Mother City News July 2019

Breaking the echo chamber in the city bowl and beyond

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JUNE 25 - JULY 25, 2019

Dedicated to fairness, accuracy, editorial integrity, and the use of the Oxford comma, Mother City News strives to be a newspaper you’ll enjoy reading.

Member of The Association of Independent Publishers | Editorial Tel.: 083 348 4936 , 021 424 2114 | Editorial Address: The Pinnacle, 6 Burg Street, Cape Town Page 3 The Cape’s plants are dying out

Page 7 Heritage body pushes Woodstock developers back

Page 4 Mango Ginger: Fresh and zesty in Obs

We’re eating our waste Study reveals pharmaceuticals and industrial chemicals in the fish from our shores

Pollution on our plate… Kalk Bay fisher Michael Howell holds up a brace of Cape bream. A recent scientific study has found these and other fish landed at Kalk Bay contain pharmaceutical and industrial chemical compounds in their flesh as a result of ocean pollution.

Steve Kretzmann

D

espite the beauty of our beaches, the ocean around our city is so polluted that pharmaceutical and industrial chemical compounds are accumulating in the flesh of the fish caught off our coastline. These chemicals then accumulate in our bodies, with possible serious consequences to our health.

A study by scientists from the University

of the Western Cape’s chemistry department

Professor Leslie Petrik at the University of

in pesticides, flame retardants, and personal

has found that fish caught by local small scale

Western Cape’s Chemistry Department, and

care products. These were all present in vari-

commercial fishers in Kalk Bay are contami-

Cecilia Y. Ojemaye, tested for 15 different

ous parts of the fish tested.

nated by antibiotics, pain killers, antiretrovi-

chemical compounds of concern in the fish

rals, disinfectants, and industrial chemicals.

fillets, gills, liver, and intestines.

“Overall, diclofenac had the highest concentration out of all the pharmaceutical com-

Species tested include snoek, bonita, hot-

These include the analgesic/anti-inflamma-

pounds”, notes the report, while the antibiotic

tentot (Cape bream), and panga, all of which

tories Diclofenac and Acetaminophen, the an-

Sulfamethoxazole was detected in at least

were obtained from random daily commercial

tiepileptic drug Carbamazepine, the antibiotic

one part of all the fish species (fillet, gills, liver,

catches sold at Kalk Bay harbour in late 2017.

Sulfamethoxazole, the disinfectant Triclosan,

and intestine).

The peer-reviewed paper written by Senior

as well as various industrial chemicals found

we like what we write

thecritter.co.za

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

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JUNE 25 - JULY 25 | 2019 Mother City News is dedicated to fairness, accuracy, editorial integrity, and the use of the Oxford comma, Mother City News strives to be a newspaper you’ll enjoy reading.

From page 1

Managing Editor Peter Luhanga editor@isolabantunews.co.za 021 424 2114 084 229 6399 Editor Steve Kretzmann 083 348 4936 editor@westcapenews.com

Design and Layout Somtoo Mekowulu 078 595 8500 Publisher IRIS MEDIA SA Pty. LTD 6 Burg Street, Pinnacle Building, CBD Cape Town, 8000

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We’re eating our waste

The industrial chemicals, or perfluoralkyl compounds (perfluoroundecanoic acid, pefluorodecanoic acid, perfluorononanoic acid, pefluorooctanoic acid, and perfluoroheptanoic acid), all “showed a high risk, both acute and chronic, in the fillet parts of the fish which is the part humans consume”, state Petrik and Ojemaye.

Each chemical compound has a different acute and chronic risk associated with it, says Petrik.

Some could cause feminisation, which leads to sperm infertility, or result in endocrine disruption, which means the hormones produced by the female have no place to dock when an egg is fertilised, because the site is blocked. Petrik said some compounds stop the thyroid gland from functioning properly, and there is also a cancer risk, particularly of the prostrate. They can also lead to endometriosis in which the lining of the womb gets displaced.

Genetic information can also be damaged, which leads to children being born with structural deformities.

The presence of pharmaceutical compounds in fish is due to either untreated or poorly treated sewage flowing into our ocean.

This is because drugs are not wholly metabolised, as revealed in the literature accompanying the medication.

Storm water is a probably source of pesticide and industrial chemical pollution. This study, and others it references, shows that these chemical compounds bioaccumulate, not only in fish but also in our bodies, and in other marine organisms.

Sources of pollution It is an uncontested fact that Cape Town pumps about 37 million litres of sewage out to sea per day, from marine outfalls in Greenpoint, Camps Bay, and Hout Bay. The only treatment at these pump stations – confirmed

by City authorities – is that the raw sewage is pumped through a grid to remove solids such as tampons and grit. The sewage pumped out at Greenpoint includes waste from the Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital, as well as all medical and light industrial facilities between Salt River and Bantry Bay. While there are no marine outfalls in False Bay, both the Strandfontein and Zandvliet waste water treatment works discharge into the bay. The treated water is supposed to meet minimum standards for the presence of microbial bacteria such as E.coli and Enterococcus, which are indicator organisms for the presence of other microbes. Historically, coastal water quality tests - the results of which used to be presented along with inland water quality data at subcouncil meetings twice a year until 2013 – taken near these outlets failed the minimum guidelines semiregularly. This indicates these sewage works have not always treated the effluent to the necessary standards, or that storm water containing high levels of sewage is running out to sea.

The City has communicated that no testing or treatment for chemical compounds such as those indicated in Ojemaye and Petrik’s study, is undertaken.

Water channeled from roads and gutters into storm water drains, which then flow either directly to the sea, or into streams and rivers which discharge to the ocean, are also heavily polluted.

The City’s water and waste services depart-

ment, headed by mayco member Xanthea Limberg, has regularly blamed storm water runoff following periods of rainfall, rather than discharge from marine outfalls and sewage treatment works, when coastal water quality tests fail minimum guidelines.

This is despite the national Department of Environmental Affairs regulations that storm water pollution must be treated at source, and thus is not an excuse for occurrences of environmental pollution.

The most recent sewage spill into the Zandvlei estuary which flows into False Bay at Muizenberg, was reported by Zandvlei nature reserve manager Kyran Wright to have occurred on May 9, resulting in the entire water body being closed for recreational purposes on May 15 and only reopened on May 31.

A sewage spill into the Sand River canal, which flows into Zandvlei, was also reported on April 24.

These are but the latest reported incidents of sewage pollution into the estuary, which is a nursery for fish in False Bay. City withholds water quality information It cannot be determined how often coastal water quality at Muizenberg, Fish Hoek, Strandfontein, and other testing sites on the coastline fail the minimum guidelines for the presence of indicator organisms such as E.coli and Enterococcus, as the City no longer makes the results of their tests available to the public.

Repeated requests by Mother City News to the City over the past 18 months to provide the results of the inland and coastal water quality tests conducted on a monthly and twice-weekly basis respectively, have not yielded any results.

Limberg communicated that the results of the City’s inland and coastal water quality monitoring “are presented at various public opportunities such as catchment management fora meetings, Protected Area Advisory Committees (PAAC), as well as monthly to the Water and Sanitation Department Director.”

But chairperson of the Zandvlei Trust, Peter Kruger, who is present at such meetings, said no water quality reports are received by the Trust.

The Fish Hoek Valley Ratepayers and Residents Association has received water quality monitoring data from the City, but had to submit a Public Access to Information Act request, and sign a non-disclosure agreement.

Thus it cannot be shared.

The most recent communication from Limberg’s office to Mother City News was: “The City is in the process of compiling this information for a new coastal water quality report that will be presented to Council structures during the early part of the coming 2019/20 financial year. We can share a copy of the report as soon as it’s been through the relevant Council committees. If all goes according to plan this should be around August.”

However, in December last year, Mother City News was also fobbed off, with City media liaison stating: “The department is busy completing the grading of all beaches as per the new guidelines from National Government and is on track to submit the report to the relevant Committees of Council (Section 79 committees) in the new year.”

The last available water quality reports are from 2016 and contained in the State of the Environment Report published by the City in 2018. There is no detail in the data, only the

Sea stains…

Discoloured water can clearly be seen in False Bay near the Zandvlei and Strandfontein waste water treatment works outlets. The City authorities have stated the brown discolouration is caused by naturally occuring diatoms but has consistently failed to provide the water quality monitoring test results to indicate the water is within the guidelines for safe recreational use.

Water hazard… A sign warns beach goers at Fish Hoek of polluted storm water flowing to the beach at the corner where families and children swim.

averaged results are presented. These show that Fish Hoek, Muizenberg, Mnandi, Monwabisi, and Kalk Bay Harbour beaches, among others, failed the minimum guidelines for water quality averaged over the year.

On the Atlantic side, Three Anchor Bay (between Mouille Point and Seapoint), Saunders Rocks in Seapoint, and The Kom in Kommetjie also failed averaged minimum guidelines.

Scientists from UWC, Stellenbosch University, and UCT, have also repeatedly raised concerns about the dangerously high microbial levels in the lower Kuils River, which flows into False Bay via the Eersterivier near the north eastern corner of the bay. The City has continually denied the pollution is caused by the discharge from the Zandvliet sewage works, but has not been seen to deal with the unacceptably high microbial levels found in the river. Instead, officials from the City water and waste services department launched a scathing attack on the scientists themselves in the Daily Maverick, but failed to resolve the question of pollution levels.

Furthermore, it is not known what chemicals are leaching into False Bay from the Coastal Park landfill site next to Muizenberg.

The landfill, which is decades old, is a mere 700m from the ocean. Numerous groundwater studies, including by senior professor of hydrology at UWC, Yongxin Xu, flag leachate from the landfill flowing into False Bay via our groundwater.

No response to questions sent to the City asking about monitoring the leachate, and storm water management, as well as further requests for water quality monitoring data, have been received, other than to say the two-day deadline did not give them enough time to provide answers.

Storm water a second sewerage system Students involved in a South African – Norway Cooperation on Ocean Research (SANOCEAN) under senior lecturer in the department of community health at Stellen-

bosch University, Dr Jo Barnes, have recently tested the levels of E.coli in Fish Hoek storm water systems.

The results of tests for the number of E.coli colony forming units (cfu) per 100ml at four sites tested on 30 May were: • Site 1 – 5/100ml • Site 2 – 289 500/100ml • Site 3 – 230 000/100ml • Site 4 – above 1 210 00/100ml Above 10cfu/100ml is high risk for drinking water, while above 2000cfu/100ml is a high risk from full or partial contact with such water. E.coli can cause gastroenteritis, resulting in severe diarrhea, which can be fatal for infants, young children, and adults with compromised immune systems. Open wounds or cuts can also become infected.

The Fish Hoek sites 2, 3, and 4 contain E.coli levels consistent with raw sewage, said Barnes at an academic workshop in June. Site 1 was clean because there was a major leak from a drinking water pipe which was flushing the storm water system at that point.

The high levels of pollution are despite Fish Hoek being an established middle class suburb with proper sanitation provision, unlike many informal areas in Cape Town which lack access to proper sanitation.

Results from sites on the Plankenbrug River flowing through Kayamandi near Stellenbosch, where students from the University of Chicago took samples in 2018, showed E.coli counts ranging from 600 000 to over six million cfu/100ml.

This showed that storm water systems were acting as “a second sewerage system”, said Barnes.

What was even more concerning, was that 100% of the E.coli organisms were found to be resistant to the antibiotic amoxicillin. And while the microbial resistance to ciprofloxacillin at testing sites on the Plankenbrug River was at 58% in 2003, it had also risen to 100% resistance.

JUNE 25 - JULY 25 | 2019

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The Cape’s plants are dying out – and local authorities need citizens’ help

Plants in the Western Cape are becoming extinct faster than anywhere else on earth except Hawaii, a study shows.

Photo: Ashraf Hendricks/GroundUp

Sarah Wild Almost 40 plant species have gone extinct in the Western Cape since 1900, making it one of the hot spots for plant extinction on the planet.

A new study, published in journal Nature Ecology and Evolution, found that across the world about 600 trees, flowers, and fruitbearing plants have died out since 1900, a rate of about three species a year.

This is about 500 times higher than the background extinction rate – the natural rate at which plants would become extinct – scientists would expect. The researchers used data from the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s red list of threatened species, combined with records of plant species which had become threatened or gone extinct over the last three decades.

The United Nations’ Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in May predicted that more than one-million of all species are threatened with extinction.

However, the new study is the first to look at how plants have fared since 1900.

After Hawaii, where 79 species were lost, the Western Cape recorded the highest number of plant species lost, at 37.

The Cape Floral Kingdom is the smallest of the globe’s six floral kingdoms, with a very high number of species. Floral kingdoms are areas in which the plants are relatively similar.

Scientists recognise six distinctive plant kingdoms, and the Cape is home to the smallest one.

“The Cape Flora has a very high density of species that occur nowhere else on Earth, so any impacts in the area have a very disproportionate impact on species,” explains Tony Rebelo, a scientist at the South African National Biodiversity Institute (Sanbi).

Though the Cape floral kingdom accounts for only 0.6% of Africa’s land area and 6% of the land area of South Africa, one in five of Africa’s plant species and about half of South Africa’s occur here, he says. “Of these, twothirds of the species occur nowhere else on Earth.”

These species are “the barometer of ecosystem health, and the high number of threatened species in the Littlest Kingdom on Earth, as the Cape Flora is known as, is a clarion call that we are heading for a serious environmental crisis,” he says.

The extinction of these unique plants has a knock-on effect, as without their habitats, animals are also beginning to disappear. Rebelo says. “Fish and amphibians are particularly badly affected,” Rebelo says. “We don’t know about our insects and other goggas – we don’t have enough data on most of them – but those that we do have data for, are also in dire straits.”

Robbie Blackhall-Miles, a horticultural consultant specialising in proteas, says the reasons for the high number of species extinctions in the Cape are complex. Many species in South Africa can only survive in very specific environmental conditions, which include regular fires. These conditions have been relatively unchanged for a long period of time, he explains, but are now changing.

The Western Cape is seeing waves of immigration of people seeking opportunities, and this rapid urbanisation is destroying large tracts of natural veld, as is farming. Climate change is altering weather patterns (including rainfall), while alien species are wreaking havoc on Cape ecosystems. “Just one or a combination of these can push a species that is unique to a particular place or environment right to the brink very easily and very quickly,” says Blackhall-Miles.

Rebelo warns that, despite the recent droughts when Cape Town’s taps almost ran dry, which have been in part attributed to alien plants guzzling the province’s water, “we are no longer on top of alien invasive species”.

Alien species are proliferating faster than authorities can remove them or manage them, he says, “invading our catchments and reducing water yield and impacting on species.”

Scientists have warned that alien plant species are the biggest threat to Cape Town’s water security. And research at Stellenbosch University has found that alien plants fuel the region’s devastating wildfires.

As a result of a changing climate, the Western Cape is experiencing more frequent droughts, less winter rainfall, and more frequent fires. This is putting pressure on the fynbos, according to a study published in 2017. Fynbos needs fire to germinate, but afterwards, it needs rain to sustain its seedlings.

The researchers found that fires accompanied by extremely hot weather or drought hurt a species’ chances of survival, especially if they germinate after fire.

“Nationally, provincially and locally authori-

ties are aware of the [extinction] issue and are active in combating it,” says Rebelo. There are a number of initiatives to help save local plants, such as monitoring systems and removing alien species. “We have the legislation and tools to protect what is left. However, the pressures of agriculture and human expansion are overwhelming. And it will get worse.”

Also, he notes, conservation authorities have suffered budget and staff cuts.

Rebelo says that an active citizenry is the way to combat species extinction and to preserve Western Cape ecosystems. “Increasingly citizen scientists and volunteers are taking over the role as guardians of our threatened species and veld types,” he says.

For maintaining standard in reserves, he suggests joining the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa.To find, save, and monitor species, he recommends the Custodians of Rare and Endangered Wildflowers (also known as CREW, which is housed in Sanbi).

“Become active in policing activities that impact on our natural veld: review Environmental Impact Assessments, register as interested and affected parties on developments that affect the natural areas near you, and campaign your local councillors for conservation action.”

South Africans need to assess the environment they want to live in, says Rebello. “A large part of the charm and attraction of the Cape is its biodiversity. Do we really want to live in a wasteland?”

Story from GroundUp (www.groundup.org.za)

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JUNE 25 - JULY 25 | 2019

Restaurant review

Mango Ginger: Fresh and zesty in Obs

Tab Leforto The geography of Observatory is such that it enables a sense of community; it has a ‘high street’ of its own separate from the main road from the city to the south, and has a continuity of architecture and narrow streets that contributes to an egalitarian sensibility.

With its collection of bars, a few theatres, coffee shops, vintage shops and dives, it is often described as Bohemian. Being close to UCT means there’s also lots of students living around who keep it young. It can also be a bit grimy, especially if you have memories of one too many dawns following a looong night of bar tending. (Hello Ruby in the Dust,

anyone?).

Which makes Mango Ginger, situated down the end of the lower main road toward the Mowbray side, a welcome retreat of freshness. It even borders on the perky, but after the sense of sticky beer stained floors and stale smoke that sections of the drag down the road can leave you with, perky and zesty is a bit of a tonic.

Inside is white and wood with a couple of large chandeliers providing a touch of class, and artfully displayed cakelets and tartlets and breads and all number of yummy things provmake you feel as if you’ve stepped into the kitchen of a wealthy sophisticate who passes time by baking and dreaming up imaginative

treats for her (or his) children’s lunchboxes. It’s warm, it’s inviting, and it is also calming.

Inside is cosy without being squashed, and there is a protected stoep with round tables that are perfect for two but can accommodate four at a push. We elected for the outside, because we wanted a coffee to start with, which means we also wanted a smoke. We presumed we could light up as there were no ‘no smoking’ signs, and no-one said anything when we did. But no ashtray was provided either. This is not the first time this has happened at coffee shops. What’s with that. We have to put our butts in our pocket? What’s this, the army? Smokers are people too, and no, we don’t want to flick our fag ends onto the pavement.

Anyway, moving on. The service was efficient except for one faux pas. Tip: when clearing plates, don’t clear the scraps of one onto the other while hovering over the patron’s lap. Just clear the plates and stack them when you’re away from the table. I know this is more a coffee shop than a restaurant, but still.

Ok, the food. Menu has a nice wide selection, mostly of the meet-you-over lunch type, although the breakfast selection is one to linger over. The eggs Benedict could be great, and the croissant’s are made on the premises.

Judging by the other baked goods, and the fact they make their own sourdough bread, odds are those croissants are good. And a good croissant is hard to find in Cape Town.

Omelettes also look like they could lead to the morning equivalent of a boozy lunch.

Seen as it was lunchtime when we were there, and chilly (we were outside. Yes, I know) we opted for the pies. I had the venison with butternut and apricot pie, while my partner chose the chicken and leek. Both were good.

Venison and fruit is an old pairing but there was nothing ‘70s here. The filling had just the right amount of tartness to counter the gaminess of the venison. The chicken and leek was as it should be. No fireworks, but comforting, and good, as an old staple should be. Neither

of us were that taken with the wheat-free pastry though. I know there is a lot of allergies and food intolerance going around, and I respect that, but we are fortunate to be able to enjoy wheat and have yet to find any of the wheat or gluten-free alternatives beating a good flour and butter puff pastry. That being said, this one made from rice and barley flour wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t as good. If having the wheat option is possible, it would be welcome.

Mango Ginger will please the allergy-prone or those wishing to avoid certain food groups for whatever reason. They have wheat-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, sugar-free, vegan, and vegetarian options.

We also ordered potato wedges on the side, which came with tart home-made mayonnaise and a bit of spice from the turmeric that had been added to the frying oil. Just one wedge was a little glassy at the end, but sometimes potatoes are like that. Unfortunate ,is all.

No complaints about the cappuccinos we had, they were strong and bitter, the way an espresso topped with foam should be. All too often cappuccinos are really americanos with foam on top. Well done barista.

Mango Ginger has been there for 12 years, which speaks a lot to its attraction, and it may have something to do with its prices. They are very reasonable, and the size of servings are perfect for lunch. They did have some bigsounding mushroom stroganoff and almond and ginger venison casserole served with basmati rice on the specials board if you really wanted to roll out the door.

The cakelets on display looked absolutely delicious by the way. Don’t hesitate to suggest Mango Ginger for a catch-up with a friend. If it goes well, you can head down to one of the dives afterwards and make a whole afternoon of it.

The bill, including tip, came to R200 and was paid by Mother City News.

Wine

Boozing on a Budget: Rosés

Sade Allcock Rosé wine is severely underrated, and I think we all know why. Yes, I’m talking about THAT Autumn Harvest sweet rosé papsak that made the inevitable appearance at every house party/ piss-up in your teens and pennypinching early twenties. Also inevitable was the throbbing headache and queasy stomach the following day, resulting forever after in a brisk walk past the rosé section in the bottle store. Regardless, I’m here to break the prejudice against this misunderstood wine. First tip when choosing a rosé; pick a dry one. I am yet

to meet a person, from wine connoisseur to pleb, who enjoys a sweet rosé. Yuck.

So, without further ado, here are my two favourites this month. Firstly, the Darling Cellars Reserve Rosé. This was recommended to me by a friend, and while I approached it with some trepidation, I was very pleasantly surprised, and it has now become a firm favourite and staple in my fridge. It is a slightly sweeter but nonetheless delicious summery wine with strong notes of red berries on the palate. Pair it with light meals such as a cheese course or a rocket and pomegranate salad. The price point of this wine is the real

winner, coming in at just R49.99. Just make sure you get the Reserve as I can’t vouch for their normal rosé. Secondly, the Van Loveren Daydream; a rosé blend, comprised of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. This wine is best enjoyed out on the patio on a scorching hot summer’s afternoon, while kicking back with a novel. Unfortunately, I sipped it on a frosty Joburg evening, but that did nothing to diminish my enjoyment. The Daydream is sweet on the nose, with hints of strawberry and raspberry, counteracted by aromas of lime. On the palate it is well balanced and very fruity, and I also detected faint woody notes, typical of

a chardonnay. I can imagine pairing this rosé with salmon and horseradish potato rosti’s (Hilda’s Kitchen make the best ones). Last but not least, please only consume your rosé wine once you have refrigerated it for at least an hour; if you fail to do this you will not get the proper aromas and flavour from your wine, and it will not be half as enjoyable.

Darling Cellars Reserve Rosé can be found at Checkers @ R49.99 Van Loveren Daydream can be found at Spar @ R64.99

JUNE 25 - JULY 25 | 2019

5

Book review

Sex, Drugs, and Cape Town’s Elite… Saskia Bailey spills it all The daughter of two eccentric artist parents and the granddaughter of DRUM founder Jim Bailey, Saskia Bailey grows up in an extraordinary home where a train station of wildly interesting guests formed the wallpaper of her childhood – Matilda Tullie Earlier this year 21-year-old Saskia Bailey weighted South Africa’s book shelves with the release of her debut novel: Whatever: A 21st Century Memoir. Recounting harrowing stories of sex, drugs, death and eating disorders, Bailey writes about her experiences in an honest and brutal tone. She wants her readers to feel uncomfortable, yet keep them curious.

“I would like you to take Whatever not with a pinch, but a bucket of salt.”- writes Baily in her preface.

At the start of the book Bailey sets up a figurative contract with her readers. Her preface eludes to the fact that this book is a space to tell her story, her memories and to have

The Confessions of Frannie Langton by Sara Collins

a bit formulaic.

Not a must read, but better than a lot of dystopian fiction I’ve suffered through. Not for someone getting into this genre who hasn’t read the classics, but if someone has read all the obvious choices, this is a good supplementary book.

Class Action - Charles Abrahams

There is much buzz about this first novel, all entirely justified. It’s hard to sum up, but I absolutely loved it, so here goes: Frannie is on trial, in London in the mid 19th century, for the murder of her master and mistress. The book is the story she tells of her life. Born a slave in Jamaica, brought into her master’s house because she is mulatto, and taken with him to London to be ‘gifted’ to another Englishman.

Taking place shortly after abolition, the direction of the book is the examination of the appalling views of those who were abolitionists, but still held that black people were inferior, and experimented on them to find out why. All in the name of science. Horrifying though this all is, this is a very human story, superbly told. There is love, and shame, and guilt at the heart of this book, and a deep nod to Austen and the gothic novels of the 19th century. The author is Jamaican and worked as a lawyer for many years.

North by Frank Owen Decent dystopian fiction. It’s a really quick read, quite a lot happens and the pace really works well. I didn’t connect with the characters 100%, but I didn’t read South so I’m probably lacking some necessary background. Still, it was interesting enough albeit

Wow. Okay.

I loved the book. The chapters are divided into different highlights of his life. He moves from his childhood to his studies, to his dad abusing his mother, back to his travels and jumps back in time to being abused by his neighbour who lured the whole family by providing them with food.

(He doesn’t talk much about his continued abuse). He writes about his crooked way of coping, which was basically to have a lot of sex with white women. He also talks about why and how he became one of the people to introduce class action in SA (a way to help the disadvantaged claim millions from big corporate companies). In each and every new story about him, he firsts creates the environment for the reader. The book has a lot of dark moments but he manages to write in a way that doesn’t make you drown in pity for him because of the life he had. At the end of the book he writes about meeting his abuser, the girls he got involved with and about how his siblings are now doing. I say he is one of the few people who actually deserve to sell their story.

the opportunity to share her experiences growing up as a privileged, white South African girl. Bailey wants her reader to prepare for the shocking truths that lie ahead, but also doesn’t want her stories to be taken too seriously. Which makes her request feel incongruent to the theme of her memoir.

Following the preface are 30 fragmented chapters with nuclear storylines and themes.

Although the chapters were short and packed with plenty of experiences, there was no relativity between each chapter. An example can be seen as Chapter 2, which addresses the theme of death, shifts abruptly to entertaining her father’s guests in Chapter 3. As shift that does not give the reader time to unpack the previous chapter.

What lacked throughout Whatever was self-reflection and character development.

Bailey may have wanted this to just be a recount of her life so far, but her voice often felt lost in the details of others people’s lives and stories. Original feelings of wanting to shout out ‘go, girl’ during Baileys wild recounts was swiftly replaced with ‘woah, girl’ as the

constant consequences of her poor decision making and ensuing chaos continued repeatedly. However, this shouldn’t cloud the uncensored courage of Bailey’s disclosures and the purging of her teenage experiences.

In tackling many taboo topics, Bailey can be respected for her bravery and honesty. By normalising her countless experiences many necessary talking points are raised and are important for the millennial generation to start opening to. Topics of traumas, fears, family dynamics or sexual desires are hard to voice, but are often liberating. This memoir may be what is needed to encourage others to find their own vocabulary for self-expression.

Whatever was a rocky ride of laughs, gasps, and lots of conversation starters. This book is recommended for readers over the age of 18 and contains topics which may be triggering.

A Curse so Dark and Lonely - Brigid Kemmerer

that doesn’t have a place in literature, I feel like the constant mention of it didn’t add to the story at all. We get it Marlon, women and children aren’t safe in your world.

The story was also confusing and hard to follow at times. Sometimes you just jumped from one point to another with no context for how you got there or why certain characters were suddenly missing or present. I think he could have written less about rape and added to the flow of the story instead.

While it’s cool that the story has an African setting, there were some problems with the way Africa is presented (violent, patriarchal, and superstitious). I get that the medieval world was like that, but the way he does is seems like it’s playing into the colonial narrative of Africa a bit.

That said, I loved the story. He does a lot of interesting things with gender, power, and morality.

The book isn’t for the casual fantasy reader. It’s a demanding read. Is it worth it?

I still don’t know. But I’ll probably read the next one.

A modern version of the Beauty and the Beast and it truly is. Just much developed with a lot of twists, time travelling and mystery. It’s set between two worlds which are said to be parallel to each other. One is the monarch’s era and the other is the modern New York. The Girl is mistakenly kidnapped so she can fall in love with the Prince, who turns out to be the Beast who killed the whole royal family, including the entire palace staff excluding one guard. He is The Beast that is also terrorizing the lands and killing people. There is also a war brewing as the neighbouring countries want to seize the discarded kingdom. The Girl turns out to be the solution to everything and she is the only one who can control the Prince after he turns into a different monster at the end of each and every season. The book doesn’t have that Disney happy-ever-after ending as the sequel will be published next year.

Recommended.

Black Leopard Red Wolf - Marlon James I don’t think I’ve ever had so many mixed feelings about a book.

There were a lot of mentions / references to rape and paedophillia.

While I don’t think stuff like

Book Details Whatever: A 21st Century Memoir Saskia Bailey Publisher: Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd 01 April 2019

Go Ahead In the Rain

by Hanif Abdurraqib The book is really homage to A Tribe Called Quest.

It’s chronological. Hanif writes about the group’s early days until their last album, but also reflects on the music scene, hip-hop and rap. He uses Tribe’s evolution (and the evolution of hip-hop and rap) as a lens to showcase blackness in America throughout the time.

It’s absolutely fantastic, just like his other book. The best way I can describe his writing is that it feels like a friend is with you. It’s very warm and inviting, and his storytelling is beautiful.

Short book reviews by Book Lounge Staff.

Speak to them about purchasing the book you want.

Koeberg PSIF

Public Safety Information Forum

This is a platform for residents within the municipal boundary of Koeberg Nuclear Power Station to receive and ask for nuclear safety related information from the facility.

All residents, interested parties and organisations are cordially invited to attend the Koeberg Public Safety Information Forum (PSIF).

The details for the Forum are as follows: Agenda items • Koeberg Nuclear Power Station quarterly feedback • Announcement of PSIF Deputy Chairperson • Koeberg Nature Reserve Wildlife Management • Koeberg Power Station Life Extension Date

: Thursday, 27 June 2019

Venue : Koeberg Power Station Visitors Centre Time : 19:00 Should you be attending the PSIF, please note that positive proof of identification will be required in order to access the venue. Please show your valid passport, South African driver’s licence, or South African identity (ID) document/card when requested to do so. Please note that visitors may be subject to compulsory alcohol testing. For more information, kindly contact Debbie Joshua at tel. +27 21 550 4238 or via email at JoshuaD@eskom.co.za or Lewis Phidza, Koeberg Stakeholder Management Manager, at tel. +27 21 550 5758 or via email at PhidzaNL@eskom.co.za.

Koeberg Nuclear Power Station R27 Off West Coast Road Melkbosstrand www.eskom.co.za

Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd Reg No 2002/015527/30

JUNE 25 - JULY 25 | 2019

7

Heritage body pushes Woodstock developers back Property moguls ride roughshod over Woodstock community

Space for the people… Heritage Western Cape has told developers of an eight-storey apartment block on a site in Woodstock, Cape Town, to review their plans.

Photo: Ashraf Hendricks/GroundUp

Steve Kretzmann Plans to build the latest luxury eightstorey apartment block in Woodstock have been put on hold by Heritage Western Cape, who this week instructed the developers to review their development’s impact on social heritage.

This is a first for Woodstock, which has seen a number of upmarket developments over the last decade that have disrupted the housing market in the historically working class suburb, resulting in evictions and displacement of residents who have lived there for generations.

Western Cape Heritage’s instruction to Signatura Property Development, who are wanting to build their apartment block on the corner of Albert Road and Frere Street, came after submissions were made on Wednesday by the Woodstock Residents’ Association and Reclaim The City (RCT), an organisation campaigning for affordable housing.

The building plans show five retail spaces on the ground floor, parking for 54 vehicles on the rest of the ground floor and first and second levels, and 16 one-bedroom and six two-bedroom units on floors three to eight.

Both the residents’ association and RCT accuse the developers of riding roughshod over the historic community structure in the area, resulting in rent hikes and evictions that have displaced families that have lived in Woodstock and adjacent Salt River for generations.

The planned development, Wex2, is two blocks away from the completed 10-storey Wex1 development, where two-bedroom apartments sell for R3.5m.

RCT media liaison Zacharia Mashele stated an initial study recommended the developers included a “fair proportion” of affordable housing in their plans due to the effect the exclusive development would have on the surrounding poor and working class rental community.

But Mashele stated the final Heritage Impact Assessment did not include this as “the

developer said it is not feasible”.

The Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) states the developers have agreed to hire local artisans and builders in the construction phase, and include small business applicants in the building’s ground level, where five retail spaces are to be built. It is worth drawing attention to the use of the word ‘applicants’ in the agreement.

Additionally, “street art” is to be included in the lobby and on a dedicated exterior wall on the site.

Under “Social Impacts”, which is one of four heritage impacts needed to be taken into account, the HIA states “the dominant issue and finding is that the accelerated gentrification effect occurring in Woodstock, and the immediate surrounds of the site, has undermined the living heritage and social structure of the area.”

What the author of the social impact study, Maurietta Stewart, doesn’t mention is that Signatura is in partnership with Indigo Properties. Signatura was launched in 2012

by John Rabie, who founded the Rabie property group. Rabie Property Administrators are the managing agents for the entire Indigo Properties portfolio. Together, they are responsible for the Wex1 development, the Biscuit Mill, and the Woodstock Exchange.

All of these are within blocks of each other on Albert Road. Thus the “accelerated gentrification” referred to, is due to the practices of the company wishing to further its footprint.

Stewart states in the HIA that “the design has not responded to the recommendation that inclusionary housing units be rented or sold via an adequate legal mechanism to ensure that the units stay affordable in perpetuity”.

This backs up RTCs claim that the initial recommendations were altered.

She states the developer did consider building an affordable housing model on another site in Woodstock to mitigate the impact of “the intensive, high density development”.

“However, current market conditions and returns on this development were noted as preventative.”

To what extent gentrification by these developments have affected long-standing communities in Woodstock and Salt River was illustrated in an oral presentation by Karen Hendricks, who is a leader of RCT’s Woodstock Chapter, to Heritage Western Cape on Wednesday.

Hendricks said her family had rented homes between District 6 and Woodstock for four generations, and she was born in the same Woodstock home her mother was born in.

When she was in high school her family moved to a different house in Woodstock, where they stayed for 30 years before it was sold to a private developer who turned it into an office, and later, an AirBnB. Ironically, her family survived the apartheid era Group Areas Act and managed to remain within their community structures in what was the ‘grey’ area of Woodstock, but have been ousted by the commercial imperatives of the new democracy.

Hendricks and her son now live in the occupied Cissie Gool House, the former Woodstock Hospital site.

She gave a moving account of the importance of generational community networks: “The same families lived around us for most of my childhood. My mom knew them from before our birth so having children was like extending the very big family. My brother and sister even got married to young people from the community so neighbours in fact became family.”

Hendricks is just one of hundreds of families whose access to housing has been disrupted by development. There are about 300 families occupying Cissie Gool House who are there because development has pushed them out of the rental market, and scores of other families have dispersed to areas far away from the city centre, said house leader at Cisse Gool House, Bevil Lucas.

The submission by the Woodstock Resi-

dents’ Association (WRA) stated it was “cruelly ironic to suggest that local artisans and builders would be happy to ‘work themselves out of the area’ while they can no longer afford the rentals and rates increases created by the developments like WEX1 to 5”.

The WRA also slammed the proposal to include local business applications for the ground floor retail space as “pure window dressing” and strongly disagreed with the HIA assessment that the developer cannot in isolation be held responsible for gentrification in the area.

“The developers are responsible for a significant number of developments and commercial ventures in Lower Woodstock. The sheer volume of buildings and residential units (here only considered WEX) means that the developers directly and heavily affect the level and impacts of gentrification and need to be held accountable to actually create residential developments that will mitigate the effects of gentrification on the existing residents in the neighbourhood,” stated the WRA. When Signature was approached for comment, Mother City News was told the relevant directors were abroad and it was requested our questions be sent via email. No response has been forthcoming.

Heritage Western Cape CEO Mxolisi Dlamuka said the development cannot proceed without Heritage Western Cape approving the HIA. Before its approval, Dlamuka said the developers were requested to review the social impact assessment and re-look at the aspects of living heritage and ‘memory of community’ in order to review the current design of the development.

A version of this story was originally published by GroundUp (www.groundup.org)

Breaking the echo chamber in the city bowl and beyond

FREE COPY

JUNE 25 - JULY 25, 2019

Your curated excuses for getting out the house If you’re reading this after returning from the National Arts Festival, you’re probably shattered and undone and emotionally raw and need until next month to put yourself back together. If you couldn’t get it together to go this year, well, sorry (just don’t tell us you spent your bucks on Afrika Burn instead – really!) And if you have never been, well, that’s unforgivable. However, do not despair, you can still get your kicks, and we’re here to help.

Music This one really should have a low turnout because everyone, I mean everyone, should still be in Makhanda (yes, that’s what Grahamstown is now called). But for whatever reason you missed the pilgrimage, you can boogie to Toby Two Shoes and Tommy Gun at the Wonderland Club at the corner of Buitenkant and Albertus Streets. Admittedly, we’re not the greatest Two Shoes fans. We think he’s cool ‘an all but there’s no challenge really. On the plus side, it’s the kind of doop de plonkety wop music you can dance to with two left feet. Very egalitarian like that.

The jol is called Wonderboogie and it’s on July 6 Earlybird tickets cost R60, online costs R80, otherwise R100 at the door. Proceeds go to a good cause.

Sweet psychedelic rock and western blues sounds like the right alley. At the rocking pink palace that is The Raptor Room on Roeland Street. It’s the Voodoo Cats, The Dodgy Odds and The Dinosaurs.

They’re all playing on July 12 from 8pm. Tickets only cost R60. It’s a squeal.

This looks cool. If it was happening in the CBD it would seem pretentious but it’s not, it’s at Siki’s Koffee Kafe in Khayelitsha on 13 July. Khayelitsha has no time for pretensions. It’s the Ghetto Sessions, a gig held in an unusual venue, such as a living room or antique shop or, in this case, a koffee kafe. There’s usually three artists who each play four tracks. It is ‘focused on promoting the most distinctive new artists and original sounds’. So you can say you heard it here first.

The gig is free but donations are appreciated (don’t get wallet cramp). There will be a cash bar and food stall.

Happens from 1pm at Siki’s Koffee Kafe at 7 Ntaba Street, Phakamisa Litha Park, Khayelitsha.

Plug that into Google maps and you’ll find it, otherwise phone 082 369 8229 Arno Carstens is playing at Cafe Roux’s 74 Shortmarket Street venue on 18 July. You either love him or hate him. From 7pm, costs R200.

There’s a new album out by Hezron Chetty which is being launched at Cafe Roux 74 Shortmarket Street on 19 July. This ‘multi genre instrumentalist’ has been ‘crafting some exciting new songs’. He’s fully into the violin as rock ‘n roll and there’s a bit of a Kate Bush/Florence and the Machine sound to the beat. If you happy to replace electric guitar with violin, you’ll dig this.

You have to pre-book for this one and you’ll have to that by going on the interwebs and looking up caferouxsessions.

The album launch will feature special guests and friends.

It happens from 7pm and costs R100.

Serious ruk en rol at Mercury Live on 19 July. The party’s called Hell Bent and it promises to be ‘explosive’, ‘energetic’, ‘dirty’ and ‘sexy’. There’s the good ol’ fashioned 4/4 beat from De Wallen, and groovy bass and balls-to-the-wall vocals of Smugg Juggler. Start practicing your air guitar. AFLOS and Lez Cortez are also laying down some licks.

Starts from 6pm, 43 De Villiers Street. Entrance is R80.

Wanna laugh and cry and find out what it’s like to grow up black on the ‘Plein, go watch Lunga Tshuka in These Are My Stories at The Artscape Theatre Centre on 5 or 6 July. The blurb promises sound effects, impersonations, and cultural dynamics. Xhosa in Mitchell’s Plain. It could be good.

Tickets cost R60, book at Computicket.

If you’re feeling cold and lonely and suffering NAF fomo, warm up with some burlesque at Alexander Bar Theatre. It’s ‘rowdy fun’ and a ‘cheeky birthday party’ that’ll leave you feeling like you ‘go ALL the cake!’. It is all quite titillating, and sounds like fun. Sophia van Syren is turning a sexy 42 and It’s My Party and I’ll Strip if I Want To. It’s an All Star cast who drop that sugary pop right in your... ear.

Go play at the Alexander Bar Theatre on 5 and 6 July at 9pm.

Tickets cost R220, or R200 online Back by popular demand. A response from me to the #MeToo movement breaking the silence of sexual abuse and power dynamics. #JustMen at The Baxter. Men telling stories of vulnerability, and not being accused of mansplaining. They’re doing something right. They’re taking collective ownership from 17 July to 3 August. Shows are at 7.30pm and ticket prices range from R80 to R120.

This one we’ve been waiting for. It was canceled earlier this year- some clash of schedules probably, but it’s now showing at the Alexander Bar Theatre from 22 July to 3 August.

It’s The Hucksters by the prolific Louis Viljoen, who is able to transfix you by making two people throw stunning abuse at each other. In this case it is long-time collaborators Emily Child and Nicholas Pauling. They meet again. There’s booze, there’s something from the past. Horrors! Shit goes pear shaped at 7pm and it costs R130, or R110.

Nik Rabinowitz is always good for a laugh with a bit of a think. He’s the kind of guy who can help you smile about life, even while talking about all the shit in it.

Sounds like it Nik doing a version of ‘how did I get here? Who is this beautiful wife?’

Let him cheer you up on July 10 at the Cape Town Comedy Club at 6 Dock Rd, The Pumphouse, V&A Waterfront. (sorree) Starts at 8.30pm, tickets cost R150 from Computicket, Shoprite, or Checkers. Dinner from 6pm when doors open and last meal orders 7.30pm. Happy hour 6-7pm.

Others We need to clean up our shit. Pitch on 27 July and meet new people while picking up plastic along Mouille Point and Seapoint. The Plastic Free July edition of Trash Bash is being organised by The Two Oceans Aquarium. Get with the programme.

There’s Emo Night after that, on 20 July. If you are in the habit of wearing black (sans irony), this one’s for you. Line up is Small Time Riot, DJ CriBoi, Rap Man Gavin, The Ghoulfiends.

Commiserations start from 6pm, entrance only R50.

Homegrown dance music – Bubblegum to Amapiano. 2 Turntables, 2 DJs, vinyl only. Yeah, can do with some of that. It’s the Waxon Street Bash Sounds at The Waiting Room on July 4. realROZZANO and Paul Waxon at the controls. R40 before 10pm, R60 thereafter. 273 Long St.

Theatre Dance lovers seem to have been a bit shortchanged of late. WAG | WAITING at The Baxter might give you a bit of the fix you need. As the title suggests, the concept is about how long we should wait, what are we waiting for, where does the time go while we wait. Translating concept to movement is Figure 8 Dance Collective featuring Grant Van Ster and Shaun Oelf joined by Dustin Jannetjies and Gabriela Dirkse.

What really caught our eye was the set designer, who is Carin Bester, who is at home in the realm of performance art.

It’s on at 8.15pm from 10 to 13 July, at 12pm on 11 July and 4pm on 13 July.

Tickets range from R50 to R100 and you need to book via webtickets.

Nicholas Pauling and Emily Child exchange rivetingly filthy dialogue in Louis Viljoen’s Hucksters.

If you want your gig to be considered for our guide, email deets to westcapenews@gmail.com