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What began in 2010as an effort to provide200 sandwiches forhungry schoolchildren has evolved intoathriving community initiative.This year,Mothers That Care,together with Glitter,theGemini Gym Ladies and localsupporters, distributed 1022 Soup Jars of Hope.Theinitiativehas growntoprovide food, clothing,blankets,and beanies to crèches,schools, safe havens,and charities acrossBlouberg,Melkbos, TableView,Milnerton, Parklands,and Joe Slovo.
Anew study fromthe University of the Western Cape (UWC) has found the question “whydoesn’t she justleave?” misunderstands the lived reality of women trapped in abusive relationships. Researchers say leaving is often not an easy choice but acalculation betweencompeting dangers.
The research,published in the Social Sciences journal, was conducted by UWC’s Centre for Interdisciplinary StudiesofChildren, Family and Society. It draws on the experiences of 262 mothers,grandmothers, adolescents and practitioners from four communities: Cape Town,Saldanha Bay, Fisantekraal and a university student cohort. Participants from diverse backgrounds described similar experiences, pointing to patterns that cut acrossrace,class and geography.
The team, led by Prof Nicolette Roman and co-authored by Dr Chante Johannes and Shenaaz Wareley, developed a framework theycall the “distorted process of care” —a way of understanding how relationships that should offerlove, protection and support can instead become instruments of control, danger and entrapment.
Thefirst of five interconnected themes identified by the researchersiswhat they describe as “distorted care”. In many of the relationships studied, the pattern began with genuine affection before gradually shifting towards abuse. Emotional attachment, the researchers found,often blindedwomen to early warningsigns. Jealousy and controlling behaviour were misread as proof of devotion rather than danger signals. As gender roles, intergenerational violence, and substance abuse took hold, the caring foundation of arelationshipwas eroded.
“Care under constraint” is the second theme. For many women, staying was not asign of passivity but astrategy for survival. Asignificantnumber depended on theirpartner for basic necessities food, shelter, school fees. For mothers especially, thecalculus was agonising: leaving could mean losing the family’s only income.The wellbeing of children was consistently prioritised over a woman’s own safety.
The third theme, “silence of care”, spoke to theisolationthatabuse breeds. Fear of judgement, deep shame,and repeated disappointmentsfrom the institutions meant to help left manywithdrawn and silent.Over time, many stopped seekinghelp altogether. Some women, however,did eventually reach apoint theresearcherscall “reclaiming care”. In thesecases, womenchose their own safety, drewstrengthfrom faith or community,
and worked to prevent their children from inheriting the cycle of violence.
ASYSTEMTHATFAILS
Thefifthand final theme, “structural failure”, places responsibilityonthe families, communities and institutions around women in crisis. Police, social services and government departments, the study found, often retraumatised women rather than protecting them. Crime, gangsterism and poverty in marginalised communities further narrowed the options for seeking help. Families wereoften too financially stretched to offer refuge.
Thedanger of leaving was not abstract for many. Women who tried to separate from theirpartners reported being followed, assaulted or fearing for their lives.The researchers argue, the decision to stay was often rational based on immediaterisk
Gender roles reinforced the cycle. Women bore the bulk of childcare and household responsibilities while abusive partners remained absent from family life. Children growing up in violent homes were found to be at greater risk of the cycle continuing. Substance abuse, the study noted, intensified both the frequency and severity of violence and fear
Theresearchers are unambiguous about what their findings mean for how genderbased violence is addressed in South Africa, where GBVremains anational crisis affecting women across every community and class. They argue that current approaches, which tend to focus on individual women and crisis responses, are structurally limited.
“For policy, the implications of this framework are uncomfortable but necessary,”the authors state.
“GBV cannot be addressed through individualised, crisis-response models alone. Interventions that focus solely on the individual, such as counselling, shelters and legal protection, without addressing the material and institutional conditions that make remaining in abusive situations appear rational, are likely to remain insufficient.”
Theresearchers are calling for a fundamental shift in how gender-based violence is understood and tackled in SouthAfrica. Rather than placing the burden on individual survivors to leave, the focus must shift to creating the conditions that make safetyareal possibility for everyone.
KAILINDANIELS
KAILIN.DANIELS@NOVUSMEDIA.CO.ZA
The proposed Table View CommunityImprovement District (TVCID) has moved into itsnext phase after an Urban Management Survey among property owners exceeded the legal response threshold required by the City of Cape Town.
The survey received 2948 responses from 12 800 unique propertyowners, achieving a response rate of 23.04% —above the required minimum of 20%.
The TVCID Steering Committee said the results represent a valid reflection of community sentiment and will guide the futurepriorities and budget planning of the proposed district.
Property owners wereasked to
identify theirbiggest concerns across five categories: safety, cleansing,infrastructure, sustainabilityand social responsibility.
Acrossall five categories, vagrancy andhomelessness emerged as themost significant concern.
Other issues raised included public safety andcrime,illegal dumping,littering, deteriorating parks andpublicspaces, insufficient street lighting, limited CCTV coverage anda lack of visible lawenforcement.
The Steering Committeesaid thesurvey results would directly influence the structure of the proposedCID’s services
The proposed TVCID covers
Table View and surrounding areas,includingTable View, Parklands Phase1Aand 1B, Waves Edge, the areasouth of Porterfield Road and Marine Circle.
Theproposeddistrictaims to focus on fourkey areas:improved public safety, enhanced cleansing services, environmental andurban maintenance,and social and economicdevelopment.
Planned safety measures include 24-hour patrol services, dedicatedCity Law Enforcement officers,expanded CCTV
coverageand increased control room monitoring.
The Steering Committee said cleansing initiatives would focus on litterhotspots, illegal dumping and maintaining public areas.
While the survey showed support for further investigation into establishing aCID, property owners also outlined conditions for their support
The Steering Committee said residents want measurable improvements, value for money, affordable additional rates, transparent governance and regular reporting.
“The Steering Committee acknowledges theseconditions and accepts them as the standard againstwhich the proposed CID must be measured,” it said.
The next phase will include
finalising adetailed budget proposal, forming property owner focus groups, hosting public information sessions and continuing engagement with residentsand stakeholders.
Aformal ballot will then take place, with at least 60% plus one of participating property owners required to vote in favour before an application can be submitted for approval.
Afinal budget has not yet been determined, with affordability remaining akey consideration.
TheSteering Committee said its goal is to ensure property owners have enough information to make an informed decision when the formal vote takes place. Residentswill receive further communication in the coming weeks.
TheCity of Cape Town has warnedmotorists not to fall for ascam in which fraudsters send SMS messages claiming road users have unpaid parking fees and must clickona link to settle thebalance.
According to the City’s Urban Mobility Directorate scammers sendmessages via SMSbut may also use other platforms such as email and WhatsApp. One of the common messagesreads ‘’Action required:Your parking fee
remains unpaid. Please settle the balance immediately...’’
PARKINGMARSHALLS
The City says the only way to pay foron-street parking is directly to the parkingmarshal at thetimeofparking. It does not send SMS, email or WhatsApp messages requestingpayment for parking fees
Motorists are advisednot to confusethese fraudulent messageswithlegitimate
notificationsabout outstanding traffic fines. TheCity does send reminders to motorists with outstanding fines registered in theirnames, whichcontain alinktoview fines at www. cityofctviewfines.co.za.
HOWTOVERIFY
Anyone with concerns aboutan outstanding parking fee should not respond to themessage or click on any links, butcontact theCity’s Transport Information
Centre on 0800 65 64 63 or transport.info@capetown.gov.za for assistance.
‘’Residents and visitors should remain vigilant and avoid clickingonlinksinunsolicited messages claiming that parking fees areoutstanding,’’ said Mayco member for Urban MobilityRob Quintas.
“If in doubt, contact the City directly through the Transport Information Centre for verification. The City does not
request payment for parking fees through SMS, email or WhatsApp messages.”
TheCitycharges parking fees for on-street parking bays in designated areas across Cape Town, particularly in central business districts and areas where demand for parking is high. According to the City this prevents any one motorist from occupying aspace for extended periods, ensuring fair access to parking for all road users.
DESIREE.RORKE@TYGERBURGER.CO.ZA
The Western Cape High Court last Wednesday sentencedthe accused, a49-year-old man from Kraaifontein, to life imprisonmentfor the rape of Daniel Jamneck and life imprisonment for his murder on 15 June 2023. He was further sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment for the rape of aBrackenfell woman in 2005, and eight years imprisonment for the sexualassaultof Daniel.
Action Society welcomed the sentencing of the child predator responsible for the rape and murder of eight-year-old Daniel, saying justicehas finally been servedfor alittle boy whose life was brutally stolen.
The organisation, however, says its work is far from over and will continue to pursue accountabilityfor the systemic failures thatallowed adangerous repeat sexual offender to remain free despite his violentcriminal history
The court also ordered that the accused be enteredonthe National Register for Sex Offenders, permanently prohibited him from working withchildren, prohibited him from possessing afirearm, andruled that both Maria Jamneck and the rape survivor be entitled to make representations to the Parole Board should he everbecome eligible for parole.
“Today’s proceedings weremarked by a powerful moment of solidarity as Daniel’s mother, Maria Jamneck, andthe other rape survivor held hands in court asthey awaited sentence,” says Juanita du Preez, Action Society’s head of operations.
“Two women whose lives had been forever changed by the sameoffender stood together in support of one another as justicewas finally delivered.”
Earlier in the week, the court heard Maria’s victim impact statement, in which she describedDaniel as “our absolute light”, acompassionate little boy who loved nature,dreamedofbecominga veterinarian, and adored his younger sister.
She also spoke of thedevastating trauma that continues to affect her family every daysince Daniel’s murder.
“Today’ssentencebrings justicefor Daniel and recognises the immense suffering enduredbyMaria, andeveryone whoselives have been shattered by this monster,” says Du Preez,
“Justice hasfinally been served. But we will continueour fight to expose the failures within the criminal justice system thatallowed this accused to remain free andcontinue his crime spree, ultimately ending in Daniel’s death.”
“South Africans deserve ajusticesystem thatidentifies dangerous repeat offenders, acts decisively and protects innocent lives before anotherfamily hastoendure this kind of unimaginable loss.”
JUSTICESERVEDBUTQUESTIONSREMAIN
Action Societyaccepted amandateto supportDaniel’s family after it emerged thatthe accused hadpreviously been convicted of rape, later absconded from a court-ordered rehabilitation programme, andsubsequently faced another attempted rape chargethatwas withdrawn before Daniel wasraped andmurdered.
“Theorganisation will continue pursuing accountabilityfor theinstitutional failures that allowedthese warning signs to go unaddressed. While today’s sentence closes onechapter in Daniel’scase, Action Society says thebroader fight for systemic accountabilityisonlybeginning,”says Du Preez.
On 15 June2023, during asleepover at his friend’s,Danielwas found dead in the bedofhis friend’s father, the accused, during theearly hours. The accused was takenintocustody soon after. The original murder charge was broadened to include rape and sexualassault once post-mortem results were concluded. Despiteprotesting hisinnocencethroughout theproceedings, theaccused facedoverwhelming evidence, including testimonyfrom his own son.
ANOTHERRAPE
It latercame to light that the convicted man had in 2007 entered into aplea agreementwith the NPAregarding the 2005 crime where the Brackenfell woman, then 22, wasdruggedand sexually assaulted.
A38-year-old mother of three told TygerBurger Daniel’s tragicdeath could havebeen prevented, hadher case not fallenthrough the cracksofthe justice system 18 years ago.
During an interview with the newspaper in 2023, the woman recounted being at a gathering where the accused had bought her adrink She recalled little of the evening beyond flashbacks of dizziness and leaning against awall outside before he offered to drive her home. After another friend was dropped off, she remembered nothing until waking the next morning on acouch in his aunt’shouse, her clothes dishevelled and no memory of the night before.
Disoriented, she spent the day trying to piece events together beforeaconcerned friend persuaded her to go to the police. While she was at the police station, the accused arrived to hand himself over and confessed.
He was arrested and released on bail the following Monday. Thecase dragged on for more than two years. In 2007, while pregnant with her first son, she was summoned by the prosecutor. The accused’s lawyer warned her the case would come down to “he says, she says” and that she would be ripped apartin court.
Intimidated, she agreed to withdraw the charges on condition the offence went on his record and he completed adiversion programme for sexual offenders. If he failed to complete the programme, the charges would be reinstated. However, this never happened without her knowledge. It later emerged at the bailhearing for Daniel’smurder that the accused had absconded from the programme after only four sessions.
Thecase has stirred profound grief far beyond the courtroom walls whereagroup called Justice for Daniel Jamneck formed who followed the proceedings, with one simple purpose, to ensure that his story is never forgotten.
Radio Tygerberg 104FMenSpar Boston se Blikkies-, Sakkies- &Pakkies-veldtog verlede week was 'n reusesukses, met meer as R40 000 se nie-bederfbare koswat deur die gemeenskap tydens'nbuiteuitsending op Vrydag 24 Julie ingesamel is.
Wat as 'n droom begin hetomeen voertuig vol kos te maak, het in 'n oorvloedige seën ontwikkel, sê Francois Boyce, woordvoerder Met voedselonsekerheidwat meeras16% van inwoners in die Wes-Kaapraak, was die doeleenvoudig —omhooptebring waar daar nood is, sê hy. "Ons doel was eenvoudig om net die RadioTygerberg-bakkiepropvol blikkieskos te maak,maar God het groter planne gehad.Daar was so baie skenkings
dateen bakkie nie genoeg was nie en 'n tweede voertuigmoesingespanword om al die skenkings te vervoer, sê Boyce. Die nie-bederfbare produkte sal versprei word aanonder meer Shiloh, MES en It’s Amazing. Ditsal ookdie WAVESFoundation('n nuwegemeenskapsinisiatief van Radio Tygerberg) in staat stel om nogmeer mense te help wat daagliks by Radio Tygerbergomondersteuning aanklop.
"Ons is weer eens verras deur elke luisteraar, ondersteuner en vrywilliger wathierdie projek moontlik gemaak het. Elke blikkie, pakkie en sakkie is 'n tasbare bewys dat wanneer 'n gemeenskap saamstaan,hoop 'n werklikheid word," sê Rikus van Rooy, stasiebestuurdervan Radio Tygerberg.
Die Radio Tygerberg 104FM-span met Spar
Boston se personeel is (van links) Francois Boyce, Lauren James, RachelMarcus, Rikus vanRooy, AnnalisePutter en Jan-Hendrik Fourie
Traffic around TableView and Killarney Gardens was severely disrupted on Monday morning(27 July) after aMyCiTi bus caught alight at the MyCiTi busstation in Killarney.
The bus stationitself, closetothe intersection with Silverstone Road, was alsoengulfedinflames, causing major infrastructure damage.
Suevan der Linde, ward councillor, shared apicture of theburning bus and busstationonher social media page, urging motorists to avoid the area. Traffic was disrupted on Koeberg, Potsdam as well as Blaauwberg Road. Traffic on the nearby GieRoad was alsoaffected.
Smoke was seen billowing kilometres away, while fire engines responding to the incident approached down GieRoad.
The City’s urbanmobility directorate said in astatementthataninvestigation into the causeofthe fire is underway.
The bus has been destroyed and thereis extensive damage to the station that will remain closed until further notice, the directoratesaid.
No injuries were reported. Thefire was reportedshortly before 09:00.
Fire services assisted in putting out the
fire, and that traffic was diverted while these efforts were ongoing.
PASSENGERSSAFELYEVACUATED
“I’ve been told that the bus driver heard an unusual sound when he arrived at the station. The next moment, he noticed smoke coming from the front of the bus Thankfully, all the passengers and the staff were safely evacuated before it got worse,” said Rob Quintas, Mayco member for urban mobility.
He said they werenotified that aprotest happened further down Potsdam Road afew minutes before the incident,and that thereisaninvestigation underway to determine the cause of the fire, and whether there are any links to the protest. Thematter has also been reported to the police, Quintas said.
“This incident will have amajor impact on the commuters who make use of the Killarney station,”said Quintas. Commuters have been urged to make use of the Potsdam station on the corner of Potsdam and Blaauwberg road in coming months while repairs are underway.
KAILINDANIELS
KAILIN.DANIELS@NOVUSMEDIA.CO.ZA
More than 70 volunteers gathered at Lagoon Beach in Milnerton lastweek to help protect the coastline during acommunity cleanup that removed an incredible 413kgof litter from the shore.
The initiative, organised by Save a Fishie,brought together learners,parents andteachers fromCBC St John’s College, along with regular volunteers and new supporters who spent their Saturday morning making adifference.
Save aFishie founder Zoe Prinsloo said the amount of waste collected was a
heartbreaking reminderofthe ongoing challengefacinglocal beaches.
“Whatanincredible morning at our Lagoon Beach,Milnerton cleanup. We were joined by more than70amazing volunteers,including learners, parents andteachers from CBC St John’s College, along with our favourite regulars and some wonderful new faces,” said Prinsloo. She said every helping hand was needed,
with volunteers discovering large amounts of litterwashedupalong the beach.
Among theitems collected were clothing, bags, lollipop sticks, earbud sticks, straws, shoes,plastic bottles, atyre and even a 60kg piece of couch.
Prinsloo highlightedconcerns about thenumber of nappiesfound during the cleanup, saying brands such as Huggies, Pampers and Cherubs featured among the waste collected.
Shecalledoncompanies to become more involvedinsupporting environmental initiatives andbeach cleanups
Adding aspecial touch to the morning was Terry theTurtle, who joined volunteersand helped spread the message of protecting marine life andkeeping beaches clean.
The mascot was afavourite among younger participants, posing for photographsand encouraging children to learn more about theimportance of caring for theocean.
“Everycleanup makes adifference,” said Prinsloo. “Thank you to everyone whocontinues to showup, care for our environment,and inspire others to do the same.”
The cleanupwas supported by Plastics SA, whichprovided strong yellow collection bags, andaQuellé,which donated watertokeep volunteers hydrated.
One of the heaviest bags collected weighed an impressive 24kg, highlighting thescaleofthe pollution removed from thecoastline.
Prinsloo thanked all volunteers for
giving their time and helping create a cleaner, healthier environment for both people and marine life.
“Together, we removed an incredible 413kg of litter from our coastline,” she said, adding that she hoped the cleanup would inspire more residentstotake action and continue protecting beaches.
