People’s Post Woodstock/Maitland/City E-edition 23 June 2026

|MAITLAND| CITY

Safe ridesfor learners

Tuesday, 23 June2026 KAYLYNNEBANTOM

LearnersatSeven StepsAcademy for theDeafinZonnebloemwillnow travel to school safely andcomfortably afterthe school received abus donation valued at R1,4 million,replacing the school’s oldbus

Thevehicle wasdonated by theSouth African Muslim Charitable Trust(SAMCT),a non-profit organisation that provides funding assets, services andother resourcestoapproved public benefitorganisations

SevenSteps is theonlyoralacademiccombinedschool forDeaflearnersinCapeTown.

Faried Boltman, an SAMCTrepresentative, said afterlearningthatlearnersfaced significant barriersbecause of unsafe,unreliable, or unaffordabletransport,the organisation decided to intervene.

“The logisticscrisisatSeven StepsAcademy forthe Deaf directly undermined theproper educationand overallwell-beingofits learners

“We, at theSAMCT,believe that anew and dedicatedbus wouldoffer safe,accessible transport, drasticallyimprove punctualityand attendance,whilstalso relieving financialpressure on thefamiliesoflearnershere.”

Mayorjoins Blisters call

KAYLYNNEBANTOM

Withthe annual Blisters forBread less than two months away,organisersare appealingtoCapetonianstosignupbeforethe deadline on Sunday 2August.

Theiconiccharity fun walk which is organisedbyPeninsula School FeedingAssociation(PSFA)will take placeonSunday, 16 August,at theSea PointPromenade With only 10000 spotsavailable, walkersare encouraged to enter forjustR125, whichwillhelpfeed 23 children with breakfastand lunchfor aday.The fundraising eventhas been fighting childhood

hunger for58years.Itoffersa 5km or 10km route, with medals and refreshments forall participants

The10kmwalkwillstart at 07:30while the5 km walk starts at 08:00.

Entertainmentincludestop artists Paxton,StevenLee Lewis, and SketchyBongo,plusfood stalls and family activities

PetrinaPakoe,directorofPSFA, says theevent is atestament to theassociation’ssharedcommitment to ensuring that everychild receives nutritious mealsdaily “Hundred percentofthe entryfee that entrants paygoestowards the feedingofthe children within our schools. Iwould like to encourage

FUNWALK IS A FUNDRAISING INITIATIVE FOR FEEDING CHILDREN

each andeveryonetocomeout, bringthe family andfriends.It’s nota race;it’sa fun walk.Let us uniteagainst childhood hunger.”

MayorGeordin Hill-Lewis, who will be joiningthe walk,urged Capetonianstosupport thewalkand feed theneedychildren.

“Itishardtothink of amoredeservingcause than feedinghungry school children in ourcity, andI

look forwardtojoining thousands of Capetoniansinthe Blisters for Breadwalk.” Hill-Lewisencouragedfamilies andschoolstolaceupand support “thisworthycause”.

“There hasnever been abetter reason to lace up your running shoesfor a5 or 10km walk that will have aprofoundeffectonthe livesofmanyyoung Capetonians. TheCityofCapeTownisproud to support Blisters forBread,and we areverygrateful forthe wonderful work thePSFAdoesinour city and hasbeen doingfor many decades.” .To enter visitwww.psfa.org.za. Forenquiries,get in touch with Top Eventsatinfo@topevents.co.za

Cablewaytoshutdownforroutineservice

TheTable Mountain Aerial Cableway Company(TMACC) will temporarilysuspend operations at theiconicTable Mountain for an annual maintenanceperiod, from Monday 27 July to Sunday 9 August

Thetwo-week shutdown forms part of thecompany’s longstanding commitmenttosafety, reliabilityand world-classoperational standards.

TMACCsaidina statementthe closurewillallowits skilledtechnicalteamtocarry outa comprehensiveprogramme of scheduled inspections, mechanical upgrades, andessentialmaintenance work on therotarycable carsystem.

This annual processisa critical componentonthe company’s operationalcalendar, ensuring that allequipment,infrastructure, andsafetysystems arethoroughly assessedand serviced before abusy summerseasonlater in theyear.

TheTable Mountain Aerial Cableway,which firstopenedin 1929,remains oneofSouth Africa’s most visitedtourist attractions,

welcomingthousands of localand internationalvisitorsannually

Therotarycable cars,which offer 360-degree viewsduringthe ascent anddescent,are subjecttorigorous internationalsafetyprotocols makingannual maintenancenot only routinebut essential.

TMACCsaidalternative ways to experience TableMountain, includingseveral well-maintained hiking trails,willremainaccessibletothe public throughout themaintenance period,weather permitting Forthose celebratingbirthdays in July or August,the TMACC hasconfirmed that thetimingof theclosure will stillallowsufficienttimewithinbothmonthsto redeem acomplimentary birthday return ticket

Visitors areadvised to check theofficial websitefor termsand conditions relating to thebirthday ticket offer

Book ticketsinadvance through theofficial TableMountainAerial Cableway websitetosecureyour spot

FeesMustFall:Manywereborn-free.Nonefeltit

ingfor acommunity newspaper, readingnewsfor acommunity radiostation when Fees Must Fall arrivedatits peak

In 20 years’ time,the same memorandum we carried to the apartheidgovernmentwillbe carried to us.”

On 16 June 1976 twelve-yearoldHectorPieterson was shot by apartheidpoliceon thestreetsofOrlando West, Soweto.

SamNzima’s photograph captured what followed: Hector’s body cradledinthe arms of Mbuyisa Makhubo, hissisterAntoinette Sitholerunning alongside, her mouthopenina scream that has neverreally stopped. Approximately 566learnerswerekilled. Notyet oldenoughtovote, to ownproperty, to move freely throughthe countryoftheir birth. Buttheyunderstood,withextraordinary clarity, that thesystem shapingtheir liveswas wrong, and that silencewas no longer aform of survival

Politics were notforeign in my home.I grew up sitting at my grandmother’sfeet,listening to her describe an eraI hadnot livedbut somehowalready felt.She sang the strugglesongs andI wouldchant along, understandingthe weight Historywas nothandedtomeina classroom.Itlived in hervoice Icarried that into journalism, arriving at Cape PeninsulaUniversity of Technology (CPUT) doinga shortcourseatthe time,freelanc-

Idocumentedand interviewed studentactivists thesameage as thechildrenof1976. Many were born-free. None felt it

This YouthDay,watchingNetflix’s documentary TheTrialsof WinnieMandela,which airedin April, Ifound myself pulledback into that conversation

Born-freecarries both promise andparadox

We were supposedtobethe dividend of sacrifice made flesh. Instead, many of us inheritedthe debt of unfinished business.

Thedocumentary streamsinto over 190countries on an American platform

SouthAfrican memory now reachessubscribers whohave neverheard of Brandfort. Who tells thestory andfor whom is notseparatefromthe story. But beneaththe production,publisher Palesa Morodu raises thequestion threadingthe series:how do we hold political figuresaccountable whileacknowledging theviolence andpressure of thesystems they operated within?

Onemomentstoppedme. Winnie recalls telling Tata Nelson Mandela during thetransition: “I begged tata andtoldhim this is adummy freedom we aregivingtothe people

Thestudentsof1976alsocarried amemorandum. Shot at for demandingdignity in theirown language,their ownschools, their owncountry

Half acentury later, youngSouth Africans arestill marching.Still writingmemorandums.Still being told to wait

Before shebecamethe symbol the documentaryexamines, Winnie Madikizela wasa social worker,the firstqualified Blackmedical social worker at BaragwanathHospitalin Soweto.She encounteredapartheid notasideologybut as case files. As mothers. As children shaped by a system that haddecided what they were worth.

Thedocumentary holdsher resilience andher ruptureinthe same frame, anddoesnot look away from theTruth andReconciliation Commission (TRC)hearings of 1997

ThelateArchbishopDesmond Tutu addressedher:“Ibeg you, Ibeg you, Ibeg youplease. You area greatpersonand youdon’t know howyourgreatness wouldbe enhanced if youweretosay sorry, things went wrong, forgiveme.”

Herresponsewas partial: “I am saying it is true,thingswenthorriblywrong.” Yearslater shesaid: “Tothisday Iask Godtoforgive

me fornot forgivinghim.I wasn’t goingtosay sorry as if Ihad been responsiblefor apartheid.”

Thedocumentary does notresolvethis. It exposesthe question underneath what does accountabilitylook like fora person shaped by extraordinaryviolence, inside systems designed to breakher?That does notexcuse. It contextualises Thereisa difference ourpublic discourserarelymakes room for. Shewas notwithout flaws. But shewas notreducible to them.She was, in herown words, “a product of themassesofmycountry and theproduct of my enemy”.Not a villain.Not asaint.A productof environmentshapedbyapartheid violence,liberationstruggleand gendered scrutiny On YouthDay,thisiswhatwe owethe generation of 1976.Not candlelightvigils. Honestyabout whetherthe countrytheygave theirlives to buildhas been built, andrealreckoning with whyso many youngSouth Africans remain locked outofthe economy, the politicalprocess anda dignified future.

What happens to thewarnings carried by theyoung? What happens to womenwho refusetobesoftened?

Andwhatdoesitsay aboutour democracyifitstill struggles to answer thechildrenwho marched into bullets,askingsimplytobe free?

Statewitness gunned down

KAYLYNNEBANTOM

The brazen murder of akey state witnessinKensingtonhas reignited callsfor thestate to do more to protectthose whotestify in high-profile

THE STATEMUST DO MORE TO PROTECTWITNESSES. THESEATTACKS ARE

TEARSAnimal Rescue recently announced the opening of anew TEARS(TheEmma Rescue Society) WhatsAppVet Shop, making it easierthan ever forpet owners acrossCape Town to shop for their pets whilesupporting animalsinneed. While thenew TEARSphysical Vetshop and Clinic is in the final stages of development,customers canalready enjoythe convenienceofshopping throughthe newWhatsAppVet Shop. Theshop stocks awide rangeoftrusted pet brands, including Rogz,Hills, Montegoand Lekkerbarkey. AddWhatsApp number 063855 5137 to your contacts and startshopping today. PHOTO:SUPPLIED

DESERVED SILVER FORPASSIONATESAMEN’S HOCKEY TEAM

Francedefeatedhostnation SouthAfrica 2-1inthe final of theInternationalHockey Federation (FIH) Men’sHockey NationsCup at HartleyvaleStadiumObservatory,securing aplace in the FIHPro League Francestruck twiceinthe opening quarter to take acommanding lead,but South Africafought back with greatcharacter,with SamkeloMvimbipulling agoalback in the 48thminutetoset up atense finale. South Africadominated the second half, forcing six penalty corners,but French goalkeeper Corentin Saunier was outstanding, repeatedlydenying the hostsanequalisertopreserveFrance’snarrow victory. In the bronze medal match, NewZealand defeated Japan3-1,withJontyElmes and James Hicksonscoring late goalsto seal the win after Japan had takenanearlylead. Malaysia claimedfifth placewith a4-2 win over Scotland, whileIreland ended theircampaign onahighwithaconvincing 5-1victory overthe United States to finish seventh. Pictured arethe South African team withtheir silvermedals. PHOTO:SUPPLIED

TokaiLions knit comfortfor cancer survivors

NAMHLAMONAKALI

The LionsClubofTokai hasdonated 40 handmade breast prostheses to theBreastClinicatGrooteSchuur Hospital,a projectthe club says is deeply personal,havinglostone of itsown memberstobreastcancerin2021.

Theprostheses, knownasKnittedKnockers, arehandmadefromnatural materialsand designed to be soft,lightweight andcomfortable enough to wear in aregular bra. They are intended as an affordablealternative forwomen

SchotscheKloof’swater worries

KAYLYNNEBANTOM

The City of Cape Town andthe Schotsche Kloof Body Corporatehelda meetingonWednesday,17June, to resolvethe growingwater woes at the SchotscheKloof flats, better knownas the191-unitsectional titlescheme.

Accordingtoreports,someresidents have reportedly been withoutrunning waterfor the last monthafter themunicipalityrestricted supplytothe building’s bulk watermetersdue to unpaid debts.

Accordingtothe City,the Schotsche Kloof Body Corporate’soverdue debt currently stands at R17million,withanaverage R170000 monthlybilland only R50000 totalpaidtodate this year

In apress statement, theCityannouncedthat watersupplyhad been restricted in lightofthe “unsustainable accumulating debt,non-payment”and thebodycorporate “not honouring paymentagreements”.

Standpipes,inclose proximityto fire hydrants andresidential unitshavebeeninstalled to ensure each blockhas access to water, theCity stated

“The body corporatehas repeatedly made falseundertakingstothe City andhas not collected or paid over monthlywater bills from unit-holders forunclear reasons.

“The body corporatefurther neglectedto providepromisedinformation to register pensionerand indigent beneficiaries, with the City proceedingtogodoor-to-door to ensure all were registered,” read thestatement

ButaccordingtoAboebakar Diedericks,one of thetrustees of thebodycorporate,theyhave been in back-and-forth meetings with theCity forseveral years.

Diedericks claimedthatthe City hadsoldthe unitstoresidents on abulkwater metering system

He said the191 flatsonlyhave16water me- pensione ebateapplications forthose who

CapeTown salutes late music legend

BayviewCup ‘26launched

LAURENO’CONNOR-MAY

Withschools closingonFriday26 June,all roadswillnow lead to StrandfonteinSportsGround, Strandfonteinfor this year’s editionof theu-16Bayview YouthCup

forces,” he said BayviewFCexecutive membersEbenand PetraLoff paid tributetoRodriguez at the ceremony “Mark, you’ve been more than achairperson— acoach,manager,you’vebeen afather,