13 July 2016 by CXpress

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

State of Bitou addressed p3

This bold participant in the recent Featherbed Trail Run tackled the 14km route in what’s generally regarded as one of the country’s most scenic events of its kind, as its unique track takes runners along the coast, through indigenous forest and over the railway bridge back to Knysna Waterfront. Read the race report on page 12.

Pearls found in Knysna

First 24 Hour Reunion a blast

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13 July 2016

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NEWS & VIEWS

13 July 2016

Driving Miss Crazy

Bouquets and brick-bats from the back seat of my Oh Fest rides JEEVES shares his adventures as Garden Route chauffeur extraordinaire... RIVING around with a few people during last week’s Knysna Oyster Festival, one couldn’t help but overhear a few interesting observations and comments, spiced-up with a few ‘bouquets and brickbats’ alike. The fact of the matter is that all the people are here, from around the country, for the party! Of course there are those who come for the silverware, record books and honours; for the sporting challenge; the adrenalin surge; fresh sea and forest air, the scenery and kindling of old friendships. A good example is on the bowling green - lots of those chaps have been coming to Knysna for years, meeting up again and again, and enjoying a ‘dop’ together. But for the most part, it’s music, food, and booze everywhere! --It’s also a great opportunity for Gran and Oupa to come along and spend time with the family: “They can baby-sit! There’s masses of things for them to do with the kids while their dad and I unwind, and ‘send it’,” admitted a party mom. Oh, for sure, the mountainbikes and marathon runs and kayaking play a huge role: “I mean, that’s the real ‘excuse’ for being here,” said one laughing. “So we do have a lot in common, not just sore muscles and stiff backs!” quipped another. And then...“It’s a damn rip-offster festival, if you ask me!” shouted one Granny from the rear of a shuttle. (My ears were burning. The free bus rides to and from designated points are great, because parking is wall-to-wall nigh impossible near the various venues - not to mention the traffic on that first wet Friday!) ‘Aaaah! NOW I know why all the vehicles are carrying bicycles!’ I mused. Just dump your 4x4 on the pavement, grab a two-wheeler, and ride everywhere to avoid the traffic congestion! Teehee... Another voice in response: “I totally agree with you! You know, 15

SECRETS OF THE DEEP: During this year’s Oyster Festival it dawned on me why everyone’s got bikes on the back of their cars, and why wine is of the essence when seafood is consumed

SOCIALISING ON THE BOWLING GREEN: Lots of visitors have been coming to Knysna for years to meet up with old friends and to enjoy a dop together

minutes on a bloody horse’s back cost me R240 for the twins! Well, I didn’t actually pay - lucky my daughter’s married to a gynea.” “And R80 for my sevenyear-old to enter a one-kilometre walk!” said another mom, adding: “A night walk cost just under a hundred, and a kid’s bike race entry fee R130, and that just for three or four kilometres.” “And, you know what

one of those animal parks charge? Six hundred and ninety five Rand per adult, and four ninety five for a pensioner or student. AND, three ninety five for a kid!” On another occasion, a comment from Gramps: “The festival is for rich yuppies and their spoilt kids. Only they can afford to participate in most of the events.” (Tongue-incheek, perhaps?)

“Oh, I don’t know,” I volunteered. But, then who was I to interact in their conversation, seeing I was the fellow driving them back to their rented abode in their car, after the food festival evening? “Tonight, for instance, there were plenty of bestdressed oysters and wines to taste. It was excellent value, so no wonder tickets were sold out two weeks ago!” “For sure,” added his wife. “We eat out every day, and there’s plenty of places to go and get good value food and Oyster Fest specials.” --A couple of mates from Cape Town booked me to drive them around for Seafood Wednesday, to sample the different variety of dishes on offer at numerous restaurants - and, as fish must swim, they anticipated the consumption of vast amount of wine, hence the need for a driver. First off was half a dozen oysters each at the PnP tent and a bottle of pink bubbles, followed by mussels in a creamy garlic and herb sauce with rustic bread and live music at Tapas (WOW!); then a stroll to Sirocco to share seafood pizzas and wine. Then it was off to Cruise Café for their seafood platter - but not before a quick detour via Drydock for a taste of fried calamari rings (tender, to die for). The Cruise Café platter was SO good, the waiter was summoned for another “…and a bottle of your best rosé, please!” By this stage we were all pretty well ‘fooded-up’, so back we went to the Festival Pavilion in time for the start of the evening’s entertainment, fish-braai, oystershucking and eating competitions. What a day! Sadly, we could not visit all the participating restaurants in one session, so hopefully in future this event will be spread over a couple of days. Roll on next year’s Oh Fest! ‘Till next time, fasten your seat-belts - Jeeves

NEWS & VIEWS

13 July 2016

CXPRESS

State of town address tells of Bitou’s journey from catch-up to R60-million cash flow

Despite a challenging start five years ago, when Bitou’s finances were in dire straits, the current council has made significant progress in getting the town back on track - YOLANDÉ STANDER reports on the State of Bitou address ITOU mayor Memory Booysen shared his journey with residents and role-players during his final state of town address on Thursday before next month’s local government elections. When the current council took over control of

Attempted robbery thwarted by slam lock HEN well-known DJ Mike Prinsloo was about to lock up after the last staff members left Flashbacks in Plett’s Main Street on Sunday around midnight, he saw two men coming up the stairs, one of them about to pull a balaclava over his head. “At the same time, I noticed that the guy had a gun. Fortunately, we have a rule about the latch being locked when it’s closing time, and the fact that I could slam the front door closed before making for the panic button was enough to deter them,” Prinsloo said on Monday, adding that it was the first such incident at the popular sports and pizza bar in its 18 years of operation. A response team arrived within two minutes, by which time the would-be armed robbers were nowhere to be found, but the case is being investigated by Plett SAPS. The general reaction to this incident from those in the business, was a call for restaurants and other concerns that may close late at night to revisit and tighten their security measures.

the municipality in 2011, it inherited a R15.9-million deficit. The municipality was also blacklisted with financial institutes and could therefore not raise any loans to remedy the situation. Booysen said under the previous council, more than R123-million had also been spent in only two years ahead of the 2011 elections. “We had to raise the funds from our ratepayers’ pockets, and for that we are truly thankful. Eventually, the banks saw that we were making progress and were again willing to approve

our loan applications.” He added that, as of this month, the municipality had a cash flow of R60-million. “After we started making progress we promised the community that we would try our utmost not to tax our residents so heavily again and keep rates increases below the double digits - and we have done that,” Booysen said, referring to the recently approved budget. He said the first audit in 2011 revealed 92 findings, 23 of which were matters that affected the audit outcome. A year later, strict con-

trol and several measures led to a major decrease in findings. The second audit only revealed 56 findings, of which only 14 impacted the outcome. During the 2013/14 financial year, the Auditor-General only noted 21 findings, none of which affected the audit outcome. The municipality then managed two consecutive clean audits. Booysen said the turnaround was due to going back to the drawing board and implementing a few strategies including increasing in-house capacity, copy-

ing practices from successful municipalities, investment, empowerment, job creation through the Expanded Public Works Programme, and capital projects. He added that while the municipality had turned a corner, it had not yet reached its peak. “It took us about three years just to play catch-up but through hard work, cooperation and engagement, we managed to start turning things around. And I thank each and every one of you for the role you played.” Booysen said while it was

OPTIMISTIC: Memory Booysen is ready to start work again on August 4

his last state of the town address before the August 3 elections, he hoped that it would not be his last speech. “On August 4, we start working again,” Booysen concluded optimistically.

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CXPRESS

NEWS & VIEWS

13 July 2016

News Briefs DA leaders in CX Country DA head Mmusi Maimane along with Cape Town mayor Patricia de Lille have been visiting select venues in Eden since yesterday to share their “message of progress”, according to a statement released on July 11. “On Tuesday July 12 and Wednesday July 13 the federal leader of the DA Mmusi Maimane will deliver the DA’s message of progress in Mossel Bay, George, Knysna and Plettenberg Bay. He will be joined by the DA leader in the Western Cape, Patricia de Lille. “The leaders will join community meetings to encourage people to vote DA, as we are the only party that is capable of creating jobs and delivering services. Vote DA on August 3 to keep making progress in Eden,” said the statement. Today’s Knysna street

meet takes place at 10:30am on the corner of Witlokasie and Rolihlahla Street in White Location, while the DA duo will address Plett supporters at the Simunye Community Hall in KwaNokuthula at 5:30pm. Double murder mastermind sought A 26-year-old man from Wolwedans in Great Brak River is facing a double murder charge after he was nabbed by the investigation team on Tuesday July 5, but the suspected mastermind of this shocking crime is feared to have skipped the country. The arrest of Tamsamqa Howard Sishuba was eminent after thorough teamwork between investigating officer W/O Gerald Rabie and senior detectives attached to Da Gamaskop Cluster in Mossel Bay.

Sishuba was detained at the Great Brak police holding cells until July 7, when he appeared in the Mossel Bay magistrates’ court in connection with the murder of the elderly Human couple (aged 72 and 62 respectively) last month. The Humans were found killed at their home in Sandheuwel Street on June 18 after a neighbour saw Mrs Human’s body through a window. She alerted the police who discovered the husband’s body in the garage, after doors had to be broken down to gain entrance to both the house and garage. Investigations revealed that the couple was killed on Tuesday June 14. South Cape police spokesman captain Malcolm Pojie said that another suspect, believed to be the mastermind behind the murders, is now being sought. “We have information suggesting that Lebohang Rethabile Lekoro, in his late 20s or early 30s, has fled the country after committing the crime. We have obtained a warrant for his arrest.” Lekoro is of medium, slender build with a light brown complexion and short black dreadlock-styled hair. The SAPS appeals to anyone with information to contact

detective warrant officer Rabie on 044 620 8309, or DWO Paul Scheepers on 044 620 8309, or call Crime Stop on 08600 10111. All information will be dealt with confidentially.

WANTED: Lebohang Rethabile Lekoro is of medium, slender build with a light brown complexion and short black dreadlock-styled hair underneath has cap - this photo and facial sketch of the wanted suspect may assist the police in tracking down last month’s Human murders mastermind

NEWS & VIEWS

13 July 2016

CXPRESS

Don’t let your guard down on holiday security front Words & photo: Beugené Green

HE basic assumption made by residents and homeowners in Plett is that crime is petty and easy to deal with. Many live so leisurely that they fail to notice the problem at hand - ignorance that prevents a look at the bigger picture. These are the sentiments of Wesley Andrew, security manager of Goose Valley Golf Estate and executive member of the PBCPA (Plettenberg Bay Crime Prevention Association). According to Andrew, crime during holiday seasons when schools are closed and people in general are relaxing, is on the rise. In Bitou, the majority of crimes are classified as

TOGETHER WE CAN BEAT CRIME: Wesley Andrew of the Plettenberg Bay Crime Prevention Association says we are our worst enemies when it comes to giving opportunistic criminals an easy in, and suggests that readers contact their closest neighbourhood watch

petty, including break-ins in cars and houses. The criminals are looking for small, quick-selling items to make money fast. More violent crimes such as rape and murder are rather rare. Although most crimes in Plett seems petty, there are more serious issues in our rural areas of which residents of The Crags and Kranshoek, for instance, need to be aware of. Nonetheless, crimes increase because people are reckless. We do not close our windows, we leave our cars open, and we go to bed with our doors unlocked. Opportunists then take advantage of such negligence. Crime has increased along

Bring it on, winter - these swimmers won’t stop ‘till they reach the top! Education coordinator of the award-winning Bitou-based organisation Born in Africa, BELINDA CORAM reports on a courageous group of Kranshoek kids and their inspirational role-model

AQUA BUDDIES: Ellen Kleinsmidt, second from right, along with Adopt a Swimmer founders Louise, third from left, and Peter Auersperg, will continue training Born in Africa students until their water skills qualify them as eligible for selection to Plett Surf Lifesaving’s Nippers team Photo: Born in Africa / www.borninafrica.org

REVAILING winter chills have had little success in preventing a motivated group of 11 Born in Africa (BIA) students from Kranshoek to fulfil their dreams of making it into Plett Lifesaving Club’s Nippers team. These youngsters were selected to continue their swimming instruction after having taken part in the BIA Learn to Swim Programme, during which their aquatic talents were spotted.

Now, thanks to the Adopt a Swimmer team, they are spending their holiday improving these skills even further, which is sure to increase their chances of selection when the new Nippers season starts. One of the primary inspirations for our intrepid swimmers to work this hard in the pool is BIA student Ellen Kleinsmidt, who was part of the same programme four years ago. Ellen’s determination,

come cold sea water or pebble-strewn sand, has paid off famously when gaining her a bunch of medals in the past couple of years - among these two golds won at both the Western Cape and National Nippers Champs, held in Cape Town and Durban respectively earlier this year. So these holidays, Ellen is paying it forward by assisting Louise and Peter Auersperg of Adopt a Swimmer with training the new

with an increase in population. The town of Plett is rapidly growing, and the townships even more so. “Of course most crimes are reported, but the law is evident - innocent until proven guilty, so every case requires the process of suspects being investigated by the SAPS,” says Andrew, adding that we can’t take the law into our own hands. Statistics show that crime occurs most often during weekends, so the general advice to Garden Route residents and visitors is not dropping their guard because of the general holiday vibe. Andrew concludes that awareness is key: “We can never be complacent or stop worrying about our security. A good way forward

group. The BIA team truly admires her commitment to the sport, and we’re most grateful to Adopt a Swimmer for taking our students under its wing. • Visit www.adoptaswim mer.co.za or email louise@ adoptaswimmer.co.za to find out how you can contribute to this deserving local cause, and turn to page 2 of the April 13 edition at www.cxpress.co.za for more information on Plett’s amazing Nippers team.

is getting involved in your local neighbour watch, which serves as the eyes and ears of the community. “We need as much help as possible from residents to

help the PBCPA and SAPS do their jobs effectively.” Call Wesley Andrew on 071 688 9464 or the PBCPA on 082 251 8134 to report crime in Bitou.

CXPRESS

NEWS & VIEWS

13 July 2016

Top #FindAPearl Knysna talent shines from Oyster Fest main stage SHISA Talent teamed up with the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport (DCAS) and Knysna Municipality to host the first annual #Find

APearl Talent Search in Knysna earlier this month. The team visited Rheenendal, Khayalethu, Smutsville and Hornlee from July 1-6. The main objective of

the project was providing a platform for local artists to showcase their work to a panel of judges and fellow community members. Judges were tasked to select four ‘Pearls’ from the various showcases. Each winner was then afforded the opportunity to perform on the Knysna

Oyster Festival main stage on Saturday July 9, while receiving a whopping R1,000 performance fee for this accomplishment. The Tshisa Talent team and DCAS representatives saw over 35 particularly talented individuals and groups performing, and were joined by hundreds of

APPRECIATIVE TRIO: Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport Anroux Marais, centre, joined the #FindAPearl talent search in Khayalethu - at left is her PA Stacey Maclean, with principal officer for dance at DCAS, Charles Maema, at right

audience members from far and wide. We congratulate the four #FindAPearl winners: poet Nkosazana from Khayalethu, drama group Explosive from Smutsville, singer Fredwin and dancer Jeston Lee from Hornlee. Hats off to all involved and here’s looking forward to provid-

ing more opportunities for local artists in the near future - visit the Tshisa Talent Facebook page for more pics and info on the event. The Tshisa team thanks their judges, the DCAS representatives, Knysna Municipality, all the artists, and the great audiences for their vocal appreciation.

PEARLS OF HORNLEE: Winner Fredwin is flanked by runners up Jeston Lee, left, and Lesley Ann

Notice Board • For this year’s Men’s Health campaign, the Cancer Association of SA (Cansa) reminds all men of the importance of investing in their health. South African men have a 1:8 chance of contracting cancer, and prostate cancer is one of the most common at 1:27. The cancer risk can be reduced by making smart choices, avoiding carcino-

gens, living a balanced life style and being aware of warning signs. Symptoms of prostate cancer include difficulty in passing urine, difficulty in starting and stopping urinary stream, and a frequent need to urinate, especially at night. It is important to undergo regular screening, which helps to identify your cancer risk.

The measurement of PSA levels in blood has become a valuable tool in the diagnosis of cancer of the prostate. This PSA test is available for the months of July and August at a special reduced price of R105 at the PathCare Rooms next to Plett Mediclinic. Call June on 072 506 0509 for further information. • The Trustees and Man-

agement of the Castleton Body Corporate is hosting a presentation on developments at Castleton on July 15 from 2pm onwards, primarily for the benefit of local estate agents and business associates. Read all about these exciting developments in CXPRESS of July 20 or call chairman Mike Driver on 044 533 0936 for details.

BUSINESS

The Brexit saga... the radar screens. This uncertainty has spread to the markets; investors are hard at work trying to decide which companies will suffer the most, while there is a definite sense of panic in the air. Even Euroland may suffer greater economic problems after the UK exit. So trying to look at the situation as realistically as possible, one sees parallels within our own market. Living in the UK one should be looking for those Pound/ Sterling Hedge shares. Nearly 70% of the earnings of the FTSY 100 companies are earned outside of Britain. Many of the global giants that have been sold down are probably cheap. The fear of the global banks leaving the UK for Euroland may prove to be unfounded. It costs a fortune to move a corporate head office, while the language problem will raise its head. London already has the momentum of being the world’s financial centre, and this seems unlikely

the drama from the sidelines while continuing to live of off the proceeds of their retirement nest eggs. • Malcolm has been in the investment industry

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for nearly 50 years. He has written this column in CXPRESS for the last 18 years and is a specialist in managing retired wealth. See the letter on page 11.

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Y now we all know that the UK is leaving Euroland, that the referendum was a shock to the markets, and that nearly all the British politicians who matter have resigned. This event was totally unexpected, and is very difficult for us sitting on the Southern tip of Africa to really understand. We are not party to the nuances of Euroland politics, nor the real differences between rural (read nonLondon or non-city) England and the city slickers. That the refugee problem must have had a huge influence is certain, although the English may have decided that they do not like to be ruled by the “foreigners” across the Channel. They seem to feel more secure if their island has a moat of water surrounding it. The greatest economic threat appears to be the uncertainty now facing their economy. Political parties appear to be in turmoil, and the greatest advocates of “Leave Euroland” seem to have disappeared of off

to change. The current panic in the property markets (four property unit trusts have suspended redemptions) also seems to be unfounded. While this is driven by small investors in panic mode, one must remember that quality tenants will continue to pay their rent, so the income generated by these unit trusts is not about to dry up. British long bonds currently offer a yield less than 1%, while Redefine International yields ±7.5% - hardly a sell for the sane investor. It is clear that the dust has not yet settled, and also that the current uncertainty will continue until new politicians have been elected and the Exit rules have been decided. And even then the market may not like some of the new boys on the block nor the new rules! What is certain is that the uncertainty will continue. The bold investor may quietly ease into some of those UK bargains. British property at 7% is enticing. The conservative

investor should remain in the side-lines. Those retirees that have established portfolios of sound dividend paying shares will be able to enjoy

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

CXPRESS

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Investor Focus

13 July 2016

Request for Proposals

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The Housing Development Agency (HDA) requests suitably qualified and reputable service providers to submit proposals for: SECURITY (PHYSICAL SURVEILLANCE) SERVICES AT KNYSNA PROPERTIES, IN KNYSNA LOCAL MUNICIPALITY, WESTERN CAPE (TENDER NO.: RFP/CPT/2016/008) Proposals that do not comply with the following may not be considered further for technical evaluation: PSIRA registration certificate (Company’s). Failure to submit the above mentioned document will lead to automatic disqualification. The Terms of Reference can be accessed from the HDA website: www.thehda.co.za/tenders/current. The closing time and date for receipt of proposals is 12h00 on Monday, 18 July 2016. Telegraphic, telephonic, telex, facsimile and late proposal submissions will not be accepted.

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CXPRESS

INTERVAL

13 July 2016

Koffie maak ‘n mens beslis aggressief. Ek het gistraand 12 dubbel brandewyne gedrink en my vrou twee koffies - en jy moes net sien hoe woedend sy was…

Attending a 60th high school reunion... E was a widower and she a widow. They had known each other for a number of years being high school classmates and having attended class reunions in the past without fail. This 60th anniversary of their class, the widower and the widow made a foursome with two other singles. They had a wonderful evening, their spirits high.

Wake me up “EXCUSE me sir,” said the man to one of the stewards on a train, “I always get nauseous when I travel on trains, so I am going to take a heavy sleeping pill, but please do whatever you can to make sure I get off when it stops in Baltimore. I really don’t want to miss my great aunt’s funeral.” “Sure thing!” said the steward happily. “We will make sure you get off!” Six hours later, the train stopped in Washington DC and the man jumped out of his seat in a panic: “What the heck! I asked you to wake me up in Baltimore!” “Oh boy, he looks mad!” remarked the fellow behind him to his wife. “Not half as mad as that other guy they carried off back in Baltimore,” she whispered back.

I wake up, suddenly terrified: I’m late for work! I open my eyes and calm down... I am at work.

First and next widow recently married a widower. Soon after the marriage, she was approached by a friend who laughingly remarked: “I suppose, like all men who have been married before, your husband sometimes talks about his first wife?” “Oh, not any more, he doesn’t,” the widow replied. “What stopped him?” “I started talking about my next husband.”

The widower was casting admiring glances across the table. The widow smiled coyly back at him. Finally, he picked up courage to ask her: “Will you marry me?” After about six seconds of careful consideration, she answered: “Yes… yes, I will!” The evening ended on a happy note, but the next morning the widower was troubled. Did she say “Yes” or did

she say “No”? He couldn’t remember. Try as he might, he just could not recall. He went over the conversation of the previous evening, but his mind was blank. He remembered asking the question, but for the life of him could not remember her response. With fear and trepidation he picked up the phone to call her. First, he explained that he couldn’t remember as well

as he used to. Then he reviewed the evening. As he gained a little more courage, he asked: “When I asked if you would marry me, did you say ‘Yes’ or did you say ‘No’?” “Why, you silly man, I said ‘Yes... yes, I will.’ And I meant it with all my heart.” The delighted widower’s heart skipped a beat. Then she continued: “And I am so glad you called because I couldn’t remember who asked me!”

This man dreamed of having two sons. His dreams came true... eventually!

SOCIAL SCENE

Photos: Sharyn Hodges

13 July 2016

REUNION ROCKS! Plett Tourism’s 24 Hour Reunion extravaganza event, in conjunction with local fashion industry event management company FriCreatives, made its debut last weekend when local and national designers, fashion models and other industry talents transformed the White House and the town into a fashion talent hub for 24 hours. From downtown photo shoots to a red carpet entry, runway show, live entertainment and after-party, the event was an incredible experience for all involved. The evening was opened by MEC Alan Winde, followed by a live performance to officially open the runway. Celebrity South African models like David Kabamba, Irvine Bosha, Tyrese Bani, Vincent Ntunja, Mandla Waterson and Rowhan Rhode rocked the runway alongside several local models, wearing designs from Deep Settle Movement to a lively performance by rap artist Pumi. But by far the highlight of the evening’s fashion was Plett designers Nada J and Emmanuelle, who showcased their collections of inspiring urban streetwear and local flair threads respectively. SA Idol finalist Lungisa provided entertainment alongside vibrant and talented local performers, and the night finished with all guests, models and photographers hitting Zanzibar for the after-party, dancing and mingling ‘till 6am the next morning. The first Plett 24 Hour Reunion, sponsored by Plett Tourism, was a runaway success, and here’s looking forward to next year’s second edition!

People, places & events MAKING WINTER MUCH WARMER: Linda Engelsman, second from left, and Alet Ollemans from Seeff are flanked here by Lucy Dobb and Pat Knoesen of St Thomas Methodist Church with the blankets and winter clothes collected for their winter warmer campaign. Huge thanks go to all members of the Bitou community, and the Plett Primary School students who helped with contributions towards this worthy cause. The team at Seeff also thanks St Thomas for distributing these items to the various organisations most in need of winter warmth.

Small Town Big Surprise! Darnell Street, Storms River Village

A trip down Memory Lane and now... a Micro Brewery! Bring the family for a memorable outing! ext. 267

CXPRESS

13 July 2016

CLASSIFIEDS

ON THE SOAPBOX

13 July 2016

Letters to the Editor

CXPRESS

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

Big thumbs down to game reserve and lodge On our first trip to Plett for five years, having been residents for eight years up until 2011, it was with a genuine feeling of excitement that we booked our three nights’ accommodation and game rides at Plett Game Reserve. We had been several times over the years, albeit for day safaris, and had always enjoyed it immensely. Lovely scenery, knowledgeable and friendly guides with some great game viewings were in store. When we arrived, the first alarm bells started to ring when we were asked to pay in full in advance before even seeing our room. However, we duly paid and were shown to our room. It was a bit dated and had a strange chemical smell, but undeterred we unpacked and sat on the stoep watching the almost tame Nyala. As supper time approached, we went for our meal, met the other guests and sat down to enjoy our evening meal. It was awful. Either a Spar or Pick n Pay braai pack with microwaved vegetables. None of us, there were

four in total, enjoyed it, leaving most of it uneaten. Upon returning to our room and getting into the bed and unpleasant chemical, moth ball kind of smell was all pervading. During the night both my wife and I had severe diarrhoea and sickness. In the morning, we decided to cut short our visit and leave. Upon returning to reception and explaining the situation to Paulus, the manager, we were assured that a refund would be made and please could we detail our complaint in an email and copy in the owner of the reserve. I did not make a scene in front of the other guests, being ever aware of how delicate the balance is in making concerns such as the game park viable - they are, after all, a great way of employing local people and helping with conservation. After numerous emails we finally got a response saying that things were busy and you know how it is when you get busy… blah blah blah. After a series of obfuscating emails where ‘no-one

Wealth creation is a partnership journey twixt investor and advisor Malcolm Stewart’s article ‘Challenges of facing retired investors’ in CXPRESS of June 29 [read it on page 8 of that edition at www.cxpress.co.za] is again an intuitive and experienced comment from a qualified professional. Given the time and space constraints, I am sure the author would have also highlighted the critical importance of becoming involved with your pension fund and its underlying investment assets as soon as possible in each individual’s life. One cannot over-emphasise this involvement, as we are each and every (imminent) pensioner responsible for our own wealth creation and management given the enormous amount of information available today. Of course, a suitably qualified financial advisor should be employed

to support this process, but it should be a partnership journey. There are, after all, instances where changes need to be made to underlying investments as not all of them perform admirably over time and this partnership should bring these facts to light from time to time. ‘More hands on deck,’ so to speak. Ian van Jaarsveld, Plett (We appreciate this feedback by Mr van Jaarsveld, a business strategist in our midst, and thank our lucky stars for the likes of Mr Stewart, who is the longest-running CXPRESS contributor and who has been sharing sound investment and retirement advice with our readers for nearly two decades on these pages. Read his latest Investor Focus column on page 7 of this edition. - Eds.)

else has ever complained’, ‘we are trying to contact the other guests to verify your story’, ‘please supply us with a doctor’s certificate to prove you were ill’ being the main themes, I finally gave up and said I would be contacting my credit card company to see if they would refund me. All this happened in February and March, and guess what? I have had no refund and no-one from the Park has contacted me again. ‘Just another daft tourist taking advantage of the current low Rand’ is the thought process, ‘just let him rant a bit then he will no doubt get fed up…’ In today’s world of TripAdvisor and the likes, cus-

tomer service is key. Maybe the park should take note of this. Gordon Hoey, UK The Plett Game Reserve management team responded as follows: The manager in question left us in March this year. We were unaware of the situation until CXPRESS notified us of this letter. Unfortunately, we cannot authorise a refund until the circumstances are properly investigated and the owner is informed of such. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused and can assure Mr Hoey that the attitude described by him is definitely not embraced by us.

Sharyn Hodges continues to inspire with her amazing images Hello CXPRESS, I was not sure who to email - but I am sure you should know who Sharyn Hodges is! This Plettonian that takes the MOST amazing photos of not only Plett, but of the Garden Route and South Africa, too. I have been following her for nearly a year on Instagram and I honestly don’t think she gets enough recognition nationally - I am not sure about the Garden Route. I find it rather bizarre that her town’s own tourism bureau never features her photos. Even though I am based in Cape Town (have you seen her aerial shot of Cape Town - incredible!), so I have taken it upon myself to get her out there, starting with her local papers. I can’t believe that this humble person who continues to say “I am just lucky” still believes that. She has been featured on many, many MASSIVE Instagram accounts; she has recently been selected by South African Tourism as ONE of their faces in their version of Humans of New York; her photos are being featured by Nikon (International) on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Sharyn’s images have in-

spired many people, including me. In fact, there are people wanting to come to South Africa and in particular to the Garden Route because of her work. There are so many more accomplishments she has achieved - I could go on forever. And she is just a small town girl that has no ego. I guess what I am asking is, do you have a reporter or someone that could get hold of her and maybe do a candid interview with her? ‘Andrew’, Cape Town (Thanks for this wonderful thumbs up to a particularly deserving Plett resident and extremely generous CXPRESS collaborator, Andrew. Sharyn has over the years shared reams of images with us, with that glorious smile! We shared her rise and rise on Instagram with our readers about a year ago - see ‘Sharyn honoured to be one of the Garden Route’s top Instagram boffins’ in the March 4, 2015 edition at www.cxpress.co.za. See some of her pics of the Plett MAD 24 Hour Reunion on page 9 and visit www. sharynhodges.co.za to find out why she is more than just a photographer. - Eds.)

CXPRESS Words & photos: Glenn Murray

Feathers fly as Marais narrowly misses Reilly’s record HE 2016 Featherbed Trail Run was held on July 5 in near perfect weather and underfoot conditions. But these factors were not enough to knock Kane Reilly’s time out of the record books, as Featherbed legend Stuart Marais failed to beat it by a mere 14 seconds. Marais’ performance was superb and thoroughly dominant - and amazingly, he has now run and won the race on four occasions, with the variance between fastest and slowest winning times being only 48 seconds. This year was the first time he has dipped below the 55-minute mark for the 14km event, finishing in a very respectable 54:51. In the women’s race, 2015 winner Andrea Steyn was pushed into second place after a phenomenal performance by newcomer Letitia Jones from the UK, who ran a very fast time of 1:03:42. Few athletes will argue that the Coelacanth 14km trail and the Seahorse 11km trail in Featherbed Nature Reserve can be matched in terms of beauty. Nearly 900 runners took part in the events, which included a fun 5km Blue Duiker trail run aimed at younger runners for the first time. The two courses of different distances are run

BOOKING ESSENTIAL

SPORT & ADVENTURE

13 July 2016

three times during the day and overall winners are determined by their respective times. One of the novel features of the Featherbed Trail Run

is that all runners are ferried to the start on board one of four ferries that cross Knysna Lagoon to the spectacular nature reserve. Running along the coast,

WINNERS: Letitia Jones, left, and Stuart Marais receive their trophies from Dianne Pepler from Featherbed Co

SCENIC SANS EQUAL: These images, above and at right, of last week’s Featherbed races go some way to explain why this is one of the Oyster Festival’s most solidly supported, standout and sold-out events

through indigenous forest and, finally, over the railway bridge back to the waterfront, the event is unique and continues to be the firm favourite event of the annual Knysna Oyster Festival. • Visit www.oyster.events for full results.