ARO aims for GunRun
KEANANHARMSE
Agroup of animal activists are gearing up to tackle the GunRun pet walk to help raise funds for their third mobile clinic
The group will take part in the 5km Pet Walk category in this year ’ s OUTsurance Gun Run at Fritz Sonnenberg Road, Green Point on Saturday 13 September
The walk will start on Fritz Sonnenberg Road in Green Point, and finish on the Green Point Common, opposite the Green Point Cricket Club
All races finish on the Green Point Common, opposite the Green Point Cricket Club
The runners represent the Animal Rescue Organisation (ARO) and are raising funds for their brand-new mobile clinic, said head of fundraising, Lindsey Concer
“This service is a lifeline for pets in need, and as a team, we ’ re ready to put in the miles (and the sore feet!) to help make Mobile Clinic number three a reality
“Help us help the doggies and kitties who need us most,” she said The ARO team is making its debut in this year ’ s Pet Walk with 25 team members, including their families
The animal rescue organisation has been appealing for funds to
APPEALING FOR FUNDS TO BUILD ANOTHER MOBILE CLINIC
help cover their costs to build another mobile clinic since July and launched a fundraising drive Concer hopes the new clinic can expand their services and
allow them to support more communities where animals need vaccinations and sterilisations
“A third clinic is an urgent need that we identified during our recent outreach efforts in communities like Jim se Bos, Lekkerwater, Egoli, Phumlani, Siqalo, and most recently, Smallville,” said Concer
So far they have received some donations from some loyal supporters, but their financial target goal they hope to reach is around R1 million
“With the cost of the vehicle, the conversion into a working mobile clinic, as well as medications and running costs our budget sits at well over R1 million,” Concer said The new mobile clinic will offer various services for sickly animals which include: vaccinations, parasite treatment, basic consultations, and sterilisation referrals
. For more information about ARO, visit their website at https://www.animalrescue.org.za
DIYawardsforwomenatlocalhardwarestore
One of South Africa’s leading hardware stores has announced the return of the Women in DIY Excellence Awards, honouring the creativity, determination, and impact of women who are transforming homes, businesses, and communities across the country
The awards were launched last year and following their success, Brights Hardware is proud to announce the return of the awards, which shine a spotlight on the creativity, determination, and talent of women who are transforming homes, commercial properties, communities, and industries through DIY, renovations, sustainability, and social impact projects
Entries are now open, and Brights is calling on women to share their stories and projects or to nominate someone whose work deserves the spotlight
“Whether you ’ re a home makeover maestro, a fearless furniture builder, a queen of upcycling, a sustainability trailblazer, or a community DIY champion if crafting, restoring, reimagining and transforming are your thing, it’s time to shine Last year ’ s response blew us away, ” says Orlando Luis, CEO of Brights “We received powerful and inspiring stories from women who are doing everything from building furniture and restoring heirlooms to uplifting communities through
creative projects We’re proud to continue celebrating and empowering women in DIY ”
This year ’ s awards celebrate women whose ongoing work, creativity, and commitment are making a real impact whether in their homes, communities, or the wider world of DIY Projects of all kinds are encouraged
To help guide and inspire entries, Brights highlights three key themes that reflect the heart of the movement: DIY, Home Décor and Renovation Projects – recognising women who consistently use their hands-on skills and creativity to reimagine and improve their spaces
Sustainability, Upcycling and
Restoration Efforts – celebrating those who are committed to green practices, breathing new life into old materials and promoting conscious living Community and Social Impact Projects – honouring women who are using their DIY talents as a force for good beautifying shared spaces, empowering others, or uplifting their communities in lasting ways
Entries should take the form of a short letter or written submission, sharing the story behind the work All submissions must be sent via email to brights@brights co za by Tuesday 30 September Three winners will be selected
Mylifequakeshowedmehealthiswealth
I was fine one day. The next, I was struggling to breathe, fighting for every inhalation and placed on oxygen in the ICU Two weeks ago, I experienced what I now call a life quake. If you’ve never heard the term, it’s a powerful disruption that shakes your life, shifts your direction, and demands transformation. It doesn’t arrive politely, and it rarely feels convenient, but it comes with purpose. Your life is calling for change
For me, that quake lasted seven days In those ICU hours, time slowed Even a glimpse of an airplane outside my hospital window, its roar and motion from the seventh floor, gave me hope That small sight became a beacon, I waited for it, letting it remind me that I would get out In that space, I wasn’t just Namhla Monakali I was “ a slip-and-fall risk”, a clinical
classification meant to protect fragile patients At first, the label felt cold and impersonal, but it forced me to confront my vulnerability and reflect on how easily life can shift Every breath felt monumental Every heartbeat reminded me how fragile life truly is It forced me to face how I had been living, long hours at work, skipped meals, skipped workouts, stress carried like a badge of honour, rest ignored I had been investing in everything but my most precious asset, my health That’s when it hit me, health is wealth
No promotion, no car, no social accolade can replace the value of being alive and well Health is the foundation of everything else Yet, we often wait for a crisis to force us to notice I don’t want to wait anymore
Since that life quake, I’ve committed to caring for myself differently, physically, mentally, and emotionally I’ve learned to listen to my body, to prioritise well-being and to make conscious choices each day that protect and nurture my health
Last week was Kidney Aware-
ness Week, and I couldn’t help but think of Asanda Hlamandana, a young skilled, passionate and dedicated teacher with a Master’s degree (yes, she would want me to mention that she has Masters), whose passion for teaching has always inspired her learners I’ve watched her create an inclusive learner-focused learning environment, celebrate their journeys, and helping them reach not only their academic goals
Watching the relationships she builds with her learners has always been beautiful Recently, she shared that she had been diagnosed with Stage V renal impairment and is receiving medical attention She hasn’t updated in a while, and I sincerely hope she is doing well Her strength, care, and dedication remind me and all of us that health is precious and must never be taken for granted
Life quakes are painful, but they are clarifying They strip away distractions, forcing us to confront what we ’ ve ignored They challenge us to grow, to change, and to emerge stronger My ICU stay was not just a brush with mortality, it
was a chance to redefine priorities, appreciate the little things, and embrace life fully Health is freedom For me? It’s freedom to breathe without struggle, to move without pain, to pursue dreams, to nurture relationships, and to experience joy
So, take this as my reminder to you, and to myself, cherish your health Protect it Honour it Don’t wait for a life quake to shake you awake Make time for rest Eat mindfully Move your body Reflect on your emotions And above all, prioritise your mental and emotional well-being Invest in your health as you would any treasure, because it is the truest form of wealth we will ever know
If you ’ re in the middle of a life quake, whether through illness, loss, transition, relocation, grief, new opportunities, or the unpredictable road of entrepreneurship, I see you I pray you move through the shock and embrace the beauty trying to break through I hope, and I live, to reap the rewards of allowing growth to visit, shake me, and usher me into one of the most beautiful seasons of my life
The Animal Rescue Organisation members tackling the 5km Pet Walk category in this year’s OUTsurance Gun Run at Fritz Sonnenberg Road, Green Point on Saturday 13 September PHOTO: SUPPL ED
Masiphumelele LSDF open day
Club pushing health and fitness
KEANAN HARMSE
KEANAN HARMSE@NOVUSMEDIA CO ZA
An athletics club based in Muizenberg is encouraging fitness in surrounding communities, inviting the public to join it, also seeing it as a source of upliftment for the youth and development of local talent
The Zandvlei Athletics Club (ZAC), born from a clear need, is open to both serious and leisure runners as well as walkers, said its chair Waleed Allie
“The founders envisioned a club that would welcome people of all levels and interests We have a strong focus on youth from disadvantaged backgrounds The club especially targets school-going runners aged roughly eight to 18 years, many hailing from under-resourced areas such as Vrygrond, Lavender Hill, Cafda, and Steenberg The club, though the youngest in the Western Province Athletics’ circuit, consistently fields the largest number of juniors in cross–country league series and Little Athletics events ”
Allie described ZAC as being more than just a sports organisation
“It stands as a community-driven, youth-focused club that aims to make athletics accessible to young people, who may otherwise be excluded due to socio-economic barriers Its dual emphasis on serious sport and community inclusion showcases how sport can be a powerful tool for empowerment and social upliftment ”
Currently, the club is promoting its annual Couch to 10km programme, which is aimed at getting beginners up and moving, both physically and mentally
THE CLUB IS PROMOTING ITS ANNUAL COUCH TO 10KM PROGRAMME
“This initiative is more than just a fitness programme, ” Allie said “It’s a community-driven journey to better health, personal growth and mental resilience Designed specifically for first-time runners and those looking to return to fitness, the 10-week programme gradually builds stamina, strength and confidence Runners meet three times a week in the parking lot opposite contemporary Christian community radio station CCFM Sessions include walking, jogging stretching and indeed motivational group support No-one gets left behind; it’s not about speed, but consistency, connection and feeling good in your own body ”
Volunteersclear
KEANANHARMSE
A group of volunteers are continuing their quest in keeping the Silvermine wetland free from alien vegetation
Over 35 community members gathered for a morning clean-up in the Lower Silvermine Wetland Area between Clovelly and Fish Hoek on Saturday 23 August
They assisted with alien clearing and the replanting of areas damaged as a result of the rerouting of electrical cables under the Silvermine River by the City of Cape Town’s Electricity Department
The group represent The Friends of Silvermine Nature Area (Fosna) who also arranged its third quarterly work party of the year during their clean-up operation, said Fosna Chair Martin Scholtz
“It was wonderful to see so many community members keen to be involved in the maintenance of this unique natural system It is a space that is utilised a lot for walking and running, and we appeal to the community to stay on the paths, as the denuded areas are slowly revegetated We only managed to clear a small area but will continue in the month of September to deal with ongoing alien clearing that is needed,” he said
The Silvermine Nature Reserve is maintained and kept tidy through the help of Fosna, a registered non-profit organisation (NPO) that works collaboratively with South African National Parks (SANParks), the City of Cape Town and other stakeholders, including the Umvoto Foundation, a non-profit company (NPC) that deals with earth sciences consultancy The volunteers promote the conservation of the Silvermine Nature Area They also foster and promote public awareness of the area
Dr Dave Balfour, a Fish Hoek resident, said: “The work party contributed to two very important conservation goals, reducing alien plants that are rapidly invading the disturbed areas in the wetlands and actively rehabilitating some of the disturbed area through planting of locally cultivated plants The fact that approximately 35 local residents put aside time on a Saturday morning to contribute to this effort is hugely encouraging ” Fay Howa, from the City of Cape Town’s Parks and Recreation Department, also shared her
The 10 km walk also focuses on the mental benefits of regular movement besides just the “physical gains’’
The group runs on the day include mindfulness techniques, breathwork and post-run reflection sessions
“We want to make movement feel joyful and achievable,” said Allie “This is about more than kilometres It’s about reclaiming your health with others by your side The Couch to 10 km programme will culminate in a celebratory community run at the Mitchells Plain Titans 10 km event this November, open to all residents and local families ” The club is also in need of assistance to help
fund their programmes
“Our objective is to increase visibility and attract new members and sponsors who can assist our outreach programmes We would also like the opportunity of a feature event where ZAC showcases its role in the local community where we are restoring lives in the form of health, perseverance and inclusivity We are hoping to lean on local media platforms who are serving Cape Town communities as a powerful tool to promote the club, its members, and the very exciting ZAC Boyes Drive Classic 15 km race taking place on Sunday 30 November ” . For more information contact Allie at awa1805@gmail com or on 082 493 2266
The Zandvlei Athletics Club team members. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
Achmat Salie of Violets is at full stretch to stop an attacking Tasrique Bester of Rangers during the WPRU super C quarter final play-off match played at Chukker Road on Saturday 6 September Violets won 20-17 in a pulsating match in front of a packed crowd
Violets secure Chukker nail-biter
All roads lead to City Park on Saturday 13 September for the semi finals of Super League A, B and C of Western Province Rugby Union
In the quarter finals of Super League A, SK-Walmers beat False Bay by 13-10 with a penalty in the extra time
In the other quarter-final, Hamiltons overpowered UCT by 41-17
The two teams in first and second positions, who automatically progressed to the semi-finals after completion of the fixtures for 2025,
were Villager and Durbell and they will play Hamiltons and SK-Walmers, respectively
In Super League B, Franschhoek was victorious at home when they beat Collegians 37-34 and Belhar beat Goodwood by 34-28
Primrose and Kraaifontein finished first and second on the log and will play Franschhoek and Belhar, respectively
In Super League C, Young Peoples and All Saints are the log leaders and are in the semis Gardens and Pniel-Villagers drew 26-26 and
Gardens progressed to the semi finals because they scored more tries than Villagers
In the quarter finals, Violets beat Rangers by 20-17 and Violets will be in action against Young Peoples, while Gardens and All Saints will do battle on Saturday
Watsonias were crowned the winners of the Promotion League after finishing on 34 points after seven matches and will be in action in Super League C in 2026
They beat Raithby Universal by 3310 In other results in the Promotion League Sir Lowrians beat Eersterivier United by 21-7, Blue Stars won 44-25 against Masiphumelele and Morningstar beat Fisantekraal 22-6
The finals and play-offs will be held on Saturday 20 September at City Park
PHOTO: RASHIED ISAACS