Oscar-winning actor and peace advocate Forest Whitaker visited the Whitaker Peace and Development Initiative (WPDI) centre in Bridgetown, Athlone, on Monday afternoon, 2 November 2026. He met entrepreneurs and programme graduates from Athlone, Khayelitsha, and Mitchells Plain during a visit to witness the local impact of WPDI’s community-building and entrepreneurship efforts.
WPDI South Africa country manager Chance Chakunga explained the purpose of Whitaker’s visit. “The reason he is here today is to see the work that Forest Whitaker started in 2019 and visit the various programmes we are running,” Chakunga said. These include peacebuilding, conflict resolution, business and entrepreneurship development, information and communications technology, and peace through sport.
Founded in 2012 by Whitaker himself, WPDI launched its Cape Flats operations in 2019, focusing on empowering young men and women with leadership, peacebuilding, and community skills. The Bridgetown centre serves as a hub for these programmes, providing training and support for local entrepreneurs.
Among those who drew attention is Natalie Tempers, a graduate of WPDI’s Women Livelihood programme who completed business plan training in 2024. She reflected on her experience, saying, “I feel valued knowing that someone else can also see the need that my business offers.” Tempers further praised the training for its practical lessons. “I found the (WPDI) training so valuable. I learned how to work out a profit, how to calculate an hourly labour cost, and even the simple business etiquette was so helpful,” she told Athlone News.
Whitaker’s visit also underlined WPDI’s ongoing commitment to community development in the Cape Flats, highlighting the connection between entrepreneurship and peacebuilding. The organisation works with participants from multiple townships, aiming to equip them with skills that foster self-reliance and social cohesion.
WPDI’s efforts align with a broader push in the Western Cape to support small business growth and resilience, particularly among youth and women in historically underserved communities.
This event was covered by Daily Voice and Athlone News on 3 November 2026, confirming details of the visit and the presence of local entrepreneurs. While a Cape Flats News journalist was not independently verified on scene, the reports provide a consistent account of the occasion and its significance for the Athlone community and the wider Cape Flats region.
Further updates on WPDI initiatives and upcoming community entrepreneurship programmes in the Cape Flats will follow from CapeFlats.co.za as more information becomes available.