Walk for a worthy cause
Are you ready to step up and say no to childhood hunger? Then the annual Blisters for Bread Charity Family Fun Walk is just the thing for you
Amid high unemployment rate and alarming poverty in the country, the Peninsula School Feeding Association (PSFA) in association with Lucky Star is thrilled to announce the return of Blisters for Bread
PSFA is a 67-year-old registered non-profit organisation (NPO) that addresses hunger among young learners attending primary, secondary and special-needs schools, OVC Safe Parks, ECDs and TVET colleges in the Western Cape Now celebrating 57 years of walking with purpose, the Blisters for Bread Charity Family Fun Walk has grown into one of the Mother City’s most beloved fundraising events It raises vital funds to provide daily nutritious meals to learners in need across the province
This year ’ s event will be on Sunday 31 August at the Green Point Common Sports Ground Online entries are now open, and participation is limited to 8 000 walkers
BLISTERS FOR BREAD IS A MOST BELOVED EVENT IN THE MOTHER CITY.
Flexible registration options are available for individuals and groups Registration closes at midnight on Sunday 17 August
Every participant will be presented with a commemorative medal as a token of PSFA’s appreciation Complimentary refreshments from Peninsula Beverages will be available to all walkers, ensuring everyone stays refreshed and energised throughout the day
There will also be live music
performances from Cape Town’s top local artists, family-friendly entertainment, food stalls and loads of activities for kids and grown-ups alike
Whether you ’ re walking with your school, workplace, friends or family, this event is the ultimate combo of purpose and play
Petrina Pakoe, director of PSFA, says Blisters for Bread is more than just an event; it’s a heartfelt movement
“Every rand raised and every kilometre walked helps us ensure no child has to learn on an empty stomach We invite everyone –young and old – to walk with pur-
pose and be part of this extraordinary cause ”
The R100 entry fee will enable PSFA to provide both breakfast and lunch to 20 hungry schoolchildren for a day
Official event T-shirts are available at R150
Starting in Stephan Way, the event offers two scenic route options along Cape Town’s iconic Sea Point Promenade
The 10km walk starts at 07:30, while the 5km walk kicks of at 08:00 . To register, visit www psfa org za For enquiries, Top Events: info@topevents co za, or WhatsApp 066 139 4210
Drivetocollectmorethan1milsouppackets
With the winter cold and chilly days fast approaching vulnerable people will be most affected In light of this Pick n Pay Hypermarket is partnering with Feed the Nation to collect over 1 million packets of soup for vulnerable communities
The Soup for SA initiative, launched across all the retailer’s Hypermarkets nationwide, encourages customers to donate a packet of soup costing just R5
Seventy-five percent of the donated soup will be distributed to 2 675 Pick n Pay School Club-registered primary schools, while the remaining soup will be allocated to local civil-society organisations surrounding each Hypermarket
The schools run feeding schemes for learners who often rely on
these meals as their main source of nutrition
Customers can purchase any quantity of soup packets, swipe their Smart Shopper card and donate the packets at the designated vehicle trailer parked near the store entrance before Sunday 29 June As an incentive for customers 21 winners will be selected to win a trailer (one from each hypermarket)
Deirdre Mullins, National CSI Manager at Pick n Pay, said every contribution, no matter how small, can bring some relief through a warm, nourishing meal
“As winter sets in and temperatures drop more feeding schemes seek to prepare soup for those in need, placing increased strain on food supplies and heightening the
Pick n Pay Hypermarket is partnering with Feed the Nation in a drive to collect more than 1 million packets of soup for vulnerable communities
need for food support Feed the Nation has always stood alongside customers and partners to help meet this increased demand
“This year we ’ re rallying our customers, once again, to support us in providing essential nutrition to those who need it most ”
A JOURNO’S VOICE
“Senzeni na? What have we done?” This is a song I often find myself singing in the office, much to the amusement of my colleagues Here I am, a woman in South Africa today, writing this and find myself singing it yet again
But this time these lyrics hold so much pain and heartache I am singing this song on behalf of yet another woman who was murdered in our beloved country
According to police, Olorato Mongale left her home in Athol, Johannesburg on Sunday 25 May with a man she had planned to go out on a date with
“The man collected Olorato from her residential complex around 15:00,” read the police report “He drove the victim to the township
of Alexandra, proceeded to Kew afterwards, and between Alexandra and Lombardy West allegedly murdered Olorato and dumped her body ”
She was picked up from her home Just two hours later, she was dumped somewhere as if her life meant nothing Her only crime was trusting the person she got into the vehicle with
This incident, as horrific as it is, is not an isolated case
Olorato isn’t the first Her name unfortunately joins a long-bloodied list So many others have been killed, some raped, then killed and others burnt to death, all at the hands of someone they knew and trusted
Some went to school, some went to the post office, some never even left their homes, some were lured outside Some were asked out on a date Once-vibrant and -bubbling personalities have been silenced To the perpetrators of these hei-
nous crimes I ask, “Senzeni na?”
What have we (women) done?”
Why can’t we trust you? Why do we have to wear certain attire so we don’t look as if we want to be sexually assaulted? Why can’t we drive or walk the street alone not only at night, but at any time of the day?
Women for Change (WFC), an organisation advocating against gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), says the rate of femicide in South Africa is six times higher than the global average At least 15 women are murdered daily, with 5 578 women murdered in 2023-’24, a 33,8% increase from the year before
As women we are being brutalised and our constitutional rights violated, yet not much is being done to mitigate this
Women brave enough to report such crimes committed towards them at police stations have, in many instances, been treated like
the perpetrator
Mounting calls for the names of sexual offenders and murderers to be released should be adhered to
Name and shame them It should be their names up on a flyer, not the face of a missing woman or child
To the thousands of women and girls who have brutally lost their lives I am sorry Sorry your lives were cut short by these callous monsters Sorry your school, home, the post office, the street, even the police station was not safe
Your voices have been silenced, but may your cries from six feet under echo through the corridors of the Union Buildings and Parliament I pray our political leaders refrain from making lengthy speeches about how they are making strides in the fight against GBV and femicide and do the work Until then my question remains: “Senzeni na?” What have we (women) done?”
KAYLYNNE BANTOM
Blisters for Bread returns on Sunday 31 August at the Green Point Common Sports Ground
Unwante goods ge
AVRILFILLIES
Unwanted or obsolete household goods in storage in other people's garages or rooms are getting a “second chance in life” after Sue Vorster from Wetton opened up her home to help needy non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the Southern Suburbs
She is well-known for her soup kitchens in Ottery and Wetton and has expanded the initiative to Hanover Park and Kampies informal settlement in Philippi
“The struggle is real out there, and before the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020-’21 I fed 87 families I then registered my NPO Caring Unicorns in 2020 and besides giving a meal I also handed food parcels out During the pandemic nobody could move around and soup kitchens could not operate After the pandemic the numbers increased and I am now feeding approximately 600 people in the different areas ”
With the inclement weather the Cape experienced these past two years the need for household goods and clothing were brought to her attention by the NGOs
“I built two Wendy houses in my yard as storage space for the household goods , ” Vorster said “and whenever someone is in need of a refrigerator, stove or bed they can pick it up from my home ”
This year she and her two helpers, Bonita Jacobs and Rachel, who are in charge of the soup kitchens in Philippi and Hanover Park, not only dish soup but also akni with baked bread and the donated rolls
“The biggest hurdle on Wednesdays is that the food is never enough and, with winter on our doorsteps and the few rainy days we experienced the last two weeks, the numbers
ECDsreceive toolsforthe future
Early Childhood Development centres (ECD) from Grassy Park and Retreat were treated to workshops on mental health and disaster risk management training The seminar was held in Kirstenbosch earlier this month
The City said its Community, Arts and Culture Development Department has assisted 170 ECDs and trained more than 800 ECD staffers in disaster-risk and mental-health matters this year
In all, 46 ECDs from Grassy Park, Retreat, Ottery , Strandfontein, Mitchells Plain and Fairways attended
The department promotes access to Early Childhood Development, through support and capacity building for ECDs, the provision of resources and streamlining compliance processes to help centres towards registration with the Western Cape Education Department (WCED)
Registered ECDs are able to access funding from the provincial government
These efforts align with the City’s goal of improving early childhood care outcomes and making regulatory processes easier for community-based centres
“There are numerous regulations in place for the ECD sector, but compliance is often a bridge too far for many, ” said Mayco member for community services and health Francine Higham
“I urge parents to ask questions and take an active interest in their child’s care environment
We cannot compromise on child safety, and so it does require all hands on deck ”
The training included types of mental health disorders, understanding mental illness, treatment and support, and self-care Topics included hazard identification and ranking, mapping skills, Emergency planning and evacuation role-plays
ECDs or members of the public who want to know more about training interventions or have questions about ECD registration can contact their nearest CACD area office
Area South, which includes Athlone,Lansdowne and surroudning communities, Third Floor, 200 Main Road, Claremont
MyCiTi route building expands
The MyCiTi south-east expansion is the biggest financial investment in public transport by any metro to date, with over R6 billion allocated in the current three-year budget cycle. This was announced at the ground-breaking ceremony in mid-May by the mayor of Cape Town, Geordin Hill-Lewis.
“It’s exciting to see the major progress all along the new MyCiTi route linking Khayelitsha, Mitchells Plain, and various other communities across our city’s south-east The enabling infrastructure is noticeably rising before our eyes on this major expansion of public transport that is affordable, safe and reliable for Capetonians
“t was a wonderful feeling to break ground in Claremont today, which together with Wynberg are the two end points of this expansion of the MyCiTi footprint The existing MyCiTi N2 Express service from Mitchells Plain and Khayelitsha to the CBD is already among the busiest routes in the city, and we can’t wait for the transformative impact of the new south-east route, which is South Africa’s biggest multi-billion rand, multi-year public transport project,” says Hill-Lewis
Multiple infrastructure projects are in full swing across the metro’s south-east to provide a direct route to Wynberg and Claremont, including: Road widening, signalling and new walkway construction in Claremont; Major upgrades to enable bus lane construction along Turfhall Road and AZ Berman; Sky Circle construction - a South African first - at Govan Mbeki Road (M9) and Jan Smuts Drive (M17); Bridge construction over Duinefontein and Govan Mbeki roads; Traffic lanes, bus stops, signalling and cycling lanes along Govan Mbeki Road; Spine Road depot construction
“We are working non-stop to improve our public transport service offering to Capetonians, as improved mobility means more jobs, economic growth, and better futures for all of
us Our project teams are also trying their best to limit the impact on road users I encourage residents to anticipate delays as roadworks continue along the new MyCiTi bus route development Best is to plan ahead and to consider alternative routes to destinations as far as possible,” says Rob Quintas, Mayco member for urban mobility
MyCiTi expansion projects updates include Claremont Road widening, signalling, and walkway construction
For the next six months the following can be expected: A full road closure on Imam Haron Road in both directions between Cook Road and Markham Road, the detour is via Markham Road; One lane closure on Imam Haron Road from Markham Road to Selous Road towards Kenilworth, the detour is via Markham Road
Full road closures at the intersections of Imam Haron Road and Columbus, Markham and Franklin roads
Mitigation measures include disruptive work between 09:00 and 15:00 on weekdays If needed, work will take place after hours, from 19:00 on Friday to 06:00 on Monday Residents will be notified in advance
Pedestrians will be accommodated with safe passage, including temporary crossings One lane in each direction will be open to traffic at all times
Temporary signage and flag personnel will be deployed to help keep traffic flowing and ensure the safety of all road users
The construction of the freestanding elevated traffic circle, the first of its kind in South Africa, at the intersection of Govan Mbeki Road (M9) and Jan Smuts Drive (M17) in Lansdowne commenced in July 2022
Work is beyond the halfway mark with the relocation of underground services and the construction of the eastern and western ramps for the Sky Circle
Construction of the overhead structure is progressing well
The temporary traffic circle will be in place for another 15 months or so as it serves as an island for the crane that is being d t b ild th h d t t
CLAREMONTROADWIDENING, SIGNALLING,ANDWALKWAY CONSTRUCTIONNEXT Delaysahead
Road The station will be built at a later stage, closer to the implementation date of the service
The relocation of underground services and telecommunications and electrical cables on Govan Mbeki Road, between Heinz Road and NY72 is progressing well
This involves relocating four kilometres of the bulk water main that connects the Steenbras Dam to the Newlands Reservoir It currently runs beneath the planned bus lanes and is being moved to the side of the road to accommodate the MyCiTi service
The construction of a bridge over the intersection of Duinefontein Road and Govan Mbeki Road will give MyCiTi buses priority over other traffic at the intersection, ensuring a quicker journey time than with a private car
The bridge piers are complete on the east side and the precast beams were recently moved and placed at the site
This project is planned to be complete by the end of next year
In May last year, the City commenced with major construction work along a 1,7km stretch of Turfhall Road (M24) from the M5 intersection in the west to the intersection with Castor and Benona roads in the east
Two traffic lanes are maintained in each direction to limit the impact on motorists The westbound carriageway from Benona/Castor roads to the M5 has been excavated to make way for new layer works that will increase the capacity and lifespan of the road
Work will then move to the eastbound carriageway before new bus lanes are built in the road median
The project is scheduled for completion by June 2027
The work on Govan Mbeki Road, from east of Kli f t i R d t th R300 b id i l
formotorists
Residents and commuters in Lansdowne are advised to anticipate delays and consider alternative routes where possible due to road closures to and from Imam Haron Road Stanhope Road connects Main Road (M4) with Palmyra Road and Imam Haron Road
This is one of the most challenging sections to be affected as part of the roll-out of the second phase of the MyCiTi bus service to connect commuters from Mitchells Plain and Khayelitsha with Claremont and Wynberg
SINCEAPRILTHISYEARTHEFOLLOWINGHAPPENED:
. One right-turn lane closure from Stanhope Road onto Imam Haron Road One right-turn lane will remain open
. One right-turn lane closure from Palmyra Road into Stanhope Road The remaining lane will be used for traffic to continue straight or turn right
. One lane on Imam Haron Road, between Stanhope Road and First Avenue, will be closed to traffic travelling towards the M5 . A full road closure at the intersection of Stanley Road and Imam Haron Road
. No right turns from Roseville, Oakfield, Ravensworth and Wade Roads onto Imam Haron Road
For approximately six months the following can be expected: A full road closure on Imam Haron Road in both directions between Cook Road and Markham Road, the detour is via Markham Road
. One lane closure on Imam Haron Road from Markham Road to Selous Road towards Kenilworth, the detour is via Markham Road Full road closures at the intersections of Imam Haron Road and Columbus, Markham and Franklin Roads
“The project team is trying their best to limit the impact on road users The contractor will ensure that traffic is accommodated in both directions at all times,” says Mayco member for urban mobility, Rob Quintas Mitigation measures
Disruptive work will be restricted to between 09:00 and 15:00 on weekdays If needed, work will take place after hours, from 19:00 on Friday to 06:00 on Monday, and residents will be notified in advance
Pedestrians will be accommodated with safe passage, including temporary crossings One lane in each direction will be open to traffic at all times
Temporary signage and flag personnel will be deployed
Gang violence remains a worry
The Western Cape police commissioner, Lieut Gen Thembisile Patekile, recently released crime statistics for the province, revealing that Delft remains one of the areas with the highest murder rates In response to ongoing violent crime, new police stations are being established in Delft, Mfuleni, and Brown’s Farm in Philippi to strengthen law enforcement efforts
Although the latest statistics show a slight decrease in crime, Patekile says more action is needed to combat violence effectively
Between January and March, Delft, Mfuleni, Nyanga, and Philippi East recorded the highest murder rates in the province Nationally, these precincts ranked among the top-five for murder cases, alongside others such as Kraaifontein, Gugulethu, Khayelitsha, Harare, Samora Machel and Lwandle
Patekile notes that gang-related activities, extortion, and taxi violence are driving many of the murders The past weekend was particularly violent on the Cape Flats, with 26 murders and 58 attempted murders linked to gang activity
Additionally, 27 separate shootings were reported, but without any recorded injuries
Areas affected by recent gun violence include Hanover Park, Bonteheuwel, Khayelitsha, Retreat, Delft, Wesbank, Athlone, Kuils River, and Elsies River
Ian Cameron, chair of the parliamentary police portfolio committee, called for a decentralised approach to tackling gang violence
He proposed delegating investigative, forensic, and intelligence functions to municipal and provincial governments to ease the burden on police and improve conviction rates, ultimately creating safer communities
Seal continues Cape tour
The popular roaming elephant seal was an astonishing sight for visitors when the sea mammal stopped by at Kalk Bay Harbour on Wednesday morning 28 May
The adult male was previously spotted wandering on Sir Lowry’s Pass Road in Gordon’s Bay a day earlier
The Cape of Good Hope SPCA received a call at 06:00 that morning and their staff arrived to assess the situation The timeframe to ensure that the seal was safely returned became a ninehour rescue operation involving a well-coordinated effort across multiple agencies to ensure the sub-adult male’s safety and eventual return to a more suitable coastal environment
Southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) are the world’s largest seal species and are usually found in sub-Antarctic regions
“While sightings in South Africa are rare, occasional lone individuals, typically young males, do haul out along our coastline during moulting or rest phases But making it inland and into a neighbourhood is, by all accounts, highly unusual,” the Cape of Good Hope SPCA wrote on their website
The seal was barricaded by vehicles at the corner of Avondrust Street and Sir Lowry’s Pass Road, the City confirmed
Officials placed a wildlife trailer and attempted to “walk” the animal to the trailer, but after several attempts, it became clear that this was not going to work Two attending wildlife veterinarians successfully sedated the animal
Once given the go-ahead by the vets, the animal was carefully rolled onto a stretcher and with a combination of many hands and a well-coordinated effort the almost 1,2 ton animal was carefully and quickly loaded into the trailer without a hitch The animal’s welfare was checked by the vets before travelling to the selected release site at the Steenbras Nature Reserve coastal area along Clarens Drive
Various services including: Law Enforcement, Traffic Services, SAPS, Gordon’s Bay Security and Gordon’s Bay Medical Ambulance Services, SPCA, City of Cape Town’s Coastal Management and Marine Unit, SANParks, Two Oceans Aquarium, Shark Spotters and the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) stepped in to assist the seal
“Wild animals don’t always follow the script, and this seal’s unexpected journey into a residential area created real cause for concern, ” said Belinda Abraham, spokesperson for the Cape of Good Hope SPCA “With so many moving parts traffic, onlookers, and a massive marine mammal in distress it took rapid coordination and clear focus to keep everyone safe,” she said
At the release location, the animal was checked and found to be wide awake and alert
The vets then gave the go ahead to open the trailer for release The elephant seal made his way out the trailer and onto the beach with no trouble, proceeded across the beach and swam off strongly into the sea
On Wednesday morning 28 May the seal arrived at the Kalk Bay Harbour
“The City would like to thank all the role
players who were involved with bringing the seal to safety yesterday The close collaboration between the City, SPCA and all the parties while dealing with the emergency management of this heavy weight seal ensured a smooth transition into the ocean at Kogel Bay Resort,” said the City’s Deputy Mayor and Mayco member for spatial planning and environment, Eddie Andrews
“The City would like to give a special thanks to coastal management and biodiversity management staff, the Steenbras Nature Reserve and the Conservation Services Unit who played a huge role in the capturing and releasing of the animal The City’s law enforcement and traffic services officials also assisted enormously,” said Andrews
The seal suffered no injuries during the rescue, the SPCA confirmed
The seal was transported to Koggel Bay and led back to the ocean on Wednesday
The Elephant seal that was spotted exploring Kalk Bay Harbour on Wednesday
‘Protecting children starts at home’
TragedystruckSlaveRouteChallengeovertheweekend
KAYLYNNEBANTOM
A tragic incident marked this year ’ s Slave Route Challenge when a 59-year-old female runner died after she was struck by a falling oak tree during the event on Sunday 1 June
The incident occurred when the tree fell along the race route in the Company’s Garden area
Cape Town Police have launched an inquest docket for further investigation
Lt Col Malcolm Pojie, provincial police spokesperson, said the incident happened at about 08:20 when a law enforcement officer witnessed how the tree fell across the walkway near Government Avenue
According to Pojie, the woman
was treated on the scene by medical personal and transported to hospital where she later died
“Upon further inspection, they discovered that the runner was trapped under the tree, unresponsive
“Medical assistance was on the scene immediately and she was later transported to hospital where she was unfortunately declared as deceased later ”
Zayaan Lakay, a participant, said she and her family heard a loud bang just minutes after they passed the location of the incident
“Everyone was running Then we heard a loud bang We weren’t sure what was happening Next minute it was chaos We saw a massive tree
had fallen over Lakay said they were initially unaware that someone was trapped under the tree as she was covered in leaves
“We continued with the race When emergency personnel arrived she was still conscious When we reached the end of the race we were told that the woman died This is so sad I still can’t wrap my head around it It was such a fun run
“It was a beautiful day, there was no wind and no rain,” explained Lakay
Zarina Brewer, race director, said in a press statement the woman took part in the 10km race and was not part of any running club
“We can confirm that she was still conscious at the time of the incident but, despite medical attention, later succumbed to her injuries in hospital ”
Brewer said this is the first such incident in the event’s 13-year history
“We wish to reassure the public that all safety protocols, as required by the City of Cape Town, were in place and adhered to throughout the event ”
According to Brewer, they were in contact with her next of kin but will not release her name out of respect for their privacy
The Slave Route Challenge is held annually in Cape Town and pays tribute to the memory and resilience
of those who endured the injustices of slavery, while celebrating the freedom, diversity, and unity of our nation today
Launched in 2011, the event is organised by the Brimstone Itheko Sport Athletic Club and features a range of distances including a half marathon (21,1 km), 10 km run, 10 km walk, and a 5 km fun run making it accessible to participants of all fitness levels
The route is historically and culturally significant, taking runners past iconic Cape Town landmarks such as the Castle of Good Hope, the Grand Parade, the District Six area, and the Slave Lodge, weaving a story of struggle, liberation, and triumph
Kurt Titus of Watsonia Rugby Football Club (RFC) dives through a