The Plainsman takes a look back at the news that made headlines in 2023, reflecting on the moments worth remembering.
In January, an Eastridge woman called on parents to take responsibility for their under-aged children who drive illegally (“Spotlight on reckless drivers,” Plainsman January 11).
In February, development on the False Bay coastline made headlines as anglers, residents, community activists and City officials discussed the upgrade of Fisherman’s Lane in Strandfontein (“Coastal users debate development,” Plainsman February 8).
In March, Portland parents demanded justice for their two daughters who died in a car crash after a taxi allegedly ran a red light (“Couple demands justice,” Plainsman March 15).
In April, Wolfgat sub-council wanted to work with the community to restore Lentegeur, Dolomite and Swartklip sports fields to their glory days (“Plain sports fields need fixing,” Plainsman April 5).
Also during April, a Grade 5 Rocklands Primary School pupil died when a taxi full of school pupils collided with a BMW (“Boy, 10, killed in crash,” April 26).
In May, following on from the previous month’s crash, Mitchell’s Plain scholar motorists described the economic hardships they faced (“Scholar drivers ‘targeted’,” Plainsman May 17).
At the end of the month, five Mitchell’s Plain primary school pupils died when a bakkie they were travelling in crashed into a bus on AZ Berman Drive, opposite the Liberty Promenade Mall, on Tuesday May 30 (“Five pupils killed in crash,” Plainsman, May 31). A high school pupil died about 37-days later in hospital (“Horror bakkie crash claims sixth child,” Plainsman July 12).
In June, Cape Community Media hosted the Jive Cape Town Funny Festival at the Baxter Theatre. The line-up included Alan Committie, Marc Lottering, Emo Adams, Riaad Moosa, Dalin Oliver, Schalk Bezuidenhout, mentalist Larry Soffer and Las Vegas duo Daredevil Chicken (“Loads of laughs at Jive Cape Town Funny Festival,” Plainsman, June 14).
In July, recent road deaths saw a crackdown on unroadworthy vehicles, unlicensed drivers and transport operators bending the rules (“School transport in the spotlight,” Plainsman July 19).
In August, there was a call for active citizenship for transformation and accountability at the 40th anniversary of the United Democratic Front at its birthplace, Rocklands civic centre (“Reigniting the spirit of the UDF 40 years on,” Plainsman December 18).
In September, three people died when a Golden Arrow Bus overturned on Jakes Gerwel Drive on Monday September 25 (“Three Rocklands residents die in bus accident,” Plainsman September 27).
Later that month, in partnership with the Plainsman, the Mitchell’s Plain United Residents’ Association paid homage to community stalwarts (“Honours for heroes,” Plainsman October 4).
In October, we reported that Mitchell’s Plain fisherfolk had reclaimed their heritage of living off the sea and cultivating the tourism economy in their backyards (“Fisherfolk reclaim angling heritage,” Plainsman October 11).
Also in October, Mitchell’s Plain residents battling to pay their municipal bills took to the streets (“March for relief,” Plainsman October 18).
In November, the Plainsman was the media partner for the third annual Cape Flats Books Festival at West End Primary School, in Lentegeur (“Book fest has readers crying, laughing, dancing,” Plainsman, November 7).
In December, the DStv KykNET Mitchell’s Plain Festival, in association with the Plainsman, celebrated its 15th anniversary (“Festival serves Mitchell’s Plain for 15 years,” Plainsman December 5).
