Thursday, 12 November 2026

Empowered founder Mark Krobler says the most important self-defence rule is never to go to a second location, and that avoiding conflict matters more than fighting back.

Pippa Hudson warned that noise-cancelling headphones while running or walking cut you off from the rest of the world, costing the situational awareness needed to notice someone coming up behind you.

Krobler says pepper spray and tasers are no guarantee and must be tested and practised with, citing a friend who accidentally sprayed herself because she never tested her canister.

John Venn says the Muizenberg Park fynbos restoration cost half a million rand this year, is entirely community-funded with no city money, and he is targeting R500,000 to R600,000 next year.