10 February 2021 by CXpress

Photo: Bugs van Zyl

10 February 2021

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

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Happy 100th, merry Mary!

Looking like a million dollars when celebrating her 100th birthday on February 5, Plett resident Mary Marais was showered with gifts and good wishes - not least of these being a birthday card sent by Queen Elizabeth to congratulate Mary on reaching this magnificent milestone. Read the story of her full and happy life (so farâ&#x20AC;¦) on page 2.

Perlemoen cache snatched - p3

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CXPRESS

10 February 2021

NEWS & VIEWS

Fresh sea air and her family’s undying love help Mary Marais achieve centenary with a smile fit for a queen ARY MARAIS, a resident of Formosa Garden Village Frail Care in Plettenberg Bay, celebrated her 100th birthday on Friday February 5. Mary was the only child of Thirsa and Cyril Hellyer. Thirsa travelled to Bristol, England, to welcome Cyril - a ship’s captain - home. After Mary’s unexpectedly early arrival, they returned to Brixham in Devon where she spent a happy and carefree childhood. Mary and her mother occasionally accompanied her father on shorter sea voyages. Her mother, being a teacher, would tutor her during their time away. They voyaged to South America, to Murmansk to load timber, and also to Gibraltar. These trips afforded Mary some unique experiences, such as sightings of albatross, St Paul’s Rock in the mid-Atlantic, and the Aurora Borealis; once, a flying fish was caught for her to inspect. Earning her Blue Nose certificate for crossing into the Arctic Circle was very exciting to a young girl. To keep her busy, she was taught to steer a course, navigate, send messages via Morse Code, and even to do Sennet work (similar to macramé)!

OFFSPRING ON HAND: Standing from left with Mary on her 98th birthday are children Rosemary, Robert, and Douglas - who lost his battle with cancer last year

During the Depression of the 30s her father’s ship, the SS Portfield, was laid up in Amsterdam. The house in Brixham was closed up and Mary and her mother went to live on board with him. During this time she worked with the cadets - cleaning brass, caulking decks, and working on a stage over the side of the ship with a chipping hammer and red lead paint. This idyllic life came to an abrupt halt when officialdom caught up with them and she was required to sign up for formal schooling in Amsterdam. Mary attended grammar school in Totnes before completing a secretarial course. At 17, she met her future husband, Douglas Gordon, who was a South African studying for his Chief Officer’s ticket while serving in the Royal Navy. Shortly after this, Mary passed her Civil Service exam and moved to London to work at White Hall, in the War Office. She was in a typing pool taking notes for officials, one of whom was an army lieutenant… none other than the film star, David Niven. Doug and Mary were married in May 1942. While serving on The Duke of York battleship, Doug was given a week’s leave to go to Buckingham Palace to be invested with his DSC (Distinguished Service Cross) by the King. In June of 1943, their twin boys Douglas and Robert were born.

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Unable to continue with his chosen career due to ear injury, Doug and his family returned to South Africa after the war to farm in the Lowveld near Loskop Dam, in then Eastern Transvaal. Their daughter, Rosemary, was born in Pretoria, a few months after they arrived in South Africa. In the mid-50s Doug returned to the SA Navy in Simonstown. Over the following 10 years the children left home and Doug and Mary spent a few happy years on their own in the southern suburbs of Cape Town. Doug’s sudden passing away, just months before he was due to retire, came most unexpectedly. The following years saw Mary working very hard refurbishing and selling old houses. She occupied her leisure time by being a wonderful grandmother to her seven grandchildren, taking them on trips to Kruger Park, the Big Hole in Kimberley, down gold mines and up the Voortrekker Monument. As they grew older she would take four or five of them at a time on hiking trails. They still talk of their happy sojourns with Grandma Mary. After some years as a widow, she married an old family friend, ‘Sarie’ (his full names were Cecil James) Marais, who too had been widowed for a few years. They retired to Plettenberg Bay, joined the local bowling club and enjoyed their last few years together until Sarie’s passing in 2000. In time, she sold her home and in May 2002 moved into Formosa Garden Village where she spent 18 happy years in her cottage, before moving into the frail care section in August 2019. Sadly, during lockdown she lost one of her twin sons, Douglas, to cancer and most unfortunately, due to Covid-19 protocols, Mary was unable to celebrate her 100th birthday with members of her family and close friends. But on the morning of this auspicious occasion, she was overwhelmed with gifts highlighted by the inclusion of a card from Her Majesty the Queen, which her daughter had requested. A small tea party was kindly organised for her and a few of the residents and staff of the frail care. Mary’s family is particularly grateful to the staff at Formosa Garden Village for their kindness and caring during this difficult past year. • CXPRESS thanks Mary’s daughter Rosemary Mudd - also resident at Formosa Garden Village - for contributing her mother’s riveting life story and the accompanying photos, including the image adorning our cover, and we wish Mary health and happiness for many years to come.

CAREFREE CHILD: Mary aged three, when she enjoyed a happy childhood with her parents who resided in Devon, UK

GRAMMAR SCHOOL GAL: When officialdom put a halt to Mary’s ‘home-and-away’ schooling, she continued her formal education in Totnes

ENGLAND MEETS AFRICA: Mary met her husband Douglas Gordon - a South African serving in the Royal Navy at the time - when she was a mere 17 years old

NEWS & VIEWS

10 February 2021

CXPRESS

Rapid response by officer Kibiti and co dispels claims of idle law enforcers Local crime fighters came to the rescue of two visitors after they had fallen victim to thieves while enjoying one of Plettenberg Bay’s awardwinning beaches last week - YOLANDÉ STANDER reports LETTENBERG Bay Crime Prevention Association (PBCPA) operations head Otto Olivier said Bitou Law Enforcement officers requested assistance after being informed that two tourists, a husband and wife, had fallen victim to thieves on Hobie Beach on Thursday. He said one of the suspects was chased down on foot and caught at the town taxi

rank by law-enforcement official Shane Xayimpi. “Responders and municipal law-enforcement officers did a detailed search of the area, but unfortunately the second suspect got away. Information will be followed up. A few odds and ends were recovered in the bushes during the search, but most importantly the holidaymakers’ vehicle keys were found by temporary

EPWP [Expanded Public Works Programme] officer Phaphama Kibiti.” Jacky Janks, a Capetonian holidaying in Plett, said she and her husband had left their bags with a few belongings on the beach when going for a quick swim. Upon returning, they realised their bags were missing. Janks immediately ran up to law-enforcement officials stationed in the area and

told them what had happened. “They sprang into action,” Janks said. She added that one of the officials contacted Plett Security, who also responded. “They even took us to the police station. While we were there, we were informed that the keys to our Land Rover had been found and a suspect arrested. We were so relieved, because the key is an electronic one.” Janks praised all those involved in assisting them. “Everyone was so kind and really went out of their way to help us.” Olivier said since the stringent Covid-19 regulations

were announced on December 15, local law-enforcement authorities had taken a hammering on social media, particularly for beaches being fenced off, their pursuit of surfers, and EPWP members ostensibly sitting around in groups. “Today [Thursday], we were again privileged to see municipal law-enforcement officers and temporary EPWP participants in action.” He urged locals and visitors to be vigilant following other incidents over the past week. Recent incidents included a motor vehicle break-in during curfew. “Some sto-

len goods were recovered,” Olivier said, adding that PBCPA responders had been very busy dealing with youngsters celebrating the end of their school career. “We had several incidents involving loud music, rowdy behaviour and noise complaints. Some were not adhering to social distancing or Covid-19 compulsory mask regulations, while ignoring curfew rules. “There were also a few fender benders, a pedestrian being run over by a reckless motorcycle rider, and an incident of domestic violence, where the alleged abuser was stabbed.”

Police seize abalone worth R46,000 after high-speed chase from Plett to Knysna N Monday, three men accused of the illegal possession of abalone Sonwabile Gusha, 34, Melikaya Hans, 32, and Alex Mutema, 31, all from Cape Town - were remanded in custody after appearing in the Plettenberg Bay Magistrate’s Court. Said Southern Cape police spokesman sergeant Chris Spies: “The illegal and lucrative abalone trade in the Western Cape was dealt a heavy blow when abalone with an estimated value of

R46,000 were seized on the N2 highway near Knysna on February 5 at about 8:30am. “Vigilant members attached to the Plettenberg Bay Crime Prevention unit received information about a Ford Focus with a CY-registration that was en route to Cape Town with a consignment of abalone on board. “The members responded swiftly and spotted the vehicle near the turn-off to KwaNokuthula. Upon noticing the police, the Ford sped off in the direction of

Knysna and a high-speed chase ensued. The vehicle was brought to a halt just outside Knysna.” A search of the car resulted in the confiscation of seven black bags with abalone inside. Police arrested the three occupants on charges of illegal possession of abalone and their vehicle was also seized, according to Spies. “The matter was postponed to February 12 for a formal bail application, and the investigation continues,” Spies concluded.

RESULT OF OCEAN RAPE: Some of the abalone, aka ‘perlemoen’, confiscated on February 5

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10 February 2021

NEWS & VIEWS

Traders delighted with lifting of beach ban, but revenue loss will never be recouped

Ludumo Tede

IKE many businesses within the tourism sector, Plett beach traders’ livelihoods suffered a heavy blow since the first lockdown. And when Garden Route beaches were announced off limits just before the busy season commenced, it was a dagger in their hearts - hopes of recovering income lost during the year turned into a nightmare of making no living over the usually busy festive season. These hopes were briefly revived when the beach ban was challenged by the Western Cape Government, only to be crushed again when the Democratic Alliance lost its high-court battle in December. Khayalethu Tshembese hires out umbrellas to beachgoers and has two employees. He has resigned himself to the reality that he won’t recover the festive season income loss, but admits that the reopening of Plett’s Central Beach may keep the wolf from his door. “Holidaymakers from within the country have gone back to their hometowns now, so it’s too late to make serious money, but the cents we’re going to make from a hand-

Sue Walker, kneeling at right, (who adorned our February 3 cover) shared this photo of the most recent Dawn Swim at Central Beach - a monthly ocean dash, come rain or shine, by a group of brave Plett locals. Sue’s hubby Mike explains: “The swim is normally done on the first of every month, from winter to summer, when a bunch of loonies run shrieking into the sea at sunrise. These are mainly women of all ages (Sue is 74), as they are much braver than men, of course. In fact, if the sea temperature drops below a certain degree, even the foolhardy men who join them run out shrieking in falsetto voices - something to do with the pain of retracting testes, I gather! The Dawn Swim was started many years ago by the late and sadly-missed Pascalette Quirk; this month it was moved to February 6, to honour her birthday and her memory.” Since the beach ban was lifted 10 days ago, the happy Dawn Swimmers can yet again practise their first-of-the-month ritual without fear of prosecution. Join them if you dare… - Photo: Maxine Brett

FORLORN: A vendor’s stand at Central Beach

ful of tourists, probably from overseas, will make a difference in our homes,” he says. “Many of us depend solely on trading to make ends meet.” Kunaka Nirra, a Zimbabwean national selling indigenous handcrafted African art, says after the first few days of reopening the beaches, his business has been moving at a tortoise pace. However, he remains optimistic. “The reopening has come to our rescue, but the festive season is over and that’s when we make good money. We won’t recover from the lockdown loss, but we will still make a living - as long as there won’t be another lockdown. “Usually in February, many Germans visit our shores; in April the Easter weekend tourists arrive, with June seeing the English and September Israeli visitors - and those ones are big spenders,” Nirra articulates. Even though it’s late, traders believe lifting of the beach ban signalled the lighthouse at the end of their storm and, despite losses suffered, they are soldiering on.

Back in the ‘swim’ of things, but this month on the sixth to celebrate Mz Quirk

NEWS & VIEWS

10 February 2021

What went wrong with our TRC? One of the dialogues sure to intrigue during second Plett History Fest... T 2pm on Friday February 26 at Piesang Valley Community Hall, the talk ‘False Promises, Wasted Opportunities Reflections on South Africa’s Truth & Reconciliation Commission’ will be presented by former TRC participants Piers Pigou and Zenzile Khoisan. They form part of an intriguing line-up of expert speakers sure to enlighten attendees of this month’s Plett History Festival, presented by Watermark Press founder Mike Kantey, who is also due to address history aficionados and other interested folk. On Thursday afternoon Mike - a long-standing anti-nuclear activist - will talk about the history of the South African Nuclear Bomb Programme. A brief biography of

FIERCE PIERS: Along with Zenzile Khoisan, human rights fundi Piers Pigou will share his experiences of violations such as torture, assassination and political violence, as part of the war and peace-themed Plett History Fest line-up

Piers Pigou Piers Pigou has lived and worked in South Africa since 1992 for a range of organisations; his work focused on the documen-

tation and remedy of human rights violations, in particular issues of torture, assassination and political violence. This included several non-governmental organisations, as well the South African and East Timorese truth commissions in their investigation units. He has also worked on transitional justice issues in Kenya, Zimbabwe, Liberia, Northern Ireland and Canada, among others. In 2006, Piers became the director of the South African History Archive - an archive dedicated to documenting and archiving past and contemporary struggles for justice in South Africa, the promotion of access to information, and enhancing public access to records through materials pro-

duction and outreach. Between June 2009 and October 2010, Piers was senior associate of the International Centre for Transitional Justice with responsibility for Southern Africa - and Zimbabwe, in particular. In April 2011, he joined the International Crisis Group as project director for Southern Africa. Since November 2015, Piers has been a senior consultant for Southern Africa at Crisis Group, and adviser to the Elders, as well as a part-time investigator for the International Truth and Justice Project focusing on violations perpetrated by Sri Lanka’s security and political establishment. See the adverts on page 3 and on this page for additional information.

Knysna Motor Show cancelled for this year due to Covid-19 ARDEN Route Motor Club has taken the difficult decision to cancel this year’s Knysna Motor Show. Scheduled to take place on May 2, the organising committee met recently and decided to scratch the event, due to the re-

surgence of Covid-19 in the past few months. This decision follows the cancellation of the 2020 event - also due to Covid-19 restrictions. “We had hoped that 2021 would start in a more positive way but unfortunately, due to the

ongoing pandemic, this has not been the case,” reported the committee in a statement released last week. “We do not know what 2021 will hold. Accordingly, we now plan to stage the next Knysna Motor Show in 2022, and

will then look forward to your usual support. All parties will be kept updated once we have greater clarity, and have set a date for next year.” Visit the Garden Route Motor Club’s website at www.grmc.co.za for further information.

CXPRESS

INTERVAL

10 February 2021

THE PERKS OF AGING

matter who walks into the room. • You sing along with elevator music.

• Kidnappers are not very interested in you. • In a hostage situation you are likely to be released first. • No one expects you to run - anywhere. • People call at 9pm and ask: “Did I wake you?” • People no longer view you as a hypochondriac. • There is nothing left to learn the hard way. • Things you buy now won’t wear out. • You can eat your dinner at 4pm. • Your secrets are safe with your friends because they can’t remember them either. • Your joints are more accurate meteorologists than the national weather service. • Your investment in health insurance is finally beginning to pay off. • You quit trying to hold your stomach in no

DON’T MESS WITH LADY DRIVERS An elderly lady stopped to pull into a parking space when a young man in his new red Mercedes went around her and parked in the space she was waiting for. The little old lady was so upset that she went up to the man and said: “I was going to park there!” The man, a real smart aleck, replied: “That’s what you can do when you’re young and quick.” This really upset the lady even more, so she got into her car, reversed it, and then she stomped on the gas and ploughed right into his Mercedes. The young man ran

back to his car and shouted: “What did you do that for?!” The little old lady smiled and said to him: “That’s what you can do when you’re old and rich.”

one house and knocks. A lady opens the door. The man says: “Hello, today we’re going doorto-door looking for those who might be interested in making a donation to the retirement home.” “Sure, that sounds absolutely great!” exclaims the lady. “Grandma, grab your coat!”

RETIREMENT HOME DONATION A man is going from door to door. He stops at

“Wag Martie... ek kan verander.”

I have one cup of coffee every morning to start the day off right... The other ones are to keep me out of jail, help me form sentences, and fuel my razor sharp wit!

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s? — narcotic

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ON THE SOAPBOX

10 February 2021

Letters to the Editor

CXPRESS

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

Success inevitable after CXPRESS exposure Following your cover page and article in CXPRESS of January 27 [read ‘Not scared to live his passion or name his price…’ on page 2 of that edition at www.cxpress.co.za], I am delighted to report yet another CXPRESS success. The turnout to see William Mwale in action at Love of Linen on January 29 was phenomenal [see pic at right]. Owner Inge van Renen said not only did nearly every passing person pause to watch William painting in the window, but also that within the first five minutes, they had commissions for two new works! As the day went on, they secured a further four

commissions and the event has proved so popular that William returned on February 5 for a further painting - and this could even become a regular event. William himself tells me that he is overwhelmed by the whole experience and that the love he feels both for and from the wonderful people of Plett is incredible. Readers might also want to hang on to that week’s copy of the paper, as it may well become a collectable. Sad to say that, due to both planning issues and neighbour relations, new owners of the café on Piesang Valley Road have painted over the mural featured on your cover,

declaring it “too bright”. I understand that William is currently in discussions with them to recreate a similar artwork, perhaps even the same but a night view with all the wonderful stars over the BI… You heard it here first! Alistair Flood, Plett (Rocking good news, thanks for the update, Al! In a personal note of thanks to CXPRESS, Alistair also divulged additional facts about the positive effects of the story he contributed, along with photos by Sarah for publishing with such prominence the article on William - so much came together to make this a wonderful day and a wonderful success for

all concerned. “You got an interesting article; Sarah got her first published picture - a cover no less! Inge got a new product line; Dave from Laser Worx at Harkerville got to make me some leaflet display boxes; Sarah got her first paid graphic design job for the leaflet; the local printer got the printing job. “William got tremendous publicity, and the opportunity to meet and talk with potential customers; Inge earned some commission and William earned some money, selling six commission works in total on Friday... INCREDIBLE!” The power of the press remains particularly strong in CXPRESS. - Eds.)

Good old days of competent service in Plett a thing lazy, couldn’t-care-less soon… of the distant past Mike Walker, Plett idiots. Great to hear that I write in response to the letters on the lack of service at the Bitou Licencing Department [turn to page 4 of the February 3 edition at www.cxpress. co.za] - a great pity, as they were so good when at first they opened! I went with one of my sons who was visiting from overseas to renew his licence, which had lapsed a few months previously. No

problem: it was handled smoothly and efficiently by two friendly, smiling ladies who staffed the office. When my son let it slip that it was my birthday they, and the male security guard, sang Happy Birthday and when I later took cake in, I got a thank-you kiss. The good old days seem a thing of the past, with good people replaced by

Knysna is still competently staffed, however. There`s hope yet for the human race - from which I’m tempted to exclude the Plett crowd, but that’s a bit non-PC, I suppose. Not that I care, as it makes my blood boil to have to pay taxes to keep incompetent people in employment. Rant over; I’ll clear up the toys outside my cot

(Interestingly, Mike also advised that it was his wife, Sue - captured frolicking in the waves by Jenny Ponder - who adorned our previous edition’s front page. Thanks for the heads up, sir, and for making our previous edition shine, Sue. Here’s hoping you have many days ahead of enjoying our pristine and awardwinning beaches in spectacular Plett weather. - Eds.)

‘Don’t let this unique forest be annihilated by aliens’ feedback These comments were received in response to Peter Brown’s letter that appeared in CXPRESS of February 3 - view page 7 of that edition at www.cxpress.co.za Healthy hot meals can be cooked to fuel our indigenous forest rescuers I write in response to Peter Brown’s project to reclaim the beautiful natural forests at the entrance to Knysna. Having read his letter, I heartily endorse Peter’s sentiments. As a visitor from the Overstrand, I was very sad to note the creepers taking over trees as mentioned. One suggestion I have is that a project could be started to address this situation, exchanging an hour of brush-cutting work exchanged for one hot meal. Hungry people could help to clean up the environment and not have to scratch in refuse bags or bins to look for food or items to sell to buy food. To obtain ingredients for soup, a system might be set up to collect daily suitable leftovers from restaurants. Making a Soup of the Day as hotels always offered on menus in days gone by was just that: boiled-up leftover food, producing a nutritious and delicious soup. Adele Davis in her book ‘Lets cook it right’ explains that table scraps can be boiled for 20 min-

utes to sterilise the resultant broth, lentils added to thicken, etc. No chips or fried foods were used, but bones and vegetables were quite acceptable. The cost of the meals could be kept as low as possible in this way. Good luck and I hope to see some of the beautiful trees uncovered by this method when I next return to the area. Elma Hunter, by email --Climbers ain’t aliens but that doesn’t mean they don’t need trimmin’ Dear Mr Brown, your letter refers and although your enthusiasm is to be appreciated, a few botanical and ecological points have to be made: • The climber is not an “alien” but an indigenous climber with the name of Rhoicissus tomentosa, commonly called forest grape or bosdruif. • It is a natural component of coastal forests and its fruit is an important food source for bigger birds. • The climber will always be present in very old (climax) forests along the coast and will overgrow very old trees and speed up their demise. By doing

this they create the start of a re-growth, which will in hundreds of years become a forest again. • The excessive growth of the climbers at the Knysna lagoon, supressing the cape chestnut trees, is caused by the fire of 2017, which damaged the forests and has stimulated the growth of the climbers. I do not see any reason why the climbers should not be cut to extend the life of some special trees, which will only prolong the time span before old trees will die anyhow. Sometimes you will find that the scrambling fig (veldvy), Ficus burttdavyi, will also strangle old trees. I would like to add that many tree lovers will justifiable agree with you, however, the forest grape is an important element of the coastal indigenous forest ecosystem. ‘Georg from the Forest’, Plett --In the defence of creepers I write in response to Peter Brown’s letter, indicating his alarm over the alien (sic) creepers which, according to him, are threatening the lives of the Cape Chestnut trees

(Calodendrum capense) growing along Lagoon Drive in Knysna. Peter wishes to mount a “group of concerned citizens” to tackle, chop down, poison and eradicate these creepers. Allow me to come to these creepers’ defence. These are not alien creepers but are in fact fully indigenous to this region. They are known as Rhoicissus tomentosa (Common Forest Grape, also known as Bobbejaantou) and their fruit is an enormously valuable food source for numerous forest birds and mammals. They do not in any way present a threat to the indigenous trees. The same applies to trees in the Nature’s Valley forest. I would sincerely urge Peter to seek professional advice before he mounts a brigade to eliminate these creepers. He is also very welcome to make contact with me at the Dendrological Society in order for him to find names of persons who can help. Robert Smith, George (Robert is chairman of the Outeniqua Dendrological Society - email him at rsmith@wispernet. co.za - Eds.)

EVERYONE’S A WINNER: Inge and William during the Friday session which attracted countless visitors and several commissions after the event enjoyed mileage in CXPRESS

CXPRESS

10 February 2021

Paws

Plett Animal Welfare Service

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