People's Post Athlone | Lansdowne E-edition 28 October 2025
Wj y constraints jeopardising the chance to start high school next year, Zion Fiellies, a Grade 7 learner at Parkfields Primary School in Hanover Park, and her parents are seeking the help of a good samaritan
“It is every parent’s wish to give their child or children the opportunity to achieve their goals and develop into a model citizen with a good education My income as a char is not enough and I am seeking financial
g p school a lot is expected of her and with the money constraints from her parents, pressure is mounting The mother reached out to People’s Post to assist in this regard Eric van der Byl, a teacher at the school, says Zion carries the weight of p y creative learner, genial
Van der Byl says
NGOsdemandMSGforpoor
NAMHLAMONAKALI
Acoalition of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and researchers is urging the South African government to approve a Maternal Support Grant (MSG) to help poor pregnant women, as child poverty and malnutrition continue to rise
The MSG advocacy coalition says the grant would cost R2 billion annually, just 0,1% of government spending but could save about R13,8 billion by preventing low-birth-weight births and stunting, according to new policy proposals by Hold My Hand, Change Ideas and Grow Great (DG Murray Trust)
“This grant is a realisable opportunity to support pregnant women with a financial lifeline and economic agency when they need it most,” says Julie Mentor, Project Lead at Embrace
The grant would support roughly 800 000 women for nine months, starting in the second trimester and continuing three months after birth
It would provide a bridge to the Child Support Grant (CSG), ensuring infants receive nutrition during their first months, a critical period for healthy growth and brain development
“Income support during pregnancy improves maternal and child nutrition, lowers maternal
stress and reduces the incidence of low-birthweight babies, a key predictor of stunting,” says Liezel Engelbrecht, Nutrition Lead at DG Murray Trust
Nearly 70% of children in South Africa live in poverty, with almost 40% in households unable to meet basic nutritional needs (“NGOs urge South African government to approve maternal support grant” People’s Post, 4 February 2025)
Chronic malnutrition begins in the womb and can lead to stunting, which affects learning, cognitive development and future economic productivity
“Children who do not receive proper nutrition in the womb and early months are more likely to face stunting, poor cognitive development and lower educational outcomes,” warns Nicola Eley, deputy director of Grow great
The coalition says the MSG is not charity but justice It would reach women in informal work who are excluded from maternity benefits, helping to reduce inequality and break intergenera-
tional cycles of poverty
Advocates highlight that nearly half of eligible infants do not access the CSG in their first year, leaving a gap in crucial early nutrition Introducing the MSG would ensure financial support reaches families during this critical period, improving health and long-term educational outcomes
The coalition is calling on the Department of Social Development to table the MSG policy before Cabinet without delay, ensuring pregnant women and their unborn children receive the support they need
NHWnominationscloseinafewdaystime
Entries for this year ’ s Neighbourhood Watch (NHW) Awards will close on Friday 31 October
The annual awards celebrate outstanding achievements in community safety and neighbourhood support
Organisers are urging the public to submit their nominations urgently
The nominations can be done across a number of categories, for individual NHW members or teams/organisations
Nomination forms are available in English, IsiXhosa and Afrikaans – each nomination must be accompanied by supporting evidence, like social media or news clippings, affidavits and photographs among others
JP Smith, Mayco member for safety and security, said: “Our Neighbourhood Watches provide a visible presence and offer a sense
of security and peace of mind to many of our residents The awards shine a light on their commitment and hard work They amplify the reach of the safety and security directorate, and this is an opportunity to show our appreciation and gratitude ” Smith said that people could nominate the same person or neighbourhood watch group for more than one category, but that a separate form should be submitted for each nomination
The awards ceremony will take place at the Cape Town Civic Centre on Saturday 22 November
THECATEGORIESFORINDIVIDUAL
MEMBERSINCLUDE:
. Neighbourhood Watch
Member of the Year – outstanding achievement in safeguarding members and property
. Organisational Excellence –
exceptional Neighbourhood Watch management
. Mobiliser of the Year – extraordinary efforts to unite and mobilise the community
. Inspiration of the Year – a leader who inspires across multiple Watches
. Crime Fighter of the Year –selfless commitment in the fight against crime
. Courage in Action – sustained service under challenging safety conditions
FORNEIGHBOURHOODWATCHES
. Neighbourhood Watch of the Year – exceptional service in community protection
. Situational Crime Prevention Award – efforts to ensure a clean, healthy, and safe environment
. Social Responsibility Award –commitment to healing social ills and strengthening unity
. Courage in Action Award – continued operations despite serious community safety risks
. Disaster Relief Contributor of the Year – outstanding contribution during the City’s Disaster Management Donation Drive . Best Utilisation of Technology Award – innovative and effective use of technology to enhance safety Nominees must be accredited with the Provincial Department of Police Oversight and Community Safety or have formal accreditation applications pending Entries for the newly added categories, Disaster Relief Contributor of the Year and Best Utilisation of Technology Award, can be submitted via email: nwawards@ capetown org za, together with the required body of evidence . For details email can be sent to: nw awards@capetown gov za
Whattheworldisreallymadeofthesedays
2025
Learning to embrace the speed of modern life
“I remembered reading that they were making sausages out of fish, and fish, no doubt, out of something different It gave me the feeling that I’d bitten into the modern world and discovered what it was really made of That’s the way we ’ re going nowadays Everything slick and streamlined, everything made out of something else ”
This passage from George Orwell’s novel Coming up for air has become a haunting metaphor to describe this glittery age we find ourselves racing to embrace and understand
First published in 1939 just before World War 2 and the birth of the atomic bomb, two terrifying phenomena that would alter life and our idea of safety and security
forever
And yet I find the novel still captures the unease and paranoia that technological and industrial innovation presents our society in
A few years ago, we survived and emerged from the Covid-19 pandemic, where we witnessed hybrid work environments, government distrust, the rise of podcasts and dying theatres and record stores closing down
During this time the political world became more divided, with content creators sharing their ideologies towards their fanbases on social media and deepening the divide between liberals and conservatives to boost their followers
We saw YouTube become the new television and now we are bombarded with unskippable ads and more spam calls than ever before Cooped up in our homes while being forced to quarantine and social distance, these videos or “content” we consumed became an escape from a gloomy reality we were struggling to accept
You often hear people say they weren’t the same person that entered the pandemic
All the while our cellphones, our apps, kept updating and improving
Now these devices are operating at unprecedented speeds, effortlessly processing oceans of
data and completing tasks more efficiently
We are basking in the golden age of technology and witnessing the breakneck speed of information and ever increasing popularity of social media
Particularly, Instagram and the obsession of appearing cool and having an “aesthetic” and style that sets you apart from the rest and pretending to live as a celebrity
Now a photograph that would organically capture a moment has become exploited, filtered or polished to satisfy some personal idea
In the past, reporters and the radio were the main source of information for the public who had to verify facts before they were published Now we are seeing accidents, traumatic videos of violence being shared at the push of a button and spreading like wildfire online
These videos are being shared and seen seemingly without consequence or any care to fact-check if this news truly occurred on this day nor if the contents are disturbing for viewers
God forbid the graphic material enters the TikTok feed of a young person, reshaping their algorithm
to ensure they’ll see similar content because they haven’t skipped the video in five seconds
It’s as if social media has become a colourful zoo where visitors are gasping at graphic and upsetting material whilst being unable to peel their eyes from the screen like numb and overstimulated zombies
Now reporters must adapt to a world where research and patience are becoming relics of the past and they’re competing with endless videos being posted without being checked or edited for credibility
Like the word “fast food” means a quick, cheap and tasty meal, people can become irritated and impatient when this convenience doesn’t fulfil its promise and they waited 20 minutes for their hamburger
And yet after they’ve exhausted their lungs, once they’ve received their meal they’ll bite into the meat like some rabid hyaena, with little care to consider if the meat they’re chewing is truly the “100% pure bred beef’’ they paid for I think this is an apt way to describe why we should remember the importance of staying vigilant and distinguish between the truth and the lies being sold and packaged to us with colourful gift wrapping
A coalition of NGOs and researchers is urging the South African government to approve a Maternal Support Grant (MSG) to help poor pregnant women, as child poverty and malnutrition continue to rise. PHOTO SUPPLIED
CapeTownKitefestivalhonoursMentalhealthinWynberg
NAMHLAMONAKALI
The skies above Youngsfield Military Base came alive with bursts of colour over the weekend as the Cape Town International Kite Festival returned for its full two-day format, celebrating creativity, courage and mental health awareness
Organised by Cape Mental Health since 1994, the festival was held on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 October
The event featured international kites, family-friendly entertainment, kite-making workshops and food stalls
This year ' s theme, #CourageToFly, highlighted the bravery it takes to face life's challenges and encouraged open conversations about mental health
Ingrid Daniel, chief executive officer (CEO) of Cape Mental Health, said the festival carries a deeper message
“Five and a half years ago was the last festival that we had, and since then we have seen unprecedented challenges in everyone ’ s neighbourhood,” she said
“More than 1 billion people globally live with a
mental-health condition, and we are seeing an exponential increase in prevalence, particularly among young people ” Daniel added that the kite symbolised resil-
ience and hope “The kite spreads its wings and dances in the sky It encourages us to fly and reminds us that when life feels overwhelming, there is hope and assistance for people facing
Wichallenges Cape Mental Health provides free services so no one is left behind ” Deputy CEO Santie Terreblanche said mental health is about coping with daily life while protecting your well-being “Mental health, for me, is to be able to show up and do what’s expected of me, and to deal with what comes my way in a way that does not cause undue anxiety or pressure It’s also knowing that today I will give my best ”
Among the visitors, Zimkhita Citi, a resident, shared her wish for increased support “I'd like institutions to be introduced in the township to provide more support and raise awareness about mental health,” she said Cape Mental Health said the festival is not only a celebration of imagination but also a fundraiser for mental health services across the province The public attended to fly kites, support the cause and stand in solidarity with people living with mental health conditions As the kites soared into the sky, organisers said the event served as a reminder that mental health is a journey, not a destination and that everyone deserves access to care and support
The Cape Town International Kite Festival brought bursts of colour to the skies above Youngsfield Military Base in Wynberg this past weekend In this, its 31st year, it paid tribute to the qualities of creativity, courage and mental-health awareness Earlier in the week, on Tuesday 21 October, kites were flown at Dolphin Beach, Bloubergstrand. PHOTO: NAMHLA MONAKALI
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Her mother says her dream and longing is that her daughter completes her high school career and becomes an inspiration to the youth in her community
“The youth of Hanover Park should feel free to come to Zion and ask for help with their schoolwork and by inspiring them my daughter can give them hope to rise above their circumstances Our wish as parents is that she will achieve success in whatever she lays her hands on, that she will make a difference in our community and the school, and also be able to one day take care of her father and I She must always be thankful to her teachers for their investment in her and make Parkfields Primary proud,” says Fiellies Zion is uncertain if there are sport bursa-
ries or scholarships available for high school learners to help her parents cover the financial costs of going to high school and a tertiary institution afterwards
“My appeal to the community is to help the family who is really struggling and in need of assistance I saw her mother walking from Hanover Park to Vangate Mall to catch a taxi to go char in Century City to put food on the table
“We are all aware of how minimal the salary of a char is who is knocking on doors for an income for the day
“I was so sad to think that this family believes in the power of education to improve their lives,” says Van der Byl .If anyone can assist,you can contact Eric van der Byl on 064 363 1243
b g g Primary Schools: Eindhoven, Downville, Delft North, JS Kloppers and Willows
Heideveld High cadets marching at the competition
ScribantewinsSpeed ClassicCapeTown2025
Franco Scribante claimed the King of the Mountain title at the inaugural Speed Classic Cape Town on Sunday 26 October, driving his 2018 Nissan GTR R35 to victory on the closed-off Philip Kgosana Drive in the city Scribante set a time of 35,260 seconds on the 1,8km track, finishing 0 599 seconds ahead of Reghard Roets, who drove a 2014 Nissan GTR R35 to second place with a time of 35,859 seconds Dawie Joubert completed the podium with a time of 37,407 seconds in his Lotus Exige
Pieter Zeelie, who had regularly topped the timing charts and was in contention for the crown throughout the day on Sunday, suffered a faulty start in his final run during the King of the Mountain shootout, putting him out of contention
FROMFERRARISTO1000HPMONSTERS
Close to 80 supercars and hillclimb monsters competed under the shadow of Table Mountain, with cars reaching top speeds of nearly 240km/h Sunday’s field included everything from modern Ferraris, McLarens and Lamborghinis to modified single seaters and saloon cars with over 1000hp, while Saturday featured a range of nearly 70 classic cars – from single seaters steeped in racing history, to modified classic road cars
“It was a really great day for us We were absolutely nowhere when we got to the Class Finals, so I knew we would have to dig deep But I didn’t know if it would be enough, so it was a miracle that it all came together for the final run and I cannot wait to be back again next year, ” said Scribante, who had settled for second place on Classic Car Saturday
BATTLEOFTHECLASSICS
It was Charles Arton that claimed the Classic Champion title on Saturday by setting a winning time of 40,143 in his 1979 March 79A Scribante in his Chevron B19, set a time of 40,362 in the Classic Champion finale Scribante had broken the 40 second mark in his Class Finals run, which set the grid for the Classic Champion shootout However, Arton was able to come out ahead of Scribante in the day’s final run The podium was rounded out by James Temple, who clocked 43,245 in his Shelby Daytona Coupe Temple bettered his time of 44,614 in the Class Finals run, but it did not prove to be enough to unseat either Arton or Scribante
RACINGBENEATHICONICMOUNTAINBACKDROP
Speed Classic Cape Town Race Director Enzo
Kuun described the course as one of the “most scenic tracks in the world ”
“To race with Table Mountain to my right, the Atlantic Ocean to my left and Lion’s Head behind me was an absolute privilege and epic experience,” Kuun said
The event attracted close to 15 000 spectators through the gates, with close to 180 000 joining the livestreams across Saturday and Sunday Speed Classic Cape Town event director Garth Mackintosh said the event is poised to establish itself as a premier hillclimb event following the successful first weekend
“To see our vision come to fruition has been extremely satisfying I think you can only get bigger and better from here and we are ready to invest and create a future event that can only go from strength-to-strength,” Mackintosh said
The results for both days can be accessed on the Speed Classic Cape Town website
Ella Douglas with her Border Collie Remi
Dr John McMullen with AWS SA Ambassador and founder of Dancers Love Dogs Brigitte Reeve-Taylor holding Mr Miyagee. PHOTOS: THULAN MAGAZI
Franco Scribante, was crowned King of the Mountain at the inaugral Speed Classic Cape Town
2018 Nissan GTR R35 driven by King of the Mountain winner Franco Scribante. PHOTOS: SUPPLIED
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