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NEWS
False Bay safer than most
CRIME IN False Bay has dropped in the police's past financial year (April 2007 to March 2008), according to local crime statistics which were released on the police's website on Friday.
Back to Barrack Street
AS OF next week, the bus collection point beneath the Foreshore Overpass will be terminated, and asylum seekers will report straight to the Department of Home Affairs in Barrack Street.
Terror on Vanguard Drive
NEARLY two months after a violent attack on her family, Kensington resident Fatima Mohamed (31) is still shaken by the ordeal.
Activists' death not in vain
ON 16 June 1976, high school students in Soweto took to the streets in protest against the Bantu Education Act, imposed on the country by the Apartheid government.
Subcouncils scramble to balance the books
SUBCOUNCILS are once again feeling the pressure to spend the last of their allocated budgets as the end of the financial year draws to a close on Monday, 30 June.
Donations keep refugees afloat
CAR LOADS of blankets, toys and food line the walls of the Methodist Church in Observatory after people opened their hearts ? and wallets ? to the refugees left homeless and destitute by xenophobic attacks.
The road ahead
MOTORISTS and residents of Green Point may have to bite the bullet as the city prepares for the construction of Granger Bay Boulevard between Main and Beach Roads in preparation for the 2010 World Cup, with construction set to commence as early as next week.
Two murdered in one week
MERCILESSLY stabbed and shot in the face, metres away from their homes. These were the fates of two young Hanover Park men in one week.
Bounty in Camps Bay robbery
A NIGERIAN family robbed at a rented house in Camps Bay have offered a R120 000 reward for the return of jewellery, passports and other valuables stolen in the early hours of Friday, 28 March.
Under the hammer
THE FUTURE of a century-old Glencairn landmark hotel does not lie in jeopardy with a pending auction in April, the current owners of the Southern Right Hotel maintain.
'Illegal' Oude Molen tenants face eviction
THE fate of Oude Molen tenants is hanging in the balance as a new development in the village looms.
Rehab centre vanishes
LAST year a boy died under strange circumstances after a stint at an unregistered rehabilitation centre. Five months later, the centre has disappeared without a trace.
Off the record
FAULTY mechanics in the closed circuit television (CCTV) camera system dotted across the Woodstock police's precinct is Metro Police's reason for the fact that a number of cameras failed to monitor crime over the festive season.
Wasteland - Simon's Town man offers bounty for 'arsonist'
THE fire that ripped through Red Hill for three consecutive days has led to arson being the strongly suspected cause.
Market values
ENTREPRENEURS in Retreat, Lavender Hill, Grassy Park and Parkwood may soon have a new venue to ply their trade.
Hout Bay goes Dutch
OBJECTORS to an exclusive ga?ted development proposal on the Hout Bay beachfront have less than two weeks left to comment on the developer's response to their protests.
Flats residents cry out for care from city
RUSTED porch lights and broken flood lights offer no security for the residents of Aspeling, Van den Leer, Frere and Stuckerish Courts in Hillary Lane, Lavender Hill.
'A tall tree has fallen'
ONE of Fish Hoek's tall trees has fallen. Francois Finlay (68), establisher of landmark Francois' Restaurant in Fish Hoek, passed away in his Fish Hoek home on Friday after battling cancer.
Boom or bust for businesses
IT is not clear whether it will be a case of win or lose for businesses over this festive period.
Chaaban clings on
DESPITE threatening to bring in security guards and having lawyers on stand-by, city councillor Badih Chaaban was hardly a threat to the city on Saturday ? the day of his eviction from Greenmarket Square.
Extension of cemetery not welcomed
THE proposed extension of the Klip Road Cemetery has caused a stir amongst residents of Grassy Park.
Shebeens to challenge CPF for festive permit
SHEBEENS have approached the Steenberg Community Police Forum to rally support for a "festive season arrangement" similar to the agreement that the Ocean View and Masiphumelele shebeens have with the Ocean View CPF and police station.
Province land 'an eyesore'
PROPERTIES owned by the provincial government in Woodstock are raising the ire of residents, who say they are becoming an eyesore and attracting vagrants and criminals.
Residents comment on local design
LOCALS have been afforded time until the end of October to submit suggestions to the City of Cape Town on how they want their neighbourhoods to be developed in future.
A plan for all seasons
AN ACTIVIST ever since she cut her teeth on the chaotic streets of Muizenberg in 1998, Kerime Sinclair could hardly hide her disappointment at Thursday's community meeting that had promised to be the first step towards the area's final revitalisation.
Face-lift for CBD
THE heart of the Athlone CBD will soon receive a face-lift to establish district offices for the Departments of Planning and Building Development Management as well as Roads and Storm Water of the city.
Phoenix disappoints
CITY officials responsible for the Phoenix Housing Project in Manenberg were met with hostile stares from infuriated residents on Friday when an informal gathering, arranged to discuss beneficiaries' concerns, turned into a shouting match.
Police gathering drug evidence
CONTINUOUS raids will still be in the pipeline for 12 Beverley Street as law enforcement offi?cers continue to investigate claims that the council house is being used for the sale of drugs and alcohol.
Dyantyi: End to housing debacle near
DEFECTIVE homes built by the beleaguered CTCHC will be repaired within the next seven months, Housing MEC Richard Dyantyi promised infuriated re?sidents.
Archbishop's stepchildren charged
ASSAULT charges have been laid against Anglican Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane's two adult stepchildren following an attack on his ?domestic worker at his ?Bishopscourt home.
'Die Laan' planned as money hub
MANENBERG AVENUE (commonly known as "Die Laan") could soon give birth to a new economic lifeline for residents of Manenberg and Tambo Village, hopefully within the next nine months.
Special kids melt former president's heart
FORMER president FW de Klerk in tears is indeed a rare sight. Yet he could not hold them back when he donated money to the Woodside Special Care Centre in Rondebosch East.
Fanfare over postponed fan parks
PLANS for Cape Town's first "fan park" on Greenmarket Square have been indefinitely postponed, apparently due to "bad planning" by the City of Cape Town.
Calm after gang violence storm
MONTHS of peace between gangs in Manenberg were shattered last week as shooting incidents erupted. Police have confirmed, however, that the situation had simmered down.
New role for Newlands?
THE fate of the Newlands Stadium hangs in the balance as powerful forces in the sporting arena jockey for position in what could be one of the biggest sales in the history of South African sport.
Home owners cling to hope
THOUSANDS of ratepayers continue to live in hope that the City of Cape Town will give them a sympathetic ear when it considers their objections to their new property valuations.
Camps Bay cops get new boss
THE Camps Bay Police Station has a new station commissioner, one month after the Camps Bay Community Police Forum raised its unhappiness with the then station commissioner at a national police level.
Muizenberg drug problems running high
MUIZENBERG's drug problem is far from over, says Mountain Men director Allan Dillon, and it will take the combined efforts of police, residents and security companies to ensure the fight is not lost.
Ambulance staff fed up with being robbed
METRO ambulance staff have had enough of being robbed by the the communities they serve and say they may not be offering their services to them in future.
New information on alleged armed robbery
THE police are investigating the possibility that the alleged armed robbery that took place at a Lotus River home last week could actually have been a firearm deal in progress.
Traders to benefit from new by-law
THE Athlone City Improvement District (ATHCID) welcomes the idea of new draft by-laws which will regulate and structure business for informal traders across the Cape Metropole.
Accident waiting to happen
HIGH-SPEED drag racing into the early hours of the morning is a regular occurrence along Jan Smuts, Viking and Vanguard Drives, but police say there is nothing they can do about it.
Wienburg challenges Rasool to referendum
CONFIDENT that the Cape Town Environmental Protection Association (CEPA) has the backing of Cape Town ratepayers, chairperson Arthur Wienburg stands firmly by their action to stop the Soccer World Cup Stadium from being built in Green Point.
Mega-centre opens
MITCHELL'S PLAIN proudly boasts the school with biggest Education Centre in the province.
Police arrest sister
THE sister of the eight-year-old Hanover Park girl who went missing over the weekend and was raped has been arrested for defeating the ends of justice.
Through the eyes of a child
WHEN asked to draw a picture of his community and what he sees around his home, a seven-year-old boy from Manenberg drew a picture of two gangs shoo?ting at each other with two blood-co?vered bodies lying between them.
Deadly crisis hits Metro
OVER the past week, People's Post journa?lists investigating four separate and see?mingly preventable deaths in their areas unco?vered a frightening fact...
Wynberg interchange in disarray
WYNBERG'S transport interchange, centred on and around the Wynberg railway station, was described as "dysfunctio?nal"...
Policeman again charged with drugs
AFTER being arrested last year for allegedly dealing in tik, a Hout Bay police officer who is a Grassy Park resident has once again been arrested for possession of drugs.
Athlone takes a stand on crime
YOUNG and old gathered at the Alicedale Sports Field to parti?cipate in an anti-crime sports day on Sunday, 11 February, held in honour of the late Andrew Erasmus.
'Parkwood is turning into a dumping site'
PARKWOOD residents are furious about the illegal dumping taking place at various open spaces in their neighbourhood, saying it is a health hazard and generates a ghastly stench.
Another day, another fire
FOR the umpteenth time, families living in Masiphumelele are finding themselves sifting through ashes to salvage what few possessions remain after yet another fire ravaged a portion of the township on Wednesday.
Pupil suspended because of dyed hair
A MOTHER whose teenage daughter was told to go home on the first day of the new school year because her hair was dyed says the school could have handled the situation more tactfully.
Nowhere to stay for new detectives
POLICE sources say the SAPS Provincial Commissioner has declared 2007 the "year of the detective" and crippling staff shortages at police stations across the province are to be addressed this year through the deployment of graduates and students to police stations in need.
Festivals grind to a halt
FISH HOEK will be a decidedly un-festive place over the coming months as both the Fish Hoek Mardi Gras and the loudly announced Fish Hoek Festival seem to have gone belly-up in the last few weeks.
Policeman arrested for dealing in drugs
ACTING on complaints from the community, the Grassy Park Police raided the Grassy Park home of a police officer and found 31 packets of tik on the premises.
City gives hand-up to street people
STREET people are set to receive a R300 000 hand-up from the Cape of Good Hope Subcouncil...
Beaches fail water quality test
COASTAL water quality test results from 1 October 2005 to 30 September 2006 have been released and show that the majority of sampling areas have remained within the specified boundaries.
Pension day a tiring event for the elderly
MONEY which is supposed to make the lives of pensioners easier became the cause of pain and long waits on the day pensions had to be collected at the Grassy Park Civic Centre.
Young couple hijacked on Signal Hill
SIGNAL HILL is one of Cape Town's most stunning stop-and-view points but it also has a name as a notorious hijacking hot-spot, as another couple found out last Saturday.
Return of an Ice Age
THE largest free standing ice lounge in the world has arrived at Cape Town's V&A Waterfront and is set to open its chilly doors to the public on 3 November.
Lid lifted on scam
THE Mitchell's Plain task team uncovered a major money laundering scam in Mitchell's Plain.
Fire leaves 600 homeless
A devastating fire that erupted in Masiphu-melele at 01:30 on Sunday morning destroyed 150 shacks and left more than 600 people homeless.
Loved ones pray for miracle after accident
AN EIGHTEEN-YEAR-OLD local boy is facing life as a paraplegic after he fractured his neck in a 4,5 metre fall from a tree in the Imhoff Caravan Park in Kommetjie.
Police instability a big concern for Lansdowne community
AN increase in violent crime in the Lansdowne area was one of the main points of concern when key community roleplayers attended a Bambanani meeting on Wednesday, 20 September.
Radical shark 'solutions' aired at Muizenberg debate
THE erection of KwaZulu-Natal-style shark-nets and selective cul?ling of the inshore shark population were some of the more controversial suggestions made during the open shark debate held in Muizenberg on Sunday.
Manenberg housing discussed with Malawian minister
DIGNITARIES from Malawi met with representatives of various saving schemes belonging to the SA Federation of the Urban and Rural Poor (FEDUP) and Slum Dwellers International in Manenberg at the weekend.
Cameras may watch over hot-spots
CCTV cameras could be roped into the fight against crime at potential hot-spots in the suburbs of Elfindale, Heathfield and Punts Estate.
Community mourns Jade-Lee's death
COMMUNITY members came out in force last week to support the family of eight-year-old Jade-Lee Philander, who died after being hit by a car while crossing the Prince George Drive and Military Road intersection.
Cheryl's light shines bright
ASSISTING those less fortunate than herself, despite her deteriorating vision, is number one on the priority list for Che?ryl Halford of Grassy Park.
Muddy courts a great discomfort
FOR more than three years, ang?ry Hanover Park residents have been fighting to pave certain courts that they believe are hazar?dous to their health.
Attack surprises
LYLE MAASDORP (19) from Glencairn was pumping with adrenaline and stumbling over his words when he told People's Post of how he had survived a frigh?tening encounter with a Great White shark off Sunny Cove on Friday at 16:00.
'Communities must find crime solutions'
COMMUNITIES need to get involved in the fight against crime. This was the call of the Democratic Alliance when it held a meeting in the Ottery Multipurpose Centre on Friday afternoon to discuss ways of fighting crime.
Missing girl search stretches from Philippi to Paarl
THE fear of losing a child is every parent`s worst nightmare.
Youth Day an emotional day
"HERE is the photo of my son?s funeral. It was a very sad day for everyone. But it?s all over now."
Touching words that came from a very subdued Rabecca Truter as she stood before hundreds of people at a memorial service in Bonteheuwel on Youth Day.
'Strife getting in the way of houses'
STRIFE within the Ocean View community is hindering the way forward to building houses in Mountain View.
Fishermen can no longer address Minister directly
THE Department of Marine and Coastal Management (MCM) has banned fishermen from communicating directly with the Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism or any other officials involved in the allocation of long-term fishing rights.
Principals mum on Department meeting
THE Education Department has met with principals of local schools again to discuss the number of pupils it would like to see the schools accommodate.
Muizenberg drug deals caught on camera
DRUG houses are continuing to flourish in Muizenberg despite the Muizenberg Improvement District (MIDs) spending at least R692 000 over four years on security and meeting with high-ranking police officials.
Only 40 fishermen get right to make a living from the sea
ONLY about 40 Kalk Bay fishermen stand to benefit from the government's allocation of long-term lobster rights over the next ten years, effectively leaving the fishing community in disarray.
Clovelly aims for pure golf
CLOVELLY COUNTRY CLUB has announced that it is to forge ahead with plans to enhance its golfing facilities, despite objections to the tennis and bowls sections being closed to make way for the new facilities.
Police praised for speedy arrests in armed robbery case
FISH HOEK POLICE were quick to pounce on three suspects involved in an armed robbery at a building site in Noordhoek on Friday.
Increase in burglaries has Noordhoek concerned
A CRIME wave has swept through part of Noordhoek in the past three weeks, pushing crime levels to new heights.
Mystery death probed
WHEN Carol Koeries of Corvus Close, Ocean View, looked out of her window on the morning of Wednesday, 8 February to see police vans at the Old Apostolic Church, she thought the church had been broken into again.
Policeman of the Year comes from family of cops
POLICEMEN from Muizenberg and Ocean View have been honoured by their community police forums.
Woman sues police after collision
A 20-YEAR-OLD Fish Hoek woman has laid a civil claim against the Ocean View Police after a police vehicle collided with her car on Kommetjie Road on Sunday, 29 January.
Police warn of new scam
THE Fish Hoek Police have issued a warning to ATM users to be careful of falling prey to ATM fraudsters' latest trick, which has been practiced a couple of times in the area.
Valyland Spar applies for licence to trade as wine grocer
VALYLAND SPAR handed in an application for a liquor licence on 9 January and residents have until 17 February to comment on the application.
Where is she?
A LOCAL businessman has offered a R10 000 reward for information leading to the whereabouts of a missing girl, for-mer Fish Hoek Senior School pupil Angelique Nagel.
'Please pray for my husband'
A NOORDHOEK man has been fighting for his life in hospital after an accident that claimed the life of his son, Fish Hoek Middle School pupil Justice Hoare.
Suspect arrested for theft from ambulance
OCEAN VIEW POLICE have arrested a suspect who allegedly stole from an ambulance while paramedics attended to a patient.
Court now back in action
THE Muizenberg Magistrate's Court has been reopened, giving residents of Muizenberg and surrounding areas better access to justice.
Management of Kalk Bay quota not minister's responsibility
THE Kalk Bay Rock Lobster Association has not yet paid out wages this year, causing frustration among fishermen.
Deceased may have set shack alight
A FIRE broke out in Masiphumelele on Thursday morning, killing a woman and destroying shacks in Ntantala Road.
Leader arrested after shot fired
THE chairperson of The Fish Hoek Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ted Daniels, was arrested and charged with discharging a firearm in public early on Monday morning.
Stubborn computer holds up payment
COMPUTERS can sometimes be hard to reason with, and more's the pity for Bruce Butterworth of Glencairn Heights, who now needs Ministerial intervention to have R12 000 owed to him by the Navy freed from the neurotic clutches of the computer system.
Local among four dead
SUN VALLEY resident Paul Alexander (26), a paramedic who saved the lives of many locals, was one of four people who died when an Air Mercy Service helicopter crashed near Uniondale in the Western Cape on Sunday night.
Police investigate claim that naval officer owns shebeen
SIMON'S TOWN police have extended their investigation of an illegal shebeen in Red Hill to include a warrant officer at Simon's Town Naval Base.
'Beach boxes need to go'
THE beach boxes at Fish Hoek Beach may be removed because subcouncil manager André Jacobs believes they are not worth saving.
Local is lekker but mainstream spreads fear
COMMUNICATION from local police stations has shown signs of a confused policy in recent months, with information being withheld from the public because local police say they are being restricted by their superiors at area and provincial level.
Mayor awaits decision; MEC awaits application
"THE City of Cape Town is awaiting approval from the Provincial Government for a move which will see Council flats transferred to tenants for free," read a press release sent out by the Mayor's office on Tuesday.
More copies, more readers for People's Post
MORE POST, MORE PUNCH!
That's what we're giving out this week with our increased print-order, which will take The People's Post into more homes in the Far South Peninsula than ever before!
As of this week, The Post's print-order has been increased from 25 500 to 29 300.
Boulders penguins treated after mystery oil spill
WITH the Simon's Town Penguin Festival just three weeks away, nearly 30 members of the African Penguin colony at Boulders Beach had to be treated by the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) last week following a mystery oil spill at sea.
To Zimbabwe, with love from Ocean View
ADULTS queued with children, waiting their turn to receive two sweets from South Africa. Each sweet would cost 1 000 Zimbabwean dollars, you see, and it was thus an occasion when the visitors from Ocean View began handing them out.
Picketing staff demand better pay
DOZENS of employees at Pick 'n Pay in the Longbeach Mall went on a go-slow on Thursday to protest against low wage increases and what they saw as discrimination against employees in a Special Assignment programme on SABC 3.
Traffic officials fight on despite criticism
Traffic officials clamped down on taxis on Fish Hoek Main Road last Wednesday stopping 40 taxis, executing 29 warrants for outstanding fines totalling R34 600, and arresting 10 drivers.
Glencairn station project has a long paper trail
THE consultants working on the multimillion rand Glencairn station project made an attorney ride all the way out to Somerset West to collect documents that could have been e-mailed to him. And this a month after he requested the documents.
Maitland's robberies soar
ROBBERIES at business premises in the Maitland precinct proved to show one of the highest increases during the 2007-2008 financial year.
Breakfast not served
VOLUNTEERS and Chrysalis Academy staff were left in the lurch yesterday when food, apparently organised by the provincial government for refugees, did not arrive in time.
Mixed feelings over housing
MORE than 230 houses valued at R40 000 each are in the process of being built in Kewtown off Statice Avenue in Athlone, as part of a housing project launched on Thursday.
Legal hitches hold up rehab programme
NINE months have passed since the City of Cape Town allocated R1,6 million to a new drug and alcohol rehabilitation programme, but the money has yet to be spent.
Housing budget boost
COUNCIL FLATS at affordable rates will apparently be a reality in Steenberg within the next year.
Probe into construction deaths continue
INVESTIGATIONS are currently underway to determine the cause of Friday night's freak accident which left two people dead and one seriously injured on a construction site in Searle Street, Woodstock.
On guard
Residents urged to be alert after spate of hijackings
Medicine mayhem
A PATIENT at Gatesville Medical Centre (GMC) is alleged to have violently attacked the other patients in her ward.
No fun at game shop
A GAME SHOP that is allegedly managed by a Steenberg Community Police Forum member and Ward 72 committee representative, has been the butt of controversy between neighbours in Strauss Avenue in Cafda for the past eight years.
Upgrade delayed
THE much publicised Main Road upgrade, which was originally scheduled to start yesterday, has been delayed following an acute shortage of quality bitumen, a key component of asphalt.
D-Day for Simone
97-YEAR-OLD Simone Salesse will be relocated to an old age home in Observatory at 14:00 today (Tuesday).
School oath: to pledge or not?
THE proposed national schools pledge, which may be introduced in March, is being questioned by local principals, who have expressed concerns about its doubt and content.
Looking for work ends in murder
"WHEN I got to the scene, I saw my brother's lifeless body just lying there," says the brother of Jerome Mackay, who was murdered because he allegedly got more job opportunities than the other men who stood on the side of the road waiting for work.
Tighter leash on hounds
FIDO may soon be restricted to specific parts of Noordhoek Beach if suggestions made at a recent site visit are given the go-ahead.
Tempers flare over cell tower
DETERMINED Bishopscourt residents plan to take on cellphone giant MTN after the Protea subcouncil received an application from the company to erect a base station in the upmarket neighbourhood.
Residents' fate in balance
WALMER ESTATE residents are fuming as after a year, the provincial Department of Housing has failed to remove squatters from a derelict house.
Hope after scores plummet
A LOCAL school went from an 84% matric pass rate to the lowest ranked school in the province in the space of three years.
Lawyers fly into Mama's Housing fray
BENEFICIARIES of the Mama's Housing Project in Pelican Park have decided to appoint legal representation to assist them in their ongoing battle to obtain houses on the site allocated for the project.
Korean community in shock
THE Korean woman who was found murdered in her Rondebosch home on Friday, 30 November was a successful businesswoman who was planning to open a guest house on the property in Park Road where she was was killed.
Westlake's housing woes
TROUBLE seems to be brewing in Westlake after 100 notices were served on property owners last week, instructing them to gain approval from the City of Cape Town for the erection of buildings on their property.
Quarry residents won't budge
THE Strand Street quarry cannot continue to be maintained unless a man and his wife are prepared to move.
Erf 60 battle turns ugly
"IT is a total whitewash. We believe court action will be required."
Pollution a 'health disaster'
A HEALTH crisis is lurking on the doorstep of Imizamo Yethu (IY) as pollution is spiralling out of control and not enough is being done by the City of Cape Town to improve conditions.
Retreat's courts unite
BLOCKS of flats in Retreat are making history by the establishment of SHAAL, an interim residents committee that will unite the voices of the people living in Sterling, Horstley, Albertus, Ayre and Lesar Courts
Road to nowhere
MOTHER NATURE seems to be winning the battle against man in the ongoing struggle to keep Chapman's Peak Drive open, but the end of the war is still a long time coming.
Land invasion a concern for residents
ONCE again the controversial Mama's Housing Project is causing upheaval among residents in the area after another 20 "illegal wendy houses" were erected by fed up housing beneficiaries.
Police operation 'a drag'
FIFTEEN police vehicles and 10 law enforcement vehicles flooded Kevin Road in Ottery on Sunday, 23 September, officers brandishing shotguns, in an attempt to curb illegal drag racing taking place on the netball court in the vicinity.
Tourists injured in Muizenberg accident
TWELVE German tourists were left with varying degrees of injuries on Sunday afternoon after their luxury overland bus crashed into the Atlantic Road bridge in Muizenberg.
Break-through with break-ins
AFTER two months of regular break-ins at the Steenberg Village Shopping Centre, police finally made a break-through. Three suspects were arrested in connection with eight different cases of burglary.
No living room for Manenberg family
SEVENTEEN years ago, Sharon Louw's name was added to the ever-growing housing waiting list. Today she and her husband, Arthur, share a couch in the lounge of her mother's Manenberg house. Nine other people, including their four children, share two bedrooms.
Somalians get the cold shoulder
SOMALIAN tuck-shop owners sat abandoned amidst a sea of white plastic chairs after community members walked out on them in the Seawinds Multi-Purpose ?Centre last week.
Race card played with poker face
I AM well aware that racism is still alive and well in South Africa ? some intentional and some incidental ? but I was nonetheless taken aback when I was accused of being "one of them" on Sunday.
Housing hopes run high
THE air over Masiphumelele is fraught with tension today as school site residents await the formal outcome of a round of talks between their Amakhaya ngoku! (Homes now!)
Delay in rezone annoys
RED tape has dashed the hopes of Jabula residents owning their own homes. Now they're threatening to squat there illegally.
Police heed call to act
SHEBEENS topped the list of priorities for the Grassy Park Police on Sunday when they raided 16 houses in their precinct.
Dumping, despite signs and fines
DESPITE the "no dumping" sign at the entrance of the access road leading up to the Zeekoevlei Nature Reserve, off Strandfontein Road, people are still dumping their unwanted items, rubble and rubbish.
'Stand up and fight', youths urged
AS part of local Youth Day celebrations at the weekend, Leonard Ramatlakane, MEC for Community Safety, commended youths who have offered their time and resources in the fight against drug abuse within their respective communities.
Mixed feelings on city's plan for gap housing
COUNCIL has approved the release of 69 900m2 of land in Hanover Park, Silvertown, Sybrand Park, Elsies River, Maitland, Thornton and Kensington to be used for gap housing.
Forum rises from ashes to fight city
THE Far South Peninsula Community Forum (FSPCF), which disbanded late in 2006 due to a lack of interest, was resuscita?ted on Wednesday after details of the latest planning proposal for the Far South were made known to the public.
Vagrants overstay their welcome
VAGRANTS in Simon's Town overplayed their hand last week, sending business owners and community representatives over the edge into the realm of furious e-mails and a heated determination to get the mayor to sort the problem out.
Fears abound over 'instant reservists'
A DROP in qualifying standards for lower-le?vel police reservists, coupled with an increase in responsibility, has recently seen chairpersons of local Community Police Forums, as well as sources within the police, express concern over a possible negative impact on the police service.
Plan for Constantia Triangle revived
A PLAN to define areas of Constantia from which home businesses may run has been resuscitated and amended after its inital form was given the thumbs-down by the majority of respon?dents when it was tabled in 2003.
No more stench for Athlone
THE stench synonymous with the Athlone area could be a thing of the past within the next three years if the proposed budget of R20 million for the upgrade of the Athlone Waste Water Treatment Plant is approved for the new financial year.
Angry widow calls for action
A CONSTANTIA man was murdered du?ring a robbery at his home in LeSueur Ave?nue, Constantia last Tuesday evening.
Constantia Nek set for big burn
LARGE tracts of Constantia Nek and Cape Point are to be burnt within the next six weeks in a one-in-20-year controlled burn aimed at regenerating fynbos.
Families won't move from toilets
FOUR families with nowhere else to go are living in appalling conditions in a run-down toilet in Kewtown, Athlone.
Vrygrond to benefit from survey
THANKS to a positive commercial initiative, the impoverished community of Vrygrond now has a better chance at development since the completion of a comprehensive survey illustrating the community?s socio-economic profile.
Thieves take their toll
NOTHING is sacred to thieves it would seem. The congregation of All Saints Church, on the corner of Roodeblom Road and Salisbury Street in Woodstock, was shocked to find that someone had stolen their church bell some time on Wednesday evening last week.
'Drenched' in crime
RESIDENTS are at swords' points following a spate of crime at Strandfontein's new upmarket housing development, On the Bay.
Ephedrine bust after stop-and-search
INFORMATION from the public followed by an intensive investigation by the SAPS?s organised crime unit resulted in the arrest of a 30-year-old Sea Point man last week and the seizure of a substantial amount of the drug ephedrine.
Claremont club robbed five times
A CLAREMONT club has been the victim of five armed robberies in less than two months, but details are sketchy because Claremont SAPS refuse to give information recorded on their dockets to the media.
Fairmount calls for more teachers
THE news that they were losing a number of teachers brought pupils, teachers and parents at Fairmount High School in Grassy Park out in protest...
Grassy Park High School's bright spark
NOW that the results are out, matriculants can sit back and enjoy the fruits of their hard work. And one youngster from Grassy Park High School can feel proud of himself for being top at his school.
Camps Bay cleans up after council
RUBBISH that filled three trucks, totalling 16 tonnes, was cleared out of Camps Bay by local organisations on Monday...
Notorious crime den cleared out
POLICE evicted the illegal occupants of a known crime haven in Beverly Street, Athlone last week after a court order was issued to have the people moved out.
School gets hall after 30 years
SOON construction workers will be the norm at the Turfhall Primary School as the foundation and construction of a new school hall begins.
Schools hit hard by loss of teachers
A DECISION to convert contract teachers' posts to permanent posts has led to benefits for teachers...
Mother City gears up for tourists
NEARLY one million visitors are expected to travel through Cape Town in the next five months as the Mother City moves into its tourist high season.
Halfway house in Grassy Park raided
A SURPRISE raid by the police on a local halfway house in Grassy Park resulted in a night of protest at the Grassy Park Police Station.
New plans for settlement
OVERCROWDING in the "Pipetrack" area of the Imizamo Yethu informal settlement in Hout Bay poses fire safety and environmental health hazards.
Protea Village uncertainty
ABOUT 200 people were at the Fernwood Residents Association (FRA) meeting last week to find out more about the Protea Village land claim issue, but uncertainty still prevails.
Southfield man found dead in street
RESIDENTS found the body of a Southfield man who was shot dead in a street in Retreat last week.
Athlone, Manenberg among top 10 for attempted murder
THE Manenberg and Athlone policing areas are ranked ninth and tenth respectively for the areas with the highest rate of attempted murder in Cape Town.
Hopes ride on national funding
AFTER three years of trying to get funding for their award-winning business development project in Masiphumelele, the wait for Uthango's directors, Dorrette Steenkamp and Erna Sittig, might soon be over.
'Society would fail without the police'
"IF the police are removed from society, we will fail to be a society". This was the sentiment expressed by Pastor Jerome Campher at a motivational day presented by the Athlone Police on Thursday.
Principals and police grapple with crime
PRINCIPALS and police met last week to find solutions to the problem of crime plaguing local schools.
Missing man reunited with his family
AUBREY FELIX from Bridgetown has been reunited with his family.
Store manager found dead in Retreat flat
THE body of a 28-year-old store manager was found in her Retreat flat on Sunday, 13 August with multiple stab wounds to the neck.
Lavender Hill must take ownership of school after fourth burglary
LAVENDER HILL residents have been urged to take ow?nership of schools in their area after a local primary school was burgled last week for the fourth time since the July ho?lidays.
Court orders Metrorail to face the music of class action suit
AN Athlone mother and her two young daughters' lives "have just gone downhill" after the household's only breadwinner was killed after being thrown out of a Metrorail train nearly 10 years ago.
Tables turned on tragedy
COMMEMORATING a tragedy is always sad, but there is a sense of hope when people have used the tragedy as a launch pad for doing something positive.
MID directors talk of their hopes
ALTHOUGH the Muizenberg Improvement District (MID) AGM of Wednesday night might have seen the fur fly between some parties, the overall outlook from the new MID directors is a positive and eager one. People?s Post had an opportunity to speak to three of the directors on the new MID board to hear their opinions and find out what their vision is for Muizenberg.
Steenberg alumni give back to the community
GIVING Steenberg youths a fighting chance in life, as well as the prospect of a fulfilling career, is what three Steenberg High alumni are aiming at doing.
Tragic accident claims a life
A MASIPHUMELELE construction worker died and 10 others were injured when the bakkie they were travelling on went off Noordhoek Main Road, rolled and hit a tree on Thursday night.
Schools gear up to make kids safer
POLICE and parents are joining hands with schools in Ocean View to ensure that pupils are kept safe from the ills that are sweeping across many schools in the Cape Peninsula.
Roads of Death have claimed 40 lives since 1997
MORE than 800 people have been injured in road accidents on Kommetjie Road and Ou Kaapse Weg since 1997, and at least 40 people killed.
Roadworks should be completed by June
THE rehabilitation of a 4,4 km section of Noordhoek Main Road is progressing according to schedule and is expected to be completed before June.
Clifton Parade sale off
CLIFTON PARADE'S women have had a stay of execution, with an offer on the building that necessitated their relocation having fallen through.
Clovelly Country Club to shut down tennis and bowls
CLOVELLY COUNTRY CLUB has decided to close down its bowls and tennis sections on 30 June.
Facelift for local roads
THE Far South's roads and signs are in for a makeover by the council.
Tills don't ring in an unplugged world
LOCAL businesses were hit particularly hard by last week's run of power cuts, with the South Peninsula suffering up to three black-outs a day until Thursday.
Police make 18 arrests in one week
THE Fish Hoek Police made 18 arrests from Thursday, 9 February to Wednesday, 15 February ,according to police spokesperson Peter Middleton.
Assault charge laid against police
A FAERIE KNOWE mother and her two sons have laid a charge of assault against Ocean View police following a brawl outside a Kommetjie restaurant on Saturday, 28 January.
A complaint has also been lodged with the Independent Complaints Directorate.
Firemen speak out about local stations
SIMON'S TOWN'S fire engine is such an old model that the firemen call it "Noddy", because it looks like it came out of the Noddy era. At the Table Mountain fire last week, the engine's hoses popped on Friday night and it had to withdraw from the battle.
Home flooded for second time as water mains bursts
THREE water mains burst in the Far South on Wednesday night, and like many other residents, the Patricks couple in Hillside Road, Fish Hoek - whose house was flooded by a burst - are wondering whether the area's water infrastructure is not in need of serious upgrading.
Student claims R19 M from UCT after clash over thesis
A 45-YEAR-OLD Fish Hoek university student has taken the University of Cape Town to the High Court in an attempt to have his thesis taken seriously and allowed into the public domain.
DA turns focus towards elections
WARD 61 Councillor Nicki Holderness and her erstwhile rivals in the DA have made peace - but not without some last gasp politicking.
From policeman to advocate
OCEAN VIEW Police Captain Hansie Linde was recently appointed as an advocate in the Cape High Court.
Shark's every move to be watched
SHARK researchers tagged a Great White shark near Bailey's Cottage on Saturday as part of research into the behaviour of sharks in False Bay.
City asked to investigate funding to Mpongo group
THE Speaker of the City of Cape Town has been asked to investigate Subcouncil 19 chairperson Kululwa Mpongo's interest in a non-profit organisation that received funding from the city. The request for an investigation into the matter has been made by Demetri Qually, leader of the DA Caucus in the local subcouncil.
Sharks of Fish Hoek are speedy, nosey and dopey
SPEEDY, Nosey and Dopey - these are the three sharks that, according to Fish Hoek's official shark-spotter, Abraham Wilson, frequent the Fish Hoek bay.
At least five years before Masi houses are ready
THE ball is on the roll for a new housing project for Masiphumelele residents on a 10 hectare site situated off Kommetjie Road and behind the Wildevoëlvlei sewage treatment works.
It's official: drug-related crimes up by 108%
DRUG-RELATED crimes have soared, murder has inched up and burglary continues to gain speed at a breakneck pace, according to the most recent crime statistics for the Far South.
Abandoned puppies reunited with mom
A FAMILY of ridgeback-staffie puppies has been reunited through an amazing chain of coincidences.
Kebble had heart for Valley children
THE shock waves of mining magnate Brett Kebble's death have also been felt in the Far South.
Community halls get priority as council
IMPROVED community halls, chairs and playground equipment are what the Far South can look forward to from the R800 000 allocated by the council to ward projects.
Skateboarder dies
AN eight-year-old boy from Ocean View died in the Red Cross Children's Hospital on Saturday after being knocked off his skateboard on the corner of Flamingo Road and Swallow Road.
Helpers trapped in burning house
TWO Mountain Men and a Muizenberg policeman got trapped in a burning house in Church Street on Thursday after they rushed in to check if anyone was at home.
Spur cancels franchise
AFTER 18 years of trading in Fish Hoek, the Spur Group decided to cancel its franchise agreement with the local owner - although it is keen on returning to Fish Hoek in the near future.
Navy seaman faces 15 rape charges
A Navy seaman based in Simon's Town appeared in the Wynberg sexual offences court on Wednesday on 15 charges of rape and attempted rape.
Figures show astounding growth for Muizenberg
TALK about Muizenberg's revival is not mere hot air: if you want figures to prove it to you, there are plenty.
Young minds helped by the best
BUDDING entrepreneurs in Masiphumelele have been set on the right course by some of the brightest minds in the world - American graduate students who are spending their summer in South Africa as volunteers under Harvard University?s WorldTeach Programme.
Dog attacks penguins
A dog killed at least a dozen penguins and injured a dozen more during a killing spree at Boulders last week.
Maitland's robberies soar
ROBBERIES at business premises in the Maitland precinct proved to show one of the highest increases during the 2007-2008 financial year.
Credit card scam falls flat
THE actions of a quick-thin?king cashier ended in the uncovering of a credit card scam, a car chase and the recovery of a stolen vehicle.
Business robberies on the rise
THERE has been a spate of robberies on businesses in the grea?ter Grassy Park area over the past few weeks.
Baboon raids rise in Scarborough
THE INCREASE in baboon-human conflict in Scarborough recently prompted residents, re?presentatives from the UCT Baboon Research Unit as well as CapeNature officials to hold a public meeting to discuss the way forward.
Liquor Bill 'misunderstood'
PUBLIC hearings for the Western Cape Liquor Bill kicked off last week, and while the people have had their say, some feel their concerns will be ignored.
Kleinkop copped
BRADLEY PARKINS, also known as "Kleinkop", has finally been caught.
Questions after suspects escape
FOUR of the five men accused of robbing First National Bank last month escaped from police custody at Athlone Court on Friday ? after the police's Organised Crime Unit was warned of the impending event.
Tougher action on shebeens
A CALL for more action to be taken against local shebeens was the topic under discussion at the recent executive committee meeting of the Grassy Park Community Police Forum (CPF), held on Saturday, 26 April.
Manenberg finally gets green(ing) light
ARRESTS, protests and resolution marked last week for Proudly Manenberg.
This old house
RESIDENTS of Upper Woodstock are determined to preserve the architectural heritage of their area as they remain vehemently opposed to the demolition of one house they feel is a valuable asset to the neighbourhood.
Beware the sliding-door gang
ROBBERS working in groups have been moving around Camps Bay since August last year, breaking into B&Bs, guest houses and rental flats.
New plans worry Pinelanders
WITH thousands of residential and business units planned for construction in or around Pinelands in the next few years, at the heart of the soaring developments lies the question: is the "garden city" ready to take more?
Green scorpions strike
THE Environmental Management Inspectors, otherwise known as the "Green Scorpions", are investigating illegal polluting and dumping of waste in the Klein Vlei and Bokmakierie river channels.
Cathkin in utter distress
SINCE last year, Cathkin Se?condary School in Athlone has reported more than 40 cases of vandalism.
Doctor's tragic death a huge loss
FAMILY and friends are still reeling with shock after the senseless and brutal murder of Dr Theodore Lluwellyn Manuel.
Club in eye of storm
ALLEGATIONS of questionable alliances and dealings have surfaced...
Far South looks on the bright side
EMPTY pockets may mean fewer feet at businesses over the festive season as petrol prices and increased interest rates take effect on the bank balances of shoppers.
Pastor, teens robbed at church
THE People's Church Assembly of God's youth pastor, Dolan Cochrane, and two youths were robbed at gunpoint in front of the church this weekend.
Hartleyvale stand gets a big thumbs-down
THE poor state of one portion of the newly upgraded Hartleyvale sports field has become an eyesore to residents who believe it should be better maintained by the City of Cape Town.
Professor murdered on the way to church
PROFESSOR Mike Larkin of the University of Cape Town (UCT), who was stabbed to death in Roslyn Road in Rondebosch on Friday afternoon, was in fact on his way to St Michael's Catholic Church at the time and was less than 30 metres from the church when he was stabbed.
Oude Molen: Pinelands or Mowbray?
AN OPEN house exhibition for the proposed Oude Molen eco-village development near Pinelands is on at the Oude Molen Community Hall this afternoon (30 October) between 15:30 and 19:30.
Complex to be revamped for 2010
THE William Herbert Sports Complex in Wynberg will be revamped in time for the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup.
When bad things happen to a good road
THINGS were going surprisingly well for Lakeside resident Carol Ramsay in August.
Hout Bay in shock
A SHOCK wave hit Hout Bay on Monday as news of prominent ?local businessman Johnny de Castro?s murder spread through the community.
Simon's Town gets control of Jubilee Square
AN experiment in public-private partnerships will, on 1 October, see the ma?nagement of Jubilee Square and the nearby jetty in Simon's Town handed over to a private Section 21 company.
Treasury gets jitters over soccer stadia
THE National Treasury, for the second time running, has again expressed its concerns surrounding the sustainability of the 2010 Soccer World Cup Stadiums once the matches are over and the World Cup has passed.
Tata ma chance -tata ma mates
PREDICTING when the national lottery will resume is turning into something of a gamble in itself.
Ward forums slammed as 'talk-shops'
THE Lotus River, Ottery and Grassy Park Ratepayers and Residents Association (LOGRA) will oppose plans by the City of Cape Town to form ward forums within subcouncil areas...
Athlone's R14 million park debate
THE cost of revamping Nantes Park, at an estimated cost of R14 million, has become the source of a raging debate between ward councillors, City Parks, schools and civic associations.
First mosque opened
AFTER 14 years of praying in cramped conditions in a high school hall, the Eagle Park Muslim community finally has a mosque to call its own.
Housing development welcomed
ALTHOUGH 32 townhouses are currently under construction in Hazendal and is set to be completed by the end of the year, the Bridgetown Civic Association say they know nothing about it.
Housing office won't re-open in Manenberg
GANG violence in Manenberg saw the Manenberg Housing Office move to a safer location in Heideveld earlier this year.
Public to have their say about granny flats
ALTHOUGH the City of Cape Town has approved a new policy allowing the development of granny flats in the Athlone area last month, residents' associations in the area knew nothing of it until Friday.
Wish list must wait
COUNCILLOR Ken Lategan said last month that he would be spending his entire capital budget of R300 000 on a set of traffic lights for Hanover Park, but the community says this simply won't do.
Park 'n Shop faces resistance
RESIDENTS of Bergvliet and Meadowridge have set up a trust fund to raise money for a possible court battle following the announcement that a multi-storey shopping complex is planned for the area.
Solomon family gets land back
AFTER being forcibly removed from their farm in the 1960s and nearly a decade of frustration and toil, the Solomon family is finally reclaiming their land.
Residents say, 'City ignores us'
ALTHOUGH they welcome the R8,5 million development taking place in Cuban Heights, residents of neighbouring Lavender Hill East North are concerned that council, in upgrading the area, is ignoring their pleas for help.
'No money without responsibility'
A PROPOSAL by Councillor Nicki Holderness to have a R40 million funding request by Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) linked to their appointment as the main party responsible for baboon management, is due to go to the City of Cape Town's Planning Environmental Portfolio Committee (PEPCO) today.
City threatens cuts
MITCHELL'S PLAIN residents who have not settled or made arrangements to pay outstanding debt after receiving letters of final demand from the City (or "pink letters") were urged to go to the local housing office to make arrangements immediately.
Onslaught planned against city crime
COMPETING security companies in Cape Town, in conjunction with law enforcement agencies and the Oranje-Kloof and Green Point City Improvement District (CID), have for the first time ever formed an alliance to hold weekly crime-combating operations.
Pinelands raid not an isolated incident
POLICE raids gone wrong seem to be a common occurrence, if the flood of responses to People's Post's story of a "Pinelands family's nightmare" (Tuesday, 27 February) is anything to go by.
Housing list to be investigated
THE chairperson of Subcouncil 17, Jameela Daniels, has called for a forensic audit of the provisional beneficiary list for the Kewtown Housing Project.
'Plain growth spurt
MITCHELL'S PLAIN'S biggest project yet ? the development of the Kapteinsklip precinct ? has finally gained momentum.
Kirstenhof Police hope for change
KIRSTENHOF'S police welcomed new detectives last month (People's Post, 16 January) and were happy to receive the extra manpower to police the area...
Die Oog ducks struck down by lethal bacteria
DIE OOG in Bergvliet has been found to be infected by avian botulism, which has caused the death of 28 of the 30 ducks and seriously reduced the area's fauna for vi?sitors to enjoy.
Pay hike: final approval
CAPE TOWN councillors will receive a 5.5% salary increase after the mayoral committee (mayco) approved the incriment last week.
Locals leave city to the visitors
CHRISTMAS in Cape Town seems to have finally gotten to a number of locals this season as they decided to rather hit the roads out of town than get stuck in traffic in town.
Vandalism costs schools thousands
STAFF at local schools had a nasty surprise when they returned to work only to find their premi?ses trashed by vandals ? again.
School age debate
CHILDREN younger than six years should not be enrolled at school. That is the sentiment from the Education Management and Development Council (EMDC) South Metropole.
Guardian of Fish Hoek beach retires
ON Thursday, Abraham Wilson (49), False Bay's first shark spotter, had to permanently leave his post...
Last days to comment on new hotel
PEOPLE wishing to comment on the proposed development of a hotel at the Newlands Cricket Grounds should note that the deadline is about to expire.
Schools in crisis over ad hoc posts
WESTERN CAPE schools are facing a teaching crisis that could result in a chaotic start to the new school year if the Education Department does not take note of teachers' concerns.
Friends seek funds for library
THE Meadowridge Library is understaffed, has had to reduce its operating hours and has no funds to buy new materials.
Out with the old - for R220 M
OUT with the old and in with the new has never rung more true for the former residents of Disa Place, who were relocated this year to make room for a new R220 million complex, launched as The Orangerie.
Sailors must move onto war ships
YOUNG sailors in Simon's Town will soon have to move into the Navy's corvettes...
Claremont CBD to get a facelift
Claremont CBD is set for a major uplift, after a draft proposal for multi-million urban and transport upgrade projects were presented at the latest subcouncil meeting.
Canal clean-up to provide temporary employment
UNEMPLOYED people in the Downberg Road section of Hanover Park may soon find temporary employment as part of a city initiative to upgrade the Lotus River canal.
Be on the lookout when withdrawing money
THE Grassy Park Police are urging members of the public to be more vigilant when withdrawing large sums of money, after two incidents of armed robbery were reported over the past week between Monday, 25 September and Friday, 29 September.
International stars mentor kids with basketball skills
THREE esteemed basketball coaches from the United States visited Steenberg Primary School last week, teaching local pupils valuable skills in the sport.
Land to be released for gap market
THE City of Cape Town has launched an affordable hou?sing initiative that aims to see 2 000 families move into their own homes.
Engraved knife clue to burglary
THE only lead that police had on a housebreaking incident that occurred in Le Roux Avenue in Grassy Park on Monday, 14 August was an engraved diving knife.
Care keeps reservists out when others relax at home
IT'S a Saturday night and while most people are relaxing at home, Constables Yusuf Modack and Nazeem Adams are patrolling the streets.
Fishermen call for market to be better managed
MAINTENANCE at the Princess Vlei fish market | 
LIKE HONEY: The sun rises in golden glory over Long Beach in this photo, taken this month, and submitted in our readers' photo competition.
Photo: Vic Duggan