People's Post Woodstock/Maitland/City E-edition 09 December 2025
Wstart of the festive season became a heartbreaking tragedy for a Factreton family after their 14-year-old daughter was shot and killed.
Alnika Mitchell was caught in the crossfire during a gang-related shoot-
ing on Saturday 6 December
A 53-year-old man sustained wounds to his arm
Lt Col Nkosinathi Losini, the station commander at Kensington Police Station, said the girl was sitting outside her home in Lugmag Avenue when bullets ”
He explained that the man was treated on the scene by medical personnel
A 35-year-old man was arrested in connection with the murder yesterday (8 December) TOPAGE3
Ward 56 councillor, Cheslyn Steenberg calls on residents to stand united
PHOTO: SUPPL ED
Identikidzbackonbeaches
To ensure children’s safety at some of Cape Town’s busiest beaches the City’s Identikidz programme will return this holiday.
Identikidz is coordinated by the City’s Community, Arts and Culture Development (CACD) Department
Parents and caregivers are able to register children at participating beaches – they are issued with an armband that contains a unique serial number
Details of the armband are recorded along with the caregiver ’ s details, so in the event that a child is separated from their group during the course of their beach visit, they can be quickly reunited
During last year ’ s festive season, the City tagged 133 730 children over five priority weekends, with 302 children safely reunited with their loved ones
The programme will run over 15 days, from 09:00 until 18:30 on the following dates: 15, 16, 20 ,21, 25, 26, 27, and 28 December; and 1, 3, 4, 10 ,11, 17, and 18 January next year
PARTICIPATINGBEACHES:
Big Bay, Camps Bay, Fish Hoek, Gordon’s Bay, Harmony Park, Melkbosstrand, Milnerton Beach, Mnandi, Monwabisi, Muizenberg, Sea Point and surrounding area, Silwerstroom, Strand and Strand-
LAST YEAR THE CITY TAGGED 133 730 CHILDREN
fontein The service will be available at Maiden’s Cove on Friday 26 December and Thursday 1 January
.With the permission of parents or caretakers, register children and
issue them with an identification tag or wrist band; . assist with the reunification of a lost or displaced child; . work closely with the provincial Department of Social Development, the City’s enforcement agencies and the South African Police Service to ensure the safety and reunification of a lost or displaced child with their family
The CACD Department will deploy 53 officials and 159 Extended Public Works Programme (EPWP) members who will work closely with other City departments, in-
cluding the Disaster Risk Management Centre Francine Higham, Mayco member for community services and health, encourages parents to make use of the programme “We all share a responsibility to create safer spaces for our children, and our beaches are no exception –especially considering how busy these spaces get over the peak festive season Identikidz adds a lot of value, but caregivers are still responsible for ensuring that their children are supervised at all times ”
MyCiTitorununinterruptedfestiveservice
The City of Cape Town says there will be no reduction in its bus services this year, and MyCiTi buses will continue to operate from morning until evening daily over the festive season
Passengers can look forward to the late-night bus services to accommodate shopping at Canal Walk and the V&A Waterfront as well as the popular service to the Silwerstroomstrand Beach and Resort until Sunday 4 January next year On the public holidays all routes and services will operate a Sunday timetable except for route T02 and 261, which will operate a Saturday timetable
Rob Quintas, Mayco member for urban mobility, says: “I am always excited about the late-night
services from Canal Walk and the V&A Waterfront
“This service has been a great relief for many residents who cannot get around to their own shopping during their work hours, especially with the later retail hours coming up ”
He adds that commuters to areas such as Atlantis, Pella and Mamre will continue to benefit until the end of January
“Our night services in the Atlantis region will operate until 31 January 2026 so residents can get around town safely during the summer evenings,” said Quintas
LATE-NIGHTSHOPPING
.Canal Walk: 5-23 December
.Route D08 – Last bus will depart Century City at 22:00
.Route T03 – Last bus will depart Century City at 22:00
.Route 241, 242 and 243 – Last bus will depart Century City at 00:45
.V&A Waterfront: 12-23 December and 26-30 December
.Route T01 – Last bus will depart Waterfront station at 22:00
.Route D01 – Last bus will depart Civic Centre station at 22:35
.Route D02 – Last bus will depart Civic Centre station at 22:35
.Route D04 – Last bus will depart Civic Centre station at 22:35
NIGHTSERVICESTOATLANTIS
.Night services will return to Atlantis serving routes 241, 242 and 243 until Saturday 31 January next year
The services started on Friday 5
December
SILWERSTROOMSTRANDHOLIDAY SERVICE
.Route 247 will operate between Atlantis, into Mamre to the Silwerstroomstrand beach and resort daily until Sunday 4 January, except on Christmas Day The service has been adjusted to directly connect with Mamre to make it more convenient for these residents Buses will depart from the Starke stop at 09:00 and 13:00 via Atlantis station and Mamre, and return from Silwerstroomstrand at 09:38, 13:38 and 18:00
. For more information and a list of all the relevant timetables visit: https://www myciti org za/en/ routes-stops/festive-season-services-2025/
Humaninteractionispreciousandimportant
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Now we ’ re at a stage where there are no excuses, no limits to how many reports we can summarise by copying and pasting a prompt
told to use your app, after you were queuing for a query you had about your finances
each other
Don’t outrun your humanity in the rush to keep pace with technology
Looking back on 2025, it feels as if we ’ ve survived a monstrous mountain climb and can finally gaze down at the deep and treacherous valleys we ’ ve journeyed through this year
As we pray the blinding glow of a new horizon that awaits us in 2026 promises good health for our loved ones or new career opportunities, one can’t help but feel bruised by the weight of change and chaos that have impacted our lives in this new modern age we ’ re navigating These days, productivity and profit have become two interchangeable words that are endlessly circling and feeding off each other through the advancements of
There’s an endless amount of apps we can use to effortlessly edit our videos or retouch a photo with professional effects
This spares hours of time compared to the days of booking appointments, paying and waiting for this service to be done by hand and yet it appears we ’ ve forgotten the beauty of patience
It’s a privilege and an art in itself to receive a hand carved wooden sculpture you bought when one thinks of the sleepless nights, the fingers that endured cuts to produce that lifelike artwork
You could sense the sweat and stress that went into these paintings, the care and delicate touch to try and capture a feeling or a moment frozen in a misty memory
Now you’ll find yourself being turned away from your bank and
The convenience and comfort our cellphones have brought us, are slowly eroding the times we spend speaking face to face when we can simply “video call”
Human interaction is precious, important and needs to be protected and nurtured
The more our eyes slide with the rhythm of our scrolls on our screens, the more they feed and become addicted to our content and algorithms
We can become attached or victims to our ego, numbing our ability to understand each other in the pursuit of curating a “perfect world” where only we reign and other thoughts or ideas are seen as threats or volatile
Whether your utopia is encapsulated with thoughts of bigotry, sexism or tolerance and liberty, we run the risk of misunderstanding or refusing to “ see ” ourselves in
As we all know the French Revolution became a bloody nightmare where potential traitors faced the guillotine This Reign of Terror involved mass executions and arrests for those opposing the new government that “fought for the people”
History tells us around 20 000 men and women were killed –either shot, stabbed or drowned, during this reign, with the vast majority of deaths being ordinary citizens not the rich and elite
When vengeance and fear rule it can blind our reflections like a mirror in a steam room, we can become barbaric and cruel, normalising violence as a “ means to an end”
As the world and society keeps trying to quicken its pace with technology’s innovation, let’s not outrun our humanity in this process to survive the stress of being “left behind” in the fourth industrial revolution
A JOURNO’S VOICE
KEANAN HARMSE
for Market
KET IS BEHIND THE BREAKWATER DE,NEAR THE CAPE WHEEL –ES CUSTOM-BUILT PERMANENT STRUCTURES
ity if they would hbourhood farm reen that will into Oranand 12 years ago on the neglected market started ngs d small and then It arrived at the bakkie ” years later, livelihoods to with over 100
p small entreprehe best of Cape rn Cape in terms h produce, baked e market is an rovider rket that sells desires to change hat people can ct from farmers full of chemilly grown, drive eople reach their
own potential ” She says they are excited about the relocation
“This is a new chapter, nothing is permanent and everything has a time
We now have different barns for the different offerings We have a design barn for the clothing, deli barn for take home items, dog accessories, and a fresh produce barn ”
Ozinsky says that the food barn is a massive upgrade for the traders with extraction fans and running water
She expressed her gratitude to the customers who supported them over the past decade
“The market has survived because of the customers They have shown up in rain, wind, in electricity cuts, during Covid and during the drought
The market is theirs This is a Cape Town legacy ” She said she hopes the community will be proud of the new space
“I think and pray that they will be proud of the new space I think we have made our community proud
This is not the final design, in 7 or 10 years we will design the market of our dreams ”
Woodstockseniors’brunchon16th
KAYLYNNEBANTOM
To bring festive cheer to seniors in the Woodstock area a local community policing forum (CPF) will host its annual seniors’ brunch on Reconciliation Day (Tuesday 16 December) at the Blackpool Hall in Salt River.
However, organisers still need additional funds to ensure the event’s success
Gary Adams, acting CPF chair, said about R75000 was needed, and the forum had managed to raise R35 000 so far “The City gives us money, and we have managed to raise about R35 000 We are still looking for donations from businesses and the community ” He said the event grew annually, with more seniors attending “This event has grown and now we have almost 400 We focus on homes of safety such as NOAH and other old-age homes
We have residents from Salt River and Obs ”
The aim is to make the seniors feel loved and appreciated, Adams pointed out “Our seniors are the most vulnerable in the community and we as the CPF want to give them a sense of belonging We share some safety tips with them on how to be vigilant ”
The forum is grateful to the special event’s sponsors, who support it every year, and anyone wishing to contribute “The community can make financial donations We will also buy the seniors some gifts ”
. To donate https://www backabuddy co za/ campaign/community-police-forum-saps-seniors-lunch-2025
OUR SENIORS ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE IN THE COMMUNITY
CapeTownlaunchessweepingglobalmarketingcampaign
KAYLYNNEBANTOM
Cape Town is stepping into the global spotlight with bold new energy A sweeping marketing campaign is taking the city’s story across six continents and 55 cities, raising the Mother City’s profile on the world stage
The campaign, which was launched on Thursday 4 December, features dynamic storytelling through video, photography, and bold visuals across international social media channels, digital platforms, print magazines, billboards, and even the branding of London’s iconic black cabs
James Vos, Mayco member for economic growth, said that through this campaign, he wants the world to see Cape Town’s cultures, crafts, cuisines, and communities
“These are the elements that make us unforgettable And they form the heart of our six-pillar narrative: a city to visit, live, work, play, study and invest in
“For every ten international arrivals, one job is created We are doing this campaign to grow our visitor economy, to get more forward bookings so that we can get more economic spinoffs
and jobs in tourism and hospitality ”
According to Vos, nearly 7% of Cape Town’s workforce is employed in the tourism sector
When asked about the City’s readiness to welcome the influx of visitors this holiday season, Vos said they have intensified their destination readiness efforts across the metro
“We are rolling out expanded area cleaning services, safety and security personnel are being deployed across the city Our beach and swimming pool safety initiatives are being implemented I have confidence that we will provide visitors and residents with a world-class safe, clean experience ”
He called on citizens to welcome visitors
“We need the help of the private sector and citizens to help us welcome visitors and residents into our communities and businesses, because it is the warmth that will make visitors come back ”
Angelica Munoz Cordoba, chair of the Cape Tourist Guides Association, welcomed the initiative
“This season has a big impact on our jobs What the City is doing in promoting Cape Town
as a destination is good It provides jobs to all our tour guides ”
She explained that the association has about 4 000 registered tour guides in the province “We call on travellers to make use of regis-
tered tour guides not only for city tours but also when they go hiking The experience will be better, and knowledge will be shared The knowledge we share are the memories that travellers take back home ”
The community policing forum (CPF) will host its annual seniors’ brunch on Tuesday 16 December PHOTO SUPPLIED
James Vos, Mayco member for economic growth, addresses the audience at the launch of the new destination marketing campaign PHOTO: SUPPLIED
James Vos, Mayco member for economic growth in a group photo with attendees at the launch of the new destination marketing campaign PHOTO: KAYLYNNE BANTOM
Sequinned goddess and drag comedy icon Tollie Parton is to host a spectacular New Year’s Eve at The Royal Countess Zingara at Century City Patrons can expect a night of unmatched revelry beneath a velvet canopy as nostalgia, spectacle and frivolity collide in divine decadence, from the first sip to the last dance The magic happens from the moment Zingarians step onto the red carpet mid lavish welcomes of bubbly and oysters Come play, dance and revel in the most sensational New Year’s Eve party with Parton on the decks Doors open at 18:00 and guests should be seated by 19:00 for the performance that will begin at 20:00 Bookings are open through boxoffice@zingara.co.za and 0218910448. PHOTO: SUPPLIED NEWYEAR’SEVEATTHEROYALCOUNTESSZINGARA
Tc ow s t e ot e C ty
The Springboks Sevens came into the Cape Town tournament at the back of a disappointing Dubai tour and were eager to redeem themselves in front of their home supporters They made their intentions clear with a flawless group stage wins
w t gu s b a g, bac ed by t e vo ciferous Cape Town crowd They won the match by 22-17 for a final spot against Argentina
With some of their key players, including semi-final star Tristan Leyds missing for the final due to injuries, the Blitzboks made a poor start They conceded a converted try in
In the first minute of the second half, Moneta crossed the whitewash for the second time, putting Argentina 19-7 up However, the Blitzboks refused to give up and continued to push hard at the start of the second half They were rewarded in the second
ve s o e su ed t e boys retained the trophy by registering a 21-19 victory
The win elevated the Springboks to the top of the HSBC log after two rounds
The Blitzboks will look to carry their winning formula to Singapore in January next year
Matteo Graziano of Argentina shows a face of determination to stop Christie Grobbelaar of the Blitzboks crossing the try line during the final of the HSBC sevens tournament at Cape Town Stadium on Sunday 7 December The Blitzboks won 21-19 to win back-to-back at tournament on home PHOTOS: SUPPL ED
MICapeTown#OneFamilyspirittrophytour
Supporters of MI Cape Town in the Southern Suburbs will have an opportunity to share Christmas cheer with the team and SA20 Trophy tour ahead of the start of the fourth edition of the competition on Friday 26 December On Saturday 13 December, some players will visit Canal Walk and Kenilworth Centre on Monday 15 December
“We kicked off the Trophy Tour on Saturday 6 December at CapeGate in Kraaifontein, and fans attending at Canal Walk and Kenilworth Centre
will also have a chance to win prizes
“As Cape Town steps into the festive Christmas season and builds excitement for the SA20 kicking off on Friday 26 December at Newlands, MI Cape Town is taking the coveted silverware to the people,” says Pratik Gore, spokesperson for MI Cape Town Inspired by MI’s global #OneFamily spirit, the tour brings the championship silverware closer to the fans who fuelled the team’s remarkable 2025 title run “The Trophy Tour aims to spark excitement among the
fans ahead of the new season and strengthen the emotional bond between the team and the community
Fans can expect an immersive experience featuring a secure trophy display, a selfie zone with live photo printing, interactive trivia sessions, and high-energy engagement running crowd games, and a Cape Town-inspired play list
“Exclusive prizes like signed merchandise are up for grabs and if you know everything and anything about MI Cape Town during the fan quizzes, you will be a winner
“The tour promises to be a citywide celebration of festive spirit, passion and championship glory, adding Christmas cheer to the build-up for the new season, ” he says Currently members of the different franchises are in action for the Proteas in India and will all be donning the colours of the franchises before the start of the tournament
MI Cape Town will again be led by Rashid Khan Their first fixture is against Durban Super Giants at Newlands The first double-header is on Saturday 27 December between:
.
Super
and .
Eastern
MICAPETOWNSQUAD:
Pretoria Capitals versus Joburg
Kings at Centurion
Paarl Royals versus Sunrisers
Cape at Boland Park in Paarl
Trent Boult, Corbin Bosch, Rassie van der Dussen, Reeza Hendricks, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan, Dan Lategan, George Linde, Tristan Luus, Tom Moores, Nicholas Pooran, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Jason Smith, Jacques Snyman, Dane Piedt, Dwaine Pretorius and Tiaan van Vuuren
