GRASSY PARK | RETREA
Tuesday, 4 November 2025
Young
AGrade 8 learner from Grassy Park will showcase her skills at this year’s Summer Games in Johannesburg on Monday 8 December after excelling in the Western Province Gymnastic Competition last month.
For a second consecutive year Ineza Nshimiyimana from Christel House South Africa (CHSA) earned her place on the Western Province Gymnastics Team
Christel House South Africa is a no-fee, non-profit school based in Ottery and supports learners from disadvantaged communities, starting from Grade RR until age 18 and five years post-matric, according to school spokesperson Lara Black
Nshimiyimana has four sisters and four brothers Besides her love for gymnastics she enjoys the outdoors and natural sciences
“I first discovered my passion for the sport when I was in Grade 4 I noticed that after school they (gymnasts) would have practices outside because the hall wasn’t available at the time So my friends and I would stay and watch the gymnasts
“Later, I thought this looks cool and wished I could join and since I asked my mother I’ve been learning gymnastics ” Nshimiyimana’s favourite activity in gymnastics is floor work and the different movement’s involved
She said she’s still trying to find the perfect balance between training and school work
“Since I’m in the provincial team it can be difficult to concentrate at school at times,” added Nshimiyimana “After school I hit the gym and train on Mondays, Tuesdays and Saturdays, when I get two hours’ practice and then once I’m home I’ll get some snacks and start my homework ”
Nshimiyimana officially heard of her selection to the WP squad on Saturday 4 October
She said she was thrilled and looks forward to competing against the nation’s best athletes in her Western Province colours
‘“I’m very proud to take part in WP competi-
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ours than to confront the pride and corruption within our own hearts In a globalised world (one I wait to see unfold) cultures collide and coexist in the palms of our hands News, pain, joy and belief systems spread within seconds Some fear losing identity; others fear losing faith altogether But perhaps that era will never be a threat, but an invitation Not to build one world religion, but to remember that we are already one human family breathing under one sky, made by one Creator, however differently we name Him I wait not for uniformity, but for unity, the kind rooted in compassion, justice and humility before the God who made us all Religion becomes dangerous when the map is treated as the destination Scripture, tradition and doctrine guide us, but they are always interpreted by human hearts, hearts shaped by culture, upbringing, trauma and time There are also laws written quietly within each soul, personal callings whispered by God into our unique journeys Faith is personal, but not selfish Public, but deeply inward God’s work is bigger than human interpretation Christianity taught me that God is love, that Jesus is truth in flesh, and that the Holy Spirit still speaks But I have also learned this God is not afraid of difference To confine God to one denomination is to worship a smaller god than the God of creation To my fellow Christians, this is not rebellion, it is reverence Jesus did not come to build fences around grace, but to reconcile all things to God He ate with tax collectors, touched lepers, spoke to Samaritans and forgave those who murdered Him Faithfulness to Christ should make us more loving, not more afraid And to those of other faiths or no faith at all, I do not stand above you, but beside you Let us be honest in disagreement, generous in love and united against the real enemy People will think what they think, and that is okay This is bigger than opinion It is about truth, love and the world we are shaping While we debate whose belief is correct, children starve While we argue over doctrine, wars rage While we divide ourselves by religion, the real enemy, injustice, greed and hatred, keeps winning In the end, faith asks for rootedness and openness at once Rootedness keeps us faithful to what formed us Openness keeps us honest about what we do not yet understand If the Holy Spirit continues to teach, then perhaps our greatest task is to remain teachable, to listen, repent and love, even when the voice of God comes from a direction we did not expect
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This year ' s Summer Initiation Season started on Saturday 1 November and runs until Saturday 31 January 2026 The period marks an important cultural rite of passage for initiates, their families, and communities
Ahead of the season, the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport (DCAS) has trained 680 cultural practitioners, including traditional surgeons, carers, and administrators Training focused on fire and environmental management, health and hygiene, specialised surgeon skills, and organisational development
The department has also revised the Initiation Minimum Standards in partnership with Initiation Forums These now require Initiation Forums to be registered under relevant legislation to improve accountability and the safety of initiates DCAS is distributing personal protective equipment, fire equipment, and Jojo water tanks to initiation schools across the province
From this season, a digital initiation management system approved by the Western Cape Provincial Initiation Coordinating Committee
(WCPICC) will be used
The system is designed to make initiation applications more efficient and enhance the protection of initiates
Western Cape Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport Ricardo Mackenzie said, “The Western Cape Government is committed to supporting initiations in our province to ensure that all initiates can safely undergo this important and sacred practice We wish all initiates well for the upcoming season ”
Head of Department Guy Redman said, “Ensuring a safe and meaningful rite of passage requires strong collaboration from initiates, families, cultural practitioners, healthcare workers, Initiation Forums, traditional leaders, municipalities, and the Provincial Initiation Coordinating Committee ”
WCPICC Chairperson Nkosi Ntsika Minenkulu Joyi said, “Working hard as a collective with all stakeholders is ensuring compliance with the Customary Initiation Act (Act 2 of 2021) across the province We wish all initiates well and will continue supporting safe initiation practices ”
Give a Christel ‘Bucket of Hope’
Christel House South Africa has launched its annual “Bucket of Hope” campaign, seeking community support to provide food security for learners and their families during the December school holidays
The initiative aims to raise funds for 1 000 food buckets by Wednesday 10 December, ensuring current learners, incoming Grade 8 learners and vulnerable alumni receive essential nutrition during the extended school break
Each R350 donation provides a Bucket of Hope filled with non-perishable foods and festive treats, addressing the critical gap when school-provided meals cease during holidays
“Behind their bright smiles are children who, like so many of their classmates, depend on Christel House SA for the meals and snacks
CURRENT STUDENTS,INCOMING GRADE 8S AND ALUMNI ARE NOURISHED DURING BREAK
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Piratesauditionsat CannonsCreekthisweekend
The Cape Town Gilbert & Sullivan Society has announced auditions for its next major production The Pirates of Penzance to be staged at the Artscape Theatre from Saturday 4 to Sunday 12 July next year
Auditions will take place at Cannon’s Creek School in Pinelands on Saturday 8 November
This production will be directed by Darryl Spijkers with musical direction by Alastair Cockburn
It will feature a full live orchestra, bringing the wit, wordplay and whimsy of Gilbert & Sullivan’s classic to glorious life on the Artscape stage
The Society is calling on singers, dancers and actors of all ages to audition – whether you ’ re a seasoned performer, a former theatre kid, or simply someone who loves music and the magic of the stage
No professional experience is required – en-
thusiasm, commitment and a love of performance are all that’s needed No preparations are required for dancers – they should just present themselves at Cannon’s Creek School at 15:30 on Saturday 8 November in clothes they can move in
The Society is also seeking backstage crew, costume assistants, social media helpers and PR enthusiasts to join the team
“This production will be bold, energetic and great fun,” says Spijkers As a community theatre production, participation is voluntary and unpaid – but the rewards include performing on a world-class stage, making new friends, and sharing in the joy of bringing Gilbert & Sullivan’s comic genius to life .Email gands piratesofpenzance2026@gmail com or info@gands.co.za for details and preparation notes or visit @gandsza on Instagram and “Cape Town G&S”on Facebook
One-man show debut at Baxter
The internationally acclaimed stage production Far Gone is set to make its South African debut with a highly anticipated tour that will bring its gripping, thought-provoking story to local audiences
The Baxter Theatre will welcome the show from Tuesday 11 until Saturday 15 November as part of an ambitious new tour spanning four continents
Known for its raw storytelling and powerful performances, Far Gone has captivated theatre lovers across the globe, and now South Africa will experience it first-hand
Written and performed by Ugandan-born actor and writer John Rwothomack, Far Gone tells the heartbreaking story of a young boy’s journey from childhood innocence to life as a forcibly recruited child soldier in Northern Uganda
The one-man show is produced by Roots Mbili Theatre from Sheffield, England, a company founded to give a platform to voices and stories often missing from the international stage
“As an artist, it’s one thing to work internationally To tour your own work globally feels incredibly special We are humbled to take this important piece of work across four continents I hope the heartbreaking story will resonate with South African audiences and those around the world,” said Rwothomack
Directed by Nigerian theatre-maker Mojisola Kareem and originally co-produced with
Sheffield Theatres, Far Gone blends humour, poetry, and physical theatre to explore the devastating impact of child abductions by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), which forcibly recruited tens of thousands of children across Central and East Africa
Rwothomack drew inspiration for the play from his own experience of nearly being kidnapped by the LRA at the age of eight
Founded in 2021 by John Rwothomack, creative producer Sam Holland and digital director Smart Banda, Roots Mbili Theatre is committed to spotlighting stories from Africa and the African diaspora
The company ’ s most recent work, Lines, completed a tour that finished at New York’s La Mama Theatre Rwothomack’s motivation is deeply personal “I made a promise to myself that I would tell this story one day These guerrilla groups and child kidnappings are still a reality around the world; we have to show that in a truthful way When I finished training as an actor, I thought the theatre scene was not set up to represent my voice, nor that of many others So I knew if I wanted to be truly heard, I would have to build a space to do it At Roots Mbili Theatre, we are dedicated to pinpointing views and stories that are not on the radar of theatre to give them the platform they deserve ”
The Cape Town Gilbert & Sullivan Society’s last production, Mikado, was on stage at Artscape Theatre in July this year
