TygerBurger | Brackenfell | E-Edition | 4 March 2026
VRYDAG6MAART
. Sakeluisêmekaaringoeie gees die stryd aan om dietitel as potmeester by dieTygerbergsakekamerseimmergewildepotjiekoskompetiesie. Die kompetisie,'njaarlikse hoogtepunt watnou in sy tiendejaaris, word by die HoërskoolStellenberg aangebied. 'n Hele groepbekendes salvanjaar se beoordeling behartig, insluitend Marinda Engelbrecht,MargitMeyer Rôdenbeck,Stian Bam, Andriette Norman en Peer Papsak vanBokradio,met PedroKrugerasdie seremoniemeester. Die potte begin om 13:00 prut.Kontak Marina by admin@ tygerbergbc.co.zavir 'n inskrywingsvormenmeer inligting. Slegs'nbeperkte getalpotte kaningeskryf word
VRYDAG6MAART
. ´n Biddag virVroue metLizette vanRensburg vindopVrydag6MaartbyTrans-50 Panorama Palms-aftreeoord plaas. Die oord is geleëby66Uys Krige-rylaaninPanorama.Die geleentheid is gratis en begin om 10:00.Belangstellendeshoefnet hul naam, vanentelefoonnommeraan ontvangsdeur te gee. Skakel021 9306035.
FRIDAY6MARCH
. TheEdgemead’sFamily Night Market takesplace this Friday 6March at the Edgemead Community Hall.The eventstartsat16:30 until 21:00. Craftand secondhand market itemswillbeonsale, as well as food trucks availablewhereyou canpurchase something to eatwhile enjoying live music. The communityhallislocated at 83 Edgemead Drive, Edgemead.
. TheDurbanville CraftMarket will present a charitymarket,The GypsyNight Market, from 17:00 to 21:00,weather and windpermitting,at5Louw Street (cornerofLouwand Hafele Street,behind the police station).The best-dressed “gypsy”visitor canwin aR300 shopping vouchertoredeematthe market.Entranceisfreeand pets areabsolutely welcome.ContactDurbanville CraftMarketon066 0597251or by emailtodurbanvillecraftmarket@ gmail.com with enquiries
SATERDAG7MAART
. Die AGSKuilsrivier-tehuis vir bejaardes (Care Village) bied van10:00 tot15:00'nherfsmarkaan op sy perseel by Kerkstraat17. Daar salmusieken 'n verskeidenheidvan stalletjiesweesombyte snuffel.Verdryf diehonger met'nwye keusewat insluit boereworsrolle,hamburgers en skyfies, kerrievetkoeke en vele meer
WOENSDAG11MAART
. Die Cape WelshChoirtreeopWoensdag11Maart by dieTrans-50 Panorama Palms Aftreeoord in Uys Krige-rylaan, Panorama,op. Diegeleentheid begin om 19:00enkos R60per persoon. Bespreek by 021 9306035.
WOENSDAG11MAART
. PetraMüllersedigbundel Dieaandagvan jouoë –gedigte vir die liefde word by diebyeenkoms van die Durbanville-Poësiekring bespreek. Dr.Christa Thom saldie bespreking doen. Ditbegin om 10:00 in die Durbanville-biblioteeksaal.Toegang is gratis en R50vir besoekers, ligteverversingsingesluit.Kontak Lesley vander Vyverbyteachervdv@gmail.comof 083460 4571 metnavraeofomvir besoekerste bespreek
VRYDAG13MAART
. Die kykNETBuite-ekspo Wes-Kaapwordie naweek van13tot 15 Maartopdie plaasMôreson netbuite Malmesburyaangebied. Die hooffokus valoptalle buitelewe-uitstallers watvan die nuutste produkte tans beskikbaarindie buitelewekampeer-en4x4-markuitstal soos watdie koper dit in diepraktyk sougebruik. Dagbesoekerkaartjies wissel vanR30 virkinders totR120vir volwassenes, afhangendvan diedag.Daarisook naweekpakkette Dit is beskikbaar by Open Tickets, by www.ekspo co.zaen ook by diehekketydens die ekspo.Besoek www.ekspo.co.za virmeerinligting
SATURDAY14MARCH
. TheFrancophonieFoodand CultureFestival returns to Cape Town from 10:00to17:00 at the Belgian Residence, Newlands. Nowinits fifth year,thisfree, familyfriendlyfestival offersan engaging celebrationofFrench language,culture, and creativity. exploremorethan 60 stalls offering authenticfood, artisanalproducts, and cultural displaysfromacrossthe Francophone world. Free entrance. Parking willbeavailable at Kirstenbosch Cottages, witha free shuttleservicetothe festival. . Families struggling to access special needs services in the WesternCapewillhavethe opportunity to connect with dozens of support providers under one roof at an expo held at The CheréBotha School, 20 Meerlust Street,Oakglen, Bellville,from09:00 to 12:00. Theevent is open to schools, educators, parents and caregivers who support individualswith special needs
Dierebaatby TygerRun/Walk
Die baie gewildeRadio Tygerberg TygerRun/ Walk wat jaarliksop 21 Maart plaasvind,plaas vanjaar diekollig op 'n organisasie wat daagliks 'n tasbareverskilindierese lewens maak –die AnimalAnti-Cruelty League Cape Town (AACL).
“DieTyger Run/Walk2026 is die grootste padwedloop in die noordelike voorstede. Ditbring elke jaar die gemeenskap op 'n ongelooflike manier byeen. Onssien hoe mensehulself uitdaag, gesinne saam stap en atlete hul beste gee. Maar vanjaar gaan dit oor selfs meer –dit gaan daaroor om saam 'n verskil te maak in die lewens van diere wat ons nodig het,”sêRikus van Rooy, stasiebestuurder.
DieAACL is 'n geregistreerde nieregeringsorganisasie (NGO) wat toegewyd is aan die ondersteuning van minderbevoorregte gemeenskappe en die verbetering van dierewelstand oor Kaapstadheen. Hulle bied toeganklike veeartsenykundigedienste gebaseer op huishoudings se finansiële vermoë, sodat selfs gesinne metbeperkte middele noodsaaklike sorg vir hul troeteldiere kan ontvang.
Benewenshul veeartsenykundige dienste,funksioneer die AACL as 'n skuilingwaar verwaarloosde en mishandelde diere 'n veilige hawe vind. Daar ontvang diere mediese behandeling, rehabilitasie en die kans om liefdevolle, permanente tuistes te vind.
UITREIKKLINIEKE
DieAACL bedryf twee hoofpersele, in EppingenBellville. Hulimpak strek egter verder deur hulmobiele- kliniekprogram, wat gemeenskappe soos Klipkop, Brooklyn en Kuilsrivier bedien. Hierdie uitreikklinieke voorsien noodsaaklike dienste soos inentings en basiese veeartsenykundigesorg, wat nie net diere nie, maar ook die gemeenskappe wat vir hulle sorg, ophef.
GEMEENSKAPSTEUNMAAKDITMOONTLIK
DieAACL se werk word grootliks moontlik gemaak deur skenkings en toegewyde vrywilligers. Hulle benodig ook herverkoopbare huishoudelike artikels, klere en skoene, handdoeke, skoonmaakmiddels, dierekos, speelgoed en komberse.Elke bydrae ondersteun hul veeartsenykundigedienste, skuilingsorg en uitreikprogramme
“Met die Tyger Run/Walk wat om die draai is, nooi ons deelnemers en die
VANAFBLADSY1
"Die sinkgathet gevorm nadat ’n waterpyp laasnag gebars het.
“Ditkan wees as gevolg van druk op die waterstelsel in ’n groeiendegemeenskap," het sy gesê
"Die grondomdie sinkgat is onstabiel as gevolg van gronderosie en kan baie gewaarlik wees," het Coetzee gewaarku.
Hamman sê daar was drie weke gelede ’n groot waterbars by 'n verkeerslig in Brackenfell-boulevard, wat ’n paar blokke van die skool af is.
Volgens homhet die pyp die afgelope tweejaar gereeld gebars.
Twee dae na die sinkat verskyn het, het nog ’n groot pyp Vrydag in Sonetsingel, net om die draai van Goeiehoopstraat, gebars.
Water is ure lank meters hoog in die lug in gespuit.
Volgens Leon Brynard van die Noordelike Distrik Gemeenskapsforum word die gedeelte van Brackenfell gereeld ontwrig deur waterpype wat bars.
"Daar is ’n toename in waterpype wat bars —nie netinAruana nie, maar ook in omringende woonbuurte," sê hy.
"Ook in Vredekloof sien ons meer pype bars, veral nadat waterdruktoetse gedoen is.
“Dieinfrastruktuur is maar oud en dalk is dit noutyd vir opknapping," sê hy.
Hy voegbydit is kommerwekkend dat
MikePotgieter,‘nRadio Tygerberg-omroeper,tydens sy besoekaan dieAACL
ANTI-ANIMAL CRUELTY LEAGUE ‘N BEGUNSTIGDE
publiek om die AACL te besoek, tyd saam met die diere deur te bring en dalk met 'n hond te gaan stap of sommer net liefde en aandag te gee aan 'n dier wat wag vir 'n tweede kans,” sê Megan Beukes van AACL.
Deelnemers kan ook wanneer hul inskryf 'n donasie maak ten bate van die AACL en só direk bydra tot die organisasiese voortgesette werk in Bellville, Epping en omliggende gemeenskappe.
WEDLOOPBESONDERHEDE Die Tyger Run/Walk vind op Saterdag 21 Maart in die Tygervallei-omgewing plaas. Die afstande sluit in 'n 6km- pretstap/ draf en 15 km-padwedloop. “Inskrywings is nog net oop tot 8Maart om middernag, of sodra die 8000-deelnemermerkbereik word. Skryf dus eerder vroeër as later in,” sê Van Rooy.
. Skryf in op RadioTygerberg104FM se webwerfenklikopdie TygerRun/Walk-banier, of besoek topevents.co.za. Kontak dieAACL by info@aacl-ct.co.za,021 5346426of071 121 7911 (Whatsapp) vir meer inligting, skenkings, aannemings of vrywilligerwerk.
soveel water verlore gaan elke keer as ’n pyp bars. “Dit is hartseer dat daar soveel liters water verlore gaan as 'n pyp bars, en die infrastruktuur moes lankal gediens gewees het, juis in 'n tyd dat ons nou baie spaarsamig met water moet wees.” Zahid Badroodien, burgemeesterskomiteelid vir water en sanitasie, het aan TygerBurger gesê ’n kontrakteur is aangestel om die pyp te vervang en die sinkgat so gou moontlikte herstel. Volgens Badroodien is nuwe pype in 2025 in Brackenfell geïnstalleer.
"Sedert die begin van die huidige boekjaar is 1753 mpype in die gebied vervang. Toekomstige projekte word beplan vir Maart,wanneer 1800 mpype vervang sal word," sê hy.
Bo en onder: `n Gebarstepyp
Besetters‘nprobleem
DESIRÉERORKE
DESIREE.RORKE@TYGERBURGER.CO.ZA
Boere aan die buitewyke vanKaapstad sê hulle is uitgeleweraan misdaadsedert derduisende mense, baie uit die Oos-Kaap, die naburige grond in Bloekombos tydens die pandemie in 2020 beset het.
Honderde hokkies het amper oornag opgeskiet en dit het in ‘n enorme informele nedersetting ontaard.
Dit kom ná nog ‘n onlangseaanval op die 72-jarigeplaasbestuurder André Mouton op ‘n hoenderplaas langs Ou Paarlweg.
Inbrekershet verlede Sondag omstreeks 01:00 die Spaanse diefwering aandie buitekant vandie huis uit die muur gebreek om toegang deur `n venster te verkry.
Mouton het gaan ondersoek instel, en is deur twee mans oorval en met‘nmes uit hul eie kombuis aangeval.
Hy het met sy knuppel probeer terugbaklei, maar dit is van hom afgeneem en hy is daarmee geslaan. Hy het eersná die aanval besef dat hy `n diep wond aan sy kop opgedoen het.
Die mans het na bewering kontant en skootrekenaars geëis, maar is vort met minder as R100 watdie egpaar in hul beursies gehadhet’, asook Moutonse selfoon.
Dit was die tweede aanvalineen jaar, volgens Charl Visser,’n boer in die
BOERE VOEL UITGELEWER AAN MISDAAD
omgewing
"Ons staanweereens verslae oor die misdaadaanslag," het Visser verlede week aan TygerBurger gesê.
Visser sê misdaad in die nuwe informele nedersettings in Bloekombos het handuit geruk ná die onwettige besetting en plaas net nog meer drukopboere wat reeds sukkel om gelyk te breek.
"Daar was‘nenorme invloei van mense uitdie Oos-Kaap; mense watbaie aggressiefteenoor onsis,"sêhy.
"Daar word op onsbakkies geskietasons daar verbyry, en onstrekkers se vensters word met klippe bestook. Jy kan nieeens meer met jou trekker100 mwyd van die grenslyn op jou eiegebied ry nie, en ons word elkedag besteel."
"Ons is te alle tye gewapen en omring deur groot waghonde as onsopdie plaas rondloop. Onshet dubbeldeure en dubbele diefwering, sowelastraliehekke binne-in onshuise," sê Visser en voeg by dathy noodgedwonge ‘n muur van R12 miljoen om die plaas moesbou om misdadigers uit te hou."
Een van hulgrootste bekommernisse is ‘n tekortaan landelike veiligheidspatrolliesendie frustrasie oor die risiko van oormatige geweld in die
verslaeoor die misdaadaanslag aan die buitewykevan Kaapstad.
geval van selfverdediging.
"Hoe treejyopasdaar op jou geskiet word? Skiet jy terug, is jy in die moeilikheid," sê Mouton.
"Die polisie bestaan nie hier nie. Daar is selfs al vir ‘n boer gesê dat die Covidnedersetting te gevaarlik is vir die polisie om te patrolleer. Ook die Stad Kaapstad se landelike veiligheidstaakmag, wat wel `n verskil gemaak het, het `n jaar of wat gelede sonderwaarskuwing onttrek," sê hy "Die landbesef niehoe ernstig die probleem is nie."
Vissersêlandelike wetstoepassing is nou meer dringend as ooit,endie staat moet help.
"Die misdaad sal nie ophou nie, want oortreders weet hulle komdaarmee weg. Maar onskan nie in sak en as sit elke keer as so 'n aanval gebeur nie. Waarheen gaan ons ná dekades se boerdery," vrahy.
WETSTOEPASSERSNÊRENSTESIENNIE
Wayne Dyason, woordvoerder vir die Stad Kaapstad, sê die landelikeveiligheidstaakmagse funksie is binne die raamwerk van die wetstoepassingseenheid herbelyn om doeltreffendheid in termevan operasionele noodsaaklikhede te verbeter.
"Die funksie sluit misdaadvoorkoming en die polisiëring van munisipale verordeninge en regulasies in die landelike en landbougebiede rondom die metropool in.
“Hierdie belyninghet wetstoepassingsbeamptes in staat gestel om ‘n 24 uur-dienstelewer,wat voorheen niemoontlik was nie,"sêhy.
Maar inwonersindie landelike gebiede hou vol, "wetstoepassers word nêrens hier gesien nie"
Volgens Dave Galevan die Joostenbergvlaktelandelikegemeenskapspatrolliewoon hulle nie eens meer GPF-vergaderings by nie. Galesêdie "operasionele behoeftes" waarnaDyason verwys is moontlik eerder Bloekombos,enander stedelikegebiede aan die randvan die stad waar misdaad hoogtyvier.
Ook polisiepatrollies, sê hy, is skaars in die landelike gebiede buite Kraaifontein. "Daar is doodeenvoudig nie genoeg bronne in die polisie om die gebied doeltreffend te patrolleer nie. Dit is ‘n baie groot gebied wat strekvan Fisantekraal na Mikpunt en totbyOuPaarlweg. "Vandat die taakmag onttrekhet,isdaar definitief ‘n groot gaping wat onshoop die owerhede weer in die toekoms aandag aan sal skenk," sê hy.
Dogwalkerstargetedinfirecrackerterror
Thelong arm of justice is catching up to two young men who drove around in Goedemoed in Durbanville on Saturday evening (21 February) —throwing at leasteight firecrackers through their car window at dog walkers and dogs
In one incident afirecracker was thrown at a68-year-old woman, who was walking her two Yorkshireterriers of 16 and 12 years old on their leashes. According to her husband,who wants to stay anonymous, she and thedogswere severely traumatised after the incident.
SCORCHED
He said that according to his wife the two young men forced her off the road, with their vehicle, intothe bush along the pavement in Friesland Street. The man in the frontpassenger’s seat then threw afirecracker at her feet —right between her two Yorkies
The explosionwas so severe that the firecracker left ascorch mark on the road,hesaid. The dogs went completely hysterical, his wife said. “As if that was not enough, they drove around the block and harassed her a second time. They drove slowly alongside her —shouting obscenities and showed abusive and obscene hand signs ather They were approaching her for athird time after that in Angus Street, but it was justbefore our house and they drove off,” he said. “This is not civilised behaviour and I am very upset for terrorising my wife like that. Iwant them to be brought to justice and humiliated. They should get community service—picking up dog poo forhours in the sun,” he said. In another incident in Joostenberg Street aresident was home with his family
at about 19:40 when they heard tyres screeching, acar stopping in front of their houseand aloudexplosion in front of theirpatio door. Their 13-year-old pitbull went ballistic and barked for almost 10 minutes after the incident, he said.
More incidents occurred at about 20:51 and 21:07 in Joostenberg andAngus Streets respectively.
CAMERAFOOTAGE
The Crest-Goedemoed-Wellway ParkEast-Klein Nederburg (CGW) Neighbourhood Watch hasall the evidence recorded on CCTV cameras,aswell as theregistrationnumber of the vehicle,” said Theo Bruwer, chairofthe CGW neighbourhood watch.
The suspect vehicle, awhite Toyota SUV, has been traced to its owner in theVillagio complex in Tara. Video footage alsoclearly shows the faces of the suspects.
“Complaints havebeen lodged by the victims with the City of Cape Town’s law enforcement department,” he said.”Our neighbourhood watchhas over 200 CCTV cameras in our neighbourhoods. not much crime getspastour camera network,”he said. Complaints have alsobeen lodged with theSPCA.
. Anyresidents wishing to join CGW Neighbourhood Watchcan contact Theo Bruwer on 082898 4975
Boerestaan
Thecar withthe suspects wasspotted on CCTV cameras in Friesland Street as it wasapproachingthe stop at the four-waycross in Goedemoed Road.
Human trafficking: global crisisexposed
Areport published on 20 Februaryby the UN Human Rights Office in Geneva graphically details thelived experiences of some of the hundredsofthousands of people trafficked from dozens of countries aroundthe world into working in entrenched scam operations, mostly in Southeast Asia, as well as far beyond The reportdocuments instances of torture and other ill-treatment, sexual abuseand exploitation, forced abortions, food deprivation,and solitary confinement, among other grave human rights abuses. Survivors also shared experiences of border officials aiding scam recruiters, and of threats andextortion by police.
According to the UN press release, satellite imageryand on-ground reports show that nearly three-quarters of the scam operations are in the Mekong region, which have also spread to some Pacific Island countries and South Asia, aswell as Gulf States, West Africaand the Americas.
“The treatment endured by individuals within the context of scam operations is alarming,” finds the report, based on interviews with survivors originating from Bangladesh, China, India, Myanmar, SriLanka, South Africa, Thailand, Vietnam and Zimbabwe. They had been trafficked into scam centresin Cambodia, Lao People’s DemocraticRepublic, Myanmar, the Philippines and the United Arab Emirates between 2021 and 2025.
SYSTEMATICABUSE
Victims described being lured into scamming jobs under false pretences and then being coerced into perpetrating online fraud ranging from impersonation scams, online extortion, financialfraudas well as romantic scams.
The operations described are fluid, with some survivors sharingexperiences of being heldinimmense compounds resembling self-contained towns, some over 500 acres in size, made up of heavily fortified multi-storey buildings with barbed wire-topped high walls, guarded by armed and uniformed security personnel.
“A victim from Sri Lanka related how those who failed to meet monthly scamming targetswere subject to immersion in water containers, known as
‘water prisons’for hours,”said the report, whichupdatesa 2023 UN Human Rights report
“Victimsalso recounted being forced to witness or evenconduct grave abuse of others as ameanstoensure compliance; oneBangladeshi victim said thathewas ordered to beat other workers and avictim from Ghana recounted being forced to watch his friend beingbeateninfrontof him.”
They told of people losingtheir lives as theyattempted to escape,including falling frombalconies androofs in the compounds.
Failedrescue attempts were also punished severely, the report finds.One Vietnamesevictim described how her sister was beaten,tasered andlocked in a roomwithnofood for seven days after her sisterhad triedtoengineer her escape.
While most victims described receiving some wages, all those interviewed by UN Human Rights experienced arange of escalatingdeductions andnonereceived the entirety of the promised salary. AThai victim reportedthatthey were ordered to meetsteepscamming targets of some $9 500 per day to avoid fines, beatings,or even being “sold” to another compound withharsher conditions.
CALLFORACTION
“The litany of abuse is staggering and at thesametime heart-breaking,” UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk said.
“Yet, rather than receiving protection, care and rehabilitation as well as the pathways to justiceand redress to which they areentitled, victims too oftenface disbelief, stigmatisation andeven further punishment.”
“Effective responsesneed to be centred in human rights lawand standards Crucially, that meansexplicitly recognising forced criminalitywithin anti-traffickinglaws andregulations andguaranteeing the non-punishment principle for victims of trafficking.”
“Victimsofsuchabuses require coordinated timely, safe andeffective rescue operations, respectfor the principle of non-refoulement, as well as available support mechanisms to ensure tortureand trauma rehabilitation andaddressrisks of reprisalsorre-trafficking.”
Traffickedvictims finallyspeakout
DESIRÉERORKE
“You arenot human,you are money-making machines.”
These were the words two men from Cape Town encountered upon arriving at aCambodian scam centre. The two men, aged19and 30 and related to one another, were among eight people from Kraaifontein who weretrafficked to Cambodia last year.
In asit-down with TygerBurger,they couldfinally share their harrowing experience following the arrest of two alleged recruiters by theHawks in Kraaifontein last week. The younger man was only 18 and hadjust completed matric when he was recruited.
THELUREOFFALSEPROMISES
Desperate for employment, he saw an advertisement on social media —“call centre agents needed for acompany in Thailand, all expenses paid, salary $400 plus commission, accommodation included”.
The other man was unemployedwith ayoung family to support. “I had just started my life,and this looked like a golden opportunity to go overseas, save some money, and return to SouthAfrica to buy ahousefor my family. It would havebeen our chance to make abetter life in acountry where there are very few opportunitiesfor us,”hesays.
The 18-year-old appliedfirst and departed thecountry, withhis olderfamily member following fourmonths later
“Afterwecompleted the applications, our air tickets were paid for and everything seemed aboveboard. Inever would have guessed that Iwas being trafficked.”
JOURNEYINTOCAPTIVITY
Upon arrival in Bangkok, Thailand, he was allowedthroughthe Thai border on a tourist visa before entering Cambodia on a business visa. “I was then transported in a van andtravelled for about 10 hours to the compound. This is where Istarted getting suspicious forthe first time.”
After arrival, hispassport was taken and his movements restricted. He was, however, able to track down his family memberatthe compound.
“Therewere Cambodian guards walking around with tasers, anditslowly dawned on us that we were trafficked and now captives. Fear arosequickly. We did not haveour passports in astrange country, butI knewI had to staycalm and focused. Ihad to do whateverwas required to keep us both safe.
“We were allowedtokeep our mobile phones butcoercedinto contacting our familiestotellthem we were safe. At one point we were shown avideo of an elderly Zimbabweanman being tortured with tasers, andwewere terrifiedthat harm would come to us andour families. We did what we were told.”
APPALLINGLIVINGCONDITIONS
The scam centre,allegedly run by Chinesemafia they say, consisted of six buildings of 26 floors each. Living conditions were appalling, with 15 people sharing oneshower, onebasin, and a squat toilet.
“Themattresseswere very hard and sewage pushed up into the room.”
Theyweregiven iPhones and instructed to telephone people in South Africa to lure them into elaborate scams,falsely claiming cases hadbeen opened against them anddemanding payment to avoid arrest.
“Theirtelephone numbers and ID numbers were provided to us. Ioften wonderedwhere they got them from. All thevictims were white retired people with money,” says oneofthe men.
FORCEDINTOFRAUD
The men worked 12 to 13-hour shiftsper day andweregiven only onefree meal daily. “Wescammed people every day.
Oneday Iscammed someone out of R1,8 million and was paid about $400. Ifelt very bad about thisbut would repent at the end of each day.”
Theyounger man says he was often shouted at and belittled by guards if they didnot meet theirtargets, and was forced to write out telephone scripts50times. They were paid in cash, and the money could be banked at an on-site facility that made electronic transfers to their South African bank accounts.
Thefood consisted of rice, noodles, and strange meats “like snake and frogs”. The men say therewere people from mostly very poor countries across the world, many of whom chose to stay and workfor the money to send to theirfamilies.
“There were people from all over Africa, and from India, Pakistan, Brazil, and Indonesia. We saw elderly people and young children and heard horrible stories of violence and abuse.”
THERESCUE
After afew weeks, the older man summoned the courage to call for help from his family in SouthAfrica, who lodged acase with police.
It was amessage to his brother in America that set theirrescue in motion.
“My brother put us in contact with an American senator who in turnput us in contact with immigration police in Cambodia. After contacting them, they asked if we were being held captive and requested us to send them our location.”
Shortly afterwards, they werecollected by immigration police and taken to a police station where they were kept in cells for two weeks.“Here too we had to sleep on thinmattresses on the floor and received only one meal per day consisting of rice and pork.”
According to them, they were extorted by police in order to receive better treatment. After receiving the correct documentation from Cambodian government officials, the men were taken to immigration offices and deported back to SouthAfrica at their own cost.
BACKHOMEBUTTRAUMATISED
Back in SouthAfrica, the men say they are grateful to be alive, though they continue to live with the trauma of their experiences. They remain apprehensive and fearful of judgement from their own communities, yet believe it is crucial for victims of human trafficking to speak out about theirordeals.
“It was anightmare, and we still process it day by day,” they say.
Thetwo accused, Adam Douglas (44) and his wife Yolanda Douglas (50), appeared before the Bellville Magistrates’ Court last Monday on charges of contravention of trafficking in persons. Thecase was postponed to 26 February for abail application that is still ongoing. National Spokesperson Authority(NPA) spokesperson in the Western Cape, Eric Ntabazalila said the NPAisopposing bail as the matter is aSchedule 5offence. If found guilty, the couple face life imprisonment UNEMPLOYED LUREDTO HELL WITH FALSEPROMISES OF
Hundreds of thousands of people have been trafficked to Southeast Asia.
Vaccinateagainstmeningitis
Meningitiswarningin Durbanville
The parent communityofDurbanville panicked recently after rumoursofanoutbreak of the life-threatening disease meningococcal meningitis at aschool in Durbanville spread.
The management of Pikkie Paradys School andAftercare notified parents on Friday 20 February in anewsletter that therewas only one confirmed case of meningococcal meningitis ontheirjunior campus. “There were no further confirmed cases as has been alleged in certain circles,” Tineke Botes, centre manager,said.
ONECASECONFIRMED AT EDUCARE
the confirmedcase, as well as about symptoms for which they should watch We encouragedparents to contact their paediatriciansormedical practitioners forfurther medical advice if they had any concerns,”she said.
The entire school was closed on Thursday 19 February andFriday 20 February to be disinfected.
“The entire campuswas thoroughly disinfected overaperiodoftwo days by an independent external companythat used specialisedequipment andapproved
. Neck stiffness; . Vomiting; . Sensitivity to light; . Drowsiness, confusion, or difficulty waking; . Arashthat doesnot fade when pressed; . Cold handsand feet, pale or mottled skin, severe muscle pain “Meningococcal disease can progress within hours, andchildren can become critically ill very quickly. In some cases,
children can deteriorate and die within24 hours if treatment is delayed.
“Even when children survive, this infection can cause devastating longterm complications such as hearing loss, brain injury, limb damage, scarring, and learning difficulties.
“Do not wait. Do not ‘see how it goes’. If you are worried at all, rather have your child checked immediately. Early antibiotics and hospital care save lives.
“Meningococcal disease is preventable. Vaccination significantly reduces the risk of severe disease and death,” he wrote.
Informationsessionsonborerbeetle
Swill be addressing forexample is thefact thatthe use of pesticides and fungicideshave notproven effective at eradicatingPSHB from infected trees. Therefore, infestedtree or plant material has to be chipped, incinerated or solarised,”Andrews urged.
MORETHAN6000TREESAFFECTED
To date,PSHB has been confirmed in over6000 trees acrossthe City in the following areas:SomersetWest, Strand, Penhill, Newlands, Constantia, Rondebosch, Observatory, Mowbray, Rosebank, Claremont, Kenilworth,Wynberg, Diep River, Pinelands, Durbanville, Brackenfell, Kraaifontein, Bellville, Parow North, CBD and Hout Bay.
Among thetrees affected were boxelders, London planes, English oaks, beefwood, weeping willow, Cape chestnut, black locust, paperbark andmaple trees
Information sessions were already held in HoutBay andin FaureinFebruary.
INFORMATIONSESSIONS
. The nextinformation session was to be held in Brackenfell on Tuesday2Marchfrom 15:30 to 17:30 at Brackenfell Library in Paradys Street, Brackenfell;
. An information session will be heldinBellville on Friday 6March from 09:30 to 12:00 at Bellville Library auditorium in Carl van Aswegrn Street, Bellville;
. Information sessions will be heldinDurbanville on Thursday 12 March from 17:30 to 19:30 and on Thursday 16 April from 17:30 to 19:30 at Durbanville Library on thecorner of Oxfordand Koeberg Road, Durbanville.
The City will focus on the protocols applicable to infested trees and biomass, among which how to identify infested trees and what symptoms to look out for; what to do and what not to do; how to handle infested biomass; how to safely dispose of infested biomass; how to transport green waste and how to handle equipment and machinery in a manner that will not spread the pest to other areas.
Residents should look out for the following symptoms of infestedtrees:
. Branch dieback —crackson the branch; discoloured leaves; dry and leafless branches; branch break-off revealing webs of galleries filled with black fungus; . Gumming —blobs of goo coming out of the bark; oozing of liquid and gum from the beetle holes;
. Entry and exit holes —very small holes on the barkofthe tree (the size of asesame seed of about 2mm);shotgun-like scars developing around the holes; . Staining —brown or dark stains on the barkofthe tree. . PSHB beetle sightings must be reported online at www.capetown. gov.za/InvasiveSpecies,callthe City of Cape Town’sinvasivespecies unit on 021444 2357 from Monday to Friday from 07:30to16:00, or email invasive.species@capetown.gov.za
Shotholeborer beetles pose aserious threat to Cape Town’surban forestsand biodiversity.
Bidtorename UWCafter AllanBoesak
Aproposal has been launched to rename the University of the Western Cape (UWC) to Allan ABoesak University,honouring the liberation theologian’s sustained influence on the institution and South Africanliberation struggle.
The initiative comes from BishopDr Clyde NS Ramalaine, founder and leader of The Thinking Masses of South Africa Foundation (TMoSA) and aUWC alumnus. TMoSAapproached UWC lastweek with the proposal.
GENERATIONALRELATIONSHIP WITH UNIVERSITY
It argued that Boesak had maintained a generational relationship with UWC that shaped students, faculty ethics and the institution’s moral compass
His work during the apartheid era, particularly in the 1980s, is seen as aligning with UWC’s ethos ofacademic pursuit, spiritual inquiryand social-justice activism.
“Boesak exemplifies praxis: scholarship fusedwith activism to challenge oppression, reimagine justice and model accountability,” theproposalstated.The renaming would tangibly link UWC’s identity to liberation-struggle historyand signal institutional recognition of living legacies of justice.
UWC awarded Boesak an Honorary Doctorate in 2021, which theproposal describes as “longoverdue” recognition of hiscontributions.
ACADEMICSUPPORT FORTHEPROPOSAL
Professor Hein Willemse, emeritus Professor of Literature and Theory, has written about Boesak’s significance during crucial moments in SouthAfricanhistory.
Writingabout the turbulentperiod of1976, he recalled how Boesak, then ayoung Afrikaansminister who hadrecently completed his doctorate at the Theological University of Kampen in theNetherlands, addressed UWC students about the meaning of Soweto.
table at UWC in July 1976 andspoketous aboutthe significance of Soweto, doing so partlyinAfrikaans, it was asmall but important stepinreclaiming Afrikaans,” Willemse wrote.
He described Boesak as “sparklingand dynamic with unsurpassable oratorial power”, whodemonstrated thatAfrikaans could be spoken with conviction in the struggleagainst oppressionand for social justice.
According to Willemse Boesak gave theoretical substancetothe “black experience” and“black consciousness,” where “black” referrednot to skin colour but to aresistance identity prioritising self-respect, human dignity andsolidarity withthe oppressed.
The emeritus professor notedthatwhile Boesak’slifehad taken its course and his political career hadits challenges “the self-confidence he gave to an entire generation of young people can hardly be overestimated.”
Boesak, who recently turned 80, is internationally respected as atheologian.
RENAMINGINITIATIVECALLS FORSUPPORT
TMoSA is callingfor supporters to formally submit their commitment via email to clyder008@gmail.com, representing themselves andtheir organisations in backing the renaming proposal.
The foundation frames the renaming as grounded in “demonstrable, measurable influence” including mentorship, critical discoursefacilitation, civic consciousness fostering, and advancement of social justice scholarship.
Sakeluiluister aandagtig na Letha Stofberg se praatjie oor belasting.
Praatjie oor belasting
Sakeluivan die noordelike voorstede het meer geleer oor belasting by 'n netwerkgeleentheid wat AfriForum Sakenetwerk op Woensdag25Februarie by Chocolat Bistro in Durbanville bygewoon het
Letha Stofberg, stigter van Pienaar Stofberg Bestuurskonsultante, het die sakeluitoegespreek.
"Sy hetdie gaste meervertel oor onder meer belasting vir die verskillende ondernemingsentiteite en hoe om op ’n wettige manierminder belasting te betaal. Dieoggend is afgesluit met ’n heerlike ontbyt en verdere netwerkgeleenthede," sê Tania Verdoes, voorsittervan AfriForum Sakenetwerk in die noordelike voorstede. Volgens Verdoes is daar opwindende gebeurtenisse om na uit te sien vanjaar, waaronder verskeie netwerkgeleenthede, opleidingsessies, werksessies en dan die tweegroot geleenthede, naamlik die Tinteltong-toekennings en die Entrepreneur van die Jaar-kompetisie.
DieTinteltong-toekennings is daarop
gemik om ondernemings wat op ’n kreatiewe manier in Afrikaans sakedoen, te beloon. Die wenner word eindelik deur ’n stemproses van die plaaslike AfriForum Sakenetwerk en die publiek bepaal. Die Entrepreneur van die Jaar-kompetisie is ’n nasionale kompetisie, waarvan die 2025-reeks binnekort op AfriForumTV uitgesaai sal word.
AfriForum Sakenetwerk is ’n netwerk van Afrikaanse sakelui wat hom beywer vir die groei van gemeenskapsekonomie deur volhoubare, selfstandige ondernemings. Dienetwerk skep geleenthede vir Afrikaanse sakelui om volhoubaar te wees deur met mekaar bande te smee en sakete doen tot bevordering van selfstandige gemeenskappe.
Die netwerk se dienste word gelewer aan bestaande klein en mediumgrootte ondernemings, asook aan entrepreneurs en voornemende entrepreneurs. . Besoek www.afriforumsakenetwerk.co.za om by dienetwerk aan te sluit of vir meer inligting.
Kommentaar // Comments
LEWENSKIEKIE
THINKING OUTLOUD
We must rebuild safer communities forchildren
Ilook at young people todayand Icannot helpbut feel slightly sorry for them
Iamaproud millennial. Partofthe last generation to experience achildhood balanced between freedom and technology, between scraped knees and dial-up internet, between real-worldadventure andthe digital revolution that was still finding its feet
We were the bridgegeneration.
We knew life before the internet —and we witnessed its arrival.
We remember when boredom sparked creativity,not scrolling. When the streetlights flicking on at dusk wereour only curfew.
You would play in the roaduntil the sky turned orange, too scared to run homefor supperbecause once you stepped inside, that was it, you were in for the night.
We were scolded, but tomorrow, after school, it was the same case scenario.
There were no WhatsApp groups arranging playdates, no location sharing, no TikTok trends dictating how to have fun.
walking to the shop, heading to school, playing in their own backyard.
The very spacesthatoncedefined childhood freedomhave become sources of anxiety. Where we once worried about being shoutedatfor cominghome late, today’sparents worry aboutwhether their children will come home at all.
Thisisnot nostalgia speaking; it is grief for whathas been lost.
We oftenhear debates aboutgenerational resilience, aboutwhether millennials were tougher, or whether today’s youth are moreaware, more emotionally intelligent, moredigitally-skilled.
Perhaps every generationromanticises itsown upbringing. But what cannot be romanticised is safety.
Freedomrequires safety. Community requiressafety.
CHILDRENTODAYARE NOTWEAKER;THEYARE CONSTRAINED
There were bicycles, cricket in the street, hide-and-seek, and the unquestioned assumption thatoutside waswhere childhood belonged.
If we were insidethe housefor too long our parents would demand we play outside.
Children today will sadly never know that version of freedom.
The internet is not the villain. It has brought innovation, connection and opportunity. But it has also replaced something irreplaceable: unstructured, unsupervised, real-world play.
Today’schildren are growing up in a world where entertainment isstreamed, friendships are curated online, andsilence is filled by ascreen.
Their memories willbecloud-backed,not grass-stained
Theshift indoors is not only cultural, it is driven by fear. Crime has become so prevalent that many parents cannot allow their children to roam freely.
For too many families, tragedy has struck during themost ordinary routines:
Childhood requires safety. Andhere lies theuncomfortable truth: we are failingto prioritise it.
Billions are spent on state entitiesplagued by mismanagement and inefficiency,while neighbourhood parks decay and community sports facilities remain underdeveloped or unsafe. Instead of investingmeaningfully in secure public spacesinwell-lit fields, maintained playgrounds, accessible after-school sport programmes funds are toooften mismanaged.
We speakabout youth empowerment while neglectingthe environments that allowyoungpeople to grow confidently andsocially.
Millennials grewupoutdoors not becausewewere braver, but because the world around us felt more accessible Children today are notweaker; they are constrained.
The tragedyisnot thatthey will never know life before theinternet. It is that they maynever knowlife beyond their front gates. If we careabout the next generation,the goal should notbeto recreatethe 90s, but to build safe spaces where children can rediscoverfreedom, where parents can exhale, where play can spill intostreets, andwhere childhood is notdefined by fear.
-KAYLYNNE BANTOM
Seilbotevertrek vanaf die KaapstadsehawenaMykonosvir die jaarlikseregatta. FOTO:CHRISTA ROSSOUW
Babyfoods‘mislabeled’
Baby food manufacturers are widely violating South African healthregulations designed to protect breastfeeding and prevent misleading marketing to parents, according to new researchfrom the University of the Western Cape.
The study, conductedby dietician and researcher
Aneeqah Latief,examined 266 baby food products in Cape Town supermarkets and found significant non-compliance with Regulation991 (R991) of 2012—anational health regulationthat restricts aggressive advertising and promotion of infant formula, cereals and juices.
Latief’s research revealed that many products featured frontof-pack marketing specifically designed to attract parents, including health claims, catchy phrases, expert endorsements and digital links to manufacturers Some products boasted claims such as “reduced sweetness… contains iron”, “no added starch”, “no added salt/sugar, no preservatives”, “gluten-free”, and “organic”
The findings come as South Africa grapples with one of the world’s lowest exclusive breastfeeding rates.
Just 22% of mothers breastfed exclusively in 2024, far belowthe World Health Organisation target of 50% by last year.
CROSS-PROMOTIONCONFUSION
The study found widespread “cross promotion”, with over 80% of productssharingidentical labels,makingitdifficult for parents to distinguish between formula, follow-up milk and complementary foods.”
Clearlabelling is vital as SouthAfrica faces growing malnutritionand obesity challenges,”Latiefsaid.
Paediatricjuices showedthe highest rate of non-compliance, containing highsugar content without healthwarnings to caregivers.
Somebabyfoods carried marketingclaimspositioning manufacturers as nutrition experts, withpromotional phrases like “150 years of nutritionexperience” and “generations of parents have trusted ourinfant cereals to providejustwhattheir babies need”.
MISSINGHEALTHWARNINGS
Despite regulationsrequiring complementary foods to carry clear health warnings, compliance waspoor.
Themandatory warning against feeding infants under sixmonthswas missing from thefront packagingof23,2% of baby cereals.Only 4,8% of puréed products included guidance to introduce variety of foods from six monthsalongsidebreast milk.
The research also found
misleadingpictorial representations, with fruitflavouredproductsdepicting fresh fruit despitecontaining only fruit flavourings, concentrates, pulps and dehydrated fruit rather than fresh ingredients.
Regulation 991, issued under theFoodstuffs, Cosmetics and DisinfectantsAct of 2012, specifically prohibits promotional practicesand health or medicinal claims on baby food products.
HEALTHIMPLICATIONS
Latief warnedthatnoncompliantlabelling and marketing couldhave serious consequences for infanthealth
“If labellingormarketing doesnot fully comply with regulations, it can mislead parentsaboutnutritional quality, influence early feedingpractices, undermine breastfeeding promotion efforts, andaffect infantand young child health outcomes,” she said.
Experts cite aggressive formula marketingand culturalmisconceptions as keyreasons for South Africa’s poor breastfeeding rates, which contribute to thecountry’s malnutrition and obesity challenges.
The study raisesquestions about regulatory enforcement and theneed for stricter monitoring of baby food marketing practices in South Africa.
illpresent afull-length ader's Dracula at Artscape from DavidNixon's acclaimed audiences interim artisticdirector of n2023, returns to direct this musicbyAlfred Schnittke, Arvo noff andMichael Daugherty. iginally created Dracula in 1999 ssince become one of his iveballets owsthe classic vampiretale d, whereyoung solicitor stoTransylvaniafor Count ealingsinLondon. What nsaction unfolds intoa aturing female vampires and and evil.
OREOGRAPHY ageand costume design rkingwithlocal lighting ien. TheBritish Theatre ibed Nixon's choreography sedits abilitytocapture the etween characters. kwithCTCBfor this season "My time in Cape Town was iththe companyand am in workingwiththe dancers." enewedinternational attennBallet's2019 production,
which wasfilmed forcinema screeningsacross Europe andlater broadcastonBBC Four TracyLi, artisticmanagerofCTCB, said the productionallowsdancers "toexplorebothraw physicalityand intensestorytelling."
Theproductionisrated PG12. Tickets rangefrom R180 to R450 . Book at Webtickets or theArtscapebox office on 021421 7695
Konsertten bate vanballetmeester
BellvilleDance Academybied op Sondag15Maart om 15:30’nspesiale galavertoninggenaamd Legacy by die DF Akademie aan.
Dievertoningisten bate vandr. Eduard Greyling,gerespekteerde danseur noble,choreoloog en beskermheer vandie Cecchetti-vereniging van SuidelikeAfrika
Greyling se merkwaardigebydrae totballetinSuid-Afrika,insluitend sy gevierde dansvennootskap met die legendariesePhyllisSpira, het ’n blywende indruk op generasies vansowel dansers as gehoregelaat.
Hierdie innigeeerbetoon sluit vertonings deur die Kaapstad-stadsballet,Cape Ballet Africa,Figureof 8DanceTheatre,Bellville Dance AcademyenJennifer Klipfel School of Ballet,in. Ander gaskunstenaars sluit in die pianis Pieter vanZyl,fluitspeler Liesl Stoltz,sopraanMinette du ToitPearce,skrywer Rachelle Greeff en die gasspreker prof.Elizabeth Triegaardt Greyling het as 12-jarigemet danslessebyJennifer Louw in Bellville begin.Hyhet in 1965 aandie (toe nog) Hoërskool DF Malan gematrikuleer
DAGBOEK /DIARY
. Beyond Breath, 'n galakonsert,vind op Woensdag4Maart in dieEndler-saal in Stellenbosch plaas. Gareth McLearnon (Ierse fluitspeler), Cobus du Toit en Nina Schumann (pianis) tree saam met’nprofessionelefluitensembleop. Dieprogram sluit diepremière van’nnuwefluittrio deur diegevierde komponisHendrik Hofmeyr in. Kaartjies by Webtickets.
. Meraki DanceFestival runs at Artscape untilSaturday7 March. Ticketsat Webtickets
. Juan Boucher is op Woensdag4 Maartom20:00 by Kapstadt Brauhaus Durbanville.Kaartjies kosvanafR185 by Quicket
. JonathanRoxmouth's Keychange runs at Theatreonthe Bayfrom4 to 28 March. Eveningsat20:00 and Saturdays also at 15:00.Ticketsat Webtickets.
. Nataniël bring sy nuwevertoning Sooibrand vanDonderdag5tot Sondag 8Maart na dieDrostdy-teaterin Stellenbosch. Kaartjies beskikbaarby
Die opbrengssal aangewend word om Greyling se mediesekostestehelp dek.
Komvier ’n merkwaardigenalatenskap . Kaartjieskos R250 en is by Quicketenbydie deur beskikbaar PhyllisSpira en Eduard Greyling
Webtickets.
. TheKingdom of Ubuntu –The MusicalinConcert is at Artscape on Friday6 and Saturday7 March at 19:30.Tickets R150toR300 at Webtickets. . Die country-groepWest komtree op Saterdag 7Maart om 19:00 in die Kraaifontein-stadsaal op.Kaartjies kos vanafR190 by Open Tickets.
. MatthewMole is at the Kirstenbosch Summer Concert on Sunday 8March at 17:15.Ticketsare R360 or R255 (age 6-21). Book at Webtickets.
. Mark Haze:Masters of Rock is at KapstadtBrauhaus BloubergonThursday 12 March at 20:00.TicketsfromR200 at Quicket
. Die Piesangskille is op Vrydag 13 Maart om 20:00 by Kapstadt Brauhaus Durbanville.Kaartjies kosvanafR200 by Quicket
. Legacy,a benefit gala forEduard Greyling, is at DF Akademie on Sunday 15 March at 15:30.TicketsfromR250 at Quicket
. Thandiswa Mazwa is at the KirstenboschSummer Concert on Sunday 15 March at 17:15.Ticketsare R360 or R255 (age 6-21). Book at Webtickets.
Cape Town CityBalletprincipalsKirstél Paterson and Leusson Muniz. PHOTO: LINDSEY APPOLIS
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