TygerBurger | Bellville | E-edition | 15 April 2026

WOENSDAG15APRIL

. Die TygerbergTuin- en Blommeklub komom 09:30 vir 10:00 by die NG kerk ParowWelgelegen, Provencestraat 47,Welgelegen, byeen.Lorraine Rose doen ‘n blommedemonstrasie metdie tema “Verrassing”enAnjaFreysen praatoor moderne tendenseintuinontwerp en wenke. Die blommekunskompetisie se tema is “Halfmoon kisses”. Teewordvan 09:30voorsien. Kontak Beatrix Lambert-Bestbier by 082873 9864 metnavrae. . Curious about Buddhism and the practise of meditation?Residents and visitors areinvited to join aBuddhist lectureonmeditationatMilnerton Library, 81 Pienaar Road,onWednesday 15 April at 18:30 Theevening will includeatalk on meditationfroma Buddhist perspective, followed by aguided session to help participants experiencemindfulness firsthand Thesession is expected to last 2–3hours,and newcomersare warmly welcomed.The lectureisopen to all,withasuggested donationofR70,and visitor parkingisavailable at the library. Forenquiries or to register, contact capetown@buddhism-southafrica orgor067 3768336.

SATERDAG18APRIL

. Die Vriendevan Brackenvierhul 20 jaar vandiens by die Bracken-natuurreservaatmet ’n grootbyeenkoms by diereservaat.Daarsal ’n verskeidenheidvan stalletjies en aktiwiteite soos ’n pretdraf,’nbegeleide stap,’npraatjieenrotsverfvir jong kinderswees. Die dagbegin om 07:00eneindig 12:00. Kontak André by 071089 9503vir meer inligting

.TheCapeModel and ToyClubwillbehaving their SummerCollectorsToy Fair onceagain this weekend. Theevent willbeheldatthe Edgemead Community Hall in Edgemead on Saturday 18 April. Theevent starts at 09:00,finishing at 14:00.Entrycosts R10 perpersonand children under 16 yearsenter forfree. Organisers saysofar 80 tables have already been booked andthatrefreshments will also be on sale FormoredetailscallChris Lourens on 083448 6813or email capemodeltoyclub1997@gmail.com

.Aspecial family movie evening is beingpresented by the AndriesOlivier Durbanville Quadriplegic Centre on Saturday 18 Aprilfrom15:00 to 17:30. EntryisR40 forchildrenand R60for adults. Snacks willbesold at thevenue. Theevent will be held at the centreat 18 Hafele Street in Durbanville.The AndriesOlivier Durbanville QuadriplegicCentre is an independent care facility forparaplegicand quadriplegicpeople. Contact Ella on 079469 6267 to book your spotorfor moreinformation.

THURSDAY23APRIL

TheR5booksaleatthe DurbanvilleChildren’sHome willtakeplace on Thursday 23 April and Friday24 Aprilfrom09:00to15:00and Saturday 25 April from 09:00 to 13:00 at the receptionarea. Therewillbe a largeselection of fiction, non-fiction, coffee-table and children’sbooks,aswellasCDs and DVDs.Card facilitieswillbeavailable

TUESDAY28APRIL

. TheEgyptian SocietyofSouth Africa willhostits next meeting at St George’s GrammarSchoolinMowbray on Tuesday28April at 19:30. Guestspeaker Prof Sebastianvan As will present alecture titled “The NurtureofChildren in Ancient Egypt”,offeringinsight intochildhoodpracticesand upbringing in one of history’soldest civilisations. Entryisfreefor members, whilevisitors payR30.Refreshments willbeavailable at acostof R10. Booking is not required,and secure parking is available on the schoolgrounds.For more information, contact 021852 7273 or 084774 3972

SATURDAY2MAY

. TheCapeTownGem and MineralClub’snextopen daytakes placefrom10:00 to 14:00 at 14aGoede HoopSt, Bothasig. Entryisfree. Learnmoreabout the hobbyofcrystals, gems, and mineral specimen collecting, and relatedcraftwork.Plentyofoff-road parking.Food available. Allwelcome,especially children

SATURDAY30MAY

. TheDianna JacksonFoundationwillhosta CommunityMarket Dayfrom10:00 to 15:00 at the Summer Greens Community Centre, 22 TinkersRoad, Summer Greens. Theevent will featurelocal vendors, food stalls,handmadecrafts, fashion, musicand family-friendlyentertainment.Freeentry. Formore informationcontactCJJackson on WhatsApp 072830 1966

FRIDAY12JUNE

.TheMitchells PlainUnitedResidents Association (Mura) willbehaving aGolf Dayaspartofthe area’s 50thanniversarycelebrations. It willbeheldatthe RoyalCapeGolfClubonFriday12June.The eventwill caterfor 120players over six to eight waterholes. Mura is in need of prizes,waterholesponsors, contents for goodie-bags, and auctionitems forthe prize-giving dinners.Ifyou wouldliketotakepart, donateorfor moreinformation, contact NormanJantjesat 083628 4421

Easterperiod housefiresspike

The City of CapeTown's Fire and Rescue Service said last week said there had been aspike in residentialfires over the Easter period.

Easterweekend was celebrated from Friday 3toMonday 6April.

Theservicesaid it recorded aslight increaseinthe overall numberof incidentsover theweekend, from 277 last year to 298 this year.

JP Smith,Mayco member for safetyand security, said formal residential fires had increased from just adozen last Easter to 30 this year. The number of informal residentialfires decreased slightly, he said. Last year atotal of 34 informal residentialfire incidents were recorded, while this year there were only 32.

"These statisticsare of concern, particularly as we headinto winter, where thefire risk in the home increases as the useofvariousheating methods increases.

"I appeal to residents always to keep fire safety topofmind, make sure their electrical systemsare up to code, service heaters, gas and paraffin stoves and other flammable devices, andkeeptheir wits about them whenusing them.

"Ouremergencyservices do fire education outreaches, but we also have a comprehensive list of safety tips."

Smith said mostincident categories

INFORMAL RESIDENTIAL FIRESDECREASED SLIGHTLY

declined this year, but that trauma and medical incidentswent from 21 to 36, an increase of 71%.

Theother categories which have shown a decline, according to the Easter statistics, are motor-vehicle accidents, of which only 53 incidentswere reported thisyear, pedestrian accidents of which 22 incidents were reported, and vegetation fires of which 84 incidentswere reported. . Visitwww.capetown.gov.za/firesafety to viewthe list of safety tips.

FROMPAGE1

Despite financial challenges in theirearly years –sharingmodestresources and lacking transport beyond Solomon’sbicycle– they persevered through teamwork and faith.

Catherine speaks with proudness when sheshares how he used to give her alift to work on his bicycle long before he had acar.

The couple have raised multiple children, including several daughters and one son, whoisthe youngest. Their family hasgrown to include several grandchildren– six grandsons and one granddaughter –and recently welcomed agreat-grandson whoisnow four months old. Their eldest grandson is 35.

Centraltotheir enduring marriage is theirshared faith. Both have been active in church life, with Catherine serving as a Sundayschool teacher andSolomon as an elder. “FaithinGod is central,” Catherine explains, emphasising the importance of prayer, churchinvolvement, and seeking divinewisdom andpatience.

Whenasked about thesecret to their 60-yearmarriage, thecoupleoffers simple butprofound wisdom: “Be faithful andhonest. Communicateand discuss decisions together; makechoices jointly. Workasa team andhelp each other.”

CELEBRATINGMILESTONES

The couplecelebrated their50th

anniversary with achurch renewal ceremony, whilst Solomon’s80th birthday was marked with afamily picnic. Family holidays and multigenerational cruises, along with amemorable trip to the Namibian dunes, remain amongst their most treasured memories.

Catherine, who will turn 79 in July, has also written her life story. Themanuscript has been printed but awaits formal publication.

As they prepare to mark six decades of marriage tomorrow, Catherine and Solomon Biggs stand as atestament to the enduring power of love, faith and commitment.

Teenchargedfor fatalthrowing

MAURICIA.PETERSEN

MAURICIA.PETERSEN@NOVUSMEDIA.CO.ZA

A16-year-old has been arrested and charged withmurderafter a33-year-old man was killedin astone-throwing attack in Bellville South on Saturday.

The victim, who was visiting his girlfriend, diedafter being struck by stones on Abdurahman Street at approximately 12:45onSaturday 4April He was declared dead at thescene.

Bellville Southpolice confirmed a registered murder case and arrested the teenage suspect in connection withthe death. The accused appeared in Bellville Magistrates’ Court on Monday6April, facing amurder charge.

COMMUNITYCALLSFORACTION

Michelle Cecil, arepresentative of the Bellville SouthCommunityPolicing Forum(CPF), expressed concern about the escalating violence involvingminors.

“It’s sad that these young kids throw stones as aform to hurt each other,” Cecil said.“These kids are minorsholding our area hostage.”

Shewarned that innocent people areat risk as stone-throwers do notdiscriminate between targets. “Innocent people canget killed because they don’t worry which cars drive past or people walkingthe roads,” she said.

The CPF has extended condolences to the bereaved families and urged community members to come forward with information.

“Those responsible must be brought to

Cocaine foundinVWPolo

MAURICIA.PETERSEN

MAURICIA.PETERSEN@NOVUSMEDIA.CO.ZA

Private security officers arrested asuspect and seizedcocainewith an estimated street valueofR12 000 during adrug bust in Bellville on Tuesday7April.

33-YEAR-OLD MAN KILLED AFTER BEING STRUCK BY STONESWHILE VISITING HIS GIRLFRIEND

justice and face thefullmightofthe law,” the CPF said in astatement.

Cecil called for community unity in addressing theproblem: “People need to makestatements so they knowwho it is Don’t be quiet. Let’sstand together.”

. Witnesses areasked to contactConstable Victor at 021 9501306/8.

SJC Tactical Officers T4 and T5 responded to an alert at 12:24, after their systemhad flaggedasilver Volkswagen Poloinconnectionwith suspected drug relatedactivity.

Theofficers located the vehicle at the Frans Conradie andParadys Street traffic lights before following it to the Engen Garage in OldOak Road, where they secured thescene.

DRUGSFOUNDHIDDENINVEHICLE

Workingalongside Bellville police, they conducted athorough search of the vehicle and discoveredasock hidden behind the steering wheel.

Thesock contained 16 packets of cocaine with an approximateweightof12grams and an estimated street value of R12000.

The suspect,along with the vehicle, drugs andcashfoundinhis possession, was handed overtothe police for arresting, legal processing and further investigation.

Const Ndakhe Gwala, Western Province police spokesperson, confirmed the incident. “Thisoffice confirmed an adult male was arrested for possession of drugs.”

Theman appearedinthe Bellville Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.

HOUSEROBBERSENTENCEDTO10YEARS

In aseparatecase, detective Sgt Onverwaght of Bellville Police Station secured aconviction against Mark Brown for two house-robbery charges.

Brown wassentenced to 10 years’ imprisonmentoneach charge in the Bellville RegionalCourt, the sentences to

run concurrently.

Onverwaght had responded to the houserobbery incident,reported on 9January 2025, collecting evidence and interviewing victims at the crime scene. The suspect was found in someone’syard near the crime scene and was subsequently linked to both house robberies by Onverwaght’s investigation.

COMMUNITYPROTECTIONEFFORTSCONTINUE

SJCSecurity emphasised its ongoing commitment to protecting communities through proactive patrols and advanced technology.

Thecompany has urged residentsto report any suspicious activity in their area immediately.

UWCpublicseminar to exploresport’srole in building our nation

The University of the WesternCape(UWC) will host apublic seminar examining how sportcan contribute to social transformation andnation-building in South Africa.

The seminar, entitled "South African Sport and Nation", will take place on Wednesday22April from 08:30 to 16:00 in the Faculty of Education.

Organised by theJaap Durand Chair, in collaboration with the Department of Sport, Recreation andExerciseScience in the FacultyofCommunity and Health Sciences, the event will bring together academics, government officials, city administrators and sports professionals

NATIONALIDENTITY

Prof Hein Willemse, Jaap Durand professor, said the seminar recognises sport's central role in shaping national identitywhile also reflecting the country's historicalinequalities.

"Our seminar will critically engage the enduring gap between elite performance sport and under-resourced communitylevel participation," he said, "highlighting the unfinished project of transformation in both sport and society."

The professor noted that elite sportin South Africa remains globally competitive, particularly in rugby, cricket, athletics and swimming, but is supported by narrow development pathways concentrated in historicallyprivileged schools.

Meanwhile, community-level programmes continue to strugglewith inadequate facilities, limitedfunding and fragmented governance.

Willemsesaid he is often struckbythe incompleteand fragmented historiography of SouthAfrican sport. "Hopefully our seminar will contribute to amore inclusive approach to writing oursporting past. But we should alsomove beyond that."

The seminar will explore sport as aform of social intervention, with speakersexamining howcommunitylevel participation promotes discipline, teamwork andimprovedphysical and mental healthwhile offering pathways to educationand employment. In vulnerable communitiessport can provide structured alternatives to crimeand substance abuse, although such outcomesdepend on sustained investmentand effective organisation.

WOMEN'SSPORTCHALLENGES

Discussions will alsohighlight the need tostrengthen women's sport, which continues toface disparities in funding, visibilityand professional opportunities despite notable achievements by female athletes. The seminar aims to explore sports-developmenttrajectories since 1994, international sports milestones and requirements for sports excellence Aligned with theJaap Durand chair's commitment to justice, participationand sustainability, the event invites scholars, practitioners, policymakers andthe public to reflect on sport's role in fosteringa moreequitable andcohesive society. The seminar is opentothe public . Contact LloydChettyatdrt-reltheo@uwc. ac.za.The seminarprogramme is availablewith theonlinearticleonwww.tygerburger.co.za.

Sairacsupports Club21Bellville

MAURICIAPETERSEN

MAURICIA.PETERSEN@NOVUSMEDIA.CO.ZA

The South AfricanInstitute of Refrigeration and AirConditioning (Sairac) CapeTown Committee recently presented asubstantial donation to Club21 Bellville, demonstrating the industry’s commitment to supporting local special needseducation

The donation,whichincluded approximately R43000 in cash along with essentialequipment such as alaptop, television, and other classroom supplies, will directly benefit the small school that servesaroundsix to seven children with Downsyndrome

Theitems were selected from Club21 Bellville’s wish list, ensuring the donationswould havemaximum impact on the centre’s educational capabilities. The financial contributionwill be paid directly into theschool’s account to support classroom expansion and accommodatemore children.

Sairac’s annual charity fundraising initiative broughttogether partners,

CASH, LAPTOP AND TV DONATED

contractors, and suppliers from the refrigeration and air conditioning industry. Theprofessional body, which has been serving SouthAfrica’s environmental control industry since 1951, selected Club21 Bellville as thisyear’s charity beneficiary.

Thedonation representsmore than financial assistance —itprovides peace of mind to parents and teacherswhilst raising awareness about the important workbeing done at the small specialised school.

Club21 Bellville, aChrist-centred nonprofit organisation, focuses exclusively on the education and development of people with Down syndrome, providing essential support to families in the community.

Theschool principal Amanda Fourie and teacher RaykaMaruis were extremely happy and emotional about thisdonation.

Thehandover took place on Tuesday 24 March at the Tygerberg SDA Church.

Raaf komtreebyDie Boerop

Dieduo RAAF is op Donderdag23enVrydag24 April om 20:30 by Die Boer-teaterrestaurant in Durbanville.

Lourens en Esté Raaf doen die lewe anders. Elke dagis'navontuur,elkeoomblik 'n geleentheid. Hul genrekan nie beperk word toteen woordnie.Hul liriekevertel stories vanmenswees enhul musikaliteit en energie is aansteeklik.

Komsaamop'nreisvan musiek watjou gaan laat lag, huilen gaan laat feesvier Hullebringhul nuutstemusiek, lirieke, digkunsen daardiekenmerkende energiewat jou lank ná die vertoningsal aanspoor om kleurvoltelewe. Kaartjieskos R280. . Bespreekbywww.dieboer.com of by 021979 1911.

Nuwevenuesvir Suidoosterfees

Die Suid sterf tvanja n29

Toetskinderssegehoorvroeg

RICHARDROBERTS

RICHARD.ROBERTS@NOVUSMEDIA.CO.ZA

Ouers van kinders watdoof is,meen dis belangrik vir ander ouers om hul kinders se gehoor vroegtydig te laat toets.

Kinders wat doof is of aan gehoorverlies ly, ontvang behandeling by die Carel du Toit-sentrum in Francie van Zijl-rylaan, Parow. Die sentrum is geleë op die terrein van die Tygerberg-hospitaal. Die sentrum het verlede Donderdag (9 April) sy nuut-opgeknapte CHAT-sentrum (Children Hear and Talk) bekendgestel. Dis hier waar babas en jong kinders behandeling ontvang en geleer word hoe om te luister en te

THINKING OUTLOUD

Let’stalk abouttech, baby... and brains

Our family is very strict about screen time. To explain the reason, I’m going to get all nerdybefore Iweigh in with experience fromraising seven daughters. Our tech reluctance is becauseofthe prefrontal lobe. This part of the brain is in the forehead and keeps developing long after the rest stops. It actually only stops when one is about 25. It is responsible for impulsecontrol, emotion regulation, and weighing longterm consequences. It will becomethe filter that will influence decision-making. Put another way, this is whereyour wisdom sits andittakes at least25years to grow.

So what has this got to do with screen time?

Well, screens, and any other activities from the plethora of instantgratification stimuli readily availablenowadays, damagesthe development of the prefrontal lobe.

If you don’t believe me, lookitup. There are dozens of peer reviewed articles easily accessible online that say the samething. So, for this reason, my husband and Itry, really, really hard, to limit ourdaughters’ screen times. Ideally we’d cutitout altogether but unfortunately, the world, the school system and my ownrelatives seem to be against us. Gone are the days when pupils used adiary torecord appointments and homework. Nowadays even my six-year-old’s homeworkissent via google classroom. And Ihavefirsthand experience of how my children’s moods and marksdecline when they have access to too much screen time Take for example my second eldest.

PRINCIPALS,HELPUSOUTHERE

For years, before we had aTV, she and her sisters woulddraw, read, play boardgames, skate, cycle, play outside, write their own littlecomicsand entertain themselves easily without anyhelp from us. When we had no TV, mychildren would automatically navigate to their hobbies,but then my sister gifted us with one and all creativity in our home had a sudden and dramatic drop.

Soon after, when the sameSantasister gave mysecond eldest acellphone when she turned 14, it was accompanied by a dramatic change in personality. That year shefailed asubject for the first timeand all her marks dropped. We took awaythe phone. She regarded it as apunishment. We didn’t care.

Her first phoneless week, she meandered around the house like apoltergeist; head lowered, face scowling, speaking to no one and answering anythingaddressed to her in growlymonosyllables. She also behaved like an addict. She threw epic tantrums, cried, and tried allmanner of manipulation.

She searched our room andstoleitback afew times, but, eventually, after awhole week of phonelessness, she moved on from being avery morose, moody,antisocial teenager to aslightly less morose, moody, anti-social teenager. But, more importantly, within one schoolterm, her marks improved and she was back inthe top quarter of the class again. We would havegladly never given her phoneback but, unfortunately her teachers started sending homeworkon WhatsApp chats.

While modern tech is anecessary part of life and Idonot hate it,Ido feel that in the classroom it should belimited to only whatisabsolutely necessary and I am not alone in my thinking.The growing philosophy worldwide is for acomplete banofcellphones in schools.Yet, last term, Igot letters requestingthat Iregister all three my primary school-aged children on google classroom.

Principals, help us out here, please!

—LAUREN O'CONNOR-MAY

Parklands safety in crisis

As ahome ownerinParklands, Iamwith the many who strive to makethis asafeplace to call home

Informalsettlements, particularlysectionsofSiyahlalaand shacksnearPioneer Valley,haveexpanded intothe TableBay NatureReserve near Dunoon This occupation, often on the Diep River floodplain, causes severe pollution andhabitat disruption, with approximately 189shacksinthe reserveasof2021. It alsoposes greatsafetyrisks; thugs andthievesoften quickly findplacestohide

This allimpacts home values andselling power, if ever oneseekstomoveatsome stage. Additionally, thereislittle to no policing in the Parklandsarea, leaving lawlessness to flourish, unabated

TheParklands Satellite Police Station on Parklands Main Road facedconcernsregardingresource limitations and remains closed, apparentlydue to manpowershortages.

Therecentincident of an attempted murder followingashootingincident on Friday3April at approximately17:00 in MorningfordRoad, is notthe only incident. Much moreneeds to be done from by our council, our policeand the other civic structures. What assurancedowehaveashomeownersand the greaterParklands community? Is proper and proportionateaction being take on ourbehalf?

Parklands is abeautiful area and canbebetter maintained. TheParklands FynbosCorridor is agood example.

It connects the Rietvlei Wetland Reservewith the BlaauwbergConservation Area but it is notwellkept andhas been neglected foraverylongtime.Whatis being done here?

Thereare manywho share my sentiments andwe allbelieve in this community.

TYRONE

BRETT COETZEE, Parklands

Ratepayers question legaltariff basis

Ifind it peculiar that ourmunicipalityisbudgeting basedontariffscurrentlyunder legaldispute.

Do municipal officialspossess information unavailabletothe public, or aretheysimplyproceedingwith wishfulthinking?The eventual court ruling will serve as acrucialtest of judicial independence and adherence to the ruleoflaw

Ipropose that ratepayerassociationsdemand areferendum on the municipal budget.Taxpayers should vote on whether theyaccept the proposedbudgetand arewilling to payinflation plus 1% on their municipal accounts. Whatever the outcome,all residents should

payaccording to the referendumresults.

This is howgenuinedemocracyshouldfunction–with citizens having adirect sayinhow their taxmoney is spent,rather than having decisions imposedupon them by officialswho maybeoperatingondisputed legalgrounds.

Thecurrentapproach undermines both fiscal responsibilityand democratic principles. Ataxpayer referendumwouldrestoreaccountabilityand ensure that municipal spending truly reflects the willofthose who fundit.

CONCERNED RATEPAYER,Brackenfell

Somerkan noumaar einde se kant toestaan

Asseblief,winter, komgou!

Ná nog ‘n paar strawwe somerdae verlede week, begineknou wonderofons ooit weer verligtinggaan kry. Ek verlang na daardie eerstekoue oggendwanneer jy lekker onder ‘n kombers kaninkruip,enwanneer ‘n koppiewarmkoffiewerkliksin maak.Ekverlang na die

dae toeons oorkoue weer geklahet –wat soueknie nougee vir ‘n lekker koue reënbuinie!

Ek is nouuitgesomer komassebliefgou,winter Onsisgereed vir jou koue wind, jou reën, en selfsjou donker dae

UITGEPUTTE SOMERLEWENDE

Basic kindness missing on Cape Town roads

My worst fearsabout Cape Town'sreputation as an "unfriendlycity" were confirmed when my car recentlybroke down on abusymain road during peak traffic. Foroveranhour, Istood beside my vehicle with the bonnet raised, the universal distress signal, whilehundreds of cars passed by.Not asingle person stopped to offer assistance,check if Ineededhelp,or even ask if Iwas alright Iwatchedasdrivers deliberatelylooked away,some even changing lanestoavoid anypotentialinteraction. What has happened to the spirit of communityand Ubuntu thatweclaim defines South Africa? Whendid we become so self-absorbed andindifferenttoour

fellow citizens' plight?

Before moving here recently, I'veheard visitorsdescribe Cape Town as beautiful butcold–not referring to the weather,but to its people. This experiencesadly validates those observations.

We'vebecome acitywhere peopleare toobusy, toosuspicious, or simplytoo uncaringtoextend basic human kindness. Perhapsweshouldreflect on what kind of societywe'recreatingwhen common decency becomes uncommon, and helpingastranded motorist is seen as someone else's responsibility. We candobetter, Cape Town. DISILLUSIONED, Durbanville

LAGMET LANGNEK: ’n Nuuskierigevolstruis by dieCape Ostrich Ranch op dieN7-snelweg het diekolliggesteel toehysykop uitsteek om besoekers op ’n vriendelikeenspeelse manier te“groet”.Die dier se nabyheid het gastelaat glimlag en groot vermaak verskaf

FOTO:CHRISTA ROSSOUW

Stronger communities start with us

It is easy to complain about the stateofour neighbourhoods —fromlitterand crime to service delivery—but real changebegins when residents choose to getinvolved. Toooften, communityinitiatives such as neighbourhood watches, clean-up campaigns or localmeetings aresupported by only ahandful of dedicated individuals. Thereality is that theseefforts cannotsucceed or grow without broader communityparticipation

Getting involved does notrequireamajor time commitment.Itcan be as simpleasattending alocal meeting, reporting issues to the relevant authorities, supportingaclean-up effort,orlooking outfor your neighbours. Smallactions, when multiplied, canmake ameaningful difference.

Stronger,safer andcleaner communities arebuilt through sharedresponsibility. When residents work together,theynot only address challenges more effectively, but also buildasenseofpride andconnection in the places theylive. Insteadofwaitingfor others to take the lead, perhapsitistimeweeachask: what can Idotocontribute?

If moreresidents step forward, even in smallways, we canbegin to create the kind of communities we all want to live in.

LEND

AHELPING HAND,Brackenfell

Medicalcosts leave families struggling

Irecently had an experiencethat left me deeply concerned about the growing cost of healthcarein our communities.

Whilevisiting apaediatrician with my young son, Iwitnessed acouplearrivewith their child, clearly anxious andinneed of care.During their conversation at reception, it became evident that theydid nothave medical aid. Thequotedcostfor asimpleconsultation, excluding anymedication,was alarminglyhigh. One couldsee the hesitation andworryontheir facesas theytriedtodecide what to do,quietlyweighing their child’simmediateneeds against what theycould afford. As someonefortunate enough to have medical aid, I am acutelyaware that even we feel the financialstrain of co-payments, shortfallsand steadilyincreasing monthlypremiums. Each visit often comeswith unexpectedadditional costs. But forfamilies without this safety net,accessing privatehealthcarehas become an overwhelming andoften impossibleburden. Yes, it is often argued that government clinics and hospitalsare availabletothose who cannotafford privatecare. Whilethis is true in principle, the reality on the ground is very different.Thesefacilities are frequentlyovercrowded andunder immensepressure. Healthcareisnot aluxury –itisa basic humanneed. No parent shouldhavetostand at areceptiondesk andwonder whether theycan affordtohavetheir child seen by adoctor.

E-MAIL, TableView

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Leadersspendnightonthestreet

NAMHLAMONAKALI

More than 30 businessand community leaders will spend anight on the streets of Cape TownonSaturday 18 April as part of afundraising initiative aimed at supporting people experiencing homelessness.

The initiative, ANight on the Streets, is hosted by U-turn Homeless Ministries and forms part of efforts to raise awareness and funding forlong-term interventions.

Participants will eachcontribute R10 000 and spend 12 hours outdoors. Organisers say the event aims to raise over R1 million.

The initiative is designed to move beyond awareness, directing support towards sustained rehabilitation and reintegration programmes.

RESEARCHHIGHLIGHTSSTRUCTURALCHALLENGES

Academic research intohomelessness in Cape Town pointstolong-standing structural and governance challenges.

AUniversity of Cape Townstudy, "Exploringthe lived experiences of homelessness in aCape Townsuburb" by Kerry-Lee Black, found homelesspeople face barriers including limited access to services, social exclusion and difficulty transitioning offthe streets.

AUniversity of the Western Cape research paper, "An analysis of the City of Cape Town's responseto street homelessness" by Francesca Visagé, examines the City's legaland institutionalresponsibilities inaddressing homelessness and how municipal frameworks respond to the issue.

Together the studies framehomelessness as acomplex issue requiring coordinated, multi-sectoral and long-term interventions.

BY SUCH INITIATIVESU-TURN HOMELESS MINISTRIES ENACT LONG-TERM INTERVENTIONS.

EXPERTRAISESGOVERNANCEANDPOLICYGAPS

Dr Nobukhosi Ngwenya, urbanplanner anddevelopment practitioner whose research interest focuses on communityled planning, of theUniversity of Cape Town said homelessness in Cape Town persisted largely due to unclear responsibility among spheres of government, resulting in fragmented and uncoordinatedresponses.

"This governance gap is closely tiedto the question of whose budgetthe response to homelessness should come from,"she said, adding that municipalities have often had to take on responsibility through social-development departments despite homelessness being amulti-sectoral issue.

Ngwenya said thecity's approach had also been shaped by aconservative policy andby-law framework, including regulationsfor street-based activity.

She noted such frameworks hadattimes criminalisedhomeless people, contributing to further marginalisation even where amendments have been introduced.

While she described the City's Street People Policyand the 2024 StrategytoReduce Rough Sleepingas important developments Ngwenya said implementation remained limited. "Safe spacesand shelters often came with strict conditionsthatseparate couples, exclude pets andimposerigid entry and exit times."

She added that thebiggest gap was the lack of transitional housing between shelters and long-term accommodation Ngwenya argued this reflected abroader

gap in both municipal andnational housingpolicy, whichdoes not adequately provide pathways from temporary accommodation into stable, long-term housing.

U-TURNPROGRAMMEAPPROACH

U-turn Homeless Ministries says its programme combines immediate support with structuredrehabilitation, including therapeutic services,skills development and work readiness training.

Theorganisation said about 80% of participants who complete itsprogramme remain stably housed andemployed.

Chiefprogramme officer Lise van den Dool said the focusisonlong-term change.

"When you provide stability, rehabilitation and skills development people are able to rebuild theirlives,"she said. We knowwhatworks, but we need theinvestmenttoscaleit."

FUNDINGANDCLAIMS

U-turn has also highlighted what it describesasthe costofongoing crisis management in addressing homelessness.

The organisation hascited an estimated annual spend of R744 million related to homelessness in Cape Town.

Theinitiative alsoincludes participation from business leaders who say they want to understandthe realities faced by people living on the streets.

Colin Young,Chief Executive Officer of UrbanGrowth,said his company previously supported individuals who moved off thestreets andlater joined the business. He said the experience showed thepotentialfor long-term impact when support is sustained.

PUBLICPARTICIPATION

The public can also takepart by

More than 30 business and communityleaders willspendanight on thestreets of Cape Town on Saturday 18 April as part of U-turn Homeless Ministries’“A Night on the Streets”initiativetoraise awareness and fundsfor homelessness support PHOTO:SUPPLIED

purchasing virtual tickets and spending anight outdoors while raising awareness through social media.

Brandon Manzoni, aformer homeless person, says safetywas his biggest daily concern while living on the streets.

"You're constantly worried about getting robbed or assaulted. Finding asafe space to sleep was the biggest thing."

"A typical day was just getting up and figuring out what to do ,where Iwas going to eat, where Iwas going to sleep and whether that place was safe."

Manzoni said homelessness is often misunderstood.

"When people see homeless people, all they see is the person there. They don't see the suffering behind it."

"I had no idea places like U-turnor other programmes existed. Iwas totally oblivious."

"Ifthere were more programmes and safe spaces, it would change things hugely. A lot of the time, Ijust needed someone to talk to."