Celebrating community spirit: Subcouncil 16 civic awards honour local heroes
Subcouncil 16 councillors and civic awardees.
Image: Fouzia van der Fort
Subcouncil 16 honoured community workers from its wards for their service in gardening, literacy, safety and security, sport and cultural activities at its civic awards ceremony held at the council chambers in Wales Street, Cape Town, on Friday, December 5.
In Ward 77, Abieda Charles, project manager of the Bo-Kaap Helpers Garden, in Schotsche Kloof, and the Otto Foundation, a South African philanthropic organisation focused on improving early literacy and fostering a love of reading among children at Rahmaniyeh Primary School, in District Six, were acknowledged.
Pictured at the back is councillor for Ward 77 Francine Higham. In front are civic civic awardees Abieda Charles, project manager of the Bo-Kaap Helpers Garden, in Schotsche Kloof; and Frouwien Bosman, from Otto Foundation South African philanthropic organisation focused on improving early literacy and fostering a love of reading among children.
Image: Fouzia van der Fort
Ward councillor Francine Higham said the garden has grown into a sanctuary for the community and has become a vibrant learning space for young children.
“It offers young people to connect with nature and learn practical skills in a supportive, nurturing environment in their neighbourhood,” she said.
Ms Higham also said that the garden was plagued by vandalism and theft, but that the helpers have shown resilience in maintaining this public space..
The Foundation has uplifted two schools in the Ward, including Good Hope Seminary Junior School, in Cape Town, supporting them significantly through initiatives like building and stocking libraries, like “The Rainbow Library" and "The Hope Library".
They promote reading, providing feeding schemes for holistic development, and supporting other educational needs in District Six, creating vibrant learning spaces for multicultural pupils.
Pictured at the back is Subcouncil chairman Matthew Kempthorne. In front are councillor for Ward 53 Riad Davids, and councillor for Ward 54 Nicola Jowell. Not pictured are their ward award recipients.
Image: Fouzia van der Fort
Riad Davids, councillor for Ward 53, acknowledged two soccer legends - Ralph van der Schyff, from the Garden Village Affiliated Football Club (GVAFC), an amateur football club in Maitland Garden Village, and Yasmin Johnson, from Thornton, who organised a national Soccer Grannies tournament in Pinelands two months ago.
He said that these two sporting legends had gone beyond the call of duty in engaging both young and old in living active lives.
Mr Davids said that Mr Van der Schyff ensured players were equipped to play sports rather than engage in criminal activities.
Ms Johnson had also represented Soccer Grannies South Africa in Mauritius and endeared senior women citizens to play the sport.
Pictured at the back is councillor for Ward 57 Yusuf Mohamed. In front are civic awardees Woodstock community police forum chairman Sean Savage, and David Barraclough, from Observatory Ratepayers Civic Organisation (ORCA).
Image: Fouzia van der Fort
Nicola Jowell, councillor for Ward 54, said that her nominees decided to be active citizens rather than take to social media to complain.
“They have taken the approach of what can I do - and taken the stand that it cannot be done by the government alone,” she said
She acknowledged Marc Sternberg, an avid mountain user, who decided to lobby for private funding to activate a security initiative with patrols on Lion's Head, Signal Hill, Camps Bay, and surrounding areas by the Cobras Mountain Protection Team.
Ms Jowell said this was to ensure the safety of local and foreign visitors to the mountain.
George van der Schyff, operations director and co-founder of Pristine Earth Collective, a South African environmental non-profit organisation focused on addressing the plastics crisis, was also recognised in Ward 54.
They find innovative solutions to intercept plastic waste before it enters the ocean.
Pictured at the back is councillor for Ward 115 Ian McMahon. In front are civic awardees Johan Nel, from Friends of Golders Green, in Woodstock, and Michael Klink, chairman of the Friends of Central Library Cape Town.
Image: Fouzia van der Fort
Ward 57 award recipient Sean Savage, chairman of Woodstock community police forum (CPF), said the recognition was well received but that it belonged to the team.
“A dedicated team that is committed to the community,” he said.
Councillor for Ward 57, Yusuf Mohammed, acknowledged David Barraclough, from Observatory Ratepayers Civic Organisation (ORCA), for helping in the restoration of the World War I Memorial, corner of Station Road and Milton in Observatory.
Councillor for Ward 115 Ian McMahon acknowledged Johan Nel, from Friends of Golders Green, in Woodstock, who helped with irrigating the park and building flower boxes.
“Through thick and thin, it was about being an active citizen.
Mr McMahon said man alone Mr Nel went out of his way, out of responsibility, and as a resident to keep the park a place for people to use.
He said that Michael Klink, chairman of the Friends of Central Library Cape Town, volunteers his time to host information sessions for patrons.