





In a bid to make our roads safer, the Western Cape Government will be offering free 10-point vehicle safety checks for all motorists ahead of the upcoming Easter holiday period. Motorists are encouraged to take advantage of this service, especially those planning long trips. This initiative forms part of the Western Cape Government’s ongoing commitment to ensuring safe and reliable transportation on our roads
The free inspections will be conducted by qualified examiners and focus on key safety components, including: tyres; brakes; lights; suspension; CV joints; electrical systems; exhaust systems; wipers; licence discs and more Motorists are to note that the initiative is not a full roadworthy test, but a vehicle inspection to test the fitness of their vehicles The Western Cape Mobility Department confirmed that driver licences will not be scanned for outstanding warrants or fines Each vehicle will receive a printed report identifying any issues which the driver can then attend to By participating in this free inspection, motorists are contributing to safer roads in the Western Cape
The planned free vehicle safety checks will be available from 08:00 to 15:30 at various locations across the province
on the following dates:
Friday, 11 April
Monday, 14 April
Tuesday, 15 April
Wednesday, 16 April
In partnership with Private Testing Centres and Local Authorities, the Western Cape Government has made these safety checks easily accessible to motorists The free checks will be conducted at the following Testing Centres:
• Gene Louw Traffic Training College, Brackenfell Blvd, Brackenfell
• Hessequa Municipality, 48 Mulder Str, Riversdale
• George Municipality, Cnr Station and Hibernia Str, George
• Saldanha Bay Municipali-
ty, Cnr Suffren and Bree Str, Langebaan
• Saldanha Bay Municipality, 16 Velddrif Rd, Vredenburg (for Scholar Transport GVM greater than 3500kg)
• AVTS Airport, Boston Circle, Airport Industria AVTS Bellville, Duminy/ Voortrekker Rd, Bellville
• AVTS CBD, 86 Sir Lowry Rd, Cape Town
• AVTS Kenilworth, 422 Imam Haron Rd, Lansdowne
• AVTS Strand, 3 Calvyn Str, Strand
• AVTS Table View, 139 Blaauwberg Rd, Table View
• AVTS Wingfield, Olympic Park, Voortrekker Rd, Goodwood
• VTS Athlone, 103 Orion Rd, Surrey Estate
• VTS Diep River, 127 Main Rd, Diep River
Western Cape Mobility Minister Isaac Sileku stated, ”As we approach the Easter holiday period, we urge all road users to make safety a priority
Our free vehicle safety checks provide motorists with the opportunity to ensure their vehicles are in a safe condition before embarking on their journeys A well-maintained vehicle is crucial in preventing crashes caused by mechanical failures I encourage all drivers to take advantage of this initiative and do their part in making our roads safer for everyone ”
The Darling Community Policing Forum (CPF) needs to fill vacant positions, therefore a special General Meeting will take place.
The following positions need to be elected:
1. Chairperson
2. Deputy Chairperson
3. Treasurer
4. Project Coordinator
If your organisation wishes to join the Darling CPF, it can nominate and elect members to serve on the Executive
Committee (ExCo). Only member organisations are eligible to be nominated and elected in positions
Application forms can be collected at Darling police station.
The due date for the submission of the Membership application form will be 17 April before 16:00 at the Darling police station
The SGM is at 18:30 at the Darling Community Hall on 24 April.
The Riebeek Valley Community Police Forum, the local South African Polices Service, the Riebeek-West Neighbourhood Watch and Riebeek-Kasteel Neighbourhood Watch, Community in Blue, Kasteel Bataleurs and the Victim -supporters held an Imbizo in Riebeek West on 27 February and in Riebeek Kasteel on 3 April respectively.
During these events they shared a snapshot of crime in the Riebeek Valley and the crime prevention strategies and projects that were developed and are in place
Members of the CPF and local police will be available every second month in both areas to build trust and good community relations
The CPF and police held open
air meetings including meetings in various halls in different parts of these neighbouring towns
These meetings enables the community to raise concerns while complimenting service delivery
At each meeting the CPF and police will give feedback on concerns raised and progress made
"We are a group of volunteers together with the NHWs and CIB to assist police in preventing crime in our areas We appreciate your support for attending these meetings and value your inputs Only together we can make a difference in our communities," they said
The CPF will soon be strarting a recruitment drive for youth to join the Crime Prevention Youth Desk and the religious fraternity to join the Spiritual Crime Desk
’n Droë winter wag op die Wes-Kaap, terwyl die oostelike kusgebiede swaar reën kan verwag, wat moontlik oorstromings kan veroorsaak.
Só voorspel die Suid-Afrikaanse weerdiens.
Die suidwestelike dele van die land kan dus ’n droë herfs en winter in sy reënseisoen verwag.
Die voorspelling hou ernstige gevolge vir wintergewasse en watersekerheid in. Daarteenoor kan die suidelike en oostelike kusgebiede ’n besonder nat winter verwag.
In sy maandelikse seisoenale klimaatvoorspelling, wat vyf maande vooruit kyk – tot die einde van Augustus – sê die weerdiens seisoenale veranderinge raak die suidwestelike dele van die land en die suidelike en oostelike kusgebiede.
“Die suidwestelike dele van die land sal waarskynlik ondergemiddelde reënval ontvang, terwyl die suidelike en oostelike kusgebiede waarskynlik bogemiddelde reënval sal ervaar,” lui die
voorspelling.
Maksimumtemperature in die meeste dele van die land sal waarskynlik hoër as die gemiddelde wees. Dié neiging heers al maande lank en bly onveranderd.
Die landbousektor in die Wes-Kaap het sy kommer ná die jongste voorspelling, wat op 31Maart uitgereik is, uitgespreek.
Die Wes-Kaap is Suid-Afrika se grootste produsent van wintergewasse, insluitend koring
Koringboere sal dus die volgende weervoorspelling aan die einde van April goed bestueer. Dit dien ook as riglyn vir die komende saaiseisoen en word kort voor grondvoorbereiding en aanplanting uitgereik.
Verder het die weerdiens bevestig dat die LaNiña-weerverskynsel verby is en die El Niño- suidelike ossillasie (Enso) tans in ’n neutrale fase is.
La Niña bring gewoonlik goeie reënval vir suidelike Afrika, terwyl ElNiño dikwels droogtes meebring. Enso se invloed is minder prominent in die winter.
Die ACVV-hoofbestuur spreek sy opregte dank uit teenoor die Malmesbury-gemeenskap vir hul lojale ondersteuning oor baie jare. Dit is juis danksy hierdie samewerking en betrokkenheid dat die pragtige fasiliteite van ACVV Malmesbury opgebou is en kan voortbestaan en diens lewer aan dié wat dit die nodigste het. Ons waardeer ook die nuutste belangstelling van gemeenskapslede wat onlangs aansoek gedoen het om as lede by die ACVV Malmesbury aan te sluit.
Die volgende ledevergadering sal op 10 April 2025 plaasvind by die ACVV- dienssentrum in Malmesbury, en nuwe lede is reeds uitgenooi om dit by te woon. Die ACVV bestaan reeds meer as 120 jaar en het ’n trotse nalatenskap van diens aan kwesbare gemeenskappe Malmesbury was een van die eerste dorpe waar die ACVV in 1906 ’n tak gestig het. Die organisasie fokus op ontwikkelingsgerigte welsynsdienste, insluitend kinder- en gesinsorg, diens aan ouer persone en persone met gestremdhede, en programme vir vroeëkinderontwikkeling.
Die ACVV-hoofbestuur (NPO 002-834) is die moederliggaam waaraan al die affiliale (takke) behoort. Ingevolge die ACVV se grondwet is dit die mandaat van die hoofbestuur om toesig te hou oor die affiliale se bedrywighede, ondersteuning te bied en toe te sien dat al die takke binne die raamwerk van toepaslike wetgewing en die ACVV-grondwet sowel as beleide en praktykkodes werk.
Wanneer ’n affiliaal uitdagings ondervind, bied die ACVV-hoofbestuur
Die Wes-Kaapse regering waarsku dat min skerpioen-teengif beskikbaar is Leensie Lötter, ’n woordvoerder vir die provinsiale departement van gesondheid, maan mense om bykomende voorsorg te tref om nie deur ’n skerpioen gesteek te word nie. Die giftigste skerpioen in Suid-Afrika is die parabuthus-spesie (dikstert), wat oor die hele Wes-Kaap voorkom Dit verskil in kleur en ’n uitstaande kenmerk is dat die stert, in vergelyking met die knypers, baie dik en robuust is.”
Lötter vra mense moet op die uitkyk wees vir skerpioene, hul skoene uitskud en ná sonsonder skoene dra. Die giftige “dikstert”, Parabuthus granulatus.
Noluvu Ludidi
The deadline to replace the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) gold card for the black one has once again been extended, to Saturday 31 May
This comes after the 20 March deadline for the replacement of cards came and went, with thousands of grant beneficiaries still having to migrate to Postbank Black cards
On the West Coast residents have shared their concerns about the deadline as many have still not received their new gold cards One resident of Vredenburg said she had made her way to the Shoprite Vredenburg point many times, but still hadn’t been helped due to long queues and the influx of people making their way to the only available point on the West Coast To help ease the number of people on the West Coast, SPAR Langebaan and SPAR Saldanha also made their stores available so local grant beneficiaries can receive their new cards
Charmaine Laubscher, Deputy Mayor of Saldanha Bay, said three points are not merely enough
travelling costs “People on a Sassa grant have to borrow money for travelling to get their grant, creating a deficit for their household
“It appears Sassa has also learnt from its own mistakes because nothing was in place at first The system is only starting to fall into place to assist our people to make the switchover ”
Jaco Londt, Western Cape MEC for Social Development, said in the course of April and May they can either change to the Postbank black card or change their payment method at a Sassa office to a bank of their choice Those with gold cards have been asked not to go to a Post Office to withdraw their grants
“We urge residents not to wait Please make the change as soon as possible to avoid added pressure on the system,” Londt said “We also urge Postbank to step-up its communication, something we will continually tell the management as well
aanvullende ondersteuning om die affiliaal by te staan. Hierdie bystand geskied deur middel van raad en daad en – waar nodig – die beskikbaarstelling van kundiges van die ACVV se hoofkantoor. Die doel van hierdie betrokkenheid is om die affiliaal se kapasiteit te versterk en volhoubare dienslewering te verseker binne die riglyne van die ACVV se grondwet, beleid en toepaslike wetgewing Na aanleiding van bekommernisse wat uit die gemeenskap en van personeel, inwoners en hul families na vore gekom het, het die ACVV-hoofbestuur op 6Februarie formeel versoek dat die Wes-Kaapse departement van maatskaplike ontwikkeling ’n ondersoek instel by die ACVV Malmesbury se residensiële fasiliteite. Die fokus van die ondersoek is dienslewering, finansiële bestuur, menslike hulpbronne en die nakoming van regulasies rakende die versorging van ouer persone. Die proses is reeds ver gevorder en die ACVV wag tans op die finale verslag van die departement. Hierdie ondersoek het ten doel om ACVV Malmesbury en sy fasiliteit te ondersteun en te versterk.
Indien persone by die ACVV wil aansluit, is u welkom om uit te reik na ACVV Malmesbury Medewerkers/vrywilligers wat nie noodwendig wil aansluit as lede nie, maar by dienslewering betrokke wil raak, is welkom om ons te kontak by malmesbury.tak@acvv org.za
BELINDA MOSTERT, VOORSITTER: ACVVNASIONALE RAAD
“I wish Hopefield, St Helena Bay and Paternoster SPAR would also join Especially now with the period extension it will help a lot Our Sassa people are the most vulnerable people in our towns, and that is why I fought so hard at the beginning, even with the minister, when he suggested that they should have money paid into their bank account I argued that they already get so little money, and cannot pay bank charges as well ” Wayne Solomons from White City said the extra transition points would make a difference and save people
“The announcement has not been shared widely or effectively, hence people contacting us for clarity Next week we will meet with Sassa and Postbank, where we will once again try to pressure them into stepping-up their game We know there are staff on the ground working extremely hard to help vulnerable residents But we also know there are a myriad problems that could have been avoided had proper planning gone into this process ”
He added that they remain committed to assisting however they can, “but we are getting frustrated with the flipflopping by national entities that are mandated to serve the most vulnerable We urge them to do better and step-up their game.”
Meet Swartland Municipality'sTown Managers
Swartland Municipality covers a vast and diverse area, encompassing larger towns likeYzerfontein, Darling, Moorreesburg and Malmesbury, as well as smaller towns such as Riebeek Kasteel, RiebeekWest, Koringberg, Kalbaskraal, Abbotsdale, Riverlands, and Chatsworth In total, 11 towns fall under the municipality's jurisdiction
Managing such an extensive region presents significant challenges which is why town managers have been appointed to oversee daily operations in key areas
The Role of aTown Manager
Town managers serve as the crucial link between residents and municipal services, ensuring smooth day-to-day operations Their responsibilities include overseeing service delivery, ensuring compliance with municipal by-laws and traffic regulations and implementing council policies
While they do not have direct authority over employees in other municipal departments, they work closely with supervisors to coordinate responses to community concerns
Meet Your Town Managers
Each town manager brings a unique skill set to their role, combining administrative oversight with hands-on involvement in specific municipal functions:
• Darling: Stephan Kellerman, who recently took up the position, also serves as part of the electrical in Darling
• Yzerfontein: Neale Africa, a familiar face in the community, has been the town manager for the past four years and is also a member of the municipal law enforcement team Moorreesburg:Tom Rossouw, the town manager for Moorreesburg, is also part of the electrical team
Key Responsibilities of a Town Manager
While town managers primarily serve in a coordinative capacity, their responsibilities are wide-ranging and include:
supervisors from civil and electrical engineering services, as well as protection services, to address reported issues
Monitoring task progress through regular meetings with supervisors and updating work schedules to track outstanding issues
• Consulting with supervisors on remedial actions, resource allocation, and adherence to service delivery standards
• Conducting inspections to ensure work quality, safety compliance and overall municipal service standards
• Providing progress reports on completed and ongoing municipal service projects
• Inspecting municipal workshops to ensure material availability safety compliance and workplace organization
Engaging with the community by attending ward meetings, sports forums, and other gatherings to stay informed about local concerns and service delivery needs
• A Coordinated Approach to Service Delivery Residents of Moorreesburg,Yzerfontein and Darling are encouraged to contact their town managers to report municipal issues and contribute to maintaining high service delivery standards in their communities
Contact Your Town Manager:
• Handling complaints and enquiries related to municipal services, including water supply, storm water management, roads, streetlights, sidewalks, sewerage, parks, public gardens, municipal buildings, refuse collection swimming pools sports fields municipal accounts, electricity, law enforcement and fire services Coordinating work assignments by liaising with
• Stephan Kellerman (Darling): 022 492 2237 NealeAfrica(Yzerfontein):0224512258/0224512366 Tom Rossouw (Moorreesburg): 022 433 2246
Joh Henschel
Leopards draw attention. That is precisely what they did on Monday 17 March when Dr Bool Smuts gave a public talk on leopards to a packed hall of the Velddrif Municipality.
He is the general manager of the Landmark Foundation, an non-governmental organisation concerned with conservation and land management with a particular focus on leopards as the last free-roaming top carnivores.
Smuts demonstrated how he and his organisation’s team investigated past practices that had resulted in the localised extermination of leopards, due to government-funded bounties and state-employed “vermin” hunters in the Cape from 1656
until 1968. As a result of cumulative changes in government management and conservation actions by NGOs and others, the attrition slowly subsided, and the leopard populations responded by recolonising available habitats
After more than a decade of gaining insights into the leopard population growth, movements and range expansions in the Eastern Cape and the Western Cape in 2019, the Landmark
The Western Cape Government's Department of Infrastructure, in partnership with the Bergrivier Municipality, proudly handed the first 45 newly-built houses over to beneficiaries of the Piketberg and Porterville housing projects on Friday 28 March.
This handover marks a significant milestone in the municipality’s commitment to providing quality housing and improving the lives of its residents
At the handover ceremony Executive Mayor Alderman Ray van Rooy explained to the beneficiaries that the house is theirs and they should take ownership of it.
“It is your day, you can be proud This is the beginning of a new chapter for you and your family Enjoy the house ”
Foundation was alerted by farmers of the return of leopards to the Piketberg Mountain after a century of absence. This was interesting, since the 110 000 ha Piketberg mountain is located like an island, away from the Cederberg escarpment mountains, where leopards were known to occur, with only a narrow conservation corridor connecting the two mountains between Het Kruis and Redelinghuys.
In several fieldwork campaigns between 2020 and 2023 more than 120 camera traps were mounted in a network across Piketberg Mountain, which took more than 500 useable photographs of leopards and more than 8 000 of other medium to large mammals. By individually identifying leopards by their spots the researchers estimated more than 40 leopards
in the Piketberg Unlike other surveyed areas, there were more male leopards than females, possibly because the recolonisation was too recent for demographic processes to be fully established.
This remarkable recovery can be attributed to the cessation of government-sponsored carnivore persecution and local communities’ positive attitudes towards leopards Farmers improved their livestock protection by enhancing nocturnal kraaling, reintroducing herding, reducing livestock numbers or switching to alternative farming
Such changes in land-use practices improved ecosystem health. This enables a remarkable 33 medium-large wild mammal species to co-exist with Piketberg land users. Landmark’s research facilitated this process by documenting the recovery process, identifying
its key elements and providing feedback to land managers.
Public engagement, as done in Velddrif last week, and environmental education at schools further boost Landmark’s conservation efforts.
Notwithstanding these remarkable successes, the grim assemblage of confiscated gin traps Smuts had brought to show us and his descriptions of the cruel injuries these have caused leopards bears witness to continued illegal persecution The recovery of the leopard population is challenged further by the recent reintroduction of trophy hunting
Nevertheless, the signs are encouraging. What better demonstration of healthy ecosystems than healthy populations of apex predators, like leopards, coexisting with human communities?
Tertius Simmers, Western Cape MEC for Infrastructure, with Van Rooy, personally handed the keys to the new homeowners and cut the ribbon for some of the elderly beneficiaries, symbolising the beginning of a new chapter for them and their families.
He mentioned he was very proud to share this moment with all the beneficiaries who had waited so patiently for this moment.
“Thank you for being patient and for keeping the faith. This is your day, for you are now a new homeowner. Take responsibility for your house and look after it.”
Trytjie Sampson (89) is the oldest beneficiary in Piketberg to receive the keys to her new house. She said she was speechless and had no words to express how excited she was.
“I am very grateful and thank God for giving me this house. I am going to clean and work the whole day in my new house.”
More houses will be handed over to beneficiaries over the next few months in Porterville and Piketberg The municipality was grateful to all stakeholders, especially the Department of Infrastructure, for making this project a reality
Hendrik Steyn (62), ’n skopboksafrigter van Malmesbury, is onlangs vir sy bydrae tot sport in Suid-Afrika vereer.
Hy het die erkenning op 13 Maart gedurende ’n spoggeleentheid by die Kronenburg-landgoed in die Paarl ontvang as sportpersoonlikheid op verskeie gebiede, soos onder meer afrigter, administrateur en deelnemer
Die toekenningsgeleentheid was deel van ’n inisiatief van die Wes-Kaapse regering waartydens mense ouer as 55 jaar vir hul prestasies gedurende 2024 vereer word. Ricardo McKenzie, die provinsiale minister van sport, het Steyn se toekenning aan hom oorhandig
“Ek was gelukkig om ook daar vereer te word vir my rol as afrigter en die werk agter die skerms om ons jong mense te bemagtig,” vertel ’n beskeie Steyn, wat sedert 2021 voltyds by die Titans Fitness and Martial arts Academy in die Paarl afrig.
Sy pad met sport het egter jare gelede in KwaZulu-Natal begin. Sport het van kleins af ’n groot rol in sy lewe gespeel.
As kind het hy aan verskeie skoolsportsoorte deelgeneem. Hy het gedurende sy laerskooldae ook boks, judo en selfs karate beoefen.
Sy grootste inspirasie vir die sport was legendariese sportlui soos die destydse Pierre Fourie, Muhamad Ali en verskeie ander van daardie tyd
As ’n volwassene het Steyn aanhou sport doen, wat onder meer klubrugby en muurbal in Pretoria ingesluit het, maar meestal net boks geoefen om die vaardigheid te behou. Hy het ’n uiters besige werkskedule as ontwerpingenieur en het hy al sy sportbedrywighede vir ’n paar jaar lank op die agtersitplek geplaas, vertel hy “Ek het egter op ’n dag in 2016 besluit ek moet fiks word. Omdat boks ’n fisiek uitdagende sport is en ek van omtrent sewejarige ouderdom geboks het, het ek besluit dit sal die beste sport wees om my fiksheid in ’n kort tydjie te verskerp en ek geniet in elk geval die sport,” brei hy opgewonde uit.
Volgens Steyn bied weinig gimnasiums vandag slegs boks aan, maar eerder ’n verskeidenheid gevegskunsvorms onder een dak. “Dit het my goed gepas, want ek was ook lus vir die uitdaging waar jy nou nie net jou hande gebruik om te veg nie, maar ook jou voete, bene, knieë en elmboë.”
Steyn het op 52-jarige ouderdom amptelik by ’n gimnasium in die Paarl aangesluit en nooit weer teruggekyk nie
Die sentimeters wat hy om sy middellyf afgeskud het, was ook nie te versmaai nie, skerts hy. Hy het in Januarie 2016 by ’n ander gimnasium aangesluit, wat sedert 2019 as die Titans Fitness and Martial Arts Academy bekendstaan. Daar het hy oor ’n tydperk van nege jaar van ’n
ontvang het
Hendrik beoefen die buitemuurse sport boks al van sewejarige ouderdom af
witgordel tot eerstedanswartgordel gevorder. Steyn het klas begin aanbied kort nadat hy sy blougordel verwerf het, wat deel van die sillabus is, om deelnemers se vermoë om instruksies en kennis van die sport te kan oordra en te demonstreer, beklemtoom. “Ons hoofafrigter het my in daardie stadium die geleentheid gegee om gereeld af te rig.” Die saadjie is geplant en Steyn was sedert 2021 afrigter vir lede op alle vlakke – van beginners tot mededingende atlete. Die wedersydse respek onder atlete, die nederigheid, afwesigheid van ego’s en die kameradie onder almal – selfs tussen deelnemers en hul teenstanders –is die aspekte wat Steyn die meeste van dié sport geniet. “Hierdie sport vereis geweldige toewyding Dit is regtig ’n harde sport wat fisiek uitdagend is, maar daar is ook ’n groot mate van bevrediging, selfs al kry jy ’n blou oog of ’n bloedneus in die proses,” lag hy. Volgens hom is die vlak vaardighede ook veeleisend.
Groot vreugde word ook as afrigter langs die kryt ervaar waar hy sy deelnemer kan motiveer, aanmoedig en raad gee voor en tydens ’n kompetisie asook wanneer hulle na hom luister en presies doen wat hy voorstel en dan met ’n goue medalje wegstap. Steyn is in 2023 gekies om die Boland-span (Kaapse Wynland) af te rig. Hy is verlede jaar gekies om die 2025-WP-span eersdaags as afrigter na die SA nasionale kampioenskap in New Castle, KwaZulu-Natal, te vergesel. Die kampioenskap is van 26 tot 29 April. Die grootste uitdaging as afrigter vir hom is om die jong mense se aandag deurgans te behou
Volgens hom is die meeste van die oefeninge wat hulle doen, daarop gemik om veral jong deelnemers se postuur, balans, koördinasie en deursettingsvermoë te bevorder.
Steyn wil oor die volgende twee jaar as afrigter op die jonger geslag, wat hy voorberei om oor te neem, fokus “Dit is my droom om te sien hoe die jonger geslag opstaan en klasgee en hul vaardighede demonstreer soos hulle geleer is – nes afrigters 50 jaar gelede ’n blywende indruk op my gemaak het. Vir my is dit belangrik om hierdie vaardighede en lesse aan die jonger geslag oor te dra.”