February, 2025
City upgrades hockey field
Action on new turf
A BRAND new season. A brand new turf.
Yes, that was the case on the weekend of 22 February when the first matches were played on the new astro turf at the Bellville Sports Complex.
The City of Cape Town’s Recreation and Parks Department completed the resurfacing of the Bellville hockey turf last month and during the weekend, the first matches were played on the court when Bellville Hockey Club took to the new astro turf. The project cost R4,6-million.
The Western Province Hockey Federation recommended upgrading of the turf during the 2023/2024 season, due to concerns because of wear and tear.
“The City is proud to have played a role in restoring this vital sport facility and remains committed to supporting local clubs that foster community engagement, youth development, and active participation in sports and recreation. The City is committed to providing attractive, safe, accessible and sustainable spaces where residents, athletes and visitors can engage in sports and recreation activities,” said councillor Francine Higham, Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health.
The Bellville Sports Complex also has a grass soccer field, two five-a-side soccer courts, a basketball- and two netball courts.
20 March is new date for Black Card
SASSA deadline extended
Beneficiaries of SASSA grants now have until 20 March 2025 to exchange their SASSA Gold Card with the new Postbank Black Card.
The ministers of Communication and Digital Technologies, Solly Malatsi, and Social Development, Nokuzola Tolashe, announced today that the deadline had been extended from 28 February until 20 March.
The ministers said in a joint statement they had listened to the concerns and frustration of social grant beneficiaries and strongly encouraged them to make the change before the new deadline.
They stressed grants will still be paid after 20 March, but those who haven’t exchanged their cards by then will have to go to their nearest Post Office to access their funds.
Postbank has also made it easy for beneficiaries to locate the nearest place in every province where they can collect their card. All they need to do from the comfort of their home is to use their cellphone and:
1. Dial: *120*218*3#
2. Reply by pressing number 1 and
3. Reply with the number representing the province they live in.
For any further enquiries, beneficiaries can contact Postbank or SASSA Customer Care on
0800 53 54 55 (Postbank) or 0800 60 10 11 (SASSA).
Beneficiaries in the Western Cape can exchange their cards at the following sites:
Boxer Langa, Boxer Philippi, Boxer Mitchells Plain, Checkers Hyper Parow, Usave Bellville, Shoprite Bayside Mall, Shoprite Eerste River, Shoprite Khayelitsha CBD, Shoprite Gugulethu, Shoprite Adderley Street, Shoprite Thembalethu, Shoprite George, Shoprite Paarl, Shoprite Vredenburg and USave Caledon.
'Let's work together against crime'
Outrage at gun violence
WESTERN Cape Minister of Police Oversight and Community Safety, Anroux Marais, has called for an integrated approach against gun violence in and around Cape Town.
This follows a call by the non-profit organization, Fight Against Crime SA (FACSA), to the South African government to implement a multi-sector strategy to stop the carnage of innocent people.
Marais said in a statement she was outraged at the high levels of gun-related crime in Cape Town.
Several people died in a number of recent shootings across the city in recent weeks.
The Minister stated: “The proliferation of guns and ammunition is a major contributor to gang-related killings in Cape Town.
“The South African Police Service (SAPS) must work closer with municipal law enforcement agencies, including Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (LEAP) officers, to prioritise getting illegal guns off our streets and ensure perpetrators of gun-related crimes are successfully prosecuted.”
She said community-based organisations, such as neighbourhood watches, also play a critical role in addressing crime and called for closer collaboration “in addressing this scourge”.
D-day for beneficiaries around the corner
Get your black card now
MANY seniors and other social grant beneficiaries are stressing because of the upcoming deadline for the replacement of their SASSA Gold Cards.
Last year Postbank and SASSA (the South African Social Security Agency) announced 28 February 2025 as the deadline for the replacement of SASSA Gold Cards with the new Postbank Black Card.
Beneficiaries that fail to get Postbank Black Cards before the deadline are advised that they will not be able to access their SASSA grant payments with the gold cards, according to SASSA and Postbank
Postbank started replacing the gold cards with the new black cards in September 2024.
Hundreds of thousands of beneficiaries have already changed their cards and are accessing their grants using their new cards.
To get the new Postbank Black Cards, beneficiaries only need a valid South African ID or a temporary ID. No card will be issued without these documents.
Grant beneficiaries can replace their gold cards with the new black card conveniently where they collect their grant payments, mainly at retailers that include Shoprite, Checkers, Usave and Boxer nationwide, and Pick n Pay stores in Gauteng.
Postbank has also made it easy for beneficiaries to locate the nearest place in every province where they can collect their card. All they need to do from the comfort of their home is to use their cellphone and:
1. Dial: *120*218*3#
2. Reply by pressing number 1 and
3. Reply with the number representing the province they live in.
For any further enquiries, beneficiaries can contact Postbank or SASSA Customer Care on
0800 53 54 55 (Postbank) or 0800 60 10 11 (SASSA).
“We appeal to beneficiaries that have not yet switched to Postbank Black Cards to take the opportunity and get the new cards before the deadline of 28 February 2025, to avoid not being able to access their SASSA grant payments,” said Nikki Mbengashe, Postbank CEO in the statement.
Getting the new card is also free of charge for all beneficiaries.
The new Postbank Black Cards work on all the National Payment System channels that include ATMs, retailer’s point-of-sale machines and any place that accepts a bank card. There is no waiting period for when they can start using the card for transactions.
Social grant beneficiaries will continue to enjoy the same benefits that they are getting from the Gold Cards when switching to the new Postbank Black Cards and these include:
- One free card replacement per year
- 3 free withdrawals in stores per month
- 1 free monthly statement over the counter
“We appeal to social grant beneficiaries not to wait for the last minute or when their cards stop working. They must get their Postbank Black Cards now at their nearby card replacement site as that will guarantee that they continue receiving their payments,” says Themba Matlou, SASSA Acting CEO in the statement.
Probe into security lapses underway
Escapee back behind bars
THE inmate who escaped from Pollsmoor prison on Monday, has been rearrested.
The Department of Correctional Services confirmed the 35-year-old Yanga Wayithi was rearrested in the early hours of Wednesday morning, following a manhunt.
“Wayithi was apprehended at approximately 01:30 on Wednesday, 12 February 2025.
“He is now back in custody at Pollsmoor Correctional Centre and will face additional charges related to his escape,” the department said.
National Commissioner of Correctional Services, Makgothi Thobakgale said: “This arrest reaffirms our commitment to upholding the integrity of the correctional system. We remain resolute in ensuring that all offenders are held accountable, and that public safety remains our top priority”.
Wayithi is serving a six-month sentence for theft and trespassing.
He was assigned to work within a team maintaining the grounds of the facility before his escape.
“Appropriate measures will be taken against any lapses identified. Additionally, security protocols at Pollsmoor are under review to prevent similar incidents in the future,” the department said. – SAnews.gov.za
Public urged to remain vigilant
Hunt on for prison escapee
The Department of Correctional Services has launched a manhunt for an inmate who escaped from the Pollsmoor Correctional Centre in the Western Cape.
According to the department, the 35-year-old man, Yanga Wayithi, was assigned to work within a team maintaining the grounds of the facility.
Wayithi is serving a six-month sentence for theft and trespassing.
While Correctional Services were not clear on when the escape took place, a Facebook post by the local councillor for Ward 71, which covers Pollsmoor, said it happened on Monday, 10 February 2025.
“The South African Police Service (SAPS) has opened a case of escape from lawful custody. The Correctional Services’ tracing team is actively working to ensure a swift rearrest.
“Additionally, an internal investigation has been launched to determine the circumstances of the escape, with the findings informing any further action to be taken,” Correctional Services said.
The public is warned to “remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the authorities”.
SA men's football team to take on Lesotho
Bafana to host WC qualifier
BAFANA Bafana will host the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Lesotho at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane next month.
Coach Hugo Broos’ charges will face their COSAFA neighbours in Polokwane on Friday, 21 March 2025.
Bafana will then fly to Benin by charter to face the West Africans in the second qualifier a few days later.
The kick-off time and ticketing information will be communicated by SAFA in the coming days. –SAnews.gov.za
'Government must take new approach'
Calls for shutdown against crime
THE non-profit organization, Fight Against Crime SA (FACSA), has called on the South African government to implement a multi-sector strategy to stop the carnage of innocent people.
FACSA said in a statement: “The Cape Flats, townships and every other community affected by gang violence are under siege. We refuse to continue to watch as innocent lives are lost while government turns a blind eye.”
The FACSA executive committee’s statement noted that while President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered his State of the Nation Address on Thursday, 7 February 2025, gang wars occurred a mere 20 kilometres away.
“Mass shootings, targeted executions and indiscriminate violence continue unchecked. How can government claim progress while children are being shot and entire families wiped out in their homes?”
FACSA referred to several confirmed shootings, including in Lotus River, Rylands, Westridge, Manenberg, Ravensmead and Atlantis.
“The time for appeals and empty promises is over. FACSA is leading the call for a mass shutdown across the Cape Flats, townships and all areas affected by gang violence until the government takes real and immediate action.
“We are engaging with key stakeholders, community leaders and organizations to plan and execute a shutdown that forces government intervention. We reject any intervention that does not include direct input from affected communities.
“We demand a real, long-term strategy to address not only gang shootings but also the root causes of gangsterism, which is nothing short of domestic terrorism.”
FACSA demands the immediate deployment of the SA National Defence Force and a declaration of a State of Emergency.
“Finally, we demand the implementation of a multi-sector strategy. Law enforcement alone is not enough. Government must commit to a holistic approach involving social development, education, housing and economic empowerment to dismantle the conditions that fuel gang activity.
“Shut down to silence guns!” said FACSA.
Month-long trip hectic, but victory is sweat
Young karateka excel overseas
“IT WAS a great challenge for us, especially the youngsters, but in the end, it was well worth it.”
These are the words of Kaicho Hoosain Narker, the Cape Town-based world leader of Ashihara Karate. Narker recently accompanied four young karateka from Cape Town on a 28-day tour of India and Ethiopia. The trip took place during December and January.
According to Narker the tour included training camps and visits to 21 cities across India. Sadiya and Rabia Narker, Taygan Brown and Zachary Hendricks are the four young students who undertook the tour with Narker.
The highlight of the trip was the Ashihara India National Championships held in Mumbai on 12 January 2025.
Taygan won a gold medal for kata and kumite in the under-14 division and Zachary won a special prize for his exceptional demonstration skills in the under-16 division. The star of the show without doubt was 14-year-old Sadiya who won gold for fighting and kata. She was also awarded the top prize for the best female competitor of the tournament.
The 18-year-old Rabia could not compete as she was appointed tournament director, her first such experience at international level.
Kaicho Narker concludes: “I am really very proud of what we have achieved on this trip. I hope it serves as an inspiration to our youth here at home to reach for their dreams.”