Praatjie oor belasting
Sakeluivan die noordelike voorstede het meer geleer oor belasting by 'n netwerkgeleentheid wat AfriForum Sakenetwerk op Woensdag25Februarie by Chocolat Bistro in Durbanville bygewoon het
Letha Stofberg, stigter van Pienaar Stofberg Bestuurskonsultante, het die sakelui toegespreek.
"Sy hetdie gaste meervertel oor onder meer belasting vir die verskillende ondernemingsentiteite en hoe om op ’n wettige manier minderbelasting te betaal. Dieoggend is afgesluit met ’n heerlike ontbyt en verdere netwerkgeleenthede," sê Tania Verdoes, voorsittervan AfriForum Sakenetwerk in die noordelike voorstede. Volgens Verdoes is daar opwindende gebeurtenisse om na uit te sien vanjaar, waaronderverskeie netwerkgeleenthede, opleidingsessies, werksessies en dan die tweegroot geleenthede, naamlik die Tinteltong-toekennings en die Entrepreneur van die Jaar-kompetisie. DieTinteltong-toekennings is daarop gemik om ondernemingswat op ’n kreatiewe manierinAfrikaans sakedoen, te beloon. Die wenner word eindelik deur ’n stemproses van die plaaslike AfriForum Sakenetwerk en die publiek bepaal. Die Entrepreneur van die Jaar-kompetisie is ’n nasionalekompetisie, waarvan die 2025-reeksbinnekort op AfriForumTV uitgesaai salword.
netwerk van Afrikaanse sakelui wat hom beywer vir die groei van gemeenskapsekonomie deur volhoubare, selfstandige ondernemings. Dienetwerk skep geleenthede vir Afrikaanse sakelui om volhoubaar te wees deur met mekaar bande te smee en sakete doen tot bevordering van selfstandige gemeenskappe.
Die netwerk se dienste word gelewer aan bestaande klein en mediumgrootte ondernemings, asook aan entrepreneurs en voornemende entrepreneurs. . Besoek www.afriforumsakenetwerk.co.za om by dienetwerk aan te sluit of vir meer inligting.
AfriForumSakenetwerk is ’n
Sakeluiluister aandagtig na Letha Stofbergse praatjie oor belasting.
Kalkfontein
CARINAROUX
CARINA.ROUX@NOVUSMEDIA.CO.ZA
JPSmith, burgemeesterskomiteelid vir veiligheidensekuriteit, het verlede Donderdag (26 Februarie) aan 'n patrolliedeur die strate van Kalkfontein deelgeneem.
Smith het gesê hy het die patrollie saam met dieplaaslike buurtveiligheidsbeamptes (vir Wyk 19) onderneem as deel van 'n "burgemeestersblitz",'n diensleweringsuitreikwaarby verskillende stadsdepartemente betrek word en wat verlede week in Subraad 14 plaasgevind het.
"Die geïntegreerde operasie, watin samewerking met die verkeersdepartement gehou is, was onder meer gemikop bendegeweld, dwelmhandel,skoolvervoer en onwettigemeganiese werkswinkels," het Smith gesê.
Een vrou is tydens die operasie virdie besitvan dwelms in hegtenis geneem nadat die beamptes Mandrax by haar gekry het.
Smith was ooglopend ontsteld oor die haglike omstandighede waarin varke by die onwettige boerderye naby die voetgangerbrug en die R300-snelweg aan die rand van diewoonbuurtaangehou word Hy wasdadelik op sy foon. "Ek het ditaangemeld by wetstoepassing, omgewingsgesondheid, dieDBV,sowel as anderdierewelsynsorganisasies," het Smith gesê."Ek het verskeie oortredings
Komsnuffel en smul tenbatevan tehuis
Die AGSKuilsrivier tehuisvir bejaardes (CareVillage) bied op Saterdag 7Maart van10:00tot 15:00 'n herfsmarkaan op sy perseel by Kerkstraat 17
Daar salmusiek en 'n verskeidenheidvan stalletjies wees om na hartelus te snuffel. Verdryfdie honger met 'n wyekeuse watinsluit boereworsrolle,hamburgers en skyfies, kerrie-vetkoekeenveel meer.Kom snuffel en smul saam en ondersteun so die tehuis.
Varkewat aangehou word op grondwat onwettig beset is,
Eenvan die metropolisiebeampteswys die dwelms wathybinne in die houer versteek gevind het.
Parentslearn thepower ofroutine
Atotal of 20 parents andteachers came together at Step Ahead Educare’sMabille Park branch on Saturday 21 Februaryfor the first session of the year of Step Ahead’s Parent Empowerment Programme (PEP).
This first workshop focussed on how consistency and routine can transform family life. Dr Anja Human-Hendricks, aregistered social worker from the University of the Western Cape, led the session titled “Consistency creates security —Empowering parents to build structure, routine and connection —at home and away.”
The workshop began withprayer and awarm welcome, setting thetone for an inspiring and practical morning.
Human-Hendricks emphasised that effective parenting starts with being emotionally available to children, not just physically present. “Availabilityand affection build asecure bond,” she told the group, explaining how routines create predictability at home, which in turn improves children’s behaviour outside the home.
The session was highly interactive, with parents participating in discussions and practical activities designed to help them build healthy routines thatgive children stability and confidence. Akey message wasthat discipline should be rooted in love –focused on teaching rather than punishment.
“Our greatest strengthliesin our unity,” saidLeslie Selbourne, PEP Programme Manager. “Whenparentsriseupnot only fortheir own child, but for everychild in our care and community, we create a lasting legacy of hope, development and opportunity.”
The morning concluded with refreshments and fellowship, during which several parentsshared testimonials about
MOTHERSAND
VANBLADSY1
FATHERSTAUGHT ABOUT EFFECITIVE PARENTING ANDBEING EMOTIONALLY AVAILABLE
feeling encouraged andempoweredby whatthey hadlearnt.
Step Ahead Educare owner Charlene Venter highlightedthe importance of routine in children’s lives: “Routineisnot just aboutstructure —itisa gift we give to our children andourselves. It is one of thesimplest yet mostpowerful ways to build trust, reduce anxiety, andencourage independenceinchildren.”
LEARNINGANDGROWING
The programme aims to address the challenges manyparents face in today’s fast-paced world, creating asafe space for learning, growing andconnecting with otherfamilies.
Attendance at thefirst session of the yearincludedparents from the Step Ahead Educare community, teachers from both Step AheadEducareand NewBeginning Educare, programme coordinators,and the centre’sowners.
The Parent Empowerment Programme is opento allparents in the Kuils Riverarea, notjustthose connected to the school Future workshops will continue to offer practical parenting tools, build confidence, andfostersupportive community connections.
. Visitwww.stepaheadeducare.co.za,email info@stepaheadeducare.co.za,orphone 021 2862152or081 4279099ifinterested to attend futureworkshops
“Diepypvervanging sal binne enkele weke volg en salgedoen word langs die lengtevan Wesbank se Hoofweg af vanaf die Stellenbosch-hoofverkeersweg tot by Hindleweg,” sê Sawant. “Terselfdertyd word die Rietvleipompstasie opgeknap, want as dit nie behoorlik werk nie veroorsaak dit dat riool in Highbury, Kalkfontein en Riverside Gardens oorvloei.”
Sawantistrots daarop dat die projek in Wesbankkan begin en het dit as “’n goeie dag vir die inwoners” beskryf.
Jennifer van Rooyen, ‘n inwoner van Flowerstraat waar eenvan die eerste sluitbare deksels ingesit is,stem volhartig saam. Sy is vol lof vir Sawant, wat sy sê gereeld daar was as die dreine oorstroom het.“As die trokkekom (om diewater wegtepomp),dan is daai man hier; dan kyk hy hoehulle werk. Hy het gesê dit (die vervangings) gaan gebeur en dit het gebeur. Dieraadslid doenwat hy kan; hy maak nienet beloftes nie.”
Van Rooyenwas ook bly om die burgemeester, Geordin Hill-Lewis, Donderdag vir ‘n tweede keer te sien en sy hand te konskud.
Haar eiendomwas van diewat die ergstedeurgeloop het. “Ek het die grootste probleemgehad as die dreine oorloop. Dan staan die damme hier voor my deur. Dit was tot in my plekgewees.Ekhet hulle gewys watter probleem ek het met die vlieë. Ek kon nie meer nie.”
Sy is bewus daarvan dat mense goed in die dreine stort. “Dit is waar; hier is te veel hokkieshierbyons —daar kom die probleemin. Mense gooi goed hier in die dreine en dan blameer hulle die Stad.”
GeordinHill-Lewis help om‘n nuwelaagverf op ‘n voetoorgang in Wesbank aan te bring tydenssy besoekDonderdag.
Ebrahim Sawant (wyksraadlid) en GeordinHill-Lewis (burgemeester) by inwoners vanWesbank
Vroue vanWesbankWomen’s Movement by GeordinHill-Lewis,burgemeester,enEbrahim Sawant, wyksraadslid.
Ebrahim Sawant sit hand by met dieverf van‘nvoetoorgang
CentrecelebratesWorldHearingDay
Asthe world marked World Hearing Day on Tuesday 3March,the Carel du Toit CentreinParow saidthis year it is celebrating more than just awareness. For the centre’s learners andtheir families, the dayisa celebration of possibility, perseverance, and the power of early intervention.
CARELDUTOIT CENTRE HIGHLIGHTS SUCCESSSTORIES AND ‘MIRACLES’
Every child at thecentre, whichis located on the grounds of Tygerberg Hospital,has ahearing loss or is deaf.
In astatementissued on Mondaythis week,the centre said throughearly identification,consistent use of hearing technologyand theLearning andSpoken Language approach,children at the centre aretaughttolisten andspeak.
Forfamilies, the moment ababy hears their mother’s voicefor the first time, abird singing or even the sound of a passing carisnothingshort of amiracle, the centre said.
EARLYDIAGNOSISLEADSTOINTERVENTION
One of themiracle stories is that of five-year-old Zay-Lee Adams. Thecentre shared her inspiringstory, explainingZayLee’s journeythus far.
Born with permanent hearing loss in bothears, Zay-Lee’sjourney began at just three months old when aclinic follow-up appointment revealed that she was not responding to sound.
After being referred to Red Cross War MemorialChildren’sHospital, she was diagnosed at five months andfitted with hearing aids amonth later.
Fromthat point forward, her path towards sound and speechtruly began, the centre said.
Hermother, Shihaam, recalls the diagnosisasshocking yet clarifying.
With both parents experiencing hearing loss themselvesand afamily history of hearing loss on herfather, Zane’s,side, the news soon turnedintodetermination.
Zanecommunicatesusingbothsign languageand spoken language, whilst
Shihaam uses signlanguageasher primary mode of communication.
COMMUNICATIONCHALLENGESOVERCOME
Initially, communication presented challenges, the centre said.
After receivingher hearing aids, Zay-Lee wasreferred to the Carel du Toit Children Hear andTalk (CHAT) Centre, apartner organisation that provides specialised early intervention support to families of children with hearing loss.
Through structured guidance, practical strategiesand unwavering encouragement, thefamily learnt howtoturneveryday interactions into powerful languagebuildingopportunities, the statement reads
As Zay-Leedeveloped spoken language, shenaturally gravitated towards communicatingverbally, oftenrelying on her father to interpret between herself and her mother.
This created an emotional barrier between mother anddaughter.Yet Shihaam remainedsteadfast. Through ongoingsessions andfamily-centred support, thatbarrier was gradually dismantled.
BREAKTHROUGHBRINGSFAMILYTOGETHER
Today, at five years old, Zay-Lee confidently communicates using both spoken language andsign language.
Shenow sharesconversations directly with her mother, no interpreter needed. What once felt like distance has transformed into connection.
“She is my gift from God,” said Shihaam.
“Without thesupport we received, Ido
Zay-LeeAdamsasababyundergoing ahearing test at thetime
not believe Zay-Lee would have reached the level of spoken language she has today.”
World Hearing Day serves as aglobal reminder of the importance of early detection and intervention in hearing loss.
At Carel du Toit Centre, it is also a celebration of resilience, partnershipand the extraordinary journeysthat beginwith asingle sound.
Zay-LeeAdams (5)
LocalproductiontacklesGBV
Local non-profit organisation Project 021captivated audiences with three performances of itslatest production, Shine,atthe Sarepta Community Hall last week
The organisation, which uses performing arts to develop and empower young people in the community, presented athoughtprovoking play that tackles the serious issue of gender-based violence and its impact on children who witness it firsthand.
Written by Project 021's founder and director David Cornelson, Shine was brought to life by atalented and energetic cast of local performers.
The production served adualpurpose, addressing acritical social issuewhile providing aplatform to showcase the wealth of talent within thecommunity Ward councillor Wouter de Vos, who attended the opening night, commended Cornelsonand the talented cast.
“It is an amazing productionand itreally hits home with amessage aboutGBV,but it also shows that there is hope; you don t have to be stuck in that rut.
“I'm really glad Icame to watch; it's really worthwhile. Ihighly recommend it.”
NON-PROFIT’S PERFORMANCE SHINES
Thereare people behind the numbers.The cast members poignantly displayedsome of SouthAfrica’s terrible statistics at theend of the play:Therewere an averageof105 reported rape casesper day in SouthAfrica, between April and September 2025
From left: SummerSolomon,Minentle Mbane,Scarlette Adams,and Casvia vander Ross as students in the play PHOTOS: CARINA ROUX
Donique Smith and Scarlette Adams as motherand daughter in Shine
Mufunwa Malaza
In front from left:Aneshka Opperman and Iminathi Ngoboza
From left: MelissaReid.Donique Smith and David Cornelson.
Bidtorename UWCafter AllanBoesak
Aproposal has been launched to rename the University of the Western Cape (UWC) to Allan ABoesak University,honouring the liberation theologian’s sustained influence on the institution and South Africanliberation struggle.
The initiative comes from BishopDr Clyde NS Ramalaine, founder and leader of The Thinking Masses of South Africa Foundation (TMoSA) and aUWC alumnus. TMoSAapproached UWC lastweek with the proposal.
GENERATIONALRELATIONSHIP WITH UNIVERSITY
It argued that Boesak had maintained a generational relationship with UWC that shaped students, faculty ethics and the institution’s moral compass
His work during the apartheid era, particularly in the 1980s, is seen as aligning with UWC’s ethos ofacademic pursuit, spiritual inquiryand social-justice activism.
“Boesak exemplifies praxis: scholarship fusedwith activism to challenge oppression, reimagine justice and model accountability,” theproposalstated.The renaming would tangibly link UWC’s identity to liberation-struggle historyand signal institutional recognition of living legacies of justice.
UWC awarded Boesak an Honorary Doctorate in 2021, which theproposal describes as “longoverdue” recognition of hiscontributions.
ACADEMICSUPPORT FORTHEPROPOSAL
Professor Hein Willemse, emeritus Professor of Literature and Theory, has written about Boesak’s significance during crucial moments in SouthAfricanhistory.
Writingabout the turbulentperiod of1976, he recalled how Boesak, then ayoung Afrikaansminister who hadrecently completed his doctorate at the Theological University of Kampen in theNetherlands, addressed UWC students about the meaning of Soweto.
“When Dr Allan Boesak climbed onto a
PROPOSALCLAIMS ACTIVIST-THEOLOGIAN HADA GENERATIONAL RELATIONSHIPWITHUWC
table at UWC in July 1976 andspoketous aboutthe significance of Soweto, doing so partlyinAfrikaans, it was asmall but important stepinreclaiming Afrikaans,” Willemse wrote.
‘SPARKLINGANDDYNAMICWITH UNSURPASSABLEORATORIALPOWER’
He described Boesak as “sparklingand dynamic with unsurpassable oratorial power”, whodemonstrated thatAfrikaans could be spoken with conviction in the struggleagainst oppressionand for social justice.
According to Willemse Boesak gave theoretical substancetothe “black experience” and“black consciousness,” where “black” referrednot to skin colour but to aresistance identity prioritising self-respect, human dignity andsolidarity withthe oppressed.
The emeritus professor notedthatwhile Boesak’slifehad taken its course and his political career hadits challenges “the self-confidence he gave to an entire generation of young people can hardly be overestimated.”
Boesak, who recently turned 80, is internationally respected as atheologian.
RENAMINGINITIATIVECALLS FORSUPPORT
TMoSA is callingfor supporters to formally submit their commitment via email to clyder008@gmail.com, representing themselves andtheir organisations in backing the renaming proposal.
The foundation frames the renaming as grounded in “demonstrable, measurable influence” including mentorship, critical discoursefacilitation, civic consciousness fostering, and advancement of social justice scholarship.
Traffickedvictimsfinallyspeakout
“YDESIRÉERORKE
ou are not human,you aremoney-making machines.”
These werethe words two men from Cape Town encountered upon arrivingataCambodian scam centre. The two men, aged 19 and 30 and related to one another, were among eight people fromKraaifonteinwho were trafficked to Cambodia last year. In asit-down with TygerBurger, they could finally share their harrowing experience following the arrest of two alleged recruiters by the Hawks in Kraaifontein last week. The younger man was only 18 and had just completed matric when he was recruited.
THELUREOFFALSEPROMISES
Desperate for employment, he saw an advertisement on social media —“call centre agents needed for acompany in Thailand,all expenses paid, salary $400 plus commission, accommodation included”. The other man was unemployed with ayoung family to support. “I had just started my life, and this looked likeagolden opportunity to go overseas, save some money, and return to South
UNEMPLOYED LUREDTOHELL WITH FALSE PROMISESOFOVERSEAS WORK
Africa to buy ahouse for my family. It would have been our chance to make abetterlife in a country wherethere are very few opportunities forus,”hesays
The18-year-old applied firstand departed the country,with his older family member following four monthslater.
“After we completed the applications, ourair tickets were paid for andeverything seemed aboveboard. Inever would have guessed thatIwas being trafficked.”
UponarrivalinBangkok, Thailand, he wasallowed throughthe Thaiborder on atouristvisabefore entering Cambodia on abusiness visa. “I wasthen transported in avan andtravelled forabout 10 hours to the compound. This is where I started getting suspicious for the firsttime.”
After arrival, hispassport wastaken and his movements restricted. He was, however, able to track down his family member at the compound
Themen worked 12 to 13-hour shifts per day and were given
only onefreemeal daily. “We scammed people every day. One day Iscammed someoneout of R1,8million and was paid about $400. Ifelt very bad aboutthis but would repent at the end of each day.”
Theyounger man says he was often shouted at andbelittled by guards if they did not meet their targets, andwas forcedtowrite out telephone scripts 50 times. They were paid in cash, andthe money could be banked at an onsite facility that made electronic transfers to their South African bank accounts.
The food consisted of rice, noodles, and strange meats“like snakeand frogs”.The mensay therewerepeople from mostly very poor countries acrossthe world, manyofwhomchoseto stayand work for the money to send to their families.
“Therewerepeople from all over Africa, and from India, Pakistan, Brazil, andIndonesia We sawelderly people andyoung children and heard horrible storiesofviolence and abuse.”
THERESCUE
After afew weeks, the older man summoned the courage to callfor help from his family in South Africa, who lodged acase with police.
It was amessage to his brother in America that set theirrescue in motion. “My brother put us in contact with an American senator who in turnput us in contact with immigration police in Cambodia. After contacting them, they asked if we were beingheld captive and requested us to send them our location.”
Shortly afterwards, they were collected by immigration police and taken to apolice station wherethey were kept in cells
for two weeks.“Here too we had to sleep on thinmattresses on the floor and received only one meal per day consisting of rice and pork.” Thetwo accused, Adam Douglas (44) and his wife Yolanda Douglas (50),appeared before the Bellville Magistrates’ Court last Monday on charges of contravention of trafficking in persons. The case was postponed to 26 February for abail application that is still ongoing. National Spokesperson Authority (NPA) spokesperson in the Western Cape, Eric Ntabazalila said the NPA is opposing bail as the matter is aSchedule 5offence. If found guilty, the couple face life imprisonment
Hundreds of thousandsofpeoplehavebeen trafficked to Southeast Asia.
Babyfoods‘mislabeled’
Baby food manufacturers are widely violating South African health regulations designed to protect breastfeeding and prevent misleading marketing to parents, according to new research from the University of the Western Cape.
The study, conducted by dietician and researcher Aneeqah Latief, examined 266baby food products in Cape Town supermarkets and found significant non-compliance with Regulation 991 (R991) of 2012 —anational health regulation that restricts aggressive advertising and promotion of infant formula, cereals and juices.
Latief’s research revealed that many productsfeatured frontof-pack marketing specifically designed to attract parents, including health claims, catchy phrases, expert endorsements and digital links to manufacturers Some products boasted claims such as “reduced sweetness… contains iron”, “no added starch”, “no added salt/sugar, no preservatives”, “gluten-free”, and
STUDYFINDSBABYFOOD MANUFACTURERS FLOUTNATIONALREGULATIONS
parents have trusted ourinfant cereals to provide just what their babies need”.
MISSINGHEALTHWARNINGS
Despite regulations requiring complementary foods to carry clearhealth warnings, compliance waspoor.The mandatorywarning against feeding infants undersix months wasmissing from thefront packagingof23,2% of baby cereals
Only4,8% of puréed products included guidancetointroduce variety of foodsfromsix months alongsidebreast milk
Theresearch alsofound misleading pictorial representations, with fruitflavoured productsdepicting fresh fruit despitecontaining only fruit flavourings, concentrates,pulps anddehydrated fruit ratherthan freshingredients. Regulation991, issued under
practices andhealth or medicinal claims on baby food products.
HEALTHIMPLICATIONS
Latiefwarned thatnon-compliant labellingand marketing could have seriousconsequences forinfant health.
“If labellingormarketing does not fully complywith regulations, it can misleadparents about nutritional quality, influence early feeding practices, undermine breastfeedingpromotion efforts, and affect infantand young child health outcomes,” she said.
Experts cite aggressive formulamarketingand cultural misconceptions as key reasons for SouthAfrica’s poor breastfeeding rates, which contribute to the country’s malnutritionand obesity challenges
The study raisesquestions about regulatory enforcementand the
Arts council opens major grant funding call
The National Arts Council of South Africa (NAC) has launched its2026–’27 Annual Project Funding Call, inviting creatives and organisations across the country to apply for grants of up to R350 000.
The call, which opened on Sunday 2February, covers seven disciplines: craft, dance, literature, music, theatre and musical theatre, visual arts, and multidisciplinary projects. Applications close on Thursday 13 March at 23:59. Successful applicants will be notified on Thursday 29 May.
Projects must address at least two of six critical focus areas, including social cohesion and nation building, support for marginalised and indigenous arts, addressing social ills, supporting vulnerable groups, promoting new works and digital arts, and building capacity in arts
entrepreneurship. Theinitiative is open to individual artists, registered arts organisations, and community art centres. Only one application per organisation or individual each.
Applicants can register and submit theirproposals through the Grant Management System (GMS) portal at https://nac. praxisgms.co.za.
Applications are also available on request via email at info@nac.org.za.
Projects involving children or young people must include appropriate safeguarding documentation, including police clearance certificates and parental consent where applicable. . Forenquiries,applicantscan contact theNAC on 011010 8886, via WhatsAppon060 7915555, or by emailatinfo@nac.org.za
Kommentaar // Comments
LEWENSKIEKIE
THINKING OUTLOUD
We must rebuild safer communities forchildren
Ilook at young people todayand Icannot helpbut feel slightly sorry for them
Iamaproud millennial. Partofthe last generation to experience achildhood balanced between freedom and technology, between scraped knees and dial-up internet, between real-worldadventure andthe digital revolution that was still finding its feet
We were the bridgegeneration.
We knew life before the internet —and we witnessed its arrival.
We remember when boredom sparked creativity,not scrolling. When the streetlights flicking on at dusk wereour only curfew.
You would play in the roaduntil the sky turned orange, too scared to run homefor supperbecause once you stepped inside, that was it, you were in for the night.
We were scolded, but tomorrow, after school, it was the same case scenario.
There were no WhatsApp groups arranging playdates, no location sharing, no TikTok trends dictating how to have fun.
walking to the shop, heading to school, playing in their own backyard.
The very spacesthatoncedefined childhood freedomhave become sources of anxiety. Where we once worried about being shoutedatfor cominghome late, today’sparents worry aboutwhether their children will come home at all.
Thisisnot nostalgia speaking; it is grief for whathas been lost.
We oftenhear debates aboutgenerational resilience, aboutwhether millennials were tougher, or whether today’s youth are moreaware, more emotionally intelligent, moredigitally-skilled.
Perhaps every generationromanticises itsown upbringing. But what cannot be romanticised is safety.
Freedomrequires safety. Community requiressafety.
CHILDRENTODAYARE NOTWEAKER;THEYARE CONSTRAINED
There were bicycles, cricket in the street, hide-and-seek, and the unquestioned assumption thatoutside waswhere childhood belonged.
If we were insidethe housefor too long our parents would demand we play outside.
Children today will sadly never know that version of freedom.
The internet is not the villain. It has brought innovation, connection and opportunity. But it has also replaced something irreplaceable: unstructured, unsupervised, real-world play.
Today’schildren are growing up in a world where entertainment isstreamed, friendships are curated online, andsilence is filled by ascreen.
Their memories willbecloud-backed,not grass-stained
Theshift indoors is not only cultural, it is driven by fear. Crime has become so prevalent that many parents cannot allow their children to roam freely.
For too many families, tragedy has struck during themost ordinary routines:
Childhood requires safety. Andhere lies theuncomfortable truth: we are failingto prioritise it.
Billions are spent on state entitiesplagued by mismanagement and inefficiency,while neighbourhood parks decay and community sports facilities remain underdeveloped or unsafe. Instead of investingmeaningfully in secure public spacesinwell-lit fields, maintained playgrounds, accessible after-school sport programmes funds are toooften mismanaged.
We speakabout youth empowerment while neglectingthe environments that allowyoungpeople to grow confidently andsocially.
Millennials grewupoutdoors not becausewewere braver, but because the world around us felt more accessible Children today are notweaker; they are constrained.
The tragedyisnot thatthey will never know life before theinternet. It is that they maynever knowlife beyond their front gates. If we careabout the next generation,the goal should notbeto recreatethe 90s, but to build safe spaces where children can rediscoverfreedom, where parents can exhale, where play can spill intostreets, andwhere childhood is notdefined by fear.
-KAYLYNNE BANTOM
Seilbotevertrek vanaf die KaapstadsehawenaMykonosvir die jaarlikseregatta. FOTO:CHRISTA ROSSOUW
Informationsessionsonborerbeetle
Sandfungicides have notproven effective at eradicatingPSHB from infected trees. Therefore, infestedtree or plant material has to be chipped, incinerated or solarised,”Andrews urged.
MORETHAN6000TREESAFFECTED
To date, PSHB hasbeen confirmed in over6000 trees acrossthe City in the following areas:SomersetWest, Strand, Penhill, Newlands, Constantia, Rondebosch, Observatory, Mowbray, Rosebank, Claremont, Kenilworth,Wynberg, Diep River, Pinelands, Durbanville, Brackenfell, Kraaifontein, Bellville, Parow North, CBD and Hout Bay.
Amongthe trees affected were boxelders, London planes, English oaks, beefwood, weeping willow, Cape chestnut, black locust, paperbark andmaple trees
Information sessions were already held in HoutBay andin FaureinFebruary.
INFORMATIONSESSIONS
. The nextinformation session was to be held in Brackenfell on Tuesday2Marchfrom 15:30 to 17:30 at Brackenfell Library in Paradys Street, Brackenfell;
. An information session will be heldinBellville on Friday 6March from 09:30 to 12:00 at Bellville Library auditorium in Carl van Aswegrn Street, Bellville;
. Information sessions will be heldinDurbanville on Thursday 12 Marchfrom 17:30 to 19:30 and
Beachdaysfor wagging tails
The MdzanandaAnimal Clinicand Shelter in Khayelitsha recently announced “Wags andWaves”, monthly beach outings where the public is invited to walk, play andsocialise with shelter dogs in need of homes.
The initiativeaddresses twocommunity needs simultaneously: providing enrichment forshelter animals while offering pet interaction opportunities for people who cannot own animals due to living circumstances or thosesimply seeking companionship.
“The eventsare verybeneficial forthe dogsasitallows them time out of their shelter kennelsand good stimulation,” explained Marcelle du Plessis, spokespersonatMdzananda. “They also getmore human contact which helpsthem feel loved.”
NEXTEVENTATMILNERTONBEACH
The shelter’s first beach daytook place at FishHoek Beach recently,with volunteers and dog lovers spending the morning with the animals. The next event is scheduled for Saturday 21 March at Milnerton Beach, running from10:00 to 13:00.
For many residents, the programme offers auniquesolutiontopet loneliness. With apartment living and rental restrictions often preventingpet ownership, Wags andWavesprovidesan opportunity to experience the therapeutic benefits of animal interaction without the long-term commitment.
“We would like to invite all dog lovers to join us for afun morning outtomake a difference in the lives of ourshelter dogs,” saidDuPlessis.
The initiative comesasMdzananda celebrates threedecadesofserving animalsinKhayelitsha.
The organisation provides veterinary healthcare, sterilisations, mobile clinics andoperatesananimal ambulance service, helpingapproximately 1500 animalsmonthly. Theshelter hasbuilt its reputation on community inclusion, empowermentand education programmes.
Beyond offering animals abreak from kennel life, the beachdays serve as informal adoption events, givingpotential pet owners achance to meet andbond withanimals in arelaxed, naturalsetting. . Contactinfo@mdzananda.co.za formore information.
on Thursday 16 April from 17:30 to 19:30 at Durbanville Library on thecorner of Oxfordand Koeberg Road, Durbanville.
KEYPOINTS
The City will focus on the protocols applicable to infested trees and biomass, among which how to identify infested trees and what symptoms to look out for; what to do and what not to do; how to handle infested biomass; how to safely dispose of infested biomass; how to transport green waste and how to handle equipment and machinery in a manner that will not spread the pest to other areas.
SYMPTOMSOFAFFECTEDTREES
Residents should look out for the following symptoms of infestedtrees:
. Branch dieback —crackson the branch; discoloured leaves; dry and leafless branches; branch break-off revealing webs of galleries filled with black fungus; . Gumming —blobs of goo coming out of the bark; oozing of liquid and gum from the beetle holes;
. Entry and exit holes —very small holes on the barkofthe tree (the size of asesame seed of about 2mm);shotgun-like scars developing around the holes; . Staining —brown or dark stains on the barkofthe tree. . PSHB beetle sightings must be reported online at www.capetown. gov.za/InvasiveSpecies,callthe CityofCapeTown’sinvasivespecies unit on 021444 2357 from Monday to Friday from 07:30to16:00, or send andemailtoinvasive.species@ capetown.gov.za.
Branch break-offsrevealwebsofgalleries filledwith black fungus.
Shotholeborer beetles pose aserious threat to Cape Town’surban forestsand biodiversity.
KykK nJ
Draculaproduction on stage
illpresent afull-length ader's Dracula at Artscape from DavidNixon's acclaimed audiences interim artisticdirector of n2023, returns to direct this musicbyAlfred Schnittke, Arvo noff andMichael Daugherty. iginally created Dracula in 1999 ssince become one of his iveballets owsthe classic vampiretale d, whereyoung solicitor stoTransylvaniafor Count ealingsinLondon. What nsaction unfolds intoa aturing female vampires and and evil.
OREOGRAPHY ageand costume design rkingwithlocal lighting ien. TheBritish Theatre ibed Nixon's choreography sedits abilitytocapture the etween characters. kwithCTCBfor this season "My time in Cape Town was iththe companyand am in workingwiththe dancers." enewedinternational attennBallet's2019 production,
which wasfilmed forcinema screeningsacross Europe andlater broadcastonBBC Four TracyLi, artisticmanagerofCTCB, said the productionallowsdancers "toexplorebothraw physicalityand intensestorytelling."
Theproductionisrated PG12. Tickets rangefrom R180 to R450 . Book at Webtickets or theArtscapebox office on 021421 7695
Konsertten bate vanballetmeester
BellvilleDance Academybied op Sondag15Maart om 15:30’nspesiale galavertoninggenaamd Legacy by die DF Akademie aan.
Dievertoningisten bate vandr. Eduard Greyling,gerespekteerde danseur noble,choreoloog en beskermheer vandie Cecchetti-vereniging van SuidelikeAfrika
Greyling se merkwaardigebydrae totballetinSuid-Afrika,insluitend sy gevierde dansvennootskap met die legendariesePhyllisSpira, het ’n blywende indruk op generasies vansowel dansers as gehoregelaat.
Hierdie innigeeerbetoon sluit vertonings deur die Kaapstad-stadsballet,Cape Ballet Africa,Figureof 8DanceTheatre,Bellville Dance AcademyenJennifer Klipfel School of Ballet,in. Ander gaskunstenaars sluit in die pianis Pieter vanZyl,fluitspeler Liesl Stoltz,sopraanMinette du ToitPearce,skrywer Rachelle Greeff en die gasspreker prof.Elizabeth Triegaardt Greyling het as 12-jarigemet danslessebyJennifer Louw in Bellville begin.Hyhet in 1965 aandie (toe nog) Hoërskool DF Malan gematrikuleer
DAGBOEK /DIARY
. Beyond Breath, 'n galakonsert,vind op Woensdag4Maart in dieEndler-saal in Stellenbosch plaas. Gareth McLearnon (Ierse fluitspeler), Cobus du Toit en Nina Schumann (pianis) tree saam met’nprofessionelefluitensembleop. Dieprogram sluit diepremière van’nnuwefluittrio deur diegevierde komponisHendrik Hofmeyr in. Kaartjies by Webtickets.
. Meraki DanceFestival runs at Artscape untilSaturday7 March. Ticketsat Webtickets
. Juan Boucher is op Woensdag4 Maartom20:00 by Kapstadt Brauhaus Durbanville.Kaartjies kosvanafR185 by Quicket
. JonathanRoxmouth's Keychange runs at Theatreonthe Bayfrom4 to 28 March. Eveningsat20:00 and Saturdays also at 15:00.Ticketsat Webtickets.
. Nataniël bring sy nuwevertoning Sooibrand vanDonderdag5tot Sondag 8Maart na dieDrostdy-teaterin Stellenbosch. Kaartjies beskikbaarby
Die opbrengssal aangewend word om Greyling se mediesekostestehelp dek.
Komvier ’n merkwaardigenalatenskap . Kaartjieskos R250 en is by Quicketenbydie deur beskikbaar PhyllisSpira en Eduard Greyling
Webtickets.
. TheKingdom of Ubuntu –The MusicalinConcert is at Artscape on Friday6 and Saturday7 March at 19:30.Tickets R150toR300 at Webtickets. . Die country-groepWest komtree op Saterdag 7Maart om 19:00 in die Kraaifontein-stadsaal op.Kaartjies kos vanafR190 by Open Tickets.
. MatthewMole is at the Kirstenbosch Summer Concert on Sunday 8March at 17:15.Ticketsare R360 or R255 (age 6-21). Book at Webtickets.
. Mark Haze:Masters of Rock is at KapstadtBrauhaus BloubergonThursday 12 March at 20:00.TicketsfromR200 at Quicket
. Die Piesangskille is op Vrydag 13 Maart om 20:00 by Kapstadt Brauhaus Durbanville.Kaartjies kosvanafR200 by Quicket
. Legacy,a benefit gala forEduard Greyling, is at DF Akademie on Sunday 15 March at 15:30.TicketsfromR250 at Quicket
. Thandiswa Mazwa is at the KirstenboschSummer Concert on Sunday 15 March at 17:15.Ticketsare R360 or R255 (age 6-21). Book at Webtickets.
Cape Town CityBalletprincipalsKirstél Paterson and Leusson Muniz. PHOTO: LINDSEY APPOLIS
ffer Validfrom 4March -8March 2026.
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