TygerBurger | Tygervallei | E-edition | 15 April 2026

WOENSDAG15APRIL

. Die TygerbergTuin- en Blommeklub komom 09:30 vir 10:00 by die NG kerk ParowWelgelegen, Provencestraat 47,Welgelegen, byeen.Lorraine Rose doen ‘n blommedemonstrasie metdie tema “Verrassing”enAnjaFreysen praatoor moderne tendenseintuinontwerp en wenke. Die blommekunskompetisie se tema is “Halfmoon kisses”. Teewordvan 09:30voorsien. Kontak Beatrix Lambert-Bestbier by 082873 9864 metnavrae. . Curious about Buddhism and the practise of meditation?Residents and visitors areinvited to join aBuddhist lectureonmeditationatMilnerton Library, 81 Pienaar Road,onWednesday 15 April at 18:30 Theevening will includeatalk on meditationfroma Buddhist perspective, followed by aguided session to help participants experiencemindfulness firsthand Thesession is expected to last 2–3hours,and newcomersare warmly welcomed.The lectureisopen to all,withasuggested donationofR70,and visitor parkingisavailable at the library. Forenquiries or to register, contact capetown@buddhism-southafrica orgor067 3768336.

SATERDAG18APRIL

. Die Vriendevan Brackenvierhul 20 jaar vandiens by die Bracken-natuurreservaatmet ’n grootbyeenkoms by diereservaat.Daarsal ’n verskeidenheidvan stalletjies en aktiwiteite soos ’n pretdraf,’nbegeleide stap,’npraatjieenrotsverfvir jong kinderswees. Die dagbegin om 07:00eneindig 12:00. Kontak André by 071089 9503vir meer inligting

.TheCapeModel and ToyClubwillbehaving their SummerCollectorsToy Fair onceagain this weekend. Theevent willbeheldatthe Edgemead Community Hall in Edgemead on Saturday 18 April. Theevent starts at 09:00,finishing at 14:00.Entrycosts R10 perpersonand children under 16 yearsenter forfree. Organisers saysofar 80 tables have already been booked andthatrefreshments will also be on sale FormoredetailscallChris Lourens on 083448 6813or email capemodeltoyclub1997@gmail.com

.Aspecial family movie evening is beingpresented by the AndriesOlivier Durbanville Quadriplegic Centre on Saturday 18 Aprilfrom15:00 to 17:30. EntryisR40 forchildrenand R60for adults. Snacks willbesold at thevenue. Theevent will be held at the centreat 18 Hafele Street in Durbanville.The AndriesOlivier Durbanville QuadriplegicCentre is an independent care facility forparaplegicand quadriplegicpeople. Contact Ella on 079469 6267 to book your spotorfor moreinformation.

THURSDAY23APRIL

TheR5booksaleatthe DurbanvilleChildren’sHome willtakeplace on Thursday 23 April and Friday24 Aprilfrom09:00to15:00and Saturday 25 April from 09:00 to 13:00 at the receptionarea. Therewillbe a largeselection of fiction, non-fiction, coffee-table and children’sbooks,aswellasCDs and DVDs.Card facilitieswillbeavailable

TUESDAY28APRIL

. TheEgyptian SocietyofSouth Africa willhostits next meeting at St George’s GrammarSchoolinMowbray on Tuesday28April at 19:30. Guestspeaker Prof Sebastianvan As will present alecture titled “The NurtureofChildren in Ancient Egypt”,offeringinsight intochildhoodpracticesand upbringing in one of history’soldest civilisations. Entryisfreefor members, whilevisitors payR30.Refreshments willbeavailable at acostof R10. Booking is not required,and secure parking is available on the schoolgrounds.For more information, contact 021852 7273 or 084774 3972

SATURDAY2MAY

. TheCapeTownGem and MineralClub’snextopen daytakes placefrom10:00 to 14:00 at 14aGoede HoopSt, Bothasig. Entryisfree. Learnmoreabout the hobbyofcrystals, gems, and mineral specimen collecting, and relatedcraftwork.Plentyofoff-road parking.Food available. Allwelcome,especially children

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,handmadecrafts, fashion, musicand family-friendlyentertainment.Freeentry. Formore informationcontactCJJackson on WhatsApp 072830 1966

FRIDAY12JUNE

.TheMitchells PlainUnitedResidents Association (Mura) willbehaving aGolf Dayaspartofthe area’s 50thanniversarycelebrations. It willbeheldatthe RoyalCapeGolfClubonFriday12June.The eventwill caterfor 120players over six to eight waterholes. Mura is in need of prizes,waterholesponsors, contents for goodie-bags, and auctionitems forthe prize-giving dinners.Ifyou wouldliketotakepart, donateorfor moreinformation, contact NormanJantjesat 083628 4421

Easterperiod housefiresspike

The City of CapeTown's Fire and Rescue Service said last week said there had been aspike in residentialfires over the Easter period.

Easterweekend was celebrated from Friday 3toMonday 6April.

Theservicesaid it recorded aslight increaseinthe overall number of incidentsover theweekend, from 277 last year to 298 this year.

JP Smith,Mayco member for safetyand security, said formal residential fires had increased from just adozen last Easter to 30 this year. The number of informal residentialfires decreased slightly, he said. Last year atotal of 34 informal residentialfire incidents were recorded, while this year there were only 32.

"These statisticsare of concern, particularly as we headinto winter, where thefire risk in the home increases as the useofvariousheating methods increases.

"I appeal to residents always to keep fire safety topofmind, make sure their electrical systemsare up to code, service heaters, gas and paraffin stoves and other flammable devices, andkeep theirwits about them whenusing them.

"Ouremergencyservices do fire education outreaches, but we also have a comprehensive list of safety tips."

Smith said mostincident categories

INFORMAL RESIDENTIAL FIRESDECREASED SLIGHTLY

declined this year, but that trauma and medical incidentswent from 21 to 36, an increase of 71%.

Theother categories which have shown a decline, according to the Easter statistics, are motor-vehicle accidents, of which only 53 incidentswere reported thisyear, pedestrian accidents of which 22 incidents were reported, and vegetation fires of which 84 incidentswere reported.

. Visitwww.capetown.gov.za/firesafety to viewthe list of safety tips.

FROMPAGE1

Thankyou alsotoour partners in drowningprevention, who contributed significantly to asuccessful season,"said Maycomemberfor community services and health, Francine Higham.

NEAR-DROWNINGINCIDENTSHIGHLIGHT ONGOINGRISKS

Despite theimprovedsafety record, severalnear-drowning incidents reported duringthe summerhighlighted the unpredictable nature of ocean conditions around Cape Town. Authorities stressed that even popular beaches can quickly become dangerous due to changing tides, rip currents andweather conditions. Beachgoers echoedthese concerns while reflectingonthe season. “I’ve been coming to thebeach for years, and you really can’t underestimatehow fastthings can change. The lifeguards made ahuge difference this summer,” said beach visitor Sarah Williams. Milnertonregular Thabo Mokoena added: “Youcould seehow alert the

lifeguards were all season. It definitely made families feel safer, especially on busy days.”

Melkbosstrand beachgoer Emma Jacobs said increased awareness played arole too: “People are more cautious now. You notice parents watching theirkids much closer, especially when the water is rough.”

INVESTMENTANDFUTURESAFETYFOCUS

TheCityhas now shifted itsattention to maintaining and upgrading public swimming facilities, with aproposed R20 million budget allocation for the 2026-'27 financial year aimed at refurbishments, repairs and scheduled maintenance. This forms part of abroader five-year programme to upgrade Cape Town’s 37 public swimming pools, several of which have already undergone improvements. As winter begins, authorities continue to urge caution around water, noting that lifeguard services are no longer active and that coastal conditions remain unpredictable throughout the year.

Man(60)shotdeadinRacecourseRd

KAILINDANIELS

KAILIN.DANIELS@NOVUSMEDIA.CO.ZA

Amurder case has been opened at Milnerton Police Stationfollowingafatal shooting in Racecourse Road on Thursday 9April at approximately 22:00.

According to provincial police spokespersonThembakazi Mpendukana officers responded to an alert to amurder and on arrival found a60-year-old male victimwith multiple gunshotwoundsto the upper body. He was declared dead on the scene.

Police confirmed the motive for the shooting was still unknown,with

investigation ongoingand no arrests made yet.

The incident occurred closetoMediClinic Milnerton, where witnesses reported scenes of panic as shots were firedand the public scattered for safety

PUBLICSHOCKED

An eyewitness told TygerBurger:“We were justoutside whenweheard the gunshots. People immediately started running in every direction. It was extremely frightening andhappenedso suddenly.There was panic everywhere nearMedi-Clinic.Wesaw people scattering andcars stoppinginthe road.

PANIC-STRICKEN PEOPLE IMMEDIATELYSTARTED RUNNINGINEVERYDIRECTION.

It felt unsafewithin seconds, and no-one knew what was going on.”

POLICEINVESTIGATIONCONTINUES

Authoritiessaid the motive for the shooting remainedunknown and no arrests hadbeenmade.Investigations were ongoingaspolice worked to establish thefullcircumstancessurrounding the incident.

Threearrestedafter beach robbery andshootout

KAILINDANIELS

Table View police are investigatingcases of reckless and negligent driving and robbery following an incident at Bloubergstrand Beach on Thursday 9April.

According to provincial police spokespersonSgt Wesley Twigg suspects allegedly involved in arobbery were travelling in asilver-grey Hyundai when chased by private security. A shootout reportedly occurred during the pursuit,which ended on the corner of Koeberg and Racecourse roads in Milnerton, where thesuspects were apprehended.

Police confirmed three adult men were arrested in connection

with the incident and were expected to appear in the CapeTownMagistrates’ Court once formally charged. The circumstances remained under investigation

EYEWITNESSDESCRIBESCHAOTIC SCENE

Aparenttravelling with a child described the frightening moment shotswerefired during the chase. “Wejustturned down fromthe schoolbecause we were looking at the assessments, then we went to Paddocks andthe police vans andsecurity vans were chasing that silvercar and shots were fired. My sonand Ijustheard it; when abullet travels itmakesa uniquesound.

Itold my sonthose were bullets. I checked whether he was bleeding anywhere,Ichecked myself and only afterwards learned what had happened.”

The witness said the incident seemedtostemfrom arobbery that had takenplacenear Paddocks. “At theparking hotel (sic)one of theladiessaid aguy robbed somebody nearPaddocks, and that’s when the policecame chasingwith security companies. My son and Iwere both very scared. It happened right in front of us,right next to us in the lane nexttous.”

INVESTIGATIONCONTINUES

Policesaid investigations into reckless and negligent driving,

robbery and the circumstances of theshootout were ongoing.

Heavypolicepresenceafter ahigh-speed pursuit ended in Milnerton on Thursday afternoon.

Author to talk at library

Milnerton Librarywillhostauthor BarbaraTownsend on Thursday 23 April at 11:00 in celebration of WorldBook Day. She willdiscuss her latest memoir, The Colour of Flying . Formoreinformation, contact Mae on 021444 0815.

ToyFair soon

TheCape Model and ToyClubwillbe havingtheir Summer Collectors Toy Fair onceagain this weekend at the Edgemead CommunityHallinEdgemead on Saturday18April.The event starts at 09:00,finishing at 14:00.Entrycosts R10 per person and childrenunder 16 years enter forfree.

Thousandsofplasticsticksfound

KAILINDANIELS KAILIN.DANIELS@NOVUSMEDIA.CO.ZA

Environmental group Rethink The Stink has raised freshconcerns abouthidden sources of beach pollution after thousands of plastic sticks were collected during acleanup at LagoonBeach on Saturday 11 April.

The waste was gathered by Save aFishie volunteersaspart of their ongoing #BinItDontFlushIt campaign, which focuses on preventingbathroomrelatedlitterfrom entering Cape Town’s waterways and coastline.

According to organisers the discovery of earbud sticks highlightsa growing and largelyunseen pollution problem;items thatare not discarded on beaches,but flushed down toiletsand carried through the sewage system before ending up inthe ocean.

“They’re not dropped on the beach. They’re flushed.”

Volunteers explained that many small items, including earbud sticks, cotton buds and wet wipes, are thin enough to slip through wastewater treatment filters. From there, they arecarriedinto rivers andeventually washed out to sea, where tides return them to shorelines.

“This is preventable pollution,”the group said, stressing that toilets should only be used forthe “3 Ps: pee, poo and paper.”

Everything else, they added, belongs in the bin.

CALLFORBEHAVIOURALCHANGE

Save aFishie volunteer Zoë Prinsloo said the latest cleanup formed partoftheir third #BinItDontFlushIt beach activation, held in partnership withthe City of Cape Town andRethink The Stink.

“On Saturday we had our third

AWARENESS MUST BE RAISED OF FLUSHED WASTE’SIMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT.

#BinItDontFlushIt beach clean-up, in proud collaboration with the City of Cape Town and RethinkThe Stink, to help raise awareness of the impact thatincorrectlyflushed bathroom waste hasonour environment andwaterways.”

She added that thegroup hadfocused on smaller items that often go unnoticed.

“We focused on everything,from tiny nurdles, earbud sticks, lollipop sticks and bottle tops, to plastic bottles, bags andtins, andeven afew bags floating in thelagoon itself.”

The team removed31kgoflitter during the clean-up,with organisers notingthat around 80% of thewaste consistedofvery small plastic items

“Wewerealso able to provide MyStudentHouse with #BinItDontFlushIt stickers to place on toilet stall doors to help spread awareness,”Prinsloo added.

BEACHGOERSREACTTOPOLLUTIONCONCERNS

Regular beach visitors expressed concern after hearing aboutthe findings andthe scale of thepollution problem.

“I hadnoidea things like earbud sticks could enduponthe beach,” said MilnertonbeachgoerJason van Wyk. “It’s quite shockingwhen you think abouthow far it travels.”

Lagoon Beach visitor Nadia Jacobs said the issue highlightedthe need for more public awareness. “People just don’t realisewhat flushingthe wrong things does.Seeing it collected like that is eyeopening.”

Table View resident Liam Petersen

added: “You thinkyou’re being clean, butitactually ends up in the ocean. It’s disturbing to see it back on the beach.”

Beach regular Ayesha Damies said small changes could makea big difference. “If everyonejust followed the 3P’s rule we wouldn’t have this problem. It really starts at home.”

SIMPLEMESSAGE,BIGIMPACT

Organisers said the solution lies in changing everyday habits, stressing that even small plastic items contributetolongterm environmentaldamage.

“Only flushthe 3Ps – pee, poo and toilet

paper,” they stated. “Everything else belongs in the bin.”The group urged the publictosupport the #BinItDontFlushIt campaign to help reduce pollution at its source.

Raaf komtreebyDie Boerop

Dieduo RAAF is op Donderdag23enVrydag24 April om 20:30 by Die Boer-teaterrestaurant in Durbanville.

Lourens en Esté Raaf doen die lewe anders. Elke dagis'navontuur,elkeoomblik 'n geleentheid. Hul genrekan nie beperk word toteen woordnie.Hul liriekevertel stories vanmenswees enhul musikaliteit en energie is aansteeklik.

Komsaamop'nreisvan musiek watjou gaan laat lag, huilen gaan laat feesvier Hullebringhul nuutstemusiek, lirieke, digkunsen daardiekenmerkende energiewat jou lank ná die vertoningsal aanspoor om kleurvoltelewe. Kaartjieskos R280. . Bespreekbywww.dieboer.com of by 021979 1911.

Nuwevenuesvir Suidoosterfees

Die Suidoosterfees,watvanjaar van29 April tot3Mei vir die 23stekeer aangebied word,breivanjaar verder uit as die Kunstekaap-teaterkompleks,met verskeie nuwe venues watbenut word "Kortvoor lank"iseen vandie fees se gewildste programafdelings–waar uiteenlopende stories in treffende 30-minuut-vertoningslewegegee word Hierdieplatformis’nbroeikasvir vernuwing en bied aan feesgangers’ntoeganklike manier om nuwe stemme, genres en vormevan teater te ontdek. ’n Hoogtepunt op dieprogram is Jakobregop –die premièrevan Hennie Aucamp se heerlik ondeunde saterspel watreeds in 1988 in Sjampanje vir ontbyt verskynhet,maarnog nooitvoorheen opgevoer is nie. Hierdieslegs-vir-volwassenes komedie met Dean Balie, MarcelMeyer en Anzio September,onder regievan Fred Abrahamse, speel sensueel,stylvol en skreeusnaaksmet temassoosmenslike begeerte, dieouderdom en magsverhoudingstussen mense. Jakobregop is bedoel virvolwassegehorewat nie skrikvir naaktheidnie Adam Small90 is ’n reeksnuwekort tekste waarin Smallsewerkherverbeel word deur jong skrywers en spelersvan dieProscenium-dramakompetisie.In Ongekarteerde drome, Langsdie paduitsak, Tussen vlugte en Waar oekaldjy belong word temassoos behoort, drome,identiteitenverlies ondersoek teen dieagtergrond van’nsamelewing watsteeds deur ongelykhede gekenmerkword. Hierdie reeks, ondersteun deur dieStigtingvir Bemagtiging deur Afrikaans, bring jong kunstenaarsinkreatiewe gesprek met een vanSuid-Afrika se meesinvloedrykeliterêre figure.

IngridJonker se enigstetoneelstuk krynuwelewe in ’n Seun na my hart,onder regievan Marí Borstlap, terwyl diedigteresenaktrise Veronique Jephtasin Ouma slaan’nses hemel toe geloof,rou en verlies in

DIE DRAMATURG

HENNIE

AUCAMP SE ONDEUNDE TONEELSTUK ‘N HOOGTEPUNT

speelveld waar teater as medium self ondersoek en bevraagteken word Kabaretenmusiek blom in Karamonkie,waarin Bianca Flanders ’n speelse,grensverskuiwende keuse vankontemporêreskryfwerk, visueleteaterenkamishibai aanbied. In Net’nbietjie liefde bring André Schwartzhulde aanmentors en kunstenaarsvriende watsyloopbaanhelp vorm het.Enin Verweef skep CorneilMüller’nintieme klankwêreldwaarin stem, tjello en klavier saamvloei in ’n poëtiese refleksie oor herinnering en betekenis

Die Waterfront-teaterskool se studentestelhul talent tentoon in Encore met sang,toneelspel en dans.In TheMagic of Musicals:FromGoodtoGreat bring Northlink-kollegestudentegunstelingeuit

MilnertonHigh learner triumphs at National Chess Championship

MilnertonHighSchool is celebrating arising chess star afterGrade8learner Shaurya Singh delivered acommanding performance to win theu-14 Open Sectionatthe 2026 South AfricanJuniorClosed Chess Championship (SAJCCC) recently.

The prestigious tournament, held in Rustenburginthe North WestProvince, broughttogether 79 of the country’s topyoung chessplayers, representingall nine provinces.

Shaurya stoodout with anearperfect performance, scoring an impressive 8.5 outofapossible ninepoints.

RISINGSTAREARNSNATIONALCOLOURS

Hisvictoryhas earned him federation coloursand the honour of representingSouth Africa in upcoming internationalchess tournaments —a significant milestone in his young chess career.

Shaurya’s successreflects not only his dedicationand skill, but also the growing strengthofchess at Milnerton HighSchool.The schoolhas congratulated him on his outstanding accomplishment andwished himcontinued success as heprepares tocompete on the international stage.

Parklandslearners reachingforthestars

During the April school holidays five learners from Parklands Collegetook their talents beyond the classroom and into orbit – figuratively – as they competed in Africa’s first-ever SpaceDesign Competition at the University of CapeTown. Representing theschool as Team AresIndustrial, Isabella Ankiah,Caitlin Hunt, Aden van Rhys, Levi Scott-Hayward and Nicole Kemp spent two demandingdays collaborating with peers from otherschools. Together, theytackledthe challenge of designingfuturistic spacesettlements, putting their innovation, teamwork and problem-solvingskills to the test under pressure Leadership and innovation recognised Their efforts paid off with notable individual achievements. Isabella was appointedpresident of her cross-school team, Kepler Automation, demonstrating exceptionalleadership.

Meanwhile,Caitlin earnedthe prestigious ViadexoneBest Technology Award in recognition of heroutstanding technological thinking.

The competition marked a significant milestone, but the journeydoes not end there. Of 109

PARKLAND LEARNERS ARE COLLABORATING WITHPROSPECTIVE YOUNG ASTRONAUTS

students competing in the ZASDC National Finals only eight were selected to represent SouthAfrica internationally, and Isabella is among them.

Shewill travel to the International Space Settlement Design Competition (ISSDC) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida from 29 Julyto3 August thisyear. There she will collaboratewithstudents from across the globe, forming international teams to respond to alive engineering brief and present acomprehensive space settlement design to NASA engineers and aerospace industry professionals.

Reserve spot reflects excellence

Adding to the school’spride, Aden has been named areserve for Team SouthAfrica, one of only four selected. His inclusion highlights the strong impression he made during the national competition, and he stands ready to step in should any of the selected team members be unable to attend.

Parklands College emphasises real-world learning through its

STAR programme, encouraging learners to discover their purpose by solving meaningful challenges linked to both earth and space.

Thesuccess of Team Ares Industrial reflectsthis ethos in action.

Theschool expressed immense pride in Isabella, Aden and the entire team as well as gratitude to coaches Carike Cass and Hanco Haydenrych for their dedication and support during the competition.

THINKING OUTLOUD

Let’stalk abouttech, baby... and brains

Our family is very strict about screen time. To explain the reason, I’m going to get all nerdybefore Iweigh in with experience fromraising seven daughters. Our tech reluctance is becauseofthe prefrontal lobe. This part of the brain is in the forehead and keeps developing long after the rest stops. It actually only stops when one is about 25. It is responsible for impulsecontrol, emotion regulation, and weighing longterm consequences. It will becomethe filter that will influence decision-making. Put another way, this is whereyour wisdom sits andittakes at least25years to grow.

So what has this got to do with screen time?

Well, screens, and any other activities from the plethora of instantgratification stimuli readily availablenowadays, damagesthe development of the prefrontal lobe.

If you don’t believe me, lookitup. There are dozens of peer reviewed articles easily accessible online that say the samething. So, for this reason, my husband and Itry, really, really hard, to limit ourdaughters’ screen times. Ideally we’d cutitout altogether but unfortunately, the world, the school system and my ownrelatives seem to be against us. Gone are the days when pupils used adiary torecord appointments and homework. Nowadays even my six-year-old’s homeworkissent via google classroom. And Ihavefirsthand experience of how my children’s moods and marksdecline when they have access to too much screen time Take for example my second eldest.

PRINCIPALS,HELPUSOUTHERE

For years, before we had aTV, she and her sisters woulddraw, read, play boardgames, skate, cycle, play outside, write their own littlecomicsand entertain themselves easily without anyhelp from us. When we had no TV, mychildren would automatically navigate to their hobbies,but then my sister gifted us with one and all creativity in our home had a sudden and dramatic drop.

Soon after, when the sameSantasister gave mysecond eldest acellphone when she turned 14, it was accompanied by a dramatic change in personality. That year shefailed asubject for the first timeand all her marks dropped. We took awaythe phone. She regarded it as apunishment. We didn’t care.

Her first phoneless week, she meandered around the house like apoltergeist; head lowered, face scowling, speaking to no one and answering anythingaddressed to her in growlymonosyllables. She also behaved like an addict. She threw epic tantrums, cried, and tried allmanner of manipulation. She searched our room and stoleitback afew times, but, eventually, after awhole week of phonelessness,she moved on from being avery morose, moody, anti-social teenager to aslightly lessmorose, moody, anti-socialteenager But, more importantly, within one school term, her marks improved and she was back in the top quarter of the class again. We would havegladly never given her phoneback but, unfortunately her teachers started sending homeworkon WhatsApp chats.

While modern tech is anecessary part of life and Idonot hate it,Ido feel that in the classroom it should be limited to only what is absolutely necessary and I am not alone in my thinking. The growing philosophyworldwide is foracomplete banofcellphones in schools. Yet, last term, Igot letters requestingthat Iregister all three my primary school-aged children on google classroom.

Principals, help us out here, please!

—LAUREN O'CONNOR-MAY

Parklands safety in crisis

As ahome ownerinParklands, Iamwith the many who strive to makethis asafeplace to call home

Informalsettlements, particularlysectionsofSiyahlalaand shacksnearPioneer Valley,haveexpanded intothe TableBay NatureReserve near Dunoon This occupation, often on the Diep River floodplain, causes severe pollution andhabitat disruption, with approximately 189shacksinthe reserveasof2021. It alsoposes greatsafetyrisks; thugs andthievesoften quickly findplacestohide

This allimpacts home values andselling power, if ever oneseekstomoveatsome stage. Additionally, thereislittle to no policing in the Parklandsarea, leaving lawlessness to flourish, unabated

TheParklands Satellite Police Station on Parklands Main Road facedconcernsregardingresource limitations and remains closed, apparentlydue to manpowershortages.

Therecentincident of an attempted murder followingashootingincident on Friday3April at approximately17:00 in MorningfordRoad, is notthe only incident. Much moreneeds to be done from by our council, our policeand the other civic structures. What assurancedowehaveashomeownersand the greaterParklands community? Is proper and proportionateaction being take on ourbehalf?

Parklands is abeautiful area and canbebetter maintained. TheParklands FynbosCorridor is agood example.

It connects the Rietvlei Wetland Reservewith the BlaauwbergConservation Area but it is notwellkept andhas been neglected foraverylongtime.Whatis being done here?

Thereare manywho share my sentiments andwe allbelieve in this community.

TYRONE

BRETT COETZEE, Parklands

Ratepayers question legaltariff basis

Ifind it peculiar that ourmunicipalityisbudgeting basedontariffscurrentlyunder legaldispute.

Do municipal officialspossess information unavailabletothe public, or aretheysimplyproceedingwith wishfulthinking?The eventual court ruling will serve as acrucialtest of judicial independence and adherence to the ruleoflaw

Ipropose that ratepayerassociationsdemand areferendum on the municipal budget.Taxpayers should vote on whether theyaccept the proposedbudgetand arewilling to payinflation plus 1% on their municipal accounts. Whatever the outcome,all residents should

payaccording to the referendumresults.

This is howgenuinedemocracyshouldfunction–with citizens having adirect sayinhow their taxmoney is spent,rather than having decisions imposedupon them by officialswho maybeoperatingondisputed legalgrounds.

Thecurrentapproach undermines both fiscal responsibilityand democratic principles. Ataxpayer referendumwouldrestoreaccountabilityand ensure that municipal spending truly reflects the willofthose who fundit.

CONCERNED RATEPAYER,Brackenfell

Somerkan noumaar einde se kant toestaan

Asseblief,winter, komgou!

Ná nog ‘n paar strawwe somerdae verlede week, begineknou wonderofons ooit weer verligtinggaan kry. Ek verlang na daardie eerstekoue oggendwanneer jy lekker onder ‘n kombers kaninkruip,enwanneer ‘n koppiewarmkoffiewerkliksin maak.Ekverlang na die

dae toeons oorkoue weer geklahet –wat soueknie nougee vir ‘n lekker koue reënbuinie!

Ek is nouuitgesomer komassebliefgou,winter Onsisgereed vir jou koue wind, jou reën, en selfsjou donker dae

UITGEPUTTE SOMERLEWENDE

Basic kindness missing on Cape Town roads

My worst fearsabout Cape Town'sreputation as an "unfriendlycity" were confirmed when my car recentlybroke down on abusymain road during peak traffic. Foroveranhour, Istood beside my vehicle with the bonnet raised, the universal distress signal, whilehundreds of cars passed by.Not asingle person stopped to offer assistance,check if Ineededhelp,or even ask if Iwas alright Iwatchedasdrivers deliberatelylooked away,some even changing lanestoavoid anypotentialinteraction. What has happened to the spirit of communityand Ubuntu thatweclaim defines South Africa? Whendid we become so self-absorbed andindifferenttoour

fellow citizens' plight?

Before moving here recently, I'veheard visitorsdescribe Cape Town as beautiful butcold–not referring to the weather,but to its people. This experiencesadly validates those observations.

We'vebecome acitywhere peopleare toobusy, toosuspicious, or simplytoo uncaringtoextend basic human kindness. Perhapsweshouldreflect on what kind of societywe'recreatingwhen common decency becomes uncommon, and helpingastranded motorist is seen as someone else's responsibility. We candobetter, Cape Town. DISILLUSIONED, Durbanville

LAGMET LANGNEK: ’n Nuuskierigevolstruis by dieCape Ostrich Ranch op dieN7-snelweg het diekolliggesteel toehysykop uitsteek om besoekers op ’n vriendelikeenspeelse manier te“groet”.Die dier se nabyheid het gastelaat glimlag en groot vermaak verskaf

FOTO:CHRISTA ROSSOUW

Stronger communities start with us

It is easy to complain about the stateofour neighbourhoods —fromlitterand crime to service delivery—but real changebegins when residents choose to getinvolved. Toooften, communityinitiatives such as neighbourhood watches, clean-up campaigns or localmeetings aresupported by only ahandful of dedicated individuals. Thereality is that theseefforts cannotsucceed or grow without broader communityparticipation

Getting involved does notrequireamajor time commitment.Itcan be as simpleasattending alocal meeting, reporting issues to the relevant authorities, supportingaclean-up effort,orlooking outfor your neighbours. Smallactions, when multiplied, canmake ameaningful difference.

Stronger,safer andcleaner communities arebuilt through sharedresponsibility. When residents work together,theynot only address challenges more effectively, but also buildasenseofpride andconnection in the places theylive. Insteadofwaitingfor others to take the lead, perhapsitistimeweeachask: what can Idotocontribute?

If moreresidents step forward, even in smallways, we canbegin to create the kind of communities we all want to live in.

LEND AHELPING HAND,Brackenfell

Medicalcosts leave families struggling

Irecently had an experiencethat left me deeply concerned about the growing cost of healthcarein our communities.

Whilevisiting apaediatrician with my young son, Iwitnessed acouplearrivewith their child, clearly anxious andinneed of care.During their conversation at reception, it became evident that theydid nothave medical aid. Thequotedcostfor asimpleconsultation, excluding anymedication,was alarminglyhigh. One couldsee the hesitation andworryontheir facesas theytriedtodecide what to do,quietlyweighing their child’simmediateneeds against what theycould afford. As someonefortunate enough to have medical aid, I am acutelyaware that even we feel the financialstrain of co-payments, shortfallsand steadilyincreasing monthlypremiums. Each visit often comeswith unexpectedadditional costs. But forfamilies without this safety net,accessing privatehealthcarehas become an overwhelming andoften impossibleburden. Yes, it is often argued that government clinics and hospitalsare availabletothose who cannotafford privatecare. Whilethis is true in principle, the reality on the ground is very different.Thesefacilities are frequentlyovercrowded andunder immensepressure. Healthcareisnot aluxury –itisa basic humanneed. No parent shouldhavetostand at areceptiondesk andwonder whether theycan affordtohavetheir child seen by adoctor.

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Leadersspendnightonthestreet

NAMHLAMONAKALI

More than 30 businessand community leaders will spend anight on the streets of Cape TownonSaturday 18 April as part of afundraising initiative aimed at supporting people experiencing homelessness.

The initiative, ANight on the Streets, is hosted by U-turn Homeless Ministries and forms part of efforts to raise awareness and funding forlong-term interventions.

Participants will eachcontribute R10 000 and spend 12 hours outdoors. Organisers say the event aims to raise over R1 million.

The initiative is designed to move beyond awareness, directing support towards sustained rehabilitation and reintegration programmes.

RESEARCHHIGHLIGHTSSTRUCTURALCHALLENGES

Academic research intohomelessness in Cape Town pointstolong-standing structural and governance challenges.

AUniversity of Cape Townstudy, "Exploringthe lived experiences of homelessness in aCape Townsuburb" by Kerry-Lee Black, found homelesspeople face barriers including limited access to services, social exclusion and difficulty transitioning offthe streets.

AUniversity of the Western Cape research paper, "An analysis of the City of Cape Town's responseto street homelessness" by Francesca Visagé, examines the City's legaland institutionalresponsibilities inaddressing homelessness and how municipal frameworks respond to the issue.

Together the studies framehomelessness as acomplex issue requiring coordinated, multi-sectoral and long-term interventions.

BY SUCH INITIATIVESU-TURN HOMELESS MINISTRIES ENACT LONG-TERM INTERVENTIONS.

EXPERTRAISESGOVERNANCEANDPOLICYGAPS

Dr Nobukhosi Ngwenya, urbanplanner anddevelopment practitioner whose research interest focuses on communityled planning, of theUniversity of Cape Town said homelessness in Cape Town persisted largely due to unclear responsibility among spheres of government, resulting in fragmented and uncoordinatedresponses.

"This governance gap is closely tiedto the question of whose budgetthe response to homelessness should come from,"she said, adding that municipalities have often had to take on responsibility through social-development departments despite homelessness being amulti-sectoral issue.

Ngwenya said thecity's approach had also been shaped by aconservative policy andby-law framework, including regulationsfor street-based activity.

She noted such frameworks hadattimes criminalisedhomeless people, contributing to further marginalisation even where amendments have been introduced.

While she described the City's Street People Policyand the 2024 StrategytoReduce Rough Sleepingas important developments Ngwenya said implementation remained limited. "Safe spacesand shelters often came with strict conditionsthatseparate couples, exclude pets andimposerigid entry and exit times."

She added that thebiggest gap was the lack of transitional housing between shelters and long-term accommodation Ngwenya argued this reflected abroader

gap in both municipal andnational housingpolicy, whichdoes not adequately provide pathways from temporary accommodation into stable, long-term housing.

U-TURNPROGRAMMEAPPROACH

U-turn Homeless Ministries says its programme combines immediate support with structuredrehabilitation, including therapeutic services,skills development and work readiness training.

Theorganisation said about 80% of participants who complete itsprogramme remain stably housed andemployed.

Chiefprogramme officer Lise van den Dool said the focusisonlong-term change.

"When you provide stability, rehabilitation and skills development people are able to rebuild theirlives,"she said. We knowwhatworks, but we need theinvestmenttoscaleit."

FUNDINGANDCLAIMS

U-turn has also highlighted what it describesasthe costofongoing crisis management in addressing homelessness.

The organisation hascited an estimated annual spend of R744 million related to homelessness in Cape Town.

Theinitiative alsoincludes participation from business leaders who say they want to understandthe realities faced by people living on the streets.

Colin Young,Chief Executive Officer of UrbanGrowth,said his company previously supported individuals who moved off thestreets andlater joined the business. He said the experience showed thepotentialfor long-term impact when support is sustained.

PUBLICPARTICIPATION

The public can also takepart by

More than 30 business and communityleaders willspendanight on thestreets of Cape Town on Saturday 18 April as part of U-turn Homeless Ministries’“A Night on the Streets”initiativetoraise awareness and fundsfor homelessness support

PHOTO:SUPPLIED

purchasing virtual tickets and spending anight outdoors while raising awareness through social media.

Brandon Manzoni, aformer homeless person, says safetywas his biggest daily concern while living on the streets.

"You're constantly worried about getting robbed or assaulted. Finding asafe space to sleep was the biggest thing."

"A typical day was just getting up and figuring out what to do ,where Iwas going to eat, where Iwas going to sleep and whether that place was safe."

Manzoni said homelessness is often misunderstood.

"When people see homeless people, all they see is the person there. They don't see the suffering behind it."

"I had no idea places like U-turnor other programmes existed. Iwas totally oblivious."

"Ifthere were more programmes and safe spaces, it would change things hugely. A lot of the time, Ijust needed someone to talk to."