Switch-On 30 November
Cape Town will once again light up the summer sky as thousands gather on the Grand Parade and along Adderley Street for the 56th edition of the Festive Lights Switch-On on Sunday 30 November
This free, family-friendly celebration takes place this year under the theme “United in Hope” More than just a seasonal celebration, the Festive Lights Switch-On has grown into one of Cape Town’s most beloved tradi-
tions and a symbol of Cape Town’s resilience, creativity, and community spirit
Building on the success of recent hope-themed editions, this year ’ s event recognises hope not simply as an emotion, but as a unifying value that connects us all
This year ’ s campaign and main event will feature not only a line-up of entertainers and the much-anticipated light switch moment, but also two community-driven initiatives:
The FLSO “Move and Melody” Competition: a cross-discipline
dance and vocal showcase that will see emerging local talent compete for a chance to perform live on the Festive Lights stage in front of thousands – this goes live on Wednesday 1 October Capetonians are advised to keep an eye on the news about the latest events
Wear the Hope - Share the Light: a new creative project inviting Capetonians of all ages to design and
create a festive top for the mayor
The Festive Lights Switch-On offers something rare and vital in this digital-driven world – the chance to connect face to face, to dance, to laugh, with one another and to celebrate Cape Town’s unique culture
The concert programme builds up to the switch-on moment of the festive lights, a lighting display of lasers, lights and pyrotechnics
Followed by a highlight of a colourful video mapping display on the façade of the City Hall, a oncein-a-lifetime experience
Temporarylibraryclosurestobetterservices
Several City libraries are temporarily closed, or planning to close soon, for maintenance and stocktaking
Patrons are advised to use neighbouring libraries in the interim or the City’s new digital services
Four libraries in People’s Post distribution areas are affected by the current schedule of works
These include: Colin Eglin Library (Sea Point) which is scheduled to reopen on Tuesday 30 September
Kloof Street due to reopen on Monday 6 October Lotus River scheduled to reopen
Saturday 8 November
Rondebosch will close Monday 27 and reopen Friday 31 October
The closures range from a few days to one to two months, depending on the nature of the work that is being done at the respective facilities
Francine Higham, Mayco member for community services and health, said stocktaking is essential as it ensures accurate inventory records, optimises storage space and helps them provide the items their patrons want
“These closures will only be for three to four days and thee librar-
ies will communicate directly with patrons in the lead up to the break in service, and which alternative facilities they can access during the period
“The time allocated in these instances is significantly longer, so we appeal to patrons to please bear with us while this critical proactive work takes place ” Maintenance includes the replacement of carpets, work on wooden floor and more
The electrical maintenance will entail the rewiring of the entire library, ensuring that all electrical work meets compliance require-
ments
Patrons can return library books to their nearest library
Alternatively, registered library members are asked to access the digital offerings by visiting e-resources (capetown gov za) eBooks and audio books are available to access or download via the Overdrive Digital Platform or the Libby App on smart devices Access to more than 7 000 local and international newspapers and magazines is available to download via the PressReader platform OR app . Access the online catalogue at opac.capetown.gov.za
Scoopofcomfortonatoughdaygoesfar
wouldn’t go as planned “Yes, sure, ” I replied, and carried on with my day
Sometimes all we need is ice cream to make a bad day a bit sweeter I am an aunt to two lively little boys.
The eldest is in Grade R, and the youngest (with his old-soul mannerisms) is off to crèche next year
If it were up to me, I would send the youngest straight to high school, but it’s not legally allowed I recently had a busy day driving from one area to the next conducting interviews etc Next minute
my phone vibrates, I check and see it’s a text message from my sister checking whether I would have a gap to go and get my nephew from school
I took a deep breath, knowing it was one of those days that just
I had to shift into lightning speed, knowing his school day ended at 15:00 and I still had a fair distance to drive to get there
I stopped outside the school at 15:05 chuffed with myself because at least I made it in time
Being a Virgo, I naturally run on checklists (there’s nothing more satisfying than ticking boxes) The plan was simple: pick him up from school, then rush home to make it in time for a scheduled telephone interview
I got inside and asked one of the teachers to call him He took about ten minutes and then came out teary-eyed
Now, as an aunt (a little obsessed with her nephews), I was instantly on high alert ready to confront whoever made my boy cry I decided to pause first and asked
him what the problem was
He apparently had a verbal fight with one of his classmates and got so upset that he started crying
I asked to speak to his teacher, because he had come home complaining about this classmate before
The teacher intervened and the two boys apologised to each other
I asked him whether he was satisfied with how the matter was handled and he nodded, still seemingly upset, but ready to let the issue go
Keep in mind, in the back of my mind, I was still running through the list of tasks I had planned for after the school run
But in that moment, I was reminded of the importance of slowing down, taking a breath, and accepting that it’s okay to veer off the checklist sometimes
We got to the car, and I asked him whether he would like some
ice cream
His face lit up and immediately he started blabbing about how ice is his “favourite food” (any kind of luxury is his favourite actually)
We went to the shop, then sat in the car to enjoy it
And just there in that moment, we bonded over ice cream Neither of us had a good day, but somehow, between shared silences and melting scoops, it felt like things might be okay
We’ve reached the last quarter of the year The list of tasks seems to be piling up as we approach the final stretch, and it can feel overwhelming, but this is also the moment that counts the most
If you needed a reminder here it is: You've got what it takes take a deep breath, refocus, and power through The best chapters are often written at the end And if it all feels like too much, just have an ice cream
KAYLYNNE BANTOM
Police tackle crime hotspots
Writer shares time with shoppers
Families and young readers filled Blue Route Mall on Thursday 18 September for an afternoon with international bestselling author Katie Kirby, whose Lottie Brooks series has become a global hit among children and pre-teens
The British writer and illustrator first gained popularity through her parenting blog, Hurrah for Gin
Her sharp, humorous take on the chaos of family life has evolved into books that have struck a chord with parents, and later, with children
With Lottie Brooks she created a character who navigates the awkward, funny and sometimes painful realities of growing up
Speaking to fans at a book signing at a pop-up store at Bargain Books at Blue Route Mall, Kirby explained that much of her writing came from personal observation
“I wanted to write stories that felt honest and relatable,” she said “Growing up is tough, and
Katie Kirby with Zoe Simons and Gabriella Dzvova
Trust, empathy, reconciliation
Matrics feel at ‘home’
W
Christel House South Africa has transformed the school’s multi-purpose hall into a safe dormitory and study hub for the exam season
Christel House South Africa matrics: Tristan Kuvido, Saskia Petersen and Kuhle Javu
PHOTOS: SUPPL ED
New facility offers noble care
The Oncology Department at Groote Schuur Hospital (GSH) has officially opened a newly-upgraded outpatient chemotherapy room and modernised pharmacy facilities bringing much needed relief for over 3 000 new patients who walk through the doors annually.
The R5,2 million project will ease overcrowding, improve patient comfort, and ensure that life-saving chemotherapy medications are safely and efficiently prepared
The project was made possible through the generosity of donors, including a R1 million contribution from Wheel2Heal, as well as significant support from the Radiation Oncology Facilities Board Fund, the Groote Schuur Trust, government departments, hospital management, staff contributions, and civil society partners
The new facility represents a shared commitment to ensuring that patients receive dignified, compassionate, and high-quality care when they need it most
Mireille Wenger, Western Cape Minister of Health and Wellness, said this project is a shining example of what can be achieved when government, civil society, donors, and healthcare professionals work together to offer patients hope “I am deeply grateful to every partner who has contributed to making this dream a reality Together, we have not just built a room we have created a space of care, comfort, and compassion that will serve thousands
of patients for years to come ”
For patients like Duane Minder, the impact of this project is personal
At just 36 years old Minder thought his persistent back pain was nothing more than a strained muscle
For more than two years, he lived with the discomfort, often being told it was “just muscular”
One day, after dropping his keys and jumping a gate to retrieve them, Duane collapsed unable to stand or feel his legs What seemed like a freak accident revealed something far more serious: he was diagnosed with stage four lymphoma, with a tumour pressing against his spine and causing spinal cord compression
Minder was rushed into emergency care at Groote Schuur Hospital He received urgent radiotherapy and was started on chemotherapy almost immediately With the care of doctors, nurses, and physiotherapists, he slowly regained movement in his legs
Today, thanks to ongoing chemo and physiotherapy support even home visits from his local physio team
Duane is walking again, step by step, and looking forward with hope
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Minder said: “The doctors, nurses, and therapists here gave me my life back I am so grateful for their care and for this new chemotherapy room, which will make the journey a little easier for every patient who comes here It shows us that we are not alone, and that people care about what we are going through ”
Reflecting on his experience, Minder added: “From day one, the team at Groote Schuur motivated me when I felt like giving up At my age you still
THE PROJECT MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE GENEROSITY OF DONORS
want to move, to live, to do things for yourself They made me believe it was possible This new chemotherapy unit brings space, fresh air, and dignity for patients like me It makes the journey a little easier ”
Dr Shaheem de Vries, CEO of Groote Schuur Hospital, said they are grateful to every donor, funder, and partner who made this project possible
“Their generosity ensures that we can provide safe, dignified, and high-quality care to patients who need it most These contributions open doors of hope and possibility for thousands of families across the Western Cape Together; we are enhancing access to healthcare ”
Duane and Sadé Minder PHOTO: SUPPLIED
The newly-upgraded outpatient chemotherapy room
Library values women
In commemoration of Women’s Month, Simon’s Town Library hosted a sip and paint called Healing through art on Thursday 28 August and celebrated womanhood in all forms bold, soft, complex, and beautiful through creative expression and community.
This programme was made possi-
ble through a partnership with the Simon’s Town Art Group, who played a pivotal role in shaping its success, offering creative guidance and meaningful engagement that deeply resonated with the ladies from Red Hill As part of their commitment to nurturing the physical and emotional well-being of each woman, they were gifted a care pack as a reminder that they are seen, cared for and valued
WOMEN RECEIVED CARE PACKS AS A SIGN OF APPRECIATION
LongBeachmicro-plasticcleared
KEANANHARMSE
KEANAN HARMSE@NOVUSMEDIA CO ZA
Over 100 residents brought out their kitchen utensils and rolled up their sleeves to clear heaps of litter along Long Beach in Kommetjie on Saturday 13 September
The clean-up, called Wave 100, was organised by Kommetjie resident Frankie Albright, who said she was appalled by the amount of microplastics that blew in with the onshore winter winds
“The people of the South Peninsula got fed up waiting for the council to clean the catastrophic build-up of microplastics on their beach, so last weekend they rolled up their sleeves and sieved Long Beach in Kommetjie themselves using their own kitchen colanders,” she said
The Ocean View children’s cadets also joined the event where over 100 people formed a human wave, sweeping along the beach with their sieves Albright could not estimate the amount of litter collected on the day
“I don’t have that figure yet but we ’ ve done several beach cleans this winter so it’s about a dumpster truck full of plastic that washed up and came down the Spruit A lot of it is still lining the beach all the way to Noordhoek,” she said Albright expressed a concern about
reports that the fish are eating these particles and they are ending up in our food chain
“You only have to sift an inch beneath the surface and all manner of tiny plastic particles emerge ”
Imhoff resident George van der Schyff said: “The harvested microplastics will not end up in landfill but will be used in building aggregate as part of the circular economy ”
He will arrange a tour of the Centre for Regenerative Design and Collaboration (CRDC) factory for several of the cadets so they can see the plastics being processed into concrete products to be used for housing in the near future, Albright said The City confirmed last week that it was aware of the ongoing challenge surrounding litter and microplastics on beaches
“The Bokraamspruit enters the sea on Long Beach, Kommetjie This river unfortunately has a lot of litter including plastics thrown into it, especially in the upper reaches where it is channelised As a result, especially when it has rained, large amounts of small plastic can be discharged and is evident on the beach area at Kommetjie where the river crosses the beach,” said Deputy Mayor and Mayco member for spatial planning and environment Eddie Andrews
The young boys and girls at Ocean View children’s cadets also got stuck in on the day
There were heaps of litter collected on the day
Residents brought their kitchen sieves to help remove the micro plastics
Women from the Red Hill informal settlement took part in the day’s festivities PHOTOS: SUPPLIED
Simon’s Town Library hosted a sip and paint called Healing through art
Surgeinkidneyfailurecases
With the National Kidney Awareness Week
celebrated from Monday 1 until Friday 5 September, concerns are mounting over the rising number of South Africans requiring dialysis and transplantation, mirroring the growing burden of lifestyle-related disease
The most recent publicly released national dataset by the South African Renal Registry (2022 Annual Report published last year), shows that by December 2022, 9 342 patients nationwide were receiving chronic dialysis or kidney transplants, an increase from 8 866 in 2021
This points to a continued upward trend, underscoring the growing public health challenge
The report showed an overall prevalence of 151 per million population (pmp), and the contrast in the availability of services between private and public sector is particularly striking The private healthcare sector saw a prevalence of 771 (pmp), contrasting with just 45 pmp in the public sector
Within the public sector, the Western Cape exhibited the highest provincial prevalence 165 (pmp), while Mpumalanga recorded the lowest (3 pmp)
Due to limited resources, access to dialysis in the public sector is subject to rationing and
strict eligibility criteria, which vary by province and treatment unit
Admission is typically determined by a multidisciplinary committee and is largely based on transplant suitability and overall clinical benefit They will take various factors into account, including medical fitness and the presence of severe, uncontrolled comorbidities, the ability to adhere to treatment and the availability of social support Active substance use is generally considered an exclusion criterion As a result, many patients who do not meet these requirements must turn to the private sector for treatment, provided they have the financial means
DRIVINGFORCE
An unhealthy lifestyle, hypertension and diabetes drive kidney disease
According to the National Kidney Foundation of South Africa (NKFSA), kidney failure in South African adults is primarily due to inherited hypertension (60–65 %) and type 2 diabetes (20-25%)
Ingrid Singels, Head of the Scientific Division at Pharma Dynamics, notes that both hypertension and type 2 diabetes can be prevented, diagnosed early and properly treated In doing so, 70–80 % of all chronic kidney failure and/or cardiovascular deaths are potentially prevent-
Do kidney screening
The first week of September marks National Kidney Awareness Week, a time dedicated to educating, supporting and empowering people about kidney health
“Kidney disease is often called a silent killer ”
KNOWTHESIGNSANDRISKS
Kidney disease often develops quietly Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects roughly 10% of the global population, yet most people experience no symptoms in the early stages
Risk factors include diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and a family history of kidney problems
Symptoms may only appear in later stages and can include persistent fatigue, swelling in the legs or ankles, changes in urination, and trouble concentrating By the time these symptoms
CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE AFFECTS ROUGHLY 10%
organisation offers haemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, slow low-efficiency dialysis, hemoperfusion, and pre-dialysis education, all delivered by highly trained nephrologists and healthcare professionals
For patients undergoing dialysis, RenoCare offers a comfortable, patient-focused experience, with clinics located across the country for easy access
The organisation also assists patients who wish to transfer their treatment from public or
Alzheimer’s: Be your own brain health activist
A
IMPORTANT NOTICE
FORM 3A - NOTICE OF APPLICATIONS FOR LIQUOR LICENCES IN TERMS OF SECTION 37(1) OF THE WESTERN CAPE LIQUOR ACT,2008 – [REG. 10(1)]
Notice is hereby given that the following applications for liquor licences have been lodged with the Western Cape Liquor Authority (the Authority) and with the designated liquor officers at the indicated South African Police Service offices The applications concerned may, up to and including the 28th day from the date of publication of the application upon request and free of charge be inspected by any person at the offices of the Authority or the designated liquor officer listedhereunder Copies of an application can be obtained from the Authority after payment of the prescribed fee Objections and representations must be lodged in writing with the Authority and the designated liquor officer in accordance with section 39 of the Act
VORM 3A - KENNISGEWING VAN AANSOEKE OM DRANKLISENSIES INGEVOLGE ARTIKEL 37(1) VAN DIE WES-KAAPSE DRANKWET,2008 – [REG 10(1)]
Hiermee word kennis gegee dat die volgende aansoeke om dranklisensies ingedien is by die Wes-Kaapse Drankowerheid (die Owerheid) en] by die aangewese drankbeamptes by die aangeduide Suid-Afrikaanse Polisiedienskantore Die betrokke aansoeke kan, tot en met die 28ste dag vanaf die datum van publikasie van die aansoek, op versoek en gratis deur enige persoon besigtig word by die kantore van die Owerheid of die aangewese drankbeampte hieronder gelys Afskrifte van ’n aansoek kan by die Owerheid verkry word na betaling van die voorgeskrewe fooi Besware en vertoë moet ooreenkomstig artikel 39 van die Wet skriftelik by die Owerheid en die aangewese drankbeampte ingedien word
IFOMU 3A - ISAZISO SOKUFAKWA KWESICELO SEPHEPHA MVUME NGOKWECANDELO 37(1) LOMTHETHO WOTYWALA WENTSHONA KOLONI KA-2008 – [UMGAQO 10(1)] Isaziso siyanikezelwa ukuba ezi zicelo zilandelayo zamaphepha mvume otywala zifakiwe kwabasemaGunyeni ezoTywala eNtshona Koloni (abasemaGunyeni) nakumagosa ajongene nemiba engotywala kwii-ofisi ezixeliweyo zeeNkonzo zamaPolisa aseMzantsi Afrika Izicelo ekubhekiselelwa kuzo zingakwazi kwiintsuku ezingamashumi amabini anesibhozo (28) ukususela ngomhla wokupapashwa kwesi sicelo xa eceliwe kwaye simahla ziye kuhlolwa nguye nawuphi umntu okwi-Ofisi esemaGunyeni okanye yegosa elijongene nemiba engotywala elixelwe apha ngezantsi Iikopi zesicelo zingafumaneka kwabasemaGunyeni emva kwentlawulo emiselweyo Uchaso neengxelo ezixhasayo ezibhaliweyo zingafakwa kwabasemaGunyeni nakwigosa elijongene nemiba engotywala ngokwecandelo 39 loMthetho
No Full name of applicant
Volle naam van aansoeker
Igama elipheleleyo lomfaki-sicelo
Name under which business will be conducted
Naam waaronder besigheid bedryf sal word
Igama ishishini eza kushishina phantsi kwalo
Address of the proposed premises
Adres van die voorgenome perseel
Idilesi yesakhiwo
Kind of licence applied for Tipe lisensie waarom aansoek gedoen word
Uhlobo lwephepha mvume olucelayo
South African Police Services designated liquor officer office where the application has been lodged
Suid-Afrikaanse Polisiedienskantoor van die aangewese drankbeampte waar die aansoek ingedien is
i-Ofisi yeGosa elijongene nemiba engotywala yeeNkonzo zamaPolisa eMzantsi Afrika apho isicelo sifakwe khona
Villager crowned Super A champs
The winners of the Super Leagues of Western Province Rugby Union received their respective trophies on Saturday 20 September at City Park in thrilling matches.
In Super League A, Villager dethroned Hamiltons, the defending champions, by 30-14 and it seemed as if the one week lay-off had an influence on the performance of Hamiltons Both teams will be in action in the 2026 season in Super League A, and will be joined by Franschhoek and Primrose
In the Super League B final, it was one-way traffic between Primrose and Franschhoek, when Primrose under the coaching of Ricky Petersen, won 46-24 It was evident last week already in the semis that Primrose were on a mission and only a miracle could stop them from taking the title against Franschhoek
The latter have been trying for the past six years to progress from Super B to Super A and eventually managed this year to progress, together with Primrose as both finished first and second respectively on the log after winning their semis last week
Belhar and Kraaifontein were in action in the play-off in Super B to determine
Villager Rugby Football Club players and coaching staff lifting the Super A trophy PHOTOS: RASHIED ISAACS
