PeoplesPost False Bay E-edition 30 September 2025

Alterationstirsdiscourse

NAMHLAMONAKALI

The amendment of the Intestate Succession Act earlier this month has not only stirred legal discussions but has also revived deeper questions about memory, heritage, and lineage

The modification, which updates the current Intestate Succession Act of 1987, the primary piece of legislation that governs how estates are distributed when someone dies without a valid will, seeks to close long-standing gaps in inheritance law that historically left women and children vulnerable Parliament’s move aligns inheritance rights with constitutional principles of equality

But in the heart of Cape Town, where the scars of forced removals

still shape daily life, the new law is being interpreted through a different lens: heritage

For the District Six Museum, inheritance is more than a matter of property or assets It is about the preservation of memory, the recognition of belonging, and the safeguarding of cultural traditions that were deliberately fractured by apartheid-era laws

“In District Six, dispossession meant that families were not only stripped of their homes but of their lineage,” said Chrischene Julius, director of the District Six Museum “Inheritance here is not just about wills and succession It is about who inherits the right to tell our stories, who gets to preserve the memory of a place once erased from the map, and how those traditions live on in our children ”

ITISABOUTWHO INHERITSTHERIGHT TOTELLOURSTORIES

The Museum has spent decades collecting oral histories and artefacts that keep alive the memory of families uprooted during the Group Areas Act

According to curators, the debate over inheritance laws today resonates with this painful history because it raises questions about whose memory is valued and how families can claim back not just assets but cultural dignity

Cultural activist Solomzi Nyezi echoed this view, noting that inheritance systems are deeply tied to identity

“Heritage lives in our names, in our practices, and in how we pass down traditions When the law changes, it reshapes the ways families think about lineage and custodianship of memory, ” he said The Women’s Legal Centre Trust, meanwhile, has welcomed the law as a necessary protection for vulnerable groups but warns that without awareness campaigns, its impact may be limited “Communities must be educated about their rights if they are to claim them Otherwise, the promise of the law remains only on paper, ” the Centre noted In District Six and across the challenge remains how to ensure that the law not only protects property but also strengthens the inheritance of memory, tradition, and cultural identity

ThousandsofmenexpectedatMightyMen

For the first time in Cape Town’s history, 30 000 men will gather on Saturday 1 November at Athlone Stadium for a free Mighty Men event This historic moment is a direct response to decades of gang violence and brokenness on the Cape Flats - and a collective statement that enough is enough

On Friday morning 19 September, approximately 200 church and community leaders gathered in Athlone to prepare for this milestone event The Mighty Men Cape Flats event, which is free to attend, aims to bring together men from across Cape Town and South Africa to reclaim their communities and restore hope and healing

The movement forms part of Radio Tygerberg 104FM’ s “Healing the City” initiative, launched last year after a report in a local newspaper highlighted that 121 people had died in just two weeks due to gang violence - a tragedy that no longer

even made front-page news

“We simply could not remain silent any longer The loss of life and pain on the Cape Flats deeply moved us This Mighty Men Cape Flats event is a response to the cry of the community,” said Hardus Zevenster, chief executive of the Bloudruk Group, of which Radio Tygerberg is a part

Speakers announced at Friday’s event include inspirational men who themselves grew up in gang-ridden areas

Well-known author, singer, and media personality Johnny Davids, and Ivor Swartz, also an author and now a pastor, will be among the speakers

The keynote speaker is world-renowned evangelist Angus Buchan, who last spoke in Mitchells Plain in 2018 Although he no longer travels or speaks as frequently, he felt called to be part of this event “I truly believe that the men of

Cape Town have the potential to lead their families and communities toward healing and restoration This movement reminds men of their God-given purpose, ” explained Buchan

Music will also play a central role at the gathering

Neville D - breakfast show host on Radio Tygerberg and Grammy-nominated artist - will lead the music programme on the day, accompanied by a band and an impressive 100-man choir

A movement of hope and transformation, The Mighty Men Cape Flats gathering is the result of requests from church and community leaders working with Radio Tygerberg to find practical solutions for the community

Other community radio stations are also helping to mobilise for the event “Life on the Cape Flats is relentless The violence, the loss of life, the trauma that unfolds daily

More

devastates families and our community,” said Pastor Theo Roman of the Open Assemblies of God

He adds: “We believe and pray that this gathering will equip men to rediscover their roles as leaders, fathers, and role models, so that healthy families and stronger communities can grow ”

The event starts at 14:00 and ends at 20:00

Gates open at midday Although free, booking is through itickets co za

The lost art of listening and caring

human cruelty is an indestructible weed that keeps growing and returning as the centuries pass

on our cellphones, ranging from assassinations, attacks and heated arguments

“The purpose of propaganda is to make one set of people forget that the other sets of people are human ’’

These few words from the late author Aldoux Huxely are a simple mantra when it comes to understanding the dangers that ideologies on race, religion, gender and politics, can cause violent and catastrophic results for our society History constantly shows us how cruel and senseless the World Wars were, the thousands of innocent lives, lands and precious parts of ancient history and culture lost through colonisation and the after-effects we still feel today The horrors of the Holocaust, American slavery and apartheid have become petrifying and painful reminders for the youth and the old who remember what life was like in these eras Now the younger generations can only imagine and gasp at the inhumanity of the Nazi’s and slave owners who dedicated their lives to terrifying another human being with whip lashes and death when they see artefacts of oppression such as gas chambers and the photograph of Hector Petersen when visiting history museums However, it seems this thirst for

The 1800’s can appear so barbaric and heartless when one thinks of the limited freedoms afforded women, the fact that they couldn’t vote and were told to enjoy being housewives Yet we see gender based violence and harrasment still terrorising our women of today in homes, shopping malls and work offices

Now it appears eerily evident that there’s a cloud of cynicism and hostility hovering and brewing above our ever-evolving society in 2025 I recall in the mid two thousands, ‘‘trolling” was seen as a juvenile and loathsome act linked to cyberbullying and now it seems every second person is anonymously poking fun at someone online and saying their “ new song is trash” These days it seems there’s so much contempt spreading on social media and bleeding into our social circles when it comes to opinions being shared on religion, gender, policies, climate change, wars and the list goes on

The irony is that this kind of content brews hatred and can be triggering for some but the algorithms could care less how much harm and cyberbullying is being caused as it’s increasing traction and clicks for their platforms With the swipe of a finger violent content is more easily shared than ever

As we all know money talks, and why would the safety regulators on social media care if the youth or emotionally vulnerable are witnessing this disturbing videos when it boosts their profit and skyrockets the number of users downloading their apps?

Often we see parents handing their children tablets to keep them entertained with some already having their own YouTube accounts and subscriptions Hopefully their profiles are on a restricted mode seeing how unfiltered and graphic content have become recently Attention spans are already endangered the more we absorb bite-sized reels and doom-scroll the nights away and numb our emotions Content creators are also feeding their audiences their ideologies, creating an endless stream of likes, shares and subscribers The more the messages resonates with them, the more they wish to share this, connect with similarly minded individuals who can join their causes and “fight the enemy ’’ Our society is more divided than ever during Donald Trump’s presidency with the Republicans and Democrats increasingly villifying and mocking each other online, in the news and even during family and friend debates at home It’s become impossible to avoid loud

and passionate arguments when the state of Palestine and war on Gaza has entered the conversation, with seemingly people preferring to argue their differing points on the issue instead of finding some common ground and understanding with one another The fact that women, children and fathers are being killed should bear the most prominence Instead we find people argueing it’s the “collateral damage” You also keep hearing about the radical right or left wing parties that are being categorised as terrorists who are a threat to our communities, young generations and could influence and “propogate” their philosophies to the world

Each opposing thought group says the other is spreading false information instead of trying to see themselves in each other and trying to have a healthy and wholesome dialogue without demonising but rather understanding I fear that the more we misunderstand each other, the more we push each other away, making the act of conversation as risky and dangerous as walking on ice

The Bible says: “Love thy neighbour” irrespective of race, religion and gender, three ancient words that should remind us to choose empathy and approach each other with grace, dignity and respect Hopefully we can see a reflection of ourselves and instead of an “ enemy ”

Troubled bridge over waters

TALLOWS EASY ACCESS

A look at the broken wooden planks on the

Cityloweringsomebeaches

Residents can expect to see the City of Cape Town commence with its annual beach lowering programme in Fish Hoek, Muizenberg and Bikini Beach from tomorrow (1 October)

This re-profiling or beach lowering is important in maintaining highly altered coastal systems along the False Bay coastline

This will assist in mitigating and managing windblown sand from impacting adjacent infrastructure during the windy summer season

“The City uses manual and mechanical measures to undertake beach levelling by pushing the sand from the beach to the low water mark Wave action then transports the sand back into the coastal system By lowering the beach sand levels, we ensure greater areas of the beach become wet during high tides In doing so, we limit the potential for windblown sand to blanket or smother adjacent roads and infrastructure during summer when Cape Town experiences high southeasterly winds

“We are aiming to complete the work ahead of the festive season I want to ask beachgoers to keep a safe distance from the work areas and to also keep their pets on a leash,” said the City’s

Deputy Mayor and mayco member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Eddie Andrews

The beach lowering will take place as follows: Fish Hoek beach: From Jager’s Walk (in front of the Galley Restaurant) to the lifesaving building

Muizenberg beach: From Zandvlei River mouth to the wheelchair access ramp

Bikini Beach: The entire length of the beach

Work will commence tomorrow until mid-November, if all goes as planned

The City says that beach lowering has no measurable impact on the environment and has been done as standard practise prior to summer for decades

According to the City, beach lowering mimics a natural scour event which is common on our shorelines, and puts the sand back into the sea where it returns to circulation within the oceanic system

The beaches will remain open to the public, however, visitors are advised to keep a safe distance from the machinery at all times

Rescue hub fights to keep lights on

NAMHLAMONAKALI

The Hout Bay Seal Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre (HBSRC) says its future and the lives of countless seal pups hang in the balance as the facility enters its eighth month without electricity.

Despite repeated appeals to the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) and the City of Cape Town, the Centre remains disconnected from the grid

A chain of emails seen by the People’s Post between the Centre and various government departments paints a grim image of frustration from the facility management Since July this year, the Centre has tried in vain to get assistance from the government

The situation raises urgent questions about government accountability ahead of the October seal pup season

“Every year, dozens of orphaned seal pups are rescued from our coastline They need constant warmth from heaters and infrared lamps to survive, but without electricity, we cannot provide it,” said Ilana Nel, a volunteer and the Centre’s director of PR “We are days away from pup season If nothing changes, we face the heartbreaking reality of being unable to save them This week alone, we have already lost three pups ”

Since February this year, the Centre has relied on generators, gas, and community donations to keep operations running

Volunteers say funds meant for food, veterinary care, and rehabilitation are instead being spent on fuel

Local residents and businesses have stepped in, covering the cost of prepaid meters and donating bedding and jackets during the cold winter months, but Nel warns that this is not sustainable

“We cannot run a facility of this nature on makeshift power forever It places both the p q p , Department of Public Works and Infrastructure confirmed that a contractor has been appointed to arrange the connection of electricity supply and install prepaid wall metering “All the necessary work has been undertaken, and full restoration will be completed in approximately

y g understand the concern this creates, particularly as seal pup season approaches The Cape of Good Hope SPCA’s Wildlife Department is fully equipped and committed to responding to marine wildlife emergencies, including orphaned or stranded seal pups

“Reports

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Orpheus McAdoo at Artscape

Following its acclaimed premiere in October last year Orpheus McAdoo returns to Artscape Theatre from Tuesday 21 October to Sunday 2 November.

Written and directed by South African theatre legend David Kramer, this stirring musical celebrates the true story of Orpheus McAdoo and his Virginia Jubilee Singers, a choir of African-American performers who toured South Africa in the 1890s and took the Cape by storm At the centre of this moving production is Conroy Scott in the title role A distinguished Cape Town Opera House Soloist, Scott brings vocal gravitas and deep emotional resonance to the role of McAdoo, a visionary who faced the complexities of race, performance and identity while introducing South African audiences to American spirituals and jubilee singing for the first time

Scott is joined by Cape Town Opera (CTO) House Soloist Brittany Smith as Mattie Allen and a cast that uniquely blends opera singers and stage actors, creating a musical texture that is both theatrically rich and vocally thrilling With its evocative mix of old spirituals, ragtime, early American folk and South African musical influences, Orpheus McAdoo gives audiences a sonic and emotional journey through a little-known but powerful chapter of Cape Town’s past Kramer’s script and original compositions are layered with authenticity and compassion, weaving together true history with artistic imagination The inclusion of traditional spirituals gives the show its beating heart songs once sung in bondage now lifted in concert halls across continents

The story follows McAdoo and his wife Mattie as they navigate love, ambition, cultural collision and the pressure of being Black performers in colonial-era South Africa

As their jubilee choir travels the country, they encounter fame, admiration and controversy Kramer’s work sensitively explores the fine

ARE LAYERED WITH AUTHENTICITY AND COMPASSION,WEAVING TOGETHER TRUE HISTORY WITH ARTISTIC IMAGINATION

Helpmayor‘WeartheHope’ festivaltopthissummer

Do you consider yourself Cape Town’s next top fashion designer, designing items for public figures?

Then the City of Cape Town’s new challenge to design and make the mayor ’ s annual festive-wear top might just be the thing for you

This year, the Festive Lights Switch-On adds a new layer of creativity and community spirit with the launch of the Mayor’s Festive-wear Challenge 2025 - under the banner Wear the Hope – Share the Light

For the past three years, Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has kicked off the festive season in a different Christmas-themed jersey for the annual Festive Lights Switch-On

This year, that tradition evolves into something with a bit of fun for the whole city: a public design competition inviting all Capetonians - from young designers and fashion students to sewing clubs, schools, elders, and crafters - to create a fun festive-wear top (a jersey, pullover, shirt etc)

The winning creation will make its first public appearance, together with its creator at the testing of the City’s Festive Lights on Tuesday 11 November, before being worn by the mayor at the official Festive Lights Switch-On concert in front of about 80 000 Capetonians

“The Festive Lights Switch-On is about more than switching on the bulbs - it’s about shining a light on Cape Town’s creativity, joy and hope

This year, through the ‘Wear the Hope - Share the Light’ challenge, I’m inviting every Capetonian to help usher in some festive fun I can’t wait to wear the winning creation and showcase the talent of our people on stage,” says Hill-Lewis

Participants have until Monday 6 October to enter

HOWTOENTER:

Submit a design sketch or concept description (PDF or photo) with a short write-up (max 300 words) explaining the inspiration, use of sustainable materials (if using), and the story behind the design

Entries must be emailed with the subject line:

Wear the Hope Challenge 2025

Include your full name, contact details (mobile phone and email address), your location in Cape Town, and group/organisation name if applicable

Email to: wearhope@capetownfestivelights

co za

Judges will review entries and select finalists based on creativity, sustainability, theme interpretation, and craftsmanship

Judging criteria includes creativity and originality – festive in a fresh, unexpected way Theme interpretation – a strong symbolic/visual expression of hope and unity

There will also be points for use of sustainable or upcycled materials, as well as craftsmanship and presentation that looks at the creation’s wearability, construction, and stage presence

Of equal importance is the story behind the stitches and the community spirit

Creative hint: The winning creation should visually shine under stage lights and reflect Cape Town’s vibrancy – joyful, hopeful, bold, and dignified

THEWINNER’SPRIZE:

The competitions is about honour, recognition, and community pride The winner of the Wear the Hope - Share the Light challenge will:

. Have their creation worn by the mayor at this year ’ s Festive Lights Switch-On, test drive and the main stage event to be witnessed by thousands;

. be invited on stage with the mayor to help shine the lights;

. receive a professional photo shoot of the creation and the winning entrant(s);

. Have a community donation of creative material up to the value of R5 000 made in their name to a local sewing/knitting group, school, or creative hub

Production of the design is for the entrant’s own account

. Submission details available at https://www capetown gov za/general/festivelights-switch-on

Rocking4Cancer hosts a ‘Masquerade’ celebration

Founded in 2013, Rocking4Cancer has grown into an iconic annual event, raising funds and awareness for cancer-related causes and other vital organisations

This year ’ s milestone 10th show will be hosted at West End Superclub, Athlone, on Friday 3 October at 20:00 and Saturday 4 at noon, with proceeds going to St Joseph Home for Children, which is celebrating 90 years of service

Themed “Masquerade”, this year ’ s event will feature performances by a wide range of local artists, including Dr Jules, Berry Trytsman, Daylin Sass, Novocaine, Sade Von S, Tiana, Zoë Avontuur, B12 Boy Band, and DJ Hielin

The first 100 patrons will receive complimentary goodie bags, and there will be a few additional surprises on the night

St Joseph’s provides medical, emotional, and spiritual support to children with life-threatening and life-limiting conditions, from birth to age 17

CEO Christelle Cornelius says the support from Rocking4Cancer will help them continue

offering specialised care to young patients and their families

One example is a young girl known as Angel, who arrived at the facility in 2021 with complex medical needs, including a feeding tube and tracheostomy Through consistent therapy, including hydrotherapy to encourage speech, she has made steady progress now eating on her own and beginning to speak in short sentences

In the baby ward, children with severe conditions receive palliative care in a calm and supportive environment Families facing uncertain futures are offered counselling and guidance by the clinical and social work teams

Some children arrive severely underweight and weak but gradually regain strength through the centre’s multidisciplinary approach

Over the years, Rocking4Cancer has supported several organisations including St Luke’s Hospice, CHOC, The Sunflower Fund, Love Your Nuts, and the Breast Care Foundation . Tickets are R100 via Quicket,or R150 at the door

DuetstarslightupArtscape

Artscape Theatre will come alive with worldclass voices and orchestral brilliance on Saturday 4 October at 18:00, as the Duet Endowment Trust Gala Concert brings together top South African talent for one unmissable evening

Presented by Cape Town Opera and the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, the concert features internationally acclaimed soprano Golda Schultz and celebrated baritone Jacques Imbrailo, performing a rich selection of opera favourites and symphonic works

Born in Cape Town and now a global opera star, Schultz has performed at the likes of La Scala and the Met She returns home to sing arias from Faust, Don Giovanni, and The Rake’s Progress Imbrailo, known for his expressive voice and commanding stage presence, will present

excerpts from Eugene Onegin, Billy Budd, and Don Carlo The orchestra will be led by Gaetano Lo Coco Also taking the stage are Cape Town Opera’s House Soloists, Judith Neilson Young Artists, Vocal Ensemble and Children’s Chorus Audiences can expect highlights from Carmen, Rigoletto, Così fan tutte, Roméo et Juliette, and La traviata, plus ensemble works including Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin Waltz and van Dijk’s The Selfish Giant The Duet Endowment Trust, founded by Wendy Ackerman, supports Cape Town Opera and the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, ensuring a strong future for classical music Tickets range from R250 to R950 Book at Webtickets or Artscape Dial-A-Seat

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