TygerBurger | Kuilsrivier | E-Edition | 12 November 2025

Woensdag, 12 November 2025

Adjunkhoof helpvroue

‘

n Adjunkhoof aan die Hoërskool De Kuilen in Kuilsrivier het nie sy wortels vergeet nie

Daarom gaan Jeremy Dietsiso weer hierdie jaar verseker dat bejaarde vroue in sy tuisgemeenskap iets het om Kersfees mee te vier

Dietsiso het in 2022 sy “Mr D’s Grandma Drive” begin ná ‘n besoek aan sy ma in Happy Valley, naby Blackheath “Ná die besoek het ek by ‘n 86-jarige ouma wat ek ken ‘n draai gemaak Dit was iemand voor wie ek groot geraak het, en daar was geen elektrisiteit op haar kragmeter nie,” vertel hy “Ek het toe besluit om Shoprite toe te gaan om vir die tannie kruideniersware te koop Daar sien ek toe die Kersfeeskospakkies ”

Jeremy Dietsiso help vroue in sy gemeenskap met kospakkies.

Die kospakkies, wat in ‘n emmer verpak word, bevat baie belangrike kossoorte en ook ‘n paar lekkernye Dietsiso en sy vriend, Marvin Constant, het besluit om tien emmers te koop – dit was toe nog R150 elk – om tien oumas te bederf “Daarna het ek op Facebook geadverteer en daardie jaar het ons 100 oumas gehelp Met die aflewering was dit trane van dankbaarheid en blydskap Vir baie van die oumas sou dit ‘n droeë Kersfees gewees het,” sê hy Vanjaar wil Dietsiso groter gaan met die projek Hy fokus veral op oumas en weduwees “Daar is so baie hulpbehoewendes oral My fokus is oumas en weduwees omdat so baie vroue oor die jare op een of ander manier in my lewe gesaai het,” verduidelik hy “Verlede jaar

het ons ons doelwit van 250 kospakkies bereik Hierdie jaar beoog ek om 500 oumas, tannies en weduwees te help ” Hy beplan ook ‘n spesiale dag met vermaak en etes om die bejaardes te laat voel hoe gewaardeerd hulle is “Wat as ‘n klein projek begin het, het oor die jare uitgebrei na iets waarna die oumas jaarliks uitsien – en dit alles net met die hulp van die Here,” sê Dietsiso “Ek is die seun van ‘n enkelmoeder wat baie hard moes werk Sy het my die waarde van Ubuntu geleer: ek is ‘n mens deur ander mense ” . Individue wat wil bydra of ‘n kospakkie wil borg (nou R180 elk) kan hom kontak by 069 786 5515, jerediet@yahoo com of op sy Facebook-blad.

WHAT’S ON / WAT IS WAAR

SENDYOURCOMMUNITYEVENTSTO TYGERBURGER@NOVUSMEDIA CO ZA

WEDNESDAY12NOVEMBER

. The South African National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence will be hosting a Drug Testing Workshop This one-day workshop will run from 09:00 to 15:00 and carries 5.5 CPD points. The cost is R1 200 per person, and the venue will be confirmed closer to the time

SATERDAG15NOVEMBER

. Die Kaapse Woordwewers hou om 14:00 die laaste gedigtedag vir die jaar by DNA Café in die Langverwachtplein-winkelsentrum in Kuilsrivier Toegang is gratis. Kontak Samuel Theron, voorsitter, per e-pos by samueltheron1@gmail.com om deel van die gehoor te wees

WOENSDAG19NOVEMBER

Kader Abdolah se Duisend-en-een nagte is uitstekend vertaal in Afrikaans deur Wium van Zyl. Hierdie klassieke werk word by die Durbell-leeskring se byeenkoms deur dr Marni Bonthuys bespreek. Dit begin om 10:00 in die Durbanville-biblioteeksaal in Oxfordstraat Almal is welkom Toegang is gratis vir opbetaalde lede (R220 per jaar). Besoekers betaal R50 kontant Rig navrae aan Liz van Wyk by 082 655 8061.

THURSDAY20NOVEMBER

. Andries Olivier Durbanville Quadriplegic Centre will host its annual golf day this year again at Durbanville Golf Club The 4BBB Stableford will start at 11:00 The entry fee is R2 800 per four-ball or R700 per golfer Sponsorships are R700 per wet hole (snacks and drinks are welcome). All fees should be paid by Thursday 28 October to secure your booking Contact Rosabelle Riese on 081 497 4044 or 072 521 1160 (WhatsApp only) or by email to riese2608@gmail. com with enquiries.

SATERDAG22NOVEMBER

. ATKV-Crescendo bied 'n gratis liedjieskryfwerksessie saam met kunstenaars soos Deon Meiring van Glaskas Olga Leonard en Jitsvinger by The Father's Heart in Milkwoodstraat in Greenville, Fisantekraal aan. Dit begin om 09:00 Registrasie begin reeds om 08:30 Besoek www crescendo co.za om vir dié gratis werksessie te bespreek.

. The Dr Randall Ortel Foundation will host a Men’s Health Club Open Day from 11:00 to 13:00 at Watergate Medical Centre 60 Watergate Boulevard, Mitchell’s Plain It is open to men aged between 30 and 55. A R100 donation is required. Call 082 456 2186 or 060 592 9558 for more information.

TUESDAY25NOVEMBER

. The Egyptian Society of South Africa will be having their next meeting at St George's Grammar school, Richmond Road, Mowbray, from 19:30 Following the AGM, the guest speaker, Dr Lester Cowley, will present a lecture titled: "The Antikythera Mechanism". There is no charge for members, while it costs R30 for visitors Booking is not necessary There is secure parking in the school grounds. For more information call 021 852 7273 or 084 774 3972.

SUNDAY30NOVEMBER

. Cape Town will once again light up the summer sky as thousands gather on the Grand Parade and along Adderley Street for the 56th edition of the Festive Lights Switch-On from 16:00

THURSDAY4DECEMBER

. Oom Piets Christmas Party is back. For the first time since covid, the Rotary Club of Durbanville is once again hosting the magical fantasy evening for families from Thursday 4 December to Saturday 13 December Bring your picnic basket and enjoy a fabulous joyous evening. All proceeds go to helping uplifting the community Bookings now open on Quicket For more information, call Carol on 083 261 9840

. Tygerberg Hospice’s annual Tree of Lights event will take place at 19:00 at Jan Kriel School in Kuils River

Bring along a picnic blanket and come join a magical evening of remembrance and hope with a tree lit up in honour of loved ones who have passed. A light in remembrance of a loved one costs R60 Every light dedicated helps Tygerberg Hospice provide homebased care comfort and support to families facing life-limiting illness. Visit www tygerberghospice org or call 021 946 2460 to make your dedication and light purchase

FRIDAY5DECEMBER

. South Africa's leading indie games festival, Playtopia will bring together over 1 000 gaming enthusiasts and industry professionals for what organisers describe as Africa's premier celebration of video games and interactive arts at the Homecoming Centre in Cape Town on Friday 5 and Saturday 6 December

This year's festival will transport visitors to "Arcadia", a fantasy-themed library complete with portholes, spell books, potions and magic crystals. Tickets are available at www.playtopiafestival.co.za

Cityon‘track’ forrailcontrol

Cape Town could become South Africa's first city to run its own passenger rail service, following the tabling of an ambitious business plan that outlines how the metro can revive the region's struggling train network.

Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis presented the detailed Rail Business Plan to councillors on Thursday 6 November, with the full City Council set to vote on the proposal on Thursday 4 December

"With this business plan Cape Town is now front of the queue to be SA's first city to take over local passenger rail, in line with the Constitution and National White Paper on Rail," said Hill-Lewis

The plan comes as Cape Town's rail system continues to struggle under the management of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa), with services severely curtailed compared to the 620 000 daily passenger trips recorded in 2012

PRIVATE-SECTORPARTNERSHIPESSENTIAL

The business plan examined nine different scenarios for taking the rail service over, settling on three viable options that would see the City partner with private companies to operate trains on either a contractual or concession basis Crucially, the plan rules out any scenario where the city would have to use ratepayers' money to subsidise rail operations Instead, successful devolution would require funding from national government along with the authority to set fares and access long-term grants

"Capetonians urgently need an expanded, affordable, and reliable rail service that is integrated with other forms of transport via one ticketing system," HillLewis explained "Devolution is one of the critical first steps in this long-term vision to massively scaling up passenger numbers, new train sets, new routes, upgrade stations and develop surrounding precincts with affordable housing over the next two decades "

CAPE TOWN COULD BECOME SA’S FIRST CITY TO RUN ITS OWN TRAINS

NATIONALGOVERNMENTSUPPORTNEEDED

The Mayco member for urban mobility, Rob Quintas, emphasised that national government would need to restore the rail network to 2012 levels before any handover can take place

"But while national efforts to restore passenger-rail operations are ongoing this does not remove the need to advance devolution in line with national policy and the imperative for locally responsive service delivery," said Quintas The City would then work to further expand the rail service, including a new Blue Downs rail link

Hill-Lewis called on transport minister Barbara Creecy to finalise the draft National Rail Bill and Masterplan before year-end, ensuring proper consultation with local government as the key implementing partner "

LONGROADAHEAD

The business plan represents the culmination of nearly two years of research, following a baseline analysis in October 2023 and institutional options report in October 2024 The City will now seek council approval to begin formal negotiations with national government If successful the devolution could transform public transport in Cape Town, offering residents a reliable alternative to the current fragmented system and potentially serving as a model for other South African cities facing similar transport challenges The proposal aligns with constitutional principles that recognise local government as best positioned to deliver integrated, affordable public transport through coordinated planning across different transport modes

LE arrests 266 suspects in citywide operations

Law enforcement officers from the City of Cape Town impounded no less than eight vehicles used for illegal dumping

The impoundments came during a week when the City’s enforcement agencies arrested 266 suspects The eight vehicles impounded brought the October tally to 36 – four times higher than September "Illegal dumping is a huge problem around the city and affects many communities It has also become a headache for enforcement as culprits are seldom caught in the act, and not many residents call out their neighbours for the behaviour Dumping is not only a public and environmental health risk, but it also robs residents in informal communities of public open spaces Areas that could be used for community gardens, recreational facilities, and social cohesion are instead turned into hotspots for crime and grime," said Mayco member for safety and security, JP Smith

OTHEROPERATIONS

In other law enforcement successes, LEAP officers confiscated two unlicenced firearms – one in Delft and one in Mitchells Plain – and arrested one person in each incident Officers arrested 154 people and issued 6 502 notices Metro police officers arrested 84 suspects, of which 35 were for driving under the influence, and issued 2 734 notices Traffic officers made 28 arrests – 22 for driving under the influence, two for reckless and negligent driving and four for various other charges

They also recorded 56 573 offences, including 36 657 speeding offences, issued 19 916 fines for various traffic violations, impounded 231 public transport vehicles and executed 1 506 warrants of arrest The Public Emergency Communication Centre logged 1 701 incidents, for which they dispatched assistance for 86 cases of assault, 49 incidents of domestic violence, and 76 motor vehicle and pedestrian accidents

Badisa seeks child’s biological parents

Badisa Kuils River is seeking assistance to locate the biological parents of a child The biological mother, Leonor Sarah Petersen (46), was last known to reside in Ravensmead, but her current whereabouts are unknown to her family The biological father Keith Petersen, was last reported to live in Elsies River His exact age is unknown but it is anticipated that he is within the same age group as the mother Anyone who can assist is requested to contact the social worker Moesha Uppington . Call 021 906 1881 on weekdays between 8:00 and 16:00.

Laaste gedigtedag vir die jaar gehou

Die Kaapse Woordwewers hou op Saterdag 15 November om 14:00 die laaste gedigtedag vir die jaar by DNA Café in die Langverwachtpleinwinkelsentrum Toegang is gratis

"Kom ondersteun ons digters wat woorde weef wat heling bring, inspireer, motiveer en hoop verskaf," nooi Samuel Theron voorsitter . Kontak Theron per e-pos by samueltheron1@ gmail.com indien u deel wil wees van die gehoor

Higbury Foundation meeting

Highbury Foundation will have a public information session on Thursday 20 November at 19:00 at Highbury Educare, Excelsior Park

The annual reports of the chair, secretary and treasurer will be presented, followed by a talk by a property agent about municipal by-laws applicable to new buildings and renovations and unscrupulous sellers . For more information, you can contact 082 202 3214 or 082 371 4252.

Cyclistracestohelpwith emergencyfarmbirth

DESIRÉERORKE

DESIREE RORKE@TYGERBURGER CO ZA

What started as a peaceful Sunday morning bike ride through the Bottelary hills quickly transformed into a life-saving mission for first responder Tarryn Beretta, who raced 5 kilometres on her bicycle to assist with an emergency farm birth.

While cycling, an alert came through on the Sonkring neighbourhood watch’s operational group requesting help for a woman who had just given birth and needed assistance

While riding her bicycle, she immediately responded

“It was about 08:10 and I was about 5 km away and there was no ambulance on the scene yet I had to get moving,” she tells TygerBurger

“It was a bit of a mission to find her though, as Google Maps first took me to the wrong location From there, while cycling, I contacted Law Enforcement and the police to guide me to the correct place It took me about 25 minutes to get there after eventually getting the correct directions from a woman who came past in her car

Tarryn and the metro ambulance arrived simultaneously to find the newborn still on the bed with the umbilical cord intact

Two local women had helped the mother through the delivery

“Seeing that little one on the bed, only 45 minutes old, was indescribable While the paramedic rushed to cut the cord and deliver the placenta, I took care of the baby I checked his breathing, put him in

TARRYN RACES 5 KM TO EMERGENCY BIRTH

a sterile cloth and wrapped him with a blanket - a perfect, healthy little boy, born at 34 weeks ” MEDICALKITSTOFARMWORKERS

About two years ago, the police and the CPF handed out medical kits to farm communities, an initiative that faced some resistance at the time, but on that day it

truly made a difference when community members could safely deliver the baby with the help of the kits

Tarryn volunteers as a third “man” over weekends on a private ambulance service, responding to various medical and other emergency calls

“When a call for help comes in, it is my natural instinct to respond There is always a way to assist, even if you have no experience, even if you can just keep someone calm until help arrives ”

NdlovuYouthChoir takescentrestage

The dates for the 2026 Ndlovu Youth Choir SA Tour have been announced The 15 choristers and three-piece band promise to take audiences on an emotional roller-coaster ride, bringing passion, precision and heart to their South African shows next year

With just 12 concerts planned, this will be an exclusive opportunity for fans to experience the choir's celebrated performances.The concerts kick off in Cape Town at Artscape Theatre Centre from Thursday 5 February to Sunday 8 February Shows run daily at 19:30, with an additional Saturday show at 15:00 The Cape Town leg concludes with two Sunday shows at 14:00 and 18:00 The choir added the timeless Queen hit "Bohemian Rhapsody" to their repertoire in 2024, showcasing a fresh arrangement that gave the song even wider appeal. Audiences loved it, but an unexpected bonus was still to come In September this year Queen's drumRog T yl dis ed sic vide of the

‘Cats’

open at Artscape in December

One of theatre's most iconic musicals is coming to Artscape during the upcoming holiday season. Cats will open at Artscape on Wednesday 10 December before moving to Johannesburg's Teatro at Montecasino on 17 January

The South African production features Andrew Lloyd Webber's celebrated score, including the unforgettable ballad "Memory", alongside choreography, costumes and an oversized junkyard set Associate director and choreographer Chrissie Cartwright and musical supervisor Peter McCarthy will bring the production to life honouring the creative vision of original director Trevor Nunn, designer John Napier, and the late Gillian Lynne, whose choreography continues to define the show's distinctive style

CAST

The South African cast includes Cindy Ann Abrahams as Grizabella, King B as Old Deuteronomy, Dylan Janse van Rensburg as Rum Tum Tugger, and

Che-jean Jupp as Munkustrap The ensemble features Stephan van der Walt as Admetus/Macavity, Sibusiso Mxosana as Alonzo, Sipesihle Ngamlana as Bill Bailey, Tatum Coleman as Bombalurina, Tshepo Ncokoane as Bustopher Jones/Gus Michael Fullard as Carbuckety, Hannah Marshall as Cassandra, and Darren Rockman as Coricopat

Based on T.S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, the musical premiered in London's West End in 1981, playing nearly 9 000 performances over 21 years. Cats has since been staged in over 54 countries translated into 23 languages, and seen by more than 77 million people worldwide

The story follows the Jellicle Cats who gather for their annual Jellicle Ball to decide which cat will ascend to the Heaviside Layer and be reborn.

"It remains one of the most exciting and emotionally rich musicals ever written," said producer Pieter Toerien

. Tickets are available at Webtickets and the Artscape Box Office on 021 421 7695.

YOUTH CHOIR’S 2026 TOUR PROMISES A STRONG SOUTH AFRICAN FLAVOUR

culture," Schmitt explained "The aim is to cover a wide range of South African genres," he said, "including gospel and an amapiano medley as well as hits from many of South Africa's greatest singers and bands, such as Mango Groove, Hugh Masekela, Johnny Clegg and Miriam Makeba."

Fans can expect South African classics such as "African Dream" and "Pata Pata", alongside songs celebrating Africa such as "Circle Of Life", "Waka Waka" and Toto's anthem "Africa". International hits they've transformed for new audiences, include "Bohemian Rhapsody", "Higher Love" and "Nessun Dorma".

Based in the Mouts Vall in al Lim

Look for clues in the search for Tinker Bell through

the

Moana as she ig y gn cent and mystical Land of the Dead and discover a vibrantly colourful performance with skeletons atop sway poles dancing over the audience in a beautiful cultural celebration of family Travel to the wintry world of Arendelle and sing along with Elsa as video projection creates a kaleidoscope of crystals to help build her ice palace Witness Belle lift into the sky as the enchanted chandelier comes to life high over the ice Demonstrate the power of teamwork when Buzz Lightyear, Woody and Jessie recruit the Green Army Men for a daring rescue in Andy’s room Laugh hysterically as the hilarious pirates flip, tumble, and twist on tumble tracks, stilts and more in an effort to showcase their talents for Captain Hook Sail away with Moana on her daring voyage across the ocean and bravely encounter the fiery wrath of Te Ka. Disney On Ice presents Mickey’s Search Party, produced by Feld Entertainment Inc, is brought to South Africa by Showtime Management and is presented in association with FNB. FNB card holders can get 20% off tickets until Sunday 30 November . Tickets are available at Ticketmaster co.za or Showtime co.za.

DAGBOEK / DIARY

. Far Gone – World Tour is at The Baxter Theatre from Tuesday 11 to Saturday 15 November A moving story of a young boy's journey from childhood innocence to child soldier Tickets R150 to R200 at Webtickets.

. Summer Symphonies at the City Hall: Violin is on Thursday 13 November at 19:30 Tickets from R190 to R450 at Webtickets.

. Nataniël: Catch Me Love is te sien in die Kunstekaap-teater van Donderdag 13 tot Sondag 16 November Met Charl du Plessis (klavier), Werner Spies (bas) en Peter Auret (tromme). Kaartjies kos R260 tot R330 by Webtickets.

. Stuart Taylor's comedy show, Odd Man Out, is at The Baxter from 13 to 15 November Tickets from R180 at Webtickets.

. Mark Haze: A Tribute to The Masters of Rock is op Vrydag 14 November om 20:30 by Heroes Brackenfell. Kaartjies kos R220 tot R260 Bespreek by www brackenfell.net of by iTickets.

. Gipsy Kings by Diego Baliardo bring their world-famous flamenco rumba sound to De Grendel Wine Estate on Sunday 16 November Gates open at 12:00

An afternoon of music under the summer sky Book at Webtickets

. Cape Ballet Africa presents Giselle at The Baxter from 13 to 22 November Tickets from R200 to R495 at Webtickets

. The Hugo Lambrechts Music Centre's Brass and Percussion Departmental Concert is on Friday 14 November at 18:00 Free entry Mark Haze: A Tribute to The Masters of Rock is op Vrydag 14 November om 20:30 by Heroes Brackenfell. Kaartjies kos R220 tot R260 Bespreek by www.brackenfell.net of by iTickets

. Zip Zap presents Take Me Home from 14 to 16 November The world-class acrobatics and choreography of Zip Zap's seasoned performers with Freshlyground's vibrant sound. Tickets R190 to R290 at Webtickets

. Vannie Wal Af is van Woensdag 19 tot Saterdag 22 November om 20:00 in die Kunstekaap-teater op die planke Kaartjies kos R100 by Webtickets

. It's Boogie Time runs at Artscape from 19 to 23 November A musical/comedy romp down memory lane to the Motown Era. Tickets R170 at Webtickets

PupilslearnprogrammingatUWC

Agroup of Grade 10 learners from Soneike High School in Kuils River, armed with curiosity and enthusiasm but with no laptops of their own, took their first steps into the world of computational modelling a way of using computer coding to simulate real-world situations

Computational modelling is a technique used in science and engineering to simulate physical systems using mathematics and computer code It's a powerful way to explore concepts like velocity, acceleration and forces, but many high school learners still lack access to laboratories and computing facilities

Heading up the initiative with Soneike High since 2023, University of the Western Cape (UWC) senior technical officer and passionate physics lecturer Ian Schroeder has been committing himself to bridging this knowledge gap, teaching concepts in his spare time

PROJECT2026

Despite Schroeder's ill health this year, he chose to continue his mission, preparing this cohort of high schoolers for their first year of university in 2028

"The project dubbed The Project 2026 Initiative started in 2023 with the Grade 10s of that year who are now writing the matric exam and hopefully going on to tertiary studies in 2026 The new cohort will bear the fruits of the experiences over the next two years," said Schroeder of his community outreach project Schroeder put out a call to current and previous physics students to help facilitate the workshop Five volunteered their time and joined the team Together with his son, who is currently in Grade 10, this facilitation team ran the workshop sessions under his guidance

"I am glad that there is finally a pool of students who can take over and run with it," said Schroeder "It reminds me of the riot days of 1985 where awareness programmes were 'by the students for the students'

"The computational modelling workshop with the current Grade 10 science learners was born from a UWC careers guidance talk Schroeder gave at Soneike High in August All but one learner had no experience with computer programming, but many showed interest

"With many learners having no access to laptops, we decided to use the UWC Physics PC Lab, which is a big 72-seater laboratory I was amused to see how, at the end of the final session, they had so much fun and were so engrossed in building their own 3D simulations that I had to chase some of them out, or else they would have missed their bus!" said Schroeder

Using VPython a beginner-friendly coding environment learners were able to model motion and generate graphs showing how objects moved over time "I really could not even have dreamt of doing this without the incredible support of the facilitation team, and especially my son Brian, who has been doing coding for the past six years," said Schroeder

FUTURE

The five current and former students met

with Schroeder for training sessions and then ran two Saturday workshops with the Grade 10 learners, all in their free time

"My state of health meant they were the engine for this, and I was in the pit lane directing," said Schroeder

He was particularly impressed by one student who had only used Scratch once before but took to VPython "like a fish to water"

"I hope she continues with the project, because she seems to be a natural "

The sessions included a careers talk by an Eskom engineer and an introduction to the university's online learning platform Learners also explored "habits of the mind" that underpin computational thinking, moving from tangible objects to sketches, mathematical equations, and finally computer code

“The session wasn’t just about coding It was a full afternoon of learning, starting with a welcome from the School's Enrollment Management Unit, a careers talk by an Eskom engineer, and an introduction to the University’s online learning platform,” Schroeder said

During the last session, learners dove deeper into the “habits of the mind” that underpin computational thinking This includes modelling problems using tangible objects before moving to sketches, mathematical equations, and finally, computer code They experiment with smart carts devices that measure motion using onboard sensors and build models to simulate different scenarios, including one dubbed “The Great Race”, where two smart carts compete under different conditions

“If this is what the future of science education looks like, then it’s bright just like the sun those photons are trying to escape from,” said Schroeder, referring to a Monte Carlo modelling problem the Grade 10s will work on when the sessions resume

THINKING OUT LOUD

A mom’s journey back to fitness

For the past three years, I’ve been stuck in the same loop: “I really should start going to the gym again ” It’s a phrase I’ve repeated so often that it’s become part of my daily mental soundtrack right up there with “Did I remember to pack the baby’s snacks?” and “When was the last time I slept through the night?”

Life after having a baby is a whirlwind of sleepless nights, endless laundry, and toddler tantrums that drain every ounce of energy I thought I had So, working out? Forget it The gym membership gathered dust My running shoes sat lonely in the corner, quietly judging me

But this past weekend, something nudged me out of my comfort zone My friends invited me for a hike at Jonkershoek Nature Reserve in Stellenbosch

Jonkershoek A place

I’ve hiked before

effortlessly A place I used to know like the back of my hand

I took a simple fall A slip on a patch of loose gravel It was nothing dramatic no twisted ankles, no bruises but enough to make me pause and reassess I felt fine immediately afterward, dusted myself off, and kept going

What I didn’t expect was the aftermath

The following morning, I woke up feeling like a freight train had run me over My neck was stiff and sore, making even turning my head a challenge Every muscle in my upper body ached as if I’d been through a wrestling match Simple movements, looking both ways before crossing the street, reaching for my coffee cup, became exercises in patience

.. MYRUNNINGSHOESSAT LONELYINTHECORNER, QUIETLYJUDGINGME.

I hesitated Was I really ready for this? Would my body protest every step? Would I embarrass myself?

The answer? Absolutely But I went anyway

The morning was crisp and promising

The sun filtered softly through the trees, birds chirped overhead, and for a moment, I almost forgot how out of shape I was The trail began easy enough, a gentle incline that I used to breeze up without breaking a sweat This time, though, my lungs burned quicker than I expected, and my legs ached like I’d run a marathon the day before

The steep parts of the trail were brutal It was like climbing Mount Everest only without the cold, or the fancy climbing gear, or the Sherpa guides Every step felt heavier than the last, and I found myself slowing down, catching my breath, wondering if I should just turn back

But I didn’t Because I was there, with friends who cheered me on, who reminded me why I wanted to do this in the first place: to get back to feeling like myself Then, about halfway through the hike,

That stiff neck was a harsh reminder that I was far from the fitness level I once had But here’s the twist: instead of discouraging me, this little mishap lit a fire under me

It was a wake-up call a nudge telling me that it’s time to stop making excuses To stop waiting for the “right moment” to start prioritising myself again To lace up those running shoes, dust off the gym bag, and actually go The ache and stiffness?

They’ve become my motivation

I’m signing up for the gym this week

I’m doing it not because I want to climb Everest or even Jonkershoek without getting winded Not because I want to look a certain way or fit into some old jeans

I’m doing it because I want to feel strong again Because I want to have the energy to keep up with my toddler’s boundless enthusiasm Because I want to be healthy and present, for me and for my family

I’ll admit, it’s daunting The first steps always are But hiking that trail, struggling and falling and getting back up, reminded me of something important: every journey starts with that first, uncertain step

So, here’s to climbing new mountains, one small, sweaty step at a time And maybe next time I hike Jonkershoek, it won’t feel like Everest after all

-KAILINDANIELS

BRIEWE|LETTERS

City pledges tougher stance on crime in Oakdale

The article "Oakdale demands action" (TygerBurger, 29 October) refers

The City’s Safety and Security Directorate acknowledges the challenges posed by anti-social behaviour, prostitution and criminal activities in the Oakdale area

A review of the monthly law enforcement reports submitted to Subcouncil 6 shows that officers consistently address these challenges

In July and August, officers issued 113 fines for soliciting in public, with the majority issued in Ward 10 They also issued 504 fines under the Streets and Public Places By-law, again with most of these issued in the affected area

This is a matter I have previously raised with senior management, and it’s encouraging to see that they are responding both proactively and reactively to these complaints They are also tracking the fines issued during their weekly management meetings

It s important for the residents of Oakdale to understand that we are facing an organised effort by certain political parties and NGOs to decriminalise sex work as seen in the recent court action brought by the Sex Workers Education and Advocacy Taskforce (SWEAT) against the South African Police Service and the City of Cape Town

This court action has resulted in a directive from the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), stating that sex workers cannot be prosecuted pending the outcome of the case The same organisation also interdicted the City in 2009 to prevent metro police from arresting sex workers

I remain opposed to the decriminalisation of sex work because of its negative impact on communities

Increased prostitution clearly undermines social cohesion and is often associated with crime, urban decay, unlawful immigration, and human trafficking

Our law enforcement department will continue to enforce our by-laws and will work closely with other role players to address these challenges through joint operations Together with the Department of Home

Affairs, the police, NGOs, and local community structures, we can make a meaningful difference

Residents are encouraged to report incidents by contacting the City’s Public Emergency Communication Centre on 021 480 7700 and providing a detailed description of the incident JPSMITH,Maycomemberforsafetyandsecurity CITYOFCAPETOWN

Feesmark raak nou te duur

Ek is uiters geskok oor die pryse van goedere by vanjaar se Stellenberg Feesmark Jare gelede toe ek daar begin koop het (en ek praat nou van meer as 25 jaar gelede al), was die feesmark 'n plek om oulike, bekostigbare artikels te koop Van eet- en lekkergoed tot speelgoed en popklere – my mandjie het altyd oorgeloop as ek gaan betaal het Maar nie meer nie Vanjaar het die organiseerders hulself in die voet geskiet, want hoewel stalletjie-eienaars natuurlik flink verkope sal beleef by hierdie gewilde mark het ek vanjaar daar uitgestap sonder om enigiets te koop Hoekom? Wel, eerste indrukke is blywend Ek was nog skaars binne die eerste tent, toe vang my oog badkamersakkies wat Pep vir R37 verkoop – by die mark kos dit R120! Dis nie iets besonders wat iemand self gemaak of selfs dalk met moeite ingevoer het nie Dis sommer hier in die plaaslike Pep gekoop en siedaar Groot wins

My vriendin het n vadoek teen R95 opgemerk waarvoor sy ook veel minder vir n pakkie van vier by einste Pep betaal het

Daarna het alles sommer oorprys gelyk, en ek het gewonder hoe word stalletjiehouers gekies Daar is seker mense wat nie pryse vergelyk nie en wat maar kan koop nes hulle luskry Ongelukkig is nie almal so gelukkig nie en moet die meeste mense hul sente omdraai

Die Feesmark sal my en vele ander seker nie weer sien nie Dit het te "fancy" en duur geraak KOPERWATNIE"AFGERIP"WILWORDNIE, Durbanville

Lights out in Table View — again!

Once again, Table View residents were left in the dark after another unexpected power outage Frustration is mounting as these disruptions become more frequent, disrupting businesses and home life alike

While we understand Eskom’s national challenges, it’s becoming clear that areas like ours deserve better The City of Cape Town s grid has proven far more reliable, and residents are asking to be included We need stability communication and accountability not another week of candles and cold dinners It’s time for the lights to stay on in Table View! FRUSTRATED,TableView

Windepushesjobgrowthvision

DESIRÉERORKE

DES REE RORKE@TYGERBURGER.CO ZA

Western Cape Premier

Alan Winde has outlined an ambitious vision to create a "healthy ecosystem for employment opportunities" while confronting the province's mounting challenges with crime, policing shortages, and child malnutrition

Speaking at the annual Tygerberg Business Chamber Gala Dinner last week, Winde delivered a sobering assessment of the obstacles facing economic growth

The popular black-tie event held at Goedgeleven outside Durbanville was sponsored by Business Partners Limited

“An entrepreneur is someone who finds solutions to challenges,” Winde said, a principle that lies at the heart of the province’s economic strategy

According to Winde, the Western Cape’s primary focus is on significantly boosting economic growth and job creation by establishing the right conditions for entrepreneurs to succeed and flourish

“We need a healthy employment ecosystem where people are safe and secure to work,” he said The province faces major challenges, especially rising crime amid dwindling police resources

Since becoming Premier in 2019, Winde said, police numbers dropped from 200 000 to 180 000 nationally, and from 20 000 to

does not know how to handle it,” he said

To combat crime, the Western Cape deployed 1 200 Law Enforcement Advancement Officers (LEAP) in six crime hotspots with arrest powers and technology like body cams and drones This achieved a 4% murder decrease in deployment areas

However, Winde emphasised policing requires building community ethics beyond “boots on the ground,” prompting various violence prevention programmes

BUILDINGETHICSANDVALUES

“We take youngsters who have matriculated, 4 000 every year, who will not get to college or university, and put them through training

their age, resulting from a lack of adequate nutrition over a long period It leads to impaired physical growth and delayed development, which can have severe, long-lasting physical and cognitive consequences

“Stunting is getting worse in the Western Cape,” said Winde “When a child is born, and you don’t correct that underweight child for the first thousand days, if they don’t have the proper nourishment either before they are born or after they are born, that child is going to always be behind ”

To address this, the health department partners with Stellenbosch University and Shoprite to give underweight pregnant mothers credit cards for nutritious food, preventing stunting and potentially stopping

future criminality

PARTNERSHIPS

Winde noted that the northern suburbs have experienced rapid property development in recent years, transforming the area into a hub of economic activity

“Over the past 15 years, residential property values declined in other metros while Cape Town saw massive increases,” he said “For many people these property values remain unaffordable,and the government needs to help those currently outside the property market to gain housing, something that is not popular among residents ” Winde champions the development of a second airport

with a vision of making it an Emirates hub, viewing it as pivotal to regional economic growth and transforming the entire area

He highlighted recent economic wins in the province - Tiger Brands’ expansion creating 3 000 jobs, North Fund’s partnership saving 4 000 canning jobs, an e-commerce platform supporting 16 000 SMEs across the country, and a World Economic Forumrecognised tech entrepreneur receiving testing approval for drone cargo transport of up to 1 5-ton loads

Concluding his address, Winde emphasised the importance of the partnership between business and government in driving economic growth in the province

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