11 march

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

Haaair he comes!

FREE Photo: Courtesy of ERM

11 March 2015

Mother City funnyman Marc Lottering will be one of the celebrity judges at the culmination of this year’s Tshisa Talent Competition, presented by Lunchbox Theatre in exactly one month’s time, on April 11 at Plett’s White House Theatre read more about our hilarious visitor and this awesome annual event on page 6

No flak for enviro-crimes p3

Cape fire stories shared p2 & 4

Can you ride at night? p12

10 000 FREE COPIES OF CXPRESS DISTRIBUTED ALONG THE GARDEN ROUTE EVERY WEDNESDAY

2

CXPRESS

News & Views

11 March 2015

Apocalypse in the Cape - an eyewitness account Plett resident BASIL VAN ROOYEN penned this first-hand account after returning from a Mother City sojourn during which wildfires ravaged the mountain and ‘Deep South’ surrounds

T

HE first inkling we had of trouble was on Sunday March 1, when we had a lunch date with friends in Steenberg. We were staying in Hout Bay with my daughter and her family, and at about 12 noon were crossing to the Cape Town side via Ou Kaapse Weg. Just beyond Noordhoek the road was blocked by police. We stopped. “You can’t go further. The mountain is burning. Those are not Southeaster wind clouds.

That is smoke. Chapman’s Peak is also closed, so go via Boyce Drive.”

We were an hour late for lunch but that was only the start of it.

The trouble with the “Deep South” (Fish Hoek, Glencairn, Simon’s Town, Scarborough, Kommetjie, and Noordhoek) is that there are only four roads leading to

the rest of the Cape: The two main ones are Ou Kaapse Weg and Boyce Drive; Chapman’s Peak and Kalk Bay can only take limited traffic at the best of times.

The next four days we had to make our way to and fro across these mountains daily, in scenes increasingly reminiscent of Crqecn{rug"Pqy the classic 1997 movie about Vietnam: you woke up with the thud-thud-thud of helicopters; you were surrounded by perpetual smoke and rumours of more fire; you got crunched up in an endless traffic crawl, with flames flickering around you.

We only finally got away on Wednesday, after a threehour creep through Kalk Bay, at that moment the only open road.

Those four days were traumatic. Surrounded by allpervading smoke clouds,

blasted by the ferocious heat given off by the fires, it was impossible to imagine the greater scene, and there was no source to provide up-tothe-minute information.

The best we had was Cape Talk Radio but even their

coverage was patchy and often just plain wrong: they would quote authorities as saying “the fire in this section has been put out” while you could see it burning before your eyes.

I admire the selfless devo-

tion of hundreds of (often volunteer) firefighters and other helpers, but I do not believe that even with a Southeaster, so many fires could erupt all over without people deliberately starting them.

The darker side of what

OMINOUS SIGHT: The Tokai mountain forests to the left explode in smoke and flame in the late afternoon sun - Photo: Basil van Rooyen

happened was the looting taking place in some houses abandoned by inhabitants in panic, and half-burned carcasses of every kind of wildlife on the roads and in yards: snakes, dassies, tortoises. The baboons got away, of course.

The image that remains with me is that of helicopters endlessly queuing up to scoop up water in Kalk Bay harbour to bomb onto fires fruitlessly, it seemed, for the best they could do was protect suburbs on the fringes in danger of being engulfed.

What it reminded me of what this passage from Jgctv" qh"Fctmpguu, the book about Africa by Joseph Conrad: “Once, I remember, we came upon a man-of-war anchored off the coast. There wasn’t even a shed there, and she was shelling the bush.

“It appears the French had one of their wars going on thereabouts. In the empty immensity of earth, sky, and water, there she was, incomprehensible, firing into a continent.”

Turn to page 4 for a report on the experience of Plett’s fire fighters Photo: Lee Slabber

Our 10 000 free copies are distributed every Wednesday to a multitude of outlets along the Garden Route, with emphasis on Knysna and Plett and drop-offs at *Sedgefield Tourism *Caltex StarMart in Wilderness *Lynn Schroeder, Build It and other select outlets in George *Storms River Village and Bridge in Tsitsikamma - phone 044 533 1004 (o/h) with distribution queries.

If you’ve missed out on a hard copy, read the electronic version online at www.cxpress.co.za

THE CAPE CRIES: Scenes of destruction, bravery, and burned carcasses of every kind of wildlife show the severe damage caused by the fires that ravaged the Cape last week

News & Views

11 March 2015

CXPRESS

Forestry warriors fight lonely battle as environment crimes slip through cracks A recent case involving the unlawful destruction of endangered coastal forest on the banks of the Keurbooms River has highlighted the lack of significance the local Justice Department places on environmental crime, thus forcing the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) to seek private legal aid - MELISSA REITZ reports BEFORE

ILLEGALLY CLEARED WITH IMPUNITY? Seemingly for the sake of a river view, a vast amount of the endangered Western Cape Milkwood was cleared on the Keurbooms River’s banks

AFTER

O

F the 26 national forest types in South Africa - all of which have been deemed natural forest and are protected under the National Forest Act (NFA) - three have been declared endangered, including the Western Cape Milkwood forest found along the Garden Route.

With this forest type occurring along the coast and being severely fragmented, it is particularly threatened by development.

“The reason for the protection of the total forest biome in South Africa is because it is so small and fragmented,” says Cobri Vermeulen, forestry area manager of the Western Cape.

“So serious are we about protecting the remaining existing natural forest that not only do we have the National Environment Management Biodiversity Act (NEMBA) to protect the environment, but on top of that the NFA to protect forests.”

Natural forest includes the ecosystems it comprises so all components, not only the trees, create the entire for-

est system. In order for any natural forest to be cleared, a licence under Section 7 of the NFA needs to be obtained.

No natural forest may be destroyed except in exceptional circumstances approved by the Minister. Considering this, one would assume there are no grey areas in acknowledging a criminal offence when it comes to unlawful tampering.

But this was not the case when natural forest on a Keurbooms riverside property was removed.

In 2012, DAFF issued a licence under NFA Section 15 to the property’s body corporate to prune a protected species for maintenance, in this case milkwood trees.

However, later in the year the department was alerted to the fact that forest had been destroyed on the property’s riverbank. DAFF investigated and confirmed that the forest around the existing milkwoods had been completely cleared for what appeared to be an improved river view.

A case was opened against the body corporate but was filed a month later when

DAFF was informed that prosecution was declined.

In so doing, then Plett state prosecutor decided that a crime of this nature was not important enough to pursue, implying that forest preservation was not a legal priority.

DAFF did not accept this, but it was only after the justice department received a letter from its director of Forestry Regulation and Oversight a year later that the case was reopened.

“South Africa has some of the best environmental laws

in the world but it’s of no use if they are not implemented,” says Vermeulen.

Current Plett state prosecutor Henriette Breedt has confirmed that the case has been re-opened but advises that this can be a lengthy process.

More than two years have passed since this crime was committed and still no prosecution has taken place.

Frustrated at the slow pace to reach justice, DAFF has been forced to seek private legal assistance.

Attorney Hardy Mills and

High Court advocate David Borgstrom have agreed to assist with the process probono.

“The only way a prosecution will follow is if we literally do the case for them, by compiling the docket and liaising directly with the Director of Public Prosecutions.

If the state had the required resources and ability to properly investigate and prosecute these types of cases, it would not have been necessary for private legal intervention.”

A similar case of unlawful felling of protected trees recently took place in Albertinia, where a milkwood tree was taken down at a petrol station and the case was

3 again dismissed by the state prosecutor.

“DAFF is trying to do its job, but without backing from the justice department it is forced to find private legal help to fight for the preservation of our forests,” says Vermeulen. “We are still trying to get the Albertinia case back on the roll.”

“Unfortunately many cases do fall through the cracks in the W-Cape, but I am aware of a current investigation into this problem,” says Mills.

In a crime-riddled country such as SA, it is understandable that the Department of Justice is overwhelmed by criminal cases that need to be brought to book.

Nevertheless, a crime against the environment is still a crime and should not be considered inconsequential lest we cause irreparable damage to South Africa’s natural heritage.

4

CXPRESS

News & Views

11 March 2015

Cape Town family saves three Knysna fishermen from certain drowning

A

T 15:45 on Saturday March 7, NSRI Knysna launched the sea rescue craft Jaytee III and Spirit of KYC following reports of a dinghy with three men on board capsized on Knysna Lagoon between the Thesen Island jetty and the railway bridge.

On arrival on-scene, the three men were found safe on

a mud bank, but two of them were suffering near drowning symptoms with breathing difficulties and were treated

by NSRI medics.

They were then transported to hospital in stable condition by a Western Cape Government Health EMS ambulance for observation for secondary drowning. The

third man required no medical assistance.

It appears that the men’s small dinghy capsized and while one man managed to hang onto the little boat, the other two men were about to drown when a lagoon cabin boat with a Cape Town family on board came to their aid.

Daniel Aufrichtig from

Big Bay, Bloubergstrand, explained to Knysna NSRI crew members that he and his family - his wife, their son and daughter - and their two dogs, were on holiday in Knysna.

Says station commander Jerome Simonis: “They were cruising on the lagoon in their cabin boat when they saw the three men fishing from the small tub, and then they noticed the dinghy capsize.

Daniel immediately raised the anchor of the cabin boat to go to their aid.”

Daniel said the dinghy sunk quickly and one of the three men (all aged in their 30s and none of them able to swim) managed to grab onto the rail of the cabin boat but the other two men disappeared under water.

With his wife, Melanie, at the helm of the cabin boat, Daniel hung over the side

and managed to grab both men before they sank to the bottom. He hauled them into his boat and then assisted the third man, who was holding onto the railing, to also get into the cabin boat.

“Daniel raised the alarm and took the three men to shore, where our crew arrived to assist. We commend the Aufrichtig family for saving the three men from certain drowning,” said Simonis.

Plett’s true heroes rush to Mother City to help fight the fire beast Bitou Fire management officer IAN BARNARD reports on the experience of fighting fires in the Cape along with local crew members

O

N Tuesday afternoon March 3, I received a call from Christo Theron of Eden Fire Rescue asking if I was able to assist and get a crew together from Plett and leave for Cape Town by that night.

So myself and Steve Myburgh from Plett South Fire Protection Association (FPA) and Eben van Huyssteen - a volunteer learner fire fighter at Bitou Fire Department left for Cape Town at 6pm with a bakkie full of kit.

Along the way, we picked up George-based fire fighter Christo Theron and drove straight through, arriving at 1:30am the next morning. We stayed over at the house of one of our crew members, Joshua Martin, in Somerset West.

That same morning we left at 8am and drove to Lakeside Fire Department where the main command post was. We reported as a crew of five and were deployed to Tokai Forest and Manor.

We arrived at Tokai and were met by people that thanked us all for coming so far to help assist with the fire. We were assigned to Senior Fireman J Jonker from Strand Station and headed off to the fire line.

Our first stop was Tokai Nature Reserve, which was already burnt but some hotspots were threatening more houses. We didn’t stay there very long as we got called to the Manor, which was in danger.

When we arrived, four choppers were deployed to us and we got the fire under control, two trucks and a skid unit also called in to assist us. While all this was taking place, the community of Cape Town generously supplied all the firemen with refreshments and food.

We spent the next 24 hours at Tokai Heights protecting the houses from this beast that just would not give up. At one stage four of our crew were on the water line, facing flames of about 6m and higher.

AFTER THE WAR WAS WON: Enjoying a breather after days on the road and on the burning mountain are, from left, Joshua Martin, Ian Barnard, Christo Theron, Senior Fireman J Jonker from Strand Station, Steve Myburgh, and Eben van Huyssteen

While we were filling up at a hydrant point, a news reporter from ANN7 news approached us and asked if we could give an interview, so Steve Myburgh and I answered a few questions about the fire and what goes through our minds when we fight fire beasts like these.

In the morning, we went to Lake Side Fire Department again and were told that 90% of all the fires were un-

der control, so 32 hours after fighting the fire we were told to stand down.

The command centre at Lake Side thanked us all for coming so far to assist with the fire and called us “Plett’s true heroes”.

The sister-in-law of one of the local crew asked us to come to her school and speak to the students. They were full of questions and gave us little thank-you cards.

I would like to thank the people of Cape Town for their generosity and for constantly supplying all the firemen and women with refreshments and food - we all appreciated it very much.

Last but not least, I thank the families of our Plett firemen for their love and understanding that fire fighters are willing to lay down their lives for others in that split second when duty calls.

FIGHTING THE BEAST: Ian Barnard and his crew faced fires of 6 metres and higher at Tokai Heights - in the background is senior fireman J Jonker

HEARTBREAKING: Fran Collings and her husband lost everything when their Tokai house burnt down during the fires Photo: courtesy Jolindy Dreyer via Facebook

News & Views

11 March 2015

CXPRESS

5

Plettenberg Bay welcomes world-famous and controversial educationalist this month

P

ROFESSOR Jonathan Jansen - Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Free State, author of the best-selling Jqy" vq" Hkz" Uqwvj" Chtk/ ec‚u"Uejqqnu (which has been used in Bitou schools to help improve educational results), and possibly the best-known South African educationalist locally and worldwide - is coming to speak in Plettenberg Bay on March 20.

Plett is lucky to get him as special guest speaker in the same week that he appears at Knysna Literary Festival with cartoonist Zapiro and historian Braam Fischer - an event long since sold out.

Well known for his warm and strong stage presence, wit and charm, as well as his unflagging optimism about the youth of our country and our mission to educate them, he will be addressing us on the need to act locally to improve our country through better education - something our government is clearly not likely to achieve.

Prof Jansen shot into public prominence when he was appointed Vice-Chancellor at

Kovsies after a major racial scandal at the university, where a video was made by four white students of the Reitz residence depicting five black workers being subjected to various mock activities, including being forced to consume food that appeared to have been urinated on.

The video received coverage from national and international media, and led to riots and racial strife among students at the university.

Jonathan Jansen - a strong proponent of intellectual freedom and the first black president of UFS - initiated a process for campus-wide racial integration among students, which included inviting the four students to continue with their studies at the university.

In 2010, UFS was awarded the World Universities Forum Award for Best Practice in Higher Education praising the racial integration and harmonisation of the student community. More important, Prof Jansen has become hugely popular among both white and black students at

INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM FIGHTER: Apart from a plethora of international kudos and qualifications, Professor Jonathan Jansen is also hugely popular among students across the board - experience his particular brand of wit at The White House on Friday March 20

the university.

He has remained a controversial figure critical of the government’s educational policies and is continually in the public eye with weekly columns in Vjg" Vkogu and Fkg"Dwtigt newspapers, and numerous guest appearances on television and radio. He is also everyone’s favourite guest speaker.

He has produced a steady

Knysna’s oldest serving councillor resigns

A

FTER being involved in South African politics for five decades, ill health has forced Richard Dawson, 75, to resign as Knysna Ward 10 DA councillor.

“It is with deep regret that, owing to my deteriorating state of health, I have submitted my letter of resignation. I owe it to my constituents to be able to fulfil my role as their councillor in full, and because of my health issues it has become very difficult for me to fulfil these responsibilities adequately,” said Dawson.

His passion for true democracy was highlighted when during August 2011, he got up from his bed at the Private Hospital’s Intensive

Care Unit (ICU) to attend an important closed council meeting, still dressed in his pyjamas. “If I was not at the meeting it could not have been held,” said Dawson matter-of-factly.

Dawson ascribes his interest in politics to his upbringing. He grew up in a relatively poor part of Paarl during the 1940s where most of his friends were of mixed race.

While attending Dale College in the Eastern Cape his friendship circle grew to include many black youths.

“It was during this time that I started to question the justice of the Apartheid policy of Government and sparked my fierce opposition to the discrimination against peo-

ple of colour.

“I took a vow to fight for the rights of all South Africans. I would not accept or tolerate the discrimination against people of colour which made them second class citizens in all aspects of existence, and was outraged by the mass removals enforced by the Group Areas legislation as well as the draconian application of the Pass Laws restricting the rights of workers to move freely in their own country,” he said.

“I have always fought for true democracy in our country and my resignation does not end my passion for politics, it only means that I will no longer be at the coalface,” said a saddened Dawson.

stream of popular books Yg"Pggf"vq"Vcnm, Yg"Pggf"vq" Cev, Ngvvgtu"vq"O{"Ejknftgp, Itgcv" Uqwvj" Chtkecp" Vgcej/ gtu - and his book about racial transformation at the University of Pretoria, where he used to be Dean of Education, Mpqyngfig"kp"vjg"Dnqqf (2009, Stanford University Press) has won numerous international awards.

Although he grew up on

the Cape Flats and still has strong links with the community there, he holds a PhD from Stanford University (where he was a Fulbright scholar), an MS degree from Cornell University, and honorary doctorates of education from the University of Edinburgh, Cleveland State University, and the University of Vermont.

He is a Fellow of the American Educational Research Association and of the Academy of Science of the Developing World.

In 2013, Prof Jansen was in New York to receive the Education Africa Lifetime Achievement Award for his work in post-apartheid transformation in South Africa. His award speech in front of an audience of the world’s most sophisticated people is a great example of his inimitable style.

(Visit www.facebook. com/UFSUV/posts/560263 860683520 to watch this speech and get an idea of the force of his personality, his wit and charm and missionary zeal for saving

SA through education.)

He has served as international consultant to UNESCO, the World Bank, numerous African and European governments, USAID, and the European Union.

He has served as consultant in SA to SAQA, the CHE, HESA, the HSRC, SAMDI (now PALAMA), and the NRF. He has chaired ministerial committees on further education and training, school evaluation and teacher appraisal, and has advised provincial governments on school change.

Prof Jansen works closely with the business community on matters of education and training and is a non-executive director of ADvTech, a major provider of private education in South Africa.

Don’t miss his Plett talk on March 20 - there will be free snacks and a cash bar from 6pm; the talk starts at 7pm sharp. Tickets at R270 can be bought at Village Bookshop, Lederle’s, The Old House Shop or Plett Tourism’s Market Square office. All proceeds will benefit the B10F.

6

CXPRESS

News & Views

11 March 2015

Marc Lottering heading for Plett, thanks to Tshisa Talent

T

HE Tshisa Talent Competition is an annual event during which Lunchbox Theatre uncovers, develops and promotes local talent, with collaboration of the National Arts Council, Plett Tourism, and supportive local businesses.

Marc Lottering is one of SA’s top comedians and has been in the funny business for 15 years, so best you brace yourself for the laugh of the year come April 11.

Fresh from his appearance at

Oudtshoorn’s KKNK, Marc will be adding his unique comic spark to the evening as he judges the highs and lows of the show, so his audience on this glittering occasion is sure to have to hold onto their seats for the competition finale of a lifetime.

When Marc is not performing locally, he entertains home-sick South Africans abroad. He has been the recipient of several prestigious awards along the way, and continues to play to packed

houses countrywide.

Diarise this date to avoid disappointment, ‘coz seats for the competition’s hard fought finals invariably sell like hotcakes: The Tshisa Talent Competition 2015 is brought to you by Lunchbox Theatre on April 11 at 7pm at The White House Theatre.

Ticket outlets will be announced shortly but in the meantime, call Stuart Palmer on 083 423 0083 or email info@tshisatalent.co.za for more information.

Brand new bins aid the vital cause of Plett’s clean team

CXPRESS caught members of the diligent Plett Clean campaign team - pictured from left are Lesley Mullins, David Scott, Mandy Frost, Simone van der Walt, Nic & Alison Bryant, Kim Wilscher, Matt Covarr, Andy Smidt, Maxine Brett and Brenda Scott - on March 3 as they were preparing to distribute the first of a batch of brand new bins to strategic spots around Plett. Says Alison, who initiated this drive just over a year ago: ‘Reitzer Pharmaceuticals products are delivered in these drums so by using them, we are also recycling.

The first six bins were donated by Reitzer, then five by Keurbooms Lagoon caravan park, and 10 more are being delivered this week, sponsored

by Plett Tourism at a cost of R250 each once labelled.’ These bins stand out and shout ‘Help Keep Plett Clean - Please Do Not Litter’ and last week’s session saw them placed in areas where people stand waiting for taxis, like the bottom of Robberg Road, the Kwikspar area, on Odlands at the bench, at the Engen entrance to Plett, at the Beacon view point and along Marine Way. Please use them and encourage others to do so. (Read ‘One year on and they’re still polishing Plett’ on page 6 of the February 25 edition at www.cxpress. co.za for additional information.) At right, Nic Bryant gets his hands, er, clean...

Please aid our ambitious plaque project

T

HE Van Plettenberg Historical Society (VPHS) has embarked on an ambitious project to affix explanatory plaques to buildings of historical importance in Plett, so improving recognition and enhancing interest in these buildings.

History classes of Wittedrift High, Murray High and Plett Secondary schools have volunteered to collect early drawings and photographs of these buildings as part of their curriculum for the year.

It is hoped that residents and even visitors will engage with them to ensure a successful and comprehensive project.

VPHS chairman Peter Tullis has appealed to residents and out of town readers who have historical links with Plett to participate.

“All you need do is email a drawing or early photograph of the item or structure in question at the time it was built to rowe.greenvalley@ telkomsa.net and include a short description detailing when it was erected, for whom, its purpose, where it is situated, and to what use it has been put subsequently,” he said.

The material collected will be carefully scrutinised to ensure accuracy and then transferred to a plaque being designed by Bay College art

students, who will also design a route leaflet available to visitors and residents and accessible on the society’s web page (pletthistory.org).

The Van Plettenberg Historical Society is a nonprofit organisation that relies entirely on members’ subscriptions and donations.

It meets six times a year and attracts international and local leaders in their fields to speak on subjects of historical interest.

Readers interested in joining the society or who would like to make a donation towards the successful completion of the plaque project should contact Sean O’Connell on 044 533 0598.

Business

11 March 2015

CXPRESS

Tax-free savings now a reality From this month onwards, South Africans are allowed to invest up to R30,000 a year in tax-free savings accounts, according to ‘City Press’ journalist MAYA FISHER-FRENCH

O

N February 20, National Treasury announced the final details in relation to tax-free savings accounts (TFSAs), and it is expected that many product houses will be announcing their taxfree savings accounts over the next few weeks.

TFSAs are aimed at increasing South Africa’s savings rate through tax incentives. Any amounts invested in these accounts will not attract any form of tax.

Rowan Burger, an executive at Momentum, says the tax-free benefit will significantly improve investment returns for individuals.

For example, if a 25-yearold invested R30,000 each year in an interest-bearing bank account, by the age of 65 he would have just more than R1.5-million after tax.

In comparison, a TFSA with the same interest rate would be worth R2.7-million, because no tax is payable.

Parents can also open TFSAs for their children. A family of four can in effect save up to R120,000 a year in tax-free savings, making TFSAs an ideal savings vehicle for education.

Investor Focus

TFSAs can be issued by banks, long-term insurers, managers responsible for collective investment schemes (unit trusts and exchange traded funds), government (through the retail savings bond scheme), mutual banks and cooperative banks.

‘Contributions to all tax-free savings accounts will be limited to R30,000 a year and R500,000 over the life of an individual’ For a product to qualify as a TFSA, it has to be simple to understand, adequately transparent and suitable for investors.

According to Treasury, the following products will be eligible as TFSAs: most savings accounts with banks; fixed deposits; unit trusts (collective investment schemes); retail savings bonds; certain endowment policies issued by long-term insurers; linked investment products; and exchange-traded funds that are classified as collective investment schemes.

Performance fees will not be allowable for TFSAs and savings products that can be used as transactional accounts are not allowed.

Contributions to all taxfree savings accounts will be limited to R30,000 a year and R500,000 over the life of an individual. However, Treasury has confirmed that, over time, the balance in these accounts may exceed the R500,000 limit because of accumulated earnings and capital gains.

To promote saving, Treasury is not allowing the conversion of existing savings accounts into TFSAs. Treasury is investigating the possibility of allowing low-income individuals who are invested in a product that is not suitable for their needs - such as endowment policies with a tax rate of 30% - the option to convert their savings or investments in current products into taxfree investments, as long as their value does not exceed the annual limit.

This, however, will only be finalised later this year.

All savings and investment products that have a term

Malcolm Stewart – Investment manager at Michaelides Parker Wealth Knysna & Plett

Investment 101 - The Stories

B

Part I: The Sardines

ACK in the late 60s I worked for a very wise old trader by the name of Fred. He was a Lithuanian Jew brought up in the Jewish orphanage in Kensington, Joburg, and I ran his jobbing book on the trading floor of the old JSE. (In today’s language, this means that I ran his personal hedge fund).

He was one of the kindest persons I have ever met, a real gentleman, and whenever I made a bad call on the JSE, he would tell me a story that would teach me what I had done wrong.

His story would give me a ‘memory hook’ so as to avoid making the same mistake again. This is one of those tales: Old Abe was wandering around the docks in Cape Town just after the war when there was a serious food shortage in South Africa.

He saw a sailor getting off a ship with a large wooden box under his arm.

He approached the sailor and asked what was in the box. “Why it’s full of sardines,” said the sailor.

Knowing the food situation in South Africa, old Abe offered him a pound for the box, which he accepted.

Later that morning, Abe was walking up Adderley Street and he bumped into Hymie who saw the box and enquired after its contents.

“Sardines,” he said.

“I’ll offer you five pounds for them,” said Hymie. A transaction was duly conducted.

At the top of Adderley Street, he bumped into Malcolm Stewart (who was battling to feed his wife and seven kids). “Why good morning Hymie,” he said, “what have you got in the box?”

When he heard it was sardines, he immediately offered 10 pounds for this heaven sent source of protein.

Several weeks went by when Malcolm again bumped into Hymie. “You are a terrible rogue,” he said. “Those sardines were rotten!”

Hymie looked at him in surprise. “You ate them?” he exclaimed. “They were for selling, not for eating!”

I had bought some shares in a company called Penguin Pools. It was a new listing, run by a retired dentist. I saw huge demand for them and bought a parcel for R2 a share. They consequently rose to about R10 and then collapsed as the company

went under. I lost all of Fred’s money on that trade.

The lesson here is that one must know the company before investing. Within months of its listing, Penguin Pools had dozens of competitors.

They cut their margins and the poor dentist had no defence.

A clever company has a ‘defensive moat’ around it, to protect it against competitors. British American Tobacco is one such company. It is a monopoly and its marketing is so efficient that it cannot be attacked.

SA Breweries has such an efficient marketing strategy that few can oppose it in the beer market.

Coca Cola, with its secret formula, is a different example, but its ‘moat’ of secrecy and its global marketing skills secure its position internationally.

So the lesson from old Fred was to do your homework, and look at the business model of the company before you invest.

Ocneqno"jcu"dggp"kp"vjg" kpxguvogpv"kpfwuvt{"hqt"qxgt" 62"{gctu0"Jg"jcu"ytkvvgp" vjku"eqnwop"kp"EZRTGUU" hqt"vjg"ncuv"38"{gctu"cpf"ku" c"urgekcnkuv"kp"ocpcikpi" tgvktgf"ygcnvj0

of maturity, such as a fixed deposit, must be accessible within 32 business days from the time the money is requested.

In the case of other products, it must be paid out within seven business days.

Treasury has allowed for an administrative penalty of a maximum of R300 for early withdrawal of fixed-term investments.

You are, however, able to transfer funds from an existing TFSA to another TFSA since March 1. /"Hkp46

7

8

CXPRESS

Interval

11 March 2015

I have a fear of speedbumps...

But I’m slowly getting over it.

Is Bob your uncle?

B

OB’S a factory worker, and one day the boss is showing a group of Japanese investors around the factory.

One of them sees Bob and they promptly exchange handshakes and start talking like long lost friends.

Afterwards, Bob’s boss asks him what that was about.

Bob just replies: “Oh, I know him from a few years back; I actually know a lot of important people.”

His boss is sceptic, but Bob replies: “Tell you what, name anyone you can think of, I bet you that they know me.”

“Fine,” says his boss, and he’s determined to have Bob be embarrassed, so he decides to put the bar high:

T

“President Obama.”

“Cool, no problem,” replies Bob. A week later, they’re both standing outside the White House, and Obama comes out, spots Bob and goes: “Bob? What are you doing here? Come on in and bring your friend - let’s have a drink together.”

Bob’s boss has no clue how, but somehow Bob and the president are friends.

Once they leave his boss says: “Fine, you know the president, but I bet you don’t know the pope.”

Bob accepts the challenge, and the next week they’re standing in Saint Peter’s Square.

If I were a rich man…

HE teacher said to her class: “Take a pencil and paper, and write an essay with the title ‘If I Were a Millionaire’.”

Everyone but Joe - who leaned back with his arms

folded - started to scribble feverishly.

“What’s the matter,” the teacher asked. “Why don’t you begin?”

“I’m waiting for my secretary,” Joe replied.

‘n Boereoorlog storie

O

OM Sarel wat daar aan die buitewyke van Upington gebly het in die vyftiger jare kom klop een middag aan die pastorie se deur vir ‘n belydenis.

Ou dominee maak oop en nooi die oom binne.

Die oom begin met: “Dominee... so met die Boereoorlog langs het ‘n pragtige meisietjie van een van die buurplase af een nag dringend by my kom skuiling soek teen die Ingelse. So toe steek ek haar in my skuur se solder weg.”

Ou dominee antwoord: “Broer, dis ‘n wonderlike ding wat jy gedoen het, daaroor hoef jy glad nie ‘n belydenis te doen nie.”

“Nee, daar is nog meer dominee... Sy’t my met intieme gunsies begin betaal.

Dit het etlike kere per week, en op Sondae selfs twee keer, gebeur.”

Dominee is weer aan die word: “Dit was lank gelede broer, en jy het haar eintlik bygestaan in tye van groot gevaar. Onder sulke omstandighede kan twee jongmense hulself maklik oorgee aan die begeertes van die vlees.

Dit is alles vergeefbaar.”

“Dankie dominee, dit is ‘n groot las van my skouers af.

Ek het net nog een vragie.”

“En wat sou dit wees?” vra ou dominee.

“Moet ek haar vertel dat die oorlog verby is?’’

“This isn’t going to work, he’s never going to see me here when there’s this much people. You stay here, I’ll go talk to him and you’ll see me on the balcony, the guards know me too.”

Half an hour later, Bob and the pope appear side by side on the balcony.

Bob’s boss gets a heart at-

tack, and Bob goes to visit him in hospital.

“What happened? Did you not expect me to actually know the pope?”

“No, it wasn’t that, I sort of expected that to happen.

But there was a tourist next to me that asked: “Who’s the guy in his pyjamas standing next to Bob there?’”

Social Scene

11 March 2015

CXPRESS

9

PINK PARTY PEOPLE: A cocktail function and media launch of the Globeflight Pink Loerie Mardi Gras & Arts Festival was held at Thesen Islands Lodges on March 3, and everyone who’s anyone on the Knysna social scene rocked up in smart but casually soft on the eye threads.

In the pic at far left, Hannes of EcoZest, Dallas Greeff and Lourens Loubser toast the joyous occasion.

At left, Knysna mayor Georlene Wolmarans and her sister, Emma Jantjies, left, flank Corné Rademeyer - one of the Queens of Wigstock - with recently retired councillor Richard Dawson at right (see story on page 5). Visit www.pinkloerie.co.za for everything you need to know about this five-day feast from April 29 to May 3.

Photos: Gigi Lewis

CATCH LUKAS LIVE: Knysna Plett Concert Series presents pianist Lukas Vondracek on Monday night March 16 at the Dutch Reformed Church Hall in Fitchat Street, Knysna, at 7:30pm.

Vondracek gave his first concert at the age of four, and nisow is a veteran of over 1,000 concerts performed all over the world. In 2001 he received the Hanno R Ellenbogen Award for most exceptional young artist in Europe.

Vladimir Ashkenazy conducted his debut appearance with the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra in 2002 with concerts in Prague and Italy. More recent performances have taken him to Belgium, Portugal, England and the USA. In 2013, Lukas won the UNISA International Piano Competition. His Knysna gig will include works by Mozart, Smetana and Schumann. Adults pay R120 and scholars R30, and tickets are available at the door from 6:45pm.

BE KIND, IT’S CONTAGEOUS! Greenwood Independent School in Plett recently had a Random Acts of Kindness Week during which all sorts of good things happened. The Grade 4s made hot chocolate for their Grade 6 buddies, kindness webs were created with different daily colours representing various themes, cards for the teachers and loads of other small kindness acts abounded, all of this culminating in Pay It Forward Friday. In the pic, Femke Murray, left, and Fenella Hill, both in Grade 4, show off their kindness cards and glorious grins.

People, places & events

TSITSIKAMMA ONNIES SKEER KOP: In ons vorige uitgawe het ons gewys hoe Martitia Oosthuizen lyk met n varsgeskeerde kroon, dit als natuurlik in die naam van kankerbewusmaking (sien bladsy 13 van die 4 Maarth uitgawe by www.cxpress.co.za). Ons het nog foto’s belowe, so hier is ‘n paar ‘voor’ en ‘na’ kiekies van Martitia en haar kollegas

by CVO Omega Akademie in Kareedouw, wat almal saam die Shavathon-ding gedoen het op Vrydag 27 Februarie.

‘Ons het dit ‘n skool poging gemaak en die kinders moes elk R10 saambring, wat ons saam met my en Jeneen Fick se hare ingestuur het CANSA toe as ‘n addisionele skenking,’ sê Martitia. Van links is sy en Jeneen, dié se man FJ Fick, en Omega skoolhoof Derek Morkel. Welgedaan vir die kankersaak!

Photo: Earthchild Media

FIT LASS SNAPPED UP BY LEWIS’S LENS: Knysna contributor Gigi Lewis shared this photo and wrote: ‘Caught (if you’ll excuse the pun) this pic at Freshline Fisheries after we took an absolutely fabulous couple from Hamburg, to see a South African township.’ Watch this space for that story but in the meantime, enjoy the complementary colours captured by Gigi’s lens.

GOOSE COOKED IN A GOOD WAY: The Eden Hospitality team of Claire Fleetwood (chef and PA) and director Nadia Beutler, right, here brush shoulders with three members of the top SA band Freshlyground - at back is Julio Sigauque, with Kylarose Smith and Zolani Mahola, left, in front - at Goose Villa in Plett. Nadia thanks Tshisa Talent and Plett Villas for the opportunity to show these top musos true hospitality, the Eden way. Visit www.edenhospitalitygroup.co.za to find out more.

PROTEA AWARD FOR KNYSNA PETROLHEADS: Every year Protea Hotels selects one classic car club to be awarded with their Spirit of Motoring trophy. The objective is to acknowledge the work done in the classic car community and the great spirit demonstrated by the winning club. This year, the hotel moguls awarded their trophy to Garden Route Motor Club in Knysna. In the pic, Garden Route Motor Club chairman Peter Pretorius is flanked

by Platinum Hospitality Holdings CEO Arthur Gillis, left, and Protea Hotels product manager Bronwyn Marais, who selected the winning classic car club.

10

CXPRESS

Read CXPRESS online at www.cxpress.co.za

11 March 2015

Classifieds

On the Soapbox

11 March 2015

Letters to the Editor

CXPRESS

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

11

Read CXPRESS online @ www.cxpress.co.za

Here’s how the proposed N2 and Beacon Way line of my proposal, and one traffic circle may well work further recommendation to For many years I have been giving some thought as to how one could implement a traffic circle at the junction of the N2 and Beacon Way, without causing too many problems.

The first main problem is that it is not ideal to have a full traffic circle, in as much as it would mean large trucks descending the hill would have to utilise their exhaust brakes to slow down before entering the circle.

The solution to this is that all trucks descending the hill must have right of way at the traffic circle and that would mean that the island in the centre must not impede their passage in any way.

A second problem is that many of the trucks ascending the hill need a run up on

the flat section to get a speed whereby they are not engaging their lowest gears.

Unfortunately, this is not feasible as all vehicles approaching from the east in the right-hand lane will have to slow down before entering the traffic circle, giving way to traffic to their right and going around half of the circle.

Fortunately, all the roads are two lanes, meaning that traffic entering the circle from Beacon Way and turning left up the hill would not have to give way. Also, traffic driving due west in the left-hand lane of the N2 and turning into Beacon Way would not have to give way, as their exit would also be clear.

Traffic descending the N2 hill and wishing to turn right into Beacon Way would have

Compliments and questions from a Knysna ‘Screentester’ Your online edition is superb. The pictures, in particular, are far more colourful, crisp and impactful than in the print edition.

By the way, how do you reflect number of online hits in your free distribution stats for print copies?

This could give you am-

WHAT LIES BELOW... Is that Mother City drummer girl looking up a kilt?

munition for hiking advertising fees! And like other local online editions, could you not report interim key local news items between Wednesdays?

PS: I smiled at the juxtaposition, on the Social page of your March 3 edition, of Gigi Lewis and Tim Twidle’s photo collage of the Scots on parade. There’s a lady with her head up a kilt! Seeking an answer to the age-old question, is she...? flUetggpvguvgt‚."Mp{upc *Yg" fq" vtcem" jkvu" qp" qwt" ukvg"kpfggf."dwv"rtkfg"qwt/ ugnxgu" kp" vjg" tgcuqpcdng" tcvgu" ejctigf" hqt" cfxgt/ vkukpi" kp" EZRTGUU." uq" pq" jkmkpi"hqt"pqy0"Kpvgtko"tg/ rqtvu"ctg"rquvgf"qp"vjg"Gf/ kvqt‚u"Fgum"ugevkqp"cv"yyy0 ezrtguu0eq0|c." dwv" tgcfgtu" ctg" kpxkvgf" vq" eqpvtkdwvg" kp" vjku" tgictf0" Vjcpmu" hqt" vjg"yyy/eqornkogpvu#"Yg" cko"vq"rngcug"kp"rtkpv"cpf" gngevtqpkecnn{000"/"Gfu0+

to enter the traffic circle in the right hand lane and would have free passage around the circle to their exit lane.

Traffic coming from Beacon Way and wishing to turn right, must be in the righthand lane and only enter the circle if no traffic is approaching from their righthand side.

Traffic approaching the traffic circle from the east and wishing to continue up the N2 hill would also have to approach the circle in the designated lane and give way to traffic to their right before entering the circle and exiting in the designated lane.

The unfortunate thing is that not being a full traffic circle, there would have to be adequate provision for traffic to see the traffic circle island at night time.

I have drawn a rough out-

the authorities would be the addition of ‘rumble strips’ on the three lanes which would enter the traffic circle, giving drivers fair warning to slow down.

Tqigt"Fcxku."Rngvv

KNOW YOUR CIRCLES: This sketch demonstrates the solution for a traffic circle at Plett’s N2/Beacon Way junction, situated as it is at the bottom of a long hill

Paradise captured

F R E S H

Plettenberg Bay native Mandy McNicol shared this picture, shot at Poortjies lagoon last week, and wrote: ‘Unedited, no filter, taken on my phone - reminds us of what paradise we live in!’

Local service: ta and no ta...

We have recently experienced good and bad service in our two wonderful towns of Plett and Knysna.

Thank you to Woolworths Plett for always being helpful. Kudos, too, to RicRic Photography for the unbelievable images of the coast.

A final service thumbs up go

to Plett Tourism.

Less impressive was Lookout Restaurant, who seems not to care as they’re always sooo busy. Ditto for Harvey Travel in Knysna - no smiles in that office. Lastly, to Plett Airport - which is small but oh so grand...

Uvcp"Dging{."Mp{upc

12

CXPRESS

We now call her ‘Toni Gold’!

I

N the final edition of CXPRESS last year, we reported on the realisation of Plett native Toni Mould’s dream of competing in a sport at national level - and the fact that she was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy at birth not preventing this determined young woman from graduating with three years’ worth of Stellenbosch University Rectors Awards (2007-2009) to boot.

Turn to page 7 of the December 17 edition at www. cxpress.co.za for the full story on Toni’s campaign leading up to the 2015 SA National Road and Para-cycling Championships, which took place in Nelspruit from February 3-8.

It now gives us great pleasure to congratulate Toni on the top honours she brought home to her Plett parents, David and Marianne Mould

Sport & Adventure

11 March 2015

of The Med Seafood Bistro.

The nutshell version of Toni’s sporting year reads thus: “On January 7, I received my brand new trike; on February 3 during the first race (a time trial), I won gold and the national title; during the February 4 road race, I again won gold and the national title.

“And to top it all, upon my return home on February 11, I learnt that I’m to be part of the SA National Team for the world cup in September!”

An amazing feat, we congratulate Toni and wish her the best of luck in training for this international meet.

Visit https://tonikm.wordpress.com to read the riveting account, so far, of Toni’s days leading up to her victory at Nationals, and to find out how you can contribute to the Help Build Toni’s Trike fund.

Test your torches today for the Pennypinchers Night MTB Relay

T

MAKING WAVES IN MPUMALANGA: Toni Mould powers her trike during the 2015 SA National Road and Para-cycling Championships in Nelspruit last month

You don’t mess with these Micros...

Saturday March 7 saw the annual Micro Nippers Champs take place at Keurbooms Lagoon caravan park, with around 40 of these Plett Surf Lifesaving Club members aged from five to nine rocking up to compete in events including bodyboarding, swimming, a beach sprint and long run, and culminating in the ever-exciting flags challenge. It was also the first try at this healthy sport on club level for four new kids from the Adopt A Swimmer programme (read more on page 6 of the March 4 edition at www.cxpress.co.za). After all the beach action on a perfectly sunny day but with rather cool lagoon water, the fit and feisty youngsters enjoyed lunch and a prize giving with medals galore. The Club thanks all the coaches and parents who cheered the kids on and sponsored prizes for their support. To find out more, contact Shameera Paruk at plettsurfclub@gmail.com or on 083 304 5087.

Photo: Mandy McNicol

HE idea of including a night mountain bike relay at Cairnbrogie came to the Pennypinchers Adventure Racing Team three years ago, while they were tidying up the markers and branding after the Pennypinchers Cairnbrogie Trail Run. Says skipper James Lettuce: “As it got dark and the lights came on at Cairnbrogie Barn, we realised what a perfect night-time venue this would be.

“Riding in the dark on a 5km marked track in a relay team of two allows racers a small insight into the night-time world that is part of adventure racing, but they are in a safe, contained space and hopefully won’t get lost.”

Riding at night is not easy and good lighting is essential. Hanno Smit of the Merrell Adventure Addicts recommends the following: • Whatever lights you plan to use on the night, make sure that you have ridden with them in the dark before the event.

• Make sure that you have spare batteries - even new ones can run out.

• Always ride within the capabilities of both yourself and the lighting system you have.

“I like to ride with two sets of lights, one on my helmet that allows me to shine a light where I am looking, and then a brighter light on my handle bars,” explains Hanno.

“There will always be someone with brighter lights than you. Don’t let that worry you. Just stay in your light zone and try not looking at other outside light sources, as these can blind you for a short time.”

The route around Cairnbrogie Dam is about 5km long and competitors ride for two hours. The team who completes the most laps is the winner. This year, the track will be open from 4:30-5:30pm to allow riders a look at the route in daylight.

“This should allow for some of the faster teams to clock up more laps while settling the nerves of the novice riders,” says James.

The Night MTB Relay on Friday April 3 is the second leg of the Off the Treble Hook Challenge, sponsored

by OfftheHook restaurant and Robberg Seafood.

The Challenge trophy is given to the athlete with the fastest combined times in the Pennypinchers Cairnbrogie Easter Trail Run, The Pennypinchers Night MTB Relay and the Pennypinchers Easter Surf Ski Challenge.

It is also part of the Plett Easter Games from April 3-5, held annually in conjunction with Plett Tourism. Email info@stanleyis land.co.za to find out about accommodation specials at Stanley Island (quote Pennypinchers Adventure) and visit www.entrytickets. co.za to enter online.

AND... THEY’RE OFF! Mountain bikers across the skills spectrum, from novice to serious racing snakes, head off into the dark during last year’s Night MTB Relay - enter now for this year’s event on Friday April 3 Photo: Glenn Murray Photography