TygerBurger | De Grendel | E-edition | 22 April 2026

WEDNESDAY22APRIL

. Durbanville Heritage Societypresents its annual meeting at 18:30 in the hallofStellenbergDutch ReformedChurchinEdelweiss Way, Eversdal. Theguest speaker, Marius Breytenbach, will discuss the topic "TheearliestTygerberg farmsand their significance" Breytenbach has completed hisPhD research on the earliestTygerbergfarms and willsharethoughtson his experience and findings during the evening. Visit www.durbanvilleheritage.co.za.

THURSDAY23APRIL

. TheR5booksaleatthe DurbanvilleChildren's Homewilltakeplace on Thursday 23 Apriland Friday 24 Aprilfrom09:00 to 15:00 and Saturday 25 April from 09:00 to 13:00atthe receptionarea. Therewill be alarge selectionoffiction, non-fiction, coffee-table andchildren's books, as well as CDs and DVDs.Card facilitieswillbeavailable

FRIDAY24APRIL

. Thepopular Alta du Toit Centregift is hosted at the centrefrom24April to 2May.The autumnmarketwill featureanexpanded rangeofvendorsand products, withall proceeds supportingthe upkeepand running of the Alta du Toit Centrewhilsthelping to uplift the livesofits residents.Visitorscan browse freshly bakedgoodsand confectionery,homemadejamsand preserves,uniquehome and garden décorincluding popularbraaibroeke,artwork,and pet treats. The market willbeopen on weekdays from 10:00to18:00 and weekendsfrom10:00to15:00. Contact Lieze de Wit, market organiser, at 072168 1716 formore information.

SATURDAY25APRIL

. Asecond-hand book sale will be held at the EdgemeadLibraryonSaturday, 25 April.The sale starts at 09:00 until12:00 and is hosted by the Friendsof EdgemeadLibrary. Alarge selection of donatedadult andchildren’s fiction andnon-fictionbooks as well as CDs, DVDs and magazines will be forsale. Prices rangefromR5upwards peritem. Card paymentsare accepted forpurchasesofR50 and over.

.Join Save aFishieand the Cape West GirlGuides foranEarth Daybeach clean-up at Lagoon Beach, Milnerton. Theclean-up will startat09:00,with glovesprovided to volunteers.Organisers encourage communitymembers to bring friends and family.

SUNDAY26APRIL

. Edgemead’slargest indoor second-hand market is taking place thisSunday26April at the Edgemead CommunityHall. Themarket starts at 08:00 until 14:00. Allsorts of second-hand household,collectablesand othergoods willbeonsale, bric-a-brac, prel-ovedclothing items, and much more. Thehallis locatedat83EdgemeadDrive,Edgemead. Fordetails call MaureenWatkins on 083441 0015

TUESDAY28APRIL

. TheEgyptian Society of South Africa willhostits next meeting at St George's GrammarSchool in Mowbray on Tuesday28April at 19:30. Guestspeaker Prof Sebastianvan As will present alecture titled "The NurtureofChildren in Ancient Egypt",offeringinsight intochildhood practicesand upbringing in one of history's oldestcivilisations. 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

WOENSDAG29APRIL

. Die gevierde skrywer Réna Rauch se nuutsteroman, Beauty,wordom10:30 in Welgemoedbekendgestel Belangstellendeskan by MarietaNel by 084 511 1931 hulplekbespreek.

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

.Ahisha Samson from Brackenfellwilllaunch her debutpoetrycollection So deur dielewe/Along Life's Path atthe Durbanville Library. In her poetry Ahisha sharesher personaljourneythrough life, socio-economic challenges,her faith and growth as awomanofcolour. Thebooklaunch starts at 10:00 for10:30 ending at 12:00. Contact Ahisha Samson on ahishasamson28@gmail.comwith enquiries

SATURDAY30MAY

. TheDianna JacksonFoundationwillhosta CommunityMarketDay from 10:00to15:00atthe SummerGreens Community Centre, 22 TinkersRoad, SummerGreens. Theevent will featurelocal vendors, food stalls,handmadecrafts, fashion, musicand family-friendlyentertainment. Free entry.For more informationcontactCJJackson on WhatsApp 072 8301966.

Tourismplanto powerjobgrowth

CapeTown is setting its sights on morethan 200 000 tourism-related jobsby2030, alongside billionsin visitorspending and asharprise in international arrivals, theCity'sMayco member for economic growth and tourism,James Vos,announced.

Unveilingthe City’s tourism ambitions at theopeningofWorld Travel Market (WTM) Africa 2026 in Cape Town recently, Vos positioned the City’s upcoming Tourism Framework as a"game-changer” that will define Cape Town’s next phase of growth.

The plan, currently being finalised, sets out threemajor targetsfor 2013 being 3.4 million international arrivals; R34billion in visitor spending andadoubling of tourism jobs to over200 000.

These goals, Vos indicated, are not aspirational alone, but built on strong momentum already achieved.

Since 2022, Cape Town has significantly expandedits global connectivity, growing from 184 to more than 230 international flights perweek during peak season. This has supported asteady rise in tourism employment, from just over 89 000 jobs in 2022 to more than106 000 in 2024, now accounting for close to 7% of the city’s workforce.

Addressingaglobal audience of tourism professionals, Vos stressed that tourism mustbeunderstood as acore economic sector

“Behind every arrival is an economic opportunity, for abusiness, for aworker, and for acommunity,”hesaid, reinforcing thelinkbetween visitor growth and job creation

He alsohighlightedthe City’s aggressive

destination marketing strategy, including the “This is Cape Town” campaign, which has taken the city’sbrand to 55 cities across six continents. With astrong focus on conversion rather than awareness alone, the campaign has contributed to record passenger numbers, with Cape Town International Airport surpassing 11 million two-way passengers in the past year

MULTI-YEARAGREEMENT

Vos further emphasised the strategic importance of hosting WTMAfrica, confirming that Cape Town has secured the event through amulti-year agreement. With more than 100 countries represented and 8000 trade professionals actively doing business, he described the event as adirect investment intothe city’s future tourism pipeline, driving bookings, partnerships, and long-term demand. But it was the 2030 outlook that defined the tone of the address.

Vos made it clear that the next phase of tourism growth will focus not only on scale, but on impact,ensuring that more communities benefit from the visitor economy.

Theforthcoming Tourism Framework, he said, will prioritise inclusion, resilience, and sustainability, while accelerating growth across key source markets and strengthening Cape Town’s position as a leading global destination.

Lastcall forschool applications

Parents whomissed the initial deadline for school applicationsstillhave time to secureaplacefor their children in Grade R, 1and 8for next year, but they need to act fast.

The provincial education department announced thatlateonline applications will closeonSunday 17 May. The ontimeapplication window, which closed at midnight on 14 April, received 166 144 applications.

Thedepartmenthas thanked families for applying on time, which helps with planningand placement processes.

Parentswho submit late applications should be aware that these will only be considered after all on-time applications have been processed.

Schools are now applying their admissionpolicies to all applications received during the on-time window. Parents can expect to receive outcomes from 28 Maythroughthe online system. They will thenhave until 15 June to

confirm theirchoice. The department said parents who receive multiple offers but fail to select one by the deadline will automatically be placed at their highestranked choice.

For families needing to transfer children in grades 2to7or9 to 12 due to relocation, aseparate transfer window will open from 3August to 17 August.

Theeducation department encouraged parents to keep their contact details updated to ensure they receive notifications. It praised parents, school management teams and officials for ensuring the on-time admissions process ran smoothly, and will continue to provide reminders of important dates as they approach.

Applications can be submitted online through the department’s website until the 17 May deadline.

. Parentswithqueriesabout admissions should contact thedepartment's call centre on 0861819 919.

Millionsofindigenousplantspoached

KAILINDANIELS

KAILIN.DANIELS@NOVUSMEDIA.CO.ZA

Abriefing to the Western Cape Standing Committee on Environmental Affairs andDevelopment Planning has exposed thealarming scaleofplant poaching, with more than 2,5 million indigenous plants seized since 2018,afigurethat reflects only a fraction of the ongoing environmental crime.

“Since 2018, more than 2,5 million poached indigenous plantshave been seized by law enforcement,”saidDave Bryant,MPP and DA Western Cape spokespersononLocal Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, “yet this represents only a fraction of what is being stripped from our landscapebyorganised criminal syndicates.”

“This industrial-scale theft is driving species to extinction in the wildand demands urgent, coordinated action.”

The presentation by CapeNature highlightedhow the illegal trade in succulents and other high-value species had escalated into asophisticated internationalcriminal enterprise.

Sevenspecies and two subspeciesof

poachers and fulfill targeted “special orders” for rare species.

“These syndicates are highly organised andoperate acrossprovinces andborders, treatingbiodiversity as acommodity,” officials told thecommittee.

CapeNature identified global demand for rare ornamentalsucculents as akey driver of the surge in poaching.

“Morerare or unique meansmore valuable,” the presentation noted, highlighting howonline platforms enable illegal tradetoflourish. At the same time socio-economic pressures are makinglocal communities vulnerable.

“Poaching is seenaslow-riskand highincome, quick money for short periods in the veld,” CapeNature said.

The environmentalconsequences are already severe,CapeNature told Nova News.“Sevenspecies andtwo subspecies have been poached to extinctioninthe wild since2020.”

Monitoring has shown drastic declines in plantpopulations, with large portions of the Conophytumgenus now critically endangered

Authorities warned that plant poaching is linked tobroader organised crime

“Syndicates involved in succulent

PLANTPOACHING CRISIS SEES 2.5MILLION INDIGENOUSPLANTSSEIZED IN WESTERN CAPE

common currencyfor organised crime,” Bryant said.

LAWENFORCEMENTUNDERPRESSURE

Despite increased seizures enforcement agencies face significant constraints.

“There is no dedicated investigation unit within CapeNature,” the organisation said, “and officers are required to perform multiple functions.”

CapeNature highlighted interventions including improvedcamera networks, K9 units and inter-agencycollaboration.

“Good cooperation with law-enforcement agenciesand international partners is key.

“CapeNature together with our partners are slowly but surely winning the Green GoldWar.”

However, Bryant stressed that stronger action was needed, calling for a coordinated, government-wide response to protect the province’sbiodiversity from further irreversible loss. “To combat the

AltaduToit marketreturns

Thepopular Alta du Toit Centre gift market will return to Bellville from 24 April to 2May,promising abigger and betterexperience followingthe successof previous markets in 2025. The autumn market will feature an expanded range of vendors and products,

the Alta du Toit Centre, Badisa, Down WithDough, and the Down Syndrome Association of theWestern Cape. Manyofthe handcrafted itemsavailable at themarket are made by the Centre's ownresidents, addingapersonaltouchto the shopping experience.

AIcameraseye trafficoffenders

Tworoadsmaybecomeone-way

Residents, businesses and road users in Bothasig have until Friday 15

May to comment on aproposal to introduceananti-clockwise one-way system in two of the area’s roads —Elbrecht and Vreem streets

Comments, recommendations and input, can be sent the C’sUrbanMobility Directorate.

“These proposalsare designed to improve traffic flow, enhance safety,and create amore organised roadenvironment around Bosmansdam Primary School,” said Rob Quintas, Mayco member for urban mobility.

The proposals include:

. Implementingaone-way in an anticlockwise direction from Elbrecht Street to Cloete Street, to Vreem Street;

. Implementingone-way, anti-clockwise, fromVreem Street,Elbrecht Street, to Jacob Street;

. Provide45° parking bays alongElbrecht Street;

. Provide parallel parkingbays along Elbrecht Street; . Provideparallelparkingbays along Vreem Street.

YOUCANSENDYOUFEEDBACKVIA:

. Email at Urbanmobility.CT@capetown. gov.za andquotethe reference number 110 252 619; . Onlineatwww.capetown.gov.za/ haveyoursayand www.capetown.gov.za/ collaborate;

. Postwritten submissions to Public ParticipationUnit (PPU), 3rd Floor Podium Block,Civic Centre, 12 Hertzog Boulevard, Cape Town, 8001;

. Visit Subcouncil 7atthe Municipal Offices, Oxford Street, Durbanville;

. Visit the Bothasig Public Library in Vryburger Avenue, Bothasig.

Residentscan also attend apublic information day on 29 April from 12:00 to 16:00 at Bosmansdam Primary School in Elbrecht Street,Bothasig. Assistance will be given to people who cannot read or write, people with disabilities and other disadvantaged groups who are unable to submit written comments to the municipality, the City said.

. Contact André Louw from thePPU on 021 400 9809orsendanemailtoAndre.Louw@ capetown.gov.zaifyou have anyqueriesonhow to submit your comments.

Kommentaar // Comments

THINKING OUTLOUD SLICEOFLIFE

Socks,storms and stubborn summer vibes

Winter has officially arrived. Youcan feel it in theearly morning chill, see it in the grey skies rolling in,and hear it in the steady rhythm of rain against thewindows. For some, it’s aseasonto endure. For me, it’s one to embrace. There’s something deeply comforting about winter. It invites you to slow down, to trade the rush of summer for quieter moments. To wrap yourself in blankets, cradle awarm cup of coffee,and sitalittle longer beside the fireplace while the world outside turns cold and wet

But this past weekend, winter reminded us that it is not always gentle. Heavy rains battered parts of thecity, leaving floodingand damage in their wake. For many families, the season did not arrive with cosy blankets and warmdrinks, but with risingwater, soaked belongingsand uncertainty. My heart goes out to those who have been affected —especially thosewho havelost their homes or have nowhere to go. It’s astark reminder that while winter can feel magicalfor some, it canbeincredibly harsh for others. It puts things into perspective.

Because while I’mlightingafire and reaching foranotherjersey,thereare people trying to stay dry, trying to stay warm, trying to hold onto whatthey have And inside my home, winterlooks very different. My three-year-old sonisfirmly convinceditisstill summer

Every morning beginswitha negotiation —socks being the main point of contention. To him, they areunnecessary and deeply offensive. To me,they are essential. “Just try them,” Isay,holding

FORMANYFAMILIES,THE SEASONDIDNOTARRIVEWITH COSYBLANKETS...

outasmall pair. “No,” he replies, without hesitation.

Then comes the wardrobe debate. While I’m layering up, he’s pointing atshorts andT-shirts as if the weather outside is merely asuggestion. Explaining winter to atoddler is no easy task.

“It’s cold,” Itell him. “Butthe sun is there,” he says, pointing outthe window. And in his mind, that settles it. Because sun means one thing: beach.

So when Iexplain that we can’tgo, the confusionisreal. Why would anyone not go to the beach if the sun is visible? It’s a fair question —one that logic struggles to answer when you’rethree years old

After one such conversation, he paused, looked up at the sky, and asked, “Is the sun on holiday?” And just like that, winter made perfect sense.

Because that’s exactlywhatitfeels like sometimes —like the sun has taken abreak, leaving clouds, wind andrain behind.Itstill makes the occasional appearance,just enough to remind us it hasn’t disappeared entirely

But it doesn’t linger. Itriedtoexplain this to him —that the sun is still there, just not as warm, not as strong.Hewasn’t convinced. In hisworld, things are simple. Warm means outside. Sun means beach. Socks are optional.

The recent flooding has reminded us how vulnerable so many people are when the rains come.And maybe that’s the balance winter asksofus— to find comfort wherewecan, while remaining aware of those who cannot. To be grateful,but not unaware. So whileIsit with mycoffeeand my blanket, and continue the daily battle oversocks, I’m holding space forboth realities. Thecosy and the difficult. The laughter and theloss.

And somewhere in between, asmall voicestill asking whether the sun will be back from holiday tomorrow. Itell him yes. Even if, for now, winterishereto stay. -KAILIN DANIELS

BRIEWE|LETTERS

Wag togvir jou beurt

Ek is nounet mooi keelvolvan mense se ongedulden selfsugtigheid op die pad, veralinspitsverkeer soggens op Bottelary

Heavyrain bringsback thepotholecrisis

As winter settlesoverCape Town once again, so too doesthe familiar and frustrating problem of potholes returntoour roads.Every year it feelslikethe same story is replayed —heavy rainsarrive, roads deteriorate, and motorists arelefttonavigateanever-growing network of craters anddamagedsurfaces

In some areas, temporary'patchwork fixes' seem to last only afew days before the damage re-emerges, often worsethanbefore. Better planning, more resilientroadmaterials, andfasterresponsetimes couldgo alongway in reducing the impact of winter damage.

ACONCERNEDMOTORIST, Email

Onsmoetalmal ‘n sekere tydbydie werk komen, net soos 'n mensin'nwinkel in 'n ry gaan staan om te betaal,nie net summier voor ander indruk nie.Jykan mosopdie padook jou beurt afwag

Die padwerke op Labellewegisnou al sedertdie begin vandie jaar aan die gang. Dit is nie 'n nuweding nie,maar vanoggend staan die ry karreopBottelary watalmal voor wil indruk amper net so lank soos die ry watindie korrekte baan geduldig moetwag —eintlik noglanger, te dankeaan al die selfsugtiges. Elkedag dieselfde storie —dieselfde voertuie wathul neusenet voor joune indruk. ESTHER,E-pos