Starting the year off with water woes, Northern News reported on 200 collection points across the City of Cape Town. Residents were urged to save water with less than 80 days to go before a drought.(“Water worries,” Northern News, January 24).
This devastating news caused panic for many residents especially those on the Kraaifontein farms (“Farming fears as Day Zero nears,” Northern News, January 31).
However, some schools, residents and farmers worked around water saving techniques followed by the visit of Premier Helen Zille to various schools across the city.
She encouraged schools to switch off their water supply at night and invest in JOJO water tanks (“Lessons to beat Day Zero,” Northern News, February 7).
Cavalleria Primary was among many schools who practised water saving which resulted in their school garden surviving the water crises (“School garden survives severe drought,” Northern News, February 7).
On the brighter side of things, in March Northern News brought together two cousins after Roseline Hofmeester, from Manenberg appealed for any relatives to make contact with her which was published in Northern News.
A Kuils River resident, Abrie Mathesa found to be her cousin, made contact with her (“Joy as cousins are reunited,” Northern News, March 7).
For the months of April and May, we covered the protest action between Scottsdene backyard dwellers being evicted from a Calgro Consortium M3 building in Long Street.
The residents damaged the flats and according to the developer it would cost millions to fix up the flats, with court cases back and forth the evictees remained occupying the pavement outside the Calgro buildings (“Squatters vow to stay put,” Northern News, May 23).
In June, angry Kuils River residents approached Northern News accusing Cape Town Iron and Steel Works company (Cisco) of violating their human rights, by exposing them to high levels of noise and air pollution. The case is still ongoing (“Residents take aim at Cisco,” Northern News, June 6).
At the beginning of August, MEC of Education Debbie Schafer called upon the army to help the under-resourced police put an end to gang violence in Kraaifontein as it affects the future of all learners in the surrounding schools (“Call in the army,” Northern News, August 8).
In September, a Wallacedene family thought they had lost their 20-year-old daughter to kidnappers, Anathi Sikhafungana went missing on September 12 and was forced by kidnappers to send pictures to her family where she is weeping(“No answers for Anathi’s family,” Northern News, September 26).
Two weeks later, in October Anathi was found and is safe with her family.(“Family relieved as Anathi is found,” Northern News, October 3).
Sub-council 2, saw the loss of a Wallacedene councillor. Luyanda Mbele and his cousin was gunned down in Wallacedene on October 21. Councillors from other wards in Subcouncil 2 poured out their condolences to the Mbele family(“Anc councillor gunned down in Wallacedene,” Northern News, October 24.
For the month of November, housing developments caused mixed reactions between Brackenfell and Kuils River residents.
The Kuils River development never received any objections despite having plans to build over farm land.(“Plan for housing on farmland,” Northern News, November 14).
On the other hand, the Brackenfell development remains unwelcomed by residents who say traffic congestion will worsen on the Brackenfell Boulevard(“Flats plan raises ire,” Northern News, November 21).
For 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children Campaign, which started on Sunday, November 25 and ended on December 10, Northern News visited the Lofdal Restoration Centre in Kraaifontein.
A number of women shared their stories on facing abuse and how Lofdal changed their lives.(“Restoring broken lives,” Northern News, November 28).
In December, with the intention to raise money for the festive season, two young men, dressed up as mimes stand at the busy intersection on Brighton road, hoping that motorists will tip in order to feed their families.(Youth busk to make ends meet, December 5).