People's Post Retreat - 2 March 2021

RETREAT

TUESDAY 2 March 2021 | Tel: 021 910 6500 | Email: post@peoplespost.co.za | Website: www.peoplespost.co.za @ThePeoplesPost

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William Wang, second assistant director at the Taipei Liaison Office; Venitia Naidoo, principal at Thomas Wildschutt Senior Primary School; David Yintso Lin, director general at the Taipei Liaison Office; Councillor Kevin Southgate, for ward 72; and Fazlin Wyngaard, learning support teacher.

PHOTO: RACINE EDWARDES

EDUCATION

Donations provide a boost RACINE EDWARDES RACINE.EDWARDES@MEDIA24.COM @RAEEDWARDES

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ulnerable children at the Thomas Wildschutt junior and senior primary schools have been given the learning materials they need thanks to two separate donations by two organisations.

On Thursday 18 February, African Bank donated 50 stationery packs, to the value of R10 000, to the two schools in Retreat.

Marlene Govender, regional manager at the bank, said the donation was made to enable the families who could not afford stationery to still send their children to school, ready and equipped for learning.

“It is difficult to describe what this means to learners who have never had the joy or excitement of shopping or having a brand new item of stationery for just themselves on the first day of school.

“Besides giving these kids hope, we have

also given them their dignity and pride as it is despairing for them to keep on asking and getting rejected,” said Govender.

“Due to Covid-19, we also do not encourage borrowing. Every child has a right to education and African Bank wants our future leaders to have these resources to enhance their learning experience,” she added.

A week later, on Thursday 25 February, diplomats of the Taipei Liaison Office in Cape Town made a similar donation.

David Yintso Lin, director-general from the office, explained: “We are here today to make a small donation of stationery for the learners, and with this small donation we will be able to help your learners have a greater opportunity to learn.

“Education is the most important thing for children – for a better life and a better future for every child.”

The R5 000 donation came from his office’s budget.

It was facilitated by the Collaboration for

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teachers, who often had to dig into their own pockets to provide for the most vulnerable.

The donations will go to the most vulnerable learners.

“We will now hand it out to learners who haven’t bought a book yet. By now, the teachers know which learners don’t have. These are for the most vulnerable – the ones that don’t get anything.”

Kevin Southgate, councillor for Ward 72, said he hoped this was the start of a bright collaboration.

“I hope this is the beginning of a relationship that can only grow, and that the school will benefit out of this relationship.

“Many people don’t often realise the majority of the learners at schools like this actually come from outside the community and they come from parents who can’t afford to pay school fees, which puts a huge burden on the school at the end of the day.”

He added that the investment into the lives and future of children was both immeasurable and inspirational.

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Venitia Naidoo, the principal of Thomas Wildschutt Senior Primary School, said the donation was made to those who needed it the most.

“This will help our children because at this school 80% of our learners are foreigners. They’re from Congo, Malawi – mainly foreigners. So they come to the country with hope for a better life, but the (parents) can’t find permanent jobs – and Covid-19 was devastating for them too – but those kids are eager to be at school and the parents make a plan to get them here,” she explained.

Interestingly, she added: “So we have children speaking more than 15 different languages here. And the most important part about the diversity in this school is that we don’t have conflict.

“There are pockets of groups, but they’ve learned to get along.”

The principal said this would also help the

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2 NEWS

PEOPLE'S POST | RETREAT Tuesday, 2 March 2021

FORUM OF COMMUNITY JOURNALISTS (FCJ)

Journalists take honours P People's Post is published by WP Media, a subsidiary of Media24.

WHOM TO CONTACT

EDITOR: Thulani Magazi Tel: 021 910 6500 / 6530 Email: Thulani@media24.com SALES MANAGER: Shafiek Braaf Tel: 021 910 6500 / 6615 Email: Shafiek.Braaf@Media24.com CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING: 087 353 1328 Email: classifieds@peoplespost.co.za PRESS CODE, CORRECTIONS People's Post subscribes to the South African Press Code and we are committed to journalism that is honest, accurate, fair and balanced. Under our editorial policy, we invite readers to comment on the newspaper's content and we correct significant errors as soon as possible. Please send information to the news editor at cecilia@peoplespost.co.za or phone 021 910 6500. Alternately, please contact the Ombudsman of Media24's Community Press, George Claassen at george.claassen@media24.com or 083 543 2471.

Complaints can also be sent to the SA Press Ombudsman on telephone 021 851 3232 or via email khanyim@ombudsman.org.za or johanr@ombudsman.org.za

Find us online www.peoplespost.co.za facebook.com/PeoplesPostNewsPaper twitter.com/ThePeoplesPost peoplespostnewspaper

eople’s Post journalists Racine Edwardes and Samantha Lee-Jacobs have taken honours at the annual Forum of Community Journalists’ awards held virtually on Friday 26 February.

The awards recognised work published in community newspapers around South African in 2019. The ceremony was meant to happen last year, but was delayed because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Edwardes won the sport writing category, while Lee-Jacobs placed third in the columns category.

The judges said Edwardes’ portfolio of sport stories was especially impressive for her use of human interest angles.

Lee-Jacobs was also a finalist in the digital reporting and headlines categories for work published across People’s Post and sister publications TygerBurger and City Vision.

TygerBurger journalists Carina Roux and Desiree Rorke also featured at the awards with Rorke placing second in the human interest and hard news categories.

She was also a finalist in the journalist of the year category. Roux was a finalist in

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Help eradicate plastic pollution on our coastline by joining the Two Oceans Aquarium Trash Bash. The beach clean-up event will kick off at Mouille Point Beach on Saturday 6 March.

Aside from the obvious perks of doing a clean-up, Trash Bash also contributes to important scientific research by following the Dirty Dozen data collection method. The Dirty Dozen are the 12 litter items that are

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the journalist and photographer of the year categories.

Kraaifontein and Bellville editions of TygerBurger placed second and third in the newspaper of the year category for corporate-owned free sheets under 24 pages, with Tygerburger Brakenfell placing sec-

ond in the category corporate-owned free sheets over 24 pages.

“We are truly proud of all your achievements. Your success has once again cemented our place on the media landscape,” said Thulani Magazi, People’s Post and City Vision editor.

commonly found during clean-ups. These are: carrier bags, chip packets, cigarette lighters, cooldrink bottles, cooldrink lids, earbuds, fishing line, light sticks, plastic lollipop sticks, straws, sweet wrappers and water bottles. Participants work in groups and record all the collected items, paying specific attention to the Dirty Dozen items. At the end of each clean-up, the data is collated and contributes to research tracking the different sources of marine litter.

Studies have shown that millions of seabirds have ingested plastic and a staggering number of sea animals die each year from plastic ingestion.

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HAVE YOU BEEN INJURED? If you have been seriously injured in a motor vehicle accident, train accident, police shooting or due to medical negligence, you may have a claim against a government department for compensation.

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“Plastic doesn’t break down; it doesn’t degrade and become part of the natural system again. In fact, plastic breaks up. It breaks up into smaller and smaller pieces until it becomes small enough, not only for small fish to mistake it for food, but research has found that even plankton is now mistaking this ‘forever material’ for food and consuming it, introducing it into the food chain at the lowest level,” the Aquarium said in a statement.

The clean-up will take place from 09:00 to 11:00, at the parking lot at Beach Road and Fritz Sonnenberg Road intersection.

Participants should bring sunblock, a hat, water (in a reusable bottle), reusable gloves (like the ones you’d use for gardening or doing dishes), and a smile. Remember to wear your mask in public. All Covid19 regulations will apply. People can also join the event via Facebook.

V Install: Add the Marine Debris Tracker app to log the litter you collect (join The Beach Co-op’s list).

Disclaimer: People’s Post and Media 24 have not verified whether any of the services or products advertised in this publication are safe to use or will have the desired effect or outcome. Readers are warned that they should carefully consider and verify the advertiser’s credentials.

For further queries, contact:

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People’s Post and Media24 do not accept any liability whatsoever in respect of any of the services or goods advertised.

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NEWS 3

PEOPLE'S POST | RETREAT Tuesday, 2 March 2021

LAVENDER HILL

Tweet reels in frozen food donation RACINE EDWARDES racine.edwardes@media24.com

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fter a “punny” response to a friend’s Tweet, a local radio presenter and Grassy Park resident managed to hook a big one – a pledge by two major food produce brands to provide young people with nutritious meals.

The wheels began rolling on the donation when Simon Orgill, friend of CapeTalk’s Lester Kiewiet, posted a Tweet about proposing in the popular Snoekies franchise for Valentine’s Day. To which Kiewiet responded: “To hake and to hold, for batter or worse, in fishness and in health, until depths do us part.”

Once Sea Harvest responded with the “I do”, Kiewiet reeled them in, challenging the company to make their pledge official by donating towards the Lavender Hill Sports and Recreation Foundation non-profit company (NPC), which forms part of the community activist initiative Guardian of the National Treasure (GNT) and Philisa Abafazi Bethu, now based in Steenberg.

Having been exposed to the foundation and associated non-profit organisations (NPOs) through his on-air reporting, Kiewiet said putting forward the beneficiaries was a no-brainer.

“I’ve done some journalism around the Lavender Hill Football Club and Philisa Abafazi Bethu, and their work in feeding kids during lockdown. I have no official or formal relationship with them. I simply ad-

A donation of frozen food products from Sea Harvest and McCain saw 2 200 to 2 300 Lavender Hill residents fed early last month.

PHOTOS: MARK NICHOLSON | FACEBOOK mire the good work of Mark Nicholson and Lucinda Evans, respectively. Thank you to the sponsors for coming through with the gesture.”

Sea Harvest took up the challenge along with McCain and made a 1.3 tons donation of frozen food products to the foundation for their children.

Ralph Bouwers, founder of GNT, told People’s Post in a 2019 interview that the foundation covers a range of sports, including netball, soccer and more.

Mark Nicholson, who runs the NPC in Lavender Hill, says: “Currently, we’re still into all the sports: football and netball. Then we’ve 16 girls in the Cape Town Carnival, we also have 12 girls in longboarding. But we’re also doing pavement gardens on the battlefield and on another location, and the feeding from Monday to Friday. At the end of the month, we do Saturday as well.”

While the frozen food donation was a onceoff, Nicholson says for an entire week the children of the foundation were able to enjoy

something different.

“They gave us eight boxes of fish cakes, eight boxes of fish fingers and six or seven boxes of frozen chips and we fed our children for four days – we fed something like 2 200 to 2 300 people that week.

“They were so surprised – many of our kids have only eaten vegetables, soups and rice since the start of lockdown. So, we’re hoping it’s going to happen again.”

Head of marketing at Sea Harvest Jared Patel says their gesture aimed to show that the love is real for Valentine’s month.

“We proceeded to message Lester directly to find out a little more about the initiative and we were glad to get involved, and also asked McCain to ‘chip in’ by donating some stock – as we are currently running the #FriendsInYourFreezer campaign with them, creating more awareness for the frozen food category.

“Within just over a week from the Tweet being sent, Sea Harvest and McCain had donated 1.3 tons of stock to feed the 2 300 kids in Lavender Hill.”

While Nicholson says the donation was much appreciated, the unfortunate reality for the NPC is that they are battling to feed the need.

“We basically feed people a regular vegetable meal – but we’re struggling a lot. This week, I had to ask a neighbour to please fill up our tank. And we’re relying heavily on donations; I go on Facebook and ask for donations for our feeding and our sport all the time.”

Cape Flats healthcare workers are ‘part of the solution’

EM

Eugene Leonard from Vanguard CHC.

ference. I live for the health of my family and the community.”

Sr Charmaine Adams and Sr Shamielah Simons, from Retreat and Lotus River CHCs, were also among the group who received the vaccination. They agreed that although the situation was overwhelming, they were both happy to have received the vaccine.

“The vaccine saves lives and will prevent me from getting very sick. By taking the vaccine, we are all contributing to one another’s safety,” said Adams.

Eugene Leonard from Vanguard CHC was the first healthcare worker from the facility to be vaccinated.

The 56-year-old father of five has worked for the Western Cape Government Health Emergency Unit for 34 years. “I took the vaccine today (19 February) so that I can

Sr Charmaine Adams from Retreat Day Hospital. protect myself and my family against the deadly Covid-19 virus. It will lower the risk of me ending up in ICU.” Grassy Park’s Dr Zahraa Saban is a wife and mother of four. Currently she works as a medical officer at Grassy Park Day Hospital. As a cancer survivor, she shares that her goal is to be able to safely examine her patients again and manage their health conditions to the best of her ability. Having now received the vaccine, she is confident she will get that chance.

“The vaccine offers us as healthcare workers a chance to do more than just provide oxygen and supportive care to our country and the global population. I choose to be vaccinated because I trust those with the expertise who have correctly guided us on many other health issues in the past,”

Louise Appolis, the primary health care manager for the southern and western substructure for health. she said.

While she did have some reservations at first, she directed her questions to the right people and gained clarity.

“I asked questions regarding any uncertainties I had and finally I put my trust in my Creator to guide me to make the best decisions for myself and my family,” said, Dr Saban, adding people should pose questions to their healthcare professionals to become correctly informed and confident about taking the vaccine. “Be a part of the solution.”

Leonard sent a message to the community: “Stay safe, stay strong, protect yourself and those special family members around you. Mask up and keep your social distance.”

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Retreat, Vanguard, Lotus River and other community health centres (CHCs) in the southern suburbs had their first groups of healthcare staff vaccinated at Groote Schuur Hospital on Friday 19 February.

This marked a momentous occasion for the frontline workers who have been at risk constantly. Arguably, they have also experienced more loss than most.

Louise Appolis, the primary healthcare manager for the southern and western substructure for health, experienced the loss of the first healthcare worker at the primary healthcare platform early last year.

“Three months later, I lost my brotherin-law due to Covid-19 – my pillar of support, a healthy man – and this after my father passed away before the pandemic. So many losses at the facilities that I manage; it’s really hitting home now. As a team, we have learnt how to manage – and then the vaccine came,” said the registered nurse.

Appolis visits and oversees the running of the facilities. In so doing, she is exposed to and runs the risk of contracting the virus. But, she said: “I believe we are covered in prayer and this vaccine will make a dif-

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4 NEWS

PEOPLE'S POST | RETREAT Tuesday, 2 March 2021

EDUCATION

LAUREN DREYER:

Learners defy the odds SAMANTHA LEE-JACOBS SAMANTHA.LEE@PEOPLESPOST.CO.ZA @SAMANTHA_LEE121

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espite one of the most challenging school years in recent history due to the Covid19 pandemic, the class of 2020 have gone on to achieve outstanding results in the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations.

While a decline in the matric pass rate was to be expected, the Western Cape showed the smallest decline with a 79.9% pass rate. The province recorded a 2.4% decline compared to the average national decrease of 5.1%.

“I congratulate all learners who achieved their matric under difficult circumstances and amid great uncertainty,” says Western Cape minister of education Debbie Schäfer in a statement.

The Free State came out on top with 85.1% followed by Gauteng at 83.3% and then the Western Cape at 79.9%. In fourth is KwaZulu-Natal at 77.6%, the North West at 76.2%, Mpumalanga at 73.7%, Limpopo at 68.2% and the Eastern Cape at 68.1%. Trailing the pack with the lowest result in the nine provinces is the Northern Cape at 66%.

For the Western Cape class of 2020, a new milestone was achieved, recording the highest number of admission to bachelor’s degree passes at 22 634 (43.8%).

The province has also seen a 70.8% pass in maths and 82.9% pass in mathematical literacy, with two candidates achieving some of the top overall maths scores in the country. They are Daniel Alwyn Gouws from Hermanus High School in first overall and Veren Naidoo from Rondebosch Boys High School in overall second. “Despite the lockdown, the disruption to the school calendar, and the uncertainty throughout the year, we

have seen that the quality of our matric passes has once again improved, as has the overall retention rate from Grade 10,” says Schäfer.

A total of 51 633 matriculants wrote the NSC examinations in the province. But this is only 66% of the total number of learners who entered Grade 10 in 2018.

Schäfer, however, says this is an improvement as it is the highest proportion of learner retention in the country for the 2020 NSC and has steadily increased over the last 2 years.

ASEKHO NGALWA: “The most challenging part of my matric year was teaching myself half of the things because we obviously had not been to school for more than six months. Also the fact that we had so little time to learn and be taught everything, then being rushed into prelims and only having a week of ‘rest’ which we had to use to study before finals actually started. I got a bachelors’ pass and one distinction. I’m not 100% happy with them because I know I could’ve gotten better results, but I know I tried my best.” She now awaits her study application status and hopes to attend university this year. To future matriculants she says: “Find a study partner and spend a lot of time going over past papers as that helps a lot.”

For more information on WCGH’s HPV vaccination programme, visit https://www.westerncape.gov.za/ general-publication/hpv-vaccinations

“Throughout 2020, it has not been easy to determine the real impact of Covid-19 on the Class of 2020 with regards to the retention of learners in the system. Despite many negative predictions, I was pleased to see that the effects were not as bad as some have reported in the Western Cape,” says Schäfer.

As messages of support and congratulations flooded social media, People’s Post polled some 2020 matriculants on the way forward after this challenging year.

V The department is providing 24/7 counselling services to any matriculant who is disappointed at the outcome of their 2020 NSC examinations. Approach your school or call the Safe Schools Hotline on 0800 45 46 47.

KYLE KLEINSMITH: “The most challenging part of my matric year was having to adapt to online learning and having minimal contact learning. I learn best in an active learning environment where questions can be asked and interactions between learners and teachers can be made. Online learning placed a big problem for me in this regard,” says Kyle. “I passed with a bachelor’s pass and four distinctions. I am quite satisfied with my results given the whole Covid situation, however I do feel as though I could’ve done much better under ‘normal’ conditions, especially in maths and physics.” He plans to study at the University of Stellenbosch to obtain a degree in mechatronic engineering.

To the class of 2021 he says: “Matric is quite challenging on its own and accompanied with Covid, it could feel impossible to do however, the class of 2020 is proof that it can be done. Continue to work hard and persevere and you will get through it. I can confidently say that it is worth it in the end.

Also mental health is super important, don’t be afraid to speak to someone if you are struggling to cope. Even if it’s just a friend, getting things off your chest can really help relieve some stress.”

“The most challenging trial I’ve faced throughout my final exams would definitely be the loss of my 17 month-old nephew on Monday 9 November, only three days before my first maths paper. His death struck us suddenly and it impacted my academic performance, without a doubt. To my disappointment, (I received) a higher certificate pass. I know that my results were not indicative of my capabilities, especially since I’ve achieved much better marks throughout matric.” A self-taught photographer, she hopes to sharpen her skills in this field and has applied for a threemonth permaculture course and will continue with mission and outreach work. “My advice to anyone who experiences a tragic and sudden loss, is to take care of your mental health immediately. We tend to ignore the fact that we’re not okay just to achieve goals or even impress other people. But your mental health matters too, so speak to someone who has experienced something similar to your situation or even a professional. Other aspects of your life will be affected in the long run if you do not tackle how you feel right now.”

MICHIAL DANIELS: “The most challenging part of my matric year was doing school work on my own.

I’m used to someone explaining the work to me, and I had to adapt on my own and find alternative routes as well as to how I’m going to teach myself. I’m actually proud of myself, even though I didn’t get a bachelor’s pass, because there are so many learners that did not pass and I at least did. If I didn’t pass, I would definitely try again this year,” he says. Being selected along with six other learners, Daniels has now started his studies at the SA College for Tourism in Graaff Reinet. “My advice to a matric learner going to school in this nationwide pandemic, is to start earlier with homework, assignments, etc. because you will be swamped with a lot of work at the end of the year to study. Secondly, always ask questions and collect a lot of resources your teachers will have to offer you. And lastly, always keep God by your side in this time.”

NEWS 5

PEOPLE'S POST | RETREAT Tuesday, 2 March 2021

HUMAN SETTLEMENTS

Demand for social housing increases pipeline consists of 35 projects which seek to cater to 5 233 households. These projects are planned for delivery in the City of Cape Town, Cape Winelands and Garden Route districts. Feasibility assessments are under way to determine the viability of pipeline projects,” says Adriaanse.

Malusi Booi, the City’s Mayco member for human settlements, says several well-located projects in central Cape Town are set for major milestones this year, with a projected total of around 620 social housing units.

“Pine Road is due to break ground, Dillon Lane is at development application stage, and Salt River Market is now just months away from handover to a social housing developer. The Newmarket Street site (444 units projected yield) is also in the pipeline for social housing,” says Booi.

NETTALIE VILJOEN NETTALIE.VILJOEN@MEDIA24.COM

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s Capetonians sift truth from lies in what has become a media mud-slinging fest between the City of Cape Town and a former Mayco member, one thing is sure, the economic fallout linked to the pandemic has seen an increased demand for social housing in the Western Cape.

Earlier this month, Good Party secretarygeneral Brett Herron accused the provincial government of lying about inner-city housing developments in Cape Town (“Western Cape government accused of lying about innercity housing developments”, News24, 5 February). The City hit back, saying that social housing projects are well on track and not cancelled as “falsely” claimed. Neither parties, however, can deny the urgent need for social housing in the province.

Social housing rental units cater for households earning between R1 501 and R15 000 per month, in higher density “block” developments. Social housing institutions (SHI) accredited by the Social Housing Regulatory Authority (SHRA) in terms of the Social Housing Act undertake the property management of these developments.

To access this service, South Africans who are 18 or older need to apply to these SHI’s directly. These institutions include Communicare, SOHCO, Povicom, Own Haven, Madulammoho, Instratin and Urban Status Rentals (Devmark).

Formed in 1929, Communicare carries the badge of being the oldest SHI in the country.

Today, however, social housing makes up but a small part of its property portfolio.

Anthea Houston, chief executive officer of Communicare, says of the 3 500 apartments and houses that Communicare rents out, 10% (as regulated by the SHRA) are social housing units and 80% are gap housing or other other low social rentals that do not fall under the regulation of the SHRA.

Mayco member for human settlements, Malusi Booi inspects a unit at the Glenhaven social housing project Gap housing is targeted at people who earn too much to qualify for a governmentsubsidised house but earn too little to qualify for a bond from a bank to buy a house.

The remaining 10% is rented at rates slightly higher than the gap market.

The social housing properties in Communicare’s portfolio include the Drommedaris pilot project (219 units), Bothasig Gardens phase two (120 units) and Bothasig Gardens phase three (314 units are currently under construction).

Houston says the company has seen a steady increase in applications for social housing since March 2019.

“This is largely as a result of households downscaling to cope with the economic recession or those looking for affordable ‘work from home’ apartments,” she says.

According to Houston, there is a drastic shortage of social and gap housing in the province. Of the applications received, Communicare can accommodate 85%. The company does not usually keep a waiting list but has started screening applicants who want to move into the new Bothasig Gardens so-

Focus on filling housing gap NETTALIE VILJOEN The dream of one day buying your own property is shared by many. Household credit ratings and affordability, however, do not always allow for ownership. This is where gap housing comes in.

As per the Western Cape Provincial Human Settlements Demand Profile and Analysis of 2015, only 415 households (0.2%) in the provincial Housing Demand Database expressed a preference for rental over ownership (this excludes the City of Cape Town).

Nathan Adriaanse, director of communications for the department, says gap housing in terms of the government’s definition refers to households with a monthly income of R3 501 to R22 000, interested in homeownership by means of purchasing a property. “This gap market is catered for under the government’s Finance Linked Individual Subsidy Programme (Flisp) for qualifying households wishing to acquire an existing house or vacant serviced stand linked to a building contract,” Adriaanse says.

Deserving first-time buyers can qualify for a Flisp government subsidy which can be used as a deposit or put down to shorten the payback period.

According to Adriaanse, the department’s focus is to enhance the demand for affordable housing, essentially Flisp, and to include Flisp housing opportunities in its catalytic projects (spatially targeted interventions that aim to change the way we provide infrastructure by restructuring settlements patterns). “In essence, the department plans to increase the supply of Flisp housing opportunities,” he says.

One such example in progress is the Conradie Better Living Model (BLM) development (3 600 units total) in Pinelands, an inner-city feeder suburb.

As the property market continues to adapt and change, the property sector has also begun to realise the potential the socalled gap market holds.

The sector has a slightly different definition of gap housing. According to its definition, gap housing includes those who earn too much to qualify for a government-subsidised house but also earn too little to qualify for a bond from a bank to buy a house.

Anthea Houston, chief executive officer of Communicare, says an additional problem for people who qualify for a bond is that there isn’t sufficient housing stock available in their price range.

Traditionally considered to solely be a social housing institution, Communicare had to adopt a cross-subsidisation model to remain sustainable as once sizeable operating subsidies from the government and grant funding from the domestic or international development community fell away.

Today the non-profit company’s tenant mix includes a portion of people paying market-related rentals (managed by Goodfind Properties) in middle-income households. Some of the surplus earned by these properties are used to subsidise new social housing developments and to offer qualifying tenants rental discounts.

It is also being invested in gap housing development projects. In this instance, joint monthly incomes must range from R7 500 to R23 400 to qualify.

“Communicare helps to address the growing need for quality housing, in areas close to their places of work with access to good schools and transport. For example, between 1989 and 2020 Communicare built and sold 1 500 houses in Montclair, Mandalay as well as in Musgrave in the Dieprivier area at prices suitable for the gap market,” Houston says.

cial housing apartments scheduled to be completed later this year.

Nathan Adriaanse, director of communications from the Western Cape Department of Human Settlements, confirms the sector has seen an increased demand for social housing. “It is also evident that a number of existing tenants were affected by the Covid19 pandemic in terms of job loss or salary cuts, which resulted in a decreased rental collection rate. However, the sector as a whole identified options in which to assist such tenants, which included non-evictions and debt-relief measurements,” he says.

Supply and demand According to the department, there are currently seven social housing projects active in the province, comprising 2 688 units in total. These projects are Steenvilla (700 units), Drommedaris (219 units), Bothasig (120 units), Scottsdene Rental Estate (500 units), Belhar Gardens Rental Estate (629 units), The Anchorage (416 units) and Regent Villas (104 units).

“At present, the social housing project

First in line As the forecast for economic recovery post-Covid-19 remains cloudy, it is safe to assume there will be quite a long queue of applicants.

Adriaanse says the application process generally commences within the last year of the construction of a project.

“Since this is a rental housing project, vacancies can become available over time and to fill these units, the SHI’s will revert to the application list. However, applications can still be submitted on an ongoing basis.”

In line with the fundamental goal of social housing – to ensure integration from a spatial, social and economic point of view – it seems that applicants who already live in the respective areas where social housing projects are under way will be first in line.

“Social housing projects firstly seek to assist qualifying applicants within the area, but has an allocation for applicants outside the area for persons to be close to the abovementioned opportunities,” Adriaanse says.

However, as social housing projects are “rental projects and rely on rental income for sustainability”, he adds that the key selection criteria is affordability.

Read Aloud Day sets record A total of 3 million children were reached as part of the World Read Aloud Day initiative on Wednesday 3 February, setting a new record in South Africa.

Nal’ibali – the national reading-for-enjoyment campaign – has for the past eight years been celebrating the day by calling on the public to help them read a single story out loud to children across the country in their home language. This year, Nal’ibali received pledges from thousands of South Africans committing to read to 3 004 896 children.

“Reading aloud is a fundamental building block of literacy. It is how we introduce books and reading to children and motivate them to learn to read and write for themselves. A basic foundational skill which underpins all school learning, reading is what we need to be focussing on right now if we want to help children catch up on the schooltime they lost due to Covid-19 last year,” says Yandiswa Xhakaza, Nal’ibali CEO. The pandemic has also affected the format of the annual read-aloud campaign, prompting exciting new reading behaviours among South Africans.

Typically, Nal’ibali works with partners to host widespread read-aloud events, but lockdown and social distancing regulations changed its focus to encourage one-on-one or small group readings between caregivers and children at home instead.

“We were cautious about this new approach, but ultimately, it’s the type of reading behaviour that we want to see,” says Xhakaza. “Parents are their children’s first teachers and supporting a simple routine of reading using our free literary resources means they can nurture a lifelong habit of reading with their children.”

Nal’ibali is excited to have seen thousands of individuals and organisations pledge to read with their children this World Read Aloud Day. The campaign also offers free training on reading and sharing stories with children at

www.nalibali.mobi.

While it is not yet possible to know the total impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on education in South Africa, Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga has estimated that more than 300 000 children dropped out of primary school in 2020.

This, coupled with the literacy crisis South Africa has been grappling with for many years, means that South Africans need to do what they can to support their children’s school learning, whether at home, at school or in the community.

“The message is clear: we all need to get involved to ensure that our children have a fighting chance in school and life. Supporting basic literacy skills and providing emotional support through the simple act of reading aloud is an easy, sustainable solution that everyone must do,” Xhakaza says.

Nal’ibali encourages locals to join them, either by starting a reading routine with their children, or sustaining one by accessing its free children’s stories from its datafree website, www.nalibali.org, or by sending “Stories” on Whatsapp to 060 044 2254.

Nal’ibali is a national reading-for-enjoyment campaign.

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X1WKC2T9-QK020321

Local cyclists race in Egypt AVRIL FILLIES AVRIL.FILLIES@MEDIA24.COM

J

ustin Chesterton from Meadowridge is one of the four cyclists from Kinetic Cycling Club in Bellville who is part of the South African team competing at the Continental Road and Track Championships in Cairo later this month.

“I am very excited to be representing my country as well as the opportunity to see a new country. I’ve only competed in the European Youth Tour in Assen in Holland. I was doing online school when I received the news that I was selected. I don’t know who is competing from other countries, but I’ll compete to the best of my abilities to make my country proud,” said Chesterton, speaking before the team left for Egypt on Friday 26 February.

He admires Chris Froome, the British cyclist who has won seven Grand Tours, including four editions of the Tour de France, one Giro d’Italia and the Vuelta a Espana twice, plus several other stage races.

He also won two Olympic bronze medals in road time trials, in 2012 and 2016.

“I admire him as he had difficult challenges in getting to where he is, but he was able to overcome them and succeed. The Tour de France is the biggest race to compete in as the best riders race there. We will be back on Monday 8 March, but we would have to complete the Covid test 72 hours before we leave and return, but I don’t know how the regulations will affect me. In other years we would have a chance to go sightseeing, but with Covid it will be difficult,” Justin says.

When he is not cycling, he is doing athletics or another aerobic sport. Still on his bucket list is to compete in the World Champs.

“My parents have the biggest influence on my cycling career as they got me started in cycling and support my cycling in every way. Dedication is the most important attribute that you must have if you want to make your cycling career a success. My request to motorists is to give us a little more room,” he says.

Joining Chesterton as one of the four local cyclists from Cape Town is Amber Hindmarch, who is a junior female cyclist from Pinelands.

“I am so excited to be racing in Cairo and

cannot wait. It is a dream come true and will be the first time that I am participating outside of South Africa. I have participated in the SA Omnium Track Championships, Western Cape Road and Track Championships and I have done the Cape Town Cycle Tour since I was 11 years old,” she said before leaving for the continental event.

It being the first time participating in the event, she does not know any of the other riders from other countries that will be competing, but her coach, O’Ryan Bruintjies, told her that the girls from Egypt are very strong.

“I admire my teammate and friend McKenzie Pedro as a cyclist as she has always been there to help and support me. She is the kindest person I know with a heart of solid gold.I was at school when I received an email saying I had been selected and could not contain my excitement,” she says.

The most important race for Amber is the

Giro Rosa because she loves watching the female cyclists, especially the SA cyclist Ashleigh Moolman Pasio.

“A good cyclist needs to be determined and not give up when racing gets hard. You also have to have good sportsmanship and accept that you can’t always win. You need to have respect for your coaches, team managers, mechanics and other cyclists,” Amber says.

Team rapport makes training all that much better, she says. “My teammates and coaches are always making jokes and we are always laughing in between training sessions on the track. My teammates and I are all going through the same pain during training, and the laughter and jokes help relieve stress because I know I am not the only one suffering during hard intervals.”

She concludes: “My advice to motorists is to keep in mind that one small mistake could easily take someone’s life.”

Justin Chesterton (left) with his teammate Jason Bruintjies at the Velodrome in Bellville.

Congratulations

Amber Hindmarch (right) from Pinelands with her teammate Mckenzie Pedro from Oakdale in the Bellville Velodrome.

tiles

to our

Winners