thewooden slatsfromone of thefootbridges in thepark, promptingthe City of Cape Town to appeal to residentsfor informationand to help protectone of theCape Flats’ most importantenvironmental andheritagesites
TheCityrecentlyinvestedR10,2 million in thedevelopment of the 4,23km Princess Vlei trail, creating an accessiblerecreationalspace with boardwalks,bridges,seating areas, restored fynbos andimprovedpublic facilities
Theproject wascompleted in partnershipwiththe Princess Vlei Forum (PVF)and localcommunities after yearsofcollaboration to enhanceand protectthe area
ResidentsofGrassy Park andthe PVF, whofoughtfor more than a decade to preserve Princess Vlei from aproposedshopping mall development,celebratedthe launch of the Princess Vlei trailafter theribbon wascut on Wednesday10June(“Vlei TrailParklaunched”, People’s Post, 16 June).
Thetrail inside Princess Vlei Park includes:resting spaces with seating andlitterbins, anda number of boardwalks andbridges wherepeople canget closer to thewater’s edge However, in theearly hoursof Monday morning, 30 June,a groupof suspects allegedlyremoved wooden slatsfromone of thefootbridges
Ward 72 councillorKevin Southgate said additional measures have been introduced followingthe incident
“Wehaveincreased visibility and dailypatrols,” Southgatesaid.
TheCity’smayco member forcommunity services andhealth, Francine Higham,described thevandalism as deeply disappointing.
alongthe circulatorytrail City rangerscaughtthe suspects in theact,but they fled thescene,leavingthe stolen wood behind Furtherinspections revealed that severalsigns hadalsobeen damaged, whileatleast oneinformation board hadbeendefaced
“Itisdeeply disappointingthat infrastructure at Princess Vlei has been targeted just weeksafter this community facility wasopened,” Higham said Shenoted that theRecreationand ParksDepartmentcontinues to maintain asecuritypresencewithin availableresources butemphasised that Princess Vlei remainsa large, open public spacestretchingover severalkilometres.
“Community vigilanceisessential,”
shesaid.
Emma Oliver,memberofthe PVF, said shewas awareofthe bridge’s vandalism.
“Weweredeeply disappointedto seewhathad happenedinterms of thedismantling andtheft of the planks that were on thebridge. At thesametime, we arewe’re excited andthrilledtosee howmanyofthe community andhow many people are usingthe newwalkway,the Princess Vlei Trailona regularbasis andit’s really greattosee that.”
Oliver says it is vitalthatthe community “takeownership”ofthe trial.
“Weare asking thecommunity to be lookingout forvandals and destruction, notlittering,helping us, thePrincessVleiForum,takecareof thesiteinterms of removing aliens, removing alienvegetation, planting
We’vebeen really encouraged also to seethatlocal neighbourhood watch groups arepatrolling nowand are taking an active interest andwe’re hopeful that thesekindofthings won’thappenagain.”
PVFwillalsobehosting aplanting workshop on Mandeladay,Saturday 18 July
Higham also condemnedthe destructionofpublicassets that were createdfor everyone to enjoy.
“Westronglycondemn such de-
structionand disregardfor thecollective efforts to ensure universalaccess to community facilities.The responsibility restswitheachand everyone of us to guardcommunity assets forthe enjoymentofall.”
Princess Vlei is internationally recognised as an importantbiodiversitysiteand provides habitatfor numerous indigenous plantspecies It is also avital breedingareafor thecritically endangered Western LeopardToad, making environmental protection akey priority Beyond itsecologicalvalue,Princess Vlei is deeply rooted in thecultural heritage of thearea.
Khoi-San community activist Mary AnnJansenpreviouslysaidpreservingPrincessVleiwas aboutfar more than protecting open space.
“Wewereinvolvedinthe struggleto have Princess Vlei declared aheritage site
“Itwas alongbattlethatlasted many years, butultimatelywewere successful in having it recognised and protectedasa heritage site forthe people,” shesaid.
Jansen explainedthatthe vlei and surrounding landscapeare closely connected to Khoi-San historyand spiritualtraditions.
Residentswithinformation about thevandalism or anyother criminal or by-law offencesare encouraged to contactthe City’s Public Emergency Communication Centre on 021480 7700orreportanonymously to 0800 110077, available24hours aday
People’s Post reachedout to thepolice buttheycould notrespond before thetimeofpublication last night.
Princess Vlei circulatorytrail footbridge after all thewooden slats were stolen PHOTOS: SUPPLIED
Thenewly sponsoredwoodenslats that were introduced during thelaunch of the Princess Vlei circulatorytrail in June.
Muizenbergyouth makeasplash
KEANANHARMSE
Ateam of tenlocal volunteersare ensuring that youngboysand girls in Muizenberg areequippedwith theswimming andsurvivalskills they need andtohelpcurbthe number of drowningstakingplace on Cape Town's beaches.
This initiative is knownasthe National Sea Rescue Institute's(NSRI)SurvivalSwimming Programme andiscurrently taking placeatthe Muizenberg MunicipalSwimmingPool
Children andadultsare taught four essential skills whichinclude:breathcontrol,orienting in water, floating,and moving at least five metres to safety,all in ashort 20-minutesession at no charge to theparticipants.
Thegoalistoequip vulnerable individuals, especially children under"14,withthe skills needed to surviveiftheyfallintodeep water.
At thebeginning of 2020,the NSRI launched itsSurvivalSwimming Programme, whichwas inspired by severalstories involvingchildren drowning ametre or twofromsafety.
Cape Town recorded five fataland 23 non-fatal drowningsalong itscoastline
Allfatal incidentsoccurredoutside of designatedbathing zones, with zero fataldrownings reported at municipalswimming poolsor patrolled, lifeguardedbeaches
People's Post spoketoMuizenbergSurvival Swimming School Coordinatorand volunteer, Matthew Guiney on hislovefor teaching swimming lessons forthe localyouth in Muizenberg
Afterspending40years as ateacher,hesays thefocus is on simple butessential skills
"After 40 years, andI just felt Icould tryand give back abit.I'vealwaysbeen involved in coaching sportand lifesaving
"The aimistoteach littlekidsfromthe ageof six, basically,and we'vehad quitea fewadults as well, on what to do if youfallintowater so that youdon't drown.
"That'swhy it's calledsurvivalswimming.It's notreally competitivestrokeswimming,but we teachthemhow to hold theirbreath, howto float, howtoget to theside, becausemostofthe littlekidswho drownare within five metres of theside,"hesays.
Guiney says boys areparticularlyvulnerable.
"Ona hotday,the boys just jump inandthey endupdrowning,"heexplains.
Theprogramme is open to children from the ageofsix,althoughadultsare also welcometo participate.
Families only paythe R5 entrance feeto access Muizenberg Pool,while thesurvival swimming lessons themselves areoffered free of charge
Around 10 adultvolunteerscurrently assist with coaching,alongside severalyounger volunteers, includinghighschool learners
Youngpeoplecan become volunteer coaches from theage of 16 afterreceiving thenecessary training
