This past year has been a mixed bag for many, and the Southe

• Published date: 21 December 2021
• Author: Roshan Abrahams roshan.abrahams@inl.co.za
• Publication title: Southern Mail

The year started with the news of the death of Aubrey de Wet, the former principal of Fairview Primary School, who lost his battle with Covid-19 (“Former Fairview Primary School principal leaves legacy of love,” Southern Mail, January 27)

Mr De Wet, 60, who lived in Parkwood, taught at Fairview from 1985 until 1988 as a physical education teacher. He was then promoted to head of Department at Stephen Road Primary and was there from 1989 until 1994. In 1995, he took the position as deputy principal at Fairview Primary and in 2009 he became principal.

Son Jason said his father would always say, “If you live your life right and with love, everything else will fall into place.”

In the month of love, Valentine’s Day in Lavender Hill took on an even more special meaning when Wicht Court Association (WCA) members hosted a beauty pageant for the residents (“Wicht Court Association creates unity through love,” Southern Mail, February 17).

In March, a row over housing developments for Parkwood Estate was attributed to “a miscommunication” (“Fairways, Parkwood call a truce,” Southern Mail, March 31).

Parkwood and Fairways community leaders met on Saturday March 27 to address both parties’ concerns about the need for affordable housing and its impact on surrounding communities.

The Fairways Residents’ and Civic Association had complained that the development could see up to 35 000 people settling in the area, increasing traffic volumes, undermining security and threatening property values.

Paul Phillips, chairperson for the Voice of Parkwood non-profit organisation, said the message from the association had been hostile and “apartheid-styled”.

The man accused of killing Steenberg police officer Sergeant Malose Percival Libelo, 38, appeared in the Simon’s Town Magistrate’s Court on Thursday April 22 (“Hawks arrest alleged cop killer,” Southern Mail, April 21).

Sergeant Libelo, of Capricorn, was shot dead, while off-duty on Tuesday April 13.

His body was found with a gunshot wound to the head in Disa Street in front of the Basmillian shop in Capricorn.

Tragedy struck a family when 8-year-old Sadie Grootboom and her father, Lesley, 37, died in a blaze at their home at Village Heights informal settlement in the early hours of Saturday May 15 (“Girl, 8, and dad die in Village Heights fire,” Southern Mail, May 19).

The rest of the family – Quwyn, 7, Chelsea, 11, Nadine, 22, and their mother, Luzelle, 42, were rushed to hospital.

In June, police arrested a high-profile gang...