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
What a hit!
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The Plettenberg Bay Crime Prevention Association fundraiser at Goose Valley Golf Club was a real humdinger, not least thanks to the commitment of iconic golfer Gary Player, pictured here doing what he does best. Find out more on page 9.
Plett crime-fighter mourned
Alarming ratepayers report
Is there life after junk?
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Photo: William Ashurst/Dreamlink Art Studio
13 November 2019
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CXPRESS
NEWS & VIEWS
13 November 2019
Raphaeli’s big-tree dreams come true, with a lot of help from their friends This is a story of regeneration and hope for the future, because amid the climate and ecological chaos you simply can’t go wrong if you plant trees, writes RHIAN BERNING T begins at Raphaeli Waldorf School - a small school on Plett’s Airport Road. The school is a non-profit organisation and receives no government assistance for its running, educational resources, or infrastructure. This year the school moved to a 21-hectare piece of land gifted to them by a generous patron. The land had been degraded over many years and the buildings were mainly old warehouses in great disrepair. The land also burnt in the 2017 fires and so most of the sheltering large trees were lost. However, it is beautifully situated with a view of the Tsitsikammas and huge potential for ecosystem restoration, alien clearing and creating a biodiverse, abundant and nurturing learning environment for the school’s 125 students. Already the changes towards creating an exemplar green school have been phenomenal. So a small team of parents and teachers ran the Bees and Trees Green Our School crowd-funder campaign to begin the huge undertaking of transforming the school to be energy and water efficient and to restore the land. A video of the children explaining why they would value trees on the school grounds, with a soundtrack of the Class 6s skilfully singing Johnny Clegg’s “Spirit of the Great Heart� told their story and invited people, both locally and from all over the world, to get involved by pledging whatever they could. The dream goal was to raise enough for large trees for the playground, a permaculture
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design to regenerate the land, rainwater tanks, insulation for classrooms and planting of spekboom to offset carbon and create a fire break. They say it takes a village to raise a child, but it takes a crowd to green a school and Raphaeli’s staff, parents, and children are deeply grateful to all who participated. Special thanks are due to the Class 5s from Vrije School Utrecht in the Netherlands, who ran their very own fundraiser to buy a very large Wild Fig tree for their young friends in Plett. So the dream of planting big trees for the children of Raphaeli, both present and for the generations to come, has now come true. The trees arrived on big trucks with cranes to get them in the ground - Wild Fig, White Stinkwood, Coral Tree, Waterberry, Red Currant, Cape Beech, and Wild Plum now stand proudly in their new forever home - an incredible metamorphosis. The looks on children’s faces when they saw the big trees suddenly there for the first time was incredibly heart-warming. Trees change everything and yet we only seem to appreciate them once they’re gone. They bring a better microclimate, shade and wind protection, climbing fun and, of course, birds and bees. The school will continue planting smaller trees and spekboom to transform the environment into a biodiverse haven. When you are next out and about take a little scan around you, imagine the trees you see
METAMORPHOSIS: Wild Fig, White Stinkwood, Coral Tree, Waterberry, Red Currant, Cape Beech, and Wild Plum trees arrived on massive trucks with cranes to get them in the ground - and the Raphaeli children were on hand to help transform their school premises
not being there and you will see them afresh with appreciation and wonder. The children of Raphaeli certainly do.
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• Rhian Berning is founder of Eco Atlas and the Renew Able Plett campaign. Visit www. ecoatlas.co.za for more info.
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NEWS & VIEWS
13 November 2019
CXPRESS
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Vandalism in KwaNokuthula could further delay housing Ludumo Tede
ITOU Municipality recently received a report from the contractor involved with the KwaNokuthula Phase 5 housing develop-
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ment project, that a number of structures had been vandalised by criminals. The municipality’s Communications department issued a statement in this regard on November 5. Ac-
cording to the contractor, the affected structures were close to completion. He says the culprits broke windows, doors, and electrical boxes. According to Bitou Municipality, the vandalism
Plettenberg Bay mourns the loss of its most caring crime-fighter RIDAY November 8 will be remembered for a long time by everyone involved with the Plettenberg Bay Crime Prevention Association (PBCPA) - not only for the incredibly successful fundraiser held at Goose Valley with golfing great Gary Player as celebrity host, but also for the sudden loss of a true stalwart of the local crimefighting fraternity. After the final bids of the evening were concluded, funds raised through green fees, personal sessions with Player on the course, sponsorships, raffles and the golf memorabilia auction totalled a whopping R200,000. Riana Venter was seated at one of the clubhouse tables where participants and PBCPA representatives were socialising when she collapsed. PBCPA secretary Ina Olivier told how Riana gave her the biggest hug upon her [Ina’s] departure, saying: “Ek is so verskriklik lief vir jou.” (I love you so very much.) “I still cannot comprehend what has happened - it is such a terrible loss for our
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RIANA VENTER: 14 April 1978 - 9 November 2019
community. My heart is broken, as Riana was part of our extended family. We are all devastated,” said Olivier. She explained: “Riana was admitted to Plett Medi-clinic for the night after being stabilised. We later learnt that she had collapsed at the Goose Valley venue due to an aneurysm. “Unfortunately this was only discovered once a brain scan was done during the early morning hours of Saturday, after Riana’s condition worsened.”
She was rushed to George ICU, but while being prepared for theatre, her heart stopped and she was put on life support. Further scans revealed the aneurysm had ruptured and she was declared brain dead just after 8am on Saturday morning. “Riana was always a giving and sharing person, even after her death. She was kept on life support for a while so that, as per her wishes, wife Corne and daughter Adelle could ensure that all her vital organs were donated.” Olivier concluded: “Riana’s passion ran very deep for her mentor Andries Trahms and her colleagues at Smhart Security; her community, the PBCPA, and her brothers in arms - the Plett Security tactical rapid response unit. “She was incredibly proud of Corne, Adelle and her extended family, and the deep impression she left on many lives will never be erased.” • A memorial service for Riana Venter will take place on Friday November 15 at 2pm at the Dutch Reformed Church in Marine Drive.
will not only delay the completion of the project and endanger lives, but will also ultimately postpone the handing over of houses to owners already earmarked. “This is a major setback, and the fact that these culprits are threatening the safety of security guards deployed on site is a major concern. Unfortunately, this act is going to delay the delivery of houses to their rightful beneficiaries,” stated spokesman Andile Namntu, following reports of the incident. The housing development project in KwaNokuthula that is currently underway has been afflicted with chal-
lenges, with this being the latest incident contributing to unnecessary delays. Construction of the 441 structures commenced in February 2018, with the due date for completion being October 31. In January this year, the project was brought to a complete halt when the former contractor walked off the site. Reasons for this action were not revealed, however, there were allegations that the contractor in question had not received due payment from the municipality for several months. Owing to Bitou’s nonresponse as to why the for-
mer contractor downed tools, those allegations remain unchallenged. Some months ago, provincial Human Settlements spokesperson Marcelino Martin said the department aimed to hand 144 houses to beneficiaries before the end of the year. Now, if similar incidents of vandalism were to occur, no one could be certain if province’s house-handover commitment remains within the realm of possibility. Interestingly, no reports of security guards deployed on site being attacked by the culprits, nor of any arrests following the incident, have been made.
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Scammers’ modus operandi yield positive results LETTENBERG Bay Crime Prevention Association (PBCPA) operations head Otto Oliver said they received an alert from a local businessman at about 7:20pm last Thursday about visitors allegedly being illegally charged to park at an ATM in Main Street. “He sent a description of the suspects’ vehicle and Plett Security members immediately responded to exit routes,” Olivier said. He added that the suspects were then spotted at the local Shell garage bordering the N2.
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“Tactical response unit members requested assistance from local police and municipal law enforcement, since the suspects sped off towards Knysna when they were approached.” While members were in close pursuit, Bitou law enforcement and traffic officials managed to pull the vehicle off the road. “The three suspects were taken to the Plett police station for questioning.” This all happened within 30 minutes of the alert. “During the interroga-
tion it was found that the attempted scam was unsuccessful as our visitors were definitely crime wise. “They always target foreigners, as they are soft targets. When they do not have money [to pay for parking] the scammers accompany them to a nearby ATM. “Under the pretence of helping the foreigners, the scammers then obtain the PIN numbers, steal their bank cards, and withdraw the maximum amount available at another ATM.” -Yolandé Stander
MINIMUM M INIMUM EENTRY NTRY REQUIREMENTS: REQUIREMENTS: G GRADE RA D E 1 12 2 HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT INTRO TO MANAGEMENT ASSISTANT TOURISM
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ONLINE NE DISTA DISTANCE T NCE LEARNING (N (NEW) PUBLIC MANAGEMENT MANAG HR Email : bitou@sccollege.co.za ollege.co.zzza a / www.sccollege.co.za ww 044 533 2388
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NEWS & VIEWS
13 November 2019
Ratepayers Association report on Bitou state capture meeting The Plettenberg Bay Ratepayers and Residents Association held a meeting on November 5 in the Piesang Valley hall with over 450 people in attendance, and below are excerpts from the remarks of chairman NEVILLE PETERSEN and senior counsel MARTIN BRASSEY HE main purpose of this meeting is to exchange information and ideas, not just with our members but with all interested and affected parties attending. We are here to tell you what is happening and to solicit your views on: • The 2018 forensic report on Bitou Municipality. • Suspected overpayment of top municipal officials. • Problems related to the re-appointment of Lonwabo Ngoqo as municipal manager (MM). Background At our AGM last year the members in attendance unanimously empowered us to be more proactive in dealing with any corruption and state capture that arises. The problem seems to lie with the conduct of Bitou officials. Both political parties have described our mayor as “rogue”. Whether they are right or not remains to be seen. But while he has been in charge there have been allegations of abuse of official transport, unauthorised expenditure in the amount of an estimated R150million including personal protection for the mayor and his deputy, irregular expenditure, wasteful expenditure, body guards,
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INFORMATION FOR ALL: Pictured from left outside the Piesang Valley Community Hall are Thabo Nbukwana, Thembani Lobese, Chippo Tollom, Abongile Bokveld, Sipho Mgoqi, Lulamile Klaas, Vuyisanani Luphondo, Thembela Mhlana, Thami Noyo, and Sivuyile Nkomo, all of KwaNokuthula - Photos: Timothy Twidle
and drunken parties on the municipal account. Our chief financial officer stands charged with corruption and fraud. He was recently arrested by the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation and Fraud Unit over alleged fraud and corruption at his previous employer in the Free State. Municipal manager Lonwabo Ngoqo was dismissed from the employ of Bitou Municipality in 2012 after being found guilty of serious financial misconduct and found to be unsuitable to hold a position of trust. The municipality sustained losses running to millions. In February this year, Ngoqo applied for the position of MM, vacated by the previous incumbent, who resigned ahead of disciplinary action being brought after
an investigation revealed serious mismanagement issues. He was appointed in the face of a law that prohibits re-employment in such cases within 10 years of dismissal. On top of this, he was granted R1.5-million rand of council money: • A payment of R781,184 to compensate him for his legal expenses incurred in 2012 to fight his dismissal. • A further R325,000 to compensate him for what he would have earned if he had not been dismissed before his employment contract expired. • An amount of R83,835 to compensate him for the leave days that would have accrued to him, had he not been dismissed. • And a bonus! The mayor agreed to compensate him with a R127,000 perfor-
mance bonus on the basis that if he had not been dismissed for serious financial misconduct he would have received that amount as a performance bonus. Managers’ salaries We became aware of what appears to be very serious misconduct relating to apparent overpayment of senior officials’ salaries. We asked Bitou for the necessary information to properly investigate the matter. It was refused. We were forced to bring a Court application in terms of PAIA. We were refused. We launched an internal appeal. The appeal was turned down by the municipality. The information we have called for is not personal and not secret. In fact, the law requires that it must be made public in the Annual Report and on the municipal website. National legislation sets the upper limits of remuneration for senior municipal employees. We started the process last November and the municipality and its lawyers, HDRS, are defending the application, using residents’ money in the process. A court date has been tentatively set for November 29. We are determined to hold to account those who prove to be guilty of malfeasance, to recover our money and to ensure that those who have indulged in criminal activities face the full might of the law. Excerpts from Martin Brassey SC* My task is to report back on legal matters, principally the intervention in the Ngoqo case, and also the effort to obtain the forensic report under PAIA. In early 2011, Bitou Council resolved to develop a low-cost housing estate the largest ever undertaken
in the locality. A stand was identified as suitable for the development and, in terms of a valuation secured for the purpose, the purchase price was fixed at around R29.3-million. An independent valuation estimated the property to be worth a mere R2.4-million. A further estimation fixed its value at about R15-million. In a letter to the seller, Ngoqo said the payment had been cleared even though, at that stage, the requisite permission had yet to be received. Then he permitted the utilisation of some of the money for other purposes. In the ensuing disciplinary enquiry before a retired judge of the highest repute, Ngoqo tried to explain away his conduct but without success. The judge dismissed his explanation as untrue, and after being found guilty of the misconduct in question, he was dismissed. Early this year, it became necessary to select a new municipal manager. Ngoqo, one of the applicants, was selected as best-suited for the job and appointed to the position. Learning of this, MEC Anton Bredell brought an application to set aside his appointment as unlawful. The matter came before judge Nieuwoudt who set the appointment aside on technical grounds. Ngoqo has successfully applied for leave to appeal to the Labour Appeal Court. The MEC has applied to enforce the order pending the appeal and it is this application that the Ratepayers Association has sought, and obtained, leave to intervene as a friend of the court (amicus). The matter will be heard in the Cape Town Labour Court on November 20. Judgment can be expected
on the day or shortly after the hearing. If the order is enforced pending the appeal, Ngoqo will have to vacate office. Otherwise he will stay and exercise, to the full, the extensive powers delegated to him. The forensic report Early in 2018 the MEC of Local Government obtained a forensic report into the affairs of Bitou Municipality. The report, we are told, contains evidence of criminal activity and has been referred to the Hawks for further investigation. The Ratepayers Association has made strenuous efforts to obtain this report. It wishes to dispel rumours, which seem to abound, that the refusal to publicise the report is evidence of a political cover up. Repeated requests for the report have been resolutely rejected. The MEC will not even supply the report under conditions of confidentiality. We have no idea who the report implicates, what offences have been committed, and when (if ever) the report will see the light of day. The Association is considering its position. Litigation and funds We are lucky that we have ratepayers who are making donations towards our litigation costs, but we still need more money if we are to persevere and succeed. Email info@plettratepayers.co.za if you would like to contribute. * Martin Brassey has practised as an advocate for 45 years. He is a senior counsel, a specialist in labour law, and is held in high regard by the legal fraternity and judges throughout South Africa. He is representing the Plett Ratepayers on legal matters. (Turn to page 11 for readers’ views.)
SPEAKERS AND EXCO: From left are Martin Brassey SC, PBRRA Executive Committee member Peter Gaylard, chairman Neville Petersen, and executive commitee members Wayne Turner, and Debi Nicholson (inset)
NEWS & VIEWS
13 November 2019
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CXPRESS
Gender transformation: district is determined to leave no one behind HE Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) presented a programme about Gender Mainstreaming (equality, empowerment and transformation) on November 7 and 8 to the council and administration of Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM). Objectives were to provide support, advise and capacitate participants on issues of gender transformation. The CGE is a Chapter 9 Constitutional Human Rights State Institution, which seeks to ensure a drive towards the successful implementation of the United Nations Sustain-
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able Development Goal relating to Gender Equality (the fifth goal). South Africa and all other participating states have to localise this goal by defining, implementing and monitoring strategies at a local level to achieve targets. During his presentation of the programme, CGE educator Leonard Macakati specifically emphasised the importance of Gender Forums within municipalities. He debunked the myth that Gender Forums should consist of women only. “Gender Forums should include people of all genders, disabled people, mem-
bers of the LGBT community, and youth,” he said. Macakati later shared the goals of Gender Mainstreaming as follows: • Institutionalise gender equality and equity through gender mainstreaming; • Transform institutions simultaneously to sensitise gender equality and equity into Integrated Development Plans, and policies internally and externally; and • Recognise the effective participation of women in all municipality programmes and levels of local government. Once gender equality issues are included in Inte-
IN THE HOUSE: Attendees of the Gender Mainstreaming Programme on November 7 were, in front from left, cllr Luzuko Tyokolo, Leonard Macakati, and cllr Isaya Stemela (portfolio chair: Corporate Services); in the middle are Theresia van Rensburg, deputy mayor Rosina Ruiters, Trix Holtzhausen (executive manager: Corporate Services), cllr Erica Meyer (portfolio chair: Strategic Services), and employee assistance practitioner Shandré Abrahams; at back are cllr Barend Groenewald (speaker), cllrs Ryk Wilschut and Bernardus van Wyk, cllr Joslyn Johnson (portfolio chair: Property Management & Development) and cllr Liza Stroebel (not pictured is IDP manager Mzukisi Cekiso)
NOT JUST GINGER: The Genderbread Person developed by Sam Killermann is regarded as a tool that has helped millions of people understand the complexity of gender
grated Development planning processes, budgeting, service delivery and policy implementation, reporting, monitoring and evaluation processes, it will help municipalities achieve gendermainstreaming goals. Attaining these goals will ensure that there is a shift in each municipality’s culture, thus making everyone more gender-sensitive.
GRDM employee assistance practitioner Shandré Abrahams, who is also one of the key drivers of Gender Mainstreaming at GRDM, said: “Many employees expected the workshop to only focus on women, but in actual fact, gender is a multidimensional concept and gender has many dimensions or facets related to each other
in multiple ways.” On November 25 and 26, GRDM in collaboration with the SAPS and the Western Cape Government Department of Community Safety will host a GenderBased Violence and Femicide Summit in George. Stakeholders will formulate an actionable plan to combat and eventually reduce social ills facing society.
ON A TENDER MISSION: Leonard Macakati from the Commission for Gender Equality presented a Gender Mainstreaming Programme at Garden Route District Municipality on November 7 and 8
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CXPRESS
NEWS & VIEWS
13 November 2019
Master artist makes time to teach in Knysna VEN though master print-maker and artist John Moore has art prints and drawings in nearly every major collection in SA, he still finds times to teach. His passion and skills are clear in both departments when witnessing him guide workshop participants into reaching new levels of selfexpression. And locals had this opportunity during a workshop held two weekends ago at an enchanting new venue called The School in Rheenendal. Says Plett-based sculptor Carmen Clews of the one-day Colour Workshop she attended: “I can’t quite believe that it took me 50 years to learn some basic principles - I wish I had known sooner! “The best part for me was actually experiencing these techniques first-hand, which created ‘AH-HA!’ moments rather than just being theory in my head. It was the perfect one-day workshop.”
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The weekend workshop focussed specifically on getting into flow states and then from this inner place breaking one’s own personal boundaries of creativity. The current wave of research lead by Steven Kotler into what he has coined as “flow” explains it as a synthesis of left and right brain activity. Flow theory and activities take us out of the idea of separation of creative and analytical brain into the state of synergy of both hemispheres for brilliance of human potential to shine. A fascinating part of flow states is a slowing down in the frontal cortex - the area of the brain where the inner critic is active, as is our perception of time. In flow, self-judgement fades into the background and time either slows down or passes without us realising. John’s teaching style supported and stimulated both beginners and experienced artists to be in flow. His
ART AT WORK: Participants in the John Moore art workshop at The School in Rheenendal
LET IT FLOW: Louise Wentzel of Forest Nature Spa in The Crags rekindles her love of making art - a talent she first discovered in high school
30 years in fine art and 20 years in teaching manifest through profound compassion and attention to detail to help individuals in finding their own unique styles. Plett artist Ruby Ovenstone wrote: “I loved the fact that I felt met by your passion for vibrancy, John. I was completely engaged and inspired. Such a short course and so much benefit.” John will be back to teach print-making next March see www.theschool.co.za for details and visit www.JohnMooreArt.co.za to find out more about John’s work.
WILD BEAUTY: John’s abstract giraffe is a pastel sized 250cm by 150cm
Plett businesses support disability sport RITA HARDAKER, founder and chairperson of Plett’s Differently-abled Awareness Campaign, says sports for the disabled is indeed a reality HE first-ever Day 4 Disability bowling event is taking place on November 30 at Plettenberg Bay Bowling Club. Come and watch and be impressed by the skill of these extra-special sports enthusiasts. There are 10 disabled bowlers taking part: three from Johannesburg including a Protea medal winner, as well as Eden Protea bowler Chris Patton from Knysna. Visually-challenged Plett resident Steph Naudé from Robberg Fine Foods is hoping to complete the differently-abled picture. Lunch for about 60 on the day is being sponsored by Plett businesses Cornuti, Make & Bake, SuperSpar, and KwikSpar, who are generously contributing whatever they can. A special enkosi must go to Erasmus Panel Beaters who fixed a chair for a differently-abled participant, and to our local radio hero Gordon Hoffman and his team, who truly care. Tune into 90.3 in Plett and 97.0 in Knysna for the latest updates on all that is happening this month for disability. Some Plett businesses are already disability compli-
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ant, for example Burnt Orange at Plett Angling Club, where a group including wheelchair bowlers will celebrate a birthday soon. There is a real need for sport and fitness facilities to be accessible for eager, differently-abled people from all walks of life who have up until now thought it an impossible dream. So to everyone in any business - especially the hospitality and building industry and retail outlets - wishing to improve your compliance status, please attend a free
talk in this regard by wellknown Mandy Latimore at 4pm on Friday November 29 at Plett Bowling Club on Challenge Drive. To all who have bought lottery tickets already: siyabonga - as Siya Kolisi was saluted after leading our rugby team to World Cup victory. • Call Rita on 082 560 2606 to buy your lucky ticket or get them from Barny’s Info Kiosk at The Market Square. The draw is on November 30 and the winner scores 50% of all takings.
MIKE’S THE MAN: Rita, at left, winks ‘siyabonga Mike for pledging delicious Cornuti pizzas for all Day 4 Disability participants’, with national disability bowling gold medallist Julie Deferville at right
BUSINESS
13 November 2019
Investor Focus
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CXPRESS
Malcolm Stewart – Investment manager at Michaelides Parker Wealth Knysna & Plett
Is there life after JUNK? great deal has been written about the effects of a ‘junk’ (actually called a ‘non-investment grade’) declaration by Moody’s. Our Government Bonds form part of the Global Investment Bond Index, and such a declaration would mean our position in this index is lost. This change in the index would result in the compulsory selling of our bonds. There are numerous estimates of value of these sales from as high as $12-billion to as low as $1.5-billion. There are also different views as to when this will happen, i.e. from three months (that is after the next Budget) to up to 18 months. In the investment world, if an event is already being discussed and will not be a surprise when and if it happens, then it is proba-
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bly already priced in. This is the real question facing investors. Remember all retirees are investors. Assuming that South Africa will not disappear off the face of the earth post ‘junk’, then our investment offerings could be very attractive in the current global climate. Long bonds in the developed world offer negative interest, i.e. investors pay their government to keep their funds. In South Africa, we offer ±9%, with an inflation rate of 4.5%, which implies a real return of 4.5%. This is better than bond offerings in Brazil and Turkey when they were junked. The long term P/E ratio of the JSE All Share is ±16.5. It is currently trading at just below that level (the historical low is ±10 during the last global recession).
However, this index holds many shares like Naspers, etc. which trade at very high multiples. Investors are able to buy many quality South African companies at P/E ratios of ±2. Dividend yields above 5% are common place against the 2.7% offered by large global companies. Our quality property (REITS) stocks offer yields over 10% against American REITS that offer 4.5%. But this topic is receiving huge publicity and massive negative hype, so one could possibly anticipate a negative knee-jerk reaction to a downgrade that will probably be short-lived. Most foreign investors that are currently invested in South Africa are almost certainly here to stay. What do you do with money offshore?
SA’s GDP growth rate is currently only 0.6%, but is expected to rise to 1.5% next year (even with junk). Our companies have weathered five torrid years and are currently lean and mean. Retirees will do well to consider locking in some of these yields/dividends at the times when the negative emotions drive prices down. The V&A Waterfront or Sandton City are not going to go away, our banks are here to stay, and we all need food and clothing. Our world is not about to come to an end. • Malcolm has been in the investment industry for nearly 50 years. He has written this column in CXPRESS for the last 21 years and is a specialist in managing retired wealth. See the advert on this page for contact details.
Know your rights when selling a tenanted property weak economy is a boost for the rental market, as renting tends to be cheaper than buying and the only option for someone in a tough financial situation. According to Seeff Properties, people rent for a variety of reasons: sometimes they want to live in a more expensive suburb, but will buy elsewhere; renting is also popular for those looking to relocate to a new city or suburb. Seeff expects the demand for rentals to rise notably over the coming months, but says that when you finally find a suitable rental, the owner may decide to sell while your lease is still current. In such instances, you should know that the owner is free to sell for whatever reason, subject to adherence to the important legal principle of ‘huur gaat voor koop’ (a
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Roman-Dutch legal principle which means ‘the lease trumps a later sale’). The tenant is thus entitled to remain in occupation of the property for the remainder of the lease period and on the same lease terms. In some instances, this might actually be a selling point those looking to invest in a property with a good tenant in occupation. However, neither the seller nor new landlord may then cancel the lease due to the property’s sale. Only a breach by the tenant can result in the necessary action as prescribed by the lease agreement and law, but it cannot be as a consequence of the sale. The new property owner will need to continue with the existing lease agreement until the expiry date and the rental cannot be increased. It may happen that the tenant sees this as
a good time to cancel the lease and in such event, the tenant’s right to cancel the lease will be determined by the lease agreement and law. Sometimes the lease agreement may already provide the tenant with the option of cancelling the lease in the event of a sale. In such event, there will be no cancellation penalties payable by the tenant. The lease agreement will also regulate aspects such as ‘for sale’ and ‘sold’ signboards displayed and access to the property for viewings. Once the lease period comes to an end and provided there is no new lease agreement entered into with the new property owner, the tenant must vacate the property. Any rental deposit together with interest must also be transferred by the selling property owner to
the new property owner to continue holding it in an interest-bearing account for the benefit of the tenant. When the lease agreement ends, this should then be refunded to the tenant subject to relevant legal rights and obligations. It is vital that a new inspection is done with the new owner to ensure agreement on the condition of the property so that there can be no disputes at the end of the lease when the deposit needs to be refunded. Finally, if you want to remain as a tenant after your current lease expires, you will need to enter into a new agreement with the new owner. This will contain new terms and possibly a higher monthly rental. The new owner may also require you to top up the security deposit.
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CXPRESS
INTERVAL
13 November 2019
Saying it my way British comedian, writer, and television presenter
MICHAEL MCINTYRE
• A good book is called a page turner. Surely that is the minimum you expect from any book? • Posh hotels have a turn-down service. I had never heard of this. There was a knock at the door and a woman said: “I’ve come to turn down your bed.” To which I said: “Well many women have in the past. Why should you be any different?” • I love doing bed time stories, but it must be tough for the royals. “And then the prince and the princess banqueted with all the kings of all the kingdoms, and they kissed on the lawn of the magnificent palace... the end. Anyway, enough about my day, what book are we going to read?” • You suggest a password, and it [cyber security] goes: “Weak!” Get lost! Those are my children’s names! • Google Earth is amazing. They’ve photographed every road in the world and put them on the computer. You just type it in and you go there. You sit in front of the computer and you think “I can go anywhere in the world. Where shall I go?”
And we all come to the very same conclusion: my house. • Dragons’ Den: how arrogant are those people? We know you’re rich, you don’t need to bring cash with you... • You don’t get that much fun when you’re an adult, do you? The most fun we get is revolving doors. • My wife and I both made a list of five people we could sleep with. She read hers out and there were no surprises: “One, George Clooney; two, Brad Pitt; three, Justin Timberlake; four, Jake Gyllenhaal; five, Johnny Depp.” I thought I’ve got the better deal here: “One, your sister...” • You never love your children more than when they’re unconscious, but still breathing. • Aaron is the worst name. It’s the first name in The Baby Name Book. How lazy can your parents be? • This story appeared about me being on a diet and several weeks later I was snapped on holiday with my ‘new physique’ on display, which was basically my old physique under a baggy T-shirt.
Room for rent HE landlady of a house that had seen better days was leading a prospective tenant to a third floor room with badly splattered wall paper. Landlady: “The last man who lived in this room was
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an inventor - he invented some type of explosive.” Prospective tenant: “Then the spots on the wall were caused by some type of explosive?” Landlady: “No, that is the inventor.”
‘Déjà vu’ is the feeling of having been in a specific situation or setting before. ‘Jamais vu’ is the reverse... It’s the feeling of seeing or sensing something for the first time, despite knowing that it’s not the first time.
• See, you learn about humans when you have a baby. Like girls. Girls are so much more advanced than boys. I seriously think that girls are born in conversation. Like, they come out of the womb, talking: “Are you my mother? Lovely to put a name to a face.” • I’ve got a little baby, I made him… He doesn’t speak, he’s two… He’s a slow learner; he’s only got two words: ‘car’ and
‘map’. I’m a bit worried he’s trying to escape. If his next word is ‘passport’ we’re in serious trouble! • I became monstrously posh as a child. My dad, who was Canadian, would say: “You sound like an a******.” And I’d just say: “Oh, Papa, why do you speak of me in such ill tones?” • I bought my wife a beautiful diamond ring and I even had it engraved. With the price.
SOCIAL SCENE
13 November 2019
GLORIOUS MUSIC THIS WEEKEND: Hospice Plett CEO Cecily van Heerden shared these pics of three staff members who were presented with long-service and other awards at their recent AGM. Pictured at left above are Debbie Bruinders with Edward Muchenje, who successfully completed an 18-month distance learning course in Leadership Development. At top right, Hospice Plett vice-chair lady Annabelle Conyngham presents Jacqueline Windwaai with a 12-year long-service award and, at right, Marie Pluim shows off her 14-year long-service award. Congratulations to these stalwarts for serving the most vulnerable of Bitou’s citizens. And if you don’t have tickets yet for this weekend’s performances of ‘My Fairest Lady’, performed in Knysna on November 15 and in Plett on the 16th for the benefit of Hospice Plett and Knysna Sedgefield Hospice, then you risk missing out! The 80-minute programme of songs chosen by Dr Anneke Lamont will include favourites from ‘My Fair Lady’ as well as music by Debussy, Delibes, Faure, Gershwin, Mozart, Puccini, SaintSaens and other composers. As a continuation of this celebration of glorious music, there will be a special service at St Peter’s Anglican Church in Plett on Sunday November 17 at 8am. Resound a Capella Choir will perform songs specifically chosen to represent stages of life, accompanied by Dr Lamont on the organ. The collection will be for the benefit of St Peter’s Church and this sum will be matched by an anonymous benefactor to benefit Hospice Plett. Email aconyngham@telkomsa.net or call 044 533 2010 for additional information.
CXPRESS
FOR THE WONDER OF WATER: Last week, Plett’s Wet Workout aqua aerobics crew celebrated 26 years in business, and some of the ladies pictured above splashing it up at the heated pool off Airport Road have actually been around for the quarter centuryplus… and lived to tell the tale. Says founding member Sue Wale, seen here leading the class in her inimitable smiling slave-driver fashion: “We started on November 8 in 1993 at the Formosa Inn in a hothouse with a heater that required paraffin. We took turns to check that the flame was still burning every weekend. So, we have evolved! From 1997, we met at the River Club indoor pool, until 2006 when we moved to our current ‘home’ at Goodlands Country House. Some ladies have been with us since day one, and here’s to many more years of bopping and jiving in the water.” There are aqua aerobics classes from Monday to Friday at 7:30am - email wale@global.co.za or call Sue on 082 756 5729 for details.
GLAMOUR AND GLEE ON GOOSE’S GREENS: Pictured here with top international golfer Gary Player, at centre, are players and organisers of last Friday’s Plettenberg Bay Crime Prevention Association fundraiser, when R200,000 was raised to boost the efforts of this security collective to keep Plett and surrounds crime free. Congrats to winners on the day Steve and Liz Fisher (1st with 50 points), runners up Andrew Zeelie and Rassie Theron (48), and third-placed finishers Martina and Christiaan Urbaczek (47). Longest drive ladies and men’s winners were Esrine Zander and Carlo Erasmus respectively. Photo: William Ashurst
THANK GOODNESS FOR VISIONARIES! Don’t miss the Three Visions talk at 6pm for 6:30pm this evening at Wilderness Hotel, when the local ratepayers association will follow up talks on Fire Safety and Shark Conservation with a trio of speakers looking into the future of Wilderness and its surrounds. One of these - alongside sustainability scientist Dr Chloé Guerbois and Andre Hacquebord, who heads up the Wilderness Residents and Ratepayers Association Fire Forum - is Melissa Dalton of The Precious Tree Project, pictured at right. Her vision is the reforestation and the regenerative development of Wilderness and Hoekwil, and she will share what The Precious Tree Project has already accomplished and how everyone can get involved. Entry is R10 for WRRA members and R20 for non-members. Call John Miller on 084 959 4243 for additional information.
DON’T MISS THESE BEAT-SAVY BEAUX! Beautiful Rebellion - the awesome due of acclaimed South African guitarist Dave Leadbetter, at right, and Plett-based multi-instrument maestro Martin Wolfaardt - wooed a sold-out house at Stofpad Playhouse on Sunday November 10. Next up is a show in Port Elizabeth on November 14, and then they’ll return to the Route for a performance at Fisanthoek Brewery on Sunday November 17, followed by a gig at Grain Mill Organic Bistro in Knysna on Friday the 22nd. Booking is essential email playon@candiceludick.com or call Candice on 060 715 3607 to secure your seat. - Photo: Julie Hoffman
People, places & events TWO OLLIES WITH POPPIES: This troupe of Grey High Grade 11 cadets marched along with the MOTH veterans in Port Elizabeth’s annual Remembrance Day parade to the Walmer Cenotaph on Sunday. Among them are Plett natives Oliver Harrow, standing at right, and Oliver Roode at centre back. Hats off to you for honouring our fallen war heroes, boys.
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Storms River
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CXPRESS
13 November 2019
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CLASSIFIEDS
ON THE SOAPBOX
13 November 2019
Letters to the Editor
Email: editor@cxpress.co.za - Fax: 044 533 0852 - PO Box 1449, Plett 6600
Ratepayers Association makes points that so surely this is worth concern everyone in Plett marching for by anyone A meeting was held the other evening under the umbrella of the Plettenberg Bay Ratepayers Association. However, it was not just for Association members, but for all residents of Bitou who are concerned with the way the municipality is being used for the benefit of a cabal of employees. The amounts of money that are being siphoned off are horrendous. These amounts would go a long
way to alleviate the desperate needs of the poorer section of our community, especially in housing. What is most concerning is the blocking of information by Bitou Municipality. Surely in the era of transparency and ‘the right to know’, this should not be a problem. After all, the council is elected by the people, for the people, and not to be a feeding trough of corruption for a minority who despise that trust.
Why is it therefore necessary to resort to the law courts at great expense to obtain that which is rightly ours under the constitution? It’s a further waste of our money. The government is on a course of eliminating corruption in municipalities which is out of control - including ours, apparently. Silence allows it to continue. We have entered the era of pavement politics,
who wants to move corrupt mayors and officials from our society and elect people whose first characteristic is a social conscience, and not out to fill their pockets. To those residents who attended all the way from Kwano, hats off to you. Brian Warboys, Plett (Read a summary of the Plett Ratepayers meeting with regard to Bitou’s particular case of ‘state capture’ on page 4. - Eds.)
Bitou Council, please fire your CFO… or else Firstly, I request that this letter be afforded enough space so that all Bitou residents can see it clearly. Secondly, I thank you in advance for publishing my letter as it is important for the general community to become aware of its contents. We have been reading on social media as well as in local papers how the broader community has been humbly requesting that Bitou Council please remove its Chief Financial Officer. In several publications, Plett Ratepayers Association has been begging the council to request the CFO to leave. We have had Mayoral Imbizos where the community asked the executive mayor and his council to please release the CFO. But ALL of that fell on deaf ears. The man is still here! We have also read in the papers that our CFO was
arrested by the Hawks, charged and dragged through the courts for fraud committed in Nketoana Local Municipality in the Free State Province. What I don’t understand is: Why is Bitou Council still allowing the CFO to be in his position when he has been charged for such a serious crime? The man is our Chief Financial Officer, for that matter. He is tasked to look after ratepayers’ funds. The question is: Can he be trusted, once he has been charged with such a crime? He has been charged for a crime committed in his previous work place, being a municipality. What makes this council think that he wouldn’t do at Bitou Municipality what he had done at Nketoana Municipality? As far as we know in South Africa, the Hawks have never charged any person without prima fa-
cie evidence existing. We can’t allow a crook to run our finances - never! We now hear that Bitou Municipality has regressed once again in its annual audit, where we were given a ‘qualified’ audit outcome. When the CFO was employed in 2017, Bitou had three consecutive ‘clean’ audit outcomes. He drove the municipality towards two ‘unqualified’ outcomes, and when that wasn’t enough, he drove us deeper into the ‘qualified’ status. Bitou Council, what are you waiting for? Do you want the next outcome to be a ‘disclaimer’, or ‘adverse’, before taking action? On March 20, the Bitou community had a major march over the pre-paid electricity crisis. We thought that after the march, the council would act because our call as the community was for the re-
moval of the CFO and his Revenue manager. That did not happen. We therefore want to give Bitou Council until December 31, 2019 to relieve the CFO of his duties. However, if this does not happen, on January 13, 2020 we will be mobilising to have the CFO removed from his duties. Surely we will know then to pack his bags in his small blue GP-vehicle, seeing that you, being Bitou Council, don’t have the guts to do anything. We will mobilise ALL Bitou communities and organisations, including businesses and the Ratepayers Association. Our campaign theme will be #CFOMustFall. Enough is enough, and anyone who protects him will definitely have to go with him. We are now GATVOL! Nolwazi Mbhekesha, Plett
Tsitsikamma Gateway nearly there - and a new restaurant in 2020 I write in response to the letter ‘What’s cooking at national park’s eatery’ in CXPRESS of November 6 [read it on page 11 of that edition at www. cxpress.co.za]. The Garden Route National Park (GRNP) Storms River Rest Camp restaurant, which was gutted down by a fire in 2016, was moved to a temporary facility. Architectural designs for the restaurant were completed and finances sourced from the Infrastructure Grant, according to SANParks infrastructure and special projects manager Curt Jones. He says the project had to receive approval from National Treasury first, but that they are now gearing internal processes to prepare for the advertisement of the tender in early 2020. Exciting news for the coming festive season is that visitors will now be able to stop for coffee near the biggest tree in the
TWIXT RIVER MOUTH AND OCEAN: The Storms River Rest Camp restaurant is currently housed in a temporary structure, but that means diners are even closer to the beautiful, wild ocean
Garden Route. The precinct, dubbed the Eastern Gateway Project, is in Tsitsikamma and nearly completed, with contractors finalising the parking area. Speaking on site, Jones expressed his excitement about completing the project before the festive rush. The café will be opened in December and the curio shop is also underway. The site is en route to the GRNP’s biggest tree in Tsitsikamma. The ‘Big
Tree’ is an Outeniqua Yellowwood, estimated to be about 1,000 years old. It is close to 40 metres high and about nine metres in diameter. The precinct is just off the N2 national road and will provide an ideal stopover for most visitors travelling between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. The R14.4-million infrastructure project had two phases. The first phase took off after a Basic En-
vironmental Assessment and an Environmental Authorisation gave the thumbs-up for bulk services to be installed. It included the provision of bulk services such as water, electricity, and sewerage already feeding the Storms River Village staff houses via a pipeline that runs under the N2. The second phase of the project was completed to create a precinct with a coffee shop and curio shop. Some 16 locals were involved in its construction with a contractor from the Eastern Cape, Simunye Developers. The project was funded by the National Department of Tourism. Visitors to Storms River Rest Camp will be delighted to note the progress of the entrance gate, which was completed earlier in 2019 and now provides better access to the park. Nandi Mgwadlamba - GRNP Regional Communications Manager, Knysna
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SPORT & ADVENTURE
Spotlight on bakkies at 2020 George Old Car Show HE 24th George Old Car Show will take place on February 8 and 9 at PW Botha College - these details were revealed during a media launch last Friday at King George Hotel. Speakers at the occasion included Southern Cape Old Car Club chair Mike Alexander, George Municipality speaker Gerrit Pretorius, and premier Old Car Show partner Rene Scribante of ScribBenzeum. George Old Car Show chairperson for 2020, Johan Rademan shared that next year’s event would feature a special exhibi-
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PICK ME UP, SCOTTY! George Old Car Show committee member Pierre Conradie is the proud owner of the pretty 1960 Studebaker Champ bakkie that was on display at last Friday’s launch
tion on bakkies, while a Ferrari Club display would feature 17 of these supercars. Other attractions come February include the Valiant Club celebrating 60 years, an auto pavilion, an auction by Trader Auctions, and a special exhibition of muscle cars. More good news for the general public is that the committee will make even more parking available to visitors, courtesy of Carpe Diem School. Activities leading up to the 2020 Old Car Show includes the 15th Veteran Tour (veteran cars have been built prior to 1918) on February 6 and 7. Local participants, joined by members of Cape Town’s Crankhandle Club, will leave George on the 6th, sleep over in Albertinia, and return to George the next day. In his address, Gerrit Pretorius asked ‘what makes George and the Old Car Show tick?’, and challenged the organisers to keep the event relevant while promoting the common good. Rene Scribante shared her love of old cars and expressed her delight that the ScribBenzeum would once again be the premier partner of the event. Convenor of the launch Alewijn Dippenaar regaled all in attendance with his quirky take on the history of bakkies, from the first motor-truck built by Daimler in 1896, to the most successful pickup in history (the Ford F100), and Tesla’s announcement that its long-awaited electric pickup truck would be introduced to the world on November 21 next year. Call Klaus Oellrich on 076 764 0897, or visit the website www.scocc.co.za for further information.