Photo: Sebastian Denver Andrews
10 July 2019
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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Sebastian Denver Andrews shared this photo and wrote: “I believe this is the first case in Plett where Rastas have reclaimed their cannabis after it had been confiscated by police at the Tsitsikamma tollgate last week a hugely historical event!” Pictured from left are House of Rastafari Bitou chairman Ras Reuben, Judah Square Knysna chair Elder Maxi, and Iman Ziggy from Oudtshoorn. This happy threesome formed a stark contrast to the carnage in and around Plett during the past week - find riot reports on page 3, 4, 5, 6, and 11.
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CXPRESS
NEWS & VIEWS
10 July 2019
Hit and run driver still on the loose while his victim faces a slow road to recovery Nearly a month after being mowed down by a speeding driver, a resident of Sedgefield’s impoverished Smutsville township faces a bleak future - TALIA DAY reports AYMEESHA Boer, 32, was on her way home on Sunday morning June 9, walking along the pavement with two friends, when her life changed irrevocably. A red Citi Golf Sport with CX-plates came tearing around the corner from Tollies Tavern, driving on the wrong side of the road. “We were talking and then my friend was screaming and grabbed me. And the next thing, I was down.� Ferdi Alexander, 27, was walking slightly behind Boer, when the speedster’s side mirror hit him first, and then the car’s right fender smashed into Boer, who sustained two fractures when her leg was broken at the ankle and shin bone. A prominent community member, Maartie Rooi, who lives one house away from the accident scene, immediately came out to see what had happened and called the Sedgefield SAPS. Rooi placed a blanket over Boer’s legs and urged people not to move her. According to Alexander, Rooi’s call to the local police was unsuccessful, as she was told no vehicles were available. “Maartie then called an ambulance, as well as the Knysna police station,� he said. Boer lay on the street for 20 minutes awaiting the ambulance. No police had arrived by the time the ambulance took her away. There were two witnesses in the car when the incident took place. One of them, who asked to remain anonymous, said when the vehicle hit Boer, he screamed at the driver: “You hit Ramesh! You must stop,
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HOSPITALISED: Raymeesha Boer spent five days at George Hospital, where pins were inserted to save her badly broken leg, below at left; the scene of the accident, where blood marked the road for days afterwards, at right
you have to go back, you can’t just drive on. “I don’t know if he was in shock, but he didn’t stop.� He added: “Even if you hit a dog, you have to stop.� Boer was transferred to George Hospital for an operation on her leg, where a pin
was inserted. She spent five days in hospital recovering. “The police never came to take my statement,� Boer said. But ironically, the alleged driver of the vehicle came to see Boer in hospital. “He did not speak to me. His cousin did all the talking. We
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are not friends, so it was odd that he came to see me.� When Boer was released from hospital, she learnt that the police had still not visited the scene of the hit and run. She had to call them repeatedly to come out and take her statement. “I called them eight times, to be exact, over two days, to get them to take my statement.� On Saturday June 15, one week after the hit and run, the police finally visited Boer, but stated that it was too dark for them to see the scene. They would return on the Sunday, according to Boer and Alexander, and left without taking a statement. Her statement was taken on Sunday June 16, a week after the incident. “The police then sent me a message to say that my witnesses had to go to the station in Knysna to give their statements.� At the time of going to print, no police members had yet returned to the scene to take photos or statements from the witnesses or the driver who hit and ran. The investigating officer was unavailable for comment. “This has affected my life big time. I will never walk normally again,� Boer told CXPRESS. “She used to do beauty pageants and modelling, now that is over,� said Raymeesha’s sister, Claudia Boer. She has been booked off work for a month after being discharged from the hospital, “but it will take three to six months for me to heal partially, and up to a year to recover completely,� Boer said. “How will I live? I have nothing, no family to help me, but the man who did this to me is still walking free.�
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NEWS & VIEWS
10 July 2019
CXPRESS
Public protest turns Plett into a war zone LUDUMO TEDE reports on some of the factors that caused carnage in Plett over the past week AILURE to reach an agreement with Bitou Municipality about services and the governance of the Qolweni community turned Plett into a theatre of war a war between people who regard their right to a better life as grossly neglected, and municipal officials with a mandate to sufficiently render services and ensure better living conditions for all citizens. Young and old went on the rampage and demanded, among others, the removal of counsellors responsible for Bitou wards 2, 3, and 4. On Tuesday evening July 2 - the deadline that community leaders had given mayor Peter Lobese, following his address to Qolweni residents regarding the municipality’s
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action plan in addressing the challenges they faced - all hell broke loose. Community members protested to articulate their discontent. The hurling of stones at traffic on the N2 led to the immediate closure of the national highway. One of the first casualties was 56-year-old Haydee de Doncker who, en route to Port Elizabeth, fell victim to the hurling when a stone shattered her car window. She was sent to George Med-Clinic where she is being treated for serious head injuries. Traffic was diverted via Plett Airport Road as the N2 between Shell service station and the entrance to KwaNokuthula was barricaded with stones and
burning tyres. Residents from Kwano, New Horizons and adjacent suburbs had no option but to stay away from work. The majority claimed that they did so unwillingly, but said they would not dare to defy the instigators. “Now tell me, are they [the instigators] going to pay the people who wanted to work for these days they have missed?” asked a Pinetrees resident who asked to remain anonymous. “On what grounds are we not supposed to work? They hold private meetings and expect us to join them, but without giving us the full information,” he added. Yet, many called for a change of leadership, blaming Bitou’s leaders for not
fulfilling their duties for the benefit of the people. “Our ward councillor would just tell us that he is being overpowered by the mayor,” said another anonymous resident. “So what is the use of having him?” Apart from the looting, theft and vandalism, a number of lives were lost. Shortly after 11pm on Thursday July 4, an elderly woman died after suffering respiratory complications. It is alleged that she could not receive the necessary
medical attention on time, as protesters prevented an ambulance from entering New Horizons. In the wee hours of Friday July 5, an Eagle-Liner bus from Cape Town overturned on Airport Road and claimed three lives, including that of its driver, while 43 seriously-injured passengers were rushed to hospital. The coalition parties that govern Bitou finally met with members of the South African Human Rights Commission on Friday to
GARDEN ROUTE
Wherever you go, #safety follows These pics taken on July 4 and 5 capture security forces guarding the bridge across the N2, and municipal officials preparing to meet leaders from the community. Said photographer Jenny Ponder: “It was a very interesting morning as I met guys from the municipality, the police, Plett Watch, and the men who came across from the township where discussions preceded a meeting between the parties.” Photos: Jenny Ponder
Bitou Municipality dead set on making its mandate work ITOU senior communications officer Manfred van Rooyen on Monday told CXPRESS the municipality’s main aim was the political will and cooperation of all role-players, and leadership on all levels, to ensure that the July 5 agreement would be effective. “The mayor and executive councillors are in office; all
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municipal operations are continuing as per normal; the police are prepared for any eventuality with the necessary resources,” said Van Rooyen. He added that work teams were cleaning up all areas where protest action took place, and that the police would closely monitor a meeting on housing
issues in Kurland on Tuesday night July 9. “This meeting takes place at 7pm in the Kurland community hall, and we have alerted the police in light of the current tension in our municipal jurisdiction. But most importantly, the N2 will remain open and safe for all road users and pedestrians.”
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restore peace, and the N2 was operational and open to traffic by Saturday morning. The ANC released a statement to announce that the Ward 3 community would be addressed today, July 10 regarding their demand to recall ANC ward counsellor Xola Matyila. But by going to print, rumours were rife that protest action would resume should the meeting’s outcome not be to the community’s satisfaction. • See the reports elsewhere on this page and page 4 for details on Bitou Municipality’s feedback and other organisations’ planned course of action.
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CXPRESS
NEWS & VIEWS
10 July 2019
Ratepayers reach out to premier for Plett action plan LETT Ratepayers Association chairman Neville Petersen last Thursday released a statement in response to the ongoing protest action resulting in closure of the N2. Said Peterson: “Although the SAPS were on hand, the lack of police intervention is a deep con-
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cern to residents and business owners, as well as all ratepayers. “Protests on the N2 prevented workers from going to work, businesses were closed, protests turned into looting and malicious damage occurred in the industrial area, all with POPS looking on in
the knowledge of who the known instigators are, but making no arrests.” The statement further informs that Petersen consulted Western Cape premier Alan Winde to discuss urgent actions to be taken. As a result, the Association has: • Written a detailed report to the
Revisiting local authorities’ blow by blow accounts Bitou Municipality: July 4, 7:15am The N2 at Plettenberg Bay between Shell Ultra City and KwaNokuthula remains closed. Safety of road users and pedestrians along the N2 remains a major issue. Traffic will still be redirected over the Airport Road. All indications are that protests, mainly from the Qolweni community, will continue today. The SAPS indicated operations will be stepped up with extra resources to be deployed to manage the protests and crime with the view to open the N2 today. In view of the ongoing impasse and the resulting safety risks to the staff, a directive has been issued that all offices will remain closed. We apologise to all our consumers unreservedly for the inconvenience
suffered these past few days. In the early hours of this morning (Thursday July 4), the office of the Youth & Sport Development Officer was looted, ransacked and set alight. Last night, the USave shop in New Horizons and several business in the Plettenberg Bay industrial area have also been looted, with damages and losses that will probably run into millions. • Businesses that fell victim to the looters include Erasmus Panelbeaters, Le Fournil, Manta Steel, PAWS Charity Shop, Muddy Offroads, Plett Auto Electric, Beachyfide and others. SAPS Provincial Commissioner: July 6, 12:17pm The KwaNokuthula detective branch is investigation a case of culpable homicide following the death of three people as a result
of a bus accident on Plett Airport Road, near Harkerville on Friday July 5 at about 3am. Preliminary investigation indicates that the passenger bus was travelling from Cape Town to East-London when the vehicle left the road and overturned. The driver of the vehicle and two passengers sustained serious injuries and were later declared dead by paramedics on the scene. One of the deceased is a 16-year-old girl from East-London. A total of 43 passengers sustained serious injuries and were transported to hospital in Knysna by ambulance. The other 23 passengers were taken by authorities to a nearby community centre, where they received emergency assistance. Investigation into this matter is at a very early stage and the names of the deceased will be released at a later stage.
Western Cape MEC of Community Safety, detailing the problems Plett is experiencing with SAPS Plett and requesting the urgent intervention of Community Safety minister Albert Fritz. • Filed a complaint with the W-Cape Police Ombudsman. • Filed a complaint with the Independent Police Investigative Department. • Joined with other civic organisations to meet with SAPS
station commander colonel Nolan Michaels and apply pressure to take action against known perpetrators and hold them accountable. “We will keep our members and the public informed of additional actions and results,” Petersen concluded. Readers can visit www. plettratepayers.co.za for the latest news, chairman’s report, and information on joining the Ratepayers Association.
CAPTIVE: Most residents in affected areas feared that their homes would be burnt down if they dared going to work; below, the N2 was closed for three days, with constant surveillance by security agents from vantage points like the pedestrian bridge - Photos: Jenny Ponder
There’s a baboon on my stoep! CXPRESS received this letter from a Plett resident writing under the pseudonym ‘Green Conscious’ - readers are invited to join the primate debate by email to editor@cxpress.co.za grew up on a farm, married a famer, and have a deep love for our fauna and flora. My husband and I, both seniors now, moved to Plett about 20 years ago and have been applying ‘green’ principles ever since. We plant indigenous, use solar power, have rainwater tanks, recycle, make eco bricks, grow our own vegetables, have a few fruit trees, and make our own compost. In other words, we are trying our best to leave light footprints on our beautiful planet while keeping healthy. A couple of years ago, Vervet monkeys starting raiding homes and gardens, and recently a troupe of baboons devastated our precious garden. The baboons have moved into our space (reasons aside); we have not moved into theirs. We received a directive from
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CapeNature stating: “NEVER plant fruit trees or vegetable gardens, or make compost heaps unless they are in a locked, caged area or surrounded by electric fencing.” Our garden was laid out some 20 years ago! Do we and others like us have no rights or protection? Are we indirectly feeding the intruders and so could be subject to imprisonment or heavy fines? On behalf of ourselves and others in a similar predicament, I would appreciate comment and consideration from CapeNature. • The CXPRESS-sponsored notice at left provides information and contact details, and we hope to feature feedback from CapeNature on the baboon issue in the near future. Turn to page 11 for more regarding the behaviour of local baboon troupes.
NEWS & VIEWS
10 July 2019
CXPRESS
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Lower interest rates no solution for the multiple ills of our economy Stuart Murray
HERE appears to be strong support for a cut in the key interest rate when the Reserve Bank makes its decision at its monetary policy meeting from July16-18. An early indication of the move was the remark last month by the bank’s governor, Lesetja Kganyago, that due to the weak economy and high inflation, interestrate cuts are possible “over the next year or two”. Markets appear to have already been pricing in two cuts, one this year and an-
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other in the following year. Underpinning the expectation is the fact that the rand has been improving since its losses last month - but the optimism appears to be on shaky ground. At the previous Monetary Policy Committee meeting, two of the five members favoured a cut. But Kganyago sides on caution. The Bank’s mandate is to ensure price stability and an inflation range of between 3% and 6%. But labour unions want its policy to change to a focus on growth and a reduction
in the jobless rate. The dilemma is that South Africa is in the middle of its deepest quarterly economic contraction in the past 10 years and cutting the repo rate might further affect its growth potential. The economy shrank by 3.2% in the first quarter - its heaviest contraction for a decade. GDP figures indicate fixed investment contracting five quarters in a row. A possible recession hovers like a dark cloud... In terms of the economy, manufacturing output and retail sales improved in the
second quarter, while inflation (that is, official inflation) remains around its target range while the rand keeps punching slightly above its weight. The one sector of the economy to enjoy relief from a cut in the repo rate is the residential property market. It would serve to underpin the sector and possibly boost growth in demand for mortgage finance, according to Absa property analyst Jacques du Toit. Standard Bank economist
Elna Moolman notes that markets are pricing in two rate cuts for a cumulative decline of 50 basis points in the coming months. “One cut,” she avers, “is unlikely to materially boost economic growth.” The lending banks have been feeling the squeeze in terms of a residential property market in the doldrums - to the extent that the market has been experiencing some radical marketing strategies. Nedbank, for example,
is offering mortgage bond applicants a 50% discount on attorneys’ bond registration fees. What’s more, the bank’s attorneys will come to clients to sign the documents - a journey to which not many are accustomed. Thank goodness for Google Maps… • Stuart Murray (stuart murray758@gmail.com) is a former senior assistant editor of Financial Mail and cofounder, editor, and CEO of Finance Week. He is retired and lives in Plettenberg Bay.
Plett business community joins forces to find working solution for a safe town S service delivery protests by angry residents from Qolweni and other Bitou communities erupted anew, bringing the town to a commercial standstill, members of Plett Business Chamber and Ratepayers Association called business owners from all sectors to a meeting last Wednesday. On the agenda was, among others, a class action against Bitou SAPS and the municipality, because of the adverse effects suffered by all as a result of the protests. Concerns included safety of the business establishment from looting and vandalism during protests; the fact that workers are deprived of their right to go to work; and the damage to Plett’s general image - a brand that they have worked hard for to maintain for many years.
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Speakers collectively urged the police to work extra hard, and the municipality to stop making empty promises to the people of Plett. “Our communities have several grievances and as we sympathise with some of their gripes, we could in a correct manner try and assist our fellow citizens. “But the lawless criminal activities are totally unacceptable,” said Plett Business Chamber chair Mike Scholtz. “Here we hold the SAPS - our protectors and law enforcers - accountable. They are either not sufficiently interested in the problem, or they are not adequately equipped or capable to handle criminal activities.” Due to the seriousness of these concerns, a letter was sent to the office of national police commissioner Khehla Sitole to make na-
tional government aware of Plett’s plight. Responding to their call, Plett Police station commander colonel Nolan Michaels assured the business community that the police were making use of all resources available to ensure safety of businesses and citizens alike. However, looting and vandalism caused mayhem in the industrial area on the day after the meeting, and SAPS Knysna spokesman sergeant Chris Spies confirmed by noon on July 6 that 81 arrests had been made in connection with public violence and damage of property (see the report below). Members of the Plett business community concurred that much of the destruction could have been prevented, had there been more visible law enforcement.
Teenager one of 81 suspects arrested in protests ERGEANT Chris Spies of Knysna police said in a statement last week: “In response to service deliveryrelated protests that erupted in Plett on July 2, the police arrested a total of 81 suspects on various charges and opened a number of case dockets for investigation.” Aged between 13 and 57 years, the suspects are fac-
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ing charges of public violence, burglary at business premises, housebreaking and theft, as well as malicious damage to property. The police also arrested seven suspects after stolen property were found in their possession in and around the industrial area. “A 28-year-old suspect was released and she was warned
to appear in court next week. The other suspects remain in custody and all of them will appear in the Plettenberg Bay Magistrates’ court on July 8. [report to follow] “A number of properties and vehicles were damaged during this period and these incidents form part of the police investigation into the matter,” said Spies.
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Ludumo Tede
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CXPRESS
NEWS & VIEWS
10 July 2019
Plett Arts Fest 2019 a winner HE Plett Arts Festival from June 20 to July 5 was a sure-fire winner. Earlier in the year, the future of the festival was in doubt following the withdrawal of funding from Bitou Municipality and an announcement that the event had been cancelled. However, a determined group of local artists and business owners, led by Plettenberg Bay Arts Association chairperson Tracey Mae, were intent on ensuring that the festival went ahead and that it should remain a fixture of Plett’s cultural calendar. Said Tracey during the
T WARM WINTER ART: At the opening of the Winter’s Tale exhibition at Arteriors on June 26 were, at right, Plettenberg Bay Arts Association chair Tracey Mae, who led the steering committee that organised the event, together with fellow committee member and Arteriors proprietor Amanda Roelofse, centre, flanked from left by exhibiting artists Ian Pletzer, Simon Gower, Quintin Gray, Tanya van Wyk, and Ilse Kruger
OLD AND NEW: The Plett Arts Festival was launched on June 20 with the opening of an exhibition of new art at Old Nick Village; pictured from left with ‘Villagers’ Monique Dokter, left, and Janet Holding, fourth from right, are exhibiting artists Dorothe Bekker, Chip Snaddon, Caroline Fine, Carol Sachs, Juliet Goddard, Jonathan Davis, and Anne Clarke
course of the event: “We invited those interested in keeping the festival going to an early-May meeting at The Plettenberg hotel and they arrived in droves! “We formed a committee comprising myself, The Plettenberg GM Michael Birch, Adri van Zyl of Milkwood Framing and Gallery, Alet Cloete of A&T Design Emporium, and Amanda Roelofse of Arteriors. “The community came together and made it happen. I have hardly slept in recent weeks but now that the festival is underway, I’m overjoyed. It’s a wonderful celebra-
Words & Photos: Timothy Twidle
tion of art and everyone is so excited.” The work of 111 artists at 23 different venues, in and around Plettenberg Bay was showcased at the festival’s various exhibitions of paintings in oils, acrylics and watercolours, studies in pencil, and displays of sculpture, photography, digital art and photomontage. There were also art demonstrations and workshops, performances of contemporary music, storytelling and comedy, wine tastings, and screenings of motion pictures. Local eateries, newspapers, wine estates, hotels,
and other commercial entities provided generous sponsorship and wherever possible made space available for the hanging of framed and mounted works of art. Without any external funding, Plett Arts Festival roared ahead. It set down a marker for the future, and is destined to become a permanent annual event that can only but grow and expand. CXPRESS warmly congratulates all who ensured the festival took place, as well as those who participated and provided support. A noble endeavour indeed.
Riots remind of the many reasons we have to breakdown which are stand together in peaceful unity cal already beginning to unCXPRESS friend Errol Finkelstein shared this analysis written by Plettenberg Bay-based environmental activist RHIAN BERNING Y hometown has been a war zone for the last few days, my heart is sore and the adrenaline has been bubbling just below the surface with everyone in fight or flight mode. Normal everyday tasks seemed meaningless and irrelevant with the dull thud of tear gas explosions and distant screams in the background. How lucky am I to have had a safe haven for my family, away from the violent riots - my privilege makes me ache. My heart is sore for the children and families whose homes have been in the midst of the tear gas and the noise of the rubber-bullet fire; for the hard-working locals whose businesses were looted, vandalised and wrecked; for the people with valid grievances about being long-time shack dwellers with untenable living conditions and shocking services. Their voices are now drowned out by the violence and focus on the criminals who took advantage of the situation. So many people were threatened and intimidated and so unable to go to work. They will not be paid for this time lost. Five families have lost their homes to a shack fire in the early morning hours (rumour is that it was a threat followed through: you go to work, your home will be burnt). I mourn along with the families of those people who lost their lives in the bus accident that happened on the detour road in wet and rainy weather as the national highway was closed by rioters for three full days. For the woman who is lying in ICU because a brick was thrown through her car window at the start of the riots; for all those
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who lost much-needed income in the chaos and will still lose income due to the ripple effects of riots and bad press. For all those who suffered under the racist hate speech and anger directed at ‘them’ and ‘they’ on social media groups despite doing all in their power to protect themselves and their families and, of course, to keep their jobs. For all this and more, my heart is sore. The hate speech and blame make me almost as afraid as the violence, it is so divisive and will destroy us in the long term. Who is this ‘they’ you speak of - the woman raising your children? The people working hard to build up your business? The local school leaver struggling to find work? Criminals taking advantage of the protest is absolutely unacceptable with devastating effect on family-owned businesses, but so is painting everyone as a criminal, just based on the colour of their skin or the area they live in. Walk a day in the life of someone living in a ntyontyombe - a backyard shack. People ask: What does the violence and looting achieve? It just makes it worse.” And I agree. But I ask: “What does the hate speech, the anger, the negativity achieve? It just makes it worse.” We need to find what we have in common, what we can stand for, together. Ask also: “What do we, the majority, have in common? What won’t we stand for, what won’t we tolerate?” I don’t think I’m wrong in saying that the majority of us simply want wellbeing for our families as top priority. Shelter from the elements in a strong and resilient home, good education for our children,
good nourishment and food, a healthy living environment, fresh water, clean air, a stable income and freedom from fear. Do we all have that in common? Does everyone in my hometown have that? No, not at all. So many are living in homes that are not strong enough to withstand the wind, the rain, the fire, the floods. Living environments are far from healthy; then add the social injustices of unemployment, unfair wages, high transport costs, crime, drug abuse and domestic violence. Can we come together to ensure that the basic wellbeing of families in our town is met? We all suffer under the mismanagement and corruptive use of government funds both locally and nationally. Is this not also something the majority of us have in common? For some, the corruption is mere inconvenience as it does not impact much on the wellbeing of their families; for others, the suffering is real as their families are robbed of any wellbeing at all. If we cannot expect those in power locally to place the wellbeing of all people as core focus, then perhaps it is time for us to create a citizens’ assembly and make it happen. If we can’t get this right in our small town - if we can’t come together and stand strong for what we all wish for in common (the wellbeing of our families) and simultaneously stand strong and peacefully against crime, corruption and violence then how are we going to get it right as a country? If we don’t pull together now, how are we going to face the challenges of climate and ecologi-
ravel around us? We will all be in the same sinking boat and we will have to keep it afloat together. It reminds me of hearing the birds calling their alarm from a tree outside my home, and suspecting the call was probably for a snake. It was: a boomslang was heading for a nest with baby birds. But what I found most amazing was that many different kinds of birds were swooping in and attacking the snake. The snake was only heading for the little white-eyes’ nest, but there was the robin, the fiscal shrike, the sunbird putting their own lives at risk to protect the young white-eyes. It made me think how in times of crisis when there is a common threat, people also put aside their differences and band together for the greater good. Climate breakdown is the snake in the tree, we have unleashed it and it will affect us all at some point, it is a threat we all have in common and we are going to have to band together to overcome it. In other countries people are peacefully protesting in their millions to wake up governments, corporates and policy makers to change their ways and save human civilization as we know it. But here we still have the hurdle of social justice to overcome before we can stand together for our common future as humans. So best we get onto it, as there is certainly no time to waste. Empathy, compassion, strength in unity and our common vision will get us there. We all need to ask: “Is what I’m saying and doing building bridges of community or creating more division?” We are much weaker divided. This we know. Just ask the white-eye birds.
BUSINESS
10 July 2019
New survey shows most in-demand skills leave SA for greener pastures CCORDING to reports from emigration assistance groups and local banks, South Africa is experiencing a sharp rise in people emigrating. Pew Research estimates that at least 900,000 people born in South Africa were living in other countries in 2017, with many of these people being skilled and educated. Immigration specialist and Xpatweb director Marisa Jacobs says the company’s recently released annual Critical Skills Survey not only highlights the top skills employers are struggling to recruit within local borders, but also shows striking similarities between in-demand jobs in popular emigration destinations like the UK, New Zealand, and Australia. Which skills are the hardest to recruit locally? The latest Critical Skills
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Survey, which is considered by the government, surveyed 110 companies, including JSE-listed companies and large multinational groups operating elsewhere on the continent. Following last year’s survey, ICT specialists and engineers remain the most difficult to recruit, followed by artisans, senior financial executives, professionals in the health sector, executive managers, specialists and academics, mining executives, risk managers, and foreign language speakers. “The most notable jump in figures are the number of South African companies struggling to recruit artisans, increased by 45% from last year, and professionals in the health sector, which rose by a massive 200%” says Jacobs. Onerous work visa processes to recruit internationally
Investor Focus
Over 85% of respondents indicated that they found it difficult to recruit critically skilled individuals and that an international search would help them find these skills, but that the work visa process was an inhibitor. “Respondents showed that the work visa process prohibits South African employers from recruiting internationally, citing onerous requirements and long processing times of South African embassies abroad, as some of the major challenges they face. “While this is a clear perception shared by the respondents, our experience has shown that if the person being recruited truly has a critical skill, we have never failed to obtain a work visa,” says Jacobs. Skills leaving South Africa Our government notoriously keeps no record of
the number of South Africans who permanently leave the country, but other countries keep track of their immigrants. “Our survey results show that there is a very clear link between the skills that are needed locally and the professions that other countries are recruiting for, again confirming that skills shortages are a global challenge and South Africa is competing for these skills. “Skills transfer to local teams and concession planning remains a key element for companies to develop their teams,” concludes Jacobs. Xpatweb will launch the next Critical Skills survey earlier this year in time to provide input for government’s new critical skills draft list, which is expected to be published later this year for public comment. Visit www.xpatweb. com for full survey results.
Malcolm Stewart – Investment manager at Michaelides Parker Wealth Knysna & Plett
Performance, inflation, and dividends NFLATION is the retiree’s greatest threat. Retiring at age 65, one is exposed to at least 20 years of inflation. This means that an item that cost you R100 today will cost R265.18 in 20 years. In other words, your income should at least more than double over the 20 years if you want to maintain your current retirement lifestyle. This assumes an inflation rate of 5% per annum for the 20 years. (After 10 years, you will need R155.09 for the same item.) The last five years have seen a serious decline in the value of most Living Annuities and equity investments. Only cash with a return of 7.4% and bonds at just over 8% beat inflation. However, there are
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some very interesting exceptions. Of the 102 unit trusts/ETFs that are categorised as SA General Equity, 19 managed to outperform inflation (of 5.01%) in the five years from June 1, 2014 to May 31, 2019. Of the 19 funds, five had a dividend focus. They were Satrix Divi plus ETF (6.5% return), Sygnia Div Index ETF (6.22%), Satrix Divi plus Index ETF (6.03%), Coreshares S&P SA Dividend Aristocrats ETF (5.79%), and the Marriott Dividend Growth Fund (5.54%) This implies that 86.3% of all ‘SA General Equity’ funds failed to outperform inflation! Such underperformance has severely dented the retirement nest egg of most retirees. It is also most interest-
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ing to note that none of these funds held any Naspers, which grew by a staggering 185% during the same period. On digging deeper, one realises that these dividend focused funds managed to outperform by re-investing their dividends. In weak markets it is the compounding of dividends that deliver the growth; it is also the best growing income for retirees. One then returns to the selection of a retiree’s investment benchmark. Most investors demand performance of the overall value of an investment. In fact, the benchmark should be for the investment to deliver a sustainable and growing income stream. Retirees should try and live off of the income
from their investments and not from the capital. One then has to ask about the value of the core investment over the 20-year period. The ultimate measure of the value of an investment is the income it produces. So it is clear that an investment that grows its income from R100pa to R255pa over 20 years will ultimately be worth far more than the original sum. So the capital growth will ultimately follow the revenue growth. (Stats from Moneyweb.) • Malcolm has been in the investment industry for nearly 50 years. He has written this column in CXPRESS for the last 20 years and is a specialist in managing retired wealth. See the advert on this page for contact details.
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INTERVAL
10 July 2019
Talia on Toast
A day in the life of a hard news reporter Garden Route local TALIA DAY is a mom with two kids, a Viking, and three jobs (online teacher, reporter, and novelist). Her dream is to brighten someone’s day and to make people aware of the fact that their tribulations are not singular, since we all share in the craziness that is life and parenthood. IFE is pretty funny, but not always ha-ha. Cue an email from CXPRESS along the lines of “Hey Talia, wanna write hard news?” I dropped my phone and ran around my house screaming happily, to a horrified look from the Viking. The next 37 minutes were spent trying to calm down my terrorised spawns. First spawn had taken cover in her unicorn sanctuary bedroom, and refused to emerge until “Mom calmed down”. Second spawn pulled proper sad-face. Tears streaming down her face, refusing to look at Mom - who had clearly lost the last remaining marbles of her sanity. My first hard news story rolls around: the case of a missing man in the ‘ville, as us Sedgefarians call Smutsville. Second spawn is packed with nappy bag, purple diary, and brand new pink pen. Off we roll to the location. I am sitting very seriously, trying to give the bereaved sister my sincerest condolences on her missing brother. Second spawn is sitting at my feet innocently licking their shack floor. My OCD twitches into overdrive as I try not to grab her from the floor and run to the Listerine aisle at Pick n Pay. Instead, I breathe, in,
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out… And cue spawn, who decides this very sensitive moment is perfect to start a whale (not wail) lament to all of the unknown ancestors of the linoleum floor she had just cleaned with her face. This is the beginning of mad cow disease! I smile, twitch, and attempt to nullify spawn with my keys. She is happiest with my new Nissan remote firmly jammed in her gummy mouth, gnawing it with her brand new great white shark-sharp teeth. Next stop, the police station. First spawn has been collected from her morning jail, aka school. I have primed her to be as naughty as possible, so as to get the sympathy of the officers, in order to get the required information needed, as fast as possible. Second spawn, at ten months, is a metal detector. Put her anywhere within the vicinity of a floor and she will find treasure, which is then succinctly inserted into her drooling face orifice. A screaming match usually ensues, with mostly me screaming at her to unclamp her crocodile jaws so that I can fish my finger between her two shiny teeth to extract said treasure. The police lady constable stares down at my pathetic attempt at being a hard news journalist; her contempt is palpable
from her medusa stare. I arm wrestle my pen from first spawn who has written her ABCs in my diary, and has started tattooing herself. I attempt to write down the number of the warrant officer who has the information needed, while juggling second spawn, attempting to keep her from somehow elastic arming her way over the counter and stealing the “nice” officer’s weapon. Next time I will phone, or they might lock my children away. The second rock-hard story falls into my lap, and off I go, skipping like the sound of music with both spawns packed up… oh dear, holy all things, pray for me. On the way there, I threaten first spawn with parental violence if she misbehaves - which involves not letting her watch TV, this being the most serious punishment that can be meted out to a four-year-old. I cajole her with promises of being able to play games on my kid-proof phone, which has gorilla third-level glass and can be dropped from a five-storey building. My phone is literally bullet and drool proof. In another shack, we sit, the occupants dressed in their Sunday best to receive the lady from the newspaper. I feel like a fraud, doing my best to ask serious questions whilst arm wrestling second spawn out from under the stair cavity. Finally calm is restored and my keys are sacrificed. The house is deathly quiet… first spawn has journeyed into the single bedroom and emerges at my query with the biggest, overfed, monster tiger of a cat held in her tiny arms, my phone firmly clutched in her fingers. “Look, Momma! A kitty cat! It’s so pretty.”
The gluttonous feline looks anything but happy, and would give the internet’s grumpy cat a run for its money in the disapproval department. Back at home I have a few more witnesses to speak to, but for the sake of public safety a phone call will do. While I’m safely locked into first spawn’s unicorn bedroom, the Viking is cooking dinner and has chained the children to the floor, with a stern warning to leave Mommy alone. She is working. The first minute goes down well… then the door banging commences, with heart wrenching moans of “Mommy! I need you, I miss you! Mommeeeeeee!” Some sickening wrestling noises, a muffled “oomph!” and scraping continue from the other side of the door. The Viking has been defeated, and retreated back to his kitchen sanctuary. Research done. I now have the arduous task of creating a well thoughtout article. Laptop open, second spawn - who was happily unpacking her overpriced bum cleaners, aka wet wipes - comes sidling over and tries to help me type. This leads to me standing with laptop in one hand, typing one fingered with the other, balancing like a flamingo while, with my free leg karate chopping first spawn of her crab hold around my neck while the second is gnawing my toes. “Sorry Es, the article will be a little late…” (Next month, I’ll share the heart-breaking tale of the sale of Goldilocks, my faithful old lady, the Toyota.) • Talia on Toast is a monthly column - watch this space for the next instalment in CXPRESS of August 14.
“What we need are more people who specialise in the impossible.” - Theodore Roethke
SOCIAL SCENE
10 July 2019
JULY AT SKY A RIGHT SHINDIG! The Durban July Handicap was screened in large format at Sky Villa boutique hotel in Plettenberg Bay, in aid of the town’s Differently-abled Awareness Campaign, initiated and directed through the untiring efforts of Rita Hardaker, pictured at top left with Karyn Aspeling of Tada Promotions in George at left. Above, Cindy and Hennie van Rensburg of Houston, Texas, display a hamper of mouth-watering delights donated by Plett’s Biltong Boutique, which they won during Saturday’s afternoon of fine food and fare, and lots of fun and laughter. At top right, Sky Villa staffers - from left are Delta Chigwaza, Beauty Jacobs and Zanele Jonas - looked the part while sparing no effort in providing efficient service with a smile throughout the afternoon. At left, David and Nikki Bertram of Plett won a bottle of Skyy vodka during the course of the happy, horsey affair. - Timothy Twidle
TOUW TROUBLE? Marine Ranger in the Wilderness section of Garden Route National Park (GRNP) Jonathan Britton, above, will offer insights into the challenges and perceptions of managing the Touw River Estuary during a talk presented by the Wilderness Ratepayers and Residents Association at 6pm for 6:30pm today (Wednesday July 10) at Wilderness Hotel. Jonathan’s affinity for the Touw River came naturally as he was born and spent his early years here, first learning to swim in the estuary at the railway bridge. With GRNP since 2005, he is currently responsible for conservation management operations for the estuaries and coast between Sedgefield and Wilderness. Just how polluted is the Touw River? Does it still present a flood risk? What don’t we know about it? Come hear his talk ‘Is the Touw River in deep water?’ for all you need to know on the subject. Entry is R10 for WRRA members and R20 for non-members, with a cash bar on hand.
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People, places & events MESMERISED BY LIGHT: The June themes of Plett’s PhotoFUNatics were ‘Painting with Light’ and ‘Long Exposure’, which turned into an entertaining pursuit following their workshop with Carol Phillips. Says convenor Derek Rushton, whose lovely longexposed light-painting effort features at left: “Although almost everyone submitted bits from Carol’s workshop, our ‘Best of the Best’ were two Plett landscapes… go figure?!” He congratulates Val Hellman and Eileen Covarr in the Junior and Senior categories respectively. Val says her photo, at centre, was shot from Robberg Nature Reserve looking down on the beach, while the person pictured adds perspective to the vista. According to Eileen, her passion is landscape photography, and she loves early morning and evening light, as can be seen from the photo below. “This particular evening, the moonrise was quite hazy so I went for a slow shutter speed with slow wave motion to give a mysterious feel to beautiful Keurbooms Beach.” Email derek_rushton@hotmail.com to find out more about this cool collective of sharp shooters.
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CLASSIFIEDS
10 July 2019
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Plett Animal Welfare Service
ON THE SOAPBOX
10 July 2019
Letters to the Editor
CXPRESS
Email: editor@cxpress.co.za - Fax: 044 533 0852 - PO Box 1449, Plett 6600
It’s a strange, strange world we live in... What a paradoxical country we live in: we are told - as absurd as it sounds that vagrants have been fined in Cape Town for sleeping on pavements and in doorways. In Plettenberg Bay, we can have protesters looting shops, blocking roads, damaging prop-
erty, and generally behaving in such a way that it has infringed on the rights of many others on a grand scale. Their actions are having a negative effect on the economy of Plett, in particular, and on businesses along the George/ Port Elizabeth corridor
in general - all with apparent impunity. While one may accept that the original protests had some merit, it would appear that criminal elements or agents provocateurs, with their sinister agendas, have high-jacked the protest movement for their own cause.
Under such circumstances, one would expect the authorities to vigorously clamp down on this unlawful behaviour, but by the time of writing this has not happened. What a contradiction in the treatment of vagrants and protesters! Kevin Meineke, Plett
Open letter to Plettenberg Bay residents as riots ises made by politicians, continue to tear our town apart nor are we in a position to Please note: I am not a politician, nor am I rich or influential. I have been a resident of Plett for 22 years, with a small business and a family. The current “service delivery protests” refer. I was just listening to Plett spin-doctor Manfred van Rooyen’s latest attempt at absolving the municipality and office bearers via a voice recording. In the recording, he says that Bitou Municipality has never shied away from its responsibility to meet with aggrieved people. What he fails to address is the fact that the people are aggrieved BECAUSE of the municipality’s gross mismanagement, corruption and fraud which have emptied municipal coffers. Funds due to address these very issues have “disappeared” or have been “redirected” (political euphemisms for “stolen”). Mr van Rooyen also fails to mention that the other root cause is the promises our “esteemed” mayor has made to residents, which he knew could never be fulfilled. As expected, these empty promises have NOT been realised and the chickens have now come home to roost.
Mr van Rooyen also calls on the police to arrest perpetrators and on the community to “make affidavits” with the police about crimes committed. I agree with that; however, I believe it’s more important that members of the community and Bitou staff report and submit evidence of the criminal acts perpetrated within the municipality to the SAPS/ Hawks so that we can root out the ACTUAL cause of the anarchy in Plett. This part of my letter is aimed at my fellow, lawabiding, peace-loving Plett residents. I am a small business owner. I employ 11 locals, all but one live in the affected areas. Like many other small local businesses, these school holidays was the last opportunity to build up some cash reserves to help us through the next few months, which are traditionally the quietest and most difficult of the year. We are now being denied this opportunity by criminals. What does that mean in real terms for you and me and my staff ? The harsh reality is that I’m over-staffed for most of the year. But I keep all my staff employed
A different type of looting… Has there been recent write-up about baboons loitering and looting increasingly in Plettenberg Bay’s suburbs? I would appreciate any information in this regard. Doris Fornefeld, Plett (This query was received a week before the human looting hit Plett, so no connection intended by the author! We did manage to track down CapeNature conservation manager Henk Nieuwoudt, who explained that his staff had been receiving calls to report baboon activity at least once a week since December, as the troops make their way from Brackenridge to the Dassen Island area before returning towards Whale Rock, Plett Country Club, and then traversing the smallholdings bordering residential areas on their way back to the coastline.
“Their habitat has not recovered since the 2017 fires and a large part of their diet now consists of mussels and other coastal delicacies. “The troupe is now at its smallest with only 23 adults, as many baboons perished in the plantation fires. But these days it seems every female has a baby, so recovery of numbers are taking place all over the Garden Route.” Henk said CapeNature and Bitou Municipality are in the process of recruiting unemployed locals in a Public Words expansion project, which would train them in skills like firefighting, but also in the managing and chasing off of baboons that become bothersome in residential areas. See the CXPRESSsponsored notice on page 4 for additional information, as well as another letter of concern. - Eds.)
and able to provide for their families, instead of the usual practice of taking on casuals during the busy periods. My hand has now been forced to the point where I will be retrenching surplus staff next week. That will leave FOUR families without income for at least the next four months. Who’s fault is this? I am sorry that it is YOUR fault if you live in the affected areas, because your communities have lost your backbone and values. What has become of the elders and leaders who are supposed to lead and discipline their people? How do you, residents of Qolweni, New Horizons, KwaNokuthula and now Kranshoek, allow a small group of criminals to hold you to ransom? A meeting in Kwano this morning [July 4] apparently concluded that, when Kwano was protesting over electricity, Qolweni rioted with them, so now they must riot along in support of Qolweni. Nobody has come out and said this, so I will. It is clear there is a political motive behind this “protest” action. How does destroying infrastructure help the situation? Every single repair to damaged infrastructure/equipment takes money out of the pot that could and should be used to address the issues residents are faced with. Why else are whiteowned businesses exclusively targeted for looting - how does that address service delivery issues? How does that improve the odds of the protest action achieving its goal? How does preventing honest hard-working providers from earning an income achieve the stated objectives? How does preventing businesses from operating achieve success? Why are no businesses in the townships being looted and destroyed? All this is achieving is making it more difficult for us to contribute by keeping people employed and enabling them to provide for their families. We as business owners alone are not in a position to meet prom-
force the municipality to fulfil their mandate. YOU, the majority of the voters in this town, have that power. Why don’t you use it? Why do you keep voting for criminals and looters? Why do you allow it to continue to your own detriment? Until the day you take ownership of your responsibilities as citizens, voters, breadwinners, and parents, the criminals will continue to do as they please. Until the day you stand up and demand that the SAPS, elected officials, and municipal employees do the jobs you pay them for - and so stop enabling them to steal all of our futures - this will continue. I don’t have a plan for Plett. No one person does. I don’t believe for one minute that 99% of us in this town can’t come up with a solution, though. It is time that we as a community say to the 1% that the 99% have had enough. It’s hard enough for most of us to make a living, without the 1% bad element making it impossible on a daily basis. It is time for THIS community to stand together and tell the rubbish to GET OUT. I’d like to hear any suggestions about how we can achieve this. The only people I DON’T want to hear from are politicians and criminals. You are neither welcome nor needed. We all know there aren’t any quick fixes. None of us can promise anything. I am 100% convinced that together we can make a start and make a difference. The bottom line is that we cannot continue on this path - it will destroy our town, our community, our local economy, and ultimately our families. I love Plett and its people. My children were born and raised here. One day (not yet) I would like to be laid to rest here. I don’t think I’m the only one. Talk to me… Jacques van der Merwe, Plett (By Friday, Jacques had received over 100 responses on his Facebook page. Talk to him there or email editor@cxpress.co.za with your sentiments. - Eds.)
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SPORT & ADVENTURE
10 July 2019
Madibaz surfing squad banking on all-round effort ITH several new faces in their outfit, the Madibaz surfing squad will be banking on a concerted team effort when the University Sport South Africa competition takes place later this month. The Nelson Mandela University team have produced some excellent performances in recent years and will be aiming for another quality display at Victoria Bay near George from tomorrow onwards. Madibaz Sport surfing manager Melinda Goosen said the team competition at USSA was the highlight of the championships, adding this was why an overall team effort was so important. “A team consists of eight males and four females, so it is imperative for all surf-
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ers in the team to score points as this contributes not only to the individual sections but to the team title as well.” She said that the team competition had been fiercely contested between Madibaz and the University of Cape Town in the last two years. In 2017, Madibaz came second overall, narrowly losing out to UCT by eight points after the men won their section and the women came third. Last year, the Port Elizabeth team were again edged by UCT in the overall standings, with the men finishing second in their section and the women winning their division. With some new faces in their squad, particularly
among the men, Goosen said they were in a rebuilding phase but that they had gained a fair deal of experience in the women’s team. “Our newer team members might not have surfed a lot of competitive contests and will need to be prepared for that, as well as the conditions at Vic Bay. “But we do have Greg Cuthbert [who proudly represent CX Country along with Johan Wasserman] and Daniel Rumbelow, who contested the semi-finals and the final last year. So they’re sure to pass on some valuable tips to their teammates. “In the women’s team Tahra Uren made the final last year and will be ready to fly the Madibaz flag alongside Casey Mcleavy
and Ashleigh Vaughan.” She said the camaraderie among the team members would be a plus for them. “Besides that, the team have a healthy competitive spirit while the experience of those who have surfed at Vic Bay will be crucial.” Goosen added that they had held three trials over a period during April and May to go through the selection process. “Finally, there was also a squad camp to build team spirit and to prepare the members specifically for the challenges of USSA and Vic Bay.”
WATER BABY: National water polo player Casey Mcleavy (facing camera) now forms part of the Madibaz surf team to contest the University Sport South Africa tournament from Thursday to Sunday
KNYSNA NATIVE: Madibaz surfer Greg Cuthbert will be one of the more experienced team members when they contest the University Sport South Africa champs at Vic Bay from July 11-14
Latest research reveals sport’s R8.8-billion contribution to Western Cape GDP long-term study has found that sport participation has the ability to improve socio-economic conditions and currently makes a significant contribution to the Western Cape economy. Entitled The Case for Sport, the study was undertaken by the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport (DCAS) in partnership with the University of the Western Cape’s Interdisciplinary Centre of Excellence for Sport Science and Development (ICCESSD). On Friday July 5, the findings were presented to minister Anroux Marais, department head Brent Walters and a host of stakeholders, following the conclusion of the second phase of research. The first phase of the study began in 2012, and since then statistical data and qualitative information have been drawn from a range of sources, inclusive of questionnaires with 123 sport federations across the province, desktop research, interviews with experts and reviewing commissioned by the Bureau of Economic Research, case studies and storytelling initiatives. On Friday, senior researcher at the ICCESSD professor Christo de Coning announced that sport has contributed in excess of 2.2% of the province’s
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Gross Domestic Product or R8.8-billion - since 2012. According to the findings, the sport sector also supports 60,000 jobs in the Western Cape and has the potential to increase economic growth and tourism. The study also looked at the social impact of sport in the province. Walters said the findings could ensure “that there will always be support from government and the private sector for this area of human endeavour”. “We see the role of sport and recreation as far greater than us just sending teams to compete. We see it as something to keep our young people safe, to keep them gainfully occupied, to give them hope where there is no hope and to make sure that they have role models to look up to.” Said Walters.
During the presentation, minister Marais said the study would inform future policy decisions and that she hoped it would impact provincial budget allocations. “The evidence-based research now enables us to make informed decisions at an executive level and will certainly assist in reviewing current policy to be redeveloped with maximum citizen impact in mind. “There is no doubt in my mind that those seasoned in the DCAS portfolio will agree there exists a disconnect between the positive impact of sport and the budget often allocated to its programmes. “This comprehensive research now physically motivates for increased support, not only for sport and recreation but cultural affairs as well,” she said.
MAKING A STRONG CASE: Pictured from left are Dr Lyndon Bouah, professor Marion Keim, Brent Walters, Cultural Affairs and Sport minister Anroux Marais, and professor Christo de Coning