The miracle of another door
Walk Day 3
© Jean du Plessis, 30 September 2025
It had all seemed so obvious to me: the potential of an
operational synergy between our Blocktober movement against gender-based
violence in partnership with the Saartjie Baartman Centre for Women and
Children (SBC), and the work of the Sports Science Institute of South Africa
(SSISA), based in Newlands. Amongst the ideas I floated, to anyone willing to
listen, were: linking SSISA running groups to our fund-raising October ascents
to the Blockhouse? Or perhaps solidarity spinning sessions? If not that, what
about the swimmers? No? … In truth, I was becoming rather desperate.
These frantic thoughts
had much to do with my own internal turmoil since that moment, in late
February, just ten days before the 2025 Cape Cycle Tour, when an impatient
driver smashed into me and my bicycle from behind, causing multiple fractures
requiring complicated surgery, months in hospital and an extended convalescence.
Prominent amongst the many negative results of this trauma, was the realization
that, come October I would not be able to do my usual 31 Blocktober
solidarity mountain biking ascents from Newlands to the King’s Blockhouse. What
could I do to compensate for this? Was I letting down the annual awareness- and
fundraising campaign that I co-founded in 2020? What, if any, role could I play
to help making it as successful as last year?
Each of my increasingly unrealistic new ideas came to
nothing, until the day I knocked and walked, impulsively and without
appointment, into the office of Marvin Jacobs, the Fitness Centre Manager at the
SSISA gym, introduced myself and gave him my 7-minute pitch. A huge presence in
a tiny office, Marvin listened attentively and, to my surprise and delight, responded
with enthusiasm to the idea of some form of collaboration. He promptly contacted
Ruben Coetzee, a colleague in SSISA’s Community Health Intervention Programmes
(CHIPs), and a more formal meeting was arranged.
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| Silverton CHIPS in action |
Within minutes of meeting Ruben, I sensed he was the
ideal contact. He explained that “the CHIPs programme was established way back
in 1997 and is still going strong”. With the primary aim, through its OptiFit
and OptiFit Lite models, of addressing the growing prevalence of obesity
and non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, obesity and high
cholesterol, the CHIPs programme has eight active OptiFit branches located in
Delft, Elsies River, Grassy Park, Kuils River, Matroosfontein and Silvertown.
What impressed me most about Ruben’s approach, was his understanding that “fitness
is not about money and cool equipment, as those can disappear and/or break down
remarkably quickly. Much more important for long-term success is bottom-up community
organization and collaboration.”
As we communicated over the following days, drawing
others into the conversation along the way, an idea began to form. “What about working
towards establishing an OptiFit branch at SBC, for both residents and staff?” This
could have multiple benefits, including improvement of health and fitness,
possibly provide opportunities for outgoing SBC residents to join other OptiFit
branches, improve enjoyment of the regular Blocktober solidarity walks on Table
Mountain, etc. Furthermore, “what about at the same time involving some of the CHIPs
programmes in the monthly Newlands Forest solidarity walks with SBC, as well as
the more challenging weekly walks during the upcoming Blocktober campaign?”
We agreed our next step would be a site visit to test some
of these ideas with both CHIPs members and the Saartjie Baartman Centre, which explains
how I found myself in a van last Wednesday, 20 August 2025, driving to
Silvertown, a suburb on the Cape Flats I had never even heard of. With me were
Ruben and Lala Steyn, one of my Blocktober associates, and we were to be joined
at the Silvertown Community Centre by the Director of SBC, Bernadine Bachar,
plus a member of her staff who organizes the Blocktober / SBC solidarity walks.
While driving, Ruben told us that “the Silvertown OptiFit outreach branch is
one of the most active of all the partners, with a morning and evening class held
every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Membership costs a mere R30 per month.
Costs can be kept low as the hall is made available free of charge by the City
of Cape Town”.
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| Silverton CHIPs meet Saartjie Baartman and Blocktober |
As we approached and parked outside the hall, we saw small
groups of women in matching gym outfits walking around the block, warming up
for the exertions to come. We entered a hall with high ceilings and ample light
coming in via rows of windows, the string of neon lights on the ceiling
redundant during the day. The walls were painted creamy yellow from ceiling down
to eye-level, and maroon from there down to the floor, with numerous brown
double-doors, one of which remained wide open to the outside, and another leading
into to a reception area with a door to an office and, next to that a poster on
“CITY VALUES” on the wall. The windows and floor of the hall were beautifully clean,
even if the floor was somewhat scuffed, in spite of signs on the wall asking everyone
to “PLEASE STACK CHAIRS”, as well as “DO NOT PULL CHAIRS, PICK CHAIRS UP”. Stacks
of maroon chairs along the walls, and the inevitable regulation fire
extinguishers and EXIT signs, completed the picture.
We were warmly (if rather hurriedly) greeted by the exercise leaders, who were
busy unlocking a locker room and laying out mats, stepping boards and chairs. Three
of them had whistles around their necks, which one started blowing to alert the
participants to gather. Their gym outfits consisted of navy-blue trainers with
white soles, black exercise pants, navy-blue sweatshirts (with a SSISA badge on
the right and a CHIPs badge on the left), lighter blue peak caps with “SILVERTOWN
CHIPS” proudly displayed in white letters; and, for some, a black scarf
covering their hair.
Soon the last of the walkers had joined, their leaders
getting them ready and in line, everyone with a clear role, and us the visitors
barely noticed after that initial “hello and welcome”. Their activities had the
reassuring feel of a tested, well-organized, enjoyable routine that simply
worked. Everyone started off with a series of stretches, and the various
ensuing exercises were diligently performed and visibly enjoyed by the forty
participants. There were three groups, each with their own coach and doing a distinct
routine, but all to the same rhythmic music. The front group just used mats,
the middle group had mats and stepping boards, and the back group used just chairs.
At points some participants switched groups, though one’s ability to switch
seemed to depend on one’s fitness level.
To end off the props were quickly cleared, and everyone joined
together in a final aerobic dance routine to the sound of drums and cymbals,
ending with much laughter and clapping of hands. The entire experience was a pleasure,
no, actually a privilege to witness, and we could not help but try to move
along with the beat, although sadly I have to admit we were more ‘out of’ than ‘in’
step. What is certain is that this was no prepared show put on just for our
benefit. We happened to be present on just another morning of their regular
event; which would take place again that evening, then again on the Friday
morning and evening. (We were told that the evening sessions do include men.) And
so on, again and again, six events per week, 24 per month, throughout the year.
For a wonderful moment, on that day at the Silverton Community Centre, with
those energised and committed women doing such wholesome activities, regularly
and in unison, in spite of undoubtedly tough lives and plagued by much poverty,
crime and other challenges, it all made sense to me again. “Surely”, I wished
aloud, “this can help to carry us forward in the urgent but seemingly
unwinnable struggle against gender-based violence. Surely, another door is
opening. Even if I cannot do my Blocktober ascents up the mountain this coming October,
there are clearly other ways for me to support”.
And, as if to reinforce these thoughts, the following
internet post appeared on the CHIPs Facebook page, a mere few hours after the
conclusion of our Silvertown visit. Written and posted by Ruben Coetzee of
SSISA, with pictures in support, it was clear to me that yes, another door was definitely
opening. Ruben’s post is worth quoting in full:
“The power of collaboration is truly
transformative. When we unite diverse perspectives and skills, we ignite
innovation and create success that goes far beyond what individuals can achieve
alone. This morning, the Saartjie Baartman Center in Manenberg, with some of
their Blocktober supporters, visited our Silvertown OptiFit Outreach branch to
see first-hand how our OptiFit and OptiFit Lite models are empowering
communities through trained leaders. Inspired by this partnership, our vision
is to expand our model and establish an OptiFit branch at the Saartjie Baartman
Center, with plans to launch the Saartjie Baartman OptiFit programme later this
year—aligning with the 16 Days of Activism for no violence against women and children. The
Saartjie Baartman Center does incredible work supporting women and children
survivors of abuse, and through our CSR initiative, CHIPs (Community Health
Intervention Programme), the Sports Science Institute is proud to collaborate
in advancing this vital mission. Together, we are driving meaningful change and
strengthening our communities.”
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| SSISA and Saartjie Baartman are working towards the launch of the OptiFit branch at the Saartjie Baartman Centre. |
October Walk Details in Cape Town
