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
FROMPAGE1
“There are no visible skid marks on the road, which is highly unusual,” said one source close to the investigation “What’s even more concerning is the lack of any eyewitness accounts No-one seems to know exactly what happened ”
FEARFOROURSAFETY
In the aftermath of the tragedies, road users voiced their mounting frustration and fear regarding the R27’s deadly status
“This road has become a death route,” said Sarah Daniels, a daily commuter from Atlantis, “we fear driving on it ”
“Every week there’s another accident,” said Michael Pietersen, who drove past the aftermath of the 1 May crash “The R27 needs urgent intervention ”
“We’ve been begging for speed enforcement and cameras for years,” said Candice Fortuin, a resident from Melkbosstrand “What will it take – more lives lost?”
“I passed the Koeberg scene minutes after it happened,” said Leon Engelbrecht, a motorist who regularly used the route “No brake lights It looked like a total blindside ”
EASTERWEEKEND
Despite visible law enforcement over the Easter weekend, including heightened patrols and speed traps, the R27 continued to claim lives On Saturday 19 April a 43-year-old man died in yet another fatal crash between Yzerfontein and Langebaan, a light motor vehicle colliding with a petrol tanker, the latter’s driver with only minor injuries
Sgt Wesley Twigg, provincial police spokesperson, said a case of culpable homicide had been opened, and the incident was under investigation
The string of fatalities in less than a month has prompted calls for immediate measures such as speed cameras, improved lighting, clearer signage and more regular patrols Locals are urging authorities not to wait until more lives are lost before taking decisive action On 1 May the road was temporarily closed to clear the wreckage strewn across it . Anyone with information on the crashes must please contact Melkbosstrand Police Station on 021 553 8224.
Lego Cape Town City Hall by SuperstofBricks
Christoff van Wyk with Lego protea flower
LEWENSKIEKIE
The constant search for ‘me time’ in today’s busy world
It’s 5:30 the house is quiet - and my phone has already begun its daily barrage of emails and news alerts As a journalist, staying on top of news is part of the job, but as a mom, I’ve learned that peace and quiet are often a luxury that doesn’t come easily
If you’d asked me a few years ago what “me time” meant to me, I would have said something like “a morning coffee and uninterrupted reading” or “an evening bath with a good book ” Simple, right? In reality, though, “me time” has become a distant dream, one that I chase like a mirage in the desert, only to have it disappear as soon as I get close
Being a mom and working full-time as a journalist means juggling everythingnews deadlines, writing articles, attending events, and making sure the washing is done and meals are served, all while navigating the unpredictable nature of toddlerhood Finding moments to recharge? Well, that’s like trying to catch a breath during a marathon
Some days I wonder if I’ll ever see the end of the to-do list The one that somehow multiplies as I cross things off And in between writing up stories, interviewing sources, and editing copy, then there’s the never-ending cycle of being a present parent But here’s the thing: I’ve come to realise that “me time” doesn’t always look the way I once envisioned it Sure, I’d love to get an hour of solitude, a long walk or a spa day, but let’s be real that’s not always possible So, I’ve learned to redefine what “me time” means It’s not
.. BUTTHENIREMINDMYSELFTHATTAKING CAREOFMYSELFISNOTSELFISH.IT’SNECESSARY.IT’STHEKEYTOSHOWINGUPASMYBEST SELF,BOTHASAMOMANDASAJOURNALIST
always a luxurious escape from the chaos, it’s about taking small moments of peace wherever I can find them
It might be a quiet cup of coffee in the morning, just before the demands of the day begin That quiet sip in the midst of the whirlwind feels like a mini-vacation It might be listening to a podcast while folding laundry yes, that’s how I sneak in a few moments of learning while doing chores It might be five minutes in the car, waiting for my next interview to begin, breathing deeply, and reminding myself that I’m allowed to exist outside of my roles as “mom” and “journalist ” I’ve also learned to embrace the quiet moments that are often forced upon me The commute to the office, where I can listen to music or simply enjoy the silence in my car
I’ve realised that I can’t pour from an empty cup, no matter how many deadlines are looming Being a mom and a journalist means being constantly on the go, but I’m learning that the more I prioritise my own mental and emotional well-being, the more I can give to my family and my work It’s not easy It’s not always glamorous But slowly, I’m learning that “me time” is about the small moments, the ones that don’t necessarily require grand gestures, but instead allow me to catch my breath in the middle of the madness
And yes, sometimes I feel guilty for taking a break Sometimes I wonder if I should be doing more, or if I’m letting people down by not being constantly available But then I remind myself that taking care of myself is not selfish It’s necessary It’s the key to showing up as my best self, both as a mom and as a journalist
So, if you’re like me, caught in the whirlwind of family life and work commitments, take heart “Me time” doesn’t have to be a day at the spa (although that would be nice) After all, it’s those small moments that make all the difference in the end -KAILINDANIELS
Kyk net hoe die wêreld verander
Daar kom 'n oomblik wanneer enige mens terugsit met sy blik op die wêreld vandag en dink: "Sjoe! Wat nou?"
Die pendulum swaai van die verre links tot die middeweg van besinning
Die ANC se mag glip eweredig met die groot vraag oor wie (of wat) die bevolking se stem sal swaai
Die pous se dood lok nog altyd koninklikes, staatshoofde en invloedrykes na sy begrafnis in die Vatikaanstad
Nou wonder 'n mens wie die nuwe pous tog sal wees, en watter tradisies of veranderings die uwe sal poog om te versterk?
Supersterre soos Beyoncé en Katy Perry (selfs as 'n sogenaamde ruimtevaarder) sukkel glo om kaartjies vir hul konserttoere te verkoop
En die Amerikaanse president Donald Trump gaan na verwagting in Junie vir president Cyril Ramaphosa
kom toespreek oor die lande se versuurde verhouding
Dit, terwyl die einste Ramaphosa se kop glo geëis gaan word op die ANC se nasionale konferensie later vanjaar Wat dan?
Dit kom ook nie voor of daar 'n gesogte plaasvervanger vir die party tans te voorskyn kom nie Hoe nou?
Ek sit beslis met meer vrae as antwoorde
Maar my hoopvolle versigtigheid en wens is dat dié wat wel weet, wel mag het en reeds planne beraam om geregtigheid vir die mense voor oë te hou
Die status quo die wêreld oor word beslis bevraagteken en 'n dringende ommekeer is onderweg
Ons kan net bid dat al die owerhede se kompasse tot die toekoms bepaal word deur die duur lesse uit die geskiedenis
HOOPVOL, Table View
Dankbaar vir ons brandweermanne
Die brand op Tafelberg naby Tokai, Simonstad, Westlake en Noordhoek, waarin sommige mense hul huise moes ontruim het, het weereens die naweek gewys hoe gevaarlik dinge kan uitdraai en hoe brawe brandweermanne en -vroue hul lewens op die spel moet sit om lewens te red Die rookwolk kon ons in Table View duidelik sien en op pad terug huis toe op die N1 naby Plattekloof, was die vlamme Saterdagaand nog duidelik sigbaar Sanparke het aangedui dat dit dalk brandstigting
kan wees en dat die polisie die voorval gaan ondersoek
As 'n lid van die publiek, wil ek my dankbaarheid teenoor die manne en vroue wat die vlamme trotseer en die moeilike uitdaging aanpak om ander veilig te hou, uitspreek
Ook vir die brawe helikoptervlieëniers wat tonne water skep en dit oral langs die brandlyne neerlaat
INWONER, Kaapstad
Honour loved ones without harming nature
While walking along one of our iconic local beaches recently I came across what appeared to be a makeshift memorial or shrine There were artificial flowers, candle remains, melted wax, and various bits of packaging left in the sand As someone who also marks the anniversary of a loved one - our late son -I understand how meaningful these moments can be That said, what was left behind felt less like a tribute and more like deliberate litter The site included burnt plastic, wrappers, and synthetic decorations - all of which pose a risk to the environment and detract
from the natural beauty of our beaches
We are fortunate to live near some of the most stunning coastal areas in the world, and it's disheartening to see them treated without care Grieving in nature can be deeply healing, but it must be done responsibly If people choose to honour loved ones in public spaces, it’s only fair to ensure all items are cleaned up afterwards I hope others who visit these special places for personal reasons will be mindful of the impact they leave behind A CONCERNED RESIDENT, E-mail
Elderly feel the crunch of Council’s tariff hikes
I agree wholeheartedly with Jo Roberts and her complaint about the tariff hikes hitting the elderly so hard ("Elderly crushed by tariff hikes", TygerBurger 30 April)
We are on fixed pensions, mostly we are literally living on our savings, which diminish every day!
Because of the huge hikes in the property valuations, raised by the council, we are priced out of receiving Sassa grants; we are totally unable to afford to move into retirement accommodation - again because
of the excessive costs of these places
We saved and worked hard, (going without all of the modern “necessities” that the young people of today seem to need), to enable us to buy our homes
We worked, paid our taxes and provided for ourselves, never dreaming that we would be thrust into the chaos that is today It seems to me that the Council particularly target those people that obey the law and pay their taxes – we are easy meat!
DISGUSTED PENSIONER, Durbanville
Begroting bekommer inwoners
Saam met duisende ander inwoners van die Stad Kaapstad wil ons ook ons misnoeë uitspreek oor die voorgestelde begroting wat beslis nie ‘n "Begroting van Hoop" vir derduisende belastingbetalers is nie
Daar word veral klem gelê op die hulp aan die laeinkomste-groepe, maar dit is ten koste van die middelklas en “low usage end users”
Ons sal graag wil weet of daar al vasgestel is hoeveel van hierdie laeinkomste-groepe kom van ander provinsies en ander Afrikalande af en wat is hul bydrae tot die inkomste van die Stad Kaapstad Van hierdie mense het huise hier in die Wes-Kaap, asook in hul tuisprovinsie Waaraan word die begroting van daardie provinsie bestee as soveel duisende van hul inwoners hier is?
Gedurende 2012 het ons ‘n huishulp gehad wat ‘n huis in Khayelitsha gehad het, sowel as ‘n familiehuis in die Oos-Kaap waarvandaan sy gekom het Sy het ons meegedeel dat sy vir haar n splinternuwe LG bolaaier-wasmasjien gekoop het en toe ons aan haar noem dat dit baie water verbruik was haar antwoord dat haar waterrekening reeds duisende rande beloop, maar sy gaan dit nie betaal nie ‘n Sakevrou van Soweto het aan haar mede-inwoners gesê: “Julle kan ontwerpersklere dra, maar julle kan nie jul elektrisiteitsrekening betaal nie Nou word die elektrisiteit na my besigheid afgesny” Hierdie is beslis ook van toepassing op die Wes-Kaap ‘n Man het op Youtube aan sy volgelinge gesê: “Julle kan in die sjebiens gaan sit en drink, maar julle kan nie jul elektrisiteit betaal nie ” En so kan 'n mens aangaan oor die besoedeling van ons riviere, bv Milnerton-strandmeer Ons stad word besoedel deur mense wat nie ‘n sent bydra tot die ontwikkeling van en skoonhou van die Stad nie maar nou word beplan om nog ‘n belasting (dis blykbaar nie ‘n heffing nie) op die belastingbetalers te plaas om die stad skoon te maak en skoon te hou
Ons sien geen voorgestelde plan om die onbeheersde toevloei van ander provinsies en ander Afrikalande te stop nie Waar gaan ons eindig?
Soos die raadslid van die Good party, Anton Louw, gesê het: This is not a budget invested in hope, it is full of despair and concern for Cape Town residents who are struggling to make ends meet Cape Town is becoming unaffordable to Capetonians ” S VAN DIE SUBURBS, Parow
Die helder verligte kruise by Aurora (Durbanville) en op Tygerberg staan die afgelope ses weke weer as teken van hoop vir 'n chaotiese wêreld Dankie aan diegene wat dit moontlik maak
GIDEONTREDOUX,Durbanville
DAAR’S LIG AAN DIE EINDE VAN DIE TONNEL: Stappers nader die einde van die treintonnel naby die bopunt van Sir Lowryspas. FOTO:CARINA ROUX
FireServicedraws acrowd
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 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
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 and Rescue Services responded to 20 349 incidents in the past seven months, which is a slight increase compared to the corresponding time the previous year
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
Tender,Love and Care Outreach Projects recently engaged 83 children and 24 adults in Melkbosstrand Village through a preventative outreach initiative Activities included Lego toy therapy to encourage emotional well-being and creativity,therapeutic colouring for self-expression,and the distribution of sweet treats and food parcels to support basic needs.The programme aimed to uplift the community by fostering connection,creativity,and care
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
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 close Friday 8 August .Entries can be submitted via email to psp libraries@capetown. gov.za or handed in at any local library.
International Firefighters’Day was celebrated recently.
CurroHalalaCupheatsup
The Curro Halala Cup has kicked off, with talented school football teams from across the country displaying brilliant skill on the pitch. The regional qualifiers are delivering exciting matches as learners display talent and determination.
The tournament, a celebration of both sporting excellence and
school spirit, saw supporters creating an electric atmosphere on the sidelines Teams gave their all to advance to the next rounds, while emerging talents
began to carve out their place in what is becoming the country's premier youth football showcase Curro Century City was proudly selected as the champion school for the region to host, with the event being led by Executive Head, Christiaan Maree, Head of Sport, Angelo Adams, and School Marketer, Monique Brevis
It was a nail-biting match day
at Curro Century City, with plenty of action on the pitch Curro Somerset West, Meridian Pinehurst, Camps Bay High, and Milnerton High School have all secured their spots in Round 2 after strong performances
The road to the final is heating up Below are the latest fixtures and results from the Western Cape
UWC andVan der Stel-Evergreens struggling in league
Supporters of teams in Super League A can be assured to attend games where scores of 30 plus are being handed out to teams in this league this year
When UWC and Van der StelEvergreens were promoted to Super League A this year, they were expected to be the punching bags of Super League A and in a way, this prediction is coming true after just three matches Maties, one of the big names in club rugby, played three matches and must still win after falling short in the Varsity Cup final against Ikeys
In the past week UWC received two beatings
Their first loss was against the Ikeys on Wednesday 30 April when they suffered 50-35 defeat On Saturday 3 May they suffered another humiliating defeat, going down 52-33 to the Villager from Claremont
This is UWC's second 50 in three days
Meanwhile, VDE was sent packing by Durbell in their second match by 52-24
VDE bounced back against Unimill by winning 39-35 and supporters can expect a lot of
movement on the log between teams
Tygerberg overpowered Brackenfell by 46-20, Van der Stel-Evergreens put their loss of last week against Durbell behind them and beat Unimil by 39-35 in a nail-biting match in Stellenbosch False Bay ran away with Maties by 53-38
In other close-scoring encounters in this league, Hamiltons was victorious against SK-Walmers by 15-13 and Ikeys beat St Georges by 28-23
In Super League B, Primrose won against Macassar by 34-30,
CPUT lost against Collegians by 28-26, Vineyards sent Kylemore packing by 31-18, Hamediehs was too strong for Hands and Heart by 38-29, Goodwood beat Kraaifontein by 29-15 and NTK and Belhar drew 34-all
In Super League C, most of the matches were won by visiting teams and the results were: Young Peoples 31 Strand 22, Scottsdene-Central 29 and Atlantis 22, Rangers 25 Langa 22, A and All Saints 27 Strand United 26, Delft 19 Caledonian Roses14, Pniel-Villagers 43 Eersterivier 26 and only Violets used their home
ground advantage by beating Gardens by 23-22
During training this week it is going to be back to the drawing board for all the teams in preparation for Saturday's games
FIXTURES
Saturday 10 May, Super League A
. Kuilsrivier v SK-Walmers
. Hamiltons v Brackenfell
. St Georges v Maties
. Van der Stel-Evergreens v False Bay
. Tygerberg v Durbell
. Helderberg v UWC
. Unimil v Ikeys
Mosiako set to kick off 2025 Absa RUNYOUR CITY
With a personal best of 27:45 over 10 km and the distinction of being South Africa’s most consistent sub-28-minute 10 km performer of 2023 and 2024, Thabang Mosiako is looking to this Sunday’s Absa Run Your City Cape Town 10K for encouraging signs of a return to peak fitness
By contrast, Glenrose Xaba is in the best form of her career this season and is eager to build on her impressive achievements in Cape Town
“To be honest with you, training hasn’t been easy and I have been in and out due to a very bad hamstring injury,” said Mosiako reflecting on the long recovery that followed his 2:09:14 marathon debut at the Abu Dhabi Marathon in December
“Due to my ups and downs in training I was not ready for the first Absa Run Your City series race in Gqeberha last month But after obtaining a top-10 finish at the Totalsports Two Oceans
Half Marathon, with a time of 66 minutes, I saw I am getting to that sub-28-minute Thabang again ” In 2023 Mosiako became the first South African man to dip under 28 minutes three times in a single season Encouraged by this, the top runner found his preparations took a positive turn leaving him confident of producing a 10 km season’s best in the Mother City “For Cape Town I can say I will be happy to run sub 28:30 to see if
I am back or not ” By contrast, Glenrose Xaba has been in topmost form Coming third at the Absa Run Your City Gqeberha 10K on 13 April in 31:56, Xaba produced the thirdfastest 5 000 m time of her career (15:27 95) to win the Athletics South Africa Senior Track and Field Championships 5 000 m title, her 14th national crown The country’s fastest 10 km athlete of all time (31:12) said her success is from ongoing training,
leading to five career sub 32 minute clockings “My body is responding very well after the SA Track & Field Championships The recovery went well I’m very happy I was able to run sub32-minutes in Gqeberha This takes a lot because one has to focus on training Also, running consistently allows one to gauge one’s fitness and how one can improve My target for Run Your City is to be on the podium and run sub-32 again or faster ”
Curro Sandown vs Curro Somerset West: An exhilarating soccer showdown under the sun,with players giving their all on the field.
Meridian Pinehurst jovially lifted their goalkeeper after a battle with Curro Century City
The teams fought in penalties,and their goalkeeper saved a shot that led to the team walking away as the victors.