Artist Rizah Potgieter has been hard at work creating Mitchell’s Plain’s Longest Mural—an ode to community pride and marine life awareness.

Mitchell’s Plain, South Africa (06 March 2024) — Artists, volunteers and community members have all played their part in helping make Mitchell’s Plain’s longest mural possible.

A legacy in blue, the ‘longest mural’ (also known as the Poseidon Mural) seeks to bring a sense of beauty, calmness and awareness to Mitchell’s Plain. In an big way, its breathtaking size makes the topic of climate change and its impact on our oceans hard to ignore with sea characters on vibrant display. In even bigger ways, it stands to show people the beauty that their area can call home; cultivating a sense of community pride and responsibility.

Led by mural wizard Rizah Potgieter who was also behind another iconic mural last year (“Standing Tall”, a 22-metre high mural in Khayelitsha that captured netball player Phumza Maweni), the Posideon project was a collaborative effort that saw many people unite for its creation.

 

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PAINT, an artivist organisation on a mission to transform neighbourhoods and non-profit ArtBridge teamed up to ensure that Mitchell’s Plain’s Longest Mural would become something for Cape Town to be proud of. For the team, this wasn’t singularly about marine life awareness or art’s positive impact on communities, but both in unison.

Says Mikal Ernest Bell, Founder of PAINT, “The initial objective was bringing the two communities together, this will therefore be the culmination. The artwork on either side of the wall has greatly contributed in bringing about peace in these two communities that has been ravaged by crime and gang violence.”

The more we make the hard topics accessible and the more we let art bring people together, the better chance we have for a South Africa that understands that no matter where you come from or what challenges you’ve faced, you can still make an impact on our future.

Sources: Various (Linked Above) 

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Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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After two hikers could not get down Platteklip Gorge, they spent the night up on the mountain with rescuers keeping a close eye on them. The next day, a big rescue effort unfolded, largely helped by students who stepped up to make it happen!

Table Mountain, South Africa (29 February 2024) — The Wilderness Search and Rescue (WSAR) had a busy time earlier this week after two hikers found themselves unable to finish their Platteklip Gorge hike.

The pair called for help after 8 pm on Sunday evening; a WSAR team of 6 people headed up the mountain ready to get the injured hiker—a 53-year-old visitor from KwaZulu-Natal— back down to safety. However, with a persistent injury and vicious South-Easterly winds roaring, the team ended up not carrying the hiker down; opting instead to spend the evening with her and her nephew.

The following day after a long evening, a team of over 20 rescuers got to work in completing the rescue. They began the descent down Platteklip Gorge and, by the afternoon, reported good progress. But when it came to the final push, extra help came just in time.

Students from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) stepped up to help the rescue along by carrying the nephew of the injured hiker, who was also in need of a little help from the friends he didn’t know he had. Despite having made good headway for almost 8 hours, he eventually could not continue and needed a rescue stretcher.

Largely thanks to the WSAR team, the injured aunt made it to the base ground safe and sound. And thanks to the Cape Peninsula University students, her nephew did, too!

Others who played an important role include the EMS medics, SANParks Table Mountain National Park and Law Enforcement officers!

Sources: Wilderness Search and Rescue

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A sold-out Baxter theatre signalled a year of exciting events for Opera UCT—including the opportunity to stage a world premiere, celebrating a student who was selected for an international scholarship, and brighter bursary opportunities!

Cape Town, South Africa (29 February 2024) – Opera UCT’s 2024 season launch presented a varied programme that signalled a year ahead full of good news, including world firsts, international collaborations, and student achievements.

To a packed Baxter theatre, South Africa’s oldest opera performing and training institution beautifully defended its reputation as a source for some of the most respected and successful operatic performers in the world today, and set the stage for what is to come!

Opera UCT’s director, pianist and conductor, Professor Jeremy Silver, led a line-up of performances that clearly demonstrated the breadth and depth of talent the school has on tap.

Professor Silver remarked:

“Our activities also provide Cape Town’s arts scene with world-class operatic performances of which we can all be proud, and I am delighted that Opera UCT’s international status has ensured that this year, we have been chosen as the production partner for some important and seminal works, which we look forward to sharing with audiences of all ages.”

A Symphony of Good News!

Performances To Make South Africa Proud

Opera UCT has been selected to stage the world premiere of an important and hitherto lost opera, Donizetti’s Dalinda, a production that will be led by Italian director William Costabile Cisco and costume design by Letiticia Parvoleta Ivanova set to take place in early September.

Silver says: “This is a great honour for Opera UCT and South Africa and is also an exceptional opportunity for our young singers, as the eyes of the arts world will be upon us when we stage this production in September, which is the cornerstone of our 2024 season.”

On the cards for later in the year as part of Opera UCT’s packed schedule, Silver teased the audience with hints of a fully staged production under the inspiring creative direction of a conductor and director from the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, as to a new Distinguished Alumni Recital Series that will take place during the season ahead.

The 2024 diary also includes the third annual Aviva Pelham Operetta Competition and the FMR Bursary Award Classical Instrumental and Vocal Finals, a competition that celebrates the very best of classical, jazz, and African music thanks to the Rolf-Stephan Nussbaum Foundation.

Exciting News for Students

In addition to the core academic programme that has ensured graduates are welcomed the world over, Opera UCT will host a series of masterclasses, competitions, and international residencies, which contribute to the school and production house’s international standing and success.

The K T Wong Foundation has also established a new bursary programme for 2024, which assists aspiring graduate artists as they establish their professional careers.  The first recipient of this generous bursary is Opera UCT tenor, Luvo Maranti, who was also a finalist in Plácido Domingo’s Operalia competition held in Cape Town in 2023.

Molly Dzangare’s Achievement

Also, and yet more exciting news, is the announcement that UCT student soprano Molly Dzangare, has been awarded an Eva Kleinitz Opera Europa Scholarship, having been selected from more than 500 global applicants.

Encore!

Three book launches and a further new addition to the line-up are also planned for 2024, and in April, following a packed March programme that includes several free concerts, Opera UCT will stage a large-scale performance complete with the UCT Symphony Orchestra of a concert entitled, ‘The Sound of Freedom’.

 Opera UCT’s staging of productions is not only an opportunity for audiences to lose themselves in the musical mastery of storytelling but also a mechanism to generate funds. These monies go towards ensuring students get valuable performance experience and help to bring international masters in opera and stage to South Africa to share their expertise with the school.

Donations and support can be channelled through the Opera Endowment Fund!

Sources: UCT Opera; Supplied 

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Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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The people of the iconic Bo-Kaap are taking the spotlight to tell their stories to be part of an exciting project centred around Living Heritage!

Bo-Kaap, South Africa (28 February 2024) — Heritage. It’s something people around the world appreciate, fight about, fight for and showcase with pride. In South Africa, it makes up for some very important pieces of the big puzzle that is our country—each dose critical to the picture that connects us all. While some restrict heritage to where we have come from, others think of it more as a concept of momentum. This is where the idea of ‘Living Heritage’ is derived, and why the upcoming Storytelling Day is something worth knowing about.

Bo-Kaap is a lot more than a beautiful and bright kaleidoscopic slice of Cape Town. It’s a place where heritage, history and culture lit flames of curiosity and celebration.

In exciting news for Living Heritage movements is a project that will see Bo-Kaap get the chance to have their stories in the spotlight.

On 2 March, Storytelling Day will see locals share stories and experiences of Bo-Kaap in an effort to showcase Living Heritage. Local family businesses, activists, restaurants, leaders and legends will all get to share their side of Bo-Kaap on the day, while pre-interviewed participants (who have been in conversation with local youth facilitators) have also had their storytelling moments since January.

Couple the aforementioned with photos and video material, and the project begins to take a very exciting shape.

Not only will Storytelling Day be a buzz that further shares Bo-Kaap’s spark; the Living Heritage Project is also a segue on the road to more community-centric development in and around the area. Ideas of a multi-use community precinct is on the cards, as are other ideas for redevelopment.

Why does any of this matter? Because Living Heritage should honour past heritage whilst uplifting those who will carry its baton well into the future; and we think that’s an awesome thing.

Sources: City of Cape Town

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What began as a lesson in the craft of culinary skills for Cheryl’s son, who is on the Autism Spectrum, has turned into an entire cooking school for kids and adults with special needs!

Claremont, South Africa (27 February 2024)—Cooking is a multifaceted discipline. It’s an art for some; a labour of love for others. But no matter how seriously you take your time in the kitchen, cooking is pretty imperative knowledge to have. However, for the Spectrum Cooks we’re about to spotlight, cooking is more than either of the aforementioned.

It’s a bridge that helps special needs kids and adults feel more comfortable in a society that is largely, still, not designed with them in mind. it’s an opportunity for more independence, inclusivity and confidence. This is what the Spectrum Cooks are all about, and why both students and teachers just can’t get enough of what they’re doing.

Simply put, Spectrum Cooks is a cooking school in Claremont that teaches kids and adults on the spectrum or who have special needs how to cook.

As teacher, Candice Friedman, tells Good Things Guy:

“We want to teach these amazing adults and kids life skills and to be independent. We even offer a full-time chef’s course for anyone who wants to be a chef and hopefully create their own business or work in a kitchen.” 

Beyond its mission, the story behind how Spectrum Cooks came to be is just as heartwarming.

As principal and founder Cheryl Terblanche shares of the school’s beginnings back in 2008, the school began organically.

Cheryl was home-schooling her son, a then teenage Shay Terblanche who is on the Autism Spectrum. The focus was on Shay’s hospitality studies and culinary abilities.

Shay began working professionally when he was just 17 and had become something of a success story.

“Word got around and I received a phone call from a parent of a son with Cerebral Palsy and was asked if I could teach his son to become self-sufficient in the kitchen.” 

Despite not having taught another young special needs student apart from her son, Cheryl decided to give it a go. This for her, was the beginning of a dream she didn’t even know she had.

For a long time, Shay and Cheryl taught skills at Bergvliet School’s Adult Enrichment Programme. After this chapter, she decided to focus completely on her own students. From 2017, Shay joined as a lecturer and the small but determined pair began working on figuring out how to offer accredited cooking courses!

The Spectrum Cooks have faced their fair share of challenges. One of the biggest includes fighting with the Department of Education to curate a recognised culinary curriculum for special needs students. When the going got tough, the team decided to develop their own recognised curriculum, as acknowledged by the Quality Council for Trades & Occupations (QCTO).

This resilience and willingness to make a plan that best helps the special needs community is the school’s secret ingredient. One new skill at a time, they are slowly but surely making a difference that’s plating more dreams.

Sources: Website Submission

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Elders part of NOAH recently got treated to a fabulous day of creativity as part of the International Public Art Festival’s return to Cape Town!

Cape Town, South Africa (26 February 2024)— Elders part of NOAH (Neighbourhood Old Age Homes), a non-profit organisation that gives senior citizens a new lease on purpose with a unique sense of community and skills-sharing, recently got to have an art day as part of the International Public Arts Festival‘s run in Cape Town.

As the biggest street art festival on the continent where new murals by arts, both local and international, become part of the City of Cape Town’s urban fabric, it’s always an exciting time when IPAF comes to town. But wedged between the breathtaking murals and their special messages of impact are public art opportunities and moments of magic—just like the one the NOAH elders recently enjoyed.

Setting aside a day at the Company Gardens, elders got to enjoy their time being creative and enthralled with skills many might not have touched on for years. The Senior Workshop saw 12 NOAH elders get to enjoy the time together, brushed in paint and joy—something that made the whole energy of the International Public Art Festival that much more locally enriching.

There are hundreds of NOAH members who rely on the non-profit who have taken a different approach to life in the sunset years. Operating in six Cape Town communities, residents often come from tough situations such as neglect and unaffordable living circumstances as social pensioners. Through the communal houses affectionately referred to as Digs, the elders are trained with ABCD skills (Asset Based Community Development) where they can use their skills and talents, help co-manage social enterprises and partake in programmes like the Happiness Programme (a garden project, knitting circles, candle and soap making and events).

Here’s to more programmes that benefit the elderly, and more effort on reshaping how we see retirement!

Sources: NOAH 

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The Friends of Muizenberg Park have announced that they’ve got the green light to embark on a big project that will help them restore a natural treasure and place of precious memories!

Muizenberg, South Africa (23 February 2024) — In Muizenberg, the Friends of Muizenberg Park (FOMP) take on a lot of the dirty work to make sure that a much-loved park in the Western Cape is taken care of!

For 10 years, Friends of Muizenberg Park have been the guardians of Muizenberg Park—an ecological haven and the community’s own natural treasure chest. Managed by a team of people who simply care enough to step in when stepping in is needed, FOMP have secured their place as a community eco champion and even formalized its relationship with the City of Cape Town to the point where they are trusted with rights and responsibilities.

One of their latest missions has just been given the green light after donations and approvals were secured, and it’s one that locals in Muizenberg will appreciate in abundance.

Peck’s Stream is going to be restored! A flow that was once known for gorgeous lotus flowers where bridal showers bloomed, children splashed in pristine waters and the community could enjoy the area in its true natural glean; it is now rife with alien flora that are harming the ecosystem.

Friends of Muizenberg Park have successfully got approval from all relevant authoritative parties, and the stream is soon going to be beautiful again! As will the nearby pond as an added bonus.

Many locals relished in the good news as they have precious memories of the space and wish the same for younger locals. This is a real-life example of putting effort into action instead of putting action into complaints! As we saw in 2020 when the Muizenberg beach huts needed help from their friends, Muizenbergers care very much about their spaces and are not afraid to shift into gear when it matters most. In many ways, FOMP embody this community spirit, which we think is fantastic.

Beyond the stream, the even bigger dose of good news is how much more FOMP will be able to do with City relations intact, all thanks to their years of community-led hard work and commitment.

Sources: Friends of Muizenberg Park 

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Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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Teens from high schools in Atlantis, where opportunities are limited, got to experience a super practical initiative where they were taught and experienced running their own businesses! In South Africa where the job market is straggling on, knowing how to run a business is one of the most important lessons our youth can be taught:

Atlantis, South Africa (21 February 2024) — Learners from high schools in Atlantis got to be part of the Loshkin Economiz initiative—a chance to dip their toes in the world of entrepreneurship!

Developed by the non-profit enterprise Taking Care of Business and iKamva Youth as well as volunteers who have experience in the finance industry, the programme ran over 8 months, and the business bug certainly bit the young cohort.

For young people in Atlantis, where unemployment is major and crime is prevalent, providing young people with practical skills to break out of tough life cycles before they get into them is all important. As such, the initiative played a very big role in teaching the learners all the basics they needed to know about starting their own businesses as well as other skills essential for any active member of the economy: ethics, self-identity, presentation skills and money management.

Taking Care of Businesses that have helped shape many lives for the better, donated clothing, jewellery and accessories from their Resell Programme for the groups of learners to sell. The money they raised soon became seed money to help them start their own businesses!

TCB’s Nicky Edwards shared that she was delighted with the transformation she saw in the learners. “During this programme, I saw these learners blossom. They went from timid or disinterested to engaged, confident and open to learning.”

The groups of learners were in the running for a big prize based on their entrepreneurial achievements. Team ‘The Money Chasers’ made an impressive profit of R1655 selling popcorn, scrunchies, water bottles, mugs and biltong, while ‘The Multi-taskers’ Team earned a profit of R2915 selling muffins, biscuits, popcorn and lemon squares.

They got to go to the Ferris Wheel at the Waterfront, enjoyed a shopping spree at Taking Care of Business and ventured from Sea Point to Hout Bay, topped with a prized fish and chips lunch.

“The learners were very grateful for the outing and for exposing them to things they were not used to or would not have had the opportunity to enjoy,” shared Nicky. 

Hopes are high that the teams will continue to flex their business savvy muscles, as many of the teams from previous runs have. According to Celeste Erasmus (one of the programme trainers) who commented on how many learners part of the 2022 cohort are still running their businesses, it comes down to the valuable skills shared.

“Learners are realising that they don’t have to wait around for a job to come along or rely on handouts. When you are self-employed you can care for yourself. The power is in their hands to run a successful business and to provide for themselves.”

Sources: Supplied 

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Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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A reminder as to why Neighbourhood Watches matter so much! Thanks to brave members of a Neighbourhood Watch in Cape Town, an 88-year-old passenger was rescued from a hijacking!

Cape Town, South Africa (20 February 2024) — A Neighbourhood Watch group played an imperative role in helping an elderly person escape a hijacking on Saturday, 18 February.

According to Cape Town officials, an 88-year-old passenger was inside a vehicle with another woman as the driver. When the driver left the car in an idling state to quickly fetch something from a house on Athlone’s Belgravia Road, an opportunist emerged and drove off with the elderly woman still inside the car.

The official statement relays that the elderly woman had been held at gunpoint before the perpetrator drove off. But luckily for her, the local Neighbourhood Watch were not about to let the hijacker get away with it!

Witnesses part of the watch quickly responded and followed the car. They informed the Metro Police officers who were on a crime prevention patrol nearby of the situation, and soon officers were on the case too.

After a car chase, officers were able to stop the driver on Racecourse Road near Access Park in Kenilworth. At this point, the hijacker jumped ship and hit the ground running, but was ultimately caught and arrested. The 88-year-old was rescued from the vehicle and driven to the heroes at Groote Schuur to make sure she was okay, and to offer her trauma counselling.

“The swift action by officers and the local neighbourhood watch members in Athlone yesterday who came to the rescue of the 88-year-old passenger showed the importance of enforcement patrols in suburbs. I would like to commend the the local Neighbourhood Watch who acted and followed the vehicle and informed our officers…Neighbourhood Watches are an important link between community members and our enforcement officers in crime prevention and in the sharing of information which could lead to arrests and getting criminals off the street and out of communities,” commended Mayco Member Alderman JP Smith.

Sources: City of Cape Town

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Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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The Keiskamma Covid Resilience Tapestry is coming to Noordhoek; a reminder of the resilience and community that held people together through the toughest time:

Noordhoek, South Africa (20 February 2024) — Noordhoek Art Point Gallery is set to open its doors on Thursday, 29th February for a remarkable one-day exhibition where the esteemed Keiskamma Covid Resilience Tapestry will be featured.

A 2.5m high and 7.5m wide masterpiece valued at just under R1 million, the tapestry is a testament to resilience, community spirit, and the enduring power of art amidst adversity. Crafted over the course of two years, the work threads together the collective experiences and emotions of individuals navigating the tumultuous landscape of the COVID-19 pandemic—a reminder of how we came together.

“We are ecstatic to have been chosen to show this incredible piece for the day,” says Noordhoek Art Point Gallery co-owner, founder and curator, Aimee Kruger. “It is an honour to show a piece like this and show the true spirit that art is able to bring to communities!”

For more than two decades, the Keiskamma Art Project has been a beacon of creativity and empowerment for the communities residing alongside the Keiskamma River in the Eastern Cape. From monumental, embroidered artworks like the Keiskamma Tapestry and Keiskamma Altarpiece to the evocative Keiskamma Guernica, the project has garnered global recognition and accolades. Beyond its artistic merit, the Keiskamma Art Project also serves as a vital economic lifeline that provides dignified employment opportunities in an otherwise marginalised region of South Africa.

Why the Covid Resilience Tapestry is so Special

The Covid Resilience Tapestry emerged amidst the uncertainty of the pandemic-induced lockdown, offering artists a means of sustenance and expression during challenging times. Each intricate illustration within the tapestry was meticulously embroidered by artists, often working from home or under restricted conditions, before being seamlessly integrated into the larger fabric of the artwork. Spanning twelve months from February 2020 to January 2021, the tapestry chronicles the emotional ebbs and flows experienced throughout the pandemic year.

Central to the tapestry’s narrative is the depiction of a winter tree, symbolizing the sacred fig (umkhiwane), a potent emblem of life awaiting rejuvenation. Against the backdrop of this arboreal motif, Xhosa proverbs and ‘word images’ are intricately woven into the fabric, capturing the collective consciousness of the community during a period of unprecedented challenge. Images of adversity and resilience intertwine beneath the branches of the sacred tree, serving as a poignant reminder of the strength found in unity and shared experience.

The decision to showcase the Keiskamma Covid Resilience Tapestry at the Noordhoek Art Point Gallery underscores the significance of art as a conduit for healing, reflection, and societal transformation. As visitors engage with this remarkable artwork, they are invited to embark on a journey through time, witnessing the indomitable human spirit manifested in thread and stitch. Beyond its aesthetic allure, the tapestry serves as a testament to the enduring power of creativity to transcend adversity and foster communal resilience.

Showing alongside the tapestry will be works from the talented students at the Masi Sports and Art, exhibiting pieces that they have been working on, expressing their local creative spirit.

Admission to the experience is free, and everyone is welcome to experience the beauty and resilience captured within this iconic artwork.

Sources: Supplied

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Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post Keiskamma Covid Resilience Tapestry that Took 2 Years to Make will Showcase in Noordhoek  appeared first on Good Things Guy.