TygerBurger | Brackenfell | E-Edition | 10 December 2025
CHESS LEGENDS INSPIRE YOUTH
Alate appeal against the Environmental Authorisation (EA) granted to Cape Winelands Airport was received and condoned by Anton Bredell, provincial minister of local government, environmental affairs and development planning last week
Cape Winelands Airport was granted EA from the provincial department of environmental affairs and development planning (DEADP) on 27 October
A total of six appeals were lodged, among which two from poultry farmers one of which County Fair, the developer Garden Cities, a nearby airfield,
“Thiswillhavea negativeimpacton theirhealth...”
-Dr Leonard Heydenrych
Some of the world’s greatest chess grandmasters landed in Cape Town last week for the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Finals taking place at Grootbos near Gansbaai this week Last Thursday four participants of the Finals visited the University of the Western Cape (UWC) where they met with about 200 fans of all ages, most of them players from local chess clubs for a simultaneous exhibition organised by Freestyle Chess in partnership with Chess South Africa Magnus Carlsen (Norway) and Levon Aronian (USA) played a tandem simul, alternating moves against 20 boards, winning 15,drawing one and losing four games while Vincent Keymer (Germany) and coach/commentator Peter Leko (Hungary) stayed undefeated,drawing two games and winning 18 Here Carlson (left) and Aronian chats with a young chess player during the UWC visit PHOTO LENNART OOTES / FREESTYLE CHESS
Morningstar Flyers Association, as well as five airport tenants who have jointly appealed They are Cape Town Flight Training Centre; Diepkloof Aircraft Maintenance; 4 Aviators; Helivate Helicopter Services and WCMS CC T/A AeroSport TOPAGE2
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The late appeal was received on 24 November and condoned by Bredell’s office on 1 December
POULTRYCONCERNS
In the appeal by the Darson Trust, trading as Aberfeldy Farm in Klipheuwel, it is stated that they have already received approval for an environmental impact assessment (EIA) for new poultry houses to expand their farming operations on their farm Kliprug, which is adjacent to the land on which the airport is proposed
“A poultry farm should not be next to an airport due to potential biosecurity risks, disease transmission from wildlife and noise pollution that could stress the birds,” is stated
MAJORMILESTONE
In response to the appeals Cape Winelands Airport says it welcomes the appeal process
“The approval of the EA marked a major milestone in the progression of the Cape Winelands Airport expansion project and followed an extensive environmental assessment and consultation process undertaken in full compliance with the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA)
“The authorisation was the culmination of more than two years of dedicated environmental planning and public participation, including four rounds of public consultation, two open days, a town hall meeting and over 40 specialist studies assessing environmental, social and technical factors, says Deidre Davids, spokesperson for Cape Winelands Airport ”
ONLYSIXAPPEALS
Of the about 1 500 registered interested and affected parties, only six appeals were received
“Cape Winelands Airport maintains that there has been an overwhelmingly positive response to the planned airport expansion, as can be seen by multiple letters of support,” Davids says
“The grounds for appeal differ for each of the appellants and range from concerns about impact of noise; impact on birdlife; impact on continued operations once the airport goes into construction and socioeconomic impacts ”
Other grounds for appeal include sustainability and climate change, carbon emissions and impact on traffic
“The concerns raised are largely a repeat of what has been raised previously Throughout the four public participation process inputs were taken from interested and affected parties and specialist reports were reviewed and updated to take into account comments and inputs raised,” she says
RESPONSIBLEDEVELOPMENT
“We welcome the appeal process as an additional opportunity to provide clarity, to strengthen understanding, and to demonstrate our commitment to a responsible and sustainable development
“We value every concern raised and have taken every technical concern seriously from noise modelling to aviation safety to transport planning and each has been addressed through detailed, specialist-led studies,” Davids says
COMPREHENSIVEINFRASTRUCTURE
The proposed project entails the expansion of the existing Cape Winelands Airport in a phased development approach
The development will also include comprehensive airside infrastructure such as taxiways, aircraft parking stands, refuelling systems and cargo facilities
The expansion plans include a new boutique terminal building with modern facilities
NOISEPOLLUTION
One of the objectors, Dr Leonard Heydenrych, says in his appeal “the constant noise created by the airport will have a profoundly negative impact on the surrounding community, but in particular on the children of Fisantekraal High School, which is situated only 1,4 km from the proposed airport”
“This will have a profoundly negative impact on their health and study abilities,” he states
“Several factors could be identified that may endanger the surrounding community, passengers and crewm including several geographical mountainous elevations within close proximity to the proposed runways ”
LIGHTPOLLUTION
County Fair poultry farming operation states in its appeal the landside developments will be immediately adjacent to and in very close proximity to the nearest chicken houses and that it will not be possible for the expanded airport and its poultry operations to coexist due to noise disturbance and dust pollution Light pollution was identified as a major concern for its laying stock
FLIGHTACTIVITIES
The grounds of appeal of Morningstar Flyers Association is that there is inadequate assessment of safety impacts of the flight activities from Cape Winelands Airport on surrounding commercial and recreational aviation activities that make use of the uncontrolled airspace currently in existence for the purpose of, among others, flight training and fire and rescue operations
“The public participation process is defective and non-inclusive as it excluded key aviation authorities and stakeholders and withheld essential information
“There is an absence of adequate conditions of authorisation that mitigate the impact of the CWA on existing aviation activities,” it states Richard Summers Incorporated, acting on behalf of Cape Town Flight Training Centre, Diepkloof Aircraft Maintenance, Aviators, Helivate Helicopter Services and WCMS CC T/A AeroSport, stated in their appeal that there are no assessment of the socio-economic impacts of the CWA development on their operations
The developer Garden Cities states in its appeal that the proposed airport will particularly have an adverse impact on the Greenville development The Garden Cities Greenville development will contribute over 5 000 government subsidised houses
“The Greenville development is directly impacted by the airport by, among others, long-term and irreversible aviation noise impacts,” is stated
CORRECTION
TygerBurger incorrectly reported on this last week (3 December) and apologises for the mistakes
Some of the mistakes include that Stellenbosch Flying Club has appealed, although they have not There were also no appeals from the wine industry, Birdlife South Africa or Paardeberg Conservancy, as well as no groups representing local communities
The school community of Fisantekraal High School has also not raised concerns about noise pollution
“It is also not correct that business groups and farmers fear negative effects on their operations If anything, we have strong support from farmers and the local businesses,” Davids says
Kinderhuis soek hulp met opknappnig
Die Durbanville-kinderhuis soek hulp met die lê van plaveisel buite die huise waarin die kinders tuisgaan, asook die verbetering van die versorgingsafdeling
“Ons is trots daarop dat ons ons geboue en terrein in stand hou vir die welstand van ons kinders
“Ons is geseënd om die binnekant van ons huiseenhede te kon opknap, danksy die ondersteuning van sake-ondernemings, ons gemeenskap en individue en ons is opreg dankbaar daarvoor,” sê Johanna Strauss, bestuurder van die Durbanvillekinderhuis
“Die buitekant voor elke huiseenheid is gedurende die winter modderig, ongelyk en onhigiënies Dit vereis dringend aandag,” sê Strauss . Diegene wat wil bydra kan ‘n e-pos na dch@ dchome org.za stuur
City cops nabbed for extorting spaza shop owners
DESIRÉERORKE
The case of two Cape Town law enforcement officers who were re-arrested on Tuesday 2 December on corruption, extortion and business robbery charges was postponed
These same officers were arrested on similar charges in May this year but returned to administrative duty and were back in the dock on Wednesday
In response to a media inquiry, Wayne Dyason, spokesperson for law enforcement, explained the sequence of events that led to the officers returning to work earlier this year “The City initiated the appropriate action at the time, in line with policies and processes, and the officers returned to work after the disciplinary charges were withdrawn as the police investigation was incomplete,” he told TygerBurger on Thursday “They were placed on administrative duty while the employer continued to investigate the matter internally They were re-arrested by the Hawks on 2 December on the same charges which the City was involved in since January ” The current charges stem from incidents that began on 31 January, and continued until their arrest, according to Hawks spokesperson WO Zinzi Hani
The officers allegedly targeted foreign national spaza shop owners, demanding money regardless of whether asylum documentation was produced “With or without the documents the officers would still demand money On different occasions the victims paid an amount of R5 000 and R6 000,” Hani said During one arrest, the suspects allegedly stole cigarettes worth over R600 000 from a victim's vehicle while the victim was being processed at Philippi East Police Station
Newe-bikesboostsafety
DESIRÈERORKE
DESIRÈE RORKE@TYGERBURGER CO ZA
The community of Northpine has received four high-value e-bikes through a public-private partnership designed to bolster crime-fighting efforts in Northpine, where criminal activity frequently spills from neighbouring crime-hotspots
The City Improvement District (CID) in Northpine approached Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis requesting additional security measures to patrol the area, prompting the mayor to reach out to local e-mobility company Green Riders with the proposal
Green Riders, a proudly South African turnkey green e-mobility provider, focuses on creating significant social and environmental impact
The company aims to generate 50 000 jobs in the last-mile delivery industry over the next five years by recruiting unemployed, underprivileged youth and training them in their local areas to become delivery riders
"Our partners are keen to revolutionise the industry from one which is 95% dominated by foreigners to one in which South Africans can make a remarkable impact," the company states
CHEAPERTOOPERATE
E-bikes are significantly cheaper to operate, saving thousands of Rand annually whilst making a substantial contribution to reducing carbon emissions
Ward councillor for Northpine Grant Twigg says the donation would greatly
assist existing security provider SJC
Security with visible patrols in the area
"With the festive season approaching, the timing could not be better," he says "The CID is continually looking at ways to better safeguard the area with a bigger security footprint "
At Thursday evening's handover ceremony, Hill-Lewis joined security personnel on a ride through the neighbourhood Hill-Lewis said the City was pleased to assist, noting that community safety is everyone's business
Citing the initiative as an example of how a partnership between government, business and the community bears fruit, he said he was impressed by how the residents organised to take responsibility of community safety
"This is an example of how a partnership
between government, business and the community bears fruit," he said Twigg added that the area has seen some reduction in crime over the past five years since the CID's inception "We still see a spillover of drug-related criminal activities from Scottsdene, but there has been improvement in this as well as house burglaries," Twigg told TygerBurger
He noted that whilst the community is mostly positive about the CID's work, unrealistic expectations still exist among some residents "Crime reduction is a process These additional resources are invaluable to further reduce crime in Northpine," he said
CID chair Mark Smith says the e-bikes will effectively make it possible to cover more ground and have quicker response times
ELECTRIC PATROLS PROMISE FASTER CRIME RESPONSE
Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis taking an E-bike ride at the inception of a new security initiative in Cape Town
PANORAMA PALMS
Die SuidAfrikaanse Astronomiese Sterrewag se hoofteleskoop net buite Sutherland
Sterrekykkan joustresverlig
Terwyl geestesgesondheidsuitdagings oor Suid-Afrika heen toeneem, wend 'n baanbrekersnavorsingsprojek hom na n onverwagte bondgenoot, die naghemel Navorsers van die Universiteit Stellenbosch (US) se CoCREATEgesondheidshub 'n nis in die afdeling gesondheidstelsels en openbare gesondheid en die Internasionale Sterrekundige Unie se Kantoor vir Sterrekunde vir Ontwikkeling (IAU-OAD) is besig om bloot te lê hoe sterrekyk-ervarings stres kan verminder, gemoedstoestand kan verbeter en sosiale verbintenis kan versterk Met byna 40% van Suid-Afrikaners wat simptome van depressie of angs toon, is innoverende en toeganklike benaderings tot geestesgesondheid dringend nodig Die baanbrekerprojek, Astronomy for Mental Health (Astronomie vir Geestesgesondheid), is die eerste van sy soort in Suid-Afrika wat wetenskaplik ondersoek hoe ontsag, verdieping in die natuur en "kosmiese perspektiefwaarneming" emosionele welstand beïnvloed
DIENAGRUIM'N
GEESTESGESONDHEIDSHULPMIDDEL
Die projek, gelei deur prof Lynn Hendricks, dr Therese Fish en Nikki Thomas van die US, saam met Dominic Vertue, dr Charles Takalana en Kevin Govender (IAU-OAD), ondersoek hoe gestruktureerde sterrekyksessies van plaaslike gemeenskapsbyeenkomste tot oornag-sterrekunde-wegbreeksessies geestesgesondheid kan ondersteun Volgens die navorsers bou dit voort op Kaplan se aandagherstelteorie, wat verduidelik hoe natuurlike omgewings, veral dié wat ons sintuie op n sagte manier betrek, die verstand help om van moegheid te herstel Die nagruim, wyd en rustig, bied wat navorsers "sagte fassinasie" noem; 'n moeitelose vorm van aandag wat duidelikheid en perspektief herstel
Wêreldwye bewyse toon toenemend dat ontsagwekkende ervarings breingebiede aktiveer wat aan emosionele regulering gekoppel is, kortisolvlakke verlaag en ‘n gevoel van kalmte herstel Die navorsingspan glo die nagruim bied ‘n unieke, kragtige weergawe van hierdie uitwerking
Die span stel veral belang in die "oorsigeffek" n verskynsel wat deur ruimtevaarders beskryf word dat, wanneer hulle die aarde vanuit die ruimte sien, hulle n diepgaande verskuiwing in bewustheid en verbintenis met die mensdom ervaar Deur gewone mense uit te nooi om op te kyk en oor hul plek in die kosmos te besin, hoop die navorsers om soortgelyke gevoelens van kalmte, dankbaarheid en samehorigheid hier op aarde aan te wakker
VOORLOPIGERESULTATE:VROEË BEVINDINGSVANSUTHERLAND
Altesame 14 gesinne van uiteenlopende agtergronde het onlangs in Sutherland, die tuiste van sommige van die wêreld se donkerste nagruimtes en die ikoniese Suider-Afrikaanse Groot Teleskoop (SALT), aan n begeleide sterrekundenaweek, georganiseer deur die US se CoCREATE-gesondheidshub en IAUOAD, deelgeneem Deelnemers het die Karoo-landskap verken, Saturnus se ringe, die kraters op die maan en die Melkweg waargeneem en aan nadenkende
NAVORSINGSRESULTATE LYK BELOWEND
gesprekke langs die vuur deelgeneem
Voorlopige resultate toon dat sterrekykery onmiddellik simptome van depressie verminder en deelnemers se bui verbeter het Deur 'n kombinasie van selfverslagvraelyste, reflektiewe joernaalvoering, onderhoude en fokusgroepe te gebruik, het die span 'n konsekwente patroon opgemerk: deelnemers het n afname in gevoelens van angs en neerslagtigheid binne 24 uur ná die sterrekyk-ervaring aangemeld
"Indien die uitwerking net oor ontsnapping of rus gegaan het, sou ons 'n soortgelyke reaksie ná enige naweekbreek verwag het," sê Hendricks "Wat ons egter vind, is dat die kosmiese element, die uitgestrektheid, die ontsag, 'n duidelike verskuiwing skep Dit kalmeer nie net mense nie; dit verander hoe hulle oor hulself en hul plek in die wêreld dink "
VROEËRESULTATEISBELOWEND
Deelnemers het binne 24 uur minder angs en ’n beter gemoedstoestand ervaar Baie het n "geestelike wydheid" beskryf, ‘n kalm en nie-oorvol verstand met ruimte om emosies en inligting beter te verwerk sonder om oorweldig te voel Sommige het ‘n blywende perspektief oor die lewe en doel aangemeld
Gesinne het groter samehorigheid en betekenisvolle, afleidingsvrye verbintenisse aangemeld
Een deelnemer het in ‘n opvolgnadenkingsessie die volgende opgemerk: "Ek sien steeds die Melkweg wanneer dinge swaar voel Dit herinner my daaraan dat my probleme nie oneindig is nie "
Volgens Fish, vise-dekaan: kliniese dienste en sosiale impak by die US se fakulteit geneeskunde en gesondheidswetenskappe, vul die inisiatief 'n belangrike leemte
"Ons skep deur hierdie samewerking nuwe maniere vir mense om genesing buite kliniese omgewings te vind Gesinne vind nie net mekaar weer nie, maar vind ook aanklank by die omgewing en ontdek weer 'n gedeelde gevoel van menslikheid " Govender, direkteur van die OAD, voeg by: "Sterrekunde het ons nog altyd genoop om groot vrae te vra Nou leer ons dit kan ons ook help om saam met hulle te sit, stil, saam, onder dieselfde hemelruim "
Wat van belang is, is dat die navorsers tot die gevolgtrekking kom dat sterrekykery veral doeltreffend is in gebiede met beperkte toegang tot geestesgesondheidsorg: Dit is gratis, kultureel universeel en vereis minimale toerusting
VOLGENDESTAPPE
Die projek duur tot 2029 en sal uitbrei om jeugprogramme, stedelike sterrekykkringe, asook sielkundige én fisiologiese metings in te sluit Navorsers sal ervarings oor verskillende omgewings heen vergelyk van stedelike agterplase tot in die diep duisternis van Sutherland om 'n beter begrip te kry van hoe en waarom sterrekunde geestesgesondheid beïnvloed Die navorsers beplan om teen die einde van vanjaar n referaat oor die voorlopige
resultate in te dien Die navorsing is deur die sosiale, gedrags- en opvoedkundige navorsingsetiekkomitee van die US goedgekeur
Vermaak // Entertainment
the Eastern and Western
The duo comprises Fergie Ferguson,the voice behind the smash 80s hit“Man on the Moon”with legendary band Ballyhoo,and his son Michael Ferguson,a multi-talented guitarist and vocalist.
Fatherandson rockingthecoast thissummer
Musical duo Ferg 'n Son is set to hit the Eastern and Western Cape this December with their "It's in the Blood" tour The duo comprises Fergie Ferguson, the voice behind the smash 80s hit "Man on the Moon" with legendary band Ballyhoo, and his son Michael Ferguson, a multi-talented guitarist and vocalist
Blending pop, rock, country and timeless classics, this genre-crossing duo delivers an unforgettable live experience that keeps audiences coming back for more
Born in Belfast Northern Ireland Fergie began his musical journey at a young age, playing guitar and singing in various show bands. Turning professional at just 18, he secured a contract to perform with an Irish show band in South Africa in the early 1970s.
He went on to become a founding member of supergroup Ballyhoo – a name synonymous with success in the South African music industry Their me-
FERG ’N SON LIVE AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS
ga-hit single "Man on the Moon" topped the charts in 1981.
"I grew up watching my dad perform with Ballyhoo and was always in awe At eight years old, I got up on stage to sing with them because I wanted to be part of it, " said Michael.
From 12 to 16 December the duo will visit Bathurst, Kenton on Sea, PE, Knysna and Plettenberg Bay From 18 to 28 December they will perform in McGregor, Heroes Brackenfell (20 December), Drama Factory, Strand (21 December), Cafe Roux, Noordhoek (22 December), Koelkamers, Paternoster (23 and 24 December), Hermanus Golf Club (26 December) and Woodstock Brewery (28 December).
. Visit https://fergnson.io/tour/ for tour information and tickets.
De Wals van de Liefde
Jannie du Toit (stem en kitaar) is saam
met Marcel Dednam (klavier) en Deryn Dednam (alt-saxofoon) in De Wals van de Liefde.
Jannie du Toit se vertoning De Wals van de Liefde is op Woensdag 17 Desember om 20:30 by Die Boer-teaterrestaurant in Durbanville op die planke
Die vertoning is 'n keurige samestelling van Jannie se gunstelinge uit die Nederlandstalige kleinkuns van die twintigste eeu van ernstige ballades oor die liefde en die lewe tot vrolike pret Die liedjies sluit dit in waarvoor gehore altyd weer vra soos "Madeleine" en "Marieke" van Brel. Die Dednam-egpaar, Marcel op klavier en Deryn op alt-saxofoon, is saam met Jannie op die verhoog. . Bespreek by www.dieboer.com.
Ready to meet Judy?
Step into the spotlight and meet the queen behind the curtain in Just Judy: The Beginnings of Judy Judgmental at Die Boer theatre restaurant on Friday 19 December at 20:30 In her dazzling debut, Judy bares all (well, emotionally) in a show that’s equal parts sass, soul, and sequins. Who is Judy Judgmental when the wig comes off and the lights go down? Join for a cheeky and heartfelt evening as Judy takes you on a glitter-soaked journey through identity, vulnerability, and the audacity of becoming Are you ready to meet the diva and the dreamer? . Tickets cost R200
Cats at Artscape this holiday
One of theatre's most iconic musicals, Cats, opens at Artscape today (Wednesday 10 December). The show will run until Sunday 11 January
The South African production features Andrew Lloyd Webber's celebrated score, including the unforgettable ballad "Memory", alongside choreography, costumes and an oversized junkyard set Associate director and choreographer Chrissie Cartwright and musical supervisor Peter McCarthy will bring the production to life, honouring the creative vision of original director Trevor Nunn, designer John Napier, and the late Gillian Lynne, whose choreography continues to define the show's distinctive style
The South African cast includes Cindy Ann Abrahams as Grizabella, King B as Old Deuteronomy, Dylan Janse van Rensburg as Rum Tum Tugger, and Che-jean Jupp as Munkustrap
GLOBALAPPEAL
Based on T.S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, the musical premiered in London's West End in 1981, playing nearly 9 000 performances over 21 years Cats has since been staged in
over 54 countries, translated into 23 languages, and seen by more than 77 million people worldwide
The story follows the Jellicle Cats who gather for their annual Jellicle Ball to decide which cat will ascend to the Heaviside Layer and be reborn. "We are
delighted to bring Cats back to South Africa. It remains one of the most exciting and emotionally rich musicals ever written," said producer Pieter Toerien . Tickets range from R180 to R550 Book at Webtickets or the Artscape Box Office on 021 421 7695.
A night of musical
St George's Cathedral will resonate with the golden sounds of the Baroque era on Friday 19 December at 19:00, when Opera UCT singers and a baroque ensemble present Enchanted Baroque under the direction of Prof Jeremy Silver
The luminous hour of musical masterworks marks a groundbreaking collaboration between the KT Wong Foundation, fashion icon Gavin Rajah, and Opera UCT, all united in supporting South Africa's emerging operatic talent
"Opera UCT represents the very best of South Africa's emerging talent," says Lady Linda Wong Davies, founder of the internationally respected KT Wong Foundation.
"This concert is more than a performance; it is an investment in creativity, collaboration and the global future of South African voices."
The foundation, known for fostering artistic exchange between East, West, and Africa, recently took Cape Town Opera's Porgy and Bess to Beijing and presented the first African photographic
splendor at St George’s
exhibition in China.
ATMOSPHERE
Silver, Opera UCT's director and evening conductor, describes the concert as both an artistic milestone and meaningful cause "Bringing Baroque music to life in the heart of St George's Cathedral is something truly special The acoustics, the atmosphere, the architecture –everything lends itself to the beauty and intimacy of this repertoire."
The evening promises an immersive journey into Baroque music's emotional richness and expressive elegance featuring the finest young voices alongside specialist instrumentalists. Acclaimed designer Gavin Rajah, who recently supported Opera UCT's successful Die Fledermaus production, adds his vision to frame the concert as one of Cape Town's must-attend year-end artistic experiences.
Discounted tickets are available for under-18s and senior citizens.
. Tickets start from R150 at Quicket St George’s Cathedral
. Danie Reënwolf: Songs en Stories is op Woensdag 10 Desember om 20:30 by Heroes Brackenfell. Kaartjies kos van R180 tot R220 Bespreek by www.brackenfell. net of iTickets.
. Cats the musical runs at Artscape Opera House from 10 December to 11 January Tickets from R180 to R580 at Webtickets.
. Kurt Darren tree op Donderdag 11 Desember om 20:30 by Heroes Brackenfell op Kaartjies kos van R180 tot R220 Bespreek by www.brackenfell.net of by iTickets.
. Hidden Giants runs from Thursday 11 to Sunday 14 December at The Star Theatre, Homecoming Centre (District Six) A visual and emotionally charged journey through black holes, human curiosity, and the wonder of the cosmos. Tickets from R260 at Webtickets.
. Cape Town City Ballet's Alice in Wonderland runs at Artscape from 12 to 28 December Tickets R200 to R400 at Webtickets.
. Zaan Sonnekus tree op Vrydag 12 Desember om 20:30 by Heroes Brackenfell op Kaartjies kos van R180 tot R220 Bespreek by www.brackenfell.net of iTickets.
. Cape Open Air is at Muizenberg Park on Saturday 13 December from 12:00 A oneday open-air music experience featuring local musician Jeremy Loops and other artists Tickets from R250 at Webtickets.
. The Tribal Union Choir presents The Journey, an inspiring evening of praise and
worship on Sunday 14 December at 18:00 at the Kraaifontein Civic Centre Advance tickets cost R100 or pay R150 at the door Contact Dealin Pierang on 076 537 3651.
. Dis Kersfees! met Jannie Moolman en Petronel Baard is op Sondag 14 Desember om 15:00 in die NG kerk Stellenbosch. Kaartjies kos R200 by Quicket
. Intimate Christmas with Vezz and Friends is at Zevenwacht Wine Estate on Tuesday 16 December from 17:00 to late Bring camp chairs or blanket Food and beverage on sale Tickets cost R120 Call 073 471 9590 to book.
. Sarajevo runs at the Avalon Auditorium, Homecoming Centre from Tuesday 16 to Friday 19 December A play about love friendship and the war that tried to erase them. Tickets R250 at Webtickets
. Early B tree op Woensdag 17 Desember om 20:30 by Heroes Brackenfell op Kaartjies kos van R180 tot R220 Bespreek by www.brackenfell.net of iTickets
. Alan Committie's new show Av-alaugh-ta runs at Theatre on the Bay from 17 December to 7 February Tickets from R200 at Webtickets
. Barto tree op Donderdag 18 Desember om 20:30 by Heroes Brackenfell op Kaartjies kos van R180 tot R220 Bespreek by www.brackenfell.net of iTickets
. Cape Town Carols at Kirstenbosch runs from Thursday 18 to Sunday 21 December at 18:00 Gates open at 17:00 Tickets cost R125 at Webtickets
. Nik Rabinowitz – Geriatric Millennial runs at The Baxter Concert Hall now until 20 December Tickets from R225 at Webtickets.
. Schalk Bezuidenhout's Krismis Bonanza runs at The Baxter Studio now until 20 December Tickets cost R300 at Webtickets
. Jeremy Loops is at Zevenwacht Wine Estate on Sunday 21 December Tickets R295 at Webtickets
. Boney M featuring Maizie Williams is at De Grendel Wine Estate on Sunday 21 December Gates open at 12:00 and show ends at 19:00 Tickets from R595 at Webtickets
. Pre-Christmas Jazz at Woodstock Brewery is on Sunday 21 December at 19:00 Tickets from R150 to R200 are available at Webtickets . Christmas in the City is on Thursday 25 December at 20:00 in the City Hall. An evening of music, faith, and community Tickets from R170 at Webtickets . Brendan Peyper tree op Vrydag 26 Desember om 20:30 by Heroes Brackenfell op Kaartjies kos van R260 tot R300 Bespreek by www.brackenfell.net
Musical duo Ferg‘n Son is set to hit
Cape this December with their“It’s in the Blood”tour
musical,will open
CapeTowndam levelsdrop
Capetonians have been encouraged to use water sparingly as we enter the hot summer season
According to the City of Cape Town dam levels are currently 15% lower than at the same time last year
This is because Cape Town experienced below-average rainfall this year, the municipality said in a statement issued on Thursday (4 December)
The Department of Water and Sanitation were asking people to be water-wise this summer, and requests that the water usage be kept below 975 million litres per day "As we head into hot summer days, we have already seen a spike in water use at certain points," said Zahid Badroodien, Mayco member for Water and Sanitation
"Consumption recently reached 1 000 million litres of water used in a day, compared to the average 850 million litres
"The main driver of peak water demand, based on previous years, is outdoor use particularly for garden irrigation and topping up swimming pools The proactive water savings target is published weekly as a way of keeping us all accountable to
RESIDENTS ASKED TO USE WATER SPARINGLY
use water wisely "
He said wise outdoor use of water, fixing leaks and complying with permanent regulations are key ways to save water
“City teams will also continue to action our own programmes to ensure we save water too with our infrastructure ”
Currently, the main dams supplying Cape Town are about 79,4%
While there is no immediate reason for concern, it is vital for all of us to proactively monitor and manage our water use over the coming months, the City says This is particularly important for Cape Town this summer, in the face of unpredictable rainfall in 2026
Badroodien said in October this year the City’s weekly water dashboard shifted to an "early drought caution"
This does not mean a drought is confirmed, but it indicates signals of a possible drought cycle emerging
It allows the City to prepare early by activating internal response committees, prioritising repairs and maintenance and working closely with the national department of water and sanitation to ensure that the water system remains well balanced, Badroodien said
. To manage water use proactively the City is urging residents and businesses to all help keep the collective water usage below 975 million litres per day
Mom finds relief for weak bladder
What started as a mother of four’s personal journey to recovery from postpartum incontinence has become a nationwide success story
Chrismari de Kock (41) from Durbanville says after her third child she suffered from a weakened pelvic floor
For many women, these changes arrive after childbirth, and are often brushed aside as “just part of being a mother” a small leak when you laugh, a sudden urge to run to the bathroom (and not getting there on time) and loss of bladder control when you sneeze or run
POSTPARTUMINCONTINENCE
“No one warns you about postpartum incontinence,” she says “It affects almost every aspect of your life and makes things like running, jumping and playing with your children impossible
“I did research on how to improve my pelvic floor Kegel exercises simply did not work for me, because you need to be very consistent Also, my pelvic floor was so weak that I did not benefit from it despite regularly exercising
She tested every other solution she could find, and after discovering pelvic chair treatment, she knew she had the answer
“Within six weeks of sessions on the chair, it felt like ‘before’ I could do all the activities I did before without leaking I also did not have to get up at night to go to the bathroom I could not believe how many years I spent living a restricted life,” she says
EXPANDTO22CLINICS
She started her own branch in September
2023 in Cape Town and then started to roll out new branches in April the next year
In just 19 months, her dedication has helped expand pelvic chair therapy from one practice to 22 across the country
"Pelvic chair therapy is a non-invasive treatment that uses clinically tested electromagnetic technology to strengthen the pelvic floor Each 30-minute session triggers over 11 000 pelvic muscle contractions the equivalent of thousands of Kegel exercises without the effort, discomfort or embarrassment of traditional methods," she says
The treatment is not only for mothers after giving birth, but also for women suffering from heavy menstruation, as well as for men with incontinence after prostate operations and suffering from erectile dysfunction
The pelvic chair is imported from overseas
The City of Cape Town is asking the public to be water-wise to preserve available resources until the next winter rain cycle,especially when using water outdoors in the garden and to top up swimming pools
TygerbergHospice‘lights’theway
TWhen Kenny asked to spend his final days at Botha's home, Botha felt overwhelmed "I had absolutely no idea how to handle the situation " He contacted Tygerberg Hospice and reached Jackie, who immediately reassured him: "It's going to be okay " The situation was complicated by Kenny's refusal to take morphine despite severe pain
When three palliative care sisters arrived, despite being gravely ill, Kenny's demeanour transformed completely "He sits up in his bed and goes, 'Oh hello everybody!' as if nothing was wrong," Botha recalled Kenny, who had lived alone for 15 years, excitedly asked if the nurses would bathe him
With the hospice team's support, Kenny's decline was successfully managed "That demonstration of effort was so comforting to both Kenny and me that it changed our entire view of palliative care," Botha said Kenny passed away peacefully with a smile Botha expressed profound gratitude to the hospice team – "people who lay down their time and selves for a calling greater than themselves "
Referencing French poet Jean de La Fontaine's words: "Man is so made that when anything fires his soul, impossibilities vanish," he concluded: "Hospice, because of you, impossibilities vanish "
Caitlin Crowster paid tribute to volunteer Lozetta Belinfante, who dedicated over eight years of loving service to Tygerberg Hospice before her passing in September "She was never just a volunteer, she became family – her spirit remains within our hospice," Crowster said
COMFORTTHROUGHFAITH
without He encouraged attendees to "run to whoever can bring you comfort – not the bottle, tablets, or holiday, but to the God who understands "
Rev Stephen Nicholson thanked everyone involved with Tygerberg Hospice, ensuring "people never die alone"
He opened with Psalm 23, reminding attendees that "though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me "
Drawing parallels to biblical grief, he emphasised that faith provides comfort during loss "Jesus gets our frustration, our anger, our bitterness at losing someone we love "
He referenced Alcoholics Anonymous's concept of a "higher power", noting that statistics show people with spiritual beliefs handle recovery better than those
Quoting Kahlil Gibran, he explained that "the deeper sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain " He concluded: "Grief is love with nowhere to go Well, now we do have somewhere to go That's God " Nicholson's closing prayer reminded attendees that whilst loved ones may be physically absent, "their light continues to shine, even though at times it feels dark"
Nelson Mandela Artillery Pipes and Drums
Guest speaker Khadija Heeger
Salome got the crowd on their feet
From left: Elizabeth,Kayleigh,Patricia and Francois Sisam from Kuils River and Bellville
Jenna Pinto and Shannon Abrahams from Tygerberg Hospice
From left: Danielle Constable,Randall Fairbairn and Mark Constable from Kuils River attended to honour a nother and brother who have passed
no.5, Midway Shopping Centre, Paarl
Give thanks for all the little things
At this time of the year, we usually complain about everything and how tired we are every day Everyone is patiently waiting for the clock to strike just to go on holiday, even if it is just for a few days or a week
We all feel tired every morning and struggle to get up every day, looking for that courage to go to work and do our things It's not even funny when I say every friend of mine complains about the struggle to get up in the morning I also feel exhausted and see the 80km I must drive every day as a mission to get to work and back home
But when I pause, sink into the quiet corners of my mind, and truly reflect on the tapestry of this year behind me, I can't help but feel guilty about why I'm even complaining I realised that we tend to complain every day about minor things So much so that we forget about all the blessings and little things we can be thankful for We usually look past the small wins
Personally, as bittersweet as it was, I got to spend quality time with my mom, which I never knew I needed I've always been an independent person, away from my family since a young age, and never thought I would come to a point where I could go out with my mom like we're friends, having fun and just enjoying ourselves
I also got a new job, which I had prayed for quite a while It came at a time when I really needed it I also received the gift of love again, meeting someone I've been waiting for a long time now Someone
WESHOULDALWAYSTRYTOBE MORETHANKFUL...
who ticks all my boxes and shows me that what I wanted is still out there After many disappointments, I get to experience the "soft life" and "princess treatment" I deserve There was a time when I thought I would never get to experience it
My eldest and only sister finally got married after all the odds, and I got to experience every step of planning with her, making sure she had the perfect fairytale wedding We also welcomed a new bundle of joy to the family Now this, for me, is more than enough to be thankful for So, I just want to express that besides complaining this time of year while fighting the year-end blues, we should look back and see how far we've come We should also try to be more thankful and give thanks for all we've achieved this year
The fact that you can still see the end of the year creeping up on us means you've achieved something The beauty of being at the end of a calendar year is that very soon we'll have a chance to start over again, making better decisions, facing and overcoming new challenges, setting boundaries and deciding how we are going to face the new year head-on
For now, give thanks and appreciate every little thing that has come our way
Remember 1 Thessalonians 5:18: "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus "
I know it's not always easy giving thanks while dealing with so much happening, not only in your personal and work life but also in the world we live in Having to navigate the weakened economy, gender-based violence and child killings on a daily basis but appreciating the little things around us can make this all feel a little comforting, even if it is just for a moment or two We'll try again next year!
-MAURICIAPETERSEN
BRIEWE|LETTERS
Renewed discussion on Uitkamp development
The letter by so-called Prof Bats Yaku, under the heading “Calling out the snakes in D’ville” (TygerBurger 3 December) reminds one of the battle that took place some 10 to 15 years ago to save the environmentally sensitive game farm of Uitkamp, now Clara Anna Fontein from development
His letter focused mostly on the controversy surrounding the development of the Uitkamp game farm, and had little to do with Reddam House’s recent achievements, which are noteworthy and commendable
HEADLINEARTICLES
A simple Google search of “Uitkamp controversial development” brings up the following headline articles: “Row over Cape housing project” (Property24) “Development punted prior to court ruling”, (l2b), Cape Town passes development buck , (Netwerk24), “Court battle looms over bid to build 700 houses on farm land” (PressReader) and so forth
Some quotes from the articles are as follows: “The homes are due to be built in the Clara Anna Fontein game reserve” “Western Cape premier Helen Zille asked to intervene to stop the development”, “The D Urbanvale Residents Forum has reacted strongly, claiming that they feel betrayed by the council and accused the mayoral committee of ignoring the
unprecedented and overwhelming response from the community to prevent the development”, “Letters of complaint from the Far South Peninsula Community Forum, the Glencairn Action Group, the Simon s Town Civic Association and the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa” “The leader of the ANC in council also weighed in saying his party was concerned about good arable land being used for private development We believe the meeting where this decision was taken was unconstitutional" and “Construction of a 348-unit residential site with a retirement village on yet another tract of agricultural land in the suburb has residents in fear that a growing trend to develop outside of the city's urban edge will turn the picturesque region into a concrete jungle”
IMPACTNEGATIVELY
Perhaps a response to the Property24 article of 22 December 2010 sums it up the best: “As a passionate Durbanviller I do know that this 650-home development on the current farm would impact negatively on the visual attractiveness of the area Me as well as hundreds of fellow hikers bikers and runners use the scenic Vissershok Road on a weekly basis We select to live here because of the beauty of the area Within minutes you are out of the town and into the country between the vineyards and
Justice system battles gang violence daily
Brett Herron, from the Good Party, gave alarming statistics on the ongoing slaugther on the Cape Flats ("The Western Cape Killing Fields" 3 December) Being a politician it is no surprise that he aimed a cheap shot at the Western Cape Provincial Government and blamed them for a lack of political will to address and resolve these tragic deaths
After a 37 years career as a prosecutor ( of which 31 years at the office of the director of public prosecutions), I must perhaps draw Herron's attention to just some of the realities that face the criminal justice system when dealing with gang-related murders
At any given time will you find a number of people either in the street or outside in their yard in these gang-ridden areas, but as soon as there is a murder in
broad daylight, potential witnesses disappear in thin air You can hardly blame them because the intimidation of and even killing of witnesses is a grim reality Do you succeed to convince a witness to testify, that witness will have to be prepared to spend months and even years in the witness protection programme at great personal sacrifices, a daunting prospect for most people?
This is a very complex situation which do not need politicians that try to score cheap political points, but the cooperation of all role players, especially the communities in which these tragic events unfold on a daily basis
ADV CHRISTHÉNUS VAN DER VIJVER (RETIRED), Kuils River
renosterbos farmland Remove this and swop it for 650 close-built small homes which each look the same as the other, and this whole rationale goes out the window The same is happening in the Winelands area Beautiful vineyards are being swopped for housing estates The very reason why people value these areas, are because of its natural beauty “Please stop this development from happening Marnus” Thanks for reminding us of the controversy Prof, but it seems that there was overwhelming opposition to the development for reasons stated in the articles – you can get the full context if you care to Google it yourself
COURTCASE
Oh and just one other thing the court case was fought by non-profit organisations on behalf of the community and funded by members thereof If each person donated an average of R100 (not unusual), it would take 25 000 donations to raise the R2 5 million which you stated as being the cost of the court case That’s more than half the population of Durbanville at the time Fortunately there are more people who care about protecting our rich heritage and the environment than those who do not, and the internet has a good memory!
G S GHOSTOF, Durbanville
Goodwood needs peace
It was with irritation that I read about gang activity in Goodwood where a shoot-out resulted in the death of somebody
Goodwood is and always will be a place where residents can walk in the street mothers can push their kids in prams and youngsters can play in the park
Many of us living in Goodwood are of a senior age and have done our time in the military fighting real soldiers
We want to live in peace , and enjoy our remaining years Those who want to disrupt this, all I can say to you is "Don't pull the lion's tail"
Let us all keep Goodwood safe and enjoy each others company
EX SADF PARATROOPER, Goodwood
GRANDMASTERS MAKE A SPLASH: The first-ever Freestyle Diving Chess Championship saw two world-renowned chess grandmasters take each other on under water in the rooftop pool of the Silo Hotel in Cape Town last Thursday.In the end Hans Niemann (USA) dived his way to victory beating Fabiano Caruana (USA).The Diving Chess competition was the first of several side events that are part of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Finals taking place at Grootbos near Gansbaai this week, featuring some of the world’s best chess grandmasters
PHOTO: STEV BONHAGE / FREESTYLE CHESS
Hundreds donated toToy Run at Killarney
RICHARDROBERTS
RICHARD ROBERTS@NOVUSMEDIA CO ZA
Hundreds of motorcycles revved up to the Killarney International Raceway for the annual Toy Run a campaign run by motorcycle clubs across the country to collect and donate toys to charities and non-profit organisations ahead of Christmas
This year's event took place on Sunday 31 November
Bobby McGee, vice chair of the National Toy Run Trust and member of the Cape Town Motorcycle Club, says the Cape Town Toy Run is one of 19 Toy Runs held nationally on the last weekend of November
Vsitors to the event were also treated to a variety of stalls and a play area There was also a live band performing
The Toy Run Cape Town also thanked all the bikers and everyone who supported the event on Sunday Three trucks were filled with toys, they say The toys were sorted out the following Monday
The Killarney International Raceway posted on social media that thousands of bikers donated toys to underprivileged kids during this year's Toy Run The bikers left from the N1 City Mall and the Athlone Stadium to Killarney
On Friday 29 November the Cape Town Motorcycle Club collected over 1000 toys
from the Edgemead Primary School and the St George’s Grammar School in Mowbray
“The biggest thing for me this year was getting the school initiative going and I am hoping that next year we can approach all of the primary schools, as many as we can reach out to,” says McGee
He says the initiative is run by the biking community, but that it is not necessarily for the biking community
“This was a biker initiative way back in the 1970s Everybody would like to give and donate, but they do not know how to The Toy Run is actually a fantastic conduit to provide the public's generosity to the underprivileged out there, especially at Christmas time, because we want to bring a little bit of joy into their lives ”
McGee says the Toy Run is growing and that it is reaching far and wide
“I hope next year to be able to get 40 000 toys I think we are going to reach that target with the number of toys we collected this year, but next year we are hoping for more All the kids in town have toys that are just lying there, unused toys, and this time of the year is a perfect time for moms and dads to clear out three- or four-year-old toys, to make way for new things in those households,” says McGee
Public warned to be aware and to report water scams
The City of Cape Town has warned residents to be alert and aware of scammers posing as City water and sanitation staff, soliciting payments from customers to avoid supposed water restrictions and disconnections
The City will never request payment via cash send or e-wallet to settle municipal bills, they warned in a statement issued on Tuesday
According to the City the scam has been ongoing since last year and involves a scammer contacting a City customer via telephone or WhatsApp, claiming to be from the City's water and sanitation directorate They then provide the relevant property details and advise the resident that the water to the property will be disconnected immediately due to the municipal account being in arrears
The customer is then told to pay a reconnection fee via cash send or e-wallet, they say
The City says it most recently became aware of an incident, which involved a customer whose municipal account was up to date "We urge residents to remain extra vigilant and to verify any suspicious correspondence directly with the City
CapeTown plotsrail revolution
DESIRÉERORKE
DESIREE RORKE@TYGERBURGER CO ZA
Cape Town is gearing up for a major transport revolution that could fundamentally change how millions of residents move around the Mother City
Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has thrown down the gauntlet to national government, announcing the City will push for complete control of passenger rail services after council last week backed an ambitious business plan that promises to resurrect the metro's beleaguered train network
With Cape Town's rail system having collapsed from carrying over 600 000 passengers daily in 2012 to a fraction of that today due to vandalism, theft and poor maintenance under Prasa, the City's bold takeover bid represents perhaps the most significant transport initiative in decades – one that could see private operators running sleek new services under municipal oversight
The rail business plan looked at nine different handover scenarios and narrowed it down to three workable options Each involves the City taking control of rail services, assets and infrastructure, with private companies running the actual services under contract
The plan also knocked out weaker options where Prasa would keep owning the infrastructure or where the City would run trains directly instead of bringing in private operators
According to the City, passenger rail takeover is essential to improving integrated public transport across the metro, one of several key means to achieving its broader long-term plan target of 110% GDP growth by 2050
NATIONALFUNDING
Crucially, the plan concludes that devolution is only possible with funding from the national fiscus, with no room within the rates base of the City to cross subsidise rail
The City also needs to have authority over fare-setting, access to long-term national grant funding, and to generate local revenue through public-private partnerships and commercialisation
This is in line with the City’s constitutional mandate for integrated transport planning across different public transport modes
"Today is an historic milestone as Council adopts both a business plan for passenger rail takeover in the short-term, as well as our City’s overall long-term plan until 2050, which sets out our strategic goals over the next 25 years," said HillLewis in his address to council
"In the Cape Town of 2050, we’ll mostly use affordable public transport to get around, our streets will be much safer due to smart policing Capetonians urgently need an expanded, affordable, and reliable rail service that is integrated with other forms of transport via one ticketing system The rail business plan will now inform our engagements with national government to devolve passenger rail to the City This is one of the critical first steps in the long-term vision to massively scale up passenger numbers, new train sets, new routes, upgrade stations, and develop surrounding precincts with affordable housing over the next two decades "
The City's Mayco member for urban mobility, Rob Quintas, said that to ensure a viable devolution handover, it is necessary for Prasa and national government to restore the rail network and operations to 2012 levels of 620 000 daily passenger trips, which existed prior to the steady collapse of rail over the last decade
He explained that the City would then work to further expand the rail service, with most scenarios including a new Blue Downs rail link and potentially further expansion dependent on the national fiscus
The City’s rail business plan follows the inception phase of the rail feasibility study, followed by a baseline analysis in October 2023 that assessed the current state of rail operations and infrastructure in Cape Town
This was succeeded by the development of the alternative institutional options report a year later, which identified and evaluated viable network and governance models Following Council’s approval of the preferred institutional options in December 2024, the business plan phase commenced in January 2025
before taking any action Our concern is especially for customers who may be in arrears on their municipal accounts, as they could be more vulnerable to scams promising to prevent water disconnections or restrictions," says Zahid Badroodien, Mayco member for water and sanitation
FACTS
. The City will ever request payment via cash send or e-wallet
. Property owners should check their monthly municipal bills for the status of their accounts They are welcome to call the City's Call Centre should they have queries
. Residents who are in arrears with their municipal account will receive direct notices from the City via email or post on an official City of Cape Town letterhead
. Report any suspicious behaviour to the City's law enforcement agencies, the City fraud hotline on 0800 110 077 or to the police
. Customers are also encouraged to make use of the various City communication channels to verify any communication they receive from the City. Call the City on 0860 103 089, SMS 31373, WhatsApp 060 018 1505 or email water@ capetown.gov.za
Hill-Lewis said that the National White Paper on Rail and the Constitution both recognise that local government is best positioned to deliver integrated, affordable, and accountable public transport through coordinated planning across transport modes
The business plan was developed using in-depth research into the state of the local rail system as well as stakeholder engagement to provide a credible basis for negotiations with national government and further long-term planning, the City stated
Rediscover magic of Christmas
A Christmas market is being presented at Andries Olivier Durbanville Quadriplegic Centre at 18 Hafele Street in Durbanville on Saturday 13 December
The Christmas market will be held in conjunction with the monthly book sale from 09:00 to 14:00 as part of their fundraising endeavours
Crafts such as jewellery, printed T-shirts and handpainted hats will be sold. Other bric-a-brac will be available, as well as reasonably priced plants.
For the hungry there will be boerewors rolls, vetkoek with mince, pies, quiches, pancakes, jaffles, sweets, fudge, burgers, homemade jam, a barrister serving a variety of food and beverages, and more
VARIETYOFBOOKS
A variety of R5 books will be on sale, as well as a variety of curated and well-priced books such as cooking books, biographies, Afrikaans and children's
books, as well as books of South African interest
The Collector’s Corner has some special South African art books on well-known artists such as Frans Claerhout, Alfred Krenz, Francois Krige, John Kramer and Jean Welz
Books on the Anglo Boer War are always in demand and Elsabe Brits’s Emily Hobhouse: geliefde verraaier and Stormberg – a lost opportunity by Johannes Meintjes are among the titles available Last month’s special – Laugh for R1 – proved so popular that they will have a new selection of cartoons and funnies for just R1 each for sale All funds raised are in
Thousands of toys were collected at this year’s annual
Eiendomme // Properties
Contractor tips for new owners
Buying your first home is a major milestone but it also comes with a reality check: there's no landlord to call anymore.
Every repair, upgrade, or renovation suddenly sits squarely on your shoulders From leaky taps and faulty plug points to repainting rooms, installing new lighting, or redoing a bathroom or kitchen, new homeowners quickly discover just how long and technical the to-do list can become And whilst DIY suits those who enjoy it, many first-time buyers and young professionals simply don't have the time, tools, or interest Whether you re fixing everyday issues or planning a bigger makeover, choosing the right contractor becomes one of the most important decisions you'll make As Orlando Luis, CEO of Brights Hardware, notes: "A good contractor doesn't just do the job they help you make informed choices, avoid costly mistakes, and protect the investment you've made in your home "
Here are his practical tips to help first-time homeowners hire the right professionals and avoid unnecessary stress
STARTWITHACLEARPLANAND KNOWWHENTOCALLASPECIALIST
Before contacting anyone, be clear on what you need: what must be fixed or changed, the
style or materials you prefer, and your budget Many new homeowners reach out too early, which makes accurate quoting difficult As Luis explains, "Having a clear idea of the project helps you get realistic quotes and avoid misunderstandings Even for small tasks, a little clarity goes a long way " It's also important to know whether the job needs a specialist A handyman is perfect for everyday fixes like tightening hinges, repairing minor leaks, repainting, or simple installations But electrical work, major plumbing, waterproofing, tiling, structural changes, geysers, and full kitchen or bathroom renovations should always be handled by qualified professionals "You don't want a quick fix that becomes a bigger problem later," says Luis "The right contractor will tell you honestly whether a specialist is needed "
PERSONALREFERRALSAREGOLD
One of the best ways to find reliable contractors is through people you trust Friends, family, neighbours, and colleagues often know who delivered great work and who didn't Referrals can save you from a lot of trial and error
Hardware stores like Brights play a valuable role here Their in-store teams speak to homeowners daily about
repairs and renovations and see first-hand which contractors consistently provide solid results
COMPAREQUOTESSOYOUKNOW WHAT'SREASONABLE
Getting only one quote makes it difficult to know whether you're overpaying or underestimating the job Aim for at least two or three quotes so you can compare timelines, pricing, materials, and experience Comparing quotes gives you a realistic sense of the market and helps you make an informed decision
Luis cautions against choosing solely on price "Cheap quotes are tempting, but they often come with compromises rushed work, cheaper materials, or unexpected extras later And if a quote is very high, it should come with a clear explanation "
CHECKCREDENTIALS
When a project involves safety or structural integrity, experience matters A reputable contractor should be able to show previous work, share references, and, where necessary, present insurance or certifications This doesn't need to be formal even a WhatsApp portfolio or photos of completed jobs are useful
A professional understands that your home is a major investment, so it's perfectly reasonable to ask questions before committing
LOOKATREVIEWS
Most contractors leave a digital footprint Google reviews, Facebook pages, local WhatsApp groups, and community forums often reveal photos, ratings, and real feedback from past clients "Pay attention to workmanship, reliability, and how contractors respond to compliments or complaints," says Luis "It tells you a lot about workmanship, reliability, and how contractors respond to compliments or complaints," says Luis "It tells you a lot about their professionalism " Reviewing past projects also helps you check whether their style aligns with your vision Confusion about materials is one of the most common sources of frustration in home projects Discuss early on whether the contractor will supply materials or whether you'll purchase them yourself
Talking about materials upfront ensures everyone has the same expectations before work begins
PUTAGREEMENTSINWRITING
Even small jobs benefit from clear documentation This doesn't require a formal contract a detailed WhatsApp message or emailed quote will do if it outlines the work, timelines, costs, materials, and any clean-up responsibilities
"Written agreements help both you and the contractor stay on the same page and prevent misunderstandings later," says Luis
CLEAREXPECTATIONS
Test with a small job first If you're unsure about committing to a contractor for a major renovation, start with a small task such as repainting a room, installing a light fitting, or repairing a minor issue
This gives you a feel for their communication, punctuality, work quality, and attention to detail A positive experience on a small job builds confidence for larger projects
Homeownership doesn't mean becoming a DIY expert With careful research, honest conversations, and clear expectations, you'll find dependable contractors who can handle repairs, upgrades, and full renovations with confidence
ALMAL kontant vir enige huis-houdelike goed klere, skoene, beddegoed, gordyne, speelgoed, oudhede, juweliersware - goud, breekgoed, potte, elektroniese ware. MEUBELS yskaste, beddens, Sitkamerstelle, tv's (en baie meer) Johan 074 474 4275
and regas from R180. Cathy / Francois 079 838 1851 All areas
Back-to-backwinners
THULANIMAGAZI
THULAN MAGAZI@NOVUSMEDIA CO ZA
The Blitzboks made history on Sunday 7 December when they claimed this year's HSBC Cape Town Seven crowns after defeating Argentina in front of a packed Cape Town Stadium, thus becoming the first side to win successive crowns in the Mother City
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 against Fiji (24-21), New Zealand (19-14) and Great Britain (41-7) to book a semi-final spot against France
Phillip Snayman's charges went into their encounter against the French with guns blazing, backed by the vociferous 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 the second minute through Luciano González Rizzoni
In the fourth minute of the
game, following a turnover in their 22-metre area, Donovan Don scored for the Blitzboks
From the resultant restart, Argentina obtained possession to score their second try in the sixth minute of the game through Marcos Moneta
Efforts to equalise before half-time drew a blank as the Springboks Sevens made some silly handling mistakes
The half ended 14-7 to Argentina
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 minute when tournament debutant Sonwabo Sokoyi, who scored his first try for the team in the match against France, sprinted to the tryline after sleek footwork in front of the Argentine players
The Springboks continued to push hard, forcing Argentina to concede penalties in their 22-metre area
With defeat looming, Shilton van Wyk broke the Argentine line and made a delicate pass to Christie Grobbelaar to score the final try and level the scores in the final minute of the game
A conversion ensured the 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
The boys retained the trophy by registering a 21-19 victory. PHOTOS: RASHIED ISAACS
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.
