Process draws to an end
KAYLYNNEBANTOM
The Western Cape is one step closer to welcoming a new Commissioner for Children.
Benedicta van Minnen, chair of the Standing Committee on Premier and Constitutional Matters in the Western Cape Provincial Parliament, said the vetting process for candidates has now been completed “The vetting is now complete, and the committee will meet shortly to finalise the short list to be submitted to the premier ”
The post became vacant in May this year when the Western Cape’s first Commissioner for Children, Christina Nomdo, who had held the position since June 2020, stepped down citing “personal reasons ” (“Search for new Western Cape Children’s Commissioner nears completion,” People’s Post, 10 June)
In terms of the Western Cape Commissioner for Children Act, the role carries a five-year term, with the possibility of one additional term
Van Minnen told People’s Post that 61 nominations were received She said of these, 44 nominees accepted the nomination, while 16 did not respond and one declined
Van Minnen added that nine candidates were shortlisted and interviewed in April She outlined the recruitment process
“The Child Monitors gave input into the process, but the appointment is regulated by provincial legislation and the interview and recommendation process falls into the purview of the Standing Committee who set the questions and performed the interviews ” She said despite the position being vacant operations continue “The office of the Commissioner for Children continues to operate and perform its mandate, and the new Commissioner will be setting their priorities once they are appointed ”
Van Minnen emphasised that the office operated independently “They operate as an independent entity and thus although they report to the Provincial Parliament, their agenda is set
referred to
Allie.
Sheikh Zaid Fataar, Sheikh Ebrahim Gabriels, Moulana Abdul Khaliq Allie, convenor of the Legacy 1500 Commission, and Sheikh Sadullah Khan were identified as Dr Elias Parker, one of the convenors of the initiative, with Sheikh Ismail Gqamane, Sheikh Sadullah Khan and Shafiq Morton
An article that appeared two weeks ago on The Legacy Project 1500 (“Islam marks milestone”, People’s Post, 15 July) refers The newspaper mistakenly swapped the captions It regrets the error
by themselves ” Patric Solomons, managing director for child right’s organisation Molo Songololo, said the appointment is “long overdue” “Molo Songololo hopes that the new Western Cape Commissioner for Children will be accessible to children and children’s organisations And have the authority and commitment to engage the provincial government and legislature in the best interest of children as guided by the function and duties of the commissioner ”
According to Solomons, the commissioner should develop a clear five-year action plan in consultation with children, children’s organisation, key stakeholders in government and civil society “Engage the provincial legislature to improve its monitoring, financing and independence of the commissioner and commissioner’s office, and child participation policies and practices in the legislature He said the commissioner should focus on advocating for an independent National Commissioner for Children and to expand same to other provinces
Death is certain! It does not matter who you are Whether you are a sinner or a saint, rich or poor, your time will come The least we can do is to live life to the fullest and show love We can also rejoice that we do not know the date and time of our death Otherwise, we would do many stupid things prior to our demise Needless to mention the panic among family members and relatives Death is an unpleasant experience It cuts through our strongest organs Sadly, it’s inevitable We’ve all experienced it It’s the value of the departed that defines the severity of the pain and the circumstances that led to their death I’ve lost many people over the years and the pain has never been the same In some cases, it would be a matter of shock, while in some instances, I would break down and weep
My first real encounter with death was in 1994, with the death of my grandmother May her soul rest in eternal peace She was our pillar of strength and her demise tore the family apart Yet, we regrouped and continued with our lives, knowing that she would never live forever Today, I am grateful for all the lessons she taught me
Since then, I’ve lost many other people In 2014, I lost my two uncles in a space of four months This year has been another horrendous
year I lost two very important people in three months (February and April) and this month I lost my wife’s brother
The former had a deep-rooted bond with me and we chatted regularly through WhatsApp For over 20 years, we shared many exciting times The latter was one of those people who made you feel welcome in the presence of strangers He was a gentle giant, a bond that held the family together One thing in common with all three is that we had plans to meet However, they died while we tried to figure out dates and times It has been a real struggle to come to terms with all these incidents They left me with lots of resentment They have made me feel like a failure While I understand that it is the will of God, I regret the fact that we had pending matters At the heart of all is procrastination
The fact is, time does not belong to anyone We are on earth for a limited period It’s vital that we use every second we have to the fullest We must live life without regrets so that when the time comes, we are not filled with unnecessary anguish
Show love today and do not be afraid to reach out to the next person before it is too late There is no time to hold grudges You do not want someone to die while you have differences I am glad that none of these departed compatriots had differences with me Yes, I failed to answer a call before one of them died This is something that continues to haunt me
Bravingstormstorescueseabirdchicks
KAILINDANIELS
KAILIN DANIELS@NOVUSMEDIA CO ZA
In the aftermath of severe winter storms battering the Western Cape coastline the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds’ (Sanccob) dedicated seabird rangers have again stepped-up to rescue vulnerable seabird chicks from flooded nests and harsh weather conditions
More than 30 storm-battered seabird chicks, among them critically endangered African Penguins and endangered Bank Cormorants, are now recovering in the local nursery
“Our rangers know every corner of their colonies,” said Romy Klusener, Conservation Impact Manager at Sanccob They dig drainage lines, pile brush around nest sites and monitor incoming storms, so we avoid disturbing nests unless it’s absolutely necessary Recent severe swells necessitated intervention ”
Between Wednesday 21 May and Thursday 26 June back-to-back cold fronts lashed the colonies at Stony Point and Simon’s Town Waves surged over shoreline ledges, sweeping three species of cormorant chicks – Crowned, White-breasted and Bank –clean from their nests At the same time torrential rain flooded dozens of African Penguin burrows, leaving chicks soaked, chilled and at risk of drowning Rangers first stabilised the most fragile on site under heat lamps before transferring those in poor body condition to Sanccob’s clinic Two penguin chicks perked-up enough to be returned to their nests when the weather calmed and their parents came back The rest were too compromised to stay in the colony
ATALLYOFTINYSURVIVORS
In Stony Point: .Four Bank Cormorant chicks (endangered);
. Three White-breasted Cormorant chicks; . Three Crowned Cormorant chicks; . Nine African Penguin chicks (critically endangered);
. Two additional African Penguin chicks rescued and successfully reunited with parents
Simon’s Town:
. 11 African Penguin chicks; . 10 African Penguin eggs Inside Sanccob’s nursery the chicks receive four feeds a day of specially-formulated fish smoothies and whole fish Each is weighed daily and staff run health checks to catch any signs of infection or dehydration early
“The goal is always to release them back to the wild once they hit the right weight, waterproofing and fitness,” Klusener said Visit www sanccob co za to donate or learn more about Sanccob's life-saving work
THULANI MAGAZI
We
Dr Elias Parker, one of the convenors of the initiative, with Sheikh Ismail Gqamane, Sheikh Sadullah Khan and Shafiq Morton, pictured above, as Sheikh Zaid Fataar, Sheikh Ebrahim Gabriels, Moulana Abdul Khaliq
Hippogets newhome
A four-year-old hippo bull was safely transported to his new home in Plettenberg Bay after it was removed from False Bay Nature Reserve on Wednesday 23 July
The hippo was relocated to prevent potential conflict with other males in the reserve There was also the potential of the hippo dispersing into surrounding areas, risking nearby communities and himself
The 17-hour-long operation required a boma, a crane, a flatbed truck, highly experienced staff, expert veterinarian services, a lot of patience and months of planning
“The staff from the False Bay Nature Reserve and other technical staff who assisted with the building of the container and the capturing, are extremely grateful for the successful translocation Hippos are very sensitive animals, and notoriously difficult to capture and transport because of their size, strength, potentially dangerous nature and sensitivity to stress These types of operations are fraught with risks such as capture stress and overheating, cold stress during winter, injury, and logistical challenges Of course, the staff involved are also at risk, and this is where experience and professionalism count the most,” said Deputy Mayor and Mayco member for spatial planning and environment, Eddie Andrews
The plan to move the hippo took several months which included: finalising the legal agreements, permits, appropriate transport and specialist equipment
Real comfort food for 100
KEANANHARMSE
Agroup of volunteers warmed the hearts of patients at False Bay Hospital with bowls of soup for Mandela Day on Friday 18 July
Over 100 bowls of soup and bread loaves were handed out on the day through the valiant efforts of volunteers representing a local Catholic church
This soup-serving initiative was launched several years ago but was paused in 2020 due to Covid-19 restrictions and was revived this month
Social worker Marion Thomas commended the efforts of lead volunteer Miguela Gonsalves and her team,
saying:
“This small act of kindness means so much to our patients, especially in the winter months, something as simple as a cup of soup can bring real comfort ”
Volunteer Darwin Phyfer said it was an honour to do her part in honouring Madiba’s legacy
“To see the gratitude on the faces of the patients when they receive the soup and bread The smile on their faces and how they enjoy the soup is
rewarding They always say thank you and it is the best soup they have ever had,” she said Gonsalves says she always looks forward to the soup campaign
“We see the happiness it brings and the smile it puts on people’s faces when they see us coming down the corridor
“It’s amazing to see that such a small gesture of kindness can make such a difference I enjoy the interaction with the patients; it really gives me a good feeling It’s good to be in a position to give back to the community,” she said
The Department of Health and Wellness extended its gratitude to the volunteers who have revived the soup serving initiative
“As we celebrate Mandela Day, a time dedicated to service and giving, the hospital acknowledges the quiet strength of these everyday heroes Their compassion reminds us that true care extends beyond clinical walls, but through moments of connection and shared humanity,” said hospital spokesperson, Jihaan Opperman
She wants more people to become involved in this project
“Whether through donations, volunteering, or simply helping spread the message every contribution counts,” she said
People who would like to get involved or help the volunteers serve soup, can phone Gonsalves at 083 501 0741
Louise Tredinnick and Annette Cleworth from the False Bay Hospital Association Volunteers PHOTOS: SUPPL ED
Volunteers Darwin Phyfer and Sharon Rebello serving soup at False Bay Hospital
FROMPAGE1
At the peaceful protest, Cupido, Executive Officer at Beauty Without Cruelty, handed over a memorandum of demands advocating for the safety of some baboon troops to some of the City’s law makers and stakeholders, who reportedly plan to re-home these primates in the near future
The campaign was led by Beauty Without Cruelty and Baboon Matters, with support from Baboon Watch and the Green Group in Simon’s Town, Cupido added
“The purpose of the march was to demand an immediate halt to the proposed removal of five baboon troops and to urge the City of Cape Town and its partners to implement long-promised non-lethal mitigation measures
“We marched not just for baboons, but for the values of justice, coexistence, and ethical governance The City and its partners have failed to implement basic mitigation measures, yet they’re prepared to kill entire troops,” he said
The activists are also calling on the City to implement proper waste management, baboon-proof fencing, enforcement of by-laws, and prosecution of known offenders who attract or harm baboons
“If these demands are not met, we will continue to apply pressure through legal channels, public mobilisation, and media engagement
This is about more than just baboons it’s about ethical, evidence-based governance and respect for the wildlife who belong to this land as much as we do,” he said
Last month, the City confirmed that the planned removal of the baboon troops will be carried out by the Cape Peninsula Baboon Management Joint Task Team (CPBMJTT), which includes the City, Cape Nature, Table Mountain National Park and the South African National (SAN) Parks
Some of the baboon troops roam around Constantia Nek, Kirstenbosch, Murdoch Valley, Welcome Glen and Glencairn
CPBMJTT previously said that their intention was to: “ ensure the Cape Peninsula has a baboon population
that is well-managed, healthy and free ranging in the natural areas ” and remove five splinter troops
The troops could be removed in the following methods: translocation for rewilding, capture and removal to an existing sanctuary or to a newly established sanctuary, humane euthanasia, or a combination of these options, the City confirmed in June
People's Post received a copy of the memorandum of concerns which highlighted the activists’ main demands
The memorandum states the activists’ concerns stem from a media statement issued by the JTT in May declaring their intention to remove five baboons troops from the Cape Peninsula
“We call upon the JTT to implement: area specific strategic baboon proof electric fences and investigate and prosecute repeat offenders who are suspected of shooting baboons with air rifles,” the memorandum reads
Fellow activist and spokesperson at the Cape Peninsula Civil Conservation Lynda Silk, who joined the march, said was a strong turnout in Simon’s Town
“The march was a clear sign that people care deeply about the future of the Cape Peninsula’s baboons Right now, decisions are being made that could result in the killing of a quarter of Cape Town’s managed baboon population Instead of removals, the new working partnership could be investing in buffer zones and ecological corridors that facilitate wildlife and people to coexist
“These baboons are not alien intruders but residents of a rapidly shrinking wild world who were here long before our cityscape,” she said
The memorandum demands a formal response to their concerns within ten days and prior to a final decision to remove the five troops
The CPBMJTT told People’s Post that they received the organisers’ memorandum on Saturday 19 July but said that they had no further comment at this stage
SAN Parks could not provide a response before going to print
Hawks looking into submarine tragedy
KEANANHARMSE
On the eve of the second anniversary of the Kommetjie submarine tragedy, in which three submariners lost their lives, the Hawks confirmed they were investigating the incident.
On Wednesday 20 September 2023, Lieutenant-Commander Gillian Elizabeth Hector, Warrant Officer (Class One) Mmokwapa Lucas Mojela and Master Warrant Officer William Masela Mathipa died during a naval exercise in which a freak wave swept them off a submarine near Kommetjie
The Chief of the SA Navy, Vice-Admiral Monde Lobese, subsequently convened an Inquiry into the incident It recommended safety upgrades, which include stronger harnesses, more current life jackets and protective headgear for naval exercises
This month the SA Navy handed a copy of the report of the Inquiry’s findings to the Hawks at a meeting held on Tuesday 8 July at naval head-
IT WAS A BAD DECISION THAT COST LIVES - DA
quarters in Pretoria
“The engagements were meant to assist the Hawks in their ongoing investigations into the tragic incident, in which the SA Navy lost three of its submariners following a vertical transfer (Vertrep) exercise between the SAS Manthatsi and a SA Air Force Maritime Lynx helicopter in September 2023,” said SA Navy acting senior staff officer, naval public relations Commander Theo Mabina Responding to People’s Post’ s request for an update on the Hawks’ investigation, its spokesperson Col Siyabulela Vukubi said: “The investigation into this matter is still in its infancy, hence we cannot give any further details ” Democratic Alliance (DA) spokesperson on Defence and Military Veterans Chris Hattingh said the handover of the Kommetjie investigation
report to the Hawks was long overdue and an essential first step towards justice “For months secrecy has smothered this tragedy, fuelling suspicion and outrage,” he pointed out “Choosing to push ahead with a highrisk vertical transfer exercise despite clear weather warnings and a blatant disregard for critical safety protocols was more than reckless It was a decision that cost lives The evidence now confirms what many feared: catastrophic failures in planning, risk management and operational oversight directly led to the deaths of Lieutenant-Commander Gillian Hector and her two colleagues ” The SA Navy said it would communicate the outcomes of the inquiry once the investigation was finalised “This meeting and engagement with the Hawks underscores the Navy’s commitment to transparency, cooperation and accountability,” Mabina said, “ as the Chief of the SA Navy has always maintained the organisation will, within the confines of laws and regulations, communicate the outcomes of the Board whenever the need arose ”
“We marched not just for baboons, but for the values of justice, coexistence, and ethical governance,” Chad Cupido
The Cape Baboon Partnership confirmed that a popular baboon known as ‘Blondie’ was found with an air rifle pellet in his chest Here he was pictured in Elsie’s Park on Saturday 29 March this year
1st Muizenberg Sea Scouts’ Faith Morris and Alina Mellor assisting an elderly lady at Nerina House in False Bay
Librarian celebrates 37 years
KEANANHARMSE
Alibrarian from Simon’s Town is celebrating 37 years of service at Ocean View Public Library.
Fatima Kiel (59) first started assisting at the library in 1988
She recently received a certificate for long service from the City of Cape Town for her valued contribution at the library
Kiel says she was first introduced to the library by her mother Faeza Harts and her late grandmother Maria Gambino
Kiel is also mother of twins Aneeqa and Aneesa, as well as a proud grandmother to one grandson
She completed her Library and Information correspondence studies at Technikon SA before its merger with Unisa
“After completing my matric, I worked at a clothing store in Claremont and during my regular visits to the library and taking out books, my ex-colleague Moerida Hector told me about a job opening and I applied and started at Ocean View Library, on the 4th of July 1988,” she recalled
During this time, she worked as a part-time assistant librarian for five years before she was promoted to a permanent position
She initially intented to apply at the Navy or Airlines as an Air Hostess
“I decided to stay and thanks to the City and their inhouse training and courses, I grew and
equipped myself to be the passionate Librarian with 37 years ’ service We are trained in the organisation / library with primary roles to organise, manage, and make information accessible to library users, ” she explained
Kiel’s library duties include: curating and building book collections, developing educational programmes, managing databases, providing reference and information services to the community, crèche’s, schools and business partners
She was also crowned the Super-hero of the year last year during the City’s public library awards
Over time, Kiel says the role of libraries, especially in her community, has changed from being simply a place to borrow books to becoming a proactive educational centre for the youth, teens, adults and elderly
However, the library still faces many challenges that have gone largely ignored in the past, such as leaking roofs and overdue repairs
“Our small library’s hall was extended to the children’s section and we were promised a new extended hall in 2001, to accommodate all the
Invitation to join SPE briefing
The public is invited to attend an online briefing about budget priorities for cleaner vleis a resilient coastline and the upgrade of public places today (29 July) from 17:00 to 18:30
The City of Cape Town’s Deputy Mayor and Mayco member for spatial planning and environment, Eddie Andrews, is inviting residents, stakeholders and interested parties to a session about the directorate’s budget priorities for the current financial year Participants will also have the opportunity to engage City officials and ask questions
The budget was approved by Council last month The Spatial Planning and Environment (SPE) Directorate’s budget, in particular, encapsulates
the City’s response to climate change, population growth, in-migration, surge in informality and the need to protect our finite natural resources The budget priorities include the following: improving the water quality of our vleis, strengthening the resilience of our 307km long coastline, upgrades to our nature reserves, curbing the spread of the invasive Polyphagous Shothole Borer Beetle, urban regeneration projects in vulnerable communities, finalising development plans, managing rapid urbanisation and implementing the revised municipal planning by-law that regulates land use Join the online meeting at Meeting ID: 352 711 271 454 and Passcode: vZqHmj For info email Jason Love@capetown gov za
amazing educational programmes, extra classes and safe holiday programmes, but sadly this did not happen
“The leakage in our ceiling due to roof problems needs to be fixed and our library needs some major upgrades, painting and furniture for our different areas, ” Kiel says
One of the highlights as a librarian was inspiring a young boy to continue practising his reading despite his earlier desire to give up on his education
“I was mentoring a Grade 3 learner, who wanted to give up on his education in primary school due to his reading problems He later came to thank me in 2021 because he passed his matric and fulfilled his dream to join the navy
“This year, a career highlight was seeing one of the literacy groups that I was coaching for a writing competition win first place,” she recalled
Kiel stresses that more libraries should be upgraded and maintained
“I feel that all libraries need to be upgraded and need to adapt with the technological and gamification times to remain the important links, especially in our underprivileged communities I’d like to thank my community, colleagues and amazing managers This journey has been the best part of my life growth,” she said
Ocean View Public Library member Ulfah Davids says she is immensely proud of Kiel’s milestone achievement
Twenty-three City of Cape Town librarians are the latest to graduate from the Strengthening Innovative Library Leaders (SILL) training programme on World Librarians Day (WLD), celebrated on Thursday 10 July
The group was the fourth to complete the SILL programme - the theme this year was “Learning to play the game ” SILL is a foundational leadership training curriculum designed to build leadership and innovation skills for librarians and was developed at the Mortenson Centre for International Library Programmes in partnership with librarians around the world The training is divided into interactive modules focusing on leadership, innovation, planning, and communication The participants spent five weeks sharpening their leadership and innovation skills on matters linked to youth cul-
ture: gamified learning, creative problem-solving and community building
These graduates will go on to champion pop-up creative spaces, graphic novel clubs and engaging workshops that equip young residents to thrive in a knowledge-driven economy Because of their energy, libraries have become launch pads where Cape Town’s youth explore ideas, connect with mentors and dream big
“Congratulations to our graduates for their hard work and dedication The graduation is made all the more significant by its timing on World Librarians Day, when we acknowledge the contribution and vital role of librarians They do more than just catalogue thousands of items and also advise, troubleshoot and help patrons learn new skills and reach their goals
“The City’s librarians at our 102
service points are making an impact on their communities by providing access to information, supporting education and fostering a love of reading,” said Mayco member for community services and health, Francine Higham South Africa’s theme for World Librarians Day is “Twelve Languages, One Nation, One Wikipedia”
The City has recently appointed 32 librarians aged between 24 and 35, which brings the total number of librarians in this age group to 68 The younger generation of librarians are guided by the wisdom of their more experienced colleagues and can draw on their established knowledge while contributing their own youth energy, technological savvy, innovation and eagerness to learn
City librarians hold a collective 4 057 years of service experience
“Congratulations to our graduates for their hard work and dedication. The graduation is made all the more significant by its timing on World Librarians Day,” said Higham
Fatima Kiel with a cake which celebrated her 37 years of service at Ocean View Public Library
PHOTO: SUPPLIED
Big contraband haul at Pollsmoor
NAMHLAMONAKALI
Amajor joint operation at Pollsmoor Prison has revealed just how entrenched criminal activity remained within the country’s correctional facilities.
Law Enforcement officers uncovered a staggering haul of contraband during the raid, including 305 packets of dagga, 35 Mandrax tablets, quantities of tik, 119 cellphones and 34 sim cards
The discovery has once again placed
the spotlight on the influence gang leaders continue to exert from behind bars and the challenges faced by the Department of Correctional Services (DCS)in curbing illicit activity inside prisons
Mayco member for Safety and Security JP Smith has called for urgent intervention
“This bust is further evidence gang bosses are still calling the shots from prison,” he said “We cannot allow prisons to be turned into criminal headquarters The state needs to take control back ”
Smith urged the DCS to make use of existing technology, including cellphone signal jamming and advanced screening tools, to limit communication between inmates and their networks outside “We’ve seen jamming technology deployed in Parliament during the State of the Nation
Address in 2015 If it was possible there, why not in correctional centres where it’s critically needed?”
Civil-society organisations and community-safety activists are also sounding the alarm, arguing that the frequency of such finds suggests long-standing systemic issues, including possible staff collusion
Community-based activist Clive Jacobs said the scale of the bust indicates the operation of a “well-oiled network” within the prison “These are not random smuggles These are established systems with ongoing
external communication If we want to protect communities we must start by dismantling the power structures that exist within our prisons ” Correctional Services had yet to confirm whether disciplinary or criminal action would be taken against any employee following the raid Community members had expressed frustration over what they describe as a “revolving door” of criminal activity They say more transparency and accountability were needed within prison administration, which community safety depends on
Newofficersgearedtodeploy
“They will working in that ward and help tend to the 2 200 complaints we receive per day They will be on the ground so they can respond to complaints more quickly ”
Hill-Lewis said the officers are a key investment in a safer Cape Town as part of the City’s new Invested in Hope Budget, alongside its SA record R40 billion infrastructure programmes
“By this spring we are on track to deliver a historic first in Cape Town, with every single ward set to receive dedicated neighbourhood police officers ”
The Mayor said these officers will work closer with residents
“These officers will get to know the neighbourhood challenges, the goings-on, the problem buildings and the residents themselves
“This kind of personal policing, where relationships and trust are built, can only lead to more positive outcomes ”
A resident, who wished to remain anonymous for safety reasons, said that knowing more officers will be on the ground brings a sense of security and reassurance
“I feel good about it Safety is a big issue here, so they will help ensure safety ”
Yusuf Mohamed, Ward 57 councillor, shared the resident’s sentiments:
“I am excited to see them being deployed to every Ward in the City I am proud that they were trained here in the ward I think it’s a much-needed boost for safety and security and will be welcomed by residents ”
Mayor Geordin Hill Lewis and Mayco member for safety and security JP Smith on patrol with officers PHOTO SUPPLIED
Officers on patrol checking a vehicle licence discs PHOTO KAYLYNNE BANTOM
R45 million budget for cemeteries
The Community Services and Health Directorate is planning a range of projects over the next 12 months.
The top 25 account for approximately 60% of the available budget, with cemetery upgrades leading the charge
“This City of Cape Town’s Budget of Hope will enhance access to critical services like homelessness support, recreational spaces, and community libraries, while also ensuring that our parks and public spaces are welcoming and functional for all Cape Town residents,” said Mayco member for community services and health Francine Higham
The R45 million cemeteries upgrade project is the single biggest capital project
Cemeteries planned for expansion of burial capacity include: Kuils River, Welmoed and Rusthof In addition, more detailed technical studies are planned for the development and expansion of Klip Road, Hout Bay, Stikland, Vaalfontein and Tafelsig in Mitchells Plain
The planned capital spend is part of a five-year plan to increase burial capacity in Cape Town by 100 000 (double burials/reopening of family graves) through the development of new cemeteries and the expansion of existing ones
An additional R10,7 million will be spent at Maitland Crematorium on the installation of an additional oversized cremator, minor aesthetic improvements to the existing crematorium, mausoleum, parking and other ancillary building elements
The Strandfontein Pavilion refurbishment
‘We are the Best City in theWorld’
Cape Town has officially secured its position as the Best City in the World after winning the prestigious Telegraph Travel Awards 2025, marking the seventh time the South African coastal metropole has claimed this coveted title
This latest accolade comes just six months after Time Out magazine also crowned Cape Town as the world’s best city in January
More than 20 000 United Kingdom (UK) travellers cast their votes in The Telegraph’s annual travel survey, with Cape Town outshining global tourism powerhouses including Seville, Sydney, and Tokyo
This back-to-back international recognition confirms what locals have long known – Cape Town offers an unmatched combination of natural beauty, cultural experiences, and worldclass hospitality
The Telegraph’s assessment highlights the city’s extraordinary visual appeal: “Few places can match South Africa’s most feted metropolis for photogenic power: the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront fringing the Atlantic, Table Mountain rearing as an epic backdrop, the land ebbing down to the beaches of Camps Bay and the
flicked tail of the Cape of Good Hope ”
This unique blend of urban sophistication and natural wonders – from the iconic Table Mountain cable car experience to the pristine beaches of Clifton and Camps Bay – continues to draw international visitors year after year
James Vos, Mayco member for economic growth, attributes this consistent international recognition to strategic tourism initiatives and community involvement
“This kind of recognition doesn’t just happen It’s the result of serious graft, smart thinking, and a whole lot of local passion,” Vos explains
“From our neighbourhood entrepreneurs to the people welcoming visitors with a smile, Cape Town’s tourism scene is powered by its people ”
The City’s focused destination marketing and management efforts, led in partnership with Cape Town Tourism, have successfully positioned the Mother City’s unique experiences on the global stage, driving tourism demand while ensuring benefits for local communities
The Western Cape’s tourism industry continues to be a powerful economic driver
Recent statistics show the 2023-'24 cruise season alone contributed over R1,32 billion to
FEW PLACES CAN MATCH THE FETED METROPOLIS FOR PHOTOGENIC POWER
the regional economy while supporting more than 2 000 jobs
Cape Town International Airport reported a record-breaking 3,08 million passenger arrivals during the same period
Briony Brookes, chief marketing officer for Cape Town Tourism, celebrates the significance of this repeated recognition “Being named the world’s best city again isn’t just about bragging rights More than anything, it’s a celebration of what makes this place unforgettable: the people, the energy, the views, and the stories that connect us with visitors from around the world ”
With two global “Best City” titles already secured in 2025, Cape Town’s tourism sector shows no signs of slowing down
Cape Town continues to evolve its offerings while maintaining the authentic experiences and natural beauty
The Mother City has been named Best City in the World in the 2025 Telegraph Travel Awards PHOTO: SUPPLIED
People's Post is distributed every Tuesday and reach an estimated 419 650 readers
