12 July 2017

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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12 July 2017

Rescued from the Valley wilderness p4

Knysna has a new manager p5

Holiday activities p11

Pedal on!

Participants in Sunday’s Knysna Cycle Tour road race make their way on the 115km route which in many parts traversed burnt vegetation, but with the usual scenic vantage points that made for a beautifully-competitive event. Find out more about the open categories’ first-time winners, as well as differently-abled hand cyclist Zach Rauch Legward, on page 16.

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NEWS & VIEWS

12 July 2017

Reflections on fire and rain: What the emergency were mastered, and the ashes • How important it would be may have taught us dispersed to the winds. to take compassionate advanMike Kantey

XACTLY one month to the day, Wednesday June 7, I sit down to try and ponder on what happened: how the entire country came together in response, and what residual goodwill and challenges have been left behind for us to consider, together.

At a material level, I stood on Thursday morning June 8 and watched the fire approaching at gusts of over 120km an hour, screaming to a height of over five metres, having raced through the back of the airport, flattening Plettenberg Park luxury hotel along the way.

Tongues of fire had already

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seeped into the fringes of Whale Rock and Solar Beach, searing the marshes, and reaching as far as Gris Nez Avenue.

And then, equally suddenly, the heavens opened up at around 11am and dumped tons of water on the fire.

Heaven knows what would have happened if the flames had continued, unchecked.

After a few more scares into the weekend, and an extraordinary effort on the part of combined forces headed up by so many well-known organisations and - most importantly the paid and unpaid heroes and heroines of Bitou’s Fire and Emergency Services, the blazes

By this time, an equally formidable team of volunteers had emerged to begin the arduous task of collecting and distributing emergency supplies. Plett People’s Purse sprang up, and offers of hard cash from all over the country started pouring in, even before Bitou Municipality was able to offer its own resources in aid.

Out of all this extraordinary and vital effort, a number of thoughts arose in my mind: • How glorious it was to see race, class, religion, and personal differences disappear in a time of severe crisis, as everyone joined forces in common effort and goodwill;

tage of the remaining goodwill and massive offers of charity to build a long-term and sustainable network of support for the needy and disadvantaged folk, no matter their origins; • Most significant of all: how to pull the emerging leadership into one room, without fear or favour, and work towards what I am now calling a 2020 Vision for Bitou in consort with Knysna, Sedgefield, and the Wilderness, under the overall banner of our new Garden Route Biosphere Reserve initiative.

(Turn to page 2 of the July 5 edition at www.cxpress.co.za if you’re not yet familiar with the Garden Route Biosphere news.)

This is how drones will support future fire disaster management N the midst of the worst wildfire to strike South Africa’s southern Cape coast in over 150 years, drones slowly started coming into play as a local firefighting and disaster management tool.

Firefighters issued a call for drones equipped with heat mapping capabilities, which would allow them to identify hot spots at the greatest risk of flare-ups - a task virtually impossible for ground crews working in blinding smoke and dense undergrowth.

Drones were also harnessed by civilians who filmed the devastation in Knysna and Plettenberg Bay, allowing homeowners around the country and the rest of the world to witness the destruction and confirm whether their own properties were damaged or not.

In years to come, we can expect to see unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones taking on an increasingly impor-

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tant role in firefighting and disaster management, says specialist drone firm Airborne Drones South Africa.

Airborne Drones SA Foreign Government Relations manager JJ Rebello says drones will not only improve the effectiveness of firefighting efforts; they will also reduce the risk to human life during firefighting operations and stand to limit damage to assets by enabling firefighters to work proactively, rather than reactively.

“Commercial drones can withstand temperature extremes from below 5 degrees Centigrade, up to 50 degrees Centigrade, and they can be flown to an altitude of 4,500 metres, making it possible for firefighters to deploy drones over areas where fires are active.

“With the use of advanced thermal imaging cameras transmitting data to command centres, they can identify people or animals, even where vis-

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ibility is limited by darkness, smoke or vegetation, so allowing emergency teams to pinpoint exactly where assistance is needed.

“Thermal imaging cameras also support proactive firefighting measures, by mapping hotspots where flare-ups could occur,” Rebello says.

He notes that in the security industry, it is estimated that a drone can take the place of 12 foot soldiers.

“The same might apply in disaster management,” he says.

“Sending in technology reduces risk to human life and allows resources to be deployed only where assistance is needed.”

Drones equipped with Light Detection and Ranging (Lidar) technology support the three-dimensional modelling of forest structures and surface topography, which allows for the development of fire behaviour models, fuel maps and prescribed burn plans.

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Drones are already being harnessed internationally to monitor and improve planned burns and provide real-time maps of fire progress.

For insurance purposes, drones also offer access to structures that are cut off from road traffic or too high to allow easy access, so supporting claims investigations and processing after disasters.

Drone mapping allows insurance firms to rapidly document the scene without intruding on clean-up operations or exposing investigators to potentially hazardous materials, as well as providing data on risk factors associated with the damage.

“Drone technology is proving increasingly important in supporting pre-emptive approaches to fire and natural disaster risk management, as well as for disaster relief support,” says Rebello.

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NEWS & VIEWS

12 July 2017

CXPRESS

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Fatal drowning in Plettenberg Bay adds weight to National Sea Rescue pleas for caution N the wake of calls by the National Sea Rescue Institute for extreme caution in and around the ocean as spring tide conditions approached on July 9, the surf at Solar Beach was the scene of a tragic drowning last Friday morning.

Said NSRI Plettenberg Bay station commander Marc Rogers: “At 9:41am on July 7, our duty crew was activated following re-

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ports of a drowning in progress close to Robberg.

“We launched the craft Ray Farnham and Airlink Rescuer, and a vehicle with NSRI rescue swimmers and medics responded directly to the scene. The SAPS, Med-Life ambulance services, and an NSRI doctor also responded.”

Rogers said that the man, 60, from London in the UK, had been rescued

from the water by two bystanders and by an off-duty lifeguard who had swum out to assist after witnessing the man being swept out to sea by rip currents while swimming.

On reaching the beach, they raised the alarm and a doctor who happened to be on the beach at the time commenced CPR efforts.

He was joined by NSRI medics and paramedics

News Briefs Fatal Hornlee stabbing under investigation A 24-year-old suspect, Adrian Jim, appeared in the Knysna Magistrates court on a charge of murder on July 3.

His arrest followed an investigation into the death of Neville Wildeman, 24, whose body was found with multiple stab wounds near Chapel Street in Hornlee on June 17 around 10:20pm by a member of the public.

Said Knysna police spokesman sergeant Chris Spies: “Investigation into this matter is at an advanced stage and more arrests may follow as the investigation unfolds.”

The case was postponed to July 11 for a formal bail application, which had not been completed by going to press.

Increased police visibility to ensure a safer festival Knysna SAPS supported by other law enforcement agencies and neighbourhood watch volunteers have increased police visibility and operations to ensure a safer Oyster Festival.

This visibility and operations hike aims to guarantee high levels of safety throughout the 10-day winter festival period and includes visits to liquor outlets, foot patrols, roadblocks, vehicle check points, and search operations.

Crime hotspots have been

identified and increased patrols will be conducted in these areas.

The acting station commander of the Knysna police, lieutenant colonel Siddique Khan, said: “A zero tolerance approach will be maintained throughout the festive period. Members of the public are encouraged to adhere to orders from law enforcers and to enjoy themselves within the perimeters of the law.

“We call on visitors to play their role in ensuring their own safety during the festival by being vigilant, abiding by the laws of the country and the rules of the road, and reporting incidents of crime to the authorities.”

Theft out of motor vehicles remains one of the main challenges, so it is of utmost importance that members of the public assist the police in preventing these incidents.

Analysis of the crime indicated that vehicles parked with valuables in sight were targeted and valuables stolen during previous years.

Perpetrators also targeted vehicles parked with bicycles on top of or attached to these vehicles. It is therefore important that cyclists take good care of their bicycles, especially when cars are parked away from main centres.

Motorist and pedestrian safety remains key to our

operational plan, so readers are discouraged from drinking and driving. Law enforcement agencies are committed to reducing incidents of driving under the influence of liquor, so please make alternative transport arrangements when partying these holidays.

As noted during previous festivals, criminals prey on people while they are relaxed and may have dropped their guard. Whilst enjoying ourselves, please remain aware of your surroundings and take steps to secure loved ones and property.

Please take note of the following tips: • Avoid displaying valuables where criminals can see them.

• Walk in well-lit, busy streets and in a group.

• Keep your cellphone away from the public eye.

• Avoid parking your car where there are no security officers guarding other cars.

• Make sure that all your car’s doors and windows are properly locked.

• Valuable items should be locked in the boot of your car.

• At night, park in well-lit areas.

• Remove detachable radios and the radio faces when getting out of the car.

• Do not leave a social event with someone you do not know or have just met.

upon their arrival.

“He was transported by ambulance to hospital, where doctors and nurses continued with CPR, but sadly after all efforts to resuscitate the man were exhausted, he was declared deceased,” said Rogers.

The man was travelling alone in South Africa and the British Consulate were

assisting his family abroad during this trying time.

PLETT BEACHGOERS, PLEASE TAKE NOTE… Please be aware that until November 1, only Central Beach will be manned with accredited lifeguards.

Beachgoers are urged to exercise the utmost caution when swimming at

Plett beaches (this includes Keurbooms, Nature’s Valley, and The Dunes) and to familiarise themselves with the correct behaviour when caught in a rip.

Riptide information is available at www.nsri.org. za, and NSRI Station 14 Plett can be contacted on 082 990 5975 in case of emergency.

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NEWS & VIEWS

12 July 2017

Senior hiker rescued in the deep of a freezing Nature’s Valley night SCENE OF THE CRIME: This bend in the Salt River afforded Drew Scott at the rocks pictured on the far side - a location to stay in radio contact and so manage the rescue in progress

ANDREW SCOTT of Plett’s Mountain Rescue unit shared this first-hand account of a recent close shave with the elements, and tips for hikers to avoid getting lost in the wilderness HE call came in from a Nature’s Valley resident at 6pm to inform us that a friend was overdue, and asking if we could assist.

We mobilised our quick response rescue runners and split into teams to narrow down the search area. With the use of voice

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prompts we were able to locate our missing person: a 73-year-old gentleman who has been residing in the Valley for the past four months.

Our hiker had taken a new route and, as (mis) fortune would have it, last month’s heavy winds had caused a great many trees

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to be blown over.

One particularly big tree had fallen on the upper reaches of the Salt River and obscured a critical entrance to the path that would have taken our missing person out of the river.

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search chose to follow the river in the knowledge that it would mouth out into the sea, and hoping he could follow the coast home.

Unfortunately, the trip was much longer than expected and night fell before he managed to reach the beach.

Luckily he decided to elevate himself from the river’s level by scrambling up a steep bank to escape the cold effect of the water. In so doing, he also managed to hear our calls, and we in turn heard his.

Once we found him, a rescue runner was tasked to assess and report back as the other rescue runner stayed in a place of cell phone communication.

Various extraction options were looked at: walking westwards, crossing the river and walking east to Nature’s Valley (the shortest route), or calling NSRI Plett to assist with a boat extraction.

All depended on the status of our missing person.

Once found and assessed,

we walked out across the river and east to Nature’s Valley - but not before feeding and offering water to a shaken and extremely cold hiker.

By 9:39pm, we reached the comforts of a car, and by shortly before 10pm the rescue was concluded.

What lessons do we take from this rescue?

1. Our missing person would have stood a better chance if he had been carrying a torch with spare batteries. One may leave home at 11am, as was the case here, but you never know what could happen along the way.

A torch in a small dry bag could save your life. In this case, the hiker may well have continued walking out unassisted.

2. Always take something to make a fire with. Hypothermia poses a real risk when out in the mountains, so a fire can save your life while giving your rescuers a very good visual to where

you find yourself.

3. Location, location, LOCATION! If lost, choose a spot that makes it easier for you to be found by rescuers - this includes intersections, recognised pathways or features and, in many cases, elevated areas where voice prompting can facilitate your discovery.

4. Always carry a phone that can be used to first of all call out on, and secondly be used to send location markers. Learn how to do this on your smart phone if you don’t already know.

5. Familiarise yourself and list the right numbers to call for a rescue. In general, 10177 is a national number that can save your life. Plett and Knysna NSRI stations have a fantastic infrastructure to manage any emergency (082 990 5975 and 082 990 5956 respectively).

Direct numbers for Garden Route MCSA (Mountain Club SA) Search and Rescue are 082 339 1240 and 082 323 4349.

Opportunistic thieves access Plett neighbourhood through open field Plett criminals seem to have had their sights on the town’s Poortjies area during the past week, with several incidents reported from burglaries to vehicle break-ins - YOLANDÉ STANDER reports ITOU crime fighters bolstered their efforts to combat crime in Poortjies, which led to some successes including the arrest of suspects.

The first incident happened during the early morning hours of Friday July 7, when suspects broke into a vehicle in Strydom Street at about 4am.

Various items including a briefcase were stolen and later recovered by residents in the bushes behind a property in Susan Street.

According to the Plettenberg Bay Crime Prevention Association (PBCPA), at about 8pm on the same day there was a burglary at a home in Susan Street. The suspect escaped through a bushy field and fled the area over the N2. Some of the stolen goods were dropped while fleeing and were later recovered by authorities.

The following morning at about 1am, intruders were spotted on a property in Plato Road, but jumped

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over a fence into a neighbouring property.

Various PBCPA members responded along with ADT, local law enforcement members, Plett Security, Plett Watch volunteers, Prime Security, and Smhart Alarms.

An intensive search of the area was conducted, but to no avail.

At about 4am, law enforcement officers, however, arrested a suspect who was in possession of various house and car keys as well as remote controls. The origin of the keys is yet to be determined.

PBCPA operational head Otto Olivier said it had become apparent that criminals were entering and exiting the Poortjies area through an open field near Plettenberg Bay Primary.

“These guys know exactly where the area’s cameras are and they are deliberately avoiding them to gain access undetected,” Olivier said.

He added that while authorities regularly did pa-

trols here in the past, operations had been bolstered over the past week.

He said the PBCPA was working on upgrading about four cameras here, which in turn would increase the coverage in the area.

Olivier said the PBCPA control room was also undergoing a revamp, which would enable it to add more cameras to their operations.

He urged residents and visitors to the area to be vigilant and to report any suspicious behaviour, or even if dogs barked more than usual.

Olivier also warned residents again not to leave any items in their vehicles, as this increased the risk of becoming a target. “People still leave things like GPSs and other valuables in cars.

We need to change this behaviour in order to successfully stop these criminals.”

Olivier said residents, where possible, should park their vehicles inside their properties or in garages at night.

NEWS & VIEWS

12 July 2017

CXPRESS

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Newly-appointed MM has his eye on re-engineering Knysna with green economy hues

MANAGING INNOVATION: Kam Chetty wants to make municipal services more accessible and grow the town’s economy with fourth industrial revolution technology here he is seen with Knysna mayor Eleanore Bouw-Spies during last week’s Oyster Fest launch

CANDICE LUDICK recently met Knysna’s brand new municipal manager AMALASEN ‘Kam’ Chetty boasts an impressive CV that includes appointments as Chief Financial Officer for Parliament of the Republic of South Africa and Senior Institutional Specialist for the World Bank.

Chetty views climate change and the mitigation thereof as one of the key sectors that will stimulate employment generation by creating a “green economy” and providing services sustainably.

Having worked in both the government and private sectors, Chetty is uniquely equipped to head up the municipality during the reconstruction process. Educated as a chemist, Chetty turned his attention to economics and sociology during the height of the Apartheid struggle whilst imprisoned.

He developed an interest in fiscal economics and went on to head up a research institute tasked with preparations to negotiate and establish a new con-

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stitution in 1990. One of the challenges was to find a way to entrench socioeconomic rights within the constitution.

He was involved in the formation of the White Paper on Local Government towards this end.

Chetty’s work with the World Bank equipped him to bridge the gap between policy and implementation.

He was involved in a number of large infrastructure projects including the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, during which he gained extensive knowledge and experience about such matters as finance, engineering, environmental and social impacts, resettlement, and managing objections.

His work with the financial and fiscal commission brought about the creation of a mathematical model in which the needs and fundraising capacities of various districts are considered when taking decisions as to how the national budget is distributed and ensuring

that such decisions cannot be politically motivated.

He was Chief Executive Officer of the Cape Winelands Municipality and played a pivotal role in the merger, integration and rebranding of various municipalities in the former Boland region, which was benchmarked alongside some of the best municipalities internationally and served as example of innovation for the integration of IT with service delivery.

His appointment as Managing Director of HP Enterprise Services gave him the experience in managing innovation so as to attract global services to South Africa. After exiting this position in 2012, Chetty acted as consultant to the National Ministry of Human Settlements and started his own consulting business in climate change, with a particular focus on alternative energy and infrastructure.

In 2015, Chetty returned to the government sector to implement a recovery strat-

egy in Oudtshoorn, which was bankrupt at that time and had been placed under provincial administration.

This short-term contract ended after last year’s local government elections.

Chetty was approached to consider the municipal manager position in Knysna. He was interested because of the strong political leadership and considered Knysna to have great potential. He was interviewed before the fires and offered the position in their wake.

Chetty decided to take up the rebuild challenge; his knowledge of mergers, acquisitions and financial recovery would place him in good stead in a position where disaster recovery would be the first order of business.

He views community partnerships as an essential first line of response to potential disasters. Better use of resources and infrastructural development that is consistent with adapting to climate change

- Photo: Elle Redman - www. ellephoto.co.za

during the reconstruction process can alleviate some of the effects of climatic change disasters.

“Ideas matter,” says Chetty. “Ideas are going to turn things around.”

The impacts of the recent fire traversed all boundaries. Chetty is conscious of the socio-psychological effects of the disaster and the need for empathy.

He feels that running a municipality offers the opportunity to show current policies can be implemented in such a way as to meet the needs of the people in a

progressive fashion.

He is concerned with making municipal services more accessible and how to use technology to grow the town’s economy in a way consistent with the fourth industrial revolution.

Chetty is not party political. “It is about delivering a professional response to garner socio-economic integration and inclusion,” he says.

Chetty is interested in re-engineering Knysna to fit in with new millennial thinking and attracting investors by bringing the creative industries to Knysna.

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NEWS & VIEWS

12 July 2017

Bliksemstraal to share tricks of the ‘riddim’ trade with rising Garden Route stars in AfriKaaps

TEP Out With Courage (SOWC) is a community development organisation that focuses on building character to realise dreams and unlocking potential by creating conducive environments for personal growth.

Says SOWC’s Faizel Kleynhans: “We use different vehicles to create opportune environments for character building, one of these being arts and culture. We are currently working on creating platforms and opportunities for performing artist through dance - and hip-hop in particular, as it is very popular among the youth.

“Dance is an effective way of moving young people from binding values to freeing values, which helps them to focus on their goals. We have true talent among our youth.”

To this end, an educational hip-hop workshop will be presented at New Horizons community hall in Bitou on July 14 and 15, when accomplished artists will share their experience and inform local hopefuls of opportunities that exist in the industry, along with tips on accessing them.

The workshop will also

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focus on establishing an arts and culture development initiative for artists in the municipal area and neighbouring municipalities, that will work on follow-up events.

Exciting news for local

fans is that the workshop will be facilitated

by Bliksemstraal - a wellknown rap artist from Cape Town, who previously formed part of the Black Noise group - and B-boy Benny, who last

LIGHTNIN’ BOLTIN’: Bliksemstraal is a South African hiphop hero who started off as B-boy in the early 90s, and who raps in the Cape flats lingo called ‘AfriKaaps’ - catch him in action at New Horizons community hall this weekend

year walked away as the Red Bull B-boy* South Africa winner.

Main focal points of the Bitou workshop will include: • A professional breakdance workshop over two days, • Breakdance demos • Interactive workshops on a range of related subjects; • Strategic planning for budding artists.

The workshop will be attended by artists from Oudtshoorn and Knysna, too, and anyone who wants to attend is welcome, but please note that July 12 is the final day for registration at your nearest library.

The workshop will be followed by a show where local artists will be able to showcase their talents, while also featuring performances by facilitators Bliksemstraal and B-boy Benny, and visitors from Oudtshoorn and Knysna (show starts at 6pm, entry costs R15 or R10 for kids under 12).

Call or WhatsApp Faizel Kleynhans on 078 986 3554 for additional information or registration details. * A male who engages in the pursuit of hip-hop culture or adopts its styles.

MANDELA DAY:

What NOT to do if you really want to make an impact Joanne van der Walt - Sage Foundation Programme Manager for Africa

ANDELA Day on Tuesday July 18 is when corporate SA rolls up its sleeves and heads off to the closest non-profit organisation (NPO), armed with business builders, volunteers, gardening tools, buckets of paint, and plenty of good intentions.

But, what if our annual efforts aren’t making the impact we think they are? What if we’re unintentionally contributing to the dread that many NPOs feel in the run-up to Mandela Day? For many charities, it’s a day when teams from well-meaning businesses arrive in a hurricane of matching T-shirts and boot-loads of supplies, get stuck in, and then leave as quickly as they arrived.

Aside from having a

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freshly-painted wall, the NPO is no better off than it was before they arrived - and more often than not, there’s a bit of a mess to clean up.

Here are five things you should not do if you want to make an impact and leave a legacy - not just for a day, but for every day of the year: • Don’t pick just any NPO - find one that could benefit from what you do: your product or service, or your business counsel.

A catering business could easily set up a soup kitchen at a homeless shelter. An IT company can teach underprivileged children how to access educational information online. One costs money; the other time. But both are equally effective.

• Don’t assume - painting walls and planting veggie gardens are popular Mandela Day activities. However, many charities have more press-

ing, immediate needs, e.g. schools may choose printer paper over a painted wall. Ask your chosen NPO for their wish list and act on it.

• Don’t overlook planning - you need a solid action plan for the day, especially if you only have 67 minutes to spare.

If the homeless shelter really needs a veggie garden, but this is not your core business, consult with experts on the right seeds to plant for the time of year, the right tools, and how to maintain the garden.

Without proper planning, the shelter could be left with a barren patch of sand that doesn’t yield a single carrot. Plan for cleaning up, too.

One of the reasons why charities dread Mandela Day is the chaos that’s left in its wake. Keep it tidy and don’t leave a mess for someone else to clean up.

• Don’t neglect your legacy - efforts put into Man-

dela Day should not be a once-off exercise. Ideally, you should partner with the NPO so that you can make a real difference, all year round, year after year, e.g. monthly food donations from your catering business.

It’s also a good way to appeal to Millennials. They’re a conscientious bunch who want to make the world a better place, and that’s the type of passion you need for your legacy.

• Don’t forget… Mandela Day is not about money or budgets or writing cheques. It’s about using our ability and honouring our responsibility to make the world a better place - not to mention the positive mental health effects volunteering has on your team members.

Let’s think about it more, collaborate more, and make it part of our cultures. We owe it to Madiba.

BUSINESS

12 July 2017

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CXPRESS

Fire victims encouraged to take up free financial planning advice offer N support of those who lost homes or suffered related damage during last month’s fires in CX Country and further afield, the Financial Planning Institute (FPI) has activated the FPI Disaster Assistance Pro Bono Programme for a three-month period that started on July 1.

“In the case of the current disaster, this initiative will entail offering free financial planning advice to residents whose lives were devastated by the recent wildfires,” according to an FPI press statement.

“As the focus of government and relief agencies shift from the immediacy of saving lives to that of recovery, so has the focus of those affected started shifting towards picking up the pieces and embarking on the painful journey of trying to return their lives to normalcy.

“For those affected, re-

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covery means several things, a key part of which is sorting out insurance claims and implementing financial strategies to help them recover in the medium and long-term.”

The statement continues that the Institute aims to assist those with no access to financial planners, or those who cannot afford a financial planner, to manage the changes in their personal and working lives and to rebuild their financial strength.

Said FPI CEO Godfrey Nti: “Many families have had their homes destroyed and their lives severely impacted by this disaster. We believe that financial planning is a key part of recovering from such a disaster and offer support to victims to rebuild their lives both near and long-term.”

The FPI Disaster Assistance Pro Bono Pro-

gramme mobilises financial planning advice assistance to communities in the event of a widespread disaster.

Over 300 professionals countrywide have responded to FPI’s call for action and agreed to volunteer their time and expertise in support of this initiative.

“Although participating members are offering their services on a pro bono basis, they are still bound by the FPI Code of Ethics and Practices Standards. As such, the public can be assured that the advice delivered will be provided with the same duty of care and professionalism than is normally the case,” says FPI Public Policy and Consumer Affairs head David Kop. Southern Cape residents can email help@fpi.co.za or call 086 1000 FPI (374) to be paired with an FPI volunteer and receive free financial planning advice.

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VETERINARY PHYSIOTHERAPY COURSE

July is Savings Month, so best you start the culture now CCORDING to the South African Reserve Bank data (Data A), consumer pricing has been increasing from January 2017 to date. This complements Statistics SA data (Data B), which notes that annual consumer price inflation was 5.4% in May, up from 5.3% in April.

The consumer price index increased by 0.3% monthon-month in May. • Food and non-alcoholic beverages increased from 1.1 percentage points in April to 1.2 percentage points in May. The index increased by

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6.9% year-on-year.

• Transport increased from 0.7 of a percentage point in April to 0.8 of a percentage point in May. This index increased by 5/2% year-on-year.

• Food and non-alcoholic beverages contributed 0.1 of a percentage point in May, having increased by 0.5% month-on-month.

• Transport contributed 0.2 of a percentage point in May, the index having increased by 1.2% monthon-month.

July is Savings Month, and the Johannesburg Stock Ex-

change (JSE) encourages consumers to spend their money wisely, while further urging people to adjust their lifestyle so that they can contribute a part of their income to a savings scheme.

Says JSE Marketing head Mpho Ledwaba: “South Africa has one of the worst savings rates in the world and it is getting worse because the cost of living is constantly on the rise.”

Email Thabiso.Senatla@ hkstrategies.co.za to find out more about starting a culture of saving and investing today.

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INTERVAL

12 July 2017

Is this our future?

Garden party talent...

ALLER: “Hello! Is this Gordon’s Pizza?”

“No, Sir, this is Google’s Pizza.”

“So, do I have a wrong number?”

“Not at all, Sir, Google bought it.”

“Ok. Can you take my order, please?”

“Well, Sir, do you want the usual?”

“The usual? Do you know me?”

“According to our caller ID, the last 12 times you ordered a pizza with cheeses, sausage, and a thick crust…”

“Ok! That’s the one I want, please.”

“May I suggest this time you tried ricotta, arugula with dry tomato?”

“No, I hate vegetables.”

“But your cholesterol is not good.”

“How do you know?”

“Through the subscribers’ guide. We have the result of your blood tests for the last seven years.”

“Ok, but I do not want this pizza, I already take

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medicine.”

“You have not taken the medicine regularly, four months ago. You only purchased a box with 30 tablets at Drugsale Network.”

“I bought more from another pharmacy.”

“It’s not showing on your credit card.”

“I paid in cash.”

“But you did not withdraw that much cash according to your bank statement.”

“I have other sources of cash.”

“This is not showing as per you last Income Tax form, unless you got it from an undeclared income source?”

“What the heck?

Enough! I’m sick of Google, Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp... I’m going to an island without internet, where there is no cellphone reception and no one to spy on me!”

“I understand, Sir, but you need to renew your passport as it has expired five weeks ago.”

wealthy woman was giving a garden party, and several well-to-do guests attended. While the party ensuee, two gardeners were out on the back lawn working.

One guest was watching the gardeners do their thing, and while one gardener was busy weeding, the other jumped up and did graceful, swirling dance movements.

Taken by his grace, the guest remarked to the host: “That man is such a talented dancer - I would pay him a R1,000 to demonstrate his dancing before my aerobics class!”

When the host asked the first gardener about such an arrangement, he yelled: “Hey, Fred! Do you think for a thousand rand you could step on that rake again?”

Relationships are a lot like algebra. Have you ever looked at your X and wondered Y?

Musical correctness T a church in the countryside, the pastor announced that their prison choir would be singing the following evening.

I wasn’t aware there was a prison in the vicinity, so I looked forward to hearing them.

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The next evening, I was puzzled when members of the church approached the stage. Then the pastor introduced them.

“This is our prison choir,” he said, “they’re behind a few bars and always looking for the key.”

Who does what? man and his wife were having an argument about who should brew the coffee each morning.

The wife said: “You should do it because you get up first, and then we don’t have to wait as long to get our coffee.”

The husband said: “You are in charge of cooking around here and you should do it, because that is your job, and I can just

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wait for my coffee.”

His wife replied: “No, you should do it, and besides, it says in the Bible that the man should do the coffee.”

The husband replied: “I can’t believe it, show me.”

So she fetched the Bible and opened the New Testament and showed him at the top of several pages, that it indeed said ‘Hebrews’.

The troublesome mother ANGING up after a phone conversation with my 90-yearold mother, I sighed, then said to my 96-yearold uncle: “She’s so

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stubborn.”

He shook his head sympathetically and warned: “You are going to have trouble with her when she gets old.”

I don’t mean to brag, but my bank just sent me an email saying that I’m outstanding.

I once tried to buy a house on an old Indian reservation. When I asked if it came with running water, the chief told me to get lost and find my own wife.

NEWS & VIEWS

12 July 2017

A search for fresh fish and thoughts on food security - Part I Herewith an interesting piece from longtime Plett local ALASTAIR GRANT who, with wife Di, has moved to Cape Town and now lives on the western edge of Fish Hoek at Sunnydale, equidistant from the Atlantic West Coast and False Bay E went down to Kalk Bay harbour to buy a fish and came away empty-handed.

There were about a dozen tired-looking fish lying on the concrete, but we could see they weren’t fresh.

Their eyes were done in and the skin wrinkled.

These came out of the cold room for display without ice - and went back when not sold. The next day they would be out on the concrete floor again.

The new Checkers opposite Long Beach Mall has fish on ice and filleted portions in plastic displayed in upright fridges.

I was keen to try this supplier - our nearest source.

But the first fillet I took home was off, so I took it back. The manager was quite obliging and I was refunded. Our supermarkets are not the best shops for fresh fish, are they?

Not so long ago, I bought a fresh yellowtail from a car-guard. I really did! He was employed at Simons Town Yacht Club.

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Obviously this was not a sustainable source - he had been given a nice fish by a club member. When I passed by a few weeks later, he wasn’t there.

The fish shop in Main Road Fish Hoek is our best bet. They’ve been there for many years and there’s always a queue for fish and chips. It’s brisk business. They sometimes have a few fresh fish, but it’s not their core business.

nounce its arrival was simply a length of dried kelp, but it hasn’t been heard in the suburbs for 50 years.

The manager said South Africans don’t eat much fish*; everyone eats meat.

Our catch is exported there are no fish markets.

The one at the City Docks closed half a century ago.

The fish have not all gone, however, and I sometimes see the boats hauling in nets off Long

‘The big consumers are Asian countries, which take two thirds of the world’s fish harvest’ Last Saturday, I got a Geelbek (Cape salmon) for R89 per kilo. You can’t do much better than a fresh fillet of Geelbek, but it’s seldom on offer.

I got to know the manager and we discussed the shortage of fish in the Cape today, sharing reminiscences of old days when the horse-drawn fish cart delivered fresh Kob and Geelbek to your street.

The horn used to an-

Beach at Simons Town.

They still get enormous catches of yellowtail there, but they won’t sell you a single fish.

These are carted away in fish boxes to waiting bakkies on the other side of the railway line, which runs on an embankment along the beach. Anglers spin for yellowtail from this embankment.

I must get out my rod and give it a go. Nothing is

better than a fish brought home from an early morning catch. What are my chances, I wonder? Rather long odds, I guess! I do miss Robberg Seafood... * Per capita fish consumption in South Africa is relatively small compared with many other nations. The big consumers are the Asian countries, which take two thirds of the world’s fish harvest.

In Bangladesh, China, Korea, Japan, and Indonesia, fish amounts to more than 50% of animal protein consumed.

In Europe, it’s Portugal, Spain, and Norway where they eat nine or 10 times the quantity of fish per capita consumed in SA. We have for years exported our fish. After the two world wars, Irvin & Johnson factories in SA developed markets and exported fish to countries around the world. Surprisingly, Australia has long been a big market for our smoked fish.

To be continued…

CXPRESS

Read CXPRESS online @ www.cxpress.co.za

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ENTERTAINMENT

12 July 2017

Artists galore gather under the Wilderness Milkwoods Words & photos: Bob Hopkin

BIG WIRE FIVE: Gilbert Khumalo among the wild animal heads created from wire and beads

S renowned 19th Century French artist Edgar Degas once said: “Art is not what you see but what you make others see.”

Those “others” come to Wilderness every first Wednesday of the month to visit the Fair and Wild art exhibition in the Milkwood centre, where finished and work in progress pieces are on display.

Hosted by BCreative Design studio in the village, the event attracts painters, sculptors and woodworkers from around the region. Although last week’s exhibition was only the second occasion, it was attended by nine artists and well supported by the public, thanks to the school holidays.

Organiser Carole Durant said the intention was to create a cross-cultural and cross-media active art vibe in the village.

“Apart from this month-

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ly event, we also encourage local businesses, who have the public through their doors, to use vacant walls and floor space to display local artists’ work that is for sale,” she added.

Dozens of completed paintings as well as chalk and charcoal sketches were on display, and these were complimented by two novel African culture exhibits that added an unusual spice to the conventional pieces.

Knysna-based wood carver Hlanganani Nyakane specialises in creating polished wood bird sculptures from tree roots. He said he found the roots often had a unique character that branches from the rest of the tree usually lack.

“I like to use roots from trees that only grow in the high savannahs in the north, so I travel up to Limpopo Province regularly to collect, in particu-

lar, roots from Mopane, Ironwood and Wild Olive trees, which suit my purpose well.”

Another artist, Zimbabwe refugee Gilbert Khumalo, also from Knysna, makes medallions from stone and bone but his speciality is the creation of wire sculptures of wild

animal heads.

“My favourites are the Big Five, which are also the most popular with my clients - some of whom have taken my work back to Europe and the USA and have even sent me pictures of their pieces hanging on their walls,” he said proudly.

GOOD IMAGINATION: Fair and Wild art exhibition organiser Carole Durant works on the early stages of the view of a ballerina from above

New book explores Cowley genealogy - all the way from Derbyshire to Plettenberg Bay VER the past 15 years, Gavin Cowley devoted many hours to researching the Cowley and extended families from Derbyshire in England, and thereafter his ancestors from Plettenberg Bay in South Africa.

His great-great grandfather Robert Cowley arrived in Plettenberg Bay in 1847 from Breadsall, Derbyshire, along with his brother John and was joined by another brother, Henry, in 1859.

The book spans around 600 pages, including a number of photographs kindly donated by many family members. Painstaking research has resulted in piecing together a collection of informa-

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COVER ALL: Author Gavin Cowley and Prof Anthony Cowley, who supported his research efforts over 14 years, are both descended from Robert Cowley - the pioneer who arrived in Plettenberg Bay in 1847 from Derbyshire in England, and who adorns the cover of Gavin’s book

tion that most families in the world today have not been able to easily construct. The overall period that has been researched covers over 700 years.

The Cowley ancestral home is a landmark in the small village of Breadsall; having been built in 1600, it was home to the Cowleys for nearly 350 years.

Called ‘Ivy Cottage’, the home still stands down the road from the All Saints Church.

There has been a tremendous surge of interest in genealogy in recent times and many persons have endured much frustration in trying to build a meaningful puzzle of their family history. The Cowleys from Derbyshire

to Plettenberg Bay is a wonderful account of life in bygone times. And along with more modern developments, the information is presented as it was found.

Besides Cowleys, the book includes chapters on the many other families of Plettenberg Bay, George, Knysna and environs as well as those that Cowley family members married into.

The Cowleys from Derbyshire to Plettenberg Bay is now available at Plett’s Village Bookshop, Wordsworth Books in George, and Select Books in Cape Town.

Email gavin.cowley@ outlook.com for additional information.

Entertainment Diary • The Plett Hope Spot will be hosting Dr Jenna Jambeck at Plett Angling Club on Friday July 14 at 7pm. Jenna is from the University of Georgia's College of Engineering and will be sharing her lifetime's research on the journey that waste takes from land to sea, and how we can come together to tackle the issue. Email gwenpenry@ gmail.com for additional information.

babwe, Namibia, Egypt, Belgium, The Netherlands, Nigeria and Kenya. His debut solo album, The Very Silence of Waiting in This Place, has now been released. Albert plays Garden Route venues and in Port Elizabeth from July 12-28, including on Friday July 14 at Cocomo Restaurant & Cocktail Bar in Wilderness, and on Tuesday the 18th at Plett’s popular Surf Café.

• With his unique voice, brilliant songwriting and exceptional guitar techniques, Albert Meintjes has been entertaining audiences since 1996 in London, Croatia, the Seychelles, Mozambique, Cuba, Botswana, Zim-

• Plett Tourism has worked closely with entrepreneur and marketer Mpumelelo Mvunelwa over the last two years, mentoring and assisting with infrastructure and funding for the on-going development of his com-

pany Fricreatives. Specific events supported include the 24Hour Reunion and Cula Loxion, which are gaining traction and the former of which hosts a Kasi Experience-themed fashion expo at Simunye Centre in KwaNokuthula, Plett, from 8pm ‘till late on Saturday July 15. Entry costs R50 and you can email mvunelwam160@gmail.com for more information.

Verandah restaurant and bar at Goose Valley Golf Club to show your greymatter mettle. Teams of six to eight can enter at R100 per person, which includes snacks and prizes. Sponsored by Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty, all proceeds will benefit local children charities through Plett Rotary. Call Emma on 044 533 0889 to reserve your table.

• Jesse Clegg performs at The Whitehouse Theatre in Plett on July 16. Book online at www.computicket.com or buy tickets at The Old House Shop.

• Plett Athletics Club hosts its Mandela Day 6.7km Beach Run on Sunday July 23 at the Ski-boat Club on Central Beach. Register from 9am - the race starts at 9:30 and your R67 entry fee includes a breakfast roll and coffee or juice.

• It’s Rotary Quiz Night again on Wednesday July 19 at 7pm, so sign up at

HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES

KAROO VIEW

COTTAGES

www.karooview.co.za

12 July 2017

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SOCIAL SCENE

12 July 2017

LOCAL IDENTITY FOUND: An exhibition entitled ‘Local Identity’ comprising 90 works of art by a group of 16 artists from Knysna and Plettenberg Bay, under the moniker of Contemporary Art Practice (CAP) opened at Melville’s Corner on the evening of Monday July 3. Manager of Plett Tourism Cindy Wilson-Trollip, right, made a short speech of welcome to the 200odd people that attended the function, prior to the exhibition being declared open by Elfriede Dreyer, the leader of CAP. ‘Local Identity’ is one of the signature events of the Plett Arts Festival and runs until Friday July 21. At far right, two of the town’s most colourful personalities, Peta Wells and Natalie Buttress, right, enjoy a light-hearted moment together. At right below, two of the exhibiting artists, Carol Sachs and Marietta van Rooyen, right, share a moment during the delightful evening. - Timothy Twidle

People, places & events

LET THE OYSTER FUN BEGIN: Knysna mayor Eleanore Bouw-Spies invited a roomful of happy revellers to witness the official opening of Oyster Fest 2017 by MP and shadow minister James Vos on July 6. Along to add glamour and glitz to the occasion was ravishing Miss South Africa DemiLeigh Nel-Peters, pictured with the minister above.

The pics at right tell their own story of a lovely evening launching Knysna’s 35th celebration of all things fun, food, sporty and molluscky with aplomb.

Oyster Fest 2017 concludes on July 16.

Photos: Elle Redman - www.ellephoto.co.za

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PLETT ARTS OPEN AT MILKWOOD: As part of the Twilight Meander of the Plett Arts Festival, Milkwood Framing and Gallery in Florina Place hosted a delightful open evening on Thursday July 6. On display were 91 works of art by 19 artists, four of whom worked on paintings in progress during the course of the evening, adding a touch of pizzazz and the feeling of being in an artist’s studio. A steady stream of people visited the exhibition throughout the time allotted for the function and a number of sales were recorded. The exhibition, which opened on June 30, closed on July 10 for a short spell, but will be open again from July 17-22. Pictured above, one of Plett’s most talented and prolific artists, Tanya van Wyk, works on a painting during the course of the evening. - Timothy Twidle MUTUALLY INSPIRED: At an open evening held at The Studio last Friday as part of the Twilight Meander of the Plett Arts Festival were, at right, Dorethe Bekker and Irmela Kohlsdorf.

Below at left, the Studio’s Myfanwy Bekker and Andrea Richards hold garments designed by the latter, based on works of art by the former.

- Timothy Twidle

SOCIAL SCENE

People, places & events

PETANQUE AND POOCHES AND YARD PLAY FOR ALL: The third Plett Country Fair at The Yard in pretty Piesang Valley raised R7,600 for the Plett People’s Purse, one of the highlights being a lamb spit-braai buffet that had diners talking about its succulent fantabulousness for days after the July 1 & 2 event. The Yard’s Willie and Dany Gouws thank Denise McNamara and Duncan Brown for donating the lamb for this purpose. Visitors to The Yard enjoyed two beautifully laid-back days when locals and visitors alike could browse and shop at various stalls while enjoying yummy eats, pony rides and kiddies entertainment. A Fun Dog Show in aid of Moya Animal Outreach was well supported and Trish Myburgh did an amazing presentation of agility training.

Thanks are due to Camilla Nathan for acting as MC, to Diane Goosen Photography, and to all the volunteers for contributing to raising R3,080 for Moya. Musical entertainment by the Plett Pioneers Field Band was enjoyed by young and old… And on the subject of old but not quite cold: Sunday’s Petanque competition was supported by 12 teams, but finally the winning team of Les Miserables - from left above with Willie, at right, are Pascal Chevalu and Laurent Batut - walked off with cash prizes sponsored by Choice Properties and entry fees, paired with a lekker bottle of wine. So overall, a fun-filled family weekend was had by all. See you at next year’s Yard Fair!

Photos: Diane Goosen Photography

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CLASSIFIEDS

12 July 2017

Paws

Plett Animal Welfare Service

ON THE SOAPBOX

12 July 2017

Letters to the Editor

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

Nature powers berated for valuing plant life your property. It will take above human interests three years to approve if I read with interest, as one does, the letter and report regarding the recent devastating fires by Mrs Mudge and Mr Ackhurst [see pages 4 and 15 of the June 28 edition at www.cxpress. co.za], both with valid and interesting points.

Mr Ackhurst’s proposal to re-establish belts of indigenous forest is correct, except that it would take 50 years to be of value in fire protection - and in a country that cannot see beyond its nose, I wish him luck. But if you don’t start somewhere you ain’t going to get nowhere.

Mrs Mudge’s point of clearing a large area around dwellings is at the moment more valid, as can be seen when driving along Plett Airport Road.

Which brings me to my next point: If there had been a 100-metre fire break along Robberg Road, all those houses

would have been saved, preventing the agony and heartbreak that have taken place.

But, have you ever tried to get CapeNature and the environmental agencies - not to mention the ever-nosy green brigade to allow you to touch one bit of indigenous vegetation or fynbos?

Having lost thousands of hectares of plantations and fynbos, they are still pursuing farmers and smallholders for having a road or fire break of over three metres wide, threatening them with fines in excess of R600,000.

These same people are happy burning up petrol to attend endless meetings or flying overseas to collect awards for their efforts in preserving that same environment that has now been totally destroyed because of their refusal to face up to reality.

Denis se verbrande erf ‘krap aan’ fotograaf Fanie

Fanie Jonker van Plettenbergbaai het hierdie foto gedeel en vertel: “Ek het hierdie en baie ander foto’s in Solar Beach geneem na laas maand se brand. Maar dié een, geneem op Denis [Grove, wie vroeg laas jaar oorlede is en in ‘n unieke grasdakhuis in Gris Nez-laan gewoon het] se erf bly krap aan my. Ons huis was al klaar gebou maar ek onthou hoe Denis altyd daar ingeloer het met vrae en advies. Die trots om sy eie plek te bou het orals oor sy gesig gestraal.”

Thank you, dankie!

Thank you so much for printing our two articles, ‘Happy 95th birthday, Elizabeth Starling!’ and ‘A brand new wheelchair for Reesa’s frail’ [turn to page 5 of the June 21 and page 6 of the June 28 editions respectively at www. cxpress.co.za].

It is indeed lovely for our Rotary Anns to enjoy this exposure. Thank

you also for the great contribution CXPRESS makes to our community at large. Much love!

Beryl Winter, Plett --Baie dankie aan Dr Herman Nel vir alles wat hy vir ons pa beteken het tydens sy siekte. Dit word opreg waardeer.

Meyer en Oosthuizen families, Plet

These same people will blame plantations of exotic timber - without which we would not be able to meet the desperate need for housing - and to happily eat and drink the fruits of exotic plants.

Get a life; the demographics of our country have changed from 50 years ago.

They conveniently ignore that the most dangerous and combustible vegetation is fynbos, which is impossible to put out in a high wind.

So don’t bother to apply for a fire break to protect

you are lucky, plus an environmental survey costing a couple of hundred thousand rand and done by a person that they nominate.

Talk about the prosecution appointing the judge.

We are dealing with people who value a plant above human life and individual property. It is high time that these organisations were stripped of their petty attitudes and forced to face the music.

I recommend reading the history of the great fire of 1859.

‘Monsieur du Warbois’, Plett

Terug van ‘Doeronder’ net om dadelik vasgevang te word in brandland!

Toe CXPRESS rubriekskrywer HENK BOLHUIS en sy vrou Rentia laas maand terugkeer SA toe na ‘n lang kuier in Australië en omstreke, het hulle nie kon raai wat hul te wagte sou wees na aanland by George Lughawe, en op pad na ‘n Keurbooms kuier nie...

Ja-nee, wat ‘n drama met al die brande terwyl ons die paar dae terug was in Plettenbergbaai!

Na ons vinnige inkyk by die CXPRESS kantoor, het ons die volgende dag [Woensdag 7 Junie] my dogter opgetel om terug te ry Stilbaai toe, net om uit te vind die pad na Knysna is toe as gevolg van die brande.

Ek besluit toe om deur die berg te ry na Avontuur en dan agterom, Outdshoorn-langs, Stilbaai te probeer bereik.

Toe ons halfpad is kry ons ‘n verkeersman by die Knysna afdraai wat vir ons sê ons kan wel die pad volg na Knysna toe so gedaan.

Toe ons egter in Knysna aankom en George-toe wil ry, kom ons agter dat dié pad ook gesluit is weens brande.

Daar sit ons vasgevang en dit is laat in die middag; nou moet ons ‘n slaapplek vind en dit is ‘n probleem - die dorp is vol.

Uitendelik kry ons plek

by Margie’s B&B en hoop nou maar om die volgende dag te kan verder ry.

Ons dink dis ‘n goeie idee om vroeg te gaan slaap, en is in die bed om 9nm.

Net ‘n halfuur later klop ‘n man aan die deur

en sê ons moet die huis ontruim en na die Baptistekerk toe ry. Daar gekom word ons na die Loeriepark sportvelde toe gestuur.

Hier kry ons nog honderde ontruimdes in hul motors - dit is koud en niemand was voorbereid nie. Ons sit daar tot Donderdagoggend 2vm en kyk hoe die vuur die berg en huise afbrand.

Ek besluit toe om te kyk of ons B&B nog staan.

Toe ons daar aankom is die vlamme agter die huis, baie naby - Rentia en Marinda is nog haastig toilet toe en ek het ons bagasie gaan red, en ‘n ekstra kombers gegryp.

Gelukkig kry ons hierdie keer die N2 oop en ry na my huis op Keurboomstrand vir ‘n paar uur se slaap en ‘n kossie.

Teen 10vm ry ons weer terug na Knysna toe en vind, wonder bo wonder, Margie se B&B plekkie nog ongeskonde - sy’s in trane van skok en dankbaarheid.

Tot ons groot verligting is die N2 na George toe ook weer oop en ontvlug ons dus uiteindelik die brandgebied. Ons is bitter dankbaar toe ons later die dag veilig op Stilbaai aanland!

CXPRESS

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SPORT & ADVENTURE

12 July 2017

Two first-time winners in Knysna Cycle Tour road race ARMEN Buchacher was the first lady to cross the Momentum Knysna Cycle Tour road race finish line on Sunday, while Brendon Davids also clinched his first race title, the two winners finishing the 115km event in 02:45:30 and 2:55:46 respectively.

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Men’s race were Reynard Butler (02:47:19) and Thando Zothe (02:47:20), who made for excellent entertainment with their final sprint to finish a split-second apart.

Candice Lill was the second lady home, with defending champion Anriëtte Schoeman, third.

Young hand cyclist Zach Rauch Legward managed to fulfil his goal to be the youngest differently-abled competitor to complete the 50km road race. He finished the race looking fresh, just as the rain started to fall.

Zach has been training for the last three years on

FOURTH TIME LUCKY: Road-race winners Brendon Davids and Carmen Buchacher - who has in the previous three years placed third twice, and came second in last year’s race

a custom-built hand cycle and is the youngest hand cyclist in South Africa.

He has won Gold in the Outeniqua Wheel Chair Challenge three times, ridden Cape Town Cycle Tour Junior twice, and recently completed The Gun Run. Zach and his support team, headed up by dad Geoff Legward, started training for the Knysna Cycle Tour four months ago, riding a distance of 13km

BUCO Plettenberg Bay

Corner N2 & Rietvlei Road, Plettenberg Bay Tel: 044 501 3800 Fax: 044 501 3850

every second day, which Zach completes in about 60 minutes at an average speed of 15km.

Marketing Director of the Knysna Cycle Tour Andrew Finn said he was extremely happy with the weekend’s events considering the fact that it was just one month since the area was devastated by fires.

“We are grateful to the thousands of cyclists who made the trip to Knysna

to support the Cycle Tour and our campaign #RideForALocal,” said Finn.

“We had great weather for Saturday’s mountain bike races and managed to stave off Sunday’s rain until the bulk of the field was home.

“Our other events - children’s fun rides and the Forest Family Dam Ride also went off smoothly and were well supported.”

The Knysna Oyster Festival continues until July 16.