14 November 2018

14 November 2018

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

FREE

Breeding season begins Every year between December and January, thousands of Cape fur seals haul out on Robberg Peninsula to breed. After uncontrolled and indiscriminate seal hunting between the 17th and 19th centuries, and their complete extermination at Robberg and Beacon Island in the late 1800s, Cape fur seals finally received formal protection in 1893. But it was only in the 1990s that they slowly began to recolonise Robberg Peninsula, and now evidence exists that the local population may have reached historical numbers. Turn to page 5 to find out how you can assist local researchers - and here’s hoping for as prolific a tourist season!

Photo: Frikkie van der Vyver

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

2

CXPRESS

NEWS & VIEWS

14 November 2018

Reasoning with the ‘other’ brain: toxic masculinity and the compromised minister

Wandisile Afrika Sebezo

NDOUBTEDLY, sexuality has been the cause of many a black male’s fall from grace; this subject is covered extensively by Bell Hooks in her book We Real Cool - Black Men and Masculinity.

“Irrespective of class, status, income, or level of education, for many black men sexuality remains the place where dysfunctional behaviour first rears its ugly head.

“This is in part because of the convergence of racist, sexist thinking about the black body, which has always projected onto the black body a hypersexuality,” writes Hooks.

A few weeks ago, a leaked video showed Home Affairs minister Malusi Gigaba in a compromising position - let’s just say, taking advantage of himself…

Before we go any further, let me confess that I didn’t watch the “sex tape”; the minister, though, didn’t deny its existence and has since apologised.

I don’t have a problem with

U

BE BIGGER THAN THAT: Home Affairs minister Malusi Gigaba waves his pinky, its message crystal clear, at the EFF’s Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi in parliament on November 6

Gigaba starring in his own private video, but I have an issue with his behaviour after the fact. It’s bad enough that a senior cabinet minister like him is seen in such a compromising position, by so many.

What’s inexcusable is his refusal to acknowledge that the video has dealt a huge blow in terms of the moral and ethical behaviour expected from our public representatives.

And to make matters worse, during president Ramaphosa’s question and answer session in parliament on Tuesday No-

vember 6, Gigaba made a pinky finger gesture at the EFF’s Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, after Ndlozi called the minster out on the leaked sex tape.

The pinky gesture was Gigaba’s way of saying that Ndlozi has a small penis. In no uncertain terms, this was a dick contest - a classic case of toxic masculinity on the part of the minister.

In a society like ours, characterised with hyper-masculinity and patriarchal tendencies that feed into femicide, rape and gender-based violence, such abhorrent behaviour has no place.

Thoughts on the latest Garden Route fires...

E’RE feeling shattered here on the Garden Route.

The fires came too soon again fires that are only supposed to happen every 150 years?

Fynbos is meant to burn every 15-20 years for regeneration, but the areas up in the mountain near De Vlugt burnt just two years ago and have now burnt again. It’s too much, too soon.

Our climate is changing and the most vulnerable, as predicted, are worst affected. Nine lives lost, mostly children and a pregnant woman from a small forestry village near Karatara. Did they have a car to get away in?

Cars running on fossil fuels

W

are of course one of the contributors to climate change, but if you can’t afford a car, you can’t get away from the flames.

What a horrific irony.

Fire doesn’t know social class, though, it chooses its own path, usually through alien vegetation which burns faster and hotter.

A sawmill in the area also burnt, someone’s lifetime of work and a business that provided 400 jobs - that’s 400 families!

Animals that have been squeezed into smaller natural areas due to human development and the spread of alien vegetation, which doesn’t support biodiversity. And as the fires come

closer to human settlements they have to back burn, back into the mountains and natural areas. Where do they run?

Climate change and injustice go hand in hand; those affected are not necessarily those creating the problem in the first place.

And then there’s the injustice of how some people are still living: just last week nine families lost their homes in a shack fire in Plett, one fallen candle and nine homes lost with all worldly possessions.

We know all too well how devastating that is. But we are privileged enough to have some insurance and the incredible

Actions like Gigaba’s further entrench the problematic and often racist notions where black males were (and are) deemed hypersexual by whites.

Unfortunately, as black males we are now doing it to ourselves by continuing the history of projections on the black male self. Key to this prognosis is the idea of a black male rapist.

Don’t hear me wrong: Gigaba is not the victim of the white power structure - he is the victim of his own indiscretions and his inability to manage them. But group and identity politics will have our (blacks’) detractors project unto black males the hypersexual beast.

Author Malaika Mahlatsi wrote on her Facebook page: “We must hold black leaders to the highest moral standard, not only because we deserve leaders who are above reproach, but because for black people to lead ethically in this anti-black society is in itself an act of resistance.”

Rhian Berning

support of our community.

Locally the most impactful thing we can do to mitigate climate change is plant indigenous trees. And take a long hard look at our own use of fossil fuels and over-consumption.

To mitigate social injustices will take a more complex revolution. But it starts with empathy.

PS: Precious Tree Project NPO is a good local tree planting initiative to support.

• Eco Atlas founder Rhian Berning is an environmentalist, ‘ecopreneur’, and activist who lives in Plett with her family in their recently-rebuilt (post-2017 fires), off the grid farmhouse.

NEWS & VIEWS

14 November 2018

CXPRESS

3

Poorest of Tsitsikamma’s poor call on Pretoria to recoup millions splurged on ‘trustee expenses’ In a desperate bid to see upliftment in some of Tsitsikamma’s most impoverished villages, unhappy community members have turned to the Pretoria High Court to hear their plight - YOLANDÉ STANDER reports UPPOSED beneficiaries of the Tsitsikamma Forest Village Trust have taken action after allegations that millions of rands, paid over and earmarked for community development in the area, have instead been squandered on trustee expenses.

The trust was established in 1995 with the goal to uplift 13 remote forestry hamlets in the area, and has received more than R30-million in royalties from Face Adrenalin - which runs the world’s highest bridge bungy jump at Bloukrans Bridge - between 1997 and 2018.

The trust also derives income from renting out tourism facilities at a 29ha rest area next to Bloukrans Bridge between Plett and PE. But according to local community members, next to nothing has been received by beneficiaries.

They claim that most of the funds have ironically gone into the pockets of the trustees elected to serve

S

these communities Stanley Grootboom of the Coldstream Beneficiaries Forum said these communities remained poor and were subsequently plagued by heart-breaking social ills as a result.

The trust deed stipulates that trustees should not receive any remuneration, but could claim for expenses reasonably incurred. Grootboom said it was with the latter stipulation that most of the problems had arisen.

According to court papers filed with the Pretoria High Court, the trust had not held an annual general meeting or produced audited financial statements for three years, and according to the last audited statements in 2015, trustees expenses totalled just under R420,000 while beneficiary donations came in at less than R25,000.

The documents also suggest that trustee expenses increased dramatically to about R690,000 for the

2016/17 period while donations barely increased to just under R33,000. It is alleged that one trustee submitted expenses for up to 70 meetings.

“It is interesting to note that some of the trustees live only 15km from the Khoisan Village [where meetings are held],” Grootboom said.

He added that among other irregularities were alleged unsecured, interestfree loans, without repayment periods having been approved by the trustees.

Grootboom said these loans ranged from R20,000 to more than R90,000 each.

Attorney Stuart Hiscox, representing unhappy community members, said the court application sought to appoint new trustees and amend trust rules so there could be no further abuse.

The trustees have not yet filed responding papers.

Trust chairman pastor Wilson Wogane did not respond to enquiries about the allegations before going to print.

SUPing while it smoulders

Sign up to Fidelity ADT and get your first 3 MONTHS FREE* and a chance to WIN R10 000.

Make the upcoming summer holiday one to remember. *Ts and Cs apply.

Call Fidelity ADT today on 086 12 12 340 Martin Hurwitz of Plett took these pics of the eerie light over Poortjies Lagoon around noon last Saturday. The fact that fires were still smouldering - and in some cases flared up again - in several burn sites on the Garden Route did not deter this threesome of Stand Up Paddle boarders, at left, to enjoy the Keurbooms estuary’s calm waters. - Photos: Martin Hurwitz

Visit adt.co.za for full terms and conditions

4

CXPRESS

NEWS & VIEWS

14 November 2018

IT’S WORLD DIABETES DAY

Family is the focus of this year’s complications can be awareness campaign and avoided. If this disease is SHLEY Williams - a nine-year-old Plett Primary student - has Type 1 diabetes. While most children go about their daily activities relatively carefree, Ashley has to test herself up to six times a day and has to apply strict self-control when it comes to her eating habits.

World Diabetes Day is commemorated today, November 14, and themed ‘The Family and Diabetes’.

“Ashley drank lots of water, urinated a lot, and lost weight,” says her mother, Petronella, when asked what her symptoms were.

“She was 23 months old when she was diagnosed. I never knew children could get diabetes. We call it ‘suiker’ and think it is only a disease for old people. I was shocked when we received the initial diagnosis and have since done a lot of research of my own to better equip me to assist Ashley.”

“The role of the family in the case of a young child with Type 1 diabetes is taxing. Studies have shown that children with Type 1 diabetes miss more school days than their peers, which means that a parent would have to

A

miss work to stay home with a sick child,” ays dietician Ashleigh Moolman.

“We are also encouraging people to get screened for diabetes. Many deaths

SUNNY DISPOSITION: Ashley Williams has a positive outlook on life, despite having Type 1 diabetes

adequately managed, you can live a healthy life,” urges Western Cape Health minister Nomafrench Mbombo.

“The department has free testing available at all clinics.

Those with a family history of diabetes are often at risk of developing the disease.”

Ashley is an outgoing girl who does well in sport and likes to socialise. “It can be difficult at times, especially when I have to miss school because I am sick,” she says.

Petronella, who is a single parent, says this year so far has been good compared to 2017. “We have a lot of support, and that means a great deal to us - not only from her school but also my employer, who has been my rock and happens to be a GP. “When Ashley was diagnosed, I joined a WhatsApp group for parents of children with diabetes. Parents need all the support they can get.”

A Diabetes Walk is scheduled to take place in Plett on Saturday November 17, starting at CrossFit at The Market Square. Call Petronella on 071 030 0101 to find out more and see www. cxpress.co.za for additional information on diabetes.

NEWS & VIEWS

14 November 2018

Wanted, dead or alive: Here’s what to do when stumbling upon a stranded seal ORCA Foundation seal researcher and fisheries scientist FRIKKIE VAN DER VYVER sheds light on the upcoming Cape fur seal breeding season and explains the value of reporting washed up carcasses and live strandings A ROOKERY OF SEALS: Thousands of Cape fur seals are currently hauled out on Robberg Peninsula in preparation for the upcoming breeding season, which happens between December and January

NCE again the annual Cape fur seal breeding season has kicked off - and with over 4,000 seals already hauled out

O

on Robberg Peninsula, this could be a bumper year.

The peak pupping period happens each year over December, which

MYSTERIES UNFURLED: Researchers of the Plett Stranding Network and ORCA volunteers work side by side to collect samples from a washed up Cape fur seal carcass for research on this often misunderstood species Photos: Frikkie van der Vyver

DEPARTED BUT INTACT: Samples collected from fresh seal carcasses like this one are very valuable in current research aimed at monitoring the role of Cape fur seals in the ecosystem, as well as seal-shark and seal-fisheries interactions

usually coincides with strong easterly storms.

Still weak and unable to survive in the water, most pups that get knocked off the rocks by big waves are swept out into the bay where they drown or die from hypothermia.

Their carcasses eventually wash ashore on Robberg beach, with some being found as far as Keurbooms Beach and even up the Keurbooms River estuary.

Our boat-based counts show that at least 400 pups were born on Robberg Peninsula last year, over 100 of which washed ashore between Robberg 5 and Wreck beach. As part of a long-term study, we are monitoring the extent and significance of these natural mortality events.

We therefore strongly urge the public to report any carcasses they may encounter on the beach.

The opportunity also allows us to collect biological samples from dead pups, some of which will be used to infer the diet of their mothers over the breeding season.

The research is especially important, since we are unable to collect seal scat samples at the colony between November and January, due to the disturbance it causes to motherpup pairs, and the aggres-

sive nature of territorial bulls over this period.

Of course there are always a few pups that make it alive onto the beach where they are found by members of the public.

These are usually reported to the Plett Stranding Network, who collect them for short-term rehabilitation at Tenikwa Wildlife Sanctuary before they are returned back to the colony.

Still suckling at this early age, their survival depends on them being reunited with their mothers.

Last year, a number of survivors were tagged before catching a boat ride back to the colony with Offshore Adventures.

Unfortunately, due to the lack of funds for surveys, we were unable to monitor their post-release survival.

However next year, as part of other boat-based projects at ORCA Foundation, we intend to perform dedicated surveys to record tag re-sights. This will help us to determine whether any stranded pups were successfully reunited with their mothers so that we can assess the value of ongoing rescue and rehabilitation efforts.

You can help with our research by reporting any seal pups on the beach, dead or alive, to the Plett Stranding Network on 079 463 4837.

In addition, carcasses of adult seals that also wash ashore during the breeding season are particularly valuable in ongoing research aimed at monitoring the role of Cape fur seals in the ecosystem, white shark predation rates, and sealfisheries interactions.

We act under permits issued to our collaborators at Port Elizabeth Museum and work closely with relevant beach control authorities to collect samples and dispose of carcasses.

CXPRESS

Read CXPRESS online @ www.cxpress.co.za

5

6

CXPRESS

NEWS & VIEWS

14 November 2018

Test your general knowledge while backing 7s star and local lifeguards

THE MAN AND HIS MANAGER: Lita Richter, pictured with Roscoe above, deals with his finances and can enlighten anyone on the state of funds raised as they count down to the Emirates Dubai 7s tournament on November 26

HE next Fun Quiz Night - a regular local fundraiser in aid of Plett’s promising young sports stars and lifeguards - is scheduled for Friday November 23 at Plett Bowling Club in Challenge Drive.

Said organiser par excellence Barry Ricketts: “By popular request, we have altered the sports quiz format of the past to a general knowledge version, as this was thought to be more inclusive. The questions won’t be too difficult, and with a wholesome supper included, it should be a fun evening for all.”

The young rugby star who is one of the beneficiaries of this month’s quiz is Roscoe Ruiters, whom regular readers will remember from three weeks ago (see ‘Help Roscoe get to Dubai to play for his country’ on p15 of the October 24 edition at www.cxpress.co.za).

Roscoe is the son of Plett

T

DOTING FATHER: Robert Ruiters has been caring for Plett’s animals for decades, and you can assist him with wheels and fuel to see off his son in Bethlehem this weekend - read on for reasons why you should really help out

Animal Welfare Service (PAWS) inspector Robert Ruiters, who has been selected to represent his country as part of the SA Invitational side that will compete in the Emirates Dubai 7s tournament starting on November 26 - at a cost of R30,500 per player.

Roscoe, 17, plays outside centre in the 15-a-side game and is an athlete of note. He was born in George and later offered a scholarship at Hoërskool Witteberg in Bethlehem.

“I met with Robert but he didn’t know all the details of his son’s trip to Dubai later this month,” said Barry. “However, he will be visiting Roscoe in Bethlehem this weekend to learn more.”

For this trip, Robert now requires a rental car and fuel, to take necessities to Roscoe and to see him off.

Explained Heather Pieterse of PAWS: “Robert needs to borrow a vehicle

or use a sponsored hired car to take him to Roscoe this weekend. Just imagine, your car-hire company will be advertised all the way to Bethlehem and back!”

Robert will be returning to Plett on November 19. If you can help, please call or message on 078 786 5955 to let him know.

“I assured Robert we would be able to raise a reasonable amount at the Fun Trivia Quiz on November 23, which Robert plans to attend,” said Barry.

Readers who are not available to attend the quiz are welcome to deposit directly to a dedicated account, which is managed by Lita Richter (call her on 082 440 7757 for info): account name Lyqa Insurance Brokers, Standard Bank, account no. 303241691, branch code 051001, SWIFT code SB ZAZAJJ, reference ‘Roscoe Ruiters’ - please send proof of payment to 078 786 5955.

Entertainment Diary • The Knysna Plett Concert Series presents Herman Bergman and Friends on November 19, featuring guitarists Herman Bergman, Charl Lamprecht and Werner Bessinger, accompanied

by Waldemar van Wyk on double bass and Prieur du Plessis on percussion.

Multi-talented musicians one and all, they play many different instruments - one of the Friends has even designed a guitar that has

been patented!

Herman also writes music for musicals and TV series, and another of the Friends has performed with Jonny Clegg, Paul Simon, and Wendy Oldfield.

Together they will perform pieces from their album Mahai, which will take listeners on an emotive trip through South Africa, and also music from around the world.

This final concert of this

year’s Knysna Music Society series will be an allSouth African affair, so rock up at the Dutch Reformed Church hall in Fichat Street next Monday and enjoy a special evening of wonderful music played by professionals who love making beautiful sounds.

Tickets are sold at the door from 6:45pm and the show starts at 7:30pm.

Adults pay R150 and scholars enter for R30.

BUSINESS

14 November 2018

CXPRESS

Looking forward to your 300th birthday?

Read CXPRESS online @ www.cxpress.co.za

‘Living longer is all very well, but how will you manage to foot the bill?’ wonders STUART MURRAY ONTROVERSIAL British bio-gerontologist Dr Aubrey de Grey has suggested that some people alive today could live to be a thousand years old, or more.

Don’t be concerned; it’s a theory. However, my thoughts immediately turned not to the joys of longevity but to the more mundane issue of how, if this is on the cards, do we (or our advisors) manage a 1,000-year retirement plan?

Just as puzzling: for how many of these years do we have to toil before we can retire?

Perhaps we just keep going until we drop?

On the other hand, if Dr de Grey is correct, we won’t drop - at least, not for some time.

The issue of longevity is part of life, and it’s constantly being challenged. Modern medicine and improved lifestyles are helping to prolong life well beyond the expectations of half a century ago.

But people are retiring earlier - some even in their fifties - and jobs are getting fewer as mechanical means revolutionise industry.

Today we have the accelerated growth of Artificial Intelligence; robots are increasingly taking over. Technology development has moved from a crawl to a gallop. We are putting people on Mars, developing cars which drive themselves, and so on.

Dr de Grey says the answer to the longev-

C

ity debate lies in fast-tracking advances in modern medicine. He defines aging thus: Our cells function through a metabolic process which enables us to live from one day to another. The metabolism, over time, accumulates damage, resulting in pathologies which make us age.

He likens aging to a car wearing down over time. The best way to escape this biological reality, he maintains, is to repair the damage with advanced, precise, scientific tools. To develop these, he agrees, will take more time and money. His own SENS Research Foundation is leading the way.

“People,” he avers, “just don’t recognise aging as a disease.”

Alex Zhavoronkov of the UK’s Biogerentology Research Foundation concurs: “With further serious intervention into the biologies of aging we can live substantially longer.”

As one might expect, not every scientist agrees. Geneticist Jan Vigs of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine argues that the maximum lifespan has more or less been reached and that the greatest improvement in survival took place in the 1980s until it started to slowly plateau.

Other scientists believe that 120 years is reachable, but many believe that a lifespan of 125 years is probably the limit.

ADVERTORIAL

The ‘taste of summer’ has arrived in Plett

Incidentally, the oldest documented person to live was Jeanne Clement who died in 1997, in France, at the age of 122.

Returning to the issue of how we can afford to live longer, a span of 120 years more or less means living twice as long as most people currently plan to live in retirement. That’s pretty daunting.

Will traditional investing techniques prove capable of meeting investors’ requirements if they are going to survive for 60 years after retirement?

The ill-conceived (in my opinion) move from defined pension funds to defined contribution funds, in which individuals have become responsible for their personal retirement savings, kick-started the plethora of unit trusts, investment monoliths and personal financial advisors which make up the giant investor support industry we have today.

Can today’s investment industry live up to the lifespan leap?

They are certainly aware of the fact that their clients are living longer, but taking the long term view in terms of retirement planning while protecting clients’ assets and ensuring growth faces a giant leap if longevity continues to march to the tune of Dr de Grey’s theories.

Meanwhile, I see that the movie industry has recently produced a film depicting the short life of the late pop music star Freddie Mercury, adopting his massive hit song “Who wants to live forever?”

Good question…

• Stuart Murray (stuartmurray758@ gmail.com) is a former senior assistant editor of Financial Mail and co-founder, editor, and CEO of Finance Week. He is retired and lives in Plettenberg Bay.

MODERN AND MODULAR: Plett’s very own Ocean Basket boasts a new in-store design which is contemporary without losing the charm and simplicity that have driven the brand’s success over the years

CEAN Basket - one of South Africa’s best-known and loved seafood franchises - has dropped anchor in Plett.

The new store in Mellville’s Corner on Main Street is due to open to the public a little later this month.

After years of planning and searching for the perfect venue, Plett franchise owners Richard Verschoor and Nigel Proctor couldn’t be more excited.

The duo met about 30 years ago, both working in an industry very far removed from the hospitality trade they are embroiled in today. They began their foray into hospitality eight years ago, when they bought the Ocean Basket in Port Alfred, opening its doors to the public on the first day of November in 2010.

Richard and Nigel believe in a hands-on approach to management and attribute their Port Alfred store’s success largely to the fact that it is owner-run. They are committed to bringing this same ethos to Plett - this will be evident in one of them being present at Ocean Basket Plettenberg Bay at all times.

The new store has been designed by the Ocean Basket Franchise creative team and other specialists in the field. It boasts a contemporary new in-store design which is modern and modular without losing the charm and simplicity that have driven the brand’s success over the years.

The design focuses on enhancing guests’

O

experience as well as optimising space and workflow in the ‘back of house’ area - the engine room of the store. It streamlines the fundamental aspects of food preparation while conforming to the highest standards of hygiene and health practices in the industry.

As one of South Africa’s favourite seafood restaurant chains, Ocean Basket offers a home-from-home feeling, friendly people and great value for those hardearned bucks. The menu offers an array of Mediterranean-inspired dishes and everything else from prawns, sushi, and calamari to its famous fish and chips.

The Plett restaurant will seat 150 guests and offers both inside and patio seating with a beautiful view of the bay.

The new team members have been undergoing intensive and extensive training at the Knysna store over the past three weeks and with work on the store nearing completion, Richard and Nigel are enthusiastic about opening their doors to locals in the coming weeks.

“Opening the Plettenberg Bay store has been in the pipeline for a number of years now and to see the project coming to fruition is beyond exciting,” says Richard. “We look forward to being of service to and getting to know this awesome local community.”

• See the advert alongside for contact details.

SWIM ON OVER TO OUR NEW STORE

OCEAN BASKET PLETTENBERG BAY 044 533 0750 Shop 4 Mellville Corner, Main Road, Plettenberg Bay eMail: plett@oceanbasket.com

7

8

CXPRESS

14 November 2018

The innocent act of building a snowman T had been snowing all night, so the next morning at 8am, I made a snowman.

At 8:10, a feminist passed by and asked me why I didn’t make a snow woman.

At 8:15, I made a snow woman.

At 8:17, my feminist neighbour complained about the snow woman’s voluptuous chest, saying it objectified snow women everywhere.

At 8:20, the gay couple living nearby threw a hissy fit and moaned it should have been two snowmen instead.

At 8:22, a transgender person asked why I didn’t just make one snow person with detachable parts.

At 8:25, the vegans at the end of the lane complained about the carrot nose, as veggies were food and not meant for decorate snow figures.

At 8:28, I was being called a racist because the snow woman was white.

At 8:31, the Muslim gent across the road demanded the snow woman wore a burqa.

At 8:40, the police ar-

I

rived, saying someone had been offended.

At 8:42, my feminist neighbour complained again that the broomstick of the snow woman needed to be removed because it depicted women in a domestic role.

At 8:43, a government equalities officer arrived and threatened me with eviction.

At 8:45, a TV news crew showed up. I was asked if I knew the difference between snowmen and snow women. I replied: “Snowballs?” and was called a sexist.

At 9am, I was on the news as a suspected terrorist, racist, homophobic sensibility offender bent on stirring up trouble during difficult weather.

At 9:10, I was asked if I had any accomplices…

My children were taken by social services.

At 9:29, far left protestors offended by everything were marching down the street demanding for me to be beheaded.

The moral: There is no moral to this story. It’s just the world in which we live today…

First day of school OMMY had reached school age. His mom worked hard to make him enthusiastic about the idea. She bought him lots of new clothes, told him of the new friends he’d meet, and so on.

The first day of school, Tommy eagerly set off.

T

When he came home, he was super excited and had a lot of glowing reports about school.

The next morning his mom woke him up, saying: “Tommy, it’s time to get ready for school.”

Perplexed, Tommy asked: “What? Again?!”

Daddy’s amazing trick HE little boy greeted his grandmother with a hug and said: “I’m so happy to see you, Grandma. Now maybe Daddy will do the trick he has been promising us.”

The grandmother was

T

rather curious. “What trick is that, my dear,” she asked.

The little boy replied: “I heard Daddy tell Mommy that he would climb the walls if you came to visit us again.”

INTERVAL

Untimely kisses...

SOCIAL SCENE

14 November 2018

CXPRESS

9

SWING PAST OUR TABLE: Plett’s Differentlyabled Awareness Campaign (DAC) is hosting its first Christmas event on November 20 at the BI PROM NIGHT: When the time came for Kranshoek Primary School’s Grade 7 farewell, it wasn’t only the students who dressed to the nines KwikSpar in Beacon Crescent. Says campaign - pictured above are members of staff on this auspicious occasion. Standing from left are Celest Olivier, Arthur Kayster, Davidene Williams, champion Rita Hardaker: “Everyone is invited to Valencia van Wyk, René Fayed, Ruley Stroebel, Merle Davids, Johnathan Malan, Shurinda Barnardo and Louisa Botha, with Antionette visit our table next Tuesday, with a second event Cortje, Donnoline Aaron, René Scholtz and Shereen Jack seated in front. At right above, top student Annilin Mouton takes receipt planned for December 1 when YOU, the public, of a pretty painting, donated by Jorge Pires of Beacon Isle Resort, from acting principal Davids, right. - Photos: Vinthi Neufeld will be able to see what your gifts of haberdashery and other donations have produced.” Two of the campaign stalwarts in terms of producing Christmas decorations and beautifully practical gifts like the clothes-peg aprons (which tie around the waist), dog basket liners, kitty cushions and toys, and fabric shopping bags pictured below are Calvin and Patricia, who operate in Qolweni and Wittedrift respectively with a little help from their friends. Calvin is pictured above sewing one of his patchwork doggie basket liners, sales of which will bolster the DAC cause to achieve even greater things in 2019. See you at the BI KwikSpar next Tuesday - call Rita on 082 5602 606 for additional information.

People, places & events

FORMS KIDS HIT THE BEACH: On November 2, 570 kids from Formosa Primary School in New Horizons walked down to Hobie Beach, where the Bungalow staff set up their volleyball net. The older kids had great fun playing volleyball with the friendly staff, while bat-and-ball was a winner with the younger set, and the smaller children enjoyed building castles and playing in the sand. Touch rugby and soccer games were also played, so the beach was packed with nearly 600 youngsters and their adults having a very good old time. The Bungalow’s resident DJ, Ollie, was playing music from the car park and the children were loving showing off their dance moves and teaching the waitrons a thing or two. While this was going on, reps from Robberg Fine Foods and the Bungalow’s head chef were hard at work in the kitchen, prepping 570 lunch packs for everyone. Says Bungalow manager Lucy Slabbert: “Robberg was kind enough to provide a discount on the items we needed, and each child was happy to receive a healthy lunch pack including a juice, hot dog, oats bar and apple. All the children left with huge smiles, and we thank them for coming to play with us!” - Photo: Elmar Killian

10

CXPRESS

14 November 2018

Handyman on call - 082 492 4417 / 072 724 6590

Paws

Plett Animal Welfare Service

CLASSIFIEDS

ON THE SOAPBOX

14 November 2018

Letters to the Editor

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

Why halt Bitou municipal investigation if there’s nothing to hide?

In Business Day of October 22, it was reported that the Auditor General’s staff have been terrorised by several municipal officials, and have even been shot at.

AG Kimi Makwetu has raised this serious situation in a letter of October 15 to parliament’s standing committee on the Auditor General.

There can only be one reason for this intimidation, which is that the municipal officials involved are intent on hiding fraud and corruption.

This cancer now seems to have spread to Bitou Municipality.

At a special council meeting on August 31, the mayor stated that provincial MEC Anton Bredell had instigated an investigation into Bitou Municipality because he believed that maladministration, fraud and corruption, and serious malpractice had occurred or was occurring (this under Section 106(1)(b) of the Municipal Systems Act 32 of 2000, and the Western Cape Monitoring and Support of Municipali-

ties Act 4 of 2014).

At this meeting, the mayor went on to advise council that: 1. This investigation will be challenged because we will not, as a local authority, bend under the minister’s bullying tactics.

2. Any official found to be cooperating with the investigators appointed by minister Bredell’s office will have disciplinary action instituted against them. “Disciplined for working with the investigator” - note the wording “with” - not “cooperating with a legally-constituted investigation”.

At the special council meeting on September 28, the DA Opposition tabled a motion titled ‘Bitou Municipality appointment of Siyathemba Sokutu Attorneys to stop investigation initiated by the office of the MEC in terms of Section 106(1) of the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act 32 0f 2000’, i.e. questioning this appointment, among other matters relating to this.

On the agenda of the mayoral committee

There goes the sun…

This pic of the setting sun was taken on November 4 by Plett resident Jenny Ponder, who says: “It was taken from my home at Castleton and was absolutely amazing to watch!”

Art and music collections on sale to local aficionados I was a contributor to CXPRESS on October 11 last year with a letter entitled ‘How astrology can save the planet from mankind’ [turn to page 11 of that 2017 edition at www. cxpress.co.za].

I am now in a position necessitating contact with Garden Route artistic and musical societies, as well as some galleries, perhaps, since my wife has been both a painter and a piano player but is now losing the capacity to appreciate either.

Her collection of both music and art is quite extensive but we may have to move to a centre of medical excellence away from the Garden Route and we will not be able

to take along the majority of these two types of collections.

I would appreciate it if you could forward this message to any society or gallery you have the address for. We have both reached the stage of nearly being housebound so we could not go to any of these places either in Knysna or Plettenberg Bay. Hoping you can help in this quest.

Dr Dennis Ring, Plett (Email dr.ring@plettmail. co.za if you would like to find out more about the collection of art and music that the Rings soon have to part with. We wish the doc and his wife all the very best for the new chapter ahead. - Eds.)

meeting of October 24 under the heading of the abovementioned motion, the following report was recorded: 1. The executive mayor has appointed the attorneys in terms of the delegated functions/powers.

(This occurred prior to August 13.)

2. The municipality will be responsible for the legal costs depending on the court’s decision (i.e. ratepayers will foot the bill).

3. The municipality is the applicant in the matter which include (sic) all the councillors unless recorded to the contrary.

Opposition councillors, in their motion of September 28, tabled the question: “If the minister’s allegations are unfounded, why go to the cost of this exercise instead of allowing the investigators to conclude their work?”

They also questioned why this matter was not

presented to council for approval of the expenditure, and whether the mayor and in turn the municipal manager had the authority to institute a high-court action without council’s approval.

Furthermore, the opposition councillors have indemnified themselves against any cost for the mayor’s lawsuit as they were not party to any of the above decisions.

At the council meeting of November 2, it was recommended by the mayor that the abovementioned report of the mayco meeting of October 24 be acknowledged.

We leave it to everyone’s imagination as to why the mayor does not want the investigation to proceed.

Plettenberg Bay Ratepayers and Residents Association, Plett (This letter was forwarded to Bitou Municipality for a response. - Eds.)

Gratitude after Tsitsikamma fires of 2018 We would like to thank all parties involved in the recent fire-fighting efforts across the Tsitsikamma region.

Working on Fire, MTO Forestry, municipal fire teams, the SANDF, and teams from our local communities have been invaluable in the ongoing struggle to contain the blazes and keep Tsitsikamma safe.

There has been no loss of life, nor destruction of houses reported, but serious damage has been caused to plantations and fence lines.

The fire started on October 23 at Lottering, on the western side of Tsitsikamma. It was contained and declared safe.

A second series of fires broke out on October 29 due to lightning strikes, affecting areas from Storms River to Clarkson.

Extreme weather conditions hampered fire suppression operations, but the favourable conditions of light rains and moderate winds that followed

created a window of opportunity and ground teams were working to bring the containment to approximately 80% by the middle of that week.

It is with great relief that we wish to inform the general public and all tourism stakeholders that tourism in Tsitsikamma has been unaffected by the fires.

All tourism operations are continuing as normal and we will maintain the level of customer service excellence that Tsitsikamma is known for.

The roads are open, the Tsitsikamma section of Garden Route National Park is open, and Storms River Village is ready to receive visitors.

All accommodation establishments, activities, eateries, and other businesses in the Tsitsikamma region are preparing for a busy holiday season.

We look forward to welcoming you to the garden of the Garden Route.

Sian Kruger, chairperson of Tsitsikamma Tourism Association

Pretty, but where’s the pot?

Barbara Schulman captured this beautiful rainbow over Plett on November 6. Now we’re just wondering about whether she’d perhaps stumbled on those pots of gold supposedly situated at its ends…

CXPRESS

Read CXPRESS online at www.cxpress.co.za

11

12

CXPRESS

SPORT & ADVENTURE

14 November 2018

The boys are back in town…

ACH winter, several of Plett’s young and talented polo stars head to Europe to play the circuit there.

“We like to call them our ‘Plett Polo Disciples’ as they are spreading the word about our town and the burgeoning local polo scene. These boys are now home and preparing for the coming season,” explains Plett Polo committee member Garth Kanigowski.

Here, in their own words, is what three of the Disciples did during the winter.

Chris MacKenzie Handicap: 7 goals At the end of April it was time to bundle on the layers of clothing and fly over to England. This year I was based in the riverside town Henley-on-Thames at Black Bears Polo Club and played for Park Place for the second year in a row.

I participated in several 15 and 18-goal tournaments throughout the season along

E

with patron Andrey Borodin, as well as team mates Alfredo Bigatti and Pepe Gregouli for the 18-goal, and Jero del Carril and Jimbo Fewster for the 15-goal.

The team reached the finals of the prestigious Royal Windsor and got to shake hands with Her Majesty the Queen of England yet again! We also reached the semi-finals of the Valerie Halford, Duke of Sutherland, and Indian Empire Shield tournaments.

The English season drew to a close on August 30 and after a quick two-week visit back home, I left for the Kenyan International tournament in which my dad, Buster Mackenzie, was also playing, but with a different team. Both of us managed to reach the semi-finals.

From Kenya I travelled straight to Argentina, where I was at the time of writing, playing in the 20-goal Presidente Cup with Sebi Mer-

los. After Argentina awaits the long haul to Australia to compete in the Melbourne Cup, which will be my last 2018 overseas stop before returning to my hometown, Plett, for the December tournaments at Kurland.

Byron Watson Handicap: 5 goals 2018 has been an exciting year for me, with the opportunity to play the UK Open with Jean Francois Decaux’s La Bamba de Areco team.

My year started off with playing and being based in La Dolfina, under Pelon Stirling’s set up (Oriental).

It was nothing short of an amazing experience to win the La Dolfina Polo Tour (18-goal) prior to travelling to the UK. We started off well enough in England by winning the Trippetts Challenge - a 22goal warmup tournament.

It was an incredible moment to receive the MVP (Most Valuable Player) award in

Storms River

TIN HOUSE Self-catering accommodation

the final.

My highlight of the UK season was reaching the final of the Gold Cup where we lost in the dying seconds 11-10. It was an unforgettable experience to be so close to winning one of the world’s most pristine polo tournaments. This special high-goal season saw me playing alongside some of the world’s highest rated players, namely Pelon Stirling and Juan Martin Nero.

Soon after the high-goal, we continued onto the 18goal tournament (Challenge Cup), where we reached a hard-fought final with King Power Polo Team.

For a great end to the UK season I was asked to join the Park Place team for The Duke of Wellington. We went on to claim this trophy by coming out victorious in the final. I was extremely pleased to receive the MVP award after this final.

Marek Kangowski Handicap: 1 goals My season started with the privilege of being selected for a tour to Zimbabwe with David Evans, Dirk van Reenen and Cameron Chubb as an SA invitational side. Unfortunately, we narrowly lost but nevertheless it was an honour and a fantastic experience.

I was back on a plane to England for four weeks’ work experience with Chris McKenzie. Just before I was due back home the unbelievable happened: a ‘try out’ for the Lechuza Caracas high-goal team in Spain. This was surely thanks to Chris and Byron Watson putting in a good word for me. I departed for Spain with very little knowledge of what would lie ahead...

On arrival in Soto Grande it was straight into daily practices, meetings and gym with David (Pelon) Stirling, Juan Martin Nero, Pablo Mac Donough, Milo Fernandez Araujo, Hector Guillermo and Facundo Sola. I was star struck, to say the very least!

Missing out on the first two games of the Copa de Plata (silver), I found my-

Marek Kangowski (in blue)

Chris MacKenzie

Byron Watson

self in the semi and final in which - despite being the fastest and most intricate polo I’ve ever experienced - we managed to pull off a win. Playing 20-goal polo with two 10-goalers and a win was beyond my wildest dreams, but such is polo.

Next up was the Copa de Oro (gold) - the biggest tournament in Europe. As the games went on the pressure mounted, with fields and horse quality being of an extraordinary standard.

The semi-final against the Castanola brothers and Alfredo Cappella was a brutal game and I managed to score the winning goal in extra time taking us into the final. Unfortunately, this was lost against La Indiana.

I am truly grateful that I was able to experience polo at this level and learned

so much - including some hard-core Spanish - and I pray to one day do it again.

Handicap explained Players are rated on a scale of -2 to 10 (the higher the better), which refers to their playing ability. Team handicap is the sum of its players’ handicaps, and in handicap matches of six chukkas, the team with the lower handicap is awarded the difference as goals at the start.

For matches other than six chukkas, the side with the lower handicap is gifted a number of goals as a head start: the difference in the teams’ handicaps is multiplied by the number of chukkas and divided by six. Fractions count as half a goal. So, a 12-goal team would give a 10-goal team a 1.5-goal start in a fourchukka match.