TygerBurger | Mitchells Plain | E-edition | 20 May 2026
VIDEOLEADS TO BOOSTINHOTBAGSALES
WOENSDAG20MEI
. Die TygerbergTuin- en Blommeklub kombyeen by dieNGkerkParow Welgelegen (LaProvencestraat 47,Welgelegen) om 09:30vir 10:00. Diesprekersis Althea Higham, wat'nparallel-demonstrasie sal doen,enMarco Moorsvan Lowensvlei-blomplaas, watoor snyblommesal praat. Dietema vandie blommekunskompetisie is “Elegansie”. Kontak Beatrix Lambert-Bestbier by 082873 9864 virmeer inligting of metnavrae.
. GerdaTaljaardseboek Diegrafdigter word deur dr Dorotheavan Zylbespreekop'nbyeenkoms vandie Durbell-leeskring.Dit beginom10:00 in dieDurbanille-biblioteeksaalinOxfordstraat.Almal is welkom Ledegeld beloop R220 per jaar vir negebyeenkomste. Besoekers betaalR50 perkeer. Rignavraeaan Liz van Wykby082 655 8061.
TUESDAY26MAY
. TheEgyptian Society of South Africa willbehaving their next meetingatStGeorge's Grammarschool RichmondRoad, Mowbray,from19:30.The guest speaker, IanDouglas, willpresent alecture titled: “Gizaand theBig DipperCorrelation”.There is no hargefor members, whileitcosts R30for visitors. Refreshments R10.Booking is not necessary.There is secure parking in the schoolgrounds.For moreinformation on the event,call021 8527273or 084 7743972.
THURSDAY28MAY
. Theimportanceand challenges of agriculturein SouthAfrica—specificallyinthe WesternCape— will be discussed at the annual meeting of Durbanville Business. JannieStrydom,chief executiveofficerof AgriWestern Cape,and Aubrey Terblanche,managing directorofGideonMilling,willleadthe discussion. The meeting willstart at 18:00 at Stone Shed in Adderley Road,Durbanville.EntranceisR100 formembersand associatemembers, and R220 fornon-members, including dinner and drinks. Confirm attendanceat info@durbanvillesakekamer.co.za
. TheR5booksaleatthe Durbanville Children’s Homewilltakeplace from Thursday 28 Mayto Saturday 30 May. Thesalewillbepresented at the reception area on Thursday and Fridayfrom09:00 to 15:00 and Saturday 30 Mayfrom09:00 to 13:00. CDs,DVDsand books,including children’sbooks and coffee-table books, willbeonsale. Bring your own bags or boxes. Card facilitieswillbeavailable
VRYDAG29MEI
. Die NG kerk Sonstraalhou basaar vanaf12:00 by die kerk op die hoekvan Hebron- en Tulipstraatin AmandaGlen, Durbanville.Bring joufamilie en vriende en komgenietjou Vrydagaandete in diegeselligheid vandie kuiertent.Trakteerjouself op produkte en heerlikeetesby'nverskeidenheidstalletjies —van 'n witolifanttafel, boeke, naaldwerk,kinderaktiwiteite, lekkergoed,plaasprodukte en gebaktot koffie, braaivleis,jaffels, roosterkoek, hamburgers,potjiekos en pannekoek.Kontak Belinda by kommunikasie@ sonstraal.org.zaof021 9761236 metnavrae.
SATURDAY30MAY
. TheDianna JacksonFoundationwillhosta CommunityMarket Dayfrom10:00 to 15:00 at the Summer Greens Community Centre, 22 TinkersRoad, Summer Greens. Theevent will featurelocal vendors, food stalls,handmade crafts, fashion, musicand family-friendlyentertainment.For moreinformation aboutthe market day, contact CJ Jacksonon072 830 1966 (WhatsApp)
. Die Alta du Toit-sentrumbied'ngala-eteom18:30 by Lincolnstraat 80,Boston, Bellville,aan.Gastekan uitsien na 'n driegang-ete,lewendigevermaak en 'n veiling, asook 'n geheime geskenk. Die bekende seremoniemeesterAnrich Herbst salversekerdat alles vlot en gesellig verloop. Kaartjiesisbeskikbaar teen R850 perpersoon. Bespreekper e-posnadonation@ altadutoit.org.za.
SUNDAY31MAY
. Discoverthe hidden secretsand relics of an abandonedWW2 Military BaseinLlandudno,during aspecial “TOP SECRET” Heritage Tunneland Bunker Tour forTourism Month. Thetrail starts at the bigGun inApostlesBattery Llandudno at 10:30, and willend in thesamespot. Explorersneedtobewalking fit,as there aresteps and obstaclestohurdleand laddersto climb. Childrenneedtobeaccompanied by an adult. Space is limited to 20.Ticketsare R295 per person. Email Matta at mattweisse@mweb.co.za to book or formoreinformation.
TUESDAY2JUNE
. FCDSkills Centre’spopular pop-up sale fundraiser is back —combining bargainshopping with abigger purpose—2to5 June at the Durbanville Town Hall. Thesalewillbeopen on 2June from 11:00 to 18:00, on 3and 4Junefrom08:30 to 17:30, and on 5June from08:30to13:30.The four-day sale raises funds forFCD’s sponsoredskillsprogrammesthat equip unemployedindividuals, especiallyyouth,toenter the job marketorstart amicroenterprise.
SPCAcracks downonfakevet
The SPCA was alerted to aman’s illegal veterinary practice after he sutured agunshot woundona dog’s face.
Police spokespersonConst Ndakhe Gwala said the SPCA investigated the man after the dog’s ownerhad taken her to the association for follow-up care.
SEQUENCEOFEVENTS
About fourmonthsago the suspect treated adog that had been shot by stitchingthe wound on the animal’s face and injectingit. Thedog’s owner latertook her to the SPCA, where bullet fragments were discovered in the sutured wound and subsequently removed.
The SPCA received further complaints about animals being treated by the accused under deeply worrying conditions.
POLICEANDCOURTSINTERVENE
Inspector Jeffrey Mfiniofthe SPCA obtainedasearch warrant from the Mitchells PlainMagistrates’ Courtfor the fake vet’shouseinPortland. Theoperation was carriedout with theMitchells Plain police and Law Enforcement Animal Control Unit.
Duringthe search two American Bullytype dogs were foundkeptonchains and removed. Theconditionsinwhich they were kept now formedpart of the broader criminal investigation.
Gwalasaid theman was arrested at the scene. The SPCA said he was charged
FROMPAGE1
He turned to thearchive and the earliest reference he found was dated 13 February 1903; amortgage deed in which ason had inheritedhis father’s estate and, short of money, approachedthe bank to mortgage theland. Goingfurther back, Adams found areference dated 2May 1898, in whicha man withthe initials JA applied to theCape Divisionfor Crown land, statinghealready owned Mitchells Plain and aneighbouring plot and wanted to buythe stretchinbetween.
The family linkedtothe land has descendants alive todayand aroad in the area named in their honour.Yet, Adams said, their own family records showed no acknowledgement of the land, no farming history andnomentionofit, despite being proudofother landholdings in wealthier areas
Curiously, thename Mitchell is not linked to any of these families.
THEAPARTHEIDCONNECTION
Adams said this history of the land matters in the context of what followed. DistrictSix was declared awhites-only area in 1966. By 1970, four years into thebrutal evictions, the organs of the apartheid state had started planning what would become Mitchells Plain. A master development planfor the Cape Flatsappeared in the Cape Times on 25 March1969, with proposals for group areaproclamations acrossthe Hottentots HollandBasin.
“They makea point of saying that the nationalist, racist government needs betterpublic image,” Adams said. “So they need to frame themselves as not only agovernmentofdestruction but a government of positive stature.”
In 1973, he said, the apartheid government carried outwhat he describedasits biggest land acquisition: appropiating —oftenwithout compensation —up183 separate plots to create Mitchells Plain. Some of the original farm namesstill live on in the area’s road and areanames today.
Aquestionthatstill puzzled him, Adams said, waswhy the apartheidgovernment, whichroutinely namedprojects after its leaders,never renamed the area.
WHOSESTORYISIT?
Adams sharedaquote from the celebrated architectwho designed the
DOG’S GUNSHOTWOUND LEADSTOARREST
under the Animals Protection Act 71 of 1962 for animal cruelty and under the Veterinary and Para-Veterinary Professions Act 19 of 1982 for allegedly performing veterinary procedures without being registered with the SouthAfrican Veterinary Council.
Several further investigations involving the accused are currently pending.
SPCACOMMENT
“This case highlights the extreme danger posed by individuals who falsely present themselves as qualified veterinary professionals,” the SPCA said. “Animals suffer tremendously when unqualified people perform procedures, administer medication or attempt medical treatment without the necessary qualifications, oversight or legal authority.”
Petowners have been urged to confirm that any vet or para-veterinary professional is properly registered with the SouthAfrican Veterinary Council before seeking treatment for their animals.
“This is not simply apaperwork issue. These laws exist to protect animals from pain, suffering, botched procedures and dangerous medical practices. When someone unlawfully practises as aveterinarian it is the animals that ultimately pay the price.”
houses of Mitchells Plain, aman who received anational honour for his work in 2005. In an interview with the Financial Mail,the architect had written: “If one has grave reservations about the concept of group areas enactments, mass housing schemes, and all they imply, why get involved at all?
“After alot of soul searching, I reasoned that the commission gave me the opportunity for suggesting an urban structure that might work. And aunique opportunity for the integration of unit and layout design in urban design terms. And that if only that wereachieved with some measure of success, it would justify the attempt.”
Adams said thisillustrated how those involved in building Mitchells Plain had, over the years, been able to distance themselves and theirlegacies from what residentsactually lived through. He also shared aquote from a1970 newspaper article about amunicipal official tasked with persuading people to move into the new houses. The official had worked through 9000 names on the council’s housing waiting list, singling out those with incomes above R200 who could be reached by phone.
“The atmosphere at thesemeetings can only be described as incredible,”Adams said, reading from the article.
Adams said his research spans 1903 to 1975 and urged thosepresent to look beyond the crime headlines.
“When we look at Mitchells Plain beyond the headlines, we need to really ask ourselves and reframe the narratives. From the history of the land, how do we reconcile that with the history of the people?” he said.
Nathan Adams speaks about his doctoralresearch.
Volunteerspreparesafetysoil
LAURENO’CONNOR-MAY
LAUREN.OCONNOR-MAY@NOVUSMEDIA.CO.ZA
Rocklands communitysafety volunteers met with wardcouncillor Ashley Potts, metro police, the policeand the Mitchells Plain Safety and Development Forum to map the area intosafety nodes.
Safety nodes form part of the Mitchells Plain Safetyand DevelopmentForum’s broaderstrategy for safer communities Forum secretary Oleander Oakes urged the groups at the meeting, on Thursday 14 May at Cedar High School Hall, not to operate outsidethe existing structure.
“We need to take hands. We can’twork separately,”she said.
MOVINGAHEAD
Oakes said the forum had planned to roll outthe safe space part of thestrategyat alater stage and encouragedthe group to engage with the plan through theirward councillors.
Theforum’s planhas been endorsed by the Western Cape Premier and the relevant Member of the Executive Council, and is backed by aR9000 000 government allocation. Five zones have beenearmarked as pilot areas,basedon crime figures for2024 and 2025: Montrose Mitchells Plain.
ORGANISEDCRIME,NOTGANGVIOLENCE
CouncillorKurtOliver attended notin his officialcapacitybut as aMitchells Plain resident who grewupinthe area and said his heart was with the community. He raised asharp concern abouthow
Rocklands neighbourhood watches meet to discuss safety nodes
“We needprobably R90 million for this project,” he said. “Let’smake sure we haveaprojectgoing, make asuccess of it so that thePremierand his team can makesurethatweget 90 million.”
CommunityChest calls forstorm relief donations
Businesses and non-profits have opened theirhearts and theirpockets to help disaster ravaged families.
Heavy storms have caused widespread damage in several areas of the province, leaving behind flooded roads, blocked drains, power outages and fallen trees
Hands and Feet 7de Laan, based in the Strandfontein informal settlement helped several families with roof repairs.
“Hands and Feet assisted five families with high-risk babies under six months old,”said Ward councillor Elton Jansen.
Meanwhile, in Rocklands, Ward 81 councillor Ashley Potts thanked Park Avenue Hardware, for donating sandbags while the Community Chest of the Western Cape has asked the public and businesses for support
Theorganisation is collecting food, blankets, clothing, toiletries and other basic essentials that can be dropped off at 82 Bree Street,Cape Town.
"Thescale of the disaster requires a united response. Every donation will help provide critical support to affected families," said PeterHeeger, CEO. Cash donations can be made directly into the organisation's bank account.
Workers at aColorado Park-based call centre say theywentwithout pay after completing afull month of work, and thattheir employer kept changing her reasons fornot payingthem.
On investigation the TygerBurger found thatneither the woman nor the company were registered with the National Credit Regulator (NCR).
THREEMOVESINONEMONTH
The business, Debt Financial Solutions, which advertises on TikTok and has awebsite, offered services including debt removal, mediation, credit score improvement and the removalofnegative credit listings.
Workersprovided TygerBurger with the businessescontact numbers, adverts and the script they use when making calls to potential clients.
According to workers, theoperation relocatedthree times in asingle month. Most recently, staffwere moved from Highlands Drive into agarage in Colorado Park. Their employer, known to workers only as Auntie Martha, promised it would be temporary and that proper premises would soon be found.
Conditions in the garage werepoor. Workers say they could not flush the toilets properly and had to use buckets of washing water to do so. They werealso unable to use thekitchen or accesswater freely to cleantheir workstations.
TRAINING,PROBATIONANDWORK BUTNOPAY
One worker, who spoke to TygerBurger on condition of anonymity, said she joined the business about two months ago and was told the first two weeks would be for training and the following two weeks for probation, with no pay for either period. For the following month, workers were told their basic salary would be R3 000, with additional commission
WORKERS SAY EMPLOYER HASNOTHING BUT EXCUSESWHEN IT COMES TO PAYING EMPLOYEES
PAYDAYPOSTPONED, THENCANCELLED
On Thursday 30 April, workers were told they wouldnot be paid because Friday 1 May,was apublic holiday andthe money could notbeprocessed. They were asked to wait until Monday.
Then, on Sunday evening 3May, a message arrivedsayingthere was no money atall.
Workersclaim the employer said she had hadtopay her lawyers, Wi-Fi costs and leads forthe dialling system. Additionally, workers were alsotold R1 000 wouldbe deducted from their pay for transport between their location andColorado.
As of Sunday 12 May, workershad still notbeen paid andhad been given the following day as the new paydate.
One workersays she wasnever given apayslip or aletter confirming her employment, despite asking for these. She saidher employerresponded by asking why she needed them.
APOSSIBLEPATTERN
Those familiarwiththe matter believe thismay not be the first time it has happened.
They saythe employer appears to recruit staff,use their work for amonth or two, andthen let them go without pay. A paystructure rangingfrom R0 to R3 000 depending on sales, they say, makes it easytoclaim workers did notmeet their targets andtherefore earned nothingas the employer’s position was: “Nosales, no pay.”
Another worker, who worked for a different company for afullmonth, without pay, said he toohad the same experience.
“It just seems like all those places are actually just scams,even if they are registered,”hesaid.
The man claims that the company showed theworkers registration papers butnoneofthe sales peopleever made enough salestoqualify for payment, whichwas entirely commission based.
He said many of the leads phoned also complained thatthey hadbeen scammed by similar companies before.
“They would say that they didthis before but even when the debt is paid up,they’restill paying.Oralot of times thedebtdoesn’t even getpaid, so they’re payingthe debt collectors or the debt review people,but their accounts are not gettingpaid. Most of the contracts are for 24-monthsbut after 24 months there’sstill money comingoff the accounts and it’s impossible to stop.”
MUSTBEREGISTEREDBYLAW
Workers saytheywere under the impression that Debt Financial Solutions was registeredwith the NCR, based on information they were shown. Under Section 44(2) of theNational CreditAct, no person may offer or carry out the services of adebtcounsellorunless registered with theNCR.
Operating withoutregistration is an offence and can result in afine or imprisonment of up to 12 months
MARTHARESPONDS
TygerBurger contacted Martha posing as apotentialclient. Initially she claimed that shewas adebt relief counsellor until thereporter askedfor her surname.
She insisted it was not relevant.When asked whether she was registered as a debt counsellor —sothat her details could be verified —she denied running adebt relief company.
TygerBurger did however check on the NCR website, using her first name, if she was registered. According to the site, none of the Marthas that are registered operated in Mitchells Plain. Theonly registered debt counsellor named Martha operating in the City was based in Bothasigand the company was registered under a completely different name.
TIKTOKADVERTS
TygerBurger also called the numbers provided for Debt Financial Solutions on its TikTok advert.
An employee answered and when TygerBurger asked for the NCR registration number someone by the name of Tashriq took over the call.
Tashriq said he would not provide the registration number over the phone but insisted that the company was registered. When the TygerBurger pointed out that registration information was partofthe public record and that the company was not registered on the NCRwebsite he said that he would only show the reporter the registration number in person. When TygerBurger tried to record the call, he hung up.
OPENACASE,POLICEADVISE
Police spokesperson, Capt FC van Wyk, advised that the workersopen a criminal case so that the matter could be investigated.
Avideo shared by astaff member of the Children’s Resource Centre (CRC) has setoff an unexpected rush of orders for the organisation’s hotbag.
Josephine de Klerk, atrainer and facilitator at the Children’s Resource Centre, which runs programmes to upskill and educate youth all over the country, said the centre’s staff are battling to meetthe demand for the sudden influx of orders.
“We have people in theorganisation that would sell the hotbags for an extra R50, and they get that R50 to buy breador whatever,because in terms ofour salary status at the moment, it is not agood situation,”saysDeKlerk.
The uptick in sales has helped to boostthe organisation, which hasbeen struggling withfinances over the lastfew years.
FUNDSRUNNINGLOW
De Klerk saysthe 40-year-old organisation had to sell the beautiful building which had been donated to them because funds were so low. The building in Rondebosch is now home to The Museum of Childhood.
Since then the national organisation, which has about 20 projects in ruralareas andinformalsettlementsall over the country, has been using co-ops and sales from itssewing projects to keep it afloat. Staffformed acooperative, with each member contributing R50 to ashared fund Profits are not taken as individual salaries butare pooled to buy materials orused to coversmall shared costs such asdata and otheressentials.
“We never had to worry or stressabout
Mobile pet clinic times
Strandfonteinresidents now have access to mobile pet healthcare services from two organisations. The SPCA has been running amobile clinic in the area for many years, and has recentlybeen joined by the Animal Rescue Organisation(ARO), which has expanded its mobile clinicinto the area.
Ward councillor Elton Jansen announced the change on his WhatsApp channel.
AROCLINIC
The ARO mobile clinic will visit StrandfonteinonMondays and Wednesdays from 13:00:00 to 14:00, parking in the field opposite thelibraryon WelgelegenAvenue.
Servicesinclude: . vaccinations; . deworming; . tick and fleatreatment and . sterilisation.
Pet owners are encouraged to speakto the team about their animals' healthcare needs.
The clinic also visits Strandfontein surrounding suburbsfor most of the rest of the week.
Tuesday: . 10:00 –11:00: Portland Indoor Centre parking area, Hazeldene Avenue, Portland . 13:00 –14:00: Corner of Oystercatcher and Sandgrouse Road, PelicanPark
Thursday: . 10:00–11:00: Portland Indoor Centre parking area, Hazeldene Avenue, Portland . 13:00 –14:00: Corner of Oystercatcher and Sandgrouse Road, Pelican Park
SPCAMOBILECLINIC
Additionally, the SPCA hasbeen bringing its mobile clinic to the area for many years. The van is at the Blou Dakke, outside Emmanuel Pet Shop, corner of Church and Dennegeur Street, every Thursday from 14:00 to 15:00.
wing ix-step model, children learn to spot problems in their communities and findtheir own solutions —turning them into active participants in community life.
HOWTHEHOTBAGWORKS
The hotbag —a simple,insulated cookingbag that lets food carry on cookingafter it hasbeen removedfrom the stoveorfire —ismade by hand by the organisation’s members. The insulation retainsthe heatand allows the food to finish cooking without electricity or gas. Ademonstration carried outbythe CRCfounda26% saving in electricity comparedwith cookingonthe stove
The surge in demandhas become aboon for thenonprofit, which hasseen hotbag salesboosting the fundingfor its projects.
bring capacity. For now, each hotbag sold also allows resellers to earn asmall additional amountofaround R50, spreading the benefit furtherinto the community.
MOVEMENTTHATREACHESACROSSTCOUNTRY
STAYINGTHECOURSE
Despite the challenges of the pastfew years, the CRC remains committed to its founding belief that children, when given the tools and the space to organise, can drive real change in theircommunities. Theunexpected boost from social media has offered areminder that small, community-made products can find awide audience —and that abag of warmair might just help keep a40-year-old dream alive.
Each of the CRC”s groups across South Africa, hostabout 30 children and are runbychildren themselves,withelected coordinators —one boy and one girl overseeing each programme theme. Alongside the hotbag, the CRCruns a Girl Child Feminine Hygiene Management programme that produces reusable, washable sanitary towels. Theproduct has been approved for government procurement and hasbeen included in sanitary packsdistributed to underresourced communities. The organisation is now preparing to launch this as astandalone Girl Child movement.
There is something almost theatricalabout the weather in Cape Town. It doesn’t simply change —itperforms, complete with dramatic lighting, sound effects, and just enough chaos to make everyone briefly question their life choices.
For 48 hours, the city is pushed through an entire weathersystem with verylittle warning.
Gale-force winds arrive first, pushing rain sideways across roads and turning visibility intoagrey blur.Then come the floods, the icy bite in the air, andthe constant roar of wind that makes even solid buildings feel slightly less confident than usual. And then there are the trees. Not just swaying —but uprooted. Entire trees are tornout by their roots, collapsing across roads and open spaces like nature briefly losing an argument with gravity. People don’t talk about “badweather”so much as they talkabout getting through it —waiting for the next gust, the next downpour, the next reminder that the storm is still very much in charge. Then, just as suddenly as it arrived,it stops performing.
The wind drops itsintensity. The rain slows. Apatch of blue appears in the sky like someone testing the lighting system And then, almost without ceremony,the storm is gone. And this is where things get truly CapeTown. Because Cape Town has avery specific post-storm personality: complete denial.
THESTORMDOESN’T FADEAWAY—ITGETS SOCIALLYIGNORED.
Within hours, the same city thatwas dealingwith uprooted trees,flooded roads andflying debris begins behaving as if nothing remotely dramaticjust happened
As if the previous 48 hours were just a slightly intense dream everyone agreed not to talk about. It is almostimpressive The storm doesn’t fade away —itgets socially ignored. One moment residents are navigating blocked roads and dodging fallen branches. The next, they are discussing weekend plans infull sunlight, with the confidenceofpeople who did not just survive what can only be describedas nature’s aggressive reminder. Lion's Head suddenly becomes apopular suggestion again, as if it wasn’tjust partially hidden behind horizontal rain a day earlier.The coastline follows the same pattern. Beaches refill quickly, even if the sand is still damp and the oceanhasn’t fullyrecovered from itsown moodswing Jackets disappear. Sunglasses return. Iced drinks are ordered with surprising optimism.
Coffee shops reopen their outdoorseating like nothinghappened. Conversations shift from “Did you see that tree comedown”? to “Whatabeautiful day forawalk”. Andthat is the most Cape Town thing of all —not the storm itself, but the speed at which it is mentally deleted.
And yet, within aday or two, it is treated as adistant inconvenience —something that almost happened in another version of the city. Almost like it triedtodo serious damage… and the city politely decided not to remember it thatway
That is thestrange rhythmoflife in Cape Town:extreme weather followed immediately by extreme optimism No slow recovery. No lingering drama. Just areboot. And by Wednesday morning, the same people who were dodging uprooted trees and sandbagging their driveways were posting sunrise selfies from Bloubergstrand beach, acting like the last 48 hours didn’t try to kill us —just briefly interruptedthe weather forecast.
-KAILINDANIELS
Kommentaar // Comments
NEWERA FORSANAVY: Captain ZaneleMadibamade history at NavalBaseSimon’sTownasthe firstwoman to command aValourClass Frigateduring theSAS AmatolaChangeofCommand Parade on Thursday14May.The ceremonymarked the transferofleadership of SASAmatolaand SASKINGShakaZulu,attended by senior navalofficialsand defencerepresentatives.Madiba’sappointmentwas hailed as amajor milestone in thetransformation of the South African Navy.Pictured theSA Navy sailors saluting their Outgoing OfficerCommanding of SASAmatola,Captain Dieter Jones,asasign of respect during theceremony
