People's Post | Claremont\ Rondebosch | E-Edition 19 August 2025
With entries for this year’s Blisters for Bread closing on Sunday 17 August the Peninsula School Feeding Association (PSFA) said it had successfully reached the 8 000 mark. This annual event will take place on Sunday 31 August at the Green Point Common Sports Ground Charles Grey, fundraising manager of PSFA, said this “remarkable milestone” would not have been possible without the dedication and support of everyone involved “Each registration represents more than just a commitment to join the walk; it is a step towards ensuring that thousands of hungry schoolchildren receive the daily nourishment they need ” He expressed his gratitude to each entrant. “We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has contributed to this achievement Your commitment has helped us build momentum for what promises to be a memorable event, while also making a real and lasting impact in the fight against child hunger ”
Wemustmoveonfromjustcommemoration
more women in boardrooms and more breaking into industries once closed to us The names and faces of women leaders are no longer rare in the public arena
Every August, South Africa wraps itself in purple ribbons and vibrant sashes, echoing the courage of 9 August 1956, when over 20 000 women marched to the Union Buildings against pass laws It is a month of remembrance, pride and public tributes
Speeches are made,hashtags trend, and the bravery of those who came before us is celebrated This month has always carried extra meaning for me Not only is it Women’s Month, but it is also my birth month
I turned a year older on the 4th, and in the days since, I’ve found myself reflecting more deeply on what it means to grow older as a woman in this country, not just in years, but in experience There’s something about a birthday that invites both celebration and introspection You measure not only your milestones, but also the progress, and the gaps in the world around you
As I mark this new age (nine and twenty), I feel both proud and restless, proud because we come from a lineage of women who refused to be silenced Restless, because I know that too many women still carry a quiet weight that history books rarely capture,the daily negotiations of safety, dignity and equality
Our victories are real We have
Yet, alongside these gains, the cracks remain visible The wage gap persists Gender-based violence continues to cast a long shadow over our freedom We are celebrated for breaking glass ceilings, yet expected to sweep up the shards with our bare hands
The weight of womanhood is not only in public battles, but in the small, exhausting calculations of everyday life, the moments when we show up at our best, and meet every expectation, even when battling ovulation pains, menstrual cycles, or the fatigue that comes with our bodies’ monthly rhythms
Choosing where to park at night
Sending a quick “home safe” message to friends after a late meeting Checking over your shoulder while walking, keys clenched between your fingers
Rehearsing the tone of an email to ensure you are taken seriously but not branded “emotional” or “difficult” These are not quirks of habit; they are survival strategies They form part of the invisible cost of being a woman, a cost rarely mentioned during the speeches of Women’s Month
This is why the 9th of August must be more than a ceremonial nod to the past
The question is not whether we will remember the courage of the 1956 marchers, but whether we will honour their
courage by creating conditions that make it easier for the next generation of women to live without fear or limitation
In my work, the answer lies in storytelling My role is not only to report what happens but to interrogate why it happens, and to amplify the voices that are too often sidelined I carry the stories of the women I meet into every newsroom I enter Some of these women will never see their names in print, yet their resilience is profound: a single mother holding her household together on a minimum wage; a community health worker who walks kilometres daily to reach patients; a survivor who refuses to be defined by what she has endured
These women remind me that heroism is not confined to grand gestures It is also in the daily acts of persistence and care, often invisible to the world They are proof that the narrative of women ’ s month must include ordinary women whose strength is no less remarkable because it is unseen
We must move from commemoration to commitment That means advocating for policies that do more than look good on paper It means holding institutions accountable for the promises they make It means ensuring that when a woman rises, she leaves the door open for others to walk through It also means listening to women whose experiences are shaped not only by gender but by race, class, disability and geography The chal-
lenges facing a rural farmworker are not the same as those facing an urban professional, yet both are valid and urgent Intersectionality is not an academic buzzword; it is a lens through which we can better understand and address inequality Women’s Month, then, should not be a pause for reflection before life returns to “normal” It should be a launchpad for sustained action The legacy of the women of 1956 is not just in the march they undertook, but in the way they imagined a future in which their daughters would walk freely That future is not yet here Their example shows us that it is worth fighting for
As I step into this new age, I am reminded that time is both a gift and a responsibility My birthday was a quiet recommitment to the causes I care about, the stories I will tell, and the women whose journeys deserve to be seen and heard
Our foremothers marched so we could stand here The least we can do is ensure that the ground we stand on is solid enough for the next woman to run, when she runs, may she do so without the weight of keys between her fingers, without the fear of being called “too much” or “not enough”, without needing to calculate her safety before her dreams
That, for me, is what Women’s Month should be about, not just remembering the past, but reshaping the present so the future looks different
NAMHLA MONAKALI
Future teachers learn vital skills
RPREPARING TEACHERS HOLISTICALLY WAS KEY TO ADDRESSING CHALLENGES
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“This programme reflects our commitment to environmental responsibility and urban biodiversity,” said Francine Higham, Mayco member for community services and health “By letting nature take its course, we create living conservation corridors right in our city and a more colourful, thriving Cape Town for all Beyond the beauty of wildflowers, the no-mow initiative supports vital pollinators, nurtures natural seed production, and helps protect ecological corridors by reducing unnecessary maintenance ”
This year ’ s programme has expanded to 104 sites, up from 90 last year, with 12 new locations, including Pleasant Place Park in Pinelands, Cedarwood Park in Sonstraal Heights, and sections along Prince George’s Drive from Muizenberg to Ottery
Residents can view the full list online Several rare and endangered species, among them the critically endangered Flats Kalossie (Ixia versicolor), the endangered Autumn Bobbejaantjie (Babiana villosula), and the vulnerable Clay Boragebrush (Echiostachys incanus), are expected to benefit
According to the City, public open space populations of these species have shown steady improvement since the Spring Flower Readiness Programme began
“In areas where mowing is paused, plants are able to seed, creating a natural seed bank that ensures flowering and thriving vegetation the following year, ” said Higham “Constant mowing during flowering seasons depletes this seed bank and reduces food for fledglings and other small animals ”
Public involvement continues to be a key driver of the initiative
Residents may nominate local parks or verges for consideration, with requests accepted yearround
To manage the challenge of invasive alien species during the no-mow period, the department works with community improvement districts, NGOs, and local ‘Friends’ groups to mechanically control weeds such as Wild Oats and Echium species
“We acknowledge that for about three weeks before mowing resumes, some weeds may become more visible We ask residents to be patient, as these maintenance cycles are timed to protect indigenous species,” Higham said
g With teacher burnout flagged as a growing concern, wellness and professional development were also highlighted The South African Council of Educators (SACE) and unions
, p p journey I leave feeling supported and excited for the next steps in my teaching career ” Delegates left with new knowledge, stronger networks and a sense of shared responsibility
Student Teachers given a task during the conference to work in groups and discuss what kind of teacher they wished they had in hope that they will be those teachers PHOTO: SUPPLIED
Cape Flats gun violence targeted
KAYLYNNE BANTOM
KAYLYNNE BANTOM@NOVUSMEDIA CO ZA
While gun violence continues to grip the Cape Flats a new #SilenceTheGuns campaign aims to raise awareness about the devastating impact of illegal firearms in the communities.
Between Wednesday 13 and Thursday 14 August five people were shot dead and four injured in separate shootings in Muizenberg and Lotus River On Friday a taxi driver was shot and killed while two passengers sustained gunshot wounds in Maitland
The launch, organised by the Nyanga Sub-District Community Police Forum Board, was attended by about 300 people including various neighbourhood watches, police and law enforcement at Phoenix High School in Manenberg, on Saturday 9 August
THECOMMUNITY-DRIVENSAFETYINITIATIVEAIMS
TO:
. Raise awareness of the devastating impact of illegal firearms in our communities
. Encourage public reporting and tip-offs to law enforcement agencies
. Build a visible, unified front among the police, City departments, and communities in the fight against gun violence
. Mobilise collective action against gun-related crime, particularly in gang-afflicted precincts
Reginald Maart, Nyanga Sub District Public Relations Officer, said the launch was held on Women's Day to draw attention to the challenges many women face due to gender-based violence (GBV)
"The campaign's launch date also speaks to the vulnerability of women and children in gun-affected households and communities, further reinforcing the urgency of the intervention While we celebrate Women's Month, how many eed e o o dea
eco e from injury Damaged vehicles need repairs This in turn means fewer staff on shift, fewer
source of immense pride," he concluded
The event was attended by over 250 people including law enforcement agencies PHOTO SUPPL ED
Law student dares fire challenge
KEANANHARMSE
Afire-station platoon commander from Simon’s Town, Amesha Bachan, hopes to be a beacon of hope within her community
The 35-year-old platoon commander of the City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services at the Ottery Fire Station, recently proved her mettle when she led a crew of seven during an emergency birth of a healthy baby boy at the fire station on Thursday morning, 24 July (“Firemen save baby”, People’s Post, 29 July 2025)
In an interview with People’s Post, Bachan shared her journey and unpacked the early challenges she encountered as a young firefighter and how she climbed the ranks Born in Durban, Bachan relocated to Cape Town at a young age “I was raised in a naval community in Simon ’ s Town I then attended Simon’s Town School from Grade 1 to matric ” After matriculating she began studying law until one fateful holiday led her on a path to firefighting In 2008, she joined the City’s Fire and Rescue Department “I found the
field of law incredibly fascinating
During one of my holiday breaks I joined the fire service as a seasonal firefighter, thinking it would just be something temporary But to my surprise I completely fell in love with the job The sense of purpose, teamwork and physical challenge drew me in immediately ”
She then applied to be a permanent firefighter and was accepted “I continued studying law for another two years before deciding to commit myself to a career in firefighting I was inspired by the adrenaline, the structure, the unity among the team and, most importantly, the opportunity to serve and protect people The more I immersed myself in the work the more I knew this was where I was meant to be Each year brought new challenges, new lessons and a deeper passion for the job ”
Initially, the transition from law student to firefighter was not easy
“Being a woman in a very male-dominated field I had to learn to be both mentally and physically resilient Earning my place and gaining respect meant showing up consistently, working hard and prov-
THE TRANSITION FROM LAW STUDENT TO FIREFIGHTER WAS NOT EASY
ing my capabilities on and off the fire ground ”
Among the greatest challenges she faced at this time was balancing further studies, the physical demands and, later on, motherhood, when she started raising her now 19-month-old baby boy
“But the rewards have been just as great Being able to mentor younger firefighters, represent women in uniform and be part of critical emergency responses; those moments have made it all worthwhile
“And, of course, coming home to my son at the end of a 24-hour shift reminds me who I’m doing it all for ”
Since then she’s pursued several fire-related qualifications, certifications and short courses to keep growing in the field
Outside work she enjoys caring for her son and exercising
In this month of taking stock of the indispensable role they play in society, by both themselves and others, women are reminded to reflect on one of the most crucial aspects of their well-being that is often overlooked –health-care financial planning
While such planning is important for everyone women face unique challenges and circumstances that make strategic health financing not just beneficial, but essential
Martin Rimmer, chief executive officer of Sirago Underwriting Managers, a gap-cover provider underwritten by Genric Insurance, says women generally navigate a complex landscape in health care and finances
UNIQUEHEALTHRISKS
He says women face specific health risks that require targeted financial preparation
Breast, ovarian and cervical cancers disproportionately affect women and can incur significant medical expense and potential loss of income as a result of long lay-offs during treatment Additionally, women are more susceptible to certain chronic conditions,
including autoimmune diseases, musculoskeletal conditions and cardiovascular disease, all of which come with significant treatment costs
He says these health realities underscore the importance of having the right health-care coverage that addresses women ’ s specific needs
YOURPRIMARYDEFENCE
Rimmer says given South Africa’s challenging and deteriorating public health-care landscape and the high costs of private medical care medical-scheme coverage isn’t optional; it’s non-negotiable
“Working with an accredited healthcare broker who can analyse your current health-care expenditure, family medical history and any pre-existing conditions can go far in ensuring the correct balance in making a personal choice Remember, the cheapest option is hardly ever the most cost-effective or benefit-specific if it leaves you exposed to significant out-of-pocket expenses or exclusions when you need care most ”
PROTECTIONAGAINSTTHEUNEXPECTED
“Some of my favourite ways to unwind include cooking and baking, especially healthy meals and snacks for my son I also enjoy going for walks and gymming to stay strong and centred ”
She feels there is more work to be done to even the playing fields when it comes to equal representation in the workplace
“There are still significant challenges, such as unequal representation in leadership, work-life balance pressures and societal expectations around motherhood and career In fields such as emergency services the physical standards and cultural biases can discourage women from even applying
“In my own community we still need more visibility and support for women in uniformed services
Programmes that encourage girls to explore careers in fire and rescue services or law enforcement could open so many doors And in workplaces we need policies that support moms better, from flexible schedules to parental leave that doesn’t stall career growth ”
Asked what words of advice she
had for young women pursuing careers in this fast-paced sphere in an ever-changing society, she replied: “Your aspirations Trust your instincts Don’t be afraid to pivot when you hear a call, the way I did when choosing firefighting over law
Be bold enough to enter spaces where you may well be the only woman working hard enough to make it easier for the next one
“Invest in your learning, your fitness and mindset; they’re your greatest tools Personally I hope to continue growing in this field, both technically and in leadership, while still being a present and loving mom
“I want to create space for more women to thrive in this profession and show it’s possible to wear both the uniform and title of ‘ mom ’ with pride ’’
She reiterates that Women’s Day is a powerful reminder of the strength, grace and resilience that women bring to every space they occupy
“I’m proud to be part of a generation of women who are changing what leadership, motherhood and service look like; one day, one call and one courageous choice at a time ”
Gap cover serves as a financial safety net, covering the shortfall between what medical schemes pay and what specialists actually charge, primarily for in-hospital events
“If your medical scheme pays 200% of tariff, but your specialist charges 500% you ’ re personally liable for that 300% difference,” explains Rimmer “Sirago’s recent gap claims data show average “large gap claims” now sits between R40 000 and R60 000 These amounts could seriously impact your cashflow and financial stability without proper gap cover protection ”
COMPREHENSIVECRISISPLANNING
He explains that for stay-at-home mothers the financial impact extends beyond lost income
“If you become unable to fulfil these roles the cost of replacement care and support can be substantial Explore insurance solutions, including income protection insurance, disability and critical illness insurance, which can provide financial breathing room when you need to focus on recovery rather than financial survival ”
PREVENTION
Regular preventative care is a drum that simply cannot be beaten loudly enough; medical schemes often make these benefits available to members Rimmer encourages women to commit to annual preventative health screenings because early detection can drastically reduce both the health and financial consequences of serious conditions
MATERNITYPLANNING
“Look for coverage that includes comprehensive prenatal care, delivery and hospitalisation, and postnatal care for both mother and baby Medical-scheme maternity programmes, when adhered to, can really help you manage your health and additional finances during these periods ”
LIFESTYLEASFINANCIALSTRATEGY
According to Rimmer small, consistent lifestyle changes can yield significant health and financial returns
“Maintain a balanced, nutritious diet, exercise regularly, even if just for a few minutes daily; limit alcohol consumption; eliminate smoking/
vaping; prioritise stress management and mental well-being and get adequate sleep ”
MAXIMISEAVAILABLERESOURCES
“If you have access to group employee benefits, leverage them,” sys Rimmer “Group plans typically offer better rates due to collective buying power However, ensure your individual and employer-provided benefits work together cohesively without unnecessary gaps or duplications ”
PROFESSIONALADVICE
Rimmer says the complexity of healthcare financial planning makes professional guidance invaluable
“As we celebrate Women’s Month, make healthcare financial planning your priority Don’t let financial constraints force you into choosing between immediate needs and future health security
He says with proper planning, professional guidance, and the right insurance portfolio, women can build a robust financial foundation that supports both their current wellbeing and long-term health security
Amesha Bachan PHOTOS: SUPPLIED
Amesha Bachan at Ottery Fire Station in November 2024 when she was newly appointed as platoon commander
WP Media, publishers of People’s Post, City Vision and TygerBurger sponsored Rygate Invitational Ladies kit The team is pictured with Cecilia Hume, TygerBurger Editor and Shafiek Braaf, WP sales manager
Shervonne van Wyk of Rygate Invitational Ladies controls the ball as she passes Shakura Toffer of Mitchells Plain Invitational Ladies before the Bayview U-16 Youth Cup final at Athlone Stadium PHOTO: CECILIA HUME
Rygate Invitational Ladies players are joined by the WP Media ahead of their contest with their Mitchells Plain counterparts
Spurs clinchYouth Cup
More people in the province than ever before saw young talent on display.
In the only ladies’ match of the day, Rygate Invitational Ladies locked orns with Mitchells Plain LFA adies The two sides played a 1-1 talemate
An elated tournament organiser and ayview FC chair Mark Rodrigues ailed the event He thanked all the ponsors, teams and supporters for heir commitment and support in making the tournament one of Cape own ’ s top sporting events “This was a very special year for us, not nly because the finals were played at he Athlone Stadium, but it is also a uge milestone for the team We are elebrating our 20th anniversary,” aid Rodrigues
He said this year ’ s venue elevated
the tournament to new heights and gave people from across the province an opportunity to witness young soccer talent on display The tournament also gave the players a chance to play on a proffessional pitch
“This means if you dream it you can do it Playing at Athlone Stadium is not something many of our young footballers get to do in their lifetime This gives them an opportunity to be part of something special,” he said Rodrigues described the occasion as “ very special” and an the journey to Athlone Stadium as “emotional”
“It was not an easy journey There were too many obstacles but the support from everyone has been amazing This is not about people It is about giving the younsters an opportunity to showcase their talent ” He added that preparations were already underway for next year ' s tournament “We’ve launched a platform for a great tournament moving forward We have started with plans for next year and hope to make it even better
Lihle Somana of PPG Langa beats a sliding tackle by Reyaan Manuel of Norway Parks during the Bayview U-16 gold division final played
PHOTOS: RASHIED ISAACS
Player of the Tournament Emile Dortley of CT Spurs
