’Plain honours its heroes for community service

Mitchell’s Plain residents defied the odds of remaining a dormitory town as intended by the apartheid regime to becoming a community with a very dynamic and active civil society.

These were the sentiments shared during the inaugural Mitchell’s Plain Residents’ Association (MURA) Community Service Awards 2023, in partnership with the Plainsman, to pay homage to stalwarts in the community and those who died having served their community, at Cedar High School of the Arts, in Rocklands, on Friday September 29.

This followed calls for nominations from the community by Mura, a civic group made up of an umbrella body of organisations from across Mitchell’s Plain.

Michael Jacobs, Mura’s deputy chairman, said nominees ensured that Mitchell’s Plain residents “especially the vulnerable, live dignified lives”. Reading from a poem, What the World Needs by Catherine Pulsifer, Mr Jacobs said: “If no one give their time, if no one cared about others, if not one showed kindness, if no one realised we are all sisters and brothers, what a terrible world this would be ...“

Mr Jacobs said the awards were to recognise the people who seem to be insignificant and often go unnoticed. “They are the ones where government has failed, in the NGOs who volunteer 24/7 within this Mitchell’s Plain, where people go the extra mile.

“Pensioners, who take their last penny to ensure someone in Mitchell’s Plain has a meal. These are the calibre of people we celebrate tonight,” he said.

They also recognised professionals, in government departments of education and health, who also lean on volunteers from non-government organisations (NGOs) like victim support, at the day hospital and grant recipients at the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA).

“Thankfully, there are people like you the volunteers, who give generously of their time, who offer kindness to others. Who help others in life’s challenging climb, making this world a better place.

“We can’t tell you how much we appreciate you. We can’t express our thanks enough for all you’re willing do in helping others, when times are tough. This world needs more people like you,” he said.

Norman Jantjes, Mura chairman, said Mura was established in 2016 as a collective of community activists, creating a voice for Mitchell’s Plain – to agitate for better service delivery and to work towards “greater community cohesion”.

Guests included Theresa Solomon, former Woodlands resident and former Cape Town mayor, Brett Herron, GOOD Member of Parliament, Cameron Dugmore, ANC member of the provincial legislature and leader of the opposition in the legislature and Joan Woodman, DA councillor for Ward 75 in Mitchell’s Plain.

Crystal West, Development Action Group (DAG) programme director, said the group and Mura were partners in helping civil society access their rights and being active citizens of change.

Award recipients in the safety and security sector included Cassiem Gamiet, from Lentegeur; Cedric Daniels, from Rocklands; Brendon Petersen, Lentegeur police station visible police commander Lieutenant-Colonel Harry Brickles and Louis Swigelaar, also known as Luqmaan Swigelaar, 71, from Portland, who died in May, was acknowledged posthumously. Mr Swigelaar was a founder member of the Mitchell’s Plain Neighbourhood Watch Association.

Beatrice Roberts, from Eastridge, and Beatrice Leng, from Tafelsig, were acknowledged for assisting the seniors and youth in their communities.

Cherzeley Zyster, Vyvan Bean and Daniel Rass were recognised for their contribution in the sports fraternity.

In the religious sector, Pastor Dean Ford, Pastor Mark Bloemstein and Pastor Alfonso Schilder were honoured.

Mr Jantjes also thanked the Muslim clergy for their contribution to the development of Mitchell’s Plain.

Mohamed Rafiek, Rozario Brown and Abdul Wahaab Sulaiman were acknowledged for their business support and sponsorship at local events.

Community activist Cornelia Martheza; pharmacist Mohamed Ikbal Salwary; and sister Amanda Hanslo, from Mitchell’s Plain community health centre, were recognised for their work in the health sector.

In the welfare sector, Janine Fabe, from Hannah’s Place; Nathan Asher, from Victory Outreach; and Shafiek Davids, from Sultan Bahu were acknowledged.

Omar Adams, Shahiem van Nelson and Roscoe Williams received honours in the arts and culture sector while Evelyn Toefy, Peter Hoffman and Mogamat Nazeem Jappie were awarded for their civic duties in the civic sector.

In education, West End Primary School principal Clive Arries, former Spine Road High School principal Riyaadh Najaar; and Yellowwood Primary School principal Donovan Senosi were recognised for their efforts; and the late Hazeldene Primary School principal Matthew Blaauw were honoured posthumously.

Commenting on the Plainsman’s involvement in the awards, acting editor Simonéh de Bruin, said: “The Plainsman has been recording the lives of residents and documenting the history of Mitchell’s Plain for more than four decades and like Mura, we sincerely believe that there are many people who deserve to be recognised for what they do and sacrifice for this community.

“Mitchell’s Plain has a history and people to be proud of – let us continue to build on this in the spirit that binds all of us; the spirit of community.”