Cityfireservicedrawsacrowd
International Firefighters' Day is observed to honour firefighters for their service, and to remember those who lost their lives
From 10:00 until 15:00 on Sunday 4 May visitors were able to interact with staff, get a closer look at the fire vehicles and even the aerial support craft They got dressed up in fire gear; saw first-hand how vehicle extrication and other complex firefighting duties are undertaken, and even had a crack at some of the fitness challenge tasks
"The past week was an extremely busy and tiring time for our firefighters as they worked around the clock to contain the devastating fire in the Table Mountain National Park, along with hundreds of other fires and special service calls across the metropole
“It makes the celebrations on International Firefighters’ Day all the more special, as we pause to honour their dedication and remember those who have sacrificed their lives to protect others
20349
The number of incidents City’s Fire & Rescue Services responded to in the past seven months.
“I am incredibly proud of Cape Town’s Fire and Rescue Service and the incredible work that is done day after day," said the City’s Mayco member for safety and security, JP Smith
PAYINGHOMAGE
"Often the only interaction residents have with our firefighters is during time of crisis, when they are on the fire line saving lives and property International Firefighters' Day not only provides an opportunity to pay homage to these brave men and women, but also gives the general public a chance to see up close what it takes to put on the uniform," said Smith
The City’s Fire & Rescue Services responded to 20 349 incidents in the past seven months, which is a slight
Young aspiring authors can enter now
The City of Cape Town’s libraries have opened entries for their annual children’s writing competition, inviting budding authors aged 9 to 13 to take part in a magical storytelling adventure
This year’s theme centres on a mysterious box discovered in a school or local library, marked with strange symbols and emitting a soft hum
Entrants must imagine what unfolds when the box is opened, weaving their unique tale of wonder and discovery
Stories must be handwritten, original and between 500 and 1 500 words
Submissions can be picture books, short or long stories,
or graphic novels, and may be written in English, Afrikaans or Xhosa Illustrations are encouraged and will earn participants extra points
Entries opened on Monday 5 May and will close on Friday 8 August The winners will be announced at the Open Book Festival on 6 September
“Writing provides a creative outlet and also helps children to organise their thoughts and emotions,” said Francine Higham, Mayco member for Community Services and Health
.Entries can be submitted via email to psp.libraries@capetown. gov.za or handed in at any local library
increase compared to the corresponding time the previous year
"This equates to an average of more than 100 incidents daily
Our firefighters are exceptional and dedicated, and they make the job look easy
“Join us not only in tipping our hats to their service, but come
and find out why they have the right stuff," added Smith
One of the highlights at the event was a competition between fire officers’ vehicle extrication teams, replicating the challenges set at the International World Rescue Challenge
The City’s Fire and Rescue Service gets invited to the challenge each year During the World Rescue Challenge, participants have to race against time to safely extract and rescue a victim from a simulated vehicle accident scene
In addition to the many activities, some adventurous visitors also participated in the fitness challenge tasks
WinterHoop begin met veldtog
WinterHoop, 'n gerespekteerde inisiatief wat al vir meer as 23 jaar dien, is hierdie jaar terug met die jaarlikse veldtog om goedere in te samel vir diegene in nood Om hande te vat met Mould Empower Serve (MES) Kaapstad, PEN (Pretoria), His Hands (Durban) en Towers of Hope (Bloemfontein) het die veldtog ten doel om kwesbare gemeenskappe oor Suid-Afrika heen gedurende die koue wintermaande te ondersteun Sedert die begin het WinterHoop al hoe meer ondersteuning van individue, die publiek, skole, plaaslike geloofsgemeenskappe, besighede en die media gekry, en het as 'n nasionale beweging gevestig Die hoofdoel bly altyd om op n verantwoordelike wyse 'n helpende hand uit te reik na
Verlede jaar het WinterHoop merkwaardige resultate behaal as gevolg van die gesamentlike pogings en vrygewigheid van individue, die publiek, skole, plaaslike geloofsgemeenskappe, organisasies en besighede oor die land heen
VERLEDEJAARSESTATISTIEKEISAS
VOLG:
. Komberse: 2 654
. Swart akke vol warm, tweedehandse klere: 1 523
. Mussies: 1 138
. Beddens wat in skuilings geborg is: 32 887
. Middagetes: 46 278
. Kospakkies: 2 899
Terwyl WinterHoop se beplanning vir vanjaar se veldtog reeds begin het word verskeie
te pak
Ten spyte van hierdie uitdagings bly WinterHoop onwrikbaar in hul toewyding om warmte en bystand aan diegene in nood te bied Deur saam te span, kan ons 'n tasbare verskil maak in die lewe van kwesbare individue en gesinne oor Suid-Afrika heen Hoe om betrokke te raak en 'n verskil te maak?
. 1 Openbare aankondigings: Inligting oor die WinterHoopveldtog kan met die publiek gedeel word Dit sluit in hoe en waar die publiek donasies kan maak
. 2 Radio- of TV-onderhoude: WinterHoop sal graag vir onderhoude genooi wil word Tydens sulke onderhoude kan die belangrikheid van donasies en die impak wat dit op die lewe
The general public had a chance to see up close what it takes to put on the Fire and Rescue uniform on International Firefighters’Day.
TurningfynbosflowersintoLegos
KAILINDANIELS
KAILIN DANIELS@NOVUSMEDIA CO ZA
Table View resident and Lego enthusiast Christoff van Wyk, known in the Lego community as “SuperstofBricks”, is making waves with his latest project – a striking floral creation called Fynbos Flowers – inspired by the unique biodiversity of the Cape Floral Kingdom
The meticulously-designed set features iconic South African flora, including the Bot River Protea, Splendid Pagoda, Green Tree Pincushion, Button Bush, Chincherinchee, Gousblomme and Erica Blenna
Van Wyk has used clever techniques and imaginative parts – from surfboards and bananas to sailor’s hats – to capture the detail and vibrancy of each flower
The Fynbos Flowers project is currently live on the Lego Ideas platform, where it is gathering support from fans around the world If the design reaches 10 000 supporters it will be reviewed by the Lego Group for possible production as an official set, available in stores globally
WHEREITALLSTARTED
“This all started with my desire to create the Protea, our national flower, in Lego,” said Van Wyk “From there, the rest of the flowers just came naturally The Erica Blenna reminds me of my hometown, Riversdale; the Green Tree Pincushions I used to spot
VAN WYK’S FYNBOS FLOWERS IS LIVE ON LEGO IDEAS, WHERE IT IS GATHERING GLOBAL SUPPORT. REACHING 10 000 WILL TURN IT INTO A GAME
while hiking Table Mountain; and the wildflowers of the West Coast are always unforgettable in spring ”
This isn’t Van Wyk’s first major build His first Lego MOC (my own creation) was a detailed replica of the Cape Town City Hall façade, a massive undertaking that used over 8 000 Lego pieces His dream is to continue creating sets that celebrate South African heritage and natural beauty
.To support van Wyk’s Lego dream visit https://ideas.lego.com/ projects/606437b3-487e-4b699f48-fa57ccd56b0a
Lego Cape Town City Hall by SuperstofBricks
Christoff van Wyk with Lego protea flower
Vermaak // Entertainment
DAGBOEK / DIARY
.The 15th annual Shakespeare Schools Festival South Africa returns to the District Six Homecoming Centre from 5 to 31 May Tickets available at Webtickets.
. Annie is presented by Edgemead High School in the school hall from 8 to 10 May Tickets from R120 at Quicket
.Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat runs at Theatre on the Bay from 9 May until 13 July Tickets from R275 at Webtickets.
. André, die Skreeusnaakse Hipnotiseur, is op Saterdag 10 Mei om 20:30 by Heroes Brackenfell. Kaartjies kos R140 tot R180 by www.heroesbrackenfell.net of iTickets.
.Salome - This is Me is at the Grand Arena, GrandWest on Saturday 10 May at 18:00 Tickets from R200 at Webtickets.
.Creedence Clearwater Revival show performed by The Banned is on Sunday 11 May from 15:00 at the Edgemead Bowling Club Entry costs R60 Food and drinks at club prices. Call 061 490 1694 to book.
.Rocco de Villiers kom tree op Moedersdag, Sondag 11 Mei, om 14:00 by Heroes Brackenfell op Deure maak 12:00 oop Kaartjies kos R180 tot R220 by www heroesbrackenfell.net of iTickets.
. A Mother's Day Show with Faried Swartz and guests is on Sunday 11 May at 15:00 at Milnerton Church Hall, 37 Ascot Road. The cost is R150 including refreshments. Call 063 642 3817 to book, but walk-ins are welcome
.The Mother’s Day Showcase is on Sunday 11 May at 16:00 at the Good Hope Christian Centre in Ottery
With Sean de Vries, Nur Abrahams, Loukmaan Adams, Alistair Izobell, Emo Adams, and Mujahid George Tickets cost R200 to R250 at Webtickets
. Carnival of the Animals is at Artscape on Monday 12 May at 14:30 Join the musicians of the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra in exploring Saint-Saen’s musical suite which includes "The Swan", "March of the Lions", "Characters with Long Ears", "Fossils", "Wild Donkeys", "Swift Animals" and more pieces to delight young listeners. Tickets cost R100 at Webtickets .Krismas van Map Jacobs is van Maandag 12 tot Woensdag 14 Mei en van Maandag 19 tot Saterdag
24 Mei in die Kunstekaap-teater te sien. Kaartjies kos R80 by Webtickets
.Kurt Schoonraad: Funny Side Up! is at The Baxter from 12 to 17 May Tickets R180 to R200 at Webtickets
. Vincent - His Quest to Love and Be Loved (musical) runs at Artscape from 14 to 17 May at 19:30 Tickets from R180 at Webtickets
.Frieda van den Heever is saam met Mauritz Lotz op kitaar en Jonno Sweetman op dromme by Die Boer-teaterrestaurant op Donderdag 15 Mei en Donderdag 5 Junie om 20:30 Kaartjies kos R230 Bespreek by www dieboer com of by 021 979 1911.
.Cape Town Marimba Festival is on Friday 16 May at 19:00 at The Baxter Concert Hall. Tickets from R100 at Webtickets
. Die Universiteitskoor Stellenbosch tree op Vrydag 16 Mei om 19:00 in die Hugo Lambrechts-ouditorium in Parow op Kaartjies kos R160 by Quicket
.Koos Kombuis en die Radio Kalahari Orkes tree op Saterdag 17 Mei op by Daisy Jones, Summerhill-wynplaas. Kaartjies kos R200 by Quicket
.Cape Town Steelband Festival is on Saturday 17 May at 15:00 at The Baxter concert Hall. Tickets from R100 at Webtickets
. Dan Patlansky and band are at Daisy Jones, Summerhill Wine Estate, on Sunday 18 May Doors open at 13:00, show starts at 15:00 Tickets from R230 at Quicket
.The Moon Looks Delicious From Here, a largely autobiographical solo performance, driven by a loving father and son relationship is on stage at The Baxter from 20 to 31 May Tickets from R120 at Webtickets
. Julius Caeser runs at Artscape from 22 to 31 May Tickets from R180 to R300 at Webtickets
.Zoid Psalm: A New Musical Journey is at the NG kerk Bloubergstrand on Friday 23 May (20:00) and Saturday 24 May (14:00 and 18:00). A fusion of sacred and modern sounds with Karen Zoid. Tickets from R200 at Quicket
.Cape Town Opera presents Verdi’s Aida with an all-African cast in a bold, African-futurist reimagining at Artscape from 23 May to 31 May (every second day) Tickets from R190 at Webtickets
.Lauren-Lee tree op Saterdag 24 Mei om 19:30 in die Collective Arts-teater in Boston, Bellville, op Kaartjies kos R130 Kontak collectiveartstheatre@gmail.com of 066 226 2539 vir besprekings.
Sustainingreliableelectricitygrid
The City of Cape Town said in a statement last week it was investing R4 billion in electricity upgrades over the next three years Throughout it will continue to invest in electricity-infrastructure maintenance as well as major electricity-grid upgrades.
Ongoing electricity infrastructure maintenance and upgrades are key to reliable electricity supply in the metro, it said
To that point Mayco member for Energy Xanthea Limberg visited the Kohler substation in Beaconvale, Parow last week, when energy teams were carrying out critical infrastructure maintenance “The Kohler-substation maintenance work forms part of the City’s ongoing investment in our critical electricity infrastructure across the metro We are rolling routine electricity maintenance, upgrades and making large capital investments in new power infrastructure
out, as it is important to sustain a reliable and resilient electricity grid of the future
“These investments are essential to securing efficient and reliable power supply, while significantly minimising disruptions and, most critically, prolonging the life span of our power infrastructure to support the growing energy needs of both our residents and businesses Our efforts not only underscore the City’s forward-thinking approach to service delivery, but also highlight our commitment to realising the vision contained in our energy strategy
“The reliability of the City’s electricity infrastructure is a result of our extensive maintenance programme, including a R4 billion infrastructure pipeline between 2024 and 2027 As we move forward we will continue to provide residents with safe and efficient power supply and protect the Cape Town economy from costly power disruptions ” The City is also investigating innovative materials to replace existing
materials to reduce the value of cabling and other metals that are popular in the second hand market . Residents are requested to report suspicious activity or criminal acts they see to the police or City on 021 480 7700 or WhatsApp 060 018 1505.
The reliability of electricity infrastructure, providing residents and businesses with a safe, efficient power supply, informs the City’s R4bn maintenance budget
Mayco member for Energy Xanthea Limberg (centre) with the energy team during a site visit.
