TygerBurger MitchellsPlain E-Edition 22 Oktober 2025

SCourage forgedin flames

LAUREN O'CONNOR-MAY

LAUREN OCONNOR-MAY@NOVUSMEDIA CO ZA

outh Africa’s toughest woman firefighter alive, Baigum Abrahams, chose her profession after her home caught fire in her youth

“I was 20 or 21 years old, and I was with my son in the house, and the kitchen caught alight I woke up to the crackling sound of the fire,” the Strandfontein resident said

Abrahams said she fled the house with her son and watched as the firefighters arrived and took control of the blaze

“I just felt like the weight of the world wasn't on my shoulders I felt a massive sense of gratitude and relief because there were people to help, and I wanted to give that feeling to as many people as I could ”

ROOTSINRESCUE

Abrahams comes from a rescue background, she said, and her whole family are involved in Sea Rescue

After the fire though, she bucked the trend and trained to be a firefighter, which she has been doing for “eight years, three

“InDecember,wehadmorethan

- Baigum Abrahams

months and 16 days”

“Yes, I count the days,” she said laughing “I know it’s funny ” Abrahams (30) and her Westridge fire station mate, Andiswa Stafa (45) of Khayelitsha, won first and second place in the individual categories of the Toughest Firefighter Alive competition in George last month

They brought home gold and silver medals respectively but both women also took home gold medals for the relay challenge

This is the third consecutive year that Abrahams won gold in the individual challenge, but this year she shares the honour with a colleague, Thobeka Senatse from the Kraaifontein fire station, whom she beat “just by a few microseconds”

LAURENO'CONNOR-MAY

LAUREN OCONNOR-MAY@NOVUSMEDIA CO ZA

More than a year after 89-year-old Ellen Malan was brutally murdered in her Tafelsig home, her family is still waiting for answers as forensic delays have brought the investigation to a virtual standstill. Advocacy group Action Society has now escalated the case by submitting formal complaints to the South African National Forensic Oversight and Ethics Board and Mitchell’s Plain police leadership, demanding urgent intervention in what they describe as a "collapse" of the forensic system

Malan was found murdered in her bedroom on 28 September last year Her son-in-law found her body when he arrived to deliver her daily meal She had been tied up, her mouth had been muzzled and she had been strangled Malan’s eldest daughter, Angie Abrahams, said that initially there was an outpouring of support and the house had been filled with high-ranking police brass who promised that no stone would be left unturned

The Ward councillor and Mayor also paid the family a visit and three young people in the community were taken in for questioning and then there was silence Abrahams said the police took an unusually long time to process fingerprints and DNA samples "And then they said there was supposed to be a retake I don't know what that means, but nobody, none of the people's stuff, was retaken," Abrahams said

The family followed up again two months ago and were told that a new detective had been appointed to the case and would be in touch with them, but to date they have had no further follow-up from the police Abrahams said that even Action Society representatives have been unable to contact the new detective and were told he is either off sick or on leave whenever they visited the police station

MYSTERIOUSMURDER

The mysteries surrounding the murder itself also continues to haunt the family Abrahams said that nothing was stolen from the house Her eldest son’s DJ equipment was stored there but was left completely untouched The only things that appear to have been taken was her mother’s cigarettes and a packet of chips, both of which had been brought with her evening meal the night before Abrahams said that the next door neighbours also told the family that they heard a “commotion” the night before They claim to have heard banging and the family suspects that this was when the murderers removed the door frame to gain entry in the wee hours of the night However, the neighbours say they were never interviewed by police

INTERVENTION

Kaylynn Palm of Action Society's centre in the Western Cape said the organisation has submitted formal complaints

“Theseendlessdelaysareaninsult toEllen’smemoryandasecond traumatoherfamily.

- Kaylynn Palm

demanding answers about the forensic delays "These endless delays are an insult to Ellen's memory and a second trauma to her family," Palm said in a statement on their website "When fingerprint results sit unprocessed for over a year and DNA samples are mishandled or retaken without explanation, it is no longer a backlog, it is a collapse "

The complaints specifically question why fingerprint results submitted to the Plattekloof laboratory remain outstanding and why DNA retakes were requested without explanation Action Society is asking the DNA Board to investigate compliance with the DNA Act and recommend measures to prevent such delays

Capt FC van Wyk from the police's provincial media centre confirmed that investigations continue but no arrests have been made but appealed to witnesses to come forward

Abrahams said her mother was never alone except at night When Abrahams had offered to move in, the fiercely independent Malan had refused

“She always said, what's the use of me coming to live with her? She said that if something happened to her, then something would happen to me too,” Abrahams said

She added that during the day her son Graham, who lived across the road from his granny, would visit intermittently

“If he opened his door, he could see right into Mama's house And then we were just around the corner from her So it's not like she was alone She was never alone We went to her late at night to see that everything was okay We were there early in the morning, before we went to work She only slept alone,” Abrahams said

BROADERDNACRISIS

Action Society notes that Malan's case represents one of tens of thousands trapped in South Africa s DNA backlog

The organisation maintains that urgent public-private partnerships with private forensic laboratories and universities could resolve the crisis

The timing is particularly painful for the family, with the first anniversary of Ellen's death coinciding with what would have been her milestone 90th birthday celebration

Abrahams also shares a birthday with her mother on Wednesday 15 October "We gave all the information that we have to the police, and nothing came of it, absolutely nothing," Abrahams said "We don't know anything that is happening We don't get feedback from them " Malan is survived by her five daughters, eight grandchildren and 13 greatgrandchildren

CelltowerapprovedforPortland

Sub-council 17 approved a 10-year cellphone tower lease agreement for Portland.

The Sub-council approved the lease for Cell C to install a 12-meter cell tower on municipal land at its meeting last month

The minor freestanding base station will be constructed on approximately 24,88 square meters of public open space at 13A Middelton Close, Portland It will feature a 12-meter galvanised pole equipped with two sets of

micro-antennae, camouflaged domes and screened containers, two grey equipment units, and a surrounding palisade fence for security

According to the report put before the Sub-council, the network has “limited to no coverage” in the area, while other major providers including MTN and Vodacom experience

capacity constraints

The nearest existing telecommunications base station is located 635 meters away The base station will be near to houses, a church and a primary school but the report says that the City received no objections to the installation

The Sub-council approved a monthly rental of R5 359,57

excluding electricity and VAT, with annual escalations of 6%

The lease is subject to additional conditions that may be imposed by the Director of Property Transactions and compliance with statutory requirements The installation represents part of broader efforts to enhance telecommunications infrastructure across Mitchell's

Plain while generating rental income for municipal services

The project aligns with economic development goals by improving digital connectivity essential for remote work, business operations, and educational activities in the community

Rich Rewards Leasing (PTY) LTD or their successors in title will be responsible for all installation and maintenance costs associated with the telecommunications equipment

Surayas

LAURENO'CONNOR-MAY

LAUREN OCONNOR-MAY@NOVUSMEDIA CO ZA

AWestgate entrepreneur had a surreal experience the first time she made a formal dress

Suraya Williams (48) made the dress without any formal training, using only the memories of watching her mother sew “Everything I grew up seeing my mom do, I basically put into making that dress When I finished that dress, I felt like I had an out-of- body experience because I could not believe I made it,” she said Williams is the founder of Design 26, a seamstress training programme which she runs from her home Last week, the project won the 2025 IWISA No 1 Community Champions Competition, taking home R50 000 and business support The project beat nine others in a competition recognising women who address critical community challenges Williams discovered the competition on Instagram From 200 Western Cape applicants, she survived multiple selection rounds including business plan submissions and video pitches At the final presentation before five judges and 80 attendees, Williams felt the weight of representation "I suffer from stage-five anxiety, but when I go onto a stage, I'm fighting for the broader community of Mitchell's Plain I'm showing that there is actually a way out,” she said

Her presentation opened with a slide featuring her late mother, herself in her starting bedroom, and a dress she'd made "I sat there and thought, I've put my everything into this, and it's only up to God now "

When the presenter praised the winner for "turning pain into a purpose" Williams suspected she had won but was afraid to hope

SEWINGLEGACY

Williams' mother had always encouraged her to study design She had resisted because she considered the clothing industry exploitative and low income Her shift happened gradually after her mother died on her birthday from yellow jaundice at age 54

“My late mommy worked for Rex Trueform, and in 1994 she was retrenched She then started working from home, doing CMT work (cut, make and trim)

She didn't have education – a standard 5, Grade 7," Williams said After working in corporate for 14 years,

g p W

cousin asked her to make a 21st dress

“It was during that time that I actually found my purpose I found out why she had to leave on my birthday "

Williams spoke to her husband about her vision and he agreed to support her, but she encountered the first hiccup when her employers would not accept her resignation She then started a sewing enterprise from her bedroom The next hiccup came when she had to be a secret agent entrepreneur With a two-year-old son still breastfeeding, she devised an elaborate daily routine to work from home without him knowing she was there Every day, while her mother-in-law cared for her son, Williams would secretly sew in her bedroom, walking on socks to avoid detection

Williams soon realised her natural talent was not enough to sustain a business because she was not making a profit She enrolled for a small business management course at Stellenbosch University where she was encouraged to let go of the charitable portion of her business until she got on her feet The move made her uncomfortable

COMMUNITYIMPACT

Williams gradually expanded the enterprise to include a training facility and its manufacturing counterpart, but she taught more than just sewing The young women, Williams noticed, carried many traumas, so she built partnerships with organisations that could give them counselling and career consultation Since 2018, more women have been trained by Design 26 "If I add up that 1 250 and quantify it into monetary value, it's more than R8 million that I've invested in my community through skills development " The business also impacted her own family Both her husband and her son ended up ploughing their skills into Design 26 after they had separate crises at their jobs

“I'm just one small person, doing what I can to the best of my ability and to stick to my values and morals that I grew up with," Williams said

Cityfundslocalsportsupgrade

The City of Cape Town has allocated R165 000 to Collegians Rugby Football Club for facility upgrades at their Lentegeur sports ground.

The funding was officially handed over to the club by Ward 76 councillor Avron Plaatjies and a representative from the Office of the Executive Mayor

The money will support essential infrastructure improvements including plumbing for the clubhouse, benches for visiting teams, installation of new rugby poles for the B-field, and other amenities to enhance the experience for players and spectators

The investment forms part of a broader R12 million restoration initiative that

into a dumping site plagued by illegal activities

TRANSFORMATION

The transformation started in 2022 with a community awareness campaign against illegal dumping, followed by legal action and community protests against illegal occupation of the field Since then, the City has implemented infrastructure improvements including construction

restoration of the irrigation system

Currently underway is the installation of cables and overhead lights for the A-field, which will enable evening games and community events to take place safely

The restoration follows a phased approach designed to revive multiple sporting codes at the large complex Recent Facility Management Committee

discussions have outlined plans to restore soccer, cricket, and netball facilities alongside the rugby improvements

During the current financial year, the City will irrigate six additional fields to accommodate soccer and cricket A new cricket pitch is also being prepared as part of efforts to restore the facility's sporting diversity

The transformation represents a significant turnaround for a facility that had fallen into severe disrepair When restoration efforts began, the field was fenced off and used for illegal dumping, and criminal activities

Wie se skuld is die stad se verkeersprobleem?

“Mamma, opskud, ons moet nóú ry!” Dis Maandag 06:40, die derde keer wat my seun my aanjaag Eintlik moes ons 10 minute gelede in die pad geval het om die ergste verkeer vry te spring, maar ek is te besig om die hond, met my regterskoen in sy mond, om die eetkamertafel te jaag Dis ook nie die eerste keer nie Gewoonlik mik hy vir ’n skoen (of sokkie) terwyl ek skaars een sokkie aan ’n voet het, maar vanoggend vind hy ’n ander gaping en gryp die skoen vinnig, reg onder my neus terwyl ek met die ander een se veters besig is “Mammmaaaa!” Dit help ook nie dat ons 14-jarige net so pedanties soos volwasse “Sheldon” (dink Big Bang Theory-faam) kan raak nie Maar, in dié geval is hy knaend met goeie rede die verkeer Die hoërskool is ongeveer 7 2 km van waar ons woon geleë aan die anderkant van die N1 Die ongeveer 2,5km vanaf ons huis tot waar ons die N1 oorgesteek het, neem enigiets tussen 20 en 45 minute, afhangend hoe laat ’n mens ry Slegs twee minute kan ’n groot verskil maak Dis nou ook as daar nie teëspoed langs die pad is nie ’n Ongeluk op die N1, ’n vragmotor wat onklaar geraak het, of selfs net ’n verkeerslig waarvan die oorslaantyd uit is, kan jou reistyd maklik met ’n uur verleng Klink belaglik, nê Maar dis die realiteit wat soveel ouers in die noordelike voostede in die gesig staar

As jou kind gelukkig genoeg is om by die hoërskool van sy keuse aanvaar te word, of in sommige se geval, net ’n plek in ’n skool kry, is dit die prys wat jy betaal ’n uur of twee in die oggendverkeer Week na week sien en hoor ek mense kla in briewe aan die koerant, op WhatsApp-groepies en ander sosiale media Die probleem raak ook nie beter nie Inteendeel, met al die woonstelblokke, dorpshuise en komplekse wat soos sampioene opskiet, raak die voertuie op die pad net meer

Iemand stuur onlangs vir my skermgrepe van twee e-posse die repliek van ons raadslid aan mense wat by hom oor die verkeersituasie gekla het In die een raak hy aan die beplande R300-verlenging, asook die tekort aan openbare vervoer In die ander word daar sommer ook na die ouers vinger gewys: “ die hoeveelheid voertuie en ouers wat aandring om individueel hul kinders skool toe te neem, is deels verantwoordelik ” Aandring? Ek sien rooi Dit is nie my keuse om elke oggend meer as ’n uur voor die skool begin my huis te verlaat en in die verkeer te sit nie Ek doen dit omdat daar geen alternatiewe is nie Noord van die N1 is daar geen treindienste nie, Gabs se roetes is beperk en die busse loop nie gereeld genoeg nie Die MyCiti-busdiens wat jare gelede vir die noorde belowe is, het nooit gerealiseer nie Dit los ons met die taxi’s, en hier is geen twyfel nie; my kind se veiligheid kom eerste! So dan ry ek maar eerder self Toe hy nog in die laerskool was, het ek en ’n ander mamma ’n saamryooreenkoms gehad Dit het uitstekend gewerk, tot hulle na verskillende hoërskole toe is Op wie se skouers rus die blaam? Ouers wat net die beste vir hul kinders wil hê? Ouers wie se kind ten minste ’n plekkie in ’n skool gekry het, al is dit nie om die draai van jou huis nie? Die tekort aan skole? Die gebrekkige openbare vervoer? Motoriste wat nie op die pad hoort nie? Verstedeliking? Paaie wat nie meer die verkeer kan hanteer nie? Paaie waarvan die opknapping vertraag word? Swak stedelike beplanning?

’n Wyse man het gesê, “bring vir my oplossings, nie probleme nie” Dalk is dit tyd dat ons minder vinger wys en kla, en eerder met oplossings vorendag kom

In my opinie is Kaapstad is ’n wêreldklas-stad ’n topbestemming met gebrekkige openbare vervoer Dan kry Durbanville boonop ook nog ’n lughawe

Dit is dus tyd vir die Stad Kaapstad om dringend in die noordelike voorstede in betroubare, gereelde openbare vervoer soos die MyCiti-diens te belê - CECILIA HUME

Kommentaar // Comments

BRIEWE | LETTERS

Bunny crisis in Durbanville

Durbanville has sadly become a known dumping ground for domestic rabbits

In recent weeks, more than 24 abandoned bunnies have had to be rescued sterilised and cared for to prevent further breeding

Why this matters:

.Pet rabbits are domesticated animals, not wild They cannot survive on their own

.Many are run over by cars in neighbourhood streets

. They are easy prey and are attacked or eaten by dogs, cats birds – and even people

.Without care they get sick and die from untreated illnesses

.They suffer in extreme heat or cold, without proper water food and shelter

.Some people view them as pests, leading to them being poisoned or even shot

Dumping a rabbit is not only cruel it creates an end-

less cycle of suffering breeding and more abandoned animals

What you can do instead:

.Adopt don’t shop – and always sterilise your pets

.If you can no longer care for your bunny please contact a rabbit rescue or animal shelter as a last resort

.Rehome responsibly: post on South African bunny groups and rescue networks like Bunny Huggers SA and Bunnies South Africa

Abandoning your pet is not only cruel, it is illegal under the Animals Protection Act 71 of 1962

Let’s protect our bunnies and stop the cycle of dumping in Durbanville

For emergencies or to seek help with rehoming by contacting Happy Hoppers Bun Club on WhatsApp at 067 409 9900 or email happyhoppers bunclub@gmail com

ESTHER, Email

Alle honde hoort aan leibande

Ek lees die afgelope twee publikasies van TygerBurger oor die hondeaanval in Bolandpark ("Hou aggresiewe honde op leibande"", 8 Oktober, en "Hou asseblief honde op leiband", 15 Oktober) Ek wil net graag my inset lewer en wil weet of sekere hondeliefhebbers beter as ander hondeliefhebbers is Volgens my kennis van die Stad Kaapstad se bywette moet alle honde in openbare plekke en parke en self op strande op ‘n leiband wees Maak nie saak of dit 'n Jack Russell of rottweiler of bulterriër is nie Dit stel nie die persoon met die Jack Russell bo die wet om met sy of haar hond sonder n leiband te loop nie Baie keer gebeur dit dat honde met ander honderasse oor die weg kom, maar ek het al self gesien hoe honde hul eienaars beskerm teen 'n hond wat nie op 'n leiband is nie

Enige honde het die reg om homself of sy eienaars t b k S l id i i h ll h d

Taxi’s wat jaag in woonbuurte ’n gevaar

Ek is oningelig, maar dit voel verkeerd dat taxi's nou daagliks in woongebiede ry en die spoedbeperking oortree waar kinders speel en mense stap

Is mense se oë net toe vir dit wat moontlik verkeerd is?

Hoekom doen mense met meer mag nie iets daaromtrent nie?

Of dalk mag hulle rondjaag in woonbuurt, dan vra ek om verskoning JACOBA HORN, Durbanville

boet word, maar daar word nie teen hulle opgetree nie

Hulle staan nie eens agter 'n boom nie Ek sien hulle soms sommer op 'n sypaadjie staan en blaas leegmaak Dis hoekom dit op party plekke so sleg ruik

Die ander ding wat ek nie kan verstaan nie, is dat mense op enige plek spoeg Dis ook 'n gesondheidsrisiko

Ek hoop regtig daar word spoedig opgetree teen hierdie openbare oortredings WONDER SOMMER, Parow

AUCTION

IN THE MAGISTRATE'S COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF CAPE TOWN SUB-DISTRICT GOODWOOD HELD AT GOODWOOD Case No. 80/2025

In the matter between:

BELLA VISTA BODY CORPORATE EXECUTION CREDITOR and JEREMY CHRISTO DAVIDS IDENTITY NUMBER : 760214 5062 08 5 EXECUTION DEBTOR NOTICE OF SALE IN EXECUTION MOVABLE PROPERTY

In pursuance of a judgment granted by this Honourable Court on 17 OCTOBER 2024 and a Warrant of Execution issued thereafter, the undermentioned movable property will be sold in execution by the Sheriff of the Magistrate's Court of GOODWOOD at UNIT B5 COLEMAN BUSINESS PARK, COLEMAN STREET, ELSIES RIVER, WESTERN CAPE on THURSDAY, 06 NOVEMBER 2025 at 10h30 to the highest bidder for cash, namely:

1 x Audi A3 2 0 T (CA439-406) CONDITIONS:

1 The goods will be sold "as is"

2 The sale in execution is conducted in accordance with the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008 as amended, in pursuance of an order granted against the Execution Debtor for monies owing to the Execution Creditor. The auction will be conducted by the Sheriff Goodwood, or his deputy Advertising costs (if applicable) at current publication rates and sale costs according to court rules apply

3 All bidders are required to present their identity document together with their proof of residence for FICA compliance

4 The purchaser/s shall pay to the sheriff the full purchase price in cash or by bank guaranteed cheque on the day of the sale DATED at BELLVILLE on this 17th day of OCTOBER 2025

ATTORNEYS FOR EXECUTION CREDITOR

RIANNA WILLEMSE SOLMS INC. PER : R SOLMS/ck Office 3 Kenridge Centre 20 Door De Kraal Avenue Kenridge, Durbanville Docex 16 Bellville

Sport

Fans have an opportunity to secure the hottest seats in town with tickets for Season 4 of Betway SA20 went on sale last week The anticipated fourth season will take place in a new festive window between 26 December 2025 and 25 January 2026, giving holiday-goers and those on staycations access to non-stop cricket action and entertainment

The opening match at Newlands on Boxing Day between defending Champions MI Cape Town and Durban’s Super Giants promises electrifying fireworks to start the season The clash will set the tone for an exciting line-up of openingweek fixtures in Pretoria, Paarl, Durban, Gqeberha, and Johannesburg All tickets can be

purchased on www SA20 co za and at all stadium ticket offices

Following last season’s recordbreaking attendance figures and ticket sales, the League returns with even more energy, thrilling match-ups and unforgettable fan experiences across the six stadiums in the country

Returning with an even bigger bang, fans can expect something for everyone: world-class cricket, IG-worthy vibes, dance-cam moments and more

“The opening of ticket sales is a true marker that Season 4 is around the corner,” Betway SA20 League Commissioner, Graeme Smith said “It has been encouraging to see the demand for tickets during the exclusive pre-sale window, with the opening match and the Final at

Newlands already drawing a lot of interest and demand We’re looking forward to being a part of everyone’s festive season plans ”

ATREATFORFANS

With all six 19-player squads confirmed following a recordbreaking auction the attention moves to the star quality of local and international players who will light-up the stage Fans will be treated to some of world cricket’s superstars - Kagiso Rabada, Jos Buttler, Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller and Faf du Plessis - who will bring their experience and flair to the competition

Off the field the 20th Players will be giving fans a front-row voice and bringing them closer to the incredible action like

never before Each of the six 20th Players represents a city where the six teams are based and will lead the fan movement in their region through their diverse voices and entertaining online personalities Join Anele Mdoda (Gqeberha), Leandie du Randt (Pretoria), Moshe Ndiki (Johannesburg), Nadia Jaftha (Cape Town), Schalk Bezuidenhout (Durban) and Vafa Naraghi (Paarl) as they lead the chorus to get fans to put their hands up in the air in the stands and online

TICKETS

From behind-the-scenes moments, social media takeovers to match-day fit-checks, competitions and activations the 20th Players bring the Betway

SA20 experience to life, keeping fans connected both in stadiums and online

Tickets for all fixtures are available through SA20’s official ticketing partner, Ticketpro, via www SA20 co za and at the six stadium ticket offices After last season’s unprecedented demand fans are encouraged to secure their seats early and follow @SA20 League on social media for updates on matches, giveaways and exclusive