eds a child
Town’s top local artists, family-friendly entertainment, food stalls and loads of activities for kids and grown-ups alike
Petrina Pakoe, director of PSFA, said Blisters for Bread is more than just an event but a “heartfelt movement”
Every Rand raised and every kilometre walked helps us ensure that no child has to learn on an empty stomach We invite everyone – young and old – to walk with purpose and be part of this extraordinary cause ”
Mandela’slegacy deservesdailyaction
Every year on 18 July we celebrate Nelson Mandela’s legacy with what has come to be known as “67 minutes of service” We’re encouraged to do something good for someone else whether that means handing out sandwiches, planting vegetables, or reading to children Across Cape Town, schools, NGOs, churches, and companies show up with paint brushes, black bags, and donated goods
It’s beautiful in many ways, the spirit of generosity, the momentary unity, the desire to do good
But it’s also fleeting
Because the very next day, life goes back to normal Those who were hungry are hungry again That over-crowded shelter remains underfunded The crèche with fresh coats of paint still has too few teachers And many of us who gave our 67 minutes feel like we ’ ve done enough, until next year
But what Madiba stood for cannot be captured in one symbolic act a year He gave 67 years of his life to building a more just, equal and democratic South Africa He went to prison, endured unimaginable sacrifice, and still emerged with a commitment to peace, dignity, and inclusion If we really want to honour him, we have to live his values the other 364 days of the year, too
Ubuntu, the African philosophy that reminds us I am because you are, is not about charity It’s not about dropping off pre-loved clothes or taking a selfie at a soup kitchen It’s a way of life Ubuntu calls us to see the humanity in others It asks us to act with compassion, but also with responsibility, to build communities where no one is left behind, and where justice is more than just a word on a wall
The truth is, many of us are struggling Some of us live in backyards or shacks where the rain leaks through the roof Others are unemployed, or work long hours for little pay Some are raising children on their own Others are trying to rebuild after losing everything to gang violence, addiction, or crime In this country, most people live
close to the edge And that makes it even more important that we don’t turn Mandela Day into a performance for the privileged We need to be asking harder questions: Why do people still queue for water in 2025? Why are libraries closing in places where children desperately need safe spaces to read? Why do government clinics run out of medication, and why is GBV still an everyday reality for so many women and girls? Madiba did not fight for a South Africa where injustice is normalised He believed in dignity, and dignity means access, fairness, and care, for everyone, not just a few
If we really want to honour his legacy, we have to treat each other with dignity every day, not just on Mandela Day That means greeting the people we walk past on the street It means treating the person who collects our bins or cleans our children’s schools with the same respect as we do a manager It means checking in on an elderly neighbour It means challenging corruption when we see it, whether in government or in our own communities
Mandela’s legacy isn’t just a history lesson It’s a living challenge to all of us
So yes, let’s keep Mandela Day
Let’s keep the 67 minutes But let’s not stop there
Let’s make kindness a habit, not an event Let’s make justice part of our daily thinking, not just our yearly branding Let’s teach our children not only to give, but to ask why some people always need to receive Because the truth is, 67 minutes is just the beginning South Africa needs 365 days of Ubuntu
That’s how we honour Madiba, not with moments, but with movement Not with charity, but with change
Cheraldene Vanacore (front left) has been doing the Blisters for Bread Charity Fun Walk for over 10 years PHOTO: PRO ALLIANCE PHOTOGRAPH C
NAMHLA MONAKALI
CapeTownyouth shineinSweden
KAYLYNNE BANTOM
Agroup of aspiring soccer stars from Cape Town had the opportunity to experience Sweden for the first time during an educational cultural sports tour made possible by Life Zone Soccer International (LSI).
The Factreton-based non-profit organisation that has been transforming the lives of dozens of children from disadvantaged backgrounds through the sport, through which life skills are also acquired
The tour, organised by LSI, saw the group of 18 players fly the South African flag high from Thursday 19 June to Wednesday 9 July
Jeremy Wyngaard, founder and director of LSI, said: “The purpose is to help children, their parents and guardians to understand that, with God, all things are possible
“Through this we try to assist children in navigating life with God in their hearts Football is merely one medium through which we can share this concept ”
Riley Sickle (13) from Factreton said the trip was a dream come true
She desperately needed funds to make this dream a reality (“Help Riley get to Sweden”, People’s Post, 25 March 2025), and thanks to generous donors she made it to Sweden “The experience was amazing, I really enjoyed it I’m very happy I got this opportunity The best part of the trip was playing soccer and playing with my teammates ”
The teen said the trip was a learning experience “I’ve learnt the Swedes love to recycle and they make paper for everyone in the world ”
To her mother, Asheurita, the opportunity was a special source of pride “I would like to express our deepest gratitude to everyone who
BESIDES THE CULTURAL EXCHANGE WE WERE SUCCESSFUL ON THE FIELD.
contributed to Riley’s trip to Sweden ”
According to Wyngaard this was the organisation’s ninth “DreamPossible!” tour to Sweden since 2009
This year included a group of girls for the first time since 2012
“Besides the cultural exchange success we were also very successful on the field of play,” Wyngaard said “Our girls collaborated with four clubs across two tournaments and made it to the B-Finals quarter finals of Piteå Summer Games and the Last 16 of Storsjöcupen
“Before the tournaments the boys and girls also enjoyed a fantastic four-day life-skills adventure camp in Sävar near Umeå They made many new friends ”
He added they are already planning for their trip next year “We will take boys and girls u-12 teams to the northern Piteå Summer Games and Storsjöcupen again, while also taking a boys u-18 team to Gothia Cup in the South of Sweden
“We will also be taking an over-60s Walking Football team to play at two or three seniors’ tournaments I am also consulting with a group of golfers to get four kids and their coach to join our footballers ”
According to Wyngaard Life Zone is always in need of funds, if anything to make good on its broader aims “We are very blessed that our programme has shown longevity and sustainability We are grateful that we can still serve thousands of children, albeit with minimal resources ”
Create heal
NAMHLAMONAKALI
As the cost of living continues to climb South Africans are being urged to take stock of their financial habits, particularly during July, National Savings Month
Run annually by the South African Savings Institute (Sasi), the campaign aims to promote a culture of saving and long-term financial planning, particularly in lower- and middle-income communities where debt and unemployment remain high
This year focuses on small but consistent actions that can improve household financial resilience
Experts say that even modest savings can protect families during emergencies, reduce reliance on credit and help break intergenerational cycles of poverty
According to recent data from Statistics South Africa the personal savings rate in the country remains worryingly low, with many people spending more than they earn and struggling with high levels of consumer debt Speaking to People’s Post, Gerald Mwandiambira, interim chief executive officer of Sasi and a financial wellness coach, said the message of National Savings Month is especially urgent this year “People are under pressure, especially with food prices, petrol costs and electricity bills going up, ” he said “ But it’s still possible to save, even if it’s just R20 a week The principle is about starting small and staying consistent ” Mwandiambira said saving is not only about money, but about mindset “We need to change the narrative that saving is only for the wealthy It’s about building dignity, options and freedom from crisis living Saving R10 a day is better than nothing at all ”
Many South Africans, however, say the current economic climate makes saving feel impossible
“I’m a single mother and don’t always have extra money after rent, food and school fees,” said Sinazo Klaas from Newlands “But I’ve started putting coins in a bottle at the end of the day It helped me cover taxi fare last month when my child was sick ”
The South African Reserve Bank has also
ChristelHouse cohortcertified
An Ottery-based school awarded their most recent batch of graduates with certificates to support their career pursuits
Christel House South Africa (CHSA) rewarded 40 young adults who completed their Youth Bridge course recently
The non-profit, no-fee school provides about 1 000 students from under-resourced communities in Cape Town with high-quality, high-impact and rounded education
The Youth Bridge course was inspired by the organisation’s efforts to address youth unemployment, said school spokesperson Megan Losper
"This ambitious group of young people from Langa have completed the character-based, career-focused readiness programme and are now equipped with the skills, confidence, and support to step boldly into the world of work and opportunity," said Losper
Liqhawe Dlokweni, a graduate from the Langa 2 cohort, said: "Youth Bridge helped me a lot in CV writing and interviewing skills not only that, but also in terms of changing my mindset and taking full responsibility for my future For that, I’m very grateful Thank you ”
The Youth Bridge initiative supports unemployed youth aged 18 to 35, helping them bridge the gap between their untapped ambitions and the opportunities that await them
The programme builds on securing employment by addressing key barriers to employment through a character-based, career-readiness approach
Participants receive 18 weeks of structured support, including mentorship and placement assistance
Through meaningful connections with mentors in industry, Youth Bridge ensures young people are set on a path to stable employment and upward economic mobility
Looking ahead, the next three Youth Bridge cohorts for 2025 will take place in Khayelitsha . For more information please contact Louise de Marillac St.Julien,on ldmsjulien@sa christelhouse org or 021 704 9400
New City property tariffs challenged in court
DESIRÉE RORKE
DES RÉE RORKE@NOVUSMED A CO ZA
Bringing an urgent application to the Western Cape High Court, the South African Property Owners’ Association (Sapoa) is taking a stand against what it views as an unfair burden on ratepayers, challenging three property-linked tariffs recently introduced by the City of Cape Town in its 2025-’26 budget
These include a new cleaning levy and fixed charges for water and sanitation services, all calculated based on the value of a property rather than actual usage Sapoa argues this approach disproportionately affects certain property owners as well as the public at large and could set a troubling precedent In approaching the court the organisation is encouraging other concerned parties to join the case as friends of the court
Sapoa has requested an early court date to ensure clarity before the City begins preparing its 2026-’27 budget on 1 September The case is backed by influential property owners in Cape Town, among them owners of TygerValley, CapeGate and Canal Walk shopping centres as well as Table Bay Mall and V&A Waterfront
Other Sapoa members consist of smaller businesses with only a handful of properties in their portfolio In its supporting affidavit the non-profit contends its members’ property rights were being infringed on under Section 25 of the Constitution It was bringing the challenge on behalf of its members and in the public interest
“It would not be reasonable and effective for affected ratepayers to bring the challenge on their own, ” said Nilesh Ambaram Gopal of Sapoa
“The City has vast resources to defend the three items of its budget, something that is far beyond the financial capabilities of the thousands of rate-
Sapoa has requested an early court date to ensure clarity
payers who objected to the budget to bring multiple legal challenges
“Some of the people affected by the three items are vulnerable, in the sense that the effect of the budget may be that they may have to sell their properties as they cannot afford to pay the three items ”
The first draft budget was published for comment on 27 March, introducing the three fixed charges, which caused a public outcry Sapoa objected on several grounds, along with a protesting petition of more than 10 000 signatures that was submitted to the City No fewer than 14 000 comments were made in the public-participation period Virtually all commentators strongly objected to the first draft budget, mostly against the fixed charges
Changes were made to the first draft budget in May by the City, resulting in the publication for comment on the revised draft budget
In the revised draft budget passed on 26 June the City stated it sought to alleviate the impact on lower- and middle-income households by the introduction of rebates
However, Sapoa holds that these reductions and rebates do not detract from the fact that the fixed charges are unlawful and should not have been introduced in the first place
Sapoa says a continued rise in municipal costs has a significant detrimental effect on the costs of occupancy faced by tenants in commercial retail properties If municipal costs push charges past a certain limit, tenants struggle and landlords must help, but their options are limited
Leases can become unaffordable, leading tenants not to renew According to its Operating Costs Report, by June last year, electricity made up 29% of total operating costs, while municipal charges accounted for a staggering 60%
According to Sapoa, the tariffs linked to property values do not comply with the Property Rates Act
It points out that the three tariffs are not based on consumption It is not a surcharge based on a basic charge nor a municipal tax Sapoa considers the tariffs a form of property rates as they are linked to property value, but points out that they do not comply with the Property Rates Act
SAPOACHALLENGESLEGALITYOFVALUE-BASEDCLEANINGLEVY
The cleaning levy will be funding general cleaning on council property, litter picking and providing other services such as illegal dumping removal and informal settlements
“The question to be answered is whether it is legally permissible to levy tariffs against property owners for cleaning services based on the value of their properties, regardless of whether the property owner actually receives such services at the property or in the area of his property," states Gopal
Section 229(1) of the Constitution says a municipality may impose rates on property and surcharges on fees for services provided by the municipality, and submits that the cleaning tariff has not been adopted as a property rate in terms of applicable rates legislation
“The cleaning tariff is not a consumption-based charge for a service nor can it be any other type of charge levied in exchange for a service as it is linked to property value "
Furthermore, Sapoa states a surcharge is an additional percentage "profit" on the consumption tariff and not a tariff linked to property value
WATERANDSANITATION
The organisation further holds that fixed water charges are also irrational, arbitrary and contrary to the rule of law Until now the fixed water charge was based on the pipe-connection diameter, and the fixed sanitation charge was tied to water usage
The new system breaks this link to actual consumption
Sapoa argues that property owners who invested in alternative water systems to reduce consumption after the Day Zero crisis are now being penalised These improvements raise property values which, under the new tariff system, results in higher water charges, a move Sapoa calls irrational
The old, traditional methods, calculating usage “ as a percentage of the relevant property's water consumption charges meant there was some correlation between the property's water use and its sanitation use, ” Gopal said
“There is, however, no rational connection between the cost of delivering sanitation services to residents and property value ”
MAYOR:‘SAPOAPROTECTSPROFITS
OVERPEOPLE’
In response to the High Court application, Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis said Sapoa’s attempt to stop Cape Town's pro-poor budget is to put profits ahead of people “Sapoa represents the country's wealthiest and largest property owners, mainly shopping-mall owners The City simply cannot agree that wealthy property owners should be charged the same as lower-income or middle-class households This would be regressive, placing a disproportionate burden on ordinary families ” This, he said, is why fixed charges apply, because all must contribute, not just those who can't invest in alternative water and electricity sources
A Women’s Humanity fest returns
DAVISCUPPLAYERLEOMA
At just 18-years-old Leo Matthysen is the youngest Davis Cup tennis player in South Africa In January this year he played his fourth Davis Cup tie for South Africa, against Nigeria, at the Groenkloof Tennis Stadium in Pretoria Whatever the prestige, for him Mitchell’s Plain is home
Before him Nik Scholtz, son of WP fullback Calla Scholtz, was the youngest when he made his debut at 19 years old “I never played any other sport and focused only on ten-
