As 2024 draws to an end we look back at some of the stories that made headlines in the far south this year.

The year kicked off with a wave of excitement as thousands of matric pupils received their matric results on Thursday January 18.

In the far south, Fish Hoek High School’s pass rate increased by 1.5%, from 98.0% in 2022 to 99.5.% in 2023, and Ocean View High School went up by 3.7% from 50.6% to 54.3%.

Muizenberg High School dropped by 10.8%, from 96.2% to 85.4%; Simon’s Town School dropped by 1.7%, from 91.5% to 89.8%; and Masiphumelele High School dropped by 4.6% from 67.4% to 62.8% (“Matric pupils celebrate results,” Echo, January 25).

In February, a pilot project by The Haven Night Shelter to train the homeless as security guards made headlines when 15 homeless men graduated on Saturday January 27 (“Project turn homeless men into security guards,” Echo, February 1).

In December 2023, the organisation partnered with two security companies to provide basic security training to men from The Haven’s Kalk Bay, Retreat, and Napier shelters. (“Pilot project secures work for homeless,” Echo, January 11).

Later that month Kalk Bay had a close call with a fire on Trappieskop. Four water-bombing helicopters, 10 fire trucks and more than 40 firefighters were deployed on Monday, February 12 to stop the fire which had spread towards St James and across Boyes Drive.

The fire was largely contained by 8pm, but firefighting efforts continued through the night, according to the City (“Kalk bay has close call with ‘hectic fire’, Echo, February 15).

In March, Marina Da Gama resident, Magistrate Romay van Rooyen’s nephew, Cassidy Hartzenberg, 20, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for her murder by the Western Cape High Court.

He pleaded guilty to murdering Ms Van Rooyen at her Marina da Gama home in Red Roman Street on Saturday September 10. (“Magistrate’s nephew gets 20 years for killing her,” Echo, March 7).

In April, a fire fanned by gale force winds, destroyed three houses and damaged a further four on the mountain slopes below Echo Road on Sunday, April 7.

Police arrested a 27-year-old homeless man for allegedly starting the fire but he was released a day later due to a lack of evidence (“Arson suspect held after fire guts homes,” Echo, April 11).

Flames on the slopes of the mountain above Simon’s Town Road. Picture: Ian Varkevisser

In May, a Western Cape High Court judgment gave the City of Cape Town the green light to build the controversial Houmoed Road extension through the wetland to link Masiphumelele to Noordhoek

The ruling on Thursday April 23 by acting Judge Karrisha Pillay rejected the Noordhoek Environmental Action Group’s (NEAG) challenge to the 2019 environmental authorisation for the Houmoed road link and the dismissal of the group’s appeal in 2020 (“City gets green light to build wetland road,” Echo May 2).

In June, animal shelters and vets had several rabies vaccination drives after a rabid dog from Capri was put down in May. On Saturday, June 1, Noordhoek Veterinary Clinic vaccinated 173 animals – 130 dogs and 43 cats – while Tears Animal Rescue vaccinated 320 animals (“Rabies scare sparks vaccination drive,” Echo, June 6).

Later that month DA Ward candidate Izabel Sherry was elected as the new Ward 64 ward councillor after a by-election held on Wednesday, June 19 (“DA retains Ward 64,” Echo, June 27).

The City of Cape Town has proposed that the Sidmouth Road parking lot, pictured, be used as a homeless shelter. Clarendon Court can be seen in the background.

In July, the City announced that Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis will contribute R4 million from the Mayoral Fund to build a new homeless shelter in Muizenberg (“City approves new shelter in Muizenberg,” Echo July 11).

However, later that month Muizenberg businesses and the Muizenberg Improvement District (MID) expressed concern about the location of the shelter on the Sidmouth Road parking lot just metres from Muizenberg’s beachfront saying it would be “economic suicide” for tourism in the area (“Fears that Muizenberg shelter will hurt tourism,” Echo July 25).

In August, far south radio station Zone Radio was forced off the air after the Pretoria High Court dealt the station a devastating blow on Tuesday July 23, when the station applied for an urgent interdict to stop Icasa from taking it off air.

The station sought an interdict following Icasa’s refusal to renew its broadcasting licence, despite several attempts (“Zone Radio off air after losing legal battle,” Echo, August 1).

Later that month the community was met with news that the lease for the Galley could be up for grabs again after the City questioned the legitimacy of the initial bid. The matter was referred to the City’s Immovable Property Adjudication Committee (IPAC) for a decision that recommended the property be re-auctioned (“Galley lease could be up for grabs again,” Echo, August 8).

On Monday, August 12, David Hill, the former editor-in-chief of Cape Community Newspapers, now known as Cape Community Media and which publishes the False Bay Echo, died at Mediclinic Constantiaberg Hospital after a battle with cancer. He was 79 years old and retired from the group - where he was instrumental in launching several new titles readers have come to know and trust – in December 2007 (“Saluting legendary former editor-in-chief, David Hill,” Echo, August 22).

In September, False Bay Hospital received the green light for a long-awaited renovation and expansion project after the provincial government approved the funding. Renovations are set to begin early next year, and is expected to address the long-standing issues of overcrowding and outdated facilities, said head of False Bay Hospital Dr Makondelele Rambiyana (“False Bay Hospital gets nod for R20m revamp,” Echo, September 5).

Fish Hoek High School principal Steve Joubert with Olympic champion Chad le Clos at the school’s 70th anniversary gala.

Later that month, Fish Hoek High School celebrated its 70th anniversary at a black-tie gala event attended by Olympic champion Chad le Clos as the guest of honour.

The event, held in the school’s Hepworth Hall, brought together past and present members of the school community. Guests were treated to a four-course meal prepared by the school’s catering team under the guidance of private chef and former pupil Grant Kipling (“Fish Hoek High shines at 70th anniversary gala,” Echo, September 12).

In October, The lease for Fish Hoek’s beachfront restaurant, The Galley, was sold again for R350 000 a month after the initial auction, held in November last year, was declared invalid. The winning bid of R350 000 went to an unknown man with bid number 531 (“The Galley’s lease sold again in second auction,” Echo, October 3).

Later that month, two men involved in the 2022 murder of Ben Tuzee, 51, co-owner of Dixies Restaurant & Bar in Glencairn, were sentenced for his 2022 murder.

Mr Tuzee was stabbed multiple times during a hijacking in Brown’s Farm, Philippi, on September 6, 2022, while accompanying his niece, Kaele Lombard, 33, to deliver a TV she had sold on Facebook’s Marketplace. Ms Lombard’s car, a Toyota Tazz, was taken, and she was struck in her back several times with a rock while Mr Tuzee was stabbed.

In February, Ndiphelele Mtunaye, who was 18 at the time of arrest, was sentenced to 25 years for murder and 15 years for aggravated robbery. The sentences will run concurrently. And on Thursday September 19, Zolile Nkombisa, who was 23 at the time of arrest, was sentenced to 15 years behind bars for aggravated robbery (“Two sentenced for murder of Dixies co-owner,” Echo, October 10).

In November, The UK’s Prince William visited Ocean View High School on Monday 4 to see the impact of work done by The Atlas Foundation South Africa founded by former England Rugby World Cup winner Jason Leonard in 2014. The visit was part of the prince’s itinerary during his stay in Cape Town for the fourth annual Earthshot Prize Awards, which honour innovative contributions to environmentalism worldwide (“Prince William pops in at Ocean View High,” Echo November 7).

Later that week Prince William kicked off his final day in South Africa, Thursday, November 7, with a visit to Simon’s Town and Kalk Bay Harbour - his second trip to the far south during his four-day-stay in Cape Town. (“Far south proves to be popular with Prince William,” Echo, November 11).

Earlier this month, the City announced plans to begin the refurbishment of the Muizenberg beachfront in mid-February 2025.

Described as one of the largest capital ventures by the City’s coastal management branch in recent years, the project will upgrade public amenities and replace ageing infrastructure, including the seawalls.

The work, expected to be completed by the end of 2026, will focus on areas along Surfer’s Corner, the western section of the beachfront, and the informal gravel parking area next to the railway line (“Muizenberg beachfront upgrades set for February,” Echo, December 13).

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Looking back at the headlines of 2024