TygerBurger | Parow | E-edition | 13 May 2026

Athletetorun forMandelaDay

RICHARDROBERTS

RICHARD.ROBERTS@NOVUSMEDIA.CO.ZA

Anultra-marathon athlete is set to run 27 laps,or67,5 km,around Rondebosch Commonfor his tribute to late former President NelsonMandelaonhis birthday, 18 July, celebrated annuallyasMandela Day.

The ‘67’ minutes or in this casekilometers represents the number of years of Madiba’s public service —from1943 to 2010.

For Denver van der Bergh’s this Mandela Day Runispreparation for abigger run nextyear,from Cape Town to Namibia in as part of his SA Smile aMile Run. Once in Namibia he will take partinthe 250 km Beyond theUltimate DesertUltra.

Last year Van der Bergh undertook a similarchallenge, running from Cape Town to Pietermaritzburg, wherehethen took part in the2025 Comrades Marathon.

RUNNERSINVITEDTOJOIN

The run at Rondeboschstarts at 08:00 and anyathlete interested in joining him is welcome,hesaid.

The 49-year-old will do 27 laps, but other athletescan join him for one lap or decide theirown distance. They can run, walk or justcome out for support, he said.

“It is all aboutrecovery, hope and community.”

There will also be alucky draw and prizeswill alsobewon

RUNNINGFORRECOVERY

Van derBerghisa former drug addict

who turned his life around, becoming an inspiration to others, thanks to help he received from the Ramot Treatment Centre for Substance Abuse in Parow. He struggled with alcohol and drug addiction or 25 yearsand has been sober for the past five years.

Sapoaexplains whyrefunds werenotsought

DESIRÉERORKE

DESIREE.RORKE@TYGERBURGER.CO.ZA

Inthe wake of the South AfricanProperty Owner's (Sapoa's)landmarklegal victory against the City of Cape Town over the 2025-'26 budget, growing calls have emerged demanding that the City refund property ownersfor thecontested charges that havebeen levied upon them since 1July 2025.

However, in anotice to itsmembers, Sapoa chiefexecutive officer Neil Gopal statedthatSapoa did not,for several reasons askthe court to order arefund of any of theimpugned charges paid by residents.

"When Sapoa launched thelegal challenge in July 2025, serious consideration was giventoalso asking thecourt to orderthe City to refund any of theimpugned chargesalready paid by residents. This was decided against for a number of reasons,"hesays.

"Firstly, it would be extremely difficult to askthe courttoorder such arefund. When acourt grants an order, it must be able to ensure thatthe order is properly compliedwith.The court would have had great difficultyinensuringthat the City indeedrefunds every resident, making contemptproceedings, in the event that theCity fails to comply with the order, nearly impossible."

RISKOFANUNFUNDEDCITYBUDGET

Secondly, he says, ordering arefund would haveleft the City withanunfunded budget, in the sense that revenues which it anticipatedreceiving, would not only havetobeforfeited, but reimbursed to residents. This would be contrary to theprovisionsofthe Municipal Finance Management.

"The City would therefore have been facedwith asignificantrevenue shortfall," says Gopal."Noneofthe other parties to thelitigation asked forsuch relief either. GOOD Party, who had intervened in thematter, alsodid not ask for such relief. Accordingly, in the event that theCity applies for leave to appeal the judgment,there can be no cross-appeal to requesta refund, as the relief had not previously been sought by any party and subsequently denied by the Court.”

CITYMUSTDROPUNLAWFULTARIFFS

In arelated development, BrettHerron, secretary-general of the GOOD Party and

member of the Western Cape Parliament, stated that should the City of Cape Town choose to appeal last week's full-bench Western Cape High Court judgment, which declared itsfixed cleaning, water and sanitation tariffs unlawful, such amove would not suspend the binding effect of the ruling. This is in accordance with the legal advice he received.

"Thecourt ordered the City to dump itsunlawful charges by the end of June, which is also the date by which the City must adopt its2026-'27 budget.

“Whether the City appeals the judgement or not, it has no option but to drop the unlawful tariffs until asuperior court overturns the judgement. This will certainly not happen before the end of next month,"says Herron.

In aletter addressed to the City’s legal representatives, the GOOD Party requestsurgent transparency from the City regarding itsbudgetary intentions to mitigate the risk of legal delays.

Herron says should the City be advised to accept the court judgement and order, as it should, the City is required by law and the court’sorder to take steps to remedy the consequences of itsunlawful conduct.

“The effective remedy is to reverse these unlawfully imposed charges.

“Ordinary residentsofCape Town cannot be expected to have paid unlawfully imposed charges. Ourclient calls on the City to explain how it will go about reversing the unlawfully imposed charges. This could include crediting municipal accounts.”

Netcareissuesalertto suppliers and serviceproviders

Netcarehas issued an alert, particularly to smaller suppliersand serviceproviders, about arecent scam in which criminalspose as Netcarerepresentatives and setupfakebusinessmeetingswithexisting and prospectivevendors

As part of thecriminals’modus operandi,when theintended victim of thescamacceptsthe fake meeting request, they aregiven contactdetails to call prior to arriving at themeeting. On theway to theappointment,the person receives an urgent request to make apayment by purchasing vouchers at anearbyfuel station or viaonline banking, andis falselypromised reimbursement at themeeting.

FROMPAGE1

“I returned to education, earned my degree, repairedrelationships and discovered something that would reshape my life completely —endurance running.”

He is alsoplanning on running from Cape Town to Cairo in Egypt in 2028, a runhewantstodocument in the Guinness World Records

“So, my run from Cape Town to Namibia is awarm-uprun for Cairo and the 27

. Anyone affectedisencouragedtoopen acasewith thepolicedirectlyand report the matterimmediatelytofraud@netcare.co.za

laps,or67,5 km, for Mandela Day is a training run for Namibia.”

Van der Bergh is also the founder of the non-profit organisation SerenityStrides Foundation.

“I am so excited. Ilearnt alot from my previous run and thistime Iactually have apersonal instructor, who offered to train me for free for the entire Cairo odyssey so Ican avoid injuries.”

. Visitwww.serenitystridesfoundation.org

GoodHopeFMpresenterdies

RICHARDROBERTS

RICHARD.ROBERTS@NOVUSMEDIA.CO.ZA

Messages of condolenceshave been streaminginfollowing the passing of awell-known radio sports presenter, Lorenzo Darries.

Darries passed away in hospital on Tuesday morning 5May.

Darries was afamiliar voice onCape Town'scommercial radio station Good Hope FM who extended their heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, colleagues, and listeners.

LEGACYWILLLIVEON

"We are deeply saddened by the passing of ourcolleague and friend, Lorenzo

"Bitter-sweetmoment, this will be my finalbroadcastassportspresenter on the Great Drive Show

“I'll be heading into aproducer role and still stand in when needed but will miss the feeling of being on air every day. Myhealth comesfirst andIneed to be stronger, mentally andphysically to do whatIlove

“Cheers for nowfam," he wrote on his Facebook page.

TRIBUTE

Darries was also afamiliar face on the Expresso Morning Show on SABC3.

"We will miss hissport updates, his warm 06:00 koesisters which he'd bring for

ALMAMATERPAYSRESPECTS

SibeliusHigh School in Retreat where he attended school, alsoshared their sincere condolences to his family and friends.

"Lorenzowas akindhearted individual whosegenerosity extended well beyond hismatriculation.

“Hisregular donationsofstationery to our learners reflected hisenduring commitment to the school.

"He will be fondly remembered and deeply missed. Ourthoughts are with his family during this time."

Darries leavesbehind hiswife, Kelly Williams.

LorenzoDarries during his last broadcast on radioas asportspresenter.

SPORTS PRESENTER LORENZODARRIES REMEMBERED FORWARMTH, PASSION AND RESILIENCE

Blacklistingexposescompliancecrisis

Government’s blacklisting of52 construction companies for poor performance, fraud andcontract failures has put the spotlight back on a deeper problem: awidespread culture of non-compliance running through South Africa’s building industry.

That is the view of the Building Industry Bargaining Council (BIBC), which says the issue goes far beyond ahandful of bad actors

APATTERNTHATREPEATS

Many of the 52 contractors have been barred from government work until2029 for offences including falsified broad-based blackeconomic empowerment (B-BBEE) certificates and billing for work thatwas neverdone. But theBIBC says blacklisting is really asymptom, not the root cause.

“What we are seeing is apatternwhere non-compliance in one area is almost always mirrored across others. Itisrarely isolated to non-compliance with the BIBC only,” says Danie Hattingh, spokesperson for business at the BIBC

By checking publicly available data, the BIBC identified 68 construction-related companies linked to theblacklist.Ofthese, only 12 were registered with the BIBC and all 12 were found to be non-compliant at the time of assessment.

“This directly supports ourcontention that non-compliance with one regulation strongly indicates non-compliance everywhere else,” Hattingh explains. “Whether it is labour obligations, tax compliance, or contractual delivery,the same patterns repeat.”

The consequences are wide-ranging. Noncompliance leads to poor workmanship, project delays, site failures and safety risks. It alsoallows some contractorsto undercut compliant firms by exploiting workers, creating an uneven playing field

CHANGINGNAMESTODODGETHERULES

The problem is made worsebyasystem that can allow repeat offenders to re-enter themarket. Non-compliant contractors often deregister, rename or set up new companies —sometimes using family members or associates as directors—to avoid detection.

“The trend towards ‘fronting’ companies is widespread and complex,” says Hattingh. “Even if anew entity hasno record of non-compliance, it canstillbe the same operators making it difficult for

clients andprocurementofficials to know who they’re really dealing with.”

This is especially problematic in largescale public procurement, where the volumeofcontractsmakes tracking difficult.Asa result, problem contractors cankeep reappearing under new names, repeating the same cycleofpoor delivery andrule-breaking.

PROCUREMENTASTHEWEAKLINK

The BIBCsays procurement processes areboth acritical tool for change and acurrent pointofweakness. Loose or inconsistently appliedtender requirements canallownon-compliantcontractorsto slip throughundetected.

“The role of ‘givers of work’ (government, municipalities, SOEs andprivateclients) is central,” says Hattingh.“From tender design to contract monitoring,procurement decisions either strengthen compliance or undermineit.”

Where proper checksare in place, the riskofappointingunsuitable contractors drops significantly. But where oversightis weakand processes are unclear, thereis roomfor abuse.

Steps are beingtaken to address this.

The BIBC is workingwith the CityofCape Townand the Western Cape Department of Infrastructure to build compliance requirements into tender processes andstrengthen oversight. The focus includes embedding BIBC registration andcomplianceintenders, tightening supply chain controls, andaligning labour allocation systems —including on Expanded Public Works Programmes (EPWP)

ACRISISFORWORKERSTOO

The impact on workers is equally severe. “Tender processesface manychallenges thatundermine efficiencyand fairness,” saysLuyanda Mgqamqo, BIBC labour spokesperson. “These include retaliation against whistleblowers, political interference and weak pricing skills.”

THEBIGGERPICTURE

The BIBCwarns thatthe 52 blacklisted contractors are notoutliers —they are part of amuchwider trend. Overfive years,several BIBC-registeredfirms appeared on the blacklist at different times, showing just howpersistent the problem is If left unchecked, the risks go well

WHATNEEDSTOHAPPEN

CONSTRUCTION COMPANIESBLACKLISTED FORPOOR PERFORMANCE, FRAUDAND CONTRACT FAILURES

beyondindividualprojects. Economic losses, weakened institutions, falling investor confidence andgrowing public distrust are all possible outcomes of ongoing non-compliance “Cuttingcorners for short-term profits creates long-term systemic risk,” warns Hattingh. “Itundermines infrastructure qualityand the credibility and sustainabilityofthe entire industry.”

TheBIBC says lasting change will require acollective shift towards accountability at every level of the industry.

For clients, developers and publicsector bodies, this means verifying contractor registration, insisting on compliance certification and building these checks intoprocurement decisions.

For workers, it means confirming that theiremployer is registered, checking payslips for contributions such as pension and leave pay, and contacting the BIBC directly where needed.

Thecouncil’s message is clear:fixing thiscrisis requires more than enforcement alone. It demands aculture of compliance built intoevery stage of the building industry.

CapeTown’s marine outfalls meet waterqualitystandards

Cape Town's three marine outfalls at Camps Bay, Green Point andHout Bay continue to meet regulatoryrequirements, with the latest monitoring confirming that surrounding coastal watersremainwithin recommended limitsfor recreationaluse. Thefindings were presentedatthe Permit Advisory Forum on 24 April.

Monthly monitoring conducted between January and March this yearshows that coastalwater qualityremainswithinrecommended guidelines, confirmingthat the outfalls arenot negatively affectingrecreational water quality at nearby beaches.

TheCityofCape Town said during thisperiod, 477 seawater sampleswere

collected around the three outfalls. More than 98% of samplescomplied with guideline limits, confirming that natural ocean processes continue to effectively dilute and disperse treated effluent as designed.

Asmall number of exceedances –approximately 1,7%–were recorded,

mainly within the immediatemixing zones offshore and close to the outfall discharge points, where occasional elevated readings are expected. Additional sampling was undertaken at the edges of mixing zones during summer to validate dispersion performance under peak conditions,the City said.

ToffeemarkscourtroomfirstinSA

KAILINDANIELS

KAILIN.DANIELS@NOVUSMDIA.CO.ZA

Inaquiet courtroom in the Western Cape High Court, history was made not by ajudge or lawyer,but by a gentle golden retriever named Toffee.

As a14-year-old boy prepared to testify against his own father in therape and murder trial of 8-year-oldDaniel Jamneck, the3-year-old therapy dog laycalmly beside him, offering silentreassurance during one of the most traumatic moments of the child’s life.

The April2026 testimonymarked the firsttime atherapy dog hadaccompanied achild witness in aSouth African criminal court, abreakthrough many child-trauma specialistshopecould transformhow vulnerable children experiencethe justice system

For the teenager, who waspresent at thescene of Daniel’s death in Peerless Park North, Kraaifontein, in June 2023, the court appearance was more thanjust giving evidence. It meant revisiting a traumatic night while speaking publicly against his father, who is facing charges of murder,rape and sexual assault. Daniel was found dead in the accused's bed following asleepoverinKraaifontein in Cape Town on 15 June 2023

Toffee doggedlyremained by the teenager's side as this was related to the court.

ACOURTROOMFIRSTBORNFROMYEARSOF ADVOCACY

The idea of therapy dogs supporting child witnesses has long been used in countries such as the UnitedStates,but South Africa had yet to take thatstep For EdithKriel, executivedirector of theJelly Beanz Foundation,it hadbeen adream decades in the making. “I have worked in the child protection sector now for 32 years and across my whole career I’ve to some extent worked withinthe sexual offences courts.”

She said major improvements have been made over the years to make courts less

TEEN SUPPORTED BY THERAPY DOG,TOFFEE, DURING TRAUMATICTESTIMONY AGAINSTHIS FATHER IN WESTERN CAPE HIGH COURT

intimidating for children, includingchildfriendly rooms andintermediaries who help facilitate testimony.

“But the reality is that if you’re akid andyou’ve experienced somethingreally traumatic,when you go back to courtin astrangeenvironment… you have to sit down andthinklike avideo in yourhead of thattraumatic experienceand then put that into words.

“You’re also sometimes asked to defend youranswers or made to feel like you’re not telling thetruth. Kids have areally hard time.”

Kriel believes therapy dogs can bridge thatemotionalgap.

“Theroleofatherapy dog during testifying is really to create asense of safety for the child, asense of ‘I’ve got somebody on my side’.

“This beautiful animal is here with me. They’re not judging me when Itell the storiesofall theyucky thingsthat happened to me.They just think I’m amazing.”

CALMINGFEARINTHEMIDDLEOFTRAUMA

Traumaexperts say children who testify in court often relive their experiences physically and emotionally. Fear,anxiety andstresscan overwhelm the nervous system,making it difficult for children to think clearly or answer questions coherently.

Kriel said therapy dogs help regulate thoseemotional responses.

“That kind of non-judgmental, calm, safe presence helps children feel safer. It calms their nervoussystem

“And when yournervous system is calmer, the parts of your brain that do the thinking and come up with the words can work better.”

During the in-camera testimony on 29 April Toffeeremained closetothe teenager throughoutproceedings, helping him find the strength to continue.

Krieldescribed the moment as deeply emotional, sayingthe child visibly relied on thedog’spresenceduring difficultparts of his testimony.

“Tomyknowledge Toffeeisthe firstdog that hassuccessfully gone throughthe processwith achild,” she said.

But she stressed the achievement was nothers alone.

“It’s not just ameprocess. We need prosecutors on board who are willingto take iton, put in applications andstep outside of thenorm. There’sa whole team behind it.”

MORETHANJUSTACOMFORTINGPET

Toffee is not simply afriendly dog wandering through therapy sessions

She is acertified “fur-therapist” at the Jelly BeanzFoundation, aTable Viewbased non-profit organisation dedicated to helping children affectedbytrauma, abuse andneglect.

Founded in 2009, Jelly Beanz provides therapy services,develops trauma

resources, trainsprofessionals working with childrenand advocates for better support systems for vulnerable young people

The organisation’s work is rooted in a grim national reality.

AccordingtoJelly Beanz one in three South African children is sexually abused before the age of 18.

"Boys are just as vulnerable to abuse as girls.Eighty-two percent of children have been directly exposed to violence in their homesorcommunities."

Against thatbackdrop therapy animals are becoming powerful tools in rebuilding trust andemotional safety.

“Childrenwho haveexperienced trauma often feelashamed, disconnected or different from others,”the organisation pointedout

“Dogs offer unconditional acceptance. No words are necessary.”

Therapists saychildren frequently communicateemotionsindirectly through thedog, sometimes revealing feelings they struggle to express themselves.

Achild may say, “Toffee is feeling sad today,”wheninreality they are describing theirown emotional state.

CARRYINGONAHEALINGLEGACY

Toffeealso carriesthe legacy of another beloved therapydog, Danni, SouthAfrica’s first Newfoundland fur-therapist, which workedwith traumatised children through Jelly Beanz

While smaller in size Toffee has quickly become acomfortingpresence in therapy rooms.

“With hersoft coat andcalming presence Toffeeoffers comfort, connection and unconditionalacceptance to children whohave experienced trauma,”the organisation said.

“She is asymbol of healing, hope and trust.”

Krielhoped the court breakthrough

will inspire others to build similar programmes rather than relying solely on one dog or one organisation.

“The idea is not that Toffee becomes the next court therapy dog forever,” she said.

“It’sabout opening an opportunity for other people to step up and step in.”

JUSTICEWITHCOMPASSION

As the Daniel Jamneck trial continues Toffee’s quiet presence has already left alasting mark on SouthAfrica’s justice system.

For years the focus in criminal courts has understandably centred on evidence, procedure and legal outcomes. But child trauma specialistssay the emotional wellbeing of witnesses, particularly children, cannot be separated from justice itself.

For one frightened teenager facing the unimaginable taskoftestifying against his father, justice did not arrive only in legal robes or courtroom protocols. It arrived on four paws, with soft golden fur and steady, reassuring eyes.

Studyexplores men’srolein climatechange

Major new research onclimate change, globalwarming and environmental collapse,how they connectwith what mendo, andwhat to do about it has justbeen publishedby ateam including the University ofthe WesternCape’s ProfTamaraShefer, The South African ResearchChairs Initiative (SARChI) Chair of Blue Humanities and Gender Justice, and Extraordinary Professor in Women’s and Gender Studies,Prof Jeff Hearn Anew double special issue of the journal Norma: International J nal for

CLIMATE STUDYEXAMINES MEN’S BEHAVIOUR

It brings together new researchby22 researchersfrom 13 countries on questions as diverse as climatedenialinCanadian pipeline politics, environmentalimpacts of Chinese policiesinthe Pacific Ocean, promeatonline influencers in Finland, and positive action by men activists in Africa, LatinAmerica, UK,and globally. Hearn, professor of sociology in Huddersfield’s Department of Social and

Storms batter communities

Cape Town’s Safety andSecurity Directorateisworkingclosely with City of Cape Town services to manage and respond to hundreds of incidents reported in thewakeofamassive frontal system that struck Cape Town this week, the City said.

Between06:00 and09:30 on Monday morning, thePublic Emergency Communication Centre (PECC) received just over 950 calls.

Weather-relatedincidentsdominated, with downed trees, motor vehicle accidentsand power issues were among themostfrequently reported concerns.

Over theweekend, the PECC recorded 1220 calls for assistance.Ofthese, 64 were related to physical assault, 29 to domestic violence, andemergency services were dispatchedto44motor vehicle and pedestrian accidents.

The City’s Fire and Rescue Service has madeavailable its wildland firefighters to assist with clearing tree debris across the

city where needed.

Theservice has also made its heavy rescue crane available to help remove fallen trees, the City said.

Disaster Risk Management is spearheading aDisaster Operations Centre in Goodwood, which brings together all City departments, utilities and other role players.

“Our officers are doing duty at intersections, assisting where roads have been closed due to flooding or fallen trees, and responding to calls for help. We are supporting other departments and lending ahand where possible. Iwant to encourage residentstostay indoors where possible, take extra precautions on the road if you have to go out and report incidentsimmediately. Your safetyiswhat matters most, so do not take risks,”said Mayco member for safetyand security JP Smith.

. Residentsare urgedtoreport emergenciesby dialling 021480 7700

THINKING OUTLOUD

Classrooms arestill filledwithdreamers

Returning to my old school recently brought back memories Ihad not thought aboutinmany years.

Ihad dropped my nephew off anda wave of nostalgia hit me. It felt asthough Ihad stepped into my younger self's world which was full of hope, dreams and determination. Iremembered sitting in those small bluechairs, staring out the windows and imagining afuturefar bigger than thecommunity. Even as achild,I knew there was more. Ikneweducation could unlock opportunities.

Icome from apoor background. My parents worked hard and there were many things we simply could notafford. I neverarrived at school wearing the latest fashiononcivvies day.Sometimes paying school fees felt impossible formyparents butthey never allowed our financial situation to become an excuse. Education was non-negotiable in our home. My parents remindedmethat no one could takeknowledge awayfrom me They believed education could change the direction of my life. Lookingback now, I realisethe sacrifices they made to ensure

EDUCATIONWAS NON-NEGOTIABLEIN

my sister and Ihad that opportunity.They may not have been able to give us material things, but they gave us discipline, encouragement and areason to strive My way of thanking them was simple, Iworked hard.Istudied,respected my teachers and made sureIachieved good marks. Iknew that every test passed and every report card improved brought me one step closer to abetter future.

Today as Iwatch learnersmaking their way to school in the morning,I cannot help but feelconcerned. On some days it is already 08:30and some are strolling to school with no sense of urgency. Some look disengaged and uninterested.It makes me wonder what haschanged. Have our young people become disconnected? Or are they simply overwhelmed by the realities they face daily?

Today's learners are growing up in aworld filledwith distractions, social pressures and uncertainty. Many are exposed to unemployment, violence, povertyand social media influences that can easily make education feel less important. For some, it maybedifficult to dream about the future when survival feels like the priority. This iswhy motivation cannot come from schools alone. Parents, communities, teachers and mentors all have arole to playin shaping young minds. Children need to see examples of perseverance. They need encouragement and guidance. Most importantly, they need hope. We cannot expect young people to value education if society appears to undervalue their potential.Sometimesall it takes is one teacher, one family member or one opportunity to inspireachild.

Iwish those in power would take up that challenge. How many leadershavewalked throughthe halls of their former schools and asked themselves what they could do to create lasting change there?Build more schools, morelibraries and saferspaces for learning. Invest in these future leaders and give them areason to be excited Create opportunities that make learners eager to get to school because they can see afuture waiting for them beyond the classroom.

As Ileft the school that day, Irealised the classrooms are still filled with dreamers, children with untapped potential waiting to be nurtured. The challenge ismaking sure they do not lose sight ofthose dreams beforethey evenbegin.

-KAYLYNNE BANTOM

SLICEOFLIFE

CLIMBERSUNITEFORWCCHARITIES: Runners and hikers tackledPlatteklipGorge during the annual Cableway CharityChallengeonTableMountain.So farthis year they have raised over R964 000 that willhelppower the life-saving and community-driven work of four organisations: VolunteerWildfireServices (VWS),Wilderness Search andRescue (WSAR),Ubuntu Football Academyand SANParksHonorary Rangers.The publiccan stilldonateuntil Sunday 17 May.To pledge support,visit:www charitychallenge.co.za

PHOTO:NICK JOUBERT

Magmoeders vreugdeervaar

Hoe seer is seer?

Ek wens ek konvandag(Sondag10Mei) se trane —dié watoor my wangerol,asook die watdie padinwaarts kies —in'nemmer opvang.Ekwil seer meet Ek is heel,maar terselfdertyd stukkend. Ons is té geneig om voor te geedat als"oukei" is.

Soveel mensevier Moedersdag, maar vir baie van onsishierdie 'n diep seer dag.

Nesek, is daar soveel vanons watnie meer 'n mamma het nie.Die uitsoek én opmaak van'nspesiale geskenkie; die beplanning van'nheerlikesamesyn vir diehelegesin; en die dek van'npragtigetafel vir'n spesialepersoon ontbreek die eregas is niemeer met onsnie

Mygedagtesbly dwaal oor al die verskillende seer watvandaginhou: My hartsvriendinne watnie kinders konbaar nie;dié watkinders konaanneem, maar ook dieuitdagingswat saam met dit komindie gesig staar;elkeliewe mamma watstruikel om kinders alleen groottemaak, omdat pappavroeg sy engelvlerkies gekryhet;die watmoet baklei vir onderhoudsgeld;die watdie pa-rol moet vervul weens'nonbetrokkepa; diewat baklei teen 'n regstelsel watsyeie tydneem sodat geregtigheid kangeskied. Ek dink ookaan die mammas watmoet sterk staan teen tieners watinopstand kom, watraadop,moeg of weerloos is;endie vrouenswat onder 'n hand deurge-

loop hetensukkelomhaar waardigheid en plek in die samelewingtevind, omdat sy die keusegemaak het dat genoeg genoeg is.

Dis julle.Dis ons. Hierdie is die ma's vandie wêreld watvandaggesalueer moet word,maar watsoms so misgekykword. Ons draswaar.Ons skouers hang bietjie vooroor,ensoms komons vaal en onopvallend, verstrooid en vergeetagtig voor.Daar is storms wat nooit ophou raas nie. Daar is mensewat luister,maar nooit hoor nie. Wees assebliefnet genadig!

En vir die watwonder of God nogwakkeris. wanneer jy dit die minsteverwag, komverras Hy jou met 'n helderkleurigeEva wathaar ontferm oor'n alleen-mamma.

Daardie spesialevroue wiesehartesagterassag is; diéwat metsoveeldeernis en egtheid onsvrouwees, deuraldie krake, raaksien. Dis daardie Evawat inspring en 'n pakkie posofjou kinders nader trek om ietsie spesiaals vir jou te beplan,ofvir jou die styfstevan styfstedrukkiegee en so ekstrabietjie langer vashou.

Magelkegebrokemoederhart geliefdvoel onder haar eie omstandighede en magdaar iewers 'n teken vir jou wees dat jy waardig mamma is. As jy nie voor jou kinders wilhuil nie. is vandagdalkjou dagwat jy dit kanloslaat terwyl jy saam met hulle deur die reën hardloop.Glo in jouself, ystervrou! Irushka, BRACKENFELL

CityofCape Town: quo vadis?

Therecent “snot klap”mayor Geordin Hill-Lewisand his DA compatriots received in theHigh Court has reference.

Formonths we,the ratepayers of Cape Town, have berated himfor usingthe middle-class as avehiclefor apolicyofcross subsidisinghis socialist programme Nowthe courts have agreed with us andwhat does this young man do?Hetries to shame the ratepayers, who payhis inflated salary,intofeelingashamed for notagreeing to hisoutdated socialist agenda.Wedid not agreetoanunfunded spending spree on our dime to help him in avote-buyingcampaign

One wouldhavethought that during hisvarsity yearsheand hismanagementteamwouldtake cognancyofMaggie Thatcher’s famous words: “The problemwith socialism is that eventually yourun out of otherpeople’smoney”. And in 2025-’26 he and his team haverun out of money becausethisyearCoCT plans to borrowR1,2billion just to payfor previous years’ excessive spending.

In plainspeaking it meansborrowingmoremoney

to payfor borrowingprevious years, whilst spending moneytheydon’t have!Inwhatuniverse do these peoplelive?

We have seen howmunicipalities, including the City treatthe solidmiddleclass as agift that keepsgiving, hencethe increasing ratestaxation year on year.And year on year thesemunicipalities placatetheir staff andthemselveswith annual salary increaseswith no reciprocal performanceincreasesbecause the middle classkeep funding their ridiculous plans. Typically like trying to provide brick andmortar houses to anyeconomic migrant who ends up without ahouse. And howdoes he plan to generatemore money? By increasingyour propertyvalue andrates purely on the basis of properties sold in your area,i.e youare taxedon“unearned profits”,the exactprinciple the British parliament struck down when Keir Starmer andRachel Reeves tried it Do youthink the mayorwillheed ourcalls?Idon’t think so Francois JMarais, DURBANVILLE

Stingray birth shows moremust be done

In the TygerBurger of 6May 2026 residents of Table View andMilnerton arequotedstating that the recent stingray birthing incident shows that the clean-up efforts arestartingtobeeffectiveand gives renewed hope that the lagoon is slowly coming back to life HowIwish that this were true!

But what we witnessedonWednesday29April is that ashort-tail stingray femalewas stranded on the beachand through stress spontaneouslyaborted24 pups. Thesetinyreplicas of their mother stillhad their yolk sacs, whiletheir gills andother organs were not fullydevelopedyet

Sadly, theywerenot viableand none of them survived despitethe best efforts of communitymembers andrepresentatives of the TwoOceansAquarium. We canonlybut hope that at leastthe mother,who was escorted back intothe deep by the aquariumstaff, managed to recoverand survive.

Is the heart-rendering lotofthesemagnificent creatures notjust another illustration of howthe volume of sewage that the CityofCape Town discharges into the oceankills marine life,degrades critical habitats, andharms the ecosystems on whichhumansdepend fortheir ownsurvival?

On Milnertonbeach dead fish, molluscs, crustaceans, starfish, jellyfishand birds, besides disgusting washed-up rubbish, bear witness to decreased dissolvedoxygeninthe lagoon andsea andthe wide array of toxic pollutants contained within sewage Please,Cityand Mayor, the cityneeds to work forour sea.

LViljoen,MILNERTON

Chop upsneed repairs

As burst pipe repairs areundertaken, the huge question is:isthis departmentnot reporting their recent workmanship to, Ipresume, another department to do proper repairs to coverthe massivepotholes? Rainyseasonisupon us, andwith the expected downpours, the huge potholes willbecome camouflaged. Thepreventivemeasures to restoresafetyfor allroadusers is of utmostimportance Many unnecessaryincidents need to be avoided. Thesolutionisworking hand in hand with the different departments, who as mentioned “chopup” the surfaces andthose who “repair”the chopped up surfaces. Safety please,for allroadusers TessaLuck,GOODWOOD

Landmarktheatre opensdoorswider

The Artscape TheatreCentre will mark 55 yearsofperformance and transformation on Tuesday19 May, amilestone that speaksnot only to the myriad productions staged within its walls,but also to the storyofacountryin transition.

Opened in 1971 as the Nico Malan Theatre, aspace reserved foraselect few under apartheid, it has sinceevolved into acultural home forall South Africans.This anniversary, celebrated under the theme "A Placefor All",honoursthat long and significant journey.

Theanniversaryprogramme launches at 11:00 on 19 Maywith the unveiling of a memorywallentitled "BecomingArtscape —aplace reborn", followedbyan open press conferencetowhich the publicisalso invited.

At 12:00,everyone is encouraged to take part in ahistoric photograph on the steps of the building. Themorningconcludes with afreelunchtime concert at theArtscape OperaBar,running until 13:30. Performing at the concert willbe four school bands: Mbekweni CMA, Cedar High

ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS SEES TICKETS DISCOUNTED

School, RhodesHigh School andAthlone Schoolfor the Blind. Admissionisfree, and allare welcome.

Thelunchtime concertseries formspart of Artscape's ongoing commitmentto access,championedunder theleadership of CEOMarlene le Roux

Theseconcertshavebecome aregular andmuch-lovedfeature,offering many theirfirst experience of live performance insidethe theatre, notasspectatorsbut participants

Theanniversaryprogrammeextends wellbeyondMay

On 6June theArtscape Career Expo offers youngpeoplea behind-the-scenes look at the fullrange of professions that make theatrepossible,fromlighting and sounddesigntocostume,technical operationsand buildingmanagement

Aseries of Saturdaymasterclasses will run from MaytoNovember

Thefirst,FastTrack to Opening Night,

takesplace on 23 MaywithKMH Architects, covering thedesign, construction and accessibilityofthe Artscape building.A follow-up masterclass, facilitatedbyAfrica Melane, willfocus on funding thearts.

On 8November,ananniversarygala concert, produced and directed by Basil Appollis, featured in thetheatre's50th-anniversarycelebration, promisestobea glamorous evening to remember

As part of theanniversarycelebrations, alimited number of R55early-bird tickets willbemadeavailablefor select performances in theOperaHouse andTheatre. Limited to twoper person, tickets areavailablethrough Dial-A-Seatonafirst-come, first-servedbasis

ZakGordon, chairmanofthe Artscape board, echoed thesentiment: "Aswemark 55 years, our focusremains on ensuring Artscape continues to serveasaninclusive platform forexpression, access andopportunityfor all."

GardnerenVan Wykgaan laag

DesireGardner en Hannes vanWyk is te sien in MagdaenhaarErhard, how Louw canyou go by Die Boer-teaterrestaurant vanDinsdag10tot Vrydag 12 Junie, vanDinsdag16tot Donderdag 18 Junie om 20:30,asook op Saterdag 25 Julie

Die produksiehet uitverkoop by die Aardklop-kunstefees en die KKNK. MagdaenErhardLouw besluit om diepad te vatendie verhoog te betree —sonaelkouend en mompelend soos net hulle kan.

Die tema vanhul teaterdebuut is dieliefde, maar die liefde uit Magdaen Erhardseperspektief is effens anders as dieliefdewaarvan ons in boekelees of in films sien.Indie teaterproduksie (ofkonsert soos Erharddit noem) sien ons hoe MagdaenErhardhul bes probeer,maardit sukkel. Is hulle reg

om op die feesteseverhoë te klim? In 'n tipe "NoisesOff!"-formaat neem ErhardenMagda ons deur die prosestotdat hulle uiteindelik ook saam met die gehoor die waansinnigheid vandie liefde en die lewe aanspreek. Hulle gesels oor vergifnis, hoe om in die eg verbindtebly sonder om gearresteer te word of daardie einste eg te verbreek. Hulle gesels oor leënessindroom, volpens-sindroom en al die andersindrome watmens moet aanvaarsoosdie middeljare jou tref Dis 'n komiesestuk, maar met 'n dieper boodskap: dat ons uiteindelik maar die padmet iemandwil stap,al irriteer hulle ons of dryf hulle ons na drank. Daar salook interaksiemet die gehoor wees.

Kaartjies kosR260 . Bespreek by www.dieboer.com

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