Scout camp in spot
The City is currently reviewing its options regarding the revamping of a long-standing Scout campsite in Grassy Park that is no longer used and has become unsightly
The Gilray Scout Camp, which dates back to the 1950s, has since become dilapidated particularly after constant targeting by vandals in recent years The scout movement has leased the property in Klip Road from the
City since the ’50s, said Region Commissioner for Scouts SA N Abrahams
Red Cross grows bigger
ANAMHLAMONAKALI
significant healthcare milestone was reached this week with the official opening of the Cape Winelands’ first dedicated paediatric Burns Unit at Ceres Hospital, bringing the worldclass care of Cape Town’s Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital (RCWMCH) closer to rural communities
The newly established one-bed unit was unveiled on Thursday 31 July, marking a major step forward for the province in decentralising access to specialist burns treatment The project forms part of a broader R18 million investment led by the Children’s Hospital Trust, in partnership with the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness, to improve burns care across the region Alongside the Ceres facility, similar units have also been launched at Worcester Hospital and the Worcester Community Day Centre
Until now, Red Cross Children’s Hospital in Rondebosch, the only dedicated paediatric burns service in the Western Cape, carried the full weight of caring for thousands of burn-injured children annually
On average, Red Cross treats over 1 000 inpatients and between 4 000 and 5 000 outpatients annually
But for families in outlying towns like, access often meant long, costly journeys to the Mother City, posing delays in treatment and further trauma for children and caregivers alike
That burden was powerfully illustrated by one local woman who shared her story at the launch
Her daughter, who sustained serious burns, was initially treated at Ceres Hospital but required onoing follow-up care at Red Cross
The return trip from Ceres to Cape Town cost the family R1 400
Today, she says, a trip to the new unit from their nearby farm costs only R17
“I’m elated,” she said “Not only because of the money we ’ re saving, but because my child now gets the care she needs without leaving home for days It brings comfort and dignity during a painful journey ”
Western Cape Minister of Health and Wellness, Mireille Wenger, who attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony, praised the unit’s opening as a triumph of collaboration
“This new Burns Unit in Ceres is bringing life-saving care closer to rural communities and ensuring that children can receive specialised support without having to travel far away from home and family,” Wenger said “It shows what’s possible when government, civil society and donors unite with a shared purpose ”
The Children’s Hospital Trust, based at Red Cross Children’s Hospital in Rondebosch, was instrumental in raising the funds for the initiative
The Trust’s CEO, Chantel Cooper, emphasised that donor partnerships were central to the success of the project, from construction and equipment to specialist staff training Nurses and allied health workers from across the Cape Winelands were trained to respond quickly and confidently to burns emergencies in local facilities, easing the pressure on Cape Town’s central hospitals
Dr Elton Titus, medical manager at the new facility, called the unit “ a welcome and long-overdue addition” to rural healthcare in the Witzenberg region With the training we ’ ve received and the new equipment in place, we can
DONORS WERE ESSENTIAL
now offer holistic, high-quality care to children with burn wounds right here in Ceres,” he said
Family physician Dr Jani Fouché echoed that view, adding that the dedicated space allows for focused treatment with equipment such as a point-of-care ultrasound, ventilator, and wash bay
“This unit is designed specifically for burns It gives our team the resources we need to act fast and effectively, especially during the critical early stages of treatment,” said Fouché
For Red Cross, the project extends its legacy of excellence in child-centred care far beyond Cape Town’s borders
Dr Anita Parbhoo, CEO of Red Cross, attended the event and praised the initiative as an important decentralisation of expertise rooted in the hospital’s longstanding mission
The launch was a celebration of shared effort, and a reminder that every child, whether in Ceres or Cape Town, deserves access to specialist care, close to home . For more information,contact Sandra Maritz at the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness at 071 589 1337 or Sandra Maritz@ westerncape gov za
2026schooltransferapplicationsnowopen
Parents who wish to apply for a school transfer for the 2026 school year can do so until Monday 18
August
The applications opened yesterday (4 August) This applies to school-transfer requests for Grades 2-7 learners and Grades 9-12
Applications can also be done at the relevant school in which the parent/caregiver wishes to transfer to or the relevant district office
SUPPORTINGDOCUMENTS
. The last school report card, ID, birth certificate, passport, study permit or proof of application or police affidavit, and . Proof of address or police affidavit
Parents who have not registered on the online system yet will first need to register on the site
Once registration is complete, they can then proceed to the application
Online video tutorials and step-
is mothers who have been at the centre of these tragic and brutal crimes
by-step guidelines are available on the website: https://wcedonline westerncape gov za/admissions
Schools can capture applications only for their own institution, but the system can capture applications for multiple schools
Parents or caregivers will be required to fill in the WCED application form, which can also be downloaded from the WCED website, but can be submitted only to schools or the district office until deadline
Visit wcedonline westerncape gov za/admissions
Parents can drop the form and supporting documents off at the school They can also contact it for details of electronic (e-mail) submissions Schools are finalising their Grade R, 1 and Grade 8 school admission lists and confirming placements . Applications can be done online at: https://www.westerncape.gov. za/education/service/learner-admissions
I’m sure most mothers remember the moment they first discovered they were expecting – the joy, the excitement, the nerves All those emotions at once
And then, of course, going for that first ultrasound and hearing the baby’s heartbeat for the first time
I’m not a mother, but I’ve walked this journey alongside my sister as well as many friends and relatives
Children truly are a gift
As society we are quick to point a finger at men, and rightfully so, because in most cases some men are the perpetrators of crime against women and children
However, in recent court cases it
Amber-Lee Hughes is currently standing trial after admitting to killing her ex ’ s four-year-old daughter in 2023
Kelly Smith is serving life imprisonment for human trafficking and 10 years for kidnapping
She, together with two others were convicted of human trafficking and kidnapping for the disappearance of her six-year-old daughter
Tiffany Nicole Dunn Meek was arrested and charged with the murder of her 11-year-old son
A Johannesburg mother was arrested after a video was circulated on social media showing her allegedly encouraging her son to smoke drugs
I am in no position to judge any
of these women; I don’t think any of us is They, like everyone else, will have receive their just deserts on judgement day, when we all leave this earth
But if we, as women, can no longer be trusted to care for our children what hope is there for the future of our society?
What possible crime could these children have committed that was so heinous that they needed to be killed?
A four-year-old, who should be nurtured and loved, now knows a life of drugs
This is not what those brave women marched for when they went to the Union Buildings in 1956
I’m sure they are crying wherever they may be beyond the grave, speaking to us from eternity, from history, urging us to do better, to
honour their legacy with courage, unity and integrity
This may be precisely what we need; the wise words and voices of our grandmothers, mothers, aunts speaking to us
Perhaps in our pursuit of freedom and independence as young women we ’ ve stopped listening, stopped listening to the wisdom of those who came before us, to the hardwon lessons of struggle
As we live and walk through each day of this month may we take one another’s hands again
Too often, we women are quick to cast aspersions, pass judgement, throw insults and tear one another down, and forget the strength we have when we stand together
Let’s make news headlines, but for the right reasons, lift one another up, break barriers, lead with grace and stand united
KAYLYNNE BANTOM
Dr Anita Parbhoo, CEO of Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital; Chantel Cooper, CEO Children’s Hospital Trust; Mireille Wenger, provincial minister of health; and Dr Elton Titus, Medical Manager; cut the ribbon at the newly established Burns Unit PHOTO: SUPPLIED
Christelc
KEANANHARMSE
Agroup of Ottey learners are looking forward to proving their mettle and clinching the top spot in the next round of a coding competition happening later this month
The learners represent a non-profit school in Ottery, Christel House South Africa (CHSA), who hosted a coding contest at the school on Wednesday 30 July
A group of Grade 4, Grade 5 and Grade 6 learners took part in the #Coding4Mandela tournament was hosted by Tangible Africa (TA)
This event is part of a national initiative by (TA), in collaboration with Nelson Mandela University (NMU)
On the day, learners were tasked to compete in teams of five
Each team was given coded instructions to a virtual vehicle navigating through a maze using physical tokens and a mobile device
The goal is to solve as many levels as possible within one hour
“Teams are scored based on how efficiently they solve the mazes using fewer tokens and completing more levels boosts their ranking
The top-three teams from this tournament will go on to compete in the National Online Coding Tournament, representing our school on a bigger stage,” said school spokesperson, Megan Losper
Christel’s top-three Grade 7 teams swept their leaderboard and were known as: Team Uze Nenya, Team The Reds and Team Peppa Pig
These teams are looking forward to competing in the next round later this month
The venue and date of the next competition is yet to be announced
“Thousands of learners from every province in South Africa, along with participants from
FROMPAGE1
With limited amount of burial space left at Klip Road Cemetery in Grassy Park, the site has been identified as the possible next cemetery for 2 000 extra graves, pending an approval (“Grassy Park’s burial crisis”, People’s Post 23 May)
Paticia van der Ross, Mayco member for community service and health, at the time said: “The Klip Road Cemetery in Grassy Park has less than a year ’ s worth of vacant burial space left ”
Abrahams told People’s Post: “The property has always belonged to the City of Cape Town We leased the property from the City since we developed the campsite there back in the ’50s “The camp has repeatedly been vandalised over the past few years The City has consistently been made aware of these incidents of vandalism ”
In 2023, the scout group entered into a month-by-month lease agreement with the City after their long-term lease had expired
“At the end of the long-term lease we advised the council we were not entering into another long-term lease and went onto a month-tomonth lease
In November last year, we submitted our required one month’s notice to it, advising we would vacate by 31 December 2024 The warden, however, was advised by the councillor that the City had requested he stay on
When we tried to verify this after the festive break we were told there was no agreement on record The warden was given notice to vacate the premises and handed the keys back to the council on Wednesday 30 April 2025 ”
The future use of the property is currently under review, confirmed the City
“This process includes consultations with various City departments to determine whether the property is required for operational purposes, ” the City pointed out
“Should it be deemed non-essential it will be classified as surplus to the City’s requirements and disposed of through a competitive process ”
The City’s available records show it had entered into an agreement with the Boy Scouts of South Africa for the lease of portion Erf 75571 Cape Town in Klip Road, Grassy Park from 22 March 1990 until 23 March 2015
“On 1 November 2024, the Scouts submitted a notice for the termination of its lease effective 31 December 2024,” the City said
Two weeks ago, a community meeting was held in which one of the items on the agenda was transforming the scout camp into a
Veteran Lotus teacher retires
KEANANHARMSE
Aveteran school teacher who has served the Lotus River community for over 30 years has decided to call it quits and is looking forward to her retirement.
Perivale Primary School teacher
Nicky du Plooy officially retired on Tuesday 1 April and has stepped down from her duties as head of department (HOD)
People’s Post spoke with Du Plooy to trace back her rich legacy within the teaching profession and share her advice and goals for the future
Being the first and only teacher in her family, Du Plooy matriculated at Macassar Senior Secondary School in 1983
She was also the first member of her family to pursue tertiary education
With her 85-year-old mother becoming ill this year, she told People’s Post she felt a need to swap the chalk with some meds to nurture her
Du Plooy recalled a special encounter with one of her matric teachers in 1981 that sparked her interest in becoming a teacher
“I was an introvert and hardly spoke although I did extremely well at school Then one day my English teacher, she came from Stellenbosch and was very young at the time, came to me and said: ‘I never hear your voice’ After hearing this I thought: ‘ wow, here’s a person that notices me, that cares and that moment inspired me to become a teacher From then on I wanted to be there for those children who easily get lost in the crowd and I wanted to help those learners who are often quiet so that their voices could be heard,” she said
Throughout her whole career, she mostly taught Grade 1 and Grade R learners Her favourite subject to teach is mathematics
In 2017, Du Plooy was promoted to HOD at Perivale
“In this capacity as an HOD, I had to lead as a senior teacher, run the foundation phase, monitor the curriculum and make sure coverage takes place and to make sure that our learners feel safe in the classrooms I also had to make sure that teachers go for training and support novice teachers,” she said
Du Plooy also thanked her curriculum advisor, Karima Daniels, for her support over the years
Fellow teacher Nicolene Langer said they’ve enjoyed working with Du Plooy for 10 years
“I also would like to thank her for her leadership, guidance, support and always encouraging me to achieve and do my best I wish her all of the best and will always hold a special y b y my heart, Perivale, to the end I love all of you ”
Nicolene Langner, Nicky du Plooy and Taseem Claassen
Photo: supplied
Nicky du Plooy with one of her Grade 2 classes pose for a group photo. PHOTO: KEANAN HARMSE
Nicky du Plooy PHOTO KEANAN HARMSE
Wetland needs your help
Film on NSRI work well-received
KAYLYNNEBANTOM
AVredehoek film director and cinematographer’s love for the ocean as well as long-standing fascination with the life-saving work of the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) have come together in a powerful new awareness project.
Inspired by both the beauty and danger of the ocean, Kabeer Shaik has turned his lens towards an innovative safety initiative, the NSRI’s beach-safety camera system
The result is a compelling awareness film that not only highlights this vital technology but also outlines the importance of beach safety and the tireless efforts of NSRI volunteers, who work tirelessly to keep beachgoers safe
Shaik visited the NSRI’s Volunteer Support Centre in Blouberg earlier this year where he was introduced to the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) and the Beach Safety Camera Project
Andrew Ingram, NSRI communications manager, said the camera project was initiated in 2020, and is the first of its kind in the country
CAMERAPROJECT
“It is a network of strategically placed, high-definition PTZ (pan-tiltzoom) cameras that support rescue operations and beach safety ”
He said in Cape Town these cameras are active at Strand and Blouberg Beach
“The idea was that from a high angle we can get a completely different
view as to what lifeguards see We can work with lifeguards and first responders in spotting dangers and rip currents This helps with prevention to move them out of danger or get them help as fast as possible ”
THEFILM
The 1-minute film, which can be viewed on the NSRI’s YouTube channel, was filmed at Strand Beach It features actress Shiefaa Hendriks in a portrayal that merges realism and symbolism
Shaik said: “The team used rich golden-hour light and a cinematic approach to create an emotional and immersive experience
“The biggest challenge was the weather We needed a calm sea and high tide in late afternoon to match the story’s emotional tone After weeks of postponements, we got the perfect window in April and gathered an incredible team to make it happen ”
She said the film is based on a real-life rescue event
“The film is pegged to a real-life rescue that occurred over a year ago It is of a young boy who was caught in a rip current before lifeguards were on duty and one of the camera operators spotted him having trouble in the water The camera operator coordinated a rescue and the boy was saved ”
Shaik said the film is his way of paying homage to the incredible work done by the NSRI “This is a way for me to give back to the NSRI I want to create awareness of what the NSRI does and the behind-the-scenes work that no-one notices ”
According to Ingram, there are 11
cameras nationwide
EXPANSION
He said the initiative has also been expanded to beaches in Plettenberg Bay
“Some of the cameras in Plettenberg Bay have a flashing light and a loud audio siren as well as the possibility of our operation-centre volunteers talking to people on the beach through a speaker system ”
SUCCESS
Ingram noted that the cameras have shown positive results since their introduction
“We have videos on our YouTube channel of camera operators spotting people in difficulty and lifeguards rescuing them Two small crafts overturning and getting them rescued
“We can see when flairs are being fired Previously our first responders would spend ages searching for someone in difficult situations Our volunteer operator or our emergency operation centre can see what is happening immediately ”
RELYONDONATIONS
Ingram said expanding the initiative needed donations
He said the cameras can cost between R100 000 and R200 000 to set up based on internet connectivity among other things
“Because the cameras are located close to the ocean we are using good components and cameras All the kits are high quality equipment ”
Ingram expressed gratitude to Shaik for his remarkable portrayal of the work carried out by the volunteers
would like to thank the volunteers from the NSRI who helped us with
T y
A scene from the film showing the boy being rescued
City Hall clock chimes again
The famous City Hall clock is ticking in perfect time and its beautiful bells are chiming once again after being fully restored.
The clock, which is over a century old, was removed in March this year for repairs to restore its bells and chime mechanisms The mechanism was manufactured by the United Kingdom (UK) clockmaker JB Joyce & Co The clock was installed in 1905
Surmounting the Cape Town City Hall, its apex, against Table Mountain as backdrop, the clock is an iconic city landmark overlooking significant historical events on the Grand Parade opposite over the past century
The process of fixing the clock included restoring worn drum bushings and ensuring the sound mechanism met heritage-preservation standards
The turret clock features a three-train movement with separate mechanisms controlling the timekeeping, chimes and strikes The Westminster chimes, once heard every quarter-hour, are similar to those of London’s Big Ben
The original parts make it a rare example of historical horology, requiring special expertise to restore it
Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis said great cities are built on small details and strong principles
“From clock maintenance to permanent lighting of the historic front façade and restoring the carillon bells, we are taking care of Cape Town’s precious City Hall and the surrounding precinct in our flourishing Inner City, ensuring the Mother City does not walk the path of decline sadly visible in other municipalities ” Hill-Lewis said the City Hall is one of the municipality’s strategic assets and its facilities have undergone several upgrades including to its CCTV system, wayfinding signage and lighting
James Vos, Mayco member for economic growth, said the ongoing improvements had seen City Hall booked to near capacity, hosting
events such as the State of the Nation Address, concerts of the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra, Mzansi National Philharmonic Orchestra and various choir competitions
“It is also host to the Nelson Mandela in Cape Town Legacy Exhibition, the Cape Town Civic Collection’s Attic Exhibition and Cape Town Tourism’s City Hall Visitor Experience Centre ”
Vos said the facility is an important feature of Cape Town’s heritage and has been the location or backdrop to many of the most important moments in South Africa’s history
“We will continue to do work that maintains its facilities and honours its legacy We encourage the use of the City’s strategic assets for hosting events and other activities ”
THE CITY HALL,WITH ITS CLOCK TOWER,HAS SEEN IMPORTANT HISTORICAL NATIONAL EVENTS.
FourIkeysatworldforum
In a groundbreaking moment for the University of Cape Town (UCT), four students represented South Africa at this year ’ s United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) in New York, marking the first time in several years that youth formed part of the country’s official delegation to this global event
Nico Pampier, Seabelo Mnisi, Zou Rwexwana and Ben Gukelberger participated as members of the United Nations Association of South Africa , UCT Chapter (UNASA-UCT)
Held from Monday 14 to Thursday 24 July , the forum brought together global leaders, academics, civil society, and over 250 youth delegates under the theme: “Advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) ”
This year ’ s forum focused on key global development areas, including good health and well-being, gender equality, decent work and economic growth, life below water, and partnerships for the goals
The students were part of the conversations, learning directly from global development experts while bringing in perspectives from South Africa and the Global South
Their participation was made possible with the support of UCT’s Department of Student
Affairs through its Student Travel Fund, which covered travel costs for three of the four students
The fund is specifically designed to break down financial barriers that often prevent South African youth from accessing international policy spaces
Reflecting on the experience, Mnisi, who serves as UNASA-UCT’s SDG Education Director, said the exposure to multilateral dialogue
and international policymaking was profound “The space for multilateral exchange was eye-opening,” he said “Witnessing first-hand how different countries are tackling development hurdles, deploying innovative strategies and mobilising resources to advance the 2030 Agenda has sharpened my understanding of international governance ” Gukelberger, Outreach Director for UNASA-UCT, highlighted the responsibility of representing youth voices from the Global South
“Having worked with UNASA and the Valued Citizens Initiative for a few years now, I knew that the most important part of my being at this forum was to boisterously echo the voices of the students and youth that we are currently, and will be working with in the future, at every event, interaction and conversation ”
Pampier, who is the Executive Chair for UNASA-UCT, stressed the urgency for African nations to view young people as central to achieving the goals of both Agenda 2030 and Agenda 2063 “These agendas are roadmaps African countries must take robust action and recognise that youth are not only stakeholders, but catalysts for change This cannot just be a stocktaking experience We must learn from the challenges and successes shared, and when we return to our countries, we must act boldly ” The students are now back home with a vision to translate their global insights into local impact They plan to lead outreach campaigns, policy engagement sessions and awareness initiatives that aim to strengthen youth participation in sustainable development, both on campus and in surrounding communities They also emphasised the critical role universities can play in national development through research, data generation and evidence-based policy solutions
The Mayco member for economic growth, James Vos, with Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis at the City Hall turret clock. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
Experts seek mental health response
As the curtain comes down on Psychosocial Disability Awareness Month, commemorated in July, organisations in the sectors say the urgent call for more investment in youth mental health services continues
Under the theme “It’s the hour to make our youth empowered”, the campaign, spearheaded by the South African Federation for Mental Health (SAFMH), calls for urgent action to improve access to quality mental health services for young people aged 15 to 25 Mental health care organisation Cape Mental Health says youth in South Africa are experiencing a silent mental health crisis
A recent Unicef poll found that 60% of youth between 15 and 24 years felt they needed mental health support in the past year, but many didn’t know where to turn to Key concerns among young people include anxiety about education, employment, and prospects
In the Cape Metropole, challenges such as school dropout, gang violence, unemployment, and substance abuse are exacerbating youth mental health issues
Prof Ingrid Daniels, CEO of Cape Mental Health, highlights that youth living in underserved poverty-stricken communities, including those exposed to crime and unstable home environments, face multiple risk factors that contribute to mental health conditions
These challenges, she warns, can lead to longterm impairments if not addressed and treated early Investment is needed to help youth, especially those aged 19–25, navigate the transition to adulthood, education, or employment
Daniels said: “It’s time to empower our youth with the support, tools, and opportunities they deserve When we invest in the mental health of our youth, we invest in the future generation and leaders of our country ”
Speaking at the Cape Community Advoca-
INVEST IN THE FUTURE GENERATION AND LEADERS OF OUR COUNTRY
cy ’ s Bodies’ (CCAB) annual general meeting in Observatory on Tuesday 29 July, Samukelo Nxumalo, a representative of the SAFMH Youth Forum, said that the youth of Generation Z have a responsibility to help fix intergenerational trauma in their families
“We cannot break the cycle of poor mental health and trauma in our families if we are not allowed to talk openly about mental health inside our homes ”
Nxumalo emphasised the need to create open spaces where dialogue can take place freely
“Sometimes we need a doctor, a psychologist, or medication to help us cope, but currently, access to therapy is a privilege We need to create environments in our communities where the average young person can walk into a facility and say, ‘I am depressed, and I need help’ ”
Shayni Geffen, Advocacy and Awareness Project Leader at SAFMH, said the national youth forum creates advocacy campaigns and provides input on the decision-making process around mental health services for young people Dylan Rademeyer, CCAB chair and peer supporter at Fountain House, reiterated the need for the inclusion of people with lived experience when developing government policy
Citing an experience of once being the only person with a disability attending a social assistance disability policy guide meeting, he said it was only due to his observation and objection to the lack of inclusion that people with disabilities were included in follow-up meetings
Rademeyer stressed that more must be done to make mental health services more accessible to clients CCAB is part of a pressure group that is currently drafting letters to the relevant government departments regarding issues affecting both persons with psychosocial and intellectual disabilities
A common issue raised was the long waiting periods at the South African Social Security
Board members of CCAB, SAFMH and young service users gathered at Fountain House for the CCAB
Agency (Sassa) offices, applicants being given the runaround when documents were missing, and the fact that applicants needed to report to Sassa offices in the early hours of the morning
The pressure group is in the process of drafting a letter to the relevant Sassa offices, which will include testimonials from service users and requests for better service delivery
Rademeyer said currently, community-based mental health services are scarce due to budget cuts and the disproportionate allocation of government funding
He said CCAB is also drafting a letter to the Department of Health requesting the re-establishment of community-based mental health support groups
According to Rademeyer, the Rainbow Groups, a decentralised community-based psychosocial rehabilitation programme of Fountain House, was discontinued due to a lack of government funding two years ago
He adds that this disruption has left people with a mental health diagnosis who do not have the money to travel for help without support
RangerscelebratedgloballyonWorldRangerDay
NAMHLAMONAKALI
Rangers were honoured as “custodians of South Africa’s natural and cultural heritage” during national World Ranger Day celebrations held at Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) on Thursday 31 July
The event was led by Forestry, Fisheries and Environment Minister Dr Dion George, who paid tribute to the frontline role rangers play in protecting South Africa’s rich biodiversity
“Rangers are the heartbeat of our protected areas, ” said George “Their commitment goes beyond patrolling They are also researchers, educators, community liaisons, and defenders of our shared heritage ” World Ranger Day, observed globally on 31 July, is a moment to recognise the essential work of rangers and remember those who have lost their lives in the line of duty This year ’ s theme, “Rangers, Powering Transformative Conservation”, highlighted the increasingly dynamic role of rangers in shaping a more inclusive, community-based conservation model
The celebrations come just months after SANParks unveiled its long-term strategy, Vision 2040, which aims to reimagine conservation in a way that promotes ecological sustainability, social justice and economic development Vision 2040 outlines a future where people and nature thrive together
At its core is the belief that conservation must benefit all South Africans, particularly the marginalised and that local communities must play a central role in managing and protecting natural spaces
“This long-term plan envisions a nation where nature and people thrive together,” SANParks said at the time of the launch On World Ranger Day, SANParks chair Pam Yako echoed that vision and emphasised the role of rangers in bringing it to life
“Rangers embody our collective values
of stewardship, courage and transformation,” said Yako “Vision 2040 relies on their leadership in building a conservation model that puts people and the planet first ”
The Mega Living Landscapes (MLL) approach central to Vision 2040 seeks to break down the notion of conservation areas as isolated spaces Instead, it connects national parks with surrounding communities, inviting ordinary South Africans, especially the youth, to find their place in conservation
Numerous celebrations were also hosted at various SANParks regions
In the Garden Route National Park, a ceremony at Knysna High Sports Field recognised the contribution of retired rangers with certificates of appreciation
In the Arid Region, Mokala National Park hosted drill practises, a ranger imbizo, a shooting competition and sports activities that concluded with a celebratory dinner
The Frontier Region marked the day with a simulated anti-poaching operation involving rangers from Camdeboo, Addo Elephant, Karoo and Mountain Zebra national parks, supported by air and ground teams
At Kruger National Park, rangers held a solemn wreath-laying ceremony at the Paul Kruger Gate Monument in memory of colleagues who died in the line of duty
JP Louw, SANParks Head of Communications, said the day was a reminder of both the risks and the importance of the ranger profession
“As threats to biodiversity grow, so does the pressure on rangers, ” said Louw
“Today we honour their resilience, their adaptability, and their unwavering commitment to the protection of South Africa’s wild spaces ”
World Ranger Day was also a call to invest in the people who guard the country’s natural and cultural legacy with courage and care
To advertise contact Zulfah Newman
0714519218 /zulfah.newman@novusmedia.co.za
NM10022950-QK050825
10U-16BOYS’,TWOGIRLS’
Gearin up for u-16 fi
Excitement is mounting ahead of this year’s u-16 Bayview Youth Cup finals at Athlone Stadium on Saturday 16 August
Ten u-16 boys’ teams and two girls’ teams will fight for honours in what has been dubbed “ a display of youth football” for the Mother City
In the Bronze Section Southampton will lock horns with Lentegeur, while Heath Athletico will square-up against Woodlands United FC in the Silver Section Wagiet Cup will see D6 Mitchells Plain taking on Pioneer Sports Club and the Gold Section will feature Norway Park and PPG Langa
In the Platinum Section, which is the main event, Cape Town Spurs will come up against Antalyaspor JMP
CT In the ladies’ section Rygate Invitation Ladies will battle it out against Mitchells Plain LFA Ladies
A jubilant Mark Rodrigues, chair of Bayview Football Club and tournament organiser, said all the clubs were looking forward to the competi-
tion and excitement
“There is definitely a lot of excitement from the clubs and everyone, including the parents,” he said “This is something new for the youngsters It is not an easy thing to play in a place like Athlone Stadium ”
According to Rodrigues, gates will open at 08:00 with the first game getting underway at 10:00 and the final match between Spurs and Antalyaspor drawing down the curtain at 18:30
The day will also feature entertainment for the entire family, with food stalls offering a range of delicacies and beverages “A gymnastics team will entertain the crowd before the final kick-off,” Rodrigues said “We are very excited and we want everyone to come out and have fun Come out! Come out and see what football is all about ” He said this year ’ s tournament had an added layer of excitement with the so-called “small teams” featuring prominently Tickets are available at Ticket Pro and Spar for R50
THULANI MAGAZI
THULANI MAGAZI@NOVUSMEDIA CO.ZA