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Over 30000 to ride in Cape Town Cycle Tour
Cyclists gear up to race
MORE than 30000 cyclists will reach the pinnacle of the South African cycling season when they take part in the Cape Town Cycle Tour this Sunday, 9 March 2025.
Since 1978, the Cape Town Cycle Tour has taken cyclists of all ages on a plus 100km journey around the Cape Peninsula.
Since 1978, the Cape Town Cycle Tour has taken cyclists of all ages on a plus 100km journey around the Cape Peninsula.
This iconic event is a highlight of Cape Town and the Western Cape’s sporting calendar, attracting participants from across the country and around the world.
According to the WCG, major sporting events such as the Cape Town Cycle Tour bring many benefits to the province as international and domestic cyclists are expected to boost the already thriving tourism sector, which is critical to creating jobs.
MEC of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Ricardo Mackenzie, who will also be taking part, said: “We welcome all cyclists, and I am excited to see more and more people taking up cycling and living active and healthy lifestyles. Please be safe during the tour. All the best to the riders and the organisers. I look forward to seeing you out on the road.”
This year, in a world first, the Cape Town Cycle Tour will be inviting between 1 500 and 2000 of this year’s entrants to a free melanoma screening, conducted by dermatologists at the Cape Town Cycle Tour Lifecycle Expo.
“In 2024, the cycling community lost a dear friend, Tim Brink, to cancer. His battle began with a melanoma, which was only diagnosed after it had spread to surrounding areas. Tim was a celebrated journalist and accomplished cyclist, and this initiative, which we hope to extend in coming years, is a celebration of a great man, and a potentially life-saving intervention for event participants,” Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust Director, David Bellairs said.
Presented by Clicks, and with the support of Eucerin, La Roche- Posay, Bioderma, Dermalogica, Cipla and ISDIN, the melanoma screening will take place at the event’s Expo venue. All entrants will be invited, via email, to fill in a questionnaire which will indicate the most AT-RISK participants best suited to the screening.
Cyclists are particularly at risk of developing skin cancer due to a combination of factors related to prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV).
Several Cape Town roads will be closed on Saturday and Sunday. Visit https://www.capetowncycletour.com/ for more information on road closures. Picture: capetowncycletour.com)
This iconic event is a highlight of Cape Town and the Western Cape’s sporting calendar, attracting participants from across the country and around the world.
According to the WCG, major sporting events such as the Cape Town Cycle Tour bring many benefits to the province as international and domestic cyclists are expected to boost the already thriving tourism sector, which is critical to creating jobs.
MEC of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Ricardo Mackenzie, who will also be taking part, said: “We welcome all cyclists, and I am excited to see more and more people taking up cycling and living active and healthy lifestyles. Please be safe during the tour. All the best to the riders and the organisers. I look forward to seeing you out on the road.”
This year, in a world first, the Cape Town Cycle Tour will be inviting between 1 500 and 2000 of this year’s entrants to a free melanoma screening, conducted by dermatologists at the Cape Town Cycle Tour Lifecycle Expo.
“In 2024, the cycling community lost a dear friend, Tim Brink, to cancer. His battle began with a melanoma, which was only diagnosed after it had spread to surrounding areas. Tim was a celebrated journalist and accomplished cyclist, and this initiative, which we hope to extend in coming years, is a celebration of a great man, and a potentially life-saving intervention for event participants,” Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust Director, David Bellairs said.
Presented by Clicks, and with the support of Eucerin, La Roche- Posay, Bioderma, Dermalogica, Cipla and ISDIN, the melanoma screening will take place at the event’s Expo venue. All entrants will be invited, via email, to fill in a questionnaire which will indicate the most AT-RISK participants best suited to the screening.
Cyclists are particularly at risk of developing skin cancer due to a combination of factors related to prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV).
Several Cape Town roads will be closed on Saturday and Sunday. Visit https://www.capetowncycletour.com/ for more information on road closures. (Sources: SAnews.gov.za, capetowncycletour.com)
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.