INFRASTRUCTURE IN SHAMBLES, OPEN SEWERS
CalamityinSamora
the which to Oliver neighbourhood most Tambo Hart potholes creating Walk, ki Solomon Bathandwa Radu
behest hand the daunting, filthy for of been heavy associated deteriorated urgent
Lindeka Golela, described living conditions there as terrible.
She has lived in Samora for more than
One of the motorists stuck in a pothole at Govan Mbeki Road in Samora Machel
PHOTO: NAMHLA MONAKALI
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Cape Town’s best recognised
KAYLYNNEBANTOM
As part of its commitment to recognising excellence and community service, the City of Cape Town will award Civic Honours and Mayor’s Medals to deserving individuals and organisations later this month.
The ceremony will be held at the City Council Chambers on Friday 14 November
Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis says Civic Honours are about recognising the contributions of remarkable people who have delivered exceptional public service, in any field of social, community or civic interest
The ceremony was revived in 2023 following a 12-year hiatus and is held every two years
“Honours recipients have generally achieved extraordinary acclaim in their chosen field, have won international recognition for their talent or contribution, or distinguished themselves with extraordinary community service ”
The awarding of honours follows a public nominations process held earlier this year followed by Council approval of nominations, confirmation of acceptance by nominees, and finally the awards ceremony
Awards are conferred in several categories, including Freedom of the City, Civic Honours Book, and the Mayor’s Medal
The Freedom of the City, known as the highest Civic Honour, will be bestowed on two of its cultural icons, David Kramer and the late Taliep Petersen, at a ceremony in January next year
CivicHonoursBook
Ranking just below the Freedom of the City, is the Signing of the Civic Honours Book
Hill-Lewis says this honour recognises public service to Cape Town that is exceptionally meritorious or impactful, in any field of social, community or civic interest
The Civic Honours book is kept by the City for future generations to remember Cape Town’s greatest citizens
The individuals to be recorded in the
RECIPIENTSHAVEGENERALLY ACHIEVED EXTRAORDINARY ACCLAIM IN THEIR CHOSEN FIELD
Civic Honours Book for 2025 are:
Jacques Kallis, Oliver Hermanus, Temba Bavuma and Tony Leon
Mayor’sMedal
The Mayor’s Medal award acknowledges outstanding contributions by individuals or associations in a number of different fields, including community service, the arts, social services, youth affairs and recreation and sport among others
Thisyear’sMayor’sMedalswillbebestowed on:
ForCommunityAffairs
Prof Brian O’Connell (posthumously), former Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Western Cape (UWC) and Wendy Ackerman, philanthropist and business leader
ForSocialAffairsandServices
The Haven Night Shelter, offering dignified shelter to help people off the streets
The Service Dining Rooms, serving cooked meals to the homeless for over 90 years
Victor Pick (posthumously), medical researcher who contributed to the world’s first successful heart transplant by Christiaan Barnard
ForCulturalAffairs
Basil Appollis, multi-award-winning actor, director, producer and writer
Emo Adams, renowned singer, actor and producer
Denise Newman, accomplished and versatile performing artist
Louis Heyneman, for his advancement of music, arts journalism, and cultural development
Sylvia Mdunyelwa (“Mama Kaap”, post-
humously), Langa’s monumental figure in jazz
ForRecreationandSport
Babalwa Latsha, Springbok Women’s captain
Bernard Hartze (posthumously), South African footballing legend
Hamilton Sea Point Rugby Club, South Africa’s oldest rugby club, founded in 1875
ForConservation
Friends of the Liesbeek, transforming Cape Town’s waterways for over three decades
Dr Joan Parker, the driving force behind the transformation of the Upper Liesbeek River Garden (ULRG)
The Two Oceans Aquarium, for marine conservation excellence in Cape Town
ForEconomicAffairs
Prof Brian Kantor, economist, educator, and public intellectual
ForExtraordinaryBravery
The Mountain Club of South Africa, serving Cape Town with a highly skilled volunteer Search and Rescue (S&R) team
People’s Post spoke to a few of the recipients
Shadrick Valayadum, chief executive officer of the Haven Night Shelter, said they are grateful for the recognition
“We accept this award with humility and appreciation, and we thank the mayor for acknowledging the impact of our ongoing efforts Our commitment remains steadfast, we will continue striving to build meaningful pathways out of homelessness ”Janey Ball, acting operations manager for the Service Dining Rooms, said the award belongs to the many volunteers, donors, and supporters who make The Service Dining Rooms the great place it is
“Every plate of food we serve represents the compassion and care of these people and organisations and reminds us how powerful our community can be ” Mike Reynolds, chair of the Hamilton Sea Point Rugby Club, said they is ecstatic to be one of the recipients of the awards
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What if I told you that I am a devoted Christian, filled with the Holy Spirit, anchored in Christ, and yet I believe that whatever path chooses you, it is okay? Not because truth is flexible or faith is fading, but because God is far bigger than the walls we build around Him.
It is a dangerous sentence to write; I may be nailed to the cross of criticism for it, but it is the most honest one my spirit knows To some, these words sound like compromise To others, they are courage Some may whisper “heretic” while others hear healing
Ultimately you will see it through the lens of your own heart and how you relate , and that is okay It is still the truest sentence my spirit knows Across history, religions have searched for answers to the same burning questions: Who is God? Why are we here? How should we live? What awaits us beyond death?
Every tradition, whether ancient or modern, is trying to make sense of human suffering, purpose, morality, love and the mystery of existence
They differ in scripture or ritual, but they share one heartbeat: to teach love over hate, discipline over chaos, humility over pride, justice over selfishness, and reverence for life
Christianity teaches “love your neighbour” Islam speaks of rahmah (mercy) Judaism calls for tikkun olam (repairing the world) Hinduism teaches dharma (righteous duty) Buddhism advocates compassion and the death of ego African spirituality reminds us that we exist through others, ancestors, land, community Different languages, different stories, yet the same longing; to live in harmony with God, with self and with neighbour If religions share purpose, they also
A journo’s voice - Namhla Monakali -
share a common enemy
Not each other, but greed, pride, injustice, hatred and ego
The real war is not between cross and crescent, temple and mosque, believer and unbeliever
This is not a battle of religion versus religion It is a battle of light versus darkness, love versus domination, humility versus pride
The enemy is anything that separates us from love and truth, systems that profit from division, violence dressed as righteousness, fear masquerading as faith
It is easier to blame those whose beliefs differ from ours than to confront the pride and corruption within our own hearts
In a globalised world (one I wait to see unfold) cultures collide and coexist in the palms of our hands News, pain, joy and belief systems spread within seconds Some fear losing identity; others fear losing faith altogether But perhaps that era will never be a threat, but an invitation
Not to build one world religion, but to remember that we are already one human family breathing under one sky, made by one Creator, however differently we name Him I wait not for uniformity, but for unity, the kind rooted in compassion, justice and humility before the God who made us all Religion becomes dangerous when the
map is treated as the destination Scripture, tradition and doctrine guide us, but they are always interpreted by human hearts, hearts shaped by culture, upbringing, trauma and time
There are also laws written quietly within each soul, personal callings whispered by God into our unique journeys Faith is personal, but not selfish Public, but deeply inward God’s work is bigger than human interpretation
Christianity taught me that God is love, that Jesus is truth in flesh, and that the Holy Spirit still speaks
But I have also learned this God is not afraid of difference He spoke through fishermen, prophets, prisoners, dreamers, and foreigners, even those whose lives did not look “religious” To confine God to one denomination is to worship a smaller god than the God of creation
The Bible itself shows us a God who meets people in deserts, palaces, prisons, storms and silence, never in one predictable place
To my fellow Christians, this is not rebellion, it is reverence Jesus did not come to build fences around grace, but to reconcile all things to God He ate with tax collectors, touched lepers, spoke to Samaritans and forgave those who murdered Him Faithfulness to Christ should make us more loving, not more afraid And to those of other faiths or no faith at all, I do not stand above you, but beside you Let us be honest in disagreement, generous in love and united against the real enemy
People will think what they think, and that is okay This is bigger than opinion It is about truth, love and the world we are shaping While we debate whose belief is correct, children starve While we argue over doctrine, wars rage While we divide ourselves by religion, the real enemy, injus-
‘Extortionist’ shot in Samora
UNATHIOBOSE
Samora Machel police registered a murder case for investigation following a shooting incident on Monday 3 November.
Provincial police spokesperson Sgt Wesley Twigg said the incident occurred about 12:55 in Mzukisi Skweyiya Street, where a 24-year-old male was shot dead
“The officers attended the crime scene where they found the victim with gunshot wounds,” he said. “The victim was declared dead on the scene by medical personnel. The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation and arrests are yet to be made.”
A community member who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals said the victim’s death was a breath
of fresh air. He was one of the people terrorising the community demanding money from local businesses, the source said.
“We can never rejoice in the death of a person. But the truth must be told; the deceased was one of the extortionists in the community. I believe he was shot and killed by his friends.” She added the community was tired of the gangsters. She described Samora Machel as a very dangerous area
She said extortion was very prevalent in the area
Community members on the scene of the killing PHOTO:SUPPLIED
Somalishopownergunned downinCrossroads‘extortion’
UNATHIOBOSE
Nyanga police registered a murder case following a shooting incident on Friday 31 October at Sonwabile Drive in Old Crossroads. The incident occurred at 11:25. Provincial Provincial police spokesperson Captain F.C. van Wyk said the motive is believed to be extortion.
“According to reports, Nyanga officers were called to attend a murder scene and upon their arrival they were shown the body of an unidentified Somali national who had been shot and fatally wounded The victim was shot several times in his upper body,” said van Wyk.
A community member who spoke on condition of anonymity echoed van Wyk’s sentiments, stating that the incident was extortion-related.
“I don’t think the motive was robbery. Since unknown people are collecting money from the Somali-owned shops, no one is robbing the shops any more. Instead, the extortion groups are killing each other,” he said.
He stated that the spaza shops are under threat. He lambasted the government for dragging its feet in dealing with the situation.
“The issue of extortion has been a subject for so long. I fail to understand why the officers don’t have a plan to curb it. There are allegations that projects, including government projects, need to pay money to carry on working in our communities. And you ask yourself: if the government itself is paying the extortionists, do you think the extortion will ever end?” he asked abnormal.
FROMPAGE1
Rob Quintas, Mayco member for Urban Mobility, said road infrastructure in Samora Machel, as well as many parts within Philippi, is deteriorating due to external factors such as water leaks, standpipes left open, such as water leaks, standpipes left open, grey water decanting, illegal connections from washing machines, illegal car wash establishments, and ongoing sewer overflows. He also blamed illegal dumping as the root cause for some of the challenges.
“Road infrastructure is prone to failure if unwanted water or ponding is present,” said Quintas. “Further to this, criminal activities make it difficult for our depot and contractors to perform remedial work in this area and we rely on Law Enforcement, which is not always readily available.”
He said the Roads Infrastructure Management team has had numerous engagements with the subcouncil and other line departments regarding these ongoing issues with awareness programmes done on a few occasions.
“Given these challenges, Roads Infrastructure Management (RIM) in collaboration with other line departments had a few ‘Service Blitz Interventions’ in the past. The last intervention was between 25 and 29 August, when we focused on roads listed by the ward councillor (Lungisa Somdaka) of the area These roads were Lilian Ngoyi
Street, Simphiwe Mthimkhulu Street, Galaweni Street, Duma Nokwe Street, Feroza Adams, Joe Gqabi Street, Chris Hani Street, Oliver Tambo Drive and Helen Joseph Street up to Steve Biko Road.”
Quintas further stated that RIM has a Pothole Project currently in progress within the Samora Machel area, attending to notifications as well as planned interventions in Oliver Tambo Drive.
“Unfortunately, there is a sewer collapse at the corners of OR Tambo Drive and Weltevreden Parkway, which was reported to the Water and Sanitation Department thus that section cannot be attended to at this stage ”
Quintas said the City has scheduled a pothole and large patch project for the Philippi area which includes Samora Machel with an estimated amount of R2,2 million budgeted for currently in this financial year
“This is over and above the budget provided to the depot to deal with pothole complaints on a daily basis,” Quintas said “During the last financial year, the budget spent on pothole and large patch projects in the Philippi area amounted to R3,5million. The Roads Infrastructure Management Department also appointed a Professional Service Provider (currently in progress) to do a detailed design to rehabilitate Oliver Tambo Drive, considering all the external factors currently present.”
A police van on the scene PHOTO: SUPPLIED
Resident Lindeka Golela standing at the corners of Moses Madiba Crescent and Jenny Schreiner Walk in Samora Machel PHOTOS: UNATHI OBOSE
One of the drainage system spillover at Jenny Schreiner Walk
Some of the potholes with dirty water at Govan Mbeki Road
The community will use these fire extinguishers to extinguish the flames while they wait for the firefighters to arrive
Localvolunteers receiveaboost
UNATHIOBOSE
Members of Samora Machel Neighbourhood Watch (NHW) were exhilarated as they received 35 fire extinguishers and 10 first aid kits from the Atlantic Fire and Rescue on Friday 24 October at the Tsoga Community Centre.
The event was organised by Samora Machel Community Policing Forum (CPF) to empower the NHW volunteers to tackle some of the challenges in the community. Earlier that day the volunteers attended training on how to use the material
Sydwell Nobhongoza, Samora Machel CPF chair, described the event as special and helpful.
“NHW members risk their lives protecting the community,” he said. “They are volunteers. They receive no salary. They do the job out of love We felt that when there is an opportunity, we should empower them. And besides that, they are always around the community.”
Nobhongoza added the training came at the right time, with the festive season around the corner.
Speaking on behalf of Atlantic Fire and Rescue, Paul Kruger described the event as
a fire-awareness campaign.
Atlantic Fire and Rescue is a non-governmental organisation with a mission to safeguard lives and property through community education, fire prevention and fire awareness training in informal settlements.
Kruger emphasised the NGO was working only in the Cape Metro. It started in Masiphumelele last year, and its main objective was to minimise fire incidents in poorer areas.
“This is the time of year when fire incidents increase We want the community to stay alert at all times. The first 20 minutes of a fire incident are crucial So, we want the community to use these fire extinguishers on the flames while they wait for the firefighters to arrive.”
Ward 33 councillor Lungisa Somdaka said the training and equipment brought relief to the community.
He said the equipment will make a massive difference
“We welcome any initiative that can make a difference, and the equipment will make a huge difference. We are appealing to other organisations to come on board to build a better community.”
EtafeniCentreinspireslearners at‘planttheseed’careerexpo
UNATHIOBOSE
In an effort to empower and advise learners about the importance of choosing the right subjects at high school, the Etafeni Centre in Nyanga hosted a careers expo at Linge Primary on Thursday 30 October.
The theme of the event, which was attended by Grade 7 learners only, was “Plant the seed”.
Ndileka Sibali, after-school coordinator at Etafeni, said that the purpose was to help learners understand career opportunities and the required qualifications for different industries.
Etafeni is a Nyanga-based multi-purpose centre, serving special-needs children, housing a day-care centre and after-care.
Sibali said the objective was to motivate and inspire young learners to focus on their studies.“We invited people from Nyanga and surrounding areas, some of whom are at varsity and others who are in professions,” Sibali said. “We wanted our learners to see that background does not determine one’s future. If they are focused, they can be whatever they want to be.”
She described Nyanga as a volatile area, where many learners drop out of school and join gangs. So the purpose of organising such an expo was to make education fashionable, said Sibali. “This is the first time we have organised such an event. We are planning to do it annually. Our target is Grade 7 learners because they are the ones who are on the verge of going to high school.”
One of the speakers, Dr Lwandile Tokwe, who is a senior researcher at the University of Cape Town (UCT), said the aim is to bring hope to children.
He said it is vital for learners, partic-
ularly those who are at high school, to choose their subjects wisely. “It is rare to find such initiatives in the townships Many learners go to varsity not knowing what they want to do. Sometimes some of them choose the wrong courses because they want to go to university. They end up dropping out before completing because they lose interest.”
So learners need to be smart when choosing their high-school subjects, Tokwe advised.
Linge Primary School deputy principal Edward Bisha said he hoped that the education initiative would uplift the learners’ spirits, creating enthusiasm about moving forward and pushing themselves onwards in a sensible fashion
Learner Luthando Fikizolo (13) said he found the expo helpful, useful and inspirational. “We were advised to choose our subjects for high school wisely and encouraged to focus on our studies instead of doing wrong things.”
Dr Lwandile Tokwe motivating the learners during the event PHOTO:UNATHI OBOSE
ENTERTAINMENT
One-man show debut at Baxter
The internationally acclaimed stage production Far Gone is set to make its South African debut with a highly anticipated tour that will bring its gripping, thought-provoking story to local audiences
The Baxter Theatre will welcome the show from Tuesday 11 until Saturday 15 November as part of an ambitious new tour spanning four continents
Known for its raw storytelling and powerful performances, Far Gone has captivated theatre lovers across the globe, and now South Africa will experience it first-hand
Written and performed by Ugandan-born actor and writer John Rwothomack, Far Gone tells the heartbreaking story of a young boy’s journey from childhood innocence to life as a forcibly recruited child soldier in Northern Uganda
The one-man show is produced by Roots Mbili Theatre from Sheffield, England, a company founded to give a platform to voices and stories often missing from the international stage
“As an artist, it’s one thing to work internationally To tour your own work globally feels incredibly special We are humbled to take this important piece of work across four continents I hope the heartbreaking story will resonate with South African audiences and those around the world,” said Rwothomack
Directed by Nigerian theatre-maker Mojisola Kareem and originally co-produced with Sheffield Theatres, Far Gone blends
‘FARGONE’ BLENDSHUMOUR, POETRY,ANDPHYSICALTHEATRE
humour, poetry, and physical theatre to explore the devastating impact of child abductions by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), which forcibly recruited tens of thousands of children across Central and East Africa
Rwothomack drew inspiration for the play from his own experience of nearly being kidnapped by the LRA at the age of eight
Founded in 2021 by John Rwothomack, creative producer Sam Holland and digital director Smart Banda, Roots Mbili Theatre is committed to spotlighting stories from Africa and the African diaspora
The company’s most recent work, Lines, completed a tour that finished at New York’s La Mama Theatre Rwothomack’s motivation is deeply personal
“I made a promise to myself that I would tell this story one day These guerrilla groups and child kidnappings are still a reality around the world; we have to show that in a truthful way When I finished training as an actor, I thought the theatre scene was not set up to represent my voice, nor that of many others So I knew if I wanted to be truly heard, I would have to build a space to do it ”
The internationally acclaimed stage production Far Gone is set to make its South African debut PHOTO: SUPPLIED
Kevin Fraser at CTICC
Comedian Kevin Fraser is set to light up the Cape Town International Convention Centre on Saturday 13 December at 20:00 with his latest comedy spectacular, Heart of the World
Known for his infectious blend of standup, dance and cultural commentary, Fraser promises an evening that celebrates “what makes Africa truly special”
“They say the world has seven continents, but only one has a heartbeat: Africa,” said Fraser “It’s that pulse that reminds us how to feel, how to dance through difficulty and how to laugh through pain ”
Fraser will take audiences on a satirical journey across South Africa
Expect trademark “entertainment comedy”: ranting, raving, belly-laugh commentary and sporadic dancing
Moving from Durban to Johannesburg in 2013 he became a favourite Australia saw him launch Cream Kulture, his entertainment brand, before pivoting to comedy His SA characters and expat tales have built a global following across continents
The show contains adult themes Book tickets at www kevinfraserofficial com
Comedian Kevin Fraser PHOTO: BRAD DELANEY
alley Voster of Lavender m on Saturday 1 November
