Kiters pull strings, crowds at fund-raising fest

THE Cape Town International Kite Festival in Zandvlei, Muizenberg, attracted more than 15 000 spectators at the weekend, said Cape Mental Health director Ingrid Daniels.

Hosted by Cape Mental Health, with the theme Born to Fly, it attracted kiters from Germany, the Netherlands, UK, Canada, US, Singapore, New Zealand and South Africa.

Included among the competitors were 14 professionals, said Cape Mental Health deputy director Santie Terreblanche.

Spectators were treated to spectacular displays by an array of kites, said Daniels.

Entry for adults was R30 and R10 for children under 12 years, Terreblanche said. “We use the proceeds subsidise resources for to persons with mental disabilities, including intellectual, psycho-social disabilities.

“And the reason why we use the kite festival (as a fundraiser) is to raise awareness, because there is still a lot of stigma and discrimination against people with mental health problems.

“We believe people can rise above their circumstances, (because) they are equal citizens who should be allowed the same rights as we all claim for ourselves,” Terreblanche said.

Festival publicist Cathy Williams said Bobby Gathoo, of Steenberg, won the festival’s Heritage Kite Competition 2016.

Hein Lourens, of Kuils River, came second and third place was shared by Abdul Isaacs, from Grassy Park, and Julian and Miranda Faul, from Panorama.

The festival also included a category called EduKite, a competition for schools for pupils with special educational needs.

That category was won by the Dorothea School in Cloetesville, Stellenbosch, followed by the St Joseph’s RC Primary in Montana in second place and the Mary Harding School in Athlone in third.

Overberg Primary in Caledon won the primary schools category. Muizenberg Junior School snapped up second place and Christel House in Ottery finished third.

Daniels said: “We are extremely thankful to the communities of Cape Town that have come out to fly with us over the past two days to support Cape Mental Health and break down the stigma associated with mental disabilities.

“Even with our different abilities, we are all born with the potential to fly, given the opportunity.

“That is something we have seen this weekend as dragons, fish and even pigs have taken to the sky.”

Pictures: BRENTON GEACH IT’S A BREEZE: Kites from around the world filled the Muizenberg skyline at the Cape Town International Kite Festival, dubbed Africa’s biggest kite festival. It’s held annually to support Cape Mental Health.

NO FEAR: A crocodile kite attracted lots of attention at the kite festival in Zandvlei.