IKASI LAM
AnotherCatabossdies
scene by medical personnel. Two adult males were wounded and were transported to a medical facility for treatment. The motive for the attack forms part of the police investigation.” He added that the suspects fled the scene and are yet to be arrested Efforts to get a comment from the spokesperson for Cata Nkululeko Sityebi were futile. When City Vision contacted him he said he was in a meeting. He also did not respond to a WhatsApp message sent to him.
Meanwhile, the Cape Organisation of the Democratic Taxi Association (Codeta) welcomed the reopening of routes on Saturday 18 October.
The routes were closed from Wednesday 17 September until Friday 17 October for a month by the Provincial Minister of Mobility, Isaac Sileku, due to taxi-related violence. The decision followed ongoing taxi-related violence between Codeta and Cata over the routes in Khayelitsha and Somerset. (“Taxi murder mayhem”, City Vision, 18 September).
Codeta spokesperson Makhosandile Tumana described the reopening of these taxi routes and lanes as the breath of fresh air. He said the industry had been waiting for
this move for a long time. “Everything is back to normal. We are pleased with this new development. Our commuters can feel free to use our transport again. All the routes are open. The 30 days that were assigned to us are over. We are looking forward to working with our commuters.”
Sileku said after careful consideration of all the representation received he decided not to issue a second closure notice. He said the notice he had given had lapsed at midnight on Friday the 17th. He said the taxi associations resumed their operations
on Saturday the 18th, in line with their current operating licences “We have seen the impact of the extraordinary measures, which resulted in the restoration of calm in the areas This wasn’t an easy decision, but one taken to protect the rights and needs of the commuters and is part of ongoing effort to reach a sustainable and peaceful solution with the two associations and all affected parties.” He said law-enforcement agencies would monitor the situation on the ground closely to ensure the safety of commuters and the broader public.
Matric a step to success
Thumela uluvo lwakho Yimiyalezo ebhaliweyo kuphela ezakuthi ipapashwe.Izinto ezithethwa apha ziphelela kweli gumbi
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ATHULANI MAGAZI Igumbi lomhleli /Editor s Corner
staggering 77 442 learners are writing this year’s National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations in the Western Cape alone, with a whopping 903 561 learners nationwide.
These are massive numbers for a country with limited tertiary institutions.
Besides the Technical and Vacational Education and Training (TVET) colleges, the Western Cape has four universities; University of Cape Town (UWC), Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT),
University of the Western Cape (UWC) and Stellenbosch University (SU) These, combined with all the TVET colleges in the province, are simply not enough to accommodate all our matriculants, and fighting for admission to these institutions is often intense and brutal. This impacts families and the thousands of children who sacrificed so much to achieve excellent results. Every child who completes matric has a dream; a dream to be something in the future. Some of these children come from abject poverty and a matric certificate is their only means to change their families’ future. And when a door to a tertiary institution is shut, that dream goes down the drain. This then drives them into other means to make ends meet and to lift their families out of poverty. Some of these means are not right and they expose the perpetrators to a range of dangers
As our matric learners continue with their exams, especially those who have not been provisionally accepted at any tertiary institution, as parents we need to take stock and condition them for life after matric. There are no guarantees in life. Dreams can become a reality or simply evaporate Children need to be ready to face and deal with this reality. As parents, we must take some form of responsibility. This crop of
children is often labelled as leghorns and indeed they need to be handled with care
Most, if not all, universities have provisionally accepted learners for the 2026 academic year Any child who did not apply and get provisional acceptance is now on the brink of spending a year at home In a worst case scenario, the university prospects have been severely curtailed. South African has one of the highest unemployment rates, a matric certificate is simply not good enough to get work. There are many unemployed matriculants whose future is in limbo Some of the current learners will add to this ever-increasing number Parents have a critical role to play in shaping their children’s future. Gone are the days when children had to figure out things by themselves
Every parent, that’s those who have not done it yet, must sit down with his or her child at the conclusion of the exams and ask questions while providing answers at the same time. This will help both parties toward a better future. It’s easy to support someone when you know their plans. The future of our leghorns partly depends on us. It is better to know that someone fails with all the available resources and help than without any assistance from the parents
Yintonioyenanobangelawodusheloonoteksi?
Ukuba iyakuze isombululeke kanjani ingxaki yabaqhubi bezithuthi zikawonke-wonke kwazi bona Kwaye nokuba babangani okanye balwela ntoni bazazi bona. Kodwa endinokuthetha ukufa kusembizeni. Akukapheli neveki umphathiswa wezothutho eNtshona Kapa Isaac Sileku evule imizila yezithuthi zikawonke-wonke nebeyivale kwinyanga ephelileyo ngenjongo yokugcina ucwangco phakathi kwemibutho uCODETA kunye noCATA
U-Sileku uye wayivala lemizila iintsuku ezingama 30 ususela ngoLwesithathu umhla we 17 kwinyanga yoMsintsi ukuzakuma ngoLwesihlanu umhla we 17 kweyeDwarha Kuthe kungekapheli neeyure ezingama 24 eyivulile kwadutyulwa umqhubi wetekisi kwirenki yaseSamora Machel ngoMgqibelo umhla we18 kweyeDwarha.
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Kuyabonakala futhi ukuba inzulu kwaye andisaqondi nokuba kusalwelwa lemizila. Ndiyakrokra ikhona into engaphaya. Kwaye ndijongile nje akakho umntu onokuyilungisa ifanele kwabona Apho inzima khona ke into yabo kukuba kuyo yonke lento bayenzayo kuye kuphele sele kuchaphazeleka nabakhweli. Akunani xa ngaba bebezilwela bodwa ingxaki imiphumela yale mfazwe yabo mibi.
Kwaye le mfazwe yabo ayisafuni nemithandazo ngoku ifuna bona bayisombulule ngokwabo
Kodwa inga bangayazi ukuba wonke lombhodamo bawenzayo uyasichaphazela singabanye Bangaphi abantwana babantu abangcwatyiweyo nabadutyulwa bengenzanganto ngenxa yemfazwe yabo. Kutheni lento kwisizwe esimnyama kulula ukuthi xa omnye nomnye bengavani basuke batsibele izikhali babulalane endaweni yokuba balungise lento bangavani ngayo Ngoku siphila ubomi bentshontsho kukhetsha ngoba kaloku sihleli nje sinexhala lento esingayaziyo Enoba urhulumente angakhupha amajoni azogcina ucwangco nawo lawo akanopasa. Inkulu into ayilwelayo lamadoda kwaye yaziwa ngawo. Mhlawumbi ngenye imini ayakuze ayithethe Kodwa endikucelayo kubo mabakhe basele amanzi bathobe imisindo Oluhlobo baqhuba ngalo lingakhangeleka ngokungathi lilungile kubo kodwa imiphumela yayo iyavakala kwaye inobuhlungu obungapheliyo. Zingaphi iinkedama namangcwaba azalwe zezirenki zale mibutho yoonoteksi mibini? Kwaye zithini izazela zabo bona bengonotekisi? Hayi nto zakuthi akwenziwa kanje, ndiyanqanda.
LEAP officer’s killers abandoned bail bid
UNATHIOBOSE
The three men accused of killing Yonke Pakade (26), the City of Cape Town’s Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (LEAP) officer will know their fate next year after their case was postponed to Tuesday 27 January.
Thandolwethu Toto, Asemahle Pama and Asavela Ndamase appeared in the Athlone Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 21 October on charges of murder, aggravated robbery, two counts of kidnapping and theft.
According to Eric Ntabazalila, the provincial spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the suspects abandoned their bail bid and the matter was postponed to January next year. Pakade, who was off-duty at the time of the incident, was killed after a hijacking ordeal in Brown’s Farm on Saturday evening 11 October. He was allegedly hijacked with his 30-year-old female colleague. His colleague managed to escape unharmed and called for help. The LEAP officers responded to the call and discovered Pakade’s bloodied body and vehicle along Sheffield Road in Marikana informal settlement.
Lwazi Pakade, Ward 51 councillor and the deceased’s brother, expressed delight at the
current developments. He said he hopes that justice will prevail for his brother.
“We are grateful as a family by the mere fact that while we are busy burying Yonke on Saturday (25 October) in his ancestral land in Butterworth, Eastern Cape, his killers will still be inside. It would be bad for the family to see the perpetrators roaming around the streets while crying. We are hoping that justice will be served for Yonke. We want the perpetrators to rot in jail,” said Lwazi.
He expressed his gratitude to all the people who supported the family during this difficult time.
The City’s Mayco member for Safety and Security JP Smith described Yonke as a hard worker who dedicated his life to serving the community.
“Yonke was more than just an officer, he was a passionate advocate for safety and security with a bright future ahead of him. He was a brave, committed individual who lived up to his obligation as a protector even when he was off duty,” said Smith, adding that he served his country and the city with honour.
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Manhunt after 7 brutally killed
UNATHIOBOSE
The owner of the house in Better Life, Philippi, where seven people were shot dead before it was set alight on Friday 18 October was still quite traumatised in its aftermath.
Sisa Mateyisi said he had been informed of the incident by one of the neighbours. “I’m devastated by the incident. I don’t know what to do. I knew only three people who were renting my house. I was shocked to learn there were 11 staying there. I don’t know where the other people came from.”
He said nine people were in the house when the attack occurred, most of them males and only one woman.
“The woman was sleeping in one room and one of the guys in another One guy who survived the attack said he had heard gunshots and guys who were sitting in the dining room ran to the room he was in and threw themselves on top of him. He said the attackers came in and shot them. He said he pretended he was dead as well, which is how he survived.”
Mateyisi said the men were set alight after they were shot. He said he didn’t know how the survivor managed to escape the flames, but the male and female who were in their respective rooms emerged from the house when the officers arrival
Mateyisi said all the deceased were from Flagstaff in the East Cape “They are known. One of their homeboys came here saying he knows them because they were from the same hometown in the Eastern Cape. I’m not okay. I’m still shocked They had been in the house for only three months.”
Provincial police spokesperson Col André Traut said officers launched a largescale manhunt following the fatal shooting of seven men, aged between 20 and 30. He
said the detectives attached to the Provincial Serious and Violent Crimes Unit had been assigned to the case and were pursuing every available lead to identify and apprehend those responsible for the brutal attack.
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Provincial Commissioner Lt-Gen Thembisile Patekile expressed concern about the
“Western Cape police management has strongly condemned the senseless act of violence,” he said, and confirmed the investigation had been prioritised to ensure the perpetrators were brought to justice swiftly.
level of violence and appealed to community members to assist police by sharing any information that could aid the investigation. “Community cooperation is crucial in bringing those responsible to book and restoring safety to our neighbourhoods,” he said
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A house where the incident occurred PHOTO: SUPPLIED
Cape learners talk water well
Seventeen-year-old Indiphile Maswana from the Centre of Science and Technology (Cosat) in Khayelitsha smashed the public speaking contest during the Water and Sanitation Education Programme 2025 National competition in Gauteng, winning a full university bursary, prize money, and a brand new laptop
While some of us were possibly binge-watching Netflix a bunch of talented young learners from around the province were busy winning big.
Thirteen-year-old Qhamani Mzamane from Mseki Primary School in Gugulethu took home first place in the Praise Poetry category – along with a cool R15 000. Her school has been coming second or third for years, but this time she brought home the gold.
Mbali Tinzi (17), Anita Zokufa (16) – both also from Cosat – and Michaela Swarts from Spine Road High in Mitchells Plain all grabbed second place in public speaking. Their prize?
University bursaries which will set them up for a flourishing future.
Even Injongo Primary from Khayelitsha got in on the action, coming third in Traditional Music and Dance.
So what exactly is this competition? It’s part of something called “Baswa le Meetsi” (Youth in Water), where students use drama, poetry, music, and art to spread the word about water conservation and keeping things clean
Department spokesperson Wisane Mavasa couldn’t hide her excitement: “These learners have made us very proud
“The way they carried the water and sanitation messages through their presentations is unmatched These dedicated students gave up their September school holidays to compete in Gauteng. While their friends were sleeping in and hanging out, they were traveling to Gauteng to represent the Western Cape.
As Western Cape Director Anton Jones put it: “In our view, all of them are winners.”
One of the winners of the event, Qhamani Mzamane from Mseki Primary in Gugulethu From left: Anton Jones, Director for Water and Sanitation Services Support at DWS; Nthabiseng Fundakubi, Deputy Director-General for Corporate Services; Qhamani Mzamane, winner in praise poetry category and Zola Mqoboka, Qhamani’s teacher and mentor PHOTO: SUPPLIED
Shooting leads to death, injury
UNATHIOBOSE
Nyanga police registered a murder and two counts of attempted murder following a shooting incident at a supermarket at Ngulube Road, Browns Farm, Philippi.
The incident occurred on Wednesday 15 October at 13:27.
Provincial police spokesperson Capt FC van Wyk said a 40-year-old man had died in the shooting, which also left two others wounded. The injured were taken to a nearby hospital. “According to reports, five unidentified males entered the shop and randomly started shooting inside the shop," he said. "The motive for this incident is yet to be established; however, extortion-related activity has not been ruled out as a possible factor.”
Van Wyk added that the unknown suspects fled the scene and are yet to be arrested.
Community leaders, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal, said they were shocked by the shooting.
He said the shop owners in the townships were not safe. He said the unknown men entered at Sunduza Supermarket and randomly shot and killed the shop owner and injured two people.
“I'm not sure if the two people injured were working there or were customers. I suspect the incident is extortionrelated. The extortionists are targeting Somali-owned shops. It is a pity we may not get the information because no-one wants to talk. People are scared to speak out.”
He urged the community to report any wrongdoing at the police station
Hundredslefthomelessafter shackfireinSiteB,Khayelitsha
UNATHIOBOSE
Hundreds of people were left homeless after more than 80 shacks were ravaged by a fire at S-section in Site B, on Thursday 16 October The cause is still unclear.
Fire victim Abulele Sikwana (37) said she lost all her belongings.
“I lost everything in the fire, including my academic documents. The incident started after 17:00 while I was at Nonkqubela Centre. I saw the smoke, but I ignored it, and it didn’t cross my mind that it could be in my area,” she explained, adding that she received a WhatsApp message from one of her neighbours informing her that her shack was burning. When she got back, it was already burnt to the ground. Sikwana said she is currently living with her siblings in her parent’s house also in Site B.
Fellow victim Luyanda Matutu said he was at the shebeen when the fire started. He said he saw people passing by the shebeen, running and carrying buckets of water to extinguish the blaze. “I thought the fire was in the sixth shack away from mine, but because the area is so dense, I
couldn’t manage to take out all my stuff. The big things like fridge, cupboard, bed and electrical stove were all lost in the fire.”
Ward 91 councillor Thando Mpengesi described the incident as a disaster He stated that City officials are busy verifying the number of people affected by the incident. However, he stated that 80 shacks were destroyed and an estimated 150 people left homeless “According to the information that I received, the fire was started by a man who was fighting with his family over food. It seems the family didn’t give him food, and he then threatened to burn the shack and a few hours later the community saw the shack burning,” he explained. Mpengesi said the shack fire victims are busy trying to clean their sites “It is too early to give the exact number of the people affected as the officials are trying to verify it. But, I’m appealing to everyone to come on board and try and assist the victims with whatever they can,” said Mpengesi, adding that he informed relevant humanitarian organisations, including Gift of the Givers about the disaster
Some of the residents are standing in front of the shop where the incident occurred PHOTO: SUPPLIED
Some of the victims clear their sites in the aftermath of a fire that destroyed over 80 shacks at S section in Site B, on Thursday 16 October PHOTO: UNATHI OBOSE
Finalmatricexamsunderway
KAYLYNNEBANTOM
Nerves and excitement fill the air as thousands of learners across the country sit down to write the National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams which started on Tuesday (21 October)
In the Western Cape, 77 442 candidates are registered to write the exam; these include 67 606 fulltime matric learners and 9 836 part-time or repeat candidates.
The tests started with 12 736 candidates writing the Computer Applications Technology (CAT) practical.
According to the Western Cape Education Department (WCED), the subject with the largest number of candidates is mathematical literacy, with 53 206 candidates writing paper one on Friday 31 October, and paper two on Monday 3 November.
David Maynier, provincial education minister, said the implementation of the exam is a mammoth administrative exercise with candidates writing at over 400 exam centres across the province.
“Candidates will write at 473
exam centres, with 2 046 trained invigilators appointed to keep a close eye on proceedings. Marking will take place at the beginning of December, with 954 000 examination scripts being marked by 4 190 markers.”
City Vision’s sister newspaper, People’s Post, caught up with Rayyan Ebrahim, the top matric learner in the country last year to share some helpful tips with the matriculants “My advice to the Matric class of 2025 is to work smartly during the exam period. You would have already studied most of the content already, so use this time to brush up on those topics that you found the most difficult in the trial exams The exam period is also quite long, so make sure to look after yourself physically and mentally by eating well, sleeping well and exercising. Try not to isolate yourself during this time - you may not be attending classes at school but you will still need the support of peers. Forming study groups with them is a really effective way to study ”
He advised them to practice self-care. “Be kind to yourself throughout the exams. You may be feeling a lot of pressure to do well, but seek contentment in do-
ing your best, rather than in getting good marks
Ebrahim said that during the final stretch of exams, fine-tuning his knowledge proved to be the most effective way to study
“For the final stretch of exams, I found that fine-tuning my knowledge was the most effective way to study The main method I used to study was to teach myself and my friends the content I was learning Putting the content in your own words really helps you retain the information better and builds a deeper understanding of the material. “I also made sure to go into each exam with a clear strategy of which questions I would start answering first, based on the topics I was the most comfortable with. I planned the amount of time I would spend on each question and timed myself when doing past papers. This allowed me to walk into the exam room with confidence.”
Nicholas Schreiber was one of the top quintile-five learners in the province last year.
The former Rondebosch Boys’ High School learner encouraged learners to stay focused.
“You’ve put in all the hard work and now you’re so close to the fin-
ish line, but it’s important to not take your foot off the pedal now and really make sure to give these exams your all ” He urged them to prioritise subjects in which they want to boost their results.
“You should know roughly where your strengths and weaknesses are after prelims, so focus on the areas of subjects where you can have a good improvement to get the most out of your finals.”
Schreiber said learners should remember that marks alone don’t define them or the year they’ve had and encourages them not to put too much pressure on themselves “Try to make consistent time for every subject and try to revise cleverly, being time and energy efficient. Take regular breaks and make sure to get enough sleep every night, have a good general diet and get plenty of fresh air and sunlight.”
He also shared some helpful study tips
“I was always a fan of flashcards for memorising definitions or key topics, as well as doing as many past papers as possible to see how topics get asked in papers, and to see where the gaps in my knowledge lie
“There are plenty of resources online for matrics to use (study guides, past papers, YouTube explanations etc), so make the most of all the resources you have available ”
Schreiber is currently a firstyear student studying a BCom in Chartered Accountancy at the University of Cape Town
Maynier wished learners well for their exams and thanked everyone who helped prepare the learners
“We appreciate the work that our examination officials do each year to ensure that the exam runs smoothly. Our matrics and their teachers have also put in a tremendous amount of work to prepare for this exam.”
He urged that the exams proceed without disruptions
“We appeal to everyone in our province to put the best interests of our candidates first during the exam period. We look forward to celebrating with them when the results are released.”
The national minister will announce the national and provincial pass rates on Monday 12 January 2026, and candidates will receive their individual results the following day
ProfessorHartleyisonaSTEMlabsmissionforthoseinneed
Prof Shaheed Hartley from Athlone hopes every child will receive the quality education they deserve – in schools and communities where education is valued and teachers are respected.
“I envision safe, secure environments where all children are fed, supported, and given equal opportunities to thrive As a science educator, I want to see learners from all backgrounds taking the lead in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) fields and providing a first generation of role models from within their own communities.
“Our science laboratories called Science Teaching and Learning Centres (Science TLCs) are an extension of Advancing Knowledge Non-Profit Company AK NPC’s support for teachers and learners. They are a reward to committed science
teachers, school management teams, and learners. These centres serve as hubs for nurturing a culture of science teaching and learning,” he says. Teachers receive training to improve their confidence and capacity to teach inquiry-based science, while learners engage in stimulating science activities.
“Our aim is to build strong foundational skills, foster curiosity, and prepare learners for the future challenges of STEM. To date, the partnership between Garden Cities Archway Foundation, the Western Cape Education Department and AK NPC have built over 120 Science TLCs at disadvantaged schools in the Western Cape. A further 12 Science TLCs were constructed in the Eastern Cape. Initial impact research on the first 100 Science TLCs shows highly promising outcomes,” Hartley says.
His love for maths and science started at the two primary schools he attended.
“I attended Portavue Primary in Manenberg and Primrose Park Primary in Heideveld, and matriculated from Cathkin High in Heideveld I enjoyed mathematics from primary school and realised early on that with hard work, I could succeed in tests. I found true enjoyment when I began applying mathematical concepts in physics and chemistry. As a teacher at Westridge High, I was tasked with teaching Physical Science, Mathematics, and Biology at matric level
“I embraced the challenge and found real fulfilment in teaching the sciences
“I taught science and mathematics at Westridge High School in Mitchells Plain for 12 years.
“In 1996 I moved to Stellenbosch University, where I became involved in research development. In 2004, I joined Cape Technikon later merged into the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) – initially as Director of Research and eventually as Dean of Research. In 2009, I joined UWC to establish the UWC Science Learning Centre for Africa. At Cathkin High he had excellent mathematics and science teachers who understood their subjects well, who were his first mentors – Mr Yusuf Abrahams and Ms Rita Esau. During his PhD at Curtin University, he was inspired by his doctoral supervisor, Prof David Treagust, whose work on teacher professional development had a profound impact on him.
“To bridge the education gap I am in agreement with Myrtle February, Chairperson of the Garden Cities Archway Foundation, who often says: ‘All children are born to be successful’ The key is the opportunities we create for them. I’ve seen learners succeed against all odds - in rural areas like the Cape Winelands, Overberg, and West Coast, and across the Northern and Eastern Cape. When learners are appreciated, challenged, and supported, they thrive
“At AK NPC, we create such opportunities through science activities, clubs, competitions, quizzes, and role modelling We aim to inspire that “aha” moment - that sense of “I can do this”.
“Not all teachers currently teaching these subjects have formal training in them, especially in schools with limited staffing. That’s why continuous professional development is crucial. AK NPC offers SACE-endorsed short courses that allow teachers to
earn professional development (PD) points. These courses help educators improve their subject knowledge and gain new teaching strategies. Principals should actively seek opportunities for their teachers to upskill in maths and science,” Hartley says On a question on why learners in poorer communities struggle with maths and science, he has the following to say.
“Several social factors - such as poverty, unsafe environments, and absent parents - affect learners’ ability to focus and succeed. Overcrowded classrooms, particularly in primary schools, add to the challenge. Additionally, the myth that maths and science are only for “clever” students discourages many. When children are exposed to hands-on, inquiry-based learning in a safe and encouraging environment, they thrive. We must demystify these subjects, start building inquiry skills from an early age, and normalise persistence and resilience in problem-solving.
“My advice to matriculants writing their final exams are: Your future will be shaped in large part by how you perform in these exams. Stay focused, trust your abilities, and remember how far you’ve already come. Create a realistic study schedule, balance study and rest, and minimize distractions Don’t just memorise - strive to understand During the exams, stay calm and manage your time wisely. Once a paper is done, move on and concentrate on doing better in the next one. Surround yourself with positive, supportive people,” Hartley says.
When he is not a professor, he is a husband, father, and grandfather
Prof Shaheed Hartley from Athlone PHOTO: SUPPLIED
Cableway for World Awards
Table Mountain and the Cableway are once again in the spotlight as they compete for top honours at the 2025 World Travel Awards (WTA)
These world-famous attractions are nominees in their categories, but bringing the prestigious titles home depends on public votes
Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company (TMACC) has been nominated in the World’s Leading Cable Car Ride category, while Table Mountain has been nominated as World’s Leading Tourist Attraction
These are the only South African nominees in the world categories this year
TMACC boasts an impressive track record at the World Travel Awards, having secured the title of Africa’s Leading Tourist Attraction five times, in 2014, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022
Now celebrating its 96th year of operation, the cableway remains a cornerstone of South Africa’s tourism industry, having safely carried over 32 million visitors to the top of one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature since opening on 4 October 1929
Wahida Parker, Managing Director of TMACC, says being recognised again at the World Travel Awards is an “incredible honour This competition is our industry’s version of the Oscars and is widely respected as a contest that recognises commitment to excellence ”
She says the nominations reaffirm their commitment to being a responsible operator that prioritises safety, honours the mountain’s unique flora and fauna, and delivers world-class service to both local and international visitors
Parker encourages South Africans to get behind the Cableway and Table Mountain by casting their WTA votes
“Every visitor, every team member and
Citydeclares‘WeartheHope’ winnerformayor’s top
every partner has played a role in this success We’re calling on South Africans to help us bring these awards home ”
TMACC has consistently earned nominations for World’s Leading Tourist Attraction and World’s Leading Cable Car Ride, reflecting its commitment to creating positive experiences
Parker says the company is proud to fly the South African flag
“These nominations reflect our journey, from the very first trip in October 1929 to the millions who continue to make memories atop Table Mountain We have never won in the world categories before, and it would be incredibly special if we could make it happen this time around ”
Members of the tourism and hospitality sector can also cast their votes, and they are given double the weighting to votes cast by members of the public
Voting for the 2025 World Travel Awards closes on Sunday 26 October
Supporters can cast their votes at www worldtravelawards com/vote
The search for the winner of the inaugural Wear the Hope Challenge, a public call-out inviting all Capetonians to submit concepts for Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis’s official festive season top this year, came to an end when Marnus Botha from Somerset West was declared a winner last week
The challenge, launched as part of this year’s Festive Lights Switch-On celebrations, under the theme “United in Hope”, encouraged members of the community to contribute ideas that reflect the city’s resilience, cultural diversity, and spirit of togetherness
“The winning design represents the heart and soul of Cape Town and I’m honoured to get to wear this creation as a symbol of our unity and hope for the season ahead,” shared Hill-Lewis in a statement
For the judges, fashion designer Victor K, and costume designer and art director Widaad Albertus, who reviewed the shortlist of entrants, the winning concept stood out for its heartfelt symbolism and ability to weave together iconic elements of the
SpecialscreeningsatHomecoming
Three short films (Whispers and Shouts, Wat Was Hie? and Fugitives) interrogating South Africa’s colonial past and legacy of slavery will be screened at the Avalon Auditorium, Homecoming Centre, on Friday 31 October
The screening is organised by the Kingdom of the Netherlands in South Africa, in partnership
with the District Six Museum and will take place from 18:00 to 20:15 Entry is free, but seating is limited and booking is essential
This collaborative project engages with the legacy of Dutch slavery in the Cape through archival material, art, and public memory
The evening forms part of the Netherlands’ #cocreateIDENTI-
TY programme, which supports South African cultural initiatives and Dutch–South African collaborations that address identity, heritage, and transformation
Each film offers a unique perspective on the country’s layered past and its echoes in the present: Whispers and Shouts is 18 minutes long and directed by Elise Fernandez It captures the exhibition’s resonance with local audiences and its transformation into a permanent installation at the Castle of Good Hope
Wat Was Hie? is a 30-minute play, a site-specific film directed and choreographed by Luke De Kock It retraces the erasure and resistance of indigenous San and Khoi peoples Through embodied performance and poetic reflection, the film reclaims historical spaces impacted by slavery and colonial rule, posing the haunting question: What was here?
Fugitives is another18-minute documentary directed by Philip du Plessis and is produced by the Biography of an Uncharted People project at Stellenbosch University Using forensic artistry and archival records, the film reconstructs the likenesses of enslaved individuals who escaped before the abolition of slavery in 1838 The project gives visual identity to lives once rendered invisible
A post-screening Q&A session with the filmmakers and collaborators will offer audiences an opportunity to engage . To book a spot RSVP: kaa-rsvp@minbuza nl
city’s heritage, landmarks, and natural beauty
A shout out to Karon Botes whose entry was also noted of a high standard by the judges for its simple elegance and unique approach to festive wear, highlighting the diversity of creative spirit and talent resident in Cape Town
Commenting after being declared the winner Botha said: “I wanted to share an idea that captures what Cape Town means to me Our city has been through challenges, but we always find ways to rise together, and I wanted the mayor’s festive top to reflect that spirit of unity and hope
“It’s an honour to know my concept will be part of such a special occasion for all Capetonians ”
The Wear the Hope Challenge underscores Cape Town’s commitment to celebrating creativity, giving all the chance to play a role
The Festive Lights Switch-On event will take place on the Grand Parade on Sunday 30 November from 16:00
Outreachopensballetdoors
An outreach initiative, funded through the Community, Arts and Culture Development Department’s Grants-In-Aid programme, aims to make ballet more accessible to the public
During the recent school holidays, four two-day workshops were held at Claremont Civic Centre, Mowbray Town Hall, Edgemead Community Hall, and the Hillcrest Community Hall
A total of 80 participants were invited to each workshop, from communities including Gugulethu, Philippi, Bonteheuwel, Mitchells Plain, Delft, Athlone, Belhar, Elsies River and Eerste River
The programme included structured workshops, and a participant showcase on the final day
“It’s incredible what’s possible through partnership In recent years, we’ve seen an increase in community outreaches by the Cape Town Opera, Philharmonic and the Cape Town City Ballet
The City is incredibly proud to be part of this, particularly because of the positive impact it has on communities and our youth
Based on the feedback we’ve seen from participants, they were thrilled about the exposure to this art form,” said Mayco member for community services and health, Francine Higham
The workshops allowed participants to connect with the art form in a meaningful way, beyond theory, through lived experience Designed to cater for all skill levels, the sessions were made accessible to everyone, ensuring broad community participation
“We believe in the power of dance to uplift, unite, and transform These workshops were more than just an opportunity to share our love for ballet, they were a chance to connect meaningfully with communities across Cape Town, to nurture emerging talent and to celebrate the rich diversity
“Through engagements like these, we are honouring our commitment to making ballet accessible and relevant, and to investing in the future of this art form,” said Cape Town City Ballet Operations Manager, Tasneem Allie
Table Mountain and the Cableway are once again in the spotlight as they compete for top honours at the 2025 World Travel Awards
PHOTO: KAYLYNNE BANTOM
Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis wearing the 2024 festive season jersey PHOTO: SUPPLIED
‘Wat
A group of children took part in the outreach programme hosted in partnership with Cape Town City Ballet PHOTO: SUPPLIED
New bowls leader sets the tone
HERMANJANSEN
Newly elected Western Province Bowls (WPB) president, Tony Harland, recently “rolled out” his executive’s battle plan to combat challenges facing the sport
Harland’s speech started the traditional celebratory official opening – the first since the 2020 epidemic - of the WPB 202526 season in the Durbanville clubhouse on Sunday, 12 October
Key among these issues are dwindling membership numbers and financial pressures
Harland is a former president of Durbanville Bowling Club (DBC), the biggest club in the Western Province and arguably the most successful, financially and with achievements, on the greens
He took over from Bellville’s Gerrit van Milligen (stet) who had a four-year stint Harland’s two-year appointment in August is a historic one: As far as can be established, he is the first member of DBC (established in 1948) to be elected as Western Province president
The opening day is traditionally hosted by the home club of the incoming WPB president
Harland said: “I am excited about today It brings back part of an old tradition of the official season opening which fell away during covid ”
Delegates from 22 of the 32 WPB clubs (three not active) attended the ceremony
“We have received apologies from many clubs, who had other commitments It is impossible to accommodate everybody ”
Addressing financial challenges, Harland said the WPB executive have started with an overall review and redrawing of the budget
“I attended the Bowling South Africa (BSA) AGM the week after our AGM The overall financial position was the main area of discussion Concern was raised over the depletion of reserves and immedi-
ate cost-cutting action has been taken ”
He said WPB was in the same predicament with dwindling reserves the last three years
“This trend cannot continue, hence the review of finances This exercise will be completed by the end of November ”
Harland then addressed the sometimes tetchy issue of interrelations within WPB
“The harder part of the goals set is that of relationships As an executive we need to ensure that everybody was on board to bring success both on and off the bowling green
“Many gaps were identified across the full spectrum of the bowling chain from executive level to standing committees to clubs and bowlers ”
Harland said membership numbers had been flat the last three years
“The issue with most clubs is not attracting new members but rather retaining members
“Are we getting close enough to our new members to make them feel part of the club? Walking into a strange environment can be very intimidating
“The perception of an ‘us and them’ must also be done away with ”
Delegates from 22 of the 32 WPB clubs (three not active) attended the ceremony
Western Province Bowls (WPB) president, Tony Harland PHOTOS: SUPPLIED
