People's Post Athlone / Lansdowne - E-Edition - 29 April 2025 by Novus Media

Do CT pet-owner survey

Pet owners have only two weeks left to participate in a survey focused on collecting data on Cape Town’s pet population, which aims to help shape future planning and interventions around animal welfare

Over the past four weeks, 13 037 pet owners have completed the City of Cape Town’s domestic-animal survey hosted by AfriPaw Animal Welfare The study seeks to address the number of pets in the metro; vaccinated pets; sterilisation status and the type health-care accessed in times of need

AfriPaw is a non-proﬁt organisation (NPO) that educates low-income communities on their pets’ primary needs and facilitates free sterilisations as well as access to aﬀordable primary healthcare and food, and shelter for township pets

The most recent survey was conducted in Vrygrond on Saturday 12 April, when the City deployed teams of ﬁeldworkers to engage residents

Six weeks have been set aside for the survey “We’re trying very hard to improve the quality of life of everybody in our city,” said Mayco member for safety and security JP Smith “Not having a healthy animal population aﬀects the human population So it’s important that we get better data so we can speak to provincial and national government about proper funding for our animal-welfare organisations, who do great

IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF EVERYONE IN CITY LIES AT THE HEART OF DOING THE PET SURVEY.

work for all the pet lovers and animal owners across the city So if you haven’t done so already, please go online and help us in this very important cause by completing the survey ” The survey outcomes will help shape future

planning and interventions on animal welfare in Cape Town, and provide an estimate of the domestic animal population Fieldworkers conducting the in-person surveys will carry identiﬁcation cards when visiting properties

Residents can contact the City’s Customer Call Centre on 0860 103 089 to verify a ﬁeldworker ’ s credentials, if need be The survey can be completed online at https://bit ly/4bPScdI The City has also set up a toll-free number for general queries or concerns about the survey – 0800 212 176, available weekdays between 08:00 and 16:00

WesternCapecracksdownonroadsafety

Following the death of 14 pedestrians over the Easter Weekend, the Western Cape Government has renewed its call for all road users to prioritise safety, whether behind the wheel, walking or cycling

Over this period 181 people were arrested for driving under the inﬂuence of alcohol These statistics underscore the urgent need for safer road use, both from drivers and pedestrians

Muneera Allie, the Western Cape Mobility Department’s Head of Communications, said these recent ﬁgures are a stark reminder of the real consequences of irresponsible behaviour

She said alcohol impairs judgment, slows reaction times and puts everyone at risk Pedestrians, in particular, remain vulnerable, especially when visibility is low or road rules are ignored

With increased traﬃc volumes expected, the Western Cape Mobility Department reminds all residents and visitors to stay vigilant and make

responsible choices on the road

Drivers are reminded that alcohol and driving do not mix If you ’ re planning to consume alcohol, do so responsibly and make alternative travel arrangements

Use a ride-hailing service, taxi, or another form of public transport

Designate a sober driver in your group

If hosting oﬀer safe options for guests to get home or stay over

Pedestrians remain among the most vulnerable road users To stay safe:

• Cross only at designated pedestrian crossings

• Avoid walking on highways and busy roads

• Wear visible or reﬂective clothing, especially at night or in poor weather conditions

• Stay alert - avoid distractions like phones or headphones near traﬃc

KEEPCHILDRENSAFE

With children out of school next week, it is crucial for drivers and parents to take the following extra precautions:

• Always use appropriate car seats or booster seats for young children

• Teach children basic road-safety rules, such as looking both ways before crossing

• Never leave children unattended in vehicles or near busy roads

• Reduce speed in residential areas, near malls, playgrounds or parks

“As families take advantage of the break to travel or enjoy leisure time we are calling on every individual to be part of the safety solution,” Allie said “It takes only one poor decision to cause a life-changing incident Let us all make the right choices, whether driving, walking or cycling, and ensure a safe and joyful long weekend for everyone ”

Herewithsigningoutforonelasttime...

hand there was so much more, and so a very clear mission was set in motion

My dream was largely realised in 2014 as an intern, on the newspaper ’ s Lansdowne edition

I had a dream of becoming a journalist from Grade 5, when a teacher helped me recognise my gift of the written word And despite much discouragement of having faith in one’s own career dreams, I went on to realise them

Once realised, soon enough it became abundantly clear that this was the right choice, making a diﬀerence through telling the stories of others

I always say we are often the voiceless soldiers behind the published works, rewarded by a simple byline at the top for our eﬀorts No personal opinions, no guided narratives So on these few occasions we give readers insight into the person who is the subject of our newspaper

For those who may not know me, or my story, my name is Samantha (although I never hear my full name unless I’m in trouble, of course)

I had a dream of becoming a journalist at People’s Post newspaper, speciﬁcally writing for Mitchells Plain, the area I was born and ﬁnished my schooling in, and to which I still a have very deep sense of belonging, even though my family moved out of the area at the start of high-school years

I was inspired to make a diﬀerence by telling the positive news from the area, amid continuous front-page articles about all the deepest darkest happenings in the area I knew, ﬁrst-

But slowly God let the full dream unfold, and in time I wrote for the prized edition for Mitchells Plain What was meant to be a six-month internship ended after three months with a full-time oﬀer It was an opportunity to prove myself

Consequently, I believe I personify the saying “If you love what you do you won’t work a day in your life

”

But in reality life is a constant pursuit of success It becomes easy to get wrapped up in the day-to-day hustle without realising how much one has achieved and how far one ’ s determination has brought one It is only in moments of silent reﬂection that we learn to appreciate the journey along with the end destination

With more than 50 awards, commendations, ﬁnalist nominations and recognitions along the more-than-10-year span of my career, and having the privilege of featuring in almost every major journalism competition in the country I never imagined doing anything else And honestly, through all of this I have learnt many valuable lessons

How does that line from Woody Allen go (apparently based on an old Yiddish proverb)?

“If you want to make God laugh tell him about your plans

”

I truly believed this was where I had made my name, and where I would possibly end it too You know, one cannot tell the future; I mean, if you asked me a few years ago where I’d be at

this point my answer would probably have been the same as it was then Tomorrow (30 April), I will oﬃcially close a chapter of my life At 32, I stand at the precipice of major change A huge step into the unknown, leaving all that I have known, all I had once dreamt of, to embark on a whole new journey, is about to unfold I once believed it was too late for me to start over But I now know it is possible to want more and that one ’ s goals and dreams can evolve

I recognise the magnitude of this new career move, an opportunityto make a fresh start, a whole new beginning, which is more than many can do right now So I can count my blessings In fact, I didn’t want to write this column at all, for fear it would be a tad too emotional My colleagues were quite adamant that I write this, my swansong, and how glad I am that I obliged For the past 10-and-a-half years, People’s Post has become such a huge part of my identity, a publication I have passionately advocated for, and it has been such an incredible ride From the highest of highs to some uncomfortable lows, it has undoubtedly shaped the person I am today

And while it is with a heavy heart that I oﬃcially bid farewell to my career as a reporter today I am so immensely grateful for all I have achieved on this most fulﬁlling of journeys

Thank you for the memories, for the platform, for the opportunity to inform, inspire and entertain you along the way

As I often would say in my videos, “signing out for one more time [although this time ﬁnal], for People’s Post news I am Samantha Lee-Jacobs ”

SAMANTHA LEE-JACOBS

Mayco member for safety and security JP Smith at the monthly pet clinic hosted by AfriPaw at Capricorn Primary School

CFROMPAGE1

"We are so grateful for this donation as transport is so important when it comes to providing access to education," Black said "Our (learners) face signiﬁcant challenges getting to school Our bus ﬂeet of 17 serves 906 (learners), transporting them to and from school daily from 29 underserved communities across Cape Town However, now we can support another 30 children with the bus when we go on educational excursions and university visits "

Christel House also spends R8 million per annum on transport which also facilitates enrichment activities such as workplace exposure trips, and career seminars, according to Black

"We'll now be adding another 300 learners to our current 906 learner population As (learner) numbers grow, the need for safe, reliable transportation becomes even more critical as a means of reaching more at-risk youth struggling in under-resourced communities "

Christel House is also constructing a new high school as part of the school's Replication Programme The project is set to complete before the start of the new academic year Boltman also conﬁrmed that their association will continue supporting their campus expansion

"This is an organisation utterly dedicated to the education of young learners grappling with the effects of severe poverty daily Its efforts and, indeed, its extraordinary and consistently impressive academic achievements with learners from impoverished economic backgrounds are to be applauded and encouraged We are privileged to have been in the position to partner with Christel House South Africa and to assist in bringing its five-year campus expansion plan to reality "

Black said the bus donation marks the launch of a partnership with the SAMCT

. For more information on Christel House South Africa,visit: https:// sa christelhouse org/

Christel House South Africa’s Grade 2 learners waving their South African ﬂags during their school-bus launch

Residents unite for Easter cheer

SAMANTHALEE-JACOBS

Agroup of residents, most of whom are unemployed, took it upon themselves to spread the Easter cheer for hundreds of Hanover Park children

On Monday 21 March, the group from Surwood Walk hosted the event targeted at children from age one

Shané Kawie, one of the residents, said although they had planned for 150 children and youth initially, around 200 participated in the programme

“This is the ﬁrst time something like this was ever hosted It all started when we hosted the

EVENTS RESTORING UNITY HAS GOOD SPIN-OFFS.

Iftar (daily fast-breaking meal) in the month of Ramadan We are trying to get rid of gangsterism and to keep the young kids away from substance abuse, and to restore unity within the community ”

The event was self-funded with the assistance of donations from local residents

“We also reached out to diﬀerent companies and organisations to help us fund the event, but it wasn’t successful because it was too short-no-

tice, but for our next event we are planning, on Youth Day (16 June), we look forward to getting more funds and donations from the community, companies or any organisation willing to get involved so we can extend this for

all the kids in the surrounding area ”

“The programme gave children an opportunity to show their talent by dancing and singing, and demonstrating their DJ techniques on the decks The children were also fed and treated ”

Appeal to sterilise pets

Thousands of unwanted puppies and kittens are born each year into lives of suﬀering, often ending up abandoned, neglected or euthanised in overcrowded shelters across Cape Town.

And now animal-welfare organisations are calling on the public to take action by prioritising sterilisation to prevent this heartbreaking cycle before it begins

“There are simply too many animals and not enough homes,” said Animal Rescue in a statement

“Sterilisation is the most eﬀective and humane way to reduce overpopulation and prevent suﬀering before it starts ”

The push for sterilisation is not just about controlling numbers, it also beneﬁts pets directly

The procedure lowers the risk of certain cancers, reduces infections, curbs aggressive behaviour and can extend a pet’s life span

Still, many pet owners delay or avoid sterilisation due to costs or lingering myths about the procedure

To bridge that gap, several Cape Town-based groups are running free or low-cost sterilisation drives in areas such as Hout Bay, Retreat, Mitchells Plain and Khayelitsha

“There’s no reason a healthy dog or cat should have litter after litter,” the organisation said “Each unplanned pregnancy adds more strain to already overstretched shelters One operation can change a life not just for the pet, but for the animals we won’t have to turn away in the

Prevent over-breeding, neglect and cruelty by sterilising your pets.

future ”

Pet overpopulation also contributes to wider community issues: rising stray populations, animal cruelty and even public health concerns

Animal welfare groups are urging residents to play their part

“This is not just a shelter problem, it’s a community issue,” the group emphasised “We all have a role to play in preventing neglect and cruelty before they occur Sterilisation is where it starts ”

Kotja Morbits of Happy Tails in Langa echoed that sentiment, stressing the need for more empathy and education

“It all starts with the pet owner Pet owners should be responsible for getting their pets sterilised

“There’s no real empathy for the animals, because people treat them like objects We do education on this because if you ﬁrst care for the animal you’ll see their value and treat them better ”

Animal groups are calling on the public to check their own pets’ sterilisation status and to spread the word in their communities Together, they say, it’s possible to break the cycle and create safer, more compassionate neighbourhoods for people and pets alike

Barkstrippingendemic

NAMHLAMONKALI

Bark stripping in Newlands Forest has reportedly reached its highest levels since 2023, with illegal harvesters stripping trees at night and even lighting campﬁres near major trails

Conservationists warn that if the destruction continues the forest’s delicate ecosystem could face long-term collapse

Tree painting, a preventative measure introduced by the Newlands Forest Conservation Group with support from the Sugarbird Project, has emerged as a highly eﬀective solution Of the 3 000 trees painted to date, less than 0,3% have been stripped, prompting a renewed campaign to paint 3 000 more trees over the next few months At R50 per tree, the group is urgently seeking public donations to hire more painters and scale-up the eﬀort

William Boshoﬀ, who co-founded the conservation group after moving to Newlands in 2019, said the damage from bark harvesting was ﬁrst visible high up in the forest

“It’s illegal, and when we realised how widespread it had become we knew we had to act That’s when we started the group and began building a relationship with SANParks (South African National Parks) ”

The most frequently-targeted species are rare indigenous trees including stinkwood, assegaai and Cape holly Recently, even Turkey berry and heart-pear trees, previously untouched, had been stripped, indicating an escalation

“It’s not just about losing trees You getting holes in the canopy and the ﬁre risk increases massively,” Boshoﬀ pointed out “We’re seeing beautiful trees die Over tie, the weakened ones fall in storms putting the entire ecosystem at risk ”

The group ’ s solution, painting tree trunks with a non-toxic deterrent, has made stripping uneconomical for harvesters, who are believed to be collecting bark for traditional medicine and potentially exporting it to other provinces

“We focus on painting the largest, oldest trees ﬁrst,” said Boshoﬀ “If you kill a 100-year-old tree it takes a century to replace it ”

Although bark harvesting has historical roots in the area, said Boshoff, the current methods are unsustainable and destructive “This is no longer low-impact collection It’s extraction on a scale that the forest simply cannot survive ” Public involvement, through donations and awareness, is critical to the project’s success Contributions of over R1 000 are eligible for tax certificates through Friends of Table Mountain, a registered public-benefit organisation Payments can be made via SnapScan, with details available at www friendsoftablemountain org/ support-us

“We often get messages from people asking how they can help,” Boshoﬀ said “Financial support is key But just as important is spreading awareness People need to understand what’s happening in their backyard ” The conservation team believes success means signiﬁcantly reducing barkstripping

“If we act now we can still save what’s left,” Boshoﬀ said

Barkstripping in Newlands Forest has reached its highest levels since 2023, with illegal harvesters now stripping trees at night

Baxter stages ‘Hedda’

Guns, roses, tilled soil and feathers These are just some of the items to be found scattered throughout Christiaan Olwagen's bold, irreverent and visually-magniﬁcent production of Hedda Gabler, with English and Afrikaans seasons, which runs at the Baxter Theatre.

This award-winning reworking of Henrik Ibsen's play, with one of theatre's most enduring femme fatales at its centre, is brought into the 21st century with Rolanda Marais in the distinctly ﬁery title role Hedda Gabler will be performed in Afrikaans from Thursday 1 until Saturday 10 May and from Monday 12 to Saturday 24 May, with the same ensemble, when it makes its English debut

The formidable cast, led by Marais, also has Afrikaans-theatre bluebloods Albert Pretorius, Martelize Kolver, Ashley de Lange, Ludwig Binge and Stian Bam, with direction and translation by Christiaan Olwagen

Following a sold-out debut at the 2024 Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees, Hedda Gabler was the big winner at this year ' s kykNET Fiëstas, with an

IBSEN PLAY HAS NEW SPIN

impressive four awards: best actress for Marais, best achievement in design, ensemble and festival production The play was awarded the ﬁrst Martie Retief Meiring Award at the Woordtrofees last year, for a new work bringing challenge and excitement to the stage, a talking point Hedda has recently returned from her honeymoon with Jurg (Albert Pretorius), but all is not well in the household Despite Jurg's success he already bores her and still can't believe that the beautiful Hedda chose him When her old ﬂame Lovborg (Ludwig Binge) shows up she aims a wrecking ball at her life Why?

Because she can! Marina Griebenouw, in her review for INK, remarked that Ibsen's most complex female character "beguiles and scorches as spectacularly and ﬂeetingly as a comet through the sky with everyone who crosses her path or stands in her way " Elzanne Coetzee wrote that "Olwagen ' s interpretation and handling of this text breathes new life into the wild-woman trope I think there is

something incredibly satisfying about a neat set that is completely destroyed by an explosive production " Hedda rebels against everything in her power with venomous wit and unapologetic deﬁance, in a produc-

tion with an age restriction of 16, a thrilling rebellious tale of power, passion and destruction

Set design is by Rocco Poole, costumes by Mariechen Vosloo, lighting design by Wolf Britz, music

.The production runs at 19:30

Saturday matinees at 15:30

is through Webtickets online or at Pick n Pay stores

CapeTownInternationalJazzFestivalhitsalltherightnotes

KAYLYNNEBANTOM

Jazz was on the menu this weekend as the 22nd edition of the Cape Town International Jazz Festival kicked oﬀ at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC)

Thousands of music enthusiasts came out to get a glimpse of their favourite artists performing live And those who could not make it to the festival had the opportunity to get a taste of some of the entertainment on Thursday 24 April at the Jazz Festival free concert held on Greenmarket Square

Over 5 000 people turned out Thursday to catch the likes of local songtress Andrea Fortuin, kwaito music group TKZee and British jazz band Incognito, among others Ricardo Mackenzie, MEC for Cultural Aﬀairs and Sport, told People’s Post the festival unites people “It has been exciting, the gees was amazing and I loved it The theme of this year ’ s festival was “Legacy Meets Tomorrow ” For me this is a legacy show in Cape Town For the two nights I came with my daughters Hopefully one day their children can come And that is what this is about ”

He said the event allows local artists to showcase their talent to the world

“If you are on stages such as these you get spotted It is not just for locals but international audiences too ” Spead across the Kippies, Manen-

berg, Molelekwa and Rosies stages, patrons were treated to performances by about 30 local and international artists

These included Jamaican-American musician and singer Masego, local band The Ploemies, trumpeter Muneeb Hermans, Jazz vocalist and composer Nomfundo Xaluva, multi-instrumentalist Malcolm Jiyane and American singer, songwriter Ari Lennox among others

People’s Post spoke to a few of the festivalgoers

Mica Traut from Retreat said she grew up with jazz, so she did not want to miss the festival

Sheila Hlanjwa said she attends annually and enjoys the music Making her debut at the festival, South African singing sensation Lira had the crowd on their feet during her 45-minute set

An emotional Lira said this was her ﬁrst performance in Cape Town since she suﬀered a stroke three years ago

Speaking to the cheering crowd, the Believer hitmaker said her recovery journey was “diﬃcult but worth it ”

“I struggled to talk, and I didn’t focus on signing I was focusing on talking In December 2023 I was caught up in the music of country I sang randomly and I noticed I could sing In January 2024 I decided to practice my songs and singing came very easily I got my life back when I wasn’t thinking ”

Jamaican-American musician, Masego PHOTOS: KAYLYNNE BANTOM

American songtress Ari Lennox was the headline act on Saturday

Lanielle Hartzenberg, Carmen Prins, Charmaine Slinger-Smith, Danchia Slinger-Smith and Euodia Samson enjoyed the festival.

Rush and Erica Gutu enjoyed all the performances

Athlone residents, Riethaa Abrahams, Taahirah Adams and Laaiqah Ghadien had a blast

Believer hitmaker Lira made her debut at the festival

by Charl-Johan Lingenfelder and choreography by Natalie Fisher

with

Booking

Rolanda Marais and Albert Pretorious in Hedda Gabler PHOTO: JEREMEO LE CORDEUR

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