10 february 2016 by CXpress

10 February 2016

Published every Wednesday by CXpress 2006 (Pty) Ltd - PO Box 1449, Plettenberg Bay 6600 - 6 Park Lane, Plettenberg Bay - Tel: 044 533 1004 - Fax: 044 533 0852 Email: editor@cxpress.co.za / advertising@cxpress.co.za Web page: www.cxpress.co.za Printed by Group Editors

Last Saturday saw the remarkable celebration of not one but two 80th birthdays when twin sisters from New Horizons, Maude, right, and Myra (née Harker) - here flanking Bitou mayor Memory Booysen - were treated to a most prestigious party by family and friends at the local Anglican Church. Members of the congregation and community at large hailed the event as ‘historic’, since no record of a similar double birthday could be confirmed - read more on page 5.

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Beloved Nicky Maritz departs p3

Valentine’s ideas for all p7

These cats can sail! p12

Photo: Yvonne Harker

Long live twins Myra and Maude

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CXPRESS

NEWS & VIEWS

10 February 2016

StreetSmart Plett raises R50,000 for Masizame Children’s Shelter TREETSMART SA is dedicated to helping street children rebuild their lives through donations from restaurants

in the Western Cape and Gauteng, and has recently handed R50,000 to Masizame Children’s Shelter - its Bitou beneficiary for 2016.

Masizame offers food, a shower, life-skills training, mentorship and guidance to street children. This is followed up by intervention services with the goal of helping children to reach their full potential and become responsible contributing members of the community. “We are extremely proud to have doubled the efforts of last year and to be able to contribute to Masizame. We hope to double that yet again in the coming year!” said StreetSmart Plett coordinator Karen Spurrier. Nationally, StreetSmart SA has donated R1.05million for 2016 to various charities working towards the upliftment of street children. “We celebrated 10 years in 2015, expanded our support to 23 programmes, and for the second time, StreetSmart has disbursed over R1-million to beneficiaries nationally. We are thrilled to continue our support of the selected StreetSmart Plettenberg Bay beneficiary for 2016. “This is only possible through successful local partnerships and promoting responsible giving via StreetSmart restaurants,” said StreetSmart SA chair Melanie Burke.

SMART ABOUT FUNDS: StreetSmart SA chairman Melanie Burke is flanked by Plettenberg Bay coordinator Karen Spurrier, left, and StreetSmart Plett committee member Rose Grundlingh

StreetSmart restaurateurs and their diners are joining hands to make a difference in their communities supporting organisations that are actively involved with social development and rehabilitation of street children with the ultimate goal of family re-unification. Funds are raised by adding a R5 donation to each table’s bill at participating restaurants. This donation

Paws

Plett Animal Welfare Service

is voluntary and diners are able to contribute more if they wish to. The Fat Fish was the leading contributing restaurant in Plettenberg Bay over the past year, with R14,995 in donations received. “We are grateful to every patron who so generously contributed. I invite all Plett restaurants to unite with us to give our street children a future,” said Fat

Fish owner Simon Ash. • StreetSmart SA was set up in 2005 by a group of concerned Capetonians under the patronage of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu and comprises resourceful board members representing business and the hospitality and tourism industries. Similar StreetSmart organisations also run independently in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, India, USA – San Francisco, and The Netherlands. StreetSmart SA is registered as a Public Benefit Organisation as well as a Non-Profit Organisation and ensures that every cent donated by diners goes towards social and educational upliftment projects for street children. StreetSmart’s goal is to be part of the process of social normalisation and to encourage the public not to give money into the hands of a child as this keeps them on the streets. In essence, eating and donating at a StreetSmart restaurant is the responsible way to help a street child. Contact StreetSmart on 021 418 0621, email info@ streetsmartsa.org.za or visit www.streetsmartsa.org. za for more information or to make a donation.

NEWS & VIEWS

10 February 2016

CXPRESS

Plett bids farewell to legendary police member and family man Nicky Maritz N Saturday, CXPRESS received the sad news that one of Plett’s local police heroes had passed away after a short but severe illness. As the news reached Nicky Maritz’s many friends, colleagues and acquaintances in town, Plettenberg Bay Crime Prevention Association (PBCPA) Operations manager Otto Olivier wrote on Facebook: “Warrant Officer Nicky Maritz was well known and his honesty was legendary. This honourable, kind man who was always prepared to help will be sorely missed. It is with great sadness that we give a final salute to this officer and gentleman, with our deepest condolences to his family and friends. RIP, Nicky Maritz.” A tribute submitted by PBCPA chairman Bruce Richardson reads as follows: “I first encountered Nicky Maritz shortly after relocating to Plettenberg Bay a little over 10 years ago.

He was supervising a large children’s event on Central Beach where my wife and I were walking at the time. “As I recall, it was an anti-drug outreach, but what struck me most forcibly was this large police officer interacting with and being loved and appreciated by all the children. “He obviously had an ability to engage with them at a level that encouraged them to hang on his every word and I remember thinking to myself what an asset such a man must be to the local police force. “Since that time, in various capacities associated with the safety and security of our town, I have worked with Nicky on numerous occasions ranging from special operations to supervising students at the annual Plett Rage. “I remember him proudly displaying to me the results of a project at Masizame, turning rebellious youth into a disciplined parade ground display - and I have never had occasion to

Dagga bust in Knysna

Members attached to the Knysna Crime Prevention unit arrested a suspect for dealing in drugs after dagga with an estimated value of R1,000 was found in his house at Chungwa Street in Khayalethu on Thursday February 4. Information about possible drug activities at the house was received from a member of the public and, when followed up, yielded 57 ‘stoppe’, 37 medium bankies, and 224 small bankies of dagga. Pictured with the find are, from left, Sergeant Virgil Cornelius, Constable Heinrich Appels, and Warrant Officer Phillip Nqayi. The suspect remained in custody until his appearance in the Knysna Magistrates Court on Monday February 8.

change my initial impression of him. “Always a gentleman, always there, always willing, always making an optimal contribution, always an asset and always a pleasure to deal with, that was Nicky. “His contribution to rural safety in recent years during which time he acted as Sector Manager of Plett Rural (Sector 4) was invaluable and he often contributed to our regular meetings with the SAPS to discuss crime trends and strategise activities going forward. “Nicky had a special way with young children and an intimate knowledge of the youth in the area and clearly understood the importance of encouraging them to adopt a productive

lifestyle as being of crucial importance in combatting crime in our area. “That he will be missed as a most special person who made a unique contribution, goes without saying, and it falls to us who remain to honour his legacy by in some way continuing the good work that he established. “Sadly I have not got to know Nicky’s family, but what I do know is that he will be sorely missed by them, as such a special man to us must have been even more exceptional to his family. Our hearts go out to them. “As to Nicky, we know that he has undoubtedly gone to a better place where he feels no pain or

LEGEND IN HIS TIME: Ina Olivier kindly shared this photo of Nicky, saying he was a beloved community member who did an immense amount of work to benefit all spheres of Plett society

discomfort and it remains for us who are left behind to honour his memory and celebrate his life.

“We are grateful for the work he has done and that we have had the privilege of knowing him.”

CXPRESS

NEWS & VIEWS

10 February 2016

Knysna Municipality urged to address dangerous Main Street crossing HE family of an elderly Knysna resident, who was last year knocked off her mobility scooter while attempting to cross the town’s Main Road, is demanding that safety issues at the accident scene be addressed by the municipality. On November 28, Loeriehof old age home resident Joan Eysele, 92, was knocked from her scooter by a truck at the Main and Long Street intersection. Eysele suffered several injuries and needed stitches to her head. She tore the ligaments in her arm and shoulder, sprained her ankle and bruised her entire body. It took her two months to recover. Eysele’s granddaughter, Brenda Ballack, said her grandmother only last week received her new mobility scooter. On her first day out, Ballack accompanied her on her shopping excursion. “I was shocked to see how unsafe the route is,” said Ballack, who has written a letter to Knysna municipal manager Grant Easton to highlight the situation. “This intersection is constantly being used by school

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children and the elderly because it is the closest pedestrian crossing - and the only one with a traffic light for hundreds of metres in either way - between Knysna High School and Loeriehof on the one side, and Woodmill Lane on the other. “My grandmother is lucky to be alive after being crashed into by a massive truck, using the pedestrian crossing while the light was green for her to go.” She said her first problem was the absence of a wheelchair ramp

MORE ACCIDENTS WAITING TO HAPPEN: The pedestrian crossing at Main and Long Street is the only one with a traffic light for hundreds of metres in either direction

Yolandé Stander

to safely enter the crossing. “Elderly people with wheelchairs, mobility scooters, walking aids, and wheeled shopping baskets must leave the pavement 60m before the intersection, as this is the only ramp, before continuing their slow journey in the road. “The road does not have access shoulder space and they have to proceed, facing oncoming traffic, around the corner to reach the start of the crossing. Then they have to wait in the road as there is no curb for the light to turn green for pedestrians.” Once pedestrians reached the crossing, she said, they needed to act quickly as the pedestrian light only remained green for five seconds before cars were allowed to turn into Main Road. “Five seconds is not even enough to reach the middle of the road.” Ballack said another “dangerous situation at the same intersection” was a dustbin with advertising placed in the middle of the ramp making it impossible for someone on a mobility scooter, in a wheelchair or with a walking aid to pass. The municipality did not respond to questions regarding the matter before going to print.

NEWS & VIEWS

10 February 2016

CXPRESS

A first for Plett as Maude and Myra celebrate a collective 160 years of life recorded in Exodus 20, being “Honour your Mother and Father” - and to generous applause, the Reverend’s vibrant and energetic message concluded with words from Proverbs: “A woman that feareth the Lord should be praised.” Because the birthday ladies are as God-fearing as

DOUBLE THE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS: Twin sisters Maude, left, and Myra received spectacular cakes and many other gifts and blessings during their 80th bash in new Horizons on Saturday - pictured with them here are brothers Kennith, left, and Eric Harker

HE 80th birthday feast of twins Maude Harker and Myra Loggenberg (née Harker) was indeed a celebration of note, hosted in the hall of New Horizons Anglican Church on Saturday January 6. Says their ‘little brother’ the Reverend Victor Harker: “This must be recorded as historic moment not only for the twins, but also for the community as there seems to be no record of a previous occasion of this nature.”

The auspicious day was granted even more weight by the presence of Bitou mayor Memory Booysen, who congratulated the twins with an energetic message of good wishes. “The honourable mayor joked that many may regard it a privilege to have him at their party. However, to loud applause, he said that he counted it a real privilege to be present where twins celebrate 80 years of life together,” recounts the Rev. “He was also delighted

and expressed his gratitude for the contribution that the Harkers have made in Plettenberg Bay. The family, together with Myra and Maude, wish to commend the mayor for his presence at the momentous occasion and accommodating them within his busy schedule.” Master of ceremonies Yvonne Harker underlined the fact that not only were they celebrating 80 years but, in fact, 160 years of life at this double celebration. Family and friends travelled from as far as Cape Town and Beaufort West to join in wishing the ladies the very best of health and happiness. Reverend Harker reminded the two ladies of the occasion when God led his people for 40 years in the desert, gave them manna which their ancestors never tasted, water from a rock and healing of all their diseases, by quoting from scripture in Deuteronomy. “You must remember how the Lord your God has led you these past 40 years to test you and see whether you will keep His commandments.” This period was appropriately converted to 80 years for the occasion, and he urged the twins never to forget how the Lord had led them for eight decades. Those present learnt that the secret to long life was

Mary and Martha in the Bible, this quotation was most relevant. And in both Maude and Myra’s address, all praise and glory and honour went to God their Creator, Christ their Redeemer, and the Holy Spirit their Sustainer. Apart from the spiritual side of the celebration, the twins received royal treatment from the word go on their birthday: the morning started with a scrumptious

breakfast, followed by a session of facial therapy thanks to the kind ladies at Face Facts, and thereafter Roxanne made sure that their hair was in style for the big celebration. • CXPRESS congratulates Myra and Maude, and we thank Victor & Yvonne Harker, John Bowie and pastor Len Levendal for providing these photos and the sisters’ story of admirable and elegant longevity.

CXPRESS

NEWS & VIEWS

10 February 2016

This eco-preschool has a serious wetlands mission Inge Bassett

ETLANDS - also known as vleis, bogs, swamps or marshes - are regarded as some of the most productive ecosystems in the world because they serve as sponges that regulate river flow while providing habitats for a variety of plant and animal species. They also help to absorb silt and cleanse water pollutants. But, around the world, wetlands are at risk due to practices of draining the land for alternative use. Each year government departments, NGOs, schools, and individuals undertake

actions to raise awareness of the values and benefits of wetlands, as well as the important role they play in sustainable freshwater use. February 2 is the anniversary of the 1971 signing of the Ramsar Convention - an inter-governmental treaty to promote national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. There are presently 155 contracting parties to the Convention, with 1,675 wetland sites totalling over 150-million hectares. According to a report by Prof Brian Allanson in

1997, “the wetland of the Bitou River system and estuary is the last remaining undeveloped flood plain ecosystem along the Western Cape coast”. This being the case, we at The Crags Eco-preschool feel it is of utmost importance to educate our youth on the important and valuable role that our wetlands play in ensuring we all have enough fresh water for future generations. • Inge Bassett is the founder and head of The Crags Eco-preschool, and a nature-loving mother of three who lives with her family in the Bitou River Valley.

MARSH HUGGERS: Inge Bassett, in grey, teaches her class that they’re never too young to learn about the important role they play in river systems and the bigger scheme of natural habitats

ENTERTAINMENT

10 February 2016

CXPRESS

Heart-warming Valentine’s Day ideas for couples and lovers of all ages... After a survey among Facebook friends and e-mail readers, FamilyLife contributor Mary May Larmoyeux compiled these creative suggestions of saying ‘I love you’ to your sweetheart S it more important to love, or to be loved? Most of us would agree with George Eliot’s words: “I like not only to be loved, but also to be told I am loved.” Valentine’s Day is the occasion when you can experience both… 1. On small pieces of paper, write down every kind of kiss that you can think of - passionate, on the cheek, etc. Fill a red felt bag with your “kisses” and ask your partner to pull several pieces of paper from the bag. Then give your sweetheart whatever kind of kiss is described. 2. Make a book about why you love your partner and why you are thankful for him/her. The woman who sent this idea wrote: “He loved it and said it was the best gift ever! And it helped me focus on things I love about my husband, not his shortcomings.” 3. Take your sweetie on a scavenger hunt. Ask him/ her to answer riddles to find the clues to items you placed somewhere around town. The last item should give instructions that lead to your Valentine’s Day venue. 4. After enjoying a candlelight dinner for two at home, give your spouse a massage and watch a romantic movie. The woman who suggested this wrote: “Last Valentine’s Day when I got home from work, my husband had our bedroom set up with a candlelit table for two. “He is NOT a cook but he made an awesome meal - grilled steak; sautéed shrimp in lemon, garlic, and butter; veggies - and bought a chocolate fountain that was flowing, surrounded by fresh fruit for dipping. After dinner he led me over to his homemade massage table. We ended our special night with a romantic movie.” 5. Surprise your spouse with a special getaway together. The man who suggested this made reservations at a B&B, arranged for childcare, asked for time off from work for himself and his wife, and packed his and her bags. When he asked his wife to go to lunch on Valentine’s Day she was in for a wonderful surprise. “The little bit of effort I put into that weekend paid off huge for weeks to come.” 6. Give your wife a dozen roses. On each stem attach a note for a future date to do something that she would enjoy, e.g. ‘Go to the symphony’. 7. If possible, go on a date with your partner to a restaurant that you enjoyed when you first met. After you order your meal, take some time to write down

favourite memories from the past year. Then share your lists. 8. Fill a large box with helium balloons and special gifts for Valentine’s Day. The woman who suggested this said that her gifts included “new sleep shorts for him and a new nightgown for me, a box of chocolate-covered strawberries and red napkins, some new candles and a romantic CD. He got the hint - and loved the weekend!” 9. Create an intimate Valentine’s Day evening at home, without the kids. The woman who suggested this idea said: “My husband and I enjoyed planning the menu, shopping for ingredients, and ultimately preparing the meal together. Cooking to soft, romantic music can really be a turn on! “While dining, the same romantic music is a wonderful mood-setter. Dinner was followed by just the two of us having the whole dance floor, our den, to ourselves. I won’t say what all this led to, but it was a truly romantic night that would not have happened

at the local restaurant!” 10. Order food from a take-out restaurant and have a picnic for all the Valentines in your family on your living room floor. The person who suggested this said: “The kids look forward to this every year. When we tried to change it, they wouldn’t allow it it’s become a tradition. The kids see the value of family and a loving marriage.” 11. Privacy and weather permitting, watch a romantic movie on your deck or patio. 12. Make a meal with symbols of love, e.g. write ‘I love you’ with string beans, or bake a tart in the shape of a heart. 13. Surprise your husband when he comes home from work on February 14. Place a welcome sign on the kitchen table and leave a trail of red foil-wrapped Hershey kisses to your bedroom. Have fun this Sunday and do remember that love is not meant to be given and received just on Valentine’s Day, but to be practised every day of the year. Visit www.familylife.com for additional inspiration…

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CXPRESS

INTERVAL

10 February 2016

The mellowing of men that comes with years may have less to do with increased wisdom and more to do with decreased testosterone.

In case you find a gorilla on your roof… A man wakes up one morning to find a gorilla on his roof. So he looks in the Yellow Pages and, sure enough, there’s an advert for gorilla removers. He dials the number, and the gorilla remover says he’ll be over in 30 minutes. The remover arrives and gets out of his van. He’s

got a ladder, a baseball bat, a shotgun, and a mean old pit bull. “What are you going to do?” the homeowner asks. “I’m going to put this ladder up against the roof, then I’m going to go up there and knock the gorilla off the roof with this baseball bat. “When the gorilla falls

Who’s your daddy? HREE boys are in the schoolyard bragging about their fathers. The first boy says: “My dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he calls it a poem, and they give him R500.” The second boy says: “That’s nothing. My dad

scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he calls it a song, and they give him R1,000.” The third boy says: “I got you both beat. My dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, calls it a sermon, and it takes eight people to collect all the money!”

Cuddles for old-timers couple who had been married for over 50 years were quietly sitting on the sofa. The wife said: “Dear, do you remember how you used to sit close to me?” He moved over and sat close to her. “Dear” she continued, “do you remember how you used to hold me tight?” He reached over and held her tight. “And,” she went on, “do you remember how you used to hug me and kiss me and nibble on my ear?” With that, her husband got up and started to walk

out of the room. “Where are you going?” she asked. “I’m going for my teeth,” he replied.

off, the pit bull is trained to grab his testicles and not let go. The gorilla will then be subdued enough for me to put him in the cage in the back of the van.” The gorilla remover then

hands the shotgun to the homeowner. “What’s the shotgun for?” asks the homeowner. “If the gorilla knocks me off the roof, shoot the dog.”

To my children, Never make fun of having to help me with computer stuff. I taught you how to use a spoon. - Sue Fitzmaurice

Lending a hand… saw an old lady at the bus stop earlier. As the bus pulled up I helped her on and sat her down on the seat. Then I sat down next to her and said: “Going anywhere exciting?”

She said: “I’m meant to be meeting my daughter.” “Aww, that’s nice,” I said, “where are you meeting her?” The old lady replied: “At the bus stop back there, you silly man!”

SOCIAL SCENE

People, places & events

THAND ‘IMPILO = KNOW YOUR STATUS: Lunchbox Theatre has completed an intensive six-day rehearsal period creating yet another powerful educational show, but which is a first in many ways. It’s the first time they specifically target high school learners and adults, and the first time they perform a show written and directed by someone who is not a member of the team. ‘Thand ‘Impilo’ was written and directed by the nationally acclaimed theatre maker Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, pictured at left alongside Lunchbox director and long-time connection Stuart Palmer. The play aims to encourage people to get tested and know their HIV status so that they can make the right choices to live a long and healthy life. The story centres around three brothers who leave their rural homes to work on the mines in Joburg. Each embarks on his own journey of discovery and faces many challenges. The cast of Stuart, Amanda Valela, Gaillene Isaks, Mncedisi Ncedani and Siyabonga Zabo, in front, all gained valuable experience working closely with Nhlanhla during rehearsals. The show is being polished over the next couple of weeks - keep an eye on the Lunchbox Theatre Facebook page for more information. The project is made possible with the generous support of the National Lotteries Commission.

10 February 2016

CXPRESS

FROM RUSSIA WITH LAURELS: Knysna Plett Concert Series kicks off its 2016 programme on Monday February 22 when presenting pianist Olga Kern at the DRC hall in Fichat Street. Says Knysna Music Society chair Penny Smythe-Rathbone: ‘Olga won first prize at the Rachmaninoff International Piano Competition at the age of 17 and became the first woman in over 30 years to receive the Gold Medal at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in Fort Worth, Texas. She is a laureate of many other international competitions and is a corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Arts Division. In 1996, she was awarded an honorary scholarship by the President of Russia. In honour of the 140th anniversary of Rachmaninoff, she performed all four of his piano concerti as well as ‘Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini’ in collaboration with Leonard Slatkin and the Orchestre National de Lyon. She has recorded many CDs, two of the latest being that of Chopin’s Piano Sonatas 2 and 3.’ Sounds like a show no self-respecting fan of top quality piano tunes should miss. Buy your tickets at the door from 6:45pm at R120 (scholars pay R30) - the show starts at 7:30pm sharp.

MAMA MIA, THAT’S A HEALTHY CRITTER! Knysna songbird Mia Swart shared this cute photo snapped in Food Lovers Market recently, and wrote: ‘Little Phin, visiting from the UK, may well be inspirational for readers to support a healthier eating campaign! I met his young family, too mum is Swedish and dad German, and they reside in England but are currently enjoying a three-month stay in beautiful Knysna.’

CXPRESS

Read CXPRESS online @ www.cxpress.co.za

10 February 2016

CLASSIFIEDS

ON THE SOAPBOX

10 February 2016

Letters to the Editor

Email: editor@cxpress.co.za - Fax: 044 533 0852 - PO Box 1449, Plett 6600

Bitou mayor responds to anonymous ‘Nkandla’ As is the case with most Government: Municipal author’s allegations of the unpaved roads, Structures Act for commuBitou mayor MEMORY BOOYSEN responds to the letter of ‘Concerned Resident’ published in CXPRESS of December 23 (read ‘What’s happening to Plett - aka Nkandla the second?’ on page 31 of that edition at www.cxpress.co.za) Just as an observation: It is rather regrettable and most unfortunate that the author elected to remain anonymous, but I respect the choice and the right the author has to hold opinions on service delivery and budgeting issues at Bitou. My response would therefore be in general to dispel the misunderstandings the author holds onto in respect of the administration of Bitou Municipality. The title to the letter and reference to Nkandla is rather disingenuous and probably either an attempt to score cheap political points or merely to generate interest in the letter. Neither my office, nor any political office-bearer of Bitou have ever been implicated or investigated for wasteful or fruitless expenditure to the tune of R246-million for improvements to their private residence, by the Office of the Public Protector, nor has any finding been made against me or any officebearer, to the extent of the actual Nkandla report and recommendations by Advocate Thuli Madonsela. I can only recommend that the author maybe should direct his letter to President Jacob Zuma. I’m satisfied that the public knows the real Nkandla story as it had played out in all forms of the media over many months, with no resolution in sight. Let me now respond to the issues pertaining to service delivery or lack thereof as the author claims. In the latter part of 2015, a report was presented to Council on the state of our municipal roads and I gladly share this report for the benefit of the author and all Bitou residents and taxpayers. The total unpaved network

is 19.6km of which 17.7km are gravel roads and the rest can be defined as dirt road. These are predominantly in the Kranshoek and KwaNokuthula areas. These areas are more than 20 years old and no proper roads have been constructed due to limited budgets over the financial years. Special activities - i.e. not carried out routinely, but executed in response to a deficient condition - include regravel, rework, reshape and special grading. This is what would predominantly happen on our unpaved network, depending on availability of funds. • Rework (rip and recompact): Rip, rework and recompact are triggered by the extensive presence of coarse stones, which render blader maintenance ineffective. • Reshape: If the gravel layer is less than 75mm, it is ineffective to try and rip the wearing course to remove the coarse stones. In such cases the wearing course is only reshaped, and recompacted, as regravelling would be required within a relatively short period. The same approach would be taken if the shape of the road is poor and drainage on the road is classified as poor. • Special routine: There are cases where none of the mentioned actions would be triggered, even though the road is in a poor condition. This is usually due to a lack of maintenance. The situation often cannot be remedied by routine maintenance, and a special maintenance action is required. A road is considered in poor condition if the riding quality is poor or very poor, or the product of severity and extent of potholes, rutting or corrugations are greater.

drainage is one of the biggest problems demanding urgent attention. The figure below excludes storm-water requirements on the roads, which will elevate the costs substantially. From a functional point of view, attention should also be given to upgrading of the dirt roads to gravel standard, for which more than R25million is required according to our Pavement Management Plan (this excludes storm-water infrastructure as indicated earlier). The total length of the paved network is 147.3km (135.4km tar, 11.3km block paving and 0.6km concrete pavements). To address the complete backlog on all Bitou roads, a total amount of R32million is required. (This amount is probably closer to R35-million or more now, with a weakened Rand.) R3.2-million is the annual amount required over the next 10 years, to get to the R32-million total. Within the total requirement of R32-million, R5.3-million is specifically required for resurfacing and rehabilitation. These amounts include all maintenance (routine and normal) and reconstruction necessary, and is based on the Rand maintaining its buying power and does not allow for inflation, again excluding storm-water infrastructure which cannot be neglected or avoided. Addressing the issue of walkways to beaches: Most of the walkways to the area the author referred to has been washed away. Bitou Municipality is in the process of considering the feasibility and costs of constructing a raised walkway to connect the two areas. Any investment in walkways that are not elevated, would ultimately be wasteful and fruitless expenditure, something this political administration is keen to prevent. There are various ways provided in both the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act and the Local

nities to become involved in the affairs of a municipality. The latter, for instance, provides for the establishment of Ward Committees - an advisory structure created to advise ward councillors on matters that concern taxpayers and residents. Chapter 4 of the Systems Act provides for public participation in terms of various functions of a municipality as it relates to the IDP (Integrated Development Plan), budgeting and performance management. During the IDP consultation phase, communities can make inputs to their needs and these are then factored into the draft budget. Towards the end of the IDP process, the draft budget is presented again for further input by the communities. Finally, no municipality in South Africa, not even the metropolitan councils, will ever have the financial means to address all the needs of their communities. The same applies to Bitou. Therefore financial legislation allows for a threeyear budget cycle, framed against a seven-year financial plan contained in the IDP, to address the needs of communities. Every year as communities give inputs on their needs, these have to be prioritised over the MTREF (Medium Term Revenue and Expenditure Framework) period, based on available revenue on a year-on-year basis. The IDP and budget process in a municipality is an intense balancing act of making public choices and balancing the needs of the poor who demands basic services, with investments in the accompanying infrastructure that is a prerequisite before basic services and the needs of other residents/ interest groups who are more gainfully employed. Contact Bitou mayoral spokesperson Manfred van Rooyen on 044 501 3009 or 063 407 3112, or email MvanRooyen@plett.gov.za for additional information.

Big Brother is NOT looking out for you... I recently ran into a bit of trouble that I am still trying to get myself out of. I am a very pedantic person. And this one pulled the carpet right out from under me. I was looking for a place to stay and had a long list of criteria to fill. I finally found the perfect spot in George on Gumtree. I had a friend go look at the place, paid my deposit and first month’s rent and… well, I live in Plett now and I’m still waiting to see my money again! Thank goodness I actually saw the people who com-

mitted this fraud, otherwise I’d had no chance of getting my money back. Constable Memani of Plett police advises that there is a problem to obtain a warrant of arrest from the magistrate with regard to fraud cases, “because you can’t prove it’s them who took the money from the account”. When I heard this for the first time, I was outraged. But after he explained to me that the real problem is actually identity theft, I was relieved. I had seen these people. I can identify these

fraudsters in court. There’s a story of some poor local guy who paid a deposit on a car, for it to be brought from PE (or Knysna or George, I can’t remember exactly, but watch out for all those places!) and who wasn’t as lucky. I doubt he’ll ever see his money, because he doesn’t have a clue what the person who took his money actually looks like. For all the police knows, some random person from Joburg took it. Watch out for these scammers! Be careful who

you send your money to. South Africa is in immense turmoil at the moment and people get pushed into doing immoral things (like taking your money by lying to you on the internet and then spending it on themselves) because they feel they need to, in order to survive. Times are tough, and maintaining a higher moral ground will probably just get more difficult as the political undercurrents of this country change the economy from bad to worse. ‘The Squeaky Hinge’, Plett

CXPRESS

Read CXPRESS online at www.cxpress.co.za

CXPRESS

SPORT & ADVENTURE

10 February 2016

Veteran sailors undeterred when Hobie ‘holed’ by side-swipe NIKKI RIDLEY chatted to Manfred Gabler and Hugh Moffat after a U-turn in the bay last week shoved their shared sailing history into the limelight “We asked a visiting ETERAN Plett Hobie sailors Manfred Gabler, 82, and Hugh Moffat, 75, have thanked Plett NSRI for a successful rescue on February 2, on the bay side of Robberg after their Hobies collided, leaving one with a gaping hole that quickly filled with water. According to the NSRI report, Plett’s Station 14 duty crew was activated following eye-witness reports of a man on a Hobie Cat in difficulty about 1.5 nautical miles off Robberg Point. “The sea rescue craft Ray Farnham was launched and on arrival on the scene, an 82-year-old local man was found on a damaged Hobie Cat. He was not injured. The man was taken aboard our sea rescue craft and brought safely to shore,” reported station commander Deon Truter. Gabler wrote in to CXPRESS specifically to thank the NSRI volunteers for their assistance, shedding some light on the rescue and his decision not to abandon his beloved Hobie:

RESCUED Hobie sailor Manfred Gabler, left, with close friend and sailing buddy Hugh Moffat on Plett’s Hobie Beach. Says Moffat: ‘We have been in Plett almost every January/February since we met in 1980 to share a sailing holiday. We have sailed many hundreds of nautical miles in each other’s company and shared thousands of very happy hours on the beach or on the water. He and I can boast a combined 162 years of life and almost 90 years of sailing experience.’ The two seasoned seafarers were sailing together when Moffat’s Hobie ‘side-swiped’ and ‘holed’ Gabler’s boat 1.5-miles off-shore of Robberg Point in ‘gusty westerly conditions’. BOTH familiar sights on the beach and out in the bay, Manfred Gabler’s much-loved craft (in the background) is now in for repairs to fix the hole in one hull. Having acquired Plett’s Hobie Agency in 1982, Gabler has been sailing since 1973 and is described by friend Hugh Moffat as ‘a legend in the sailing community’. He plans to be back out on the water ‘as soon as my boat is fixed!’

ocean-going catamaran, which was in the vicinity of the accident, to contact the NSRI for help. They asked me if I was alright and offered to bring me aboard their yacht, but I opted to stay with the Hobie and wait for the rescue boat, and the catamaran very kindly kept me company until the NSRI arrived. “My mate sailed his boat back to the beach as he did not know how badly his boat had been damaged, and also to ensure that the rescue was underway. “The rescue crew arrived and was totally committed, professional and dedicated, and I must especially commend Stuart Brink for his outstanding manner and ability to make the Hobie towable without any further damage. “I can only say that Plett is so privileged to have volunteers of this calibre. I must also say thank you to Jaco Kruger and Patrick for alerting the NSRI. Thanks a million guys for all your time, care and hard work!”

From Warwick to Kwano with soccer love 8 February - 6 March 2016

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Mr Ted Dawkes from the UK has been visiting Plett for the last 13 years. In 2014 during a fourweek holiday, he was approached by the manager of local football team Holy King FC 03 to enquire if he could provide a set of kit for the players. Says Mr Dawkes: ‘I asked my local football club in Warwick if they could help and, indeed, they could. They provided a complete set - shirts, shorts and socks - and I had the Holy King FC 03 emblem printed on the shirts before bringing them out for the team on January 12. Since playing in the new kit, the team has won all three matches played!’ Now there’s proof that performance is upped by snazzy new soccer threads… We thank Mr Dawkes for sharing his story and this photo of the Holy King team in their brand new kit. Find out more about the club from manager Saswell on 082 269 9529.

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