TygerBurger | De Grendel | 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 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 ebastianvan 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 number of 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, andkeep theirwits 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.

Easter road deaths drop with 14%inWestern Cape

The Western Cape recorded a14% decreaseinroad deaths over the Easter period, with 19 fatalities compared to 22 last year.

The provincial governmentattributes thedeclinetoincreased visible policing and stricter lawenforcement across major routes.

Traffic officers stopped andchecked 44 555 vehicles andmade 149 arrests during theperiod. Of these, 108 were for driving under the influenceofalcohol.

In afirm stanceagainst corruption, two motorists were arrested in Citrusdal and Worcester for allegedly attempting to bribe traffic officers.

In aseparate incidentnear Laingsburg, adriverwas arrested forallegedly assaultingatraffic officer, driving under

FROMPAGE1

In thefootage can be seen how armed response officers apprehendaman, before pushing himtothe ground, kicking and punching him. Theindividual was apprehendedbyofficers of ZoneWatch in Maitland, who were later joined by officers of Monte Vista based District Watch

The footage is about 11 minutes-long and towards the end the individual, who was kickedand punched, is taken to avehicle parkednext to the road.

SECURITYCOMPANIESRESPOND

Both ZoneWatch andDistrict Watch haveissuedstatements. ZoneWatch owner Thomas Blatherwick said they can confirm that the security officer that assaultedthe member of the public has been dismissedwithimmediate effect.

“However we continue to work closely with theauthorities (South African Police Serviceand Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority) in assistance with theirongoinginvestigations.”

All other officers involved are suspended pendingthe outcome of theirrespective investigations, he said.

In additiontosupporting the external investigation, the company has initiated an internal reviewofits operational procedures, training protocols, and

the influence, failing to provide his name and address, and resisting arrest.

Nationally, Transport Minister Barbara Creecy reported a10% decrease in road fatalities between January and mid-March, indicating apositive trend ahead of the Easter period. Final Easter road statistics are yet to be released.

Despite the improvement,the Western Cape Government remains concerned that pedestrians and passengers continue to account for most fatalities.

Western Cape Minister of Mobility Isaac Silekusaid he observed encouraging compliance at roadblocksover the weekend, but warned that serious offences persist. Chief Director of Traffic Management Maxine Bezuidenhout urged road users to take responsibility.

decision-making processes in situations that may fall outside the normal scope of private securityresponsibility, Blatherwick said.

“Our officer was informed that the suspect had assaulted aZoneWatch officer, hence them apprehending him,” and “further to this, afull investigation is underway, and any disciplinary action required, will be instituted thoroughly,” theirstatement reads.

SeniorshotdeadnearMedi-Clinic

KAILINDANIELS

KAILIN.DANIELS@NOVUSMEDIA.CO.ZA

Amurder case has been opened at Milnerton Police Stationfollowing afatal shooting on Racecourse Road,Milnerton, on Thursday 9April at approximately 22:00.

According to provincial police spokespersonThembakazi Mpendukana officers responded to acomplaint of murder and,onarrival, found a60-yearold man with multiple gunshot woundsto his upper body. He was declared dead on the scene.

Police confirmed the motive for the shooting was still unknown,with

investigation ongoing andnoarrests at this stage.

The incident occurred closetoMediClinic Milnerton, where witnesses reported scenes of panic as shots were firedand thepublic scattered for safety

PUBLICSHOCKED

An eyewitness told TygerBurger:“We were justoutside when we heard the gunshots. People immediately started running in every direction. It was extremely frightening andhappenedso suddenly.There was panic everywhere nearMedi-Clinic.Wesaw people scattering andcars stoppinginthe road.

KAILINDANIELS

Table View police are investigatingcases of reckless and negligent driving and robbery following an incident at Bloubergstrand Beach on Thursday 9April.

According to provincial police spokespersonSgt Wesley Twigg, suspects allegedly involved in arobbery were travelling in a silver-grey Hyundai when they were chased by private security. Ashootout reportedly occurred during the pursuit,which ended at the corner of Koeberg and Racecourse roads in Milnerton, where the suspects were apprehended.

Policeconfirmed that three adult men were arrested in

connection with the incident andare expected toappear in the Cape Town Magistrate's Court once formally charged. The circumstances surrounding the shootoutremain under investigation

EYEWITNESSDESCRIBESCHAOTIC SCENE

Aparenttravelling with achild described the frightening moment shots were fired during the chase.

“We justturned down from the schoolbecause we were looking atthe assessments, then we went toPaddocks andthe policevans andsecurity vans were chasing thatsilver car andshots were fired. Me andmyson just heard it -it’sa unique sound, like when

PEOPLE SCATTER FOR SAFETY AFTER SHOTS FIRED IN PUBLIC

It felt unsafewithin seconds, and no-one knew what was going on.”

POLICEINVESTIGATIONCONTINUES

Authoritiessaid the motive for the shooting remainedunknown and no arrests hadbeenmade.Investigations were ongoingaspolice work to establish thefullcircumstancessurrounding the incident.

Threearrestedafter beach robbe

thebullet travels. thosewerebullets. was bleedinganywhere, myself, andonlya realised what had Thewitness adde incident appeared robbery near Paddocks.

“At theparkingh theladiessaid ag somebody near Pad that’s when the cops chasingwith secu Me andmyson we scared. It happened of us,right next to nexttous.”

INVESTIGATION

Policesay investigations reckless and negligent

Donateurshelpmet opknapwerk

RICHARDROBERTS

RICHARD.ROBERTS@NOVUSMEDIA.CO.ZA

Danksy die barmhartigheid van twee Rotariërklubs spogdie Carel du Toit-sentrum in Parow se CHAT-gebou (Children Hear and Talk) noumet splinternuwe meubels, lessenaars, speelgoed vir die kleinspanen boekrakke.

Daarbenewens is diesentrum se kantore herontwerp om 'n meer doeltreffende werksomgewing vir hul maatskaplike werkers, terapeute, opvoeders, oudioloëen ouers te skep. Die mure is ookgeverfen nuwe vloere is gelê.

Kinders wat doof is of aan gehoorverlies ly, word by die sentrum gehelp om te leer hoor en praat. DieRotariërklub Bellville en sy eweknieë, die Bristol Breakfast Rotary Club in dieVerenigde Koninkryk, sowel as die internasionale Rotariërstigting, het die opknapwerk

‘n Groepfotovan die personeellede,donateursen Rotariërklublede by die bekendstelling vandie nuwe, opgeknapteeenhede by die CarelduToit-sentrumin Parow.

SKOOLHOOF DANKBAAR VIR AL DIEHULP

moontlik gemaak, danksy duisende rande se donasies. Hulle is ook gesteun deur die Nasionale Lotery-kommissie,Lewis-groep en Jannie Mouton-stigting Pieter vander Walt van die Rotariërklub Bellville was eenvan die gassprekers wat'ntoespraak gelewer het tydens die bekendstellingvan die opgeknapte sentrum verlede Donderdag9 April.

VENNOOTSKAP

Hy hetaan TygerBurger gesê die klub vat al vir byna 20 jaar hande metdie Carel du Toit-sentrum. "Dit het klein begin, met kleinprojekte soos die uithelp met sekuriteitshekke of instandhoudingswerk, asook dieinstallering vandie speelpark."

Die RotariërklubBellville en Bristol Breakfast Rotary Club het saamgespan om die opknapping te bewaarheid. 'n Lid van die Bristol BreakfastRotary Club, Sue Petersen, het ook noue bande met Carel du Toit, sê Van der Walt. Albei klubs het geld ingesamel. Die Rotariërstigting hetook geld geskenk. "Ons is verheug dat onskon help om Carel du Toit om hul droom te help bewaarheid. Sover ek weet wou hulle dit al die afgelope vier jaar doen," sê hy Carel du Toit lê die organisasie baie na aan die hart, sê hy. "Dit is beslis niedie laastekeer wat onshier betrokke gaan wees nie, soos ek reeds genoem het; dis iets deurlopend om te verseker dathulle aanhou om 'n goeie diens te lewer, en ook sodat hulle hul dienste kan uitbrei.”

‘Roads areinan appalling state’ —AA

RICHARDROBERTS

This is the unequivocal verdict of Bobby Ramagwede,chief executive of theAutomobile Association (AA) of South Africa, who was discussing severalvehicle-related matters, such as the proliferation of vehicles, their roadworthiness, safety on the roads, aside from their condition of course.

At the helm of the organisation since October2024, he said the roads, nationally and regionally, needed much work, although the Western Cape’sroads far exceeded thoseofother parts of the country in terms of quality.

HEAVYVEHICLES

Ramagwede pointed outthat poor road conditionswere experienced internationally, duelargely to the presence of heavy vehicles on them and theeconomy’s over-reliance on trucks, whichare cripplingthe road networks.

He decried the factthatthere was no active road-maintenanceprogramme; instead there wasanongoing practice of patching potholes. “Patching potholes is not amaintenanceprogramme; a maintenance programme is one in which thecondition of the road is continuously assessed.

“We mustask ourselveswhether or not this road is goingtobefit for use tomorrow, ayearfrom now, five years from now, andifthe answer in any of theseassessmentsisno, Then one strips theroad andrebuilds it, to the extent that it needstoberebuilt from base laying, from where one rebuilds it.

“What we alsoneed to appreciate –and this is my call to the engineers– is that when roads were first builtthey were built for vehicle weight of less than

Bobby Ramagwede, chiefexecutiveof theAutomobile Association (AA).

type of traffic we are experiencing.

“We will not get trucks off the road if the state is reliant on that verygenerous and very aggressive fuel levy that increases year on year.”

IMPORTS

Theinflux of Chinese-manufactured vehicles also plays arole, Ramagwede said.

“I am not saying it is directly related, but it speakstomore people having access to cars, so the roads take an even greater beating. But the headline fix for the state of roads is we need proper maintenance programmes. Once one has amaintenance schedule in place the general condition of roads will improve. Takethe Western Cape, for instance; not every road is perfect, but most roads are in agreat state.”

He said municipalities should be able to worktogether, borrow from one another to help improve the conditions of the roads.

“I was on acycle tour coming from George down to Gqeberha recently and it was an absolute pleasure. When we entered the EasternCape Icould feel it.The first thing that came to mind –and Iamdoing this on my bicycle –was all they had to do was follow asimple maintenance schedule.

“In acountry where we have an example of it working Ifind it interesting that municipalities do not borrow from

Skolenuus // SchoolsNews

Raaf komtreebyDie Boerop

Dieduo RAAF is op Donderdag23en

Vrydag 24 April om 20:30 by Die Boerteaterrestaurant in Durbanville Lourens en Esté Raaf doen die lewe anders. Hul genrekan nie beperk word tot

eenwoordnie Hul lirieke vertel stories vanmenswees en hulmusikaliteit enenergieisaansteeklik. Hullebring hulnuutstemusiek, lirieke,

digkunsendaardie kenmerkende energie watjou lank ná dievertoning salaanspoor om kleurvoltelewe. Bespreek kaartjiesteen R280 by www. dieboer.com of 021979 1911.

Nuwevenuesvir Suidoosterfees

Die Suidoosterfees, watvanjaar van29April tot3Mei virdie 23stekeer aangebied word, brei vanjaarverder uit as die Kunstekaap-teaterkompleks, met verskeie nuwe venues watbenut word "Kort voor lank"iseen vandie fees se gewildsteprogramafdelings–waar uiteenlopende stories in treffende 30-minuut-vertonings lewe gegee word.Hierdie platform is ’n broeikas vir vernuwing en bied aanfeesgangers ’n toeganklikemanier om nuwestemme genres en vorme vanteaterteontdek. ’n Hoogtepunt op die program is Jakobregop –die premièrevan Hennie Aucamp se heerlik ondeunde saterspel watreeds in 1988 in Sjampanjevir ontbyt verskyn het,maarnog nooit voorheen opgevoer is nie.Hierdie slegs-vir-volwassenes komedie met Dean Balie, Marcel MeyerenAnzio September,onder regie vanFred Abrahamse, speel sensueel,stylvol en skreeusnaaksmet temassoos menslikebegeerte, die ouderdom en magsverhoudingstussen mense. Jakobregop is bedoel virvolwassegehore watnie skrik virnaaktheid nie

Adam Small90 is ’n reeksnuwe kort tekste waarin Smallsewerk herverbeel word deur jong skrywers en spelers vandie Proscenium-dramakompetisie.In Ongekarteerde drome, Langsdie paduitsak, Tussen vlugte en Waar oekaldjy belong word temas soos behoort,drome,identiteit en verlies ondersoek teen die agtergrond van’nsamelewing watsteeds deur ongelykhede gekenmerk word.Hierdie reeks, ondersteun deur die Stigting virBemagtiging deur Afrikaans, bring jongkunstenaars in kreatiewegesprek met een vanSuid-Afrika se mees invloedrykeliterêrefigure Ingrid Jonkerseenigstetoneelstuk krynuwelewein’n Seun na my hart, onder regie vanMaríBorstlap,terwyl diedigteresenaktriseVeronique

DAGBOEK/DIARY

. '88' met Coenie de VilliersenRocco de VilliersisopVrydag17April om 20:30 by DieBoer-teaterrestaurant in Durbanville.Kaartjies kosR290. Bespreek by www.dieboer.com of by 021979 1911.

. Laughter is Culture is at the Grand Arena,GrandWest on Saturday18April at 19:00.A large-scale stand-up comedyshowhostedbyDavid Kau, plus 13 topcomedians. TicketsfromR200at Webtickets.

. Theever-evolving MadameFreak Ensemblebringsfunkygrooves, blazing fusion solos, Afro jiveand balladsto the Alma Café in Rosebank on Saturday 18 Aprilat18:30for 19:00.Ticketscost R150 perpersonatQuicket

.TheCapeTownPhilharmonic Orchestrapresentsa free concert of lightclassicsand film musiconSunday 19 April at 16:00 at the Bellville South Town Hall.Nobooking required,just arrive and enjoythe music.

. Pretty Woman: TheMusical is now on at Artscape Theatreuntil19April. Terrific Tuesdays and Bring your Bestie offersalsoavailable.Book ticketsat Ticketmaster.Contact sales@showtime.co.za forgroup bookings.

. Krismisvan MapJacobs is tot24 April in dieKunstekaap-teater te sien. Diedrama speel af ná diegedwonge verskuiwingsuit Kaapstad na die Kaapse Vlakte.Kaartjies kosR80 by Webtickets.

. Thecultmusical TheRocky Horror Show is at Theatreonthe BayinCamps Baycurrently until31May.The productionisrated PG16.Ticketsstart from R200.Book at Webticketsorthe theatre's boxoffice on 021438 3300

. YouShouldGoIn is at TheBaxter's

Deon Lotz besin saam met GaryNaidoo in diekomedieFlip-Flop oor akteursse pogingsomin‘nuitdagende bedryfte oorleef.

DRAMATURG HENNIEAUCAMP SE ONDEUNDE TONEELSTUK ‘N HOOGTEPUNT

Jephtasin Ouma slaan’nses hemel toe geloof,rou en verlies in ’n poëtiese, intieme solovertoningondersoek. Humor en sosialekommentaarloop dikwels hand aanhand. In Baggage gebruikJurgenMcEwanenAviwe Ngabom skerpskets-komedie om Suid-Afrikaanse werklikhede te belig teen die agtergrond van’nlughawe Flip-flop met Deon Lotz en Gary Naidoo besin oor die hardewerklikhede vanakteurs se pogingsomin ’n uitdagende bedryf te oorleef, terwyl Pick aStruggle se Zach Esau en Roland du Preezmet spitsvondigehumor en kwesbaarheiddie ervaringsvan minderhede in ’n komplekse samelewing ondersoek.

Op musiekfront staan Stadskoor, -Choir,-iKwayarasing diva-pop uit as ’n uitbundigeproduksiewaarin ikoniese poptreffers uitgevoer word . Besoek www.suidoosterfees. comvir dievolledige program.

Masambe Theatrefrom16to25April. A moving newdrama about family,abandonment and the difficultroadtoforgiveness. Theplayexploresself-worth broken bonds and whether some wounds ever trulyheal, even when love returns. TicketsatWebtickets.

. mAnJE!MaNJe (anepic) runs at The Baxter Flipsidefrom17to25April. A strikingand imaginative production thatdraws on the storyofDaedalus to reflect on the human conditionin the ageofthe machine,big data and climate catastrophe.R120early-bird special forperformances from 17 to 21 April. TicketsatWebtickets.

. ConSpirito Philharmoniccelebrates Mozart's 270thbirth anniversarywith an All-Mozart Concert on Saturday18 April at 19:30 at the DutchReformed church Uitsig, Ridgeworth. Ticketscost R220 at Webtickets.

. Cape WelshChoir presents Why we sing —Generations in harmony,a concert collaborationwithlearners from CurroCenturyCity, DF Academy, Milnerton High School and St Cyprian's on Sunday 19 April at 15:00 in the Hugo Lambrechts Auditorium in Parow. TicketscostR160 at Quicket

. DieRadio Kalahari Orkes tree op Saterdag 25 April om 20:30enSondag 26 April om 14:00 by DieBoer-teaterrestaurant op.Kaartjies kosR280 Bespreek by www.dieboer.com of by 021979 1911.

. SONDA(StateOfthe National DisAster) is at Black BoxTheatre in DelftonSunday 26 April at 14:00 and 17:00.A sharp, satirical solo performancethat blendshumour with hard-hitting socialcritique.Ticketscost R70atWebtickets.

Thousandsofplasticsticksfound

KAILINDANIELS KAILIN.DANIELS@NOVUSMEDIA.CO.ZA

Environmental group Rethink The Stink has raised freshconcerns abouthidden sources of beach pollution after thousands of plastic sticks were collected during acleanup at LagoonBeach on Saturday 11 April.

The waste was gathered by Save aFishie volunteersaspart oftheir ongoing #BinItDontFlushIt campaign, which focuses on preventingbathroomrelatedlitterfrom entering Cape Town’s waterways and coastline.

According to organisers the discovery of earbud sticks highlightsa growing and largelyunseen pollution problem; items that are not discarded on beaches,but flushed down toiletsand carried through the sewage system before ending up inthe ocean.

“They’re not dropped on the beach. They’re flushed.”

Volunteers explained that many small items, including earbud sticks, cotton buds and wet wipes, are thin enough to slip through wastewater treatment filters. From there, they arecarriedinto rivers andeventually washed out to sea, where tides return them to shorelines.

“This is preventable pollution,”the group said, stressing that toilets should only be used forthe “3 Ps: pee, poo and paper.”

Everything else, they added, belongs in the bin.

CALLFORBEHAVIOURALCHANGE

Save aFishie volunteer Zoë Prinsloo said the latest cleanup formed partoftheir third #BinItDontFlushIt beach activation, held in partnership withthe City of Cape Town andRethink The Stink.

“On Saturday we had our third

AWARENESS MUST BE RAISED OF FLUSHED WASTE’SIMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT.

#BinItDontFlushIt beach clean-up, in proud collaboration with the City of Cape Town and RethinkThe Stink, to help raise awareness of the impact thatincorrectlyflushed bathroom waste hasonour environment andwaterways.”

She added that thegroup hadfocused on smaller items that often go unnoticed.

“We focused on everything,from tiny nurdles, earbud sticks, lollipop sticks and bottle tops, to plastic bottles, bags andtins, andeven afew bags floating in thelagoon itself.”

The team removed31kgoflitter during the clean-up,with organisers notingthat around 80% of thewaste consistedofvery small plastic items

“Wewerealso able to provide MyStudentHouse with #BinItDontFlushIt stickers to place on toilet stall doors to help spread awareness,”Prinsloo added.

BEACHGOERSREACTTOPOLLUTIONCONCERNS

Regular beach visitors expressed concern after hearing aboutthe findings andthe scale of thepollution problem.

“I hadnoidea things like earbud sticks could enduponthe beach,” said MilnertonbeachgoerJason van Wyk. “It’s quite shockingwhen you think abouthow far it travels.”

Lagoon Beach visitor Nadia Jacobs said the issue highlightedthe need for more public awareness. “People just don’t realisewhat flushingthe wrong things does.Seeing it collected like that is eyeopening.”

Table View resident Liam Petersen

added: “You thinkyou’re being clean, butitactually ends up in the ocean. It’s disturbing to see it back on the beach.”

Beach regular Ayesha Damies said small changes could makea big difference. “If everyonejust followed the 3P’s rule we wouldn’t have this problem. It really starts at home.”

SIMPLEMESSAGE,BIGIMPACT

Organisers said the solution lies in changing everyday habits, stressing that even small plastic items contributetolongterm environmentaldamage.

“Only flushthe 3Ps – pee, poo and toilet

paper,” they stated. “Everything else belongs in the bin.”The group urged the publictosupport the #BinItDontFlushIt campaign to help reduce pollution at its source.

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 and stoleitback afew times, but, eventually, after awhole week of phonelessness,she moved on from being avery morose, moody, anti-social teenager to aslightly lessmorose, moody, anti-socialteenager But, more importantly, within one school term, her marks improved and she was back in the 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 be limited to only what is absolutely necessary and I am not alone in my thinking. The growing philosophyworldwide is foracomplete 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.

EMAIL, 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."