1.0DistrictMail & Helderberg Gazettehttps://novanews.co.za/districtmailhelderbergrich600338<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="j3ej0kYVpQ"><a href="https://novanews.co.za/districtmailhelderberg/what-were-the-highlights-of-2025/">What were the highlights of 2025?</a></blockquote><iframe sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" src="https://novanews.co.za/districtmailhelderberg/what-were-the-highlights-of-2025/embed/#?secret=j3ej0kYVpQ" width="600" height="338" title="“What were the highlights of 2025?” — DistrictMail & Helderberg Gazette" data-secret="j3ej0kYVpQ" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" class="wp-embedded-content"></iframe><script> /*! This file is auto-generated */ !function(d,l){"use strict";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&"undefined"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!/[^a-zA-Z0-9]/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),c=new RegExp("^https?:$","i"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display="none";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute("style"),"height"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):"link"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute("src")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener("message",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll("iframe.wp-embedded-content"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute("data-secret"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+="#?secret="+t,e.setAttribute("data-secret",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:"ready",secret:t},"*")},!1)))}(window,document); //# sourceURL=https://novanews.co.za/districtmailhelderberg/wp-includes/js/wp-embed.min.js </script> https://novanews.co.za/districtmailhelderberg/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/AugustEntry-2_page-0_07844.jpg12001735The Helderberg region experienced a year of contrasts in 2025, marked by significant infrastructure investments including school openings and the Somerset Mall expansion, community celebrations like Strand Rugby Club's 90th anniversary and viral moments with "Gordy" the elephant seal, alongside serious challenges including escalating taxi violence, multiple tragic deaths, devastating fires that left hundreds homeless, and ongoing sewage infrastructure crises that affected residents across Somerset West, Strand and Gordon's Bay.