Roadsclosedforsafety R
In a quest to halt break-ins and promote safety in their neighbourhood, enraged residents from A section in Lingelethu-West, have barricaded several roads with sand and stones on Friday 8 August. The affected streets include Thulani, Luleka and Vuyani.
The residents voiced concerns about rampant crime in their community. They said
break-ins have surged to unacceptable levels and vowed to keep the streets off-limits indefinitely. The move will drastically cut movement in and out of the area
A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of harassment, said the area has been terrorised by criminals for a long time In most cases, she said the criminals steal electrical appliances.
“There is a car that goes around targeting people's homes.
They are targeting houses with no people, maybe the owners are at work, and the children are at school. They take fridges, television sets, kettles etc. This has been
happening for a while now,” she said Zakhele Street is the only accessible road into the community. “The officers are aware of our concerns.
We closed the streets because we feel the officers are not doing enough to protect us. I am not sure when we are going to reopen them, but we will first monitor the situation,” she said.
Lingelethu-West Police Station spokesperson Sgt Xoliswa Nyalambisa confirmed the closure of the streets, citing that the residents complained of the escalating crime in the area She did not speak about the status of crime in the area
Lingelethu-West Community Policing Forum (CPF) chair Lunga Guza said they are also aware of the road closures. He described break-ins as a “huge concern” in the area
“This has been happening for a long time. It came to our attention around March this year and it seems these criminals like to sit next to the Somali shops in the morning and look out for empty houses,” said Guza. Guza said patrollers walk around between 05:00 to 08:00 during the week. He stated that they condemned the street closures, but understand the plight of the community.
UNATHI OBOSE unathi.obose@novusmedia co.za
Vuyani Street has been barricaded with a pile of sand PHOTO: UNATHI OBOSE
cause some government officials are involved. If what the KwaZulu Natal police commissioner Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi said about Senzo Mchunu is true that means we are in serious trouble. There are more such people who are holding higher positions in our government.
My concern is what would happen if the community decides to take the law into their own hands. Many people have lost trust in the officers Even if they see something suspicious occurring in their communities, they keep quiet. We’ve seen instances where some of the officers have been arrested for being involved in crime, including robbery and extortion Honestly speaking, we are on our own The people who are tasked to protect us have turned their backs against us. All we need to do is to stand up and unite against the criminals. We need to reclaim our streets. Our government is failing us.
date looms
KAYLYNNEBANTOM
When the first Blisters for Bread Charity Family Fun Walk kicked off 57 years ago, Stanley Meiring was only 17 years old and could never have imagined that the R158 that he raised while walking would help lay the foundation for a cause that continues to change lives today
The annual event will take place on Sunday 31 August at the Green Point Common Sports Ground.
And those hoping to take part are reminded that the closing date for registration is at midnight on Sunday 17 August. Now in its 57th year, Blisters for Bread is not just a walk—it’s a movement.
Each year, thousands gather in solidarity to help the Peninsula School Feeding Association (PSFA) combat child hunger by raising vital funds to provide daily meals to learners across the Western Cape.
Meiring (74) still fondly remembers his first walk.
“I was in matric at the time. And we were told we must walk 19 miles (over 30 km’s) from Simon’s Town to Savio College in Lansdowne.
“Father Preston said the walk was for a worthy cause and that they were going to raise funds for the Peninsula School Feeding Association.”
Meiring explained that he and his fellow classmates took on the challenge without hesitation
“All we were told was to wear comfortable shoes We didn’t have any of the fancy shoes that are available today.
“We just wore normal takkies and some wore their school shoes When you are 17 years old you just walk, we didn’t feel the distance we had to walk.”
He says he’s proud to have been part of the first Blisters for Bread Walk, a moment that still holds special meaning decades later
“You don’t realise at the time the impact that the few cents that you raised makes. I raised R158 and that was a lot of money at the time.
“As a group we raised a substantial amount.”
Meiring said he last took part in Blisters for Bread in 2018 when the event celebrated its 50th anniversary.
“Myself and five other learners who did the first walk joined.
“We only did the 5 km then. But it was great catching up with everyone after so many years.”
Meiring encouraged people to lace up and do their bit.
“Just do it. It is for a worthy cause,” he said Each R100 entry fee feeds a child both breakfast and lunch for a day
Official event T-shirts are available at R150. Only online entries will be accepted, and participation is limited to 8 000 walkers.
For enquiries, contact Top Events at info@topevents.co za or WhatsApp on 066 139 4210. To register visit www.psfa.org.za
Gugs family gets poor service
UNATHIOBOSE
Weeks of unhappiness came to an abrupt end for the Mooi family in Gugulethu after council workers fixed a blocked sewer, that affected their lives, on Monday 11 August. This after City Vision visited his house earlier in the day and brought the matter to the attention of the Fezeka municipal office.
Last week, a distraught Themba Mooi reached out to City Vision for help, claiming that numerous attempts to have the sewer fixed fell on deaf ears
The NY 8 resident said his problems started at the beginning of last month. Every time he reported the problem, he said
he was issued a new reference number. The matter remained unresolved while his family faced a threat of airborne diseases from the stagnant water in his backyard due to the blockage.
In an interview with City Vision at his home on Monday, Mooi expressed his frustration with the lack of support from the municipality “I went to Fezeka five times since the drain blocked. Every time I went there, they would look at my reference number and punch it into the computer and tell me to go home to wait for the truck to come and fix it. Some of the employees even know me For example, the last time I went there on Wednesday 7 August, I was standing in the queue with other people.
One of the employees came straight to me and asked me if I came for the same thing She then took my reference number and went inside her office, when she came back, she said I must go and wait for the municipality truck to come to my house,” explained Mooi
He complained about the unbearable stench coming from the dirty water citing that the smell could negatively affect their lives.
“I suspect that the pipe which goes underground from my neighbour’s kitchen sink is blocked, and the dirty water can’t flow through to the drain. Understand that our houses were built during the apartheid era. The pipes from my kitchen sink together
with my neighbour’s sink are connected and they are discarding the water in a single drain,” he explained, adding that the main drain is in his yard. Following the interview, City Vision drove to the municipal office with Mooi for clarity regarding some of his claims. Fezeka Municipality manager Gcobani Bobo referred the matter to his clerk for assistance. She indicated that Mooi’s reference number had been closed and created a new reference number She promised that a team would be at Mooi’s house within 72 hours
On Tuesday 12 August Mooi confirmed to City Vision that the problem was fixed later on Monday.
Themba Mooi is pointing to the dirty water outside his kitchen PHOTOS: UNATHI OBOSE
The stinking water coming out from the burst pipe
Two people gunned down in KTC
UNATHIOBOSE
Gugulethu police are investigating a double murder case following a shooting incident at Moonlight informal settlement in KTC on Sunday 10 August.
According to police, a 28-year-old male and a 25-year-old female were ambushed at Mjodo Street around 20:30.
Provincial police spokesperson Col Andre Traut said the circumstances surrounding their killing are under investigation. Their bodies were discovered with fatal gunshot wounds, he added. The motive for the incident is unknown and the suspects are yet to be arrested.
A community leader who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of being attacked
described the incident as terrible.
“According to the information that we received from one of the people who were with the deceased, they heard a knock on the door,” he explained
The perpetrator allegedly called one of the deceased by name. When the door opened several shots were fired without a single word.
The leader said the gunman then ran away. The deceased are well-known in the community, he explained “We are still puzzled by the incident as we know the deceased were people who like a good time. We never heard of them being involved in bad things. We're hoping the officers will investigate the main cause of the shooting,” she concluded.
In a separate incident on Friday 8 August, two people were gunned down at the corner of Ligwa and Zambezi streets at Extension 6 in Mfuleni.
Provincial police spokesperson Lt-Col Malcolm Pojie said Mfuleni officers registered two counts of murder after two men aged 26 and 19 were shot at about 13:25.
“Officers were dispatched to the scene where they discovered the bodies of the deceased who had succumbed to gunshot wounds to the upper body. Both were declared deceased by medical personnel on the scene. The motive for the attack is not known yet and forms part of continued investigation surrounding the circumstances of the murder,” said Pojie.
He said more boots have been deployed on the ground to quell the gun violence in the
urged the community to be vigilant
“What is shocking is that in most cases people who are involved in these incidents ople It is tti
The shack where the shooting incident occurred in Moonlight PHOTO: UNATHI OBOSE
Gugs moms urged to breastfeed
UNATHIOBOSE
Hundreds of women from Gugulethu and surrounding communities gathered at Ikhwezi Community Centre for a workshop on breastfeeding on Friday 8 August.
The event – in the aftermath of World Breastfeeding Week, Friday 1 to Thursday 7 August – was organised by the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness and the City of Cape Town to encourage women to breastfeed and educate them on its importance
Samantha Lee-Jacobs, communications officer of the Klipfontein Mitchells Plain Substructure of the Department of Health and Wellness, said its theme, “Prioritise Breastfeeding: Create Sustainable Support Systems”, reflected the overarching aims of the department’s Mother Baby Friendly Initiative, to create a good relationship between mothers and their children
According to experts, breastfeeding provides several benefits for both babies and mothers These include boosting immunity and deepening the bond between child and mother. Breastmilk is perfectly formulated to meet their nutritional needs and is easily digested It also contains antibodies that protect against infections and chronic diseases such as asthma, allergies and certain cancers.
Despite all these benefits the figures of breastfeeding mothers remain very low.
A dietician at Gugulethu Community Health Centre, Zenande Xaluva, said the aim was to increase the number of mothers engaged in this vital area of nutrition.
“Currently, we have 32% of mothers who are breastfeeding in the country and we want to see the number increasing We are also encouraging them to monitor what they are eating, because what they eat goes straight to the child.”
She said HIV-positive mothers can also breastfeed as long as they do not default on their the treatment.
Resident Anathi Mthambeka (24) from KTC described the event as informative, having learnt much. Six months pregnant, she said her morale and confidence were boosted. “I don’t know what to expect, but the information I got from here makes me strong I told the nurses I didn’t want to breastfeed, but they explained the importance of breast milk to a child, that it contains nutrients that assist in the baby’s development. So I think I will give it a try it and see if it works.” She said she also learnt about the importance of a good diet for a mother.
Mother of two Sharon Vangaye (36) from NY 112, said the event was exciting and more of these were needed in communities.
“In most cases we mislead one another. There are certain perceptions, including a myth that if one breastfeeds one’s breasts
become flat and long. Initially I was so scared to breastfeed, but my mother forced me to do so. Today I learnt that milk from the breast is richer than formula.”
She urged other young parents to attend such events, describing them as helpful.
About Health and Wellness’ Mother Baby Friendly Initiative Lee-Jacobs said: “We ensure the newborns are placed skin-toskin with their mothers immediately after birth for at least one hour. Mothers are taught Kangaroo Mother Care to strengthen bonding and growth
“Also, there is ongoing breastfeeding support available at clinics and hospitals across the province.”
She urged those mothers who are struggling with breastfeeding to visit the nearest clinic and receive confidential advice from trained nurses
“They can help with latching, milk supply and healthy eating for a mother and baby.”
Registered dietitian for Southern Western Substructure, Department of Health and Wellness, Cassandra Alexander educates Ayanda September about the importance of breastfeeding during the event
PHOTOS: UNATHI OBOSE
CityHealthpusheshepatitispreventionawareness
Against the backdrop of World Hepatitis Day celebrated on Monday 28 July, the City of Cape Town’s Health Department is ramping-up efforts to raise awareness of the condition, particularly its prevention and early detection as well as safe hygiene habits.
Over the last two years, City Health has completed more than 900 community projects, covering everything from hand-washing to food safety, to dismantle the barriers that fuel hepatitis’ spread and the stigma surrounding it.
This year’s theme, “Let’s break it down”, calls on all sectors of society to take urgent action in the fight to eliminate the disease
According to the department, around 6,7% of South Africans are infected with
hepatitis B, yet many remain unaware of their status. Hepatitis B and C are transmitted through close contact with blood or bodily fluids, through unprotected sex, sharing needles during drug use and mother-to-child transmission during birth or breastfeeding Hepatitis A spreads via contaminated food, water and poor hand hygiene.
Symptoms can include fatigue, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), dark urine, stomach pain, fever and nausea, but some people show no signs at all until the liver is already damaged.
Routine hepatitis B vaccinations are free at all City Health facilities. Visit your nearest facility or contact City Health.
Children’s HPV shots underway
The second round of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign is currently underway, and the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness encourages all parents to be on the lookout and sign consent forms that will be sent home with the learners As part of the campaign the National Department of Health has ordered that Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis (TDaP) vaccine boosters be administered to all eligible children (boys and girls). This initiative aims to boost protection against tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough It also helps prevent outbreaks and supports all boys and girls in Grade 5 across public and private schools, with consent. Sr Lucille Davids, Dr Abdurahman Com-
The vaccine does not contain any live virus or DNA from the virus
PHOTO: PEXELS
Danceshowtackleshumanebbandflowattheatreschool
The Waterfront Theatre School (WTS) will stage In Flux, a bold new dance production that captures the ever-shifting human experience through four genre-spanning works.
Patrons are invited to witness an evocative evening of movement, meaning and metamorphosis as dancers traverse the emotional and philosophical terrain of what it means to be in a constant state of flux.
The play will be on at the WTS's Lane Theatre from Wednesday 3 to Saturday 6 September.
Curated as a four-part choreographic exploration, In Flux features Intersect (Choreography: James Bradley), a neo-classical reflection on fleeting, often-unnoticed connections. Through layered dynamics and intricately-crafted movement it captures
the quiet beauty of lives that cross, whether consciously or unknowingly.
Ignite, a high-energy tap work, traces the evolution of flame, from embers to full blaze Tapping out rhythm, power and momentum, this explosive piece is a celebration of energy, intensity and ignition
From Dark Silence is a visceral journey through contrast and clarity. From stillness to awakening, darkness to light, silence to sound, this immersive piece is a meditation on transformation and perception
ARTificial, a thought-provoking look at the evolution of communication, from ink and paper to AI This piece examines how technology reshapes how we connect, express and understand the world In Flux is not simply a showcase of talent; it is a conversation in motion. It speaks to the
Winans to visit Mzansi
The Africa leg of popular Gospel singer CeCe Winans’ world tour includes shows in Cape Town on Friday 22 and Saturday 23 August at GrandWest’s Grand Arena.
Entitled More Than This the tour promises to be a ground-breaking worship experience headlined by Winans.
As a 15-time Grammy Award winner, the much-loved gospel singer has captivated hearts worldwide with her soulful and spirit-filled material that transcends generations
Fresh from the release of her latest album of the same title her repertoire features the chart-topping single “That's My King” and other timeless classics such as “Goodness of God” and “Holy Forever”
Winans has embarked on what is her biggest and most far-reaching international tour yet.
Her ministry in song has touched millions of lives around the world. From intimate-worship moments to high-energy celebrations, each night of the More Than This world tour aims at inspiring, uplifting and transforming.
Winans describes the tour as “more than a concert”. “It’s a call to worship for all believers, reminding us of the hope and love that transcends all boundaries,” she said Winans’ own express intention is to bring nations together in a powerful encounter with God’s glory as she continues to be a vessel for His message through her music. She invites everyone to join her in this global celebration of faith
Doors open at 19:00 and each show runs from 20:00 to 23:00.
Tickets are available at Ticketpro.
way change shapes connection, emotion and movement, reminding one that nothing stays still, and everything is in flux. Tickets are available via Quicket.
In Flux will take take patrons on a journey PHOTO: SUPPLIED
All Af from
UNATHIOBOSE
Langa was ecstatic on over one of its own tional Boxing Organisation Africa champion in weight Division.
Simankele ‘Sima’ Tutsheni
Caleigh Swart in a unanim sion at Emperor’s Palace Johannesburg on Saturday Eight consecutive match knockouts, led to Saturday he described as one of She said she had been the fight and it was “Swart didn’t have strong have knocked her out but I decided to contin crowd.”
Tutsheni, who works
Working on Fire, said fight wasn’t easy becau the day and trained in The Western Cape Bantamw pion said she was waitin ers to announce the next “Of my eight match Adidya Mimu and Pame from Malawi. Of all my was against Pamela.”
The fight was at Sunnin plex in September last scribed as “a humdinger”
Tutsheni’s coach Felix Blood, Sweat and Tears sheni for fighting according plan.
He described her as “We knew the opponen strongest points,” he said. cording to her weakness
er title at the Totalsports ctory in a blistering 31:16
message she’d like to ds of runners on Nay, Njoki replied, “Let’s support each other, moand empower women me, and when I return that I have motivated Town through the TotalRace.”
African to cross the finish claimed 8th place in a 34:05. “It feels great (to be African),” says More “As big girls, I was like oh just here for the time, but with the heart. I ran my do the Totalsports WomTown ” When asked Totalsports Women’s More said: “I’ll run my try to push to the end.” to Christine Njoki on inspiring victory,” says Managing Director of Still-
