15 August 2018 by CXpress

15 August 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

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Turning the world upside down

Photo: Carol Phillips

Carol Philips of the Plett PhotoFUNatics claims that, “with a lens ball, not only do you have the world in the palm of your hand, it also stands on its head!” This crystal ball photography tool allows you to take refraction photos which reveal the background scene within the ball. But she has inverted the image in order to turn the beach the right way up. Wouldn’t it be fun if we could decide which way was up and which down in our daily toil? Happy thoughts - see the other winning entry in the PhotoFUNatics’ August competition on page 9, and enjoy the lovely late winter days in our beautiful ‘hood.

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CXPRESS

NEWS & VIEWS

15 August 2018

OBITUARY

Plett’s golden boy of cycling joins the great peloton in the sky Legendary 82-year-old Plettenberg Bay and SA cyclist Peter Plath has ridden his last 1-Tonner, writes Club 100 chairman ALLAN KUHNERT ETER Plath, a member of Club 100 Garden Route, last Saturday joined a group of us for the club’s regular 100km outride. Sadly, on Monday evening August 6, Peter suffered a heart attack and passed away that night, bringing to an end a most illustrious cycling career. Peter, after winning his age category in two stellar South African cycling events the Cape Town Cycle Tour (Argus) for the umpteenth time, and the 947 Cycle Challenge - was awarded Honorary Life Membership of Eden Cycling Association as well as its prestigious Cycling Legend award last November. This on the back of decades of cycling achievements and awards. Peter began cycling when he was 15 and managed to get a seeding in the paced handicaps of the Dunlop 100km race one year later. He won that race on his second attempt but could not take his large trophy home because like many participants in those days, Peter commuted to the start of the race on his bicycle. That large trophy stands in a museum at Wemmer Pan with his name on it. He finished sixth overall and fastest junior in the Ladysmith to Pietermaritzburg race and eighth overall in the 1956 edition of the Cape Town to Johannesburg race. At age 21, Peter married Joan and gave up cycling as building a plant hire business and raising five children took precedence. By the

prince of a man who had a positive impact on all who met him. He will be sorely missed.” “He was the very definition of what a man should be, an inspiration to everyone, and will be sorely missed by all who knew him. Uncle Peter, it was an honour to have known and ridden with you.” Our condolences go to Joan and children Ann, Sally, Janet, Wendy, and Grant, grandchildren and great grandchildren. A cycling legend no longer among us, but Peter’s legacy will be remembered for decades to come. • A memorial service was held on Saturday at Plett’s Methodist Church - see page 12.

PODIUM DEBUT: Peter with the Dunlop Trophy he claimed in 1952, aged 15 - the first of many wins during his illustrious career

YELLOW JERSEY: Peter in his Club 100 kit, photographed around the time CXPRESS featured his 80th birthday tribute in 2016

time he turned 47, he was able to continue cycling again. Apart from representing South Africa at the UCI World Championships he has completed 29 Argus races with 10 age-category victories, and numerous 947 Cycle Challenges in Johannesburg, again winning his age category many times. One might assume that he had a very strong body and always had a comfortable ride, as it invariably seemed when riding with him. That assumption was wrong, for in 2000 when Peter was in his mid-sixties, it took him 4 hours and 17 minutes to complete a 100km race - a time completely foreign for Peter, but he was suffering from terrible chest pain. He knew he had to get to hospital but decided the quickest way to get there was to complete the race and then ride to the nearest

hospital and get medical help. He was admitted immediately and had two arteries stented. Despite this setback and a further stint in hospital some 14 years later for more stents, he did not give up on riding hard and competing at the highest level. This amazing commitment is something he has passed on in training rides with fellow Club 100 members in Plettenberg Bay and in camaraderie with his children and grandchildren, who also ride. ‘Uncle Peter’ as he was affectionately known will be sorely missed. To quote from some of the numerous messages posted on the club’s website: “RIP Peter, you are a cycling legend, a gentleman, and a massive inspiration. We are going to miss you. Cycle happily with your Lord.” “Great man, we will miss his gentle smile and special twinkle in the eye.” “Peter was a

PETER PLATH: 14 January 1936 to 6 August 2018 - this image of ‘Uncle Peter’ was captured during his final 100km outride with fellow Club 100 cyclists on Saturday August 4 Photo: Johan Bronkhorst

From the City of London to Signal Hill, and the story behind Plettenberg Bay’s Friday noon siren So many people know what Plett’s NSRI siren does, but few are familiar with the story behind its noon call every Friday - DEREK FRIELINGHAUS digs back in history HE siren on Signal Hill is unique not only among all National Sea Rescue Institute stations in South Africa, but also in the country as a whole. It is situated atop the water tower on the historical site named Signal Hill, since this is where the Village Harbour Master in the 1800s used to run up flags to alert passing sailing ships to any local danger in the bay. The history behind this unique aspect of Plett’s life started in the early 1970s, long before the use of bleepers and cellphones. One of the obstacles facing our crew at NSRI was alerting them that someone’s life was in danger. Many different ideas were mooted, like shooting maroons in the sky and firing of flares. Someone suggested a siren, but at that stage the only kind we knew was used on factory floors. So we bought the largest siren that was commercially available at the time and installed it on the corner of what was then Cransgotz, opposite what is known today as the Dolphin Circle. This was tested but found to have very limited range, so back to the drawing board we trudged. Being a small community, the newlyappointed town electrical engineer, Frank Redford, heard of our plight and said that he, having worked for the City of London, knew of a building in London housing hun-

ATOP A TOWER ON A HILL: This photo of Plett’s siren on the Signal Hill water tower dates from circa 1975

dreds of sirens that were used in the 1939 Blitz of London during World War II. He duly wrote a letter to a friend who was employed by London Municipality. It must have appealed to those powers that were, as within no time Frank received a reply that the City of London would donate a siren to us. Safmarine volunteered to collect it and ship it out to Cape Town. The only company who charged us for delivery was SA Railways! Plett Municipality provided a crane and supplied it with threephase power, free of charge. Initially it had three signals:

• Sea rescue was the siren going up and down (on and off) for 2 minutes; • Fire was a straight siren for 2 minutes; • For civil defence, the siren was turned on for 5 minutes and all services would assemble. The one negative using the siren in the 70s was that Plett regularly suffered power outages, as the power cables ran through the forest to reach Plett from the power station in Knysna. One power failure was caused by an irritable elephant in the forest pushing over the poles carrying electricity cables. Once in the late 1980s there was an emergency call out and the siren did not work. We phoned the police to check why they had not pressed the switch and they replied that this had been done a few times, but nothing happened. Hence the testing ever since, every Friday at noon. The switch was situated in the charge office at the police station, and any member of the public could phone the police with news of someone in danger. We instructed the police to press the alarm only, if in their opinion, a life was in danger. I believe this is still the case. Even with modern technology such as beepers, cellphones and the rest, the siren is used successfully by Sea Rescue to this day whenever a life is in danger. Email Derek at haus@mweb.co.za if you have old stories or photos to share.

NEWS & VIEWS

15 August 2018

CXPRESS

Murder victim found on Women’s Day hails start of brutal long weekend in Bitou Plettenberg Bay experienced a violent streak over the past few days, including the murder and possible rape of a young New Horizons woman - YOLANDÉ STANDER reports LETT police spokesperson captain Marlene Pieterse said members of the New Horizons community came across the body of a woman in an open field next to the N2 at about 11:36am on Women’s Day, August 9. She added that although the woman had not yet been identified, a preliminary investigation revealed that she was about 28 years old. “The investigation is in the early stages and there is no concrete information regarding this matter yet. At this stage the body has not yet been identified,” Pieterse said. She added that the body had been taken into the care of the police forensic

pathology services and that police were investigating a case of murder and rape. Pieterse asked anyone with information about the incident to please contact detective sergeant Gilbert Bulawa on 083 284 9359 or 044 501 1941. In the meantime, on Saturday August 11, a man was stabbed in the head after coming to the aid of his wife during a robbery in Mintos Ledge Road. Plettenberg Bay Crime Prevention Association (PBCPA) operations head Otto Olivier said a woman was smoking in her garden at about 3am when a group of suspects overpowered her. “Her husband rushed to her assistance when he

heard her screaming. He was stabbed in the head several times during the scuffle,” Olivier said. He added that police, Smhart Security, the Plett Rapid Response unit and Plett K9 unit responded immediately and cordoned the area off. The area was swept by various security stakeholders including Blackie, the PBCPA support dog. Olivier said a suspect was spotted trying to jump over a garden fence in the area. “Members of Smhart Security and the Plett Rapid Response Unit closed in on the suspect who then tried to stab one of the Smhart Security responders during a struggle.

Good news with the bad when two ‘missing’ girls turn up unscathed OCIAL media was ablaze on the eve of the Women’s Day long weekend when news of two young ladies, reported as missing from their Knysna and Plett homes respectively, spread like wildfire. In one case, 18-year-old Brucia Booysen was “last seen by her parents on Tuesday night August 7 at 5:15pm, wearing a blue school tracksuit and black sneakers with a blue top”. Details of her height, weight, and brown eyes were posted below a photo of the missing girl and all who saw it feared for the worst. So the collective sigh of relief was audible across Bitou when two days later it was announced that Brucia had been found and safely reunited with her family. In the case of ‘Shamoneeque’ who was reported missing from her Knysna home, a similar reaction

URGENT APPEAL HEARD: Brucia Booysen from Plettenberg Bay was reported missing, but a day later it was reported that she was safe and sound

was voiced on various platforms when her father reported thus: “She is safe at home [where she] arrived a few minutes ago. She slept over with a friend without our permission. The family would like to thank everyone for all the

messages and sharing of the post on Facebook. “We appreciate the calls and messages from everyone. Thank you also to the Knysna SAPS. It was a few hours of hell not knowing where she was.” • One local reader commented thus on Facebook: “Sad news this morning - a young lady’s body was found in New Horizons yesterday. It appears she was raped and beaten to death and her body went undiscovered for quite a few days. She was approximately 20 years old and leaves behind a young child. “She is NOT the missing young lady from previous posts of yesterday and today. News has also just come in from Kranshoek of another missing girl (also NOT the deceased). This is a small place. Why do we not get the media coverage needed in these instances?”

“The suspect tried to flee the scene but fortunately he ran into the Plett Rapid Response Unit, where he was quickly apprehended.” Olivier said the suspect was believed to be a well-known burglar released on parole recently. “He was handed

over to the police. A weapon was found on scene.” Olivier added that shortly thereafter more suspects were spotted on camera in the Poortjies area. “They disappeared into the bushes when various vehicles responded, including the

Knysna police K9 unit.” Olivier said during a meticulous sweep of the area with the thermal camera in the Plett Rapid Response vehicle, it was discovered that two houses had been burgled prior to the assault. Garden Route Media

CXPRESS

NEWS & VIEWS

15 August 2018

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Premier urges release of stateowned land for housing DECIDING OUR FUTURE: The Western Cape cabinet with premier Helen Zille pictured at right, during the launch of Women’s Month’s #NathiSithi_Hhayi campaign in Cape Town, in support of no violence against women and children

ESTERN Cape premier Helen Zille last week called for the release of several mega-properties that can be developed for affordable housing in the Cape Town metro. The properties are owned by the national government, and are all well-located for affordable housing. Writing in her Daily Maverick column, the premier said these properties would facilitate the kind of land reform that would build, rather than break, South Africa’s economy. “Should national government release its five large pieces of land, which consist of Ysterplaat, Culemborg, Youngsfield, Wingfield, and Denel in Cape Town, it could po-

tentially yield 93,817 affordable housing units,” said Zille. “I will continue to advocate for the release of this land, for this purpose, just as I did between 2006 and 2009, while I was still mayor of Cape Town,” she wrote. The premier said the province was demonstrating its commitment by using a provincial piece of land - the 22-hectare site of the old Conradie Hospital close to the inner city - for affordable housing on a mixed-use, cross-subsidised basis. “The site is truly a game changer, because it is pioneering sustainable land reform where it is most needed. We just need to dramatically escalate the

numbers involved, and for this we need large tracts of land owned by national government in Cape Town,” said Zille. The global trend of urbanisation should place the land reform spotlight firmly on urban land and housing. Premier Zille said the continued growth of employment in Cape Town, which has increased year-on-year by 77,000 according to Stats SA’s latest data, is serving as a draw card to citizens in both the province’s drought impacted rural areas, as well as from other parts of the country. “Land expropriation without compensation will not address unemployment. A stable po-

litical environment with clear policies will attract investors, grow the economy and create jobs, giving people the ability to acquire their own homes, instead of waiting for a free house,” Zille concluded. • The question to ponder for our purposes is this: How much land belonging to CX Country’s municipalities is underutilised and could be developed for housing and the general upliftment of our seasonal economy? On the subject of especially farmland being expropriated without compensation, reader ‘PD’ from Plett contributed the following: “Peasant farming feeds peasants; commercial farming feeds a nation - take your pick.”

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NEWS & VIEWS

15 August 2018

CXPRESS

The Tree Show entertains during eighth edition of Kurland Greening

OFF TO PLANT: SANParks rangers, from left at back, are Gerald Borchards and Roshan Campher, with Morné Krigga, Ghannon Kido, and Gavion Ambraal in front joined by NVT representatives Christina Hoang, left, and Mardré Cupido, united in their bid to green Kurland Village

Words & photos: Timothy Twidle

HE annual Kurland Greening tree-planting initiative took place for the eighth successive year in Kurland Village, The Crags, on August 8. The event was held under the auspices of Nature’s Valley Trust (NVT) and

was arranged and coordinated by NVT conservation educator Kirwan Strydom. At the start of the day representatives from Tenikwa Wildlife Centre, Born in Africa, Ocean Research Conservation Africa (ORCA), the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) in Knysna, Tsitsi Tuiniers gardening club,

SANParks and Redford Conservancy, together with learners from The Crags, Formosa, and Bahia Formosa primary schools gathered in The Crags Primary’s assembly hall. In total, some 200 people were present. Following a few words of welcome by NVT director Dr Mark Brown, Lunchbox Theatre

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Why drive to and from the Cape if you can fly with Plett Air Connect? These images show some of the happyas-Larry passengers arriving from Cape Town on August 9 - the day after Plett Air Connect launched its daily flights linking Plettenberg Bay with the Mother City. By Sunday the 12th, the snazzy Beechcraft operated by Plett Air Safaris was booked to the brim, with 19 seats taken and all passengers blown away by the easy check-in procedure. You see, this personalised air service only requires guests to arrive 15 minutes before departure, so there are no queues or lengthy security checks to negotiate. And the complimentary champagne and ice tea before take-off at 2:50pm sharp on Sunday didn’t hurt, either! Says Danielle King, charged with PAS customer services: “We received many heartfelt compliments and it was clear that our unique touch sets us far apart from the rest.” Email her at danielle@ plettairsafaris. co.za or call 079 658 6984 with queries, and see the advert alongside for further information.

performed an interactive theatrical production entitled The Tree Show, which elicited much merriment and warm applause. Thereafter, 40 specimens of Acacia Karroo (also known as Sweet thorn or Soetdoring) were planted throughout Kurland Village. Residents of the community had specifically requested that an Acacia species be the tree of choice for this year’s Kurland Greening, as other specimens of indigenous trees, planted in previous years, had proven to be insufficiently robust to withstand the wear and tear of daily life in a populous village. At the conclusion of the planting session, which entailed a good deal of walking, all participants enjoyed a packed lunch, prepared by Vinthi Neufeld of Curry and All. The 40 saplings of Acacia Karroo were donated by DAFF. Kurland Greening received funding from the National Lotteries Board for which NVT expressed its most sincere gratitude.

GREEN GUIDANCE: Among those who supervised the planting of 40 specimens of Acacia Karroo were, from left, Londeka Phetha of the Department of Environmental Affairs, NVT conservation educator and Kurland Greening organiser Kirwan Strydom, and Nokukhanya Mwandla of DAFF in Knysna

FOREIGN INPUT: Christina Hoang and Leandro Evangelista, both students of York University in Toronto, Canada, are currently serving a three-month internship with NVT and participated in last week’s Kurland Greening - “My time here is almost up, it has been absolutely wonderful and I will be sad to leave,” said Hoang

CXPRESS

NEWS & VIEWS

15 August 2018

The Worx blog will keep Plett abreast of plans leading up to Rage 2018 VER the course of one week, November 30 to December 7, thousands of matriculants from all over SA will converge on Plettenberg Bay to celebrate the end of their exams with a festival of fun. The event has become an exciting fixture in many a young adult’s immediate post-matric celebrations, and this year is no different, as Plett Rage 2018 is very visibly on the bay’s horizon once again. Hosting such a big event, involving so many people, presents several challenges - none more so than the perceived impact, both negative and positive, from within the local community. Many questions are raised with grievances aired and, left unaddressed, morph into bigger issues than necessary. In many cases the issues are justified; in others, perhaps not so much. Open communication is key, and with that in mind, the team at eventing experts The Worx proudly introduced the Rage News ‘18 blog a month or so ago. Over the coming months they will introduce readers to a host of great initiatives - some new, some already in play - designed to add real value to everyone involved with Plett Rage both directly and indirectly. Rage News ‘18 will bring updates, insights and information that will go some way to answering any lingering queries local residents may have, while keeping everyone well informed, well before this year’s event. This isn’t a one-way street, as questions raised will be answered to swiftly, alleviating any confusion or conjecture that may creep in. Says The Worx head honcho Daron Smit: “Most of all, we want to include the town in the event more than ever before. There is

so much great work being done, by so many, and Rage News ‘18 wants to tell you all about it.” So, what to expect? New and existing structural developments of Plett Rage ‘18 have been formalised to reside within various schemes that include the Rage Trust, Rage4Good, and Friends of the Festival. All these elements will evolve and grow over time, providing plenty of exciting things to talk to you about moving forward. Rage Trust: Comprising a committee board of leading figures from local entities such as the Ratepayers Association and Plett Business Forum, Rage Trust will oversee the fair distribution of funds to local, non- profit enterprises and associations that work tirelessly in support of the event. Values that these trustees will subscribe to - safety, fun, legacy, respect, and improvement - will be reflected through the implementation of their plans and strategies. Rage News ‘18, in turn, will reflect those positive developments straight back to readers of the blog. Rage4Good: Working closely together with marketing specialists Firecracker (http://www.firecracker. pro/portfolio-posts/plettrage/), Rage4Good has been helping children and local schools implement educational programmes for those that don’t have the same opportunities that many of us are fortunate enough to enjoy. Now entering its fifth year, Rage4Good will provide continual assistance to those communities and implement new programmes. Friends of the Festival: Local businesses, quite rightly, want to maximise selling opportunities to the vast waves of visitors attracted by Rage. There

has been confusion in the past on the best ways that business owners can get involved with the event without official Rage accreditation. Friends of the Festival is where you’ll find the best practice solutions to make the most of the opportunities that will be on offer. About The Worx Managing and overseeing above-mentioned and other crucial aspects of Rage require constant, on the ground care, which is why 2018 sees the addition of these Plett-based event and production specialists to the Rage management portfolio. The Worx will be directly involved in all aspects of the festival that require local and municipal attention, such as liaison with Bitou Municipality for permission certificates, transport plans, coordination of all safety and security measures, communication to accommodation providers, local businesses, residents, the wider community and any other interested parties. The Worx sets out to assist and inform from a local perspective, so please feel free to contact them with your questions. “Our hope is that Rage News ‘18 will act as your conduit to the event. Use our e-platform to express your thoughts, feelings, and experiences - your pleasure, or disdain. We really are listening,” says Daron. For news on all things Plett Rage contact Daron, Andy, or Louise on 044 533 0816, or email daron@the-worx. co.za, andy@the-worx.co.za or louise@the-worx.co.za. • The above features excerpts of the first blog penned by Andrew Sullivan in preparation for a seamless Plett Rage 2018 - catch up at https://rage news2018. wordpress.com/ and watch this space for updates in future editions.

Notice Board • It’s pub grub time at Kurland Club in The Crags again on Friday August 17, with Brad and Elke hosting a dinner of bobotie and rice with vegetables. Adults will then be treated to coffee or tea with chocolates, and kids can look forward to Kate’s ice cream surprise boxes. The club opens at 6:30 and dinner will be served from 7pm. Tickets cost R65 per person and children under 12 eat for free, but must be accompanied by their parents. Please RSVP with Elke on 065 808 8003 by Thursday afternoon. Seats are limited to 50 people, so call now to ensure your lekker bobotie at Kurland Club. • All friends of the Rastafari and lovers of awesome tunes are invited to join Bitou House of Rastafarians

IREY ELDERS: Bitou House of Rastafarians will celebrate the birth date of its spiritual leader Marcus Mosiah Garvey (18871940) on August 17 - pictured is its Elderly Council, from left, elder Frans Bostander (Asher), elder Lesley Davids (Dan), elder Thomas Oliphant Wentzel (Judah), and elder William Gugushe (Asher) with ras Headly from Knysna, and ras Ruben Sebastian Andrew in front

when they pay tribute to their ilk with a weekend full of festivities at New Horizons community hall. Friday’s programme kicks off at 1pm with local DJs and sound system Werner from Wittedrift, along with music hall tunes and dancing into the evening.

On Saturday from 7pm, DJs from Cape Town will include Bliksemstraal and Melly G to entertain revellers ‘till late. The closing ceremony takes place on Sunday at the same venue call elder Judah on 072 117 1490 or elder Asher on 073 578 5564 to find out more.

BUSINESS

15 August 2018

Don’t underestimate the cost of private schooling in SA FFLUENT individuals and families who prefer to send their children to private schools should not underestimate the importance of planning ahead to cover fees. “For an average household with two kids in school, annual tuition fees including boarding could easily amount to R540,000 - considering that the most expensive private school in the country currently costs over R270,000 a year per pupil,” says Eric Enslin of FNB Private Wealth. He says families often overlook the fact that school fees could actually be a five to 13-year

commitment, placing significant pressure on household cash flow if not properly planned for. Furthermore, the fees become more expensive annually, often increasing beyond the inflation rate. Enslin advises thinking long-term and making provision for private schooling as early as possible. “Even if you have some cash available, it would be viable to invest it and use the returns to lower the overall cost of private schooling,” says Enslin. Regardless of the kids’ ages, there are a variety of investment vehicles: • A money maximiser

account enables immediate access to funds while earning a money market related rate. You can also make additional deposits at any time. • Inflation linked deposits offer an investment where your returns are linked to inflation, ensuring your investment keeps up with the rising cost of living. • Investment property gives an option to invest in property, which is likely to appreciate in value while enabling you to use rental income to fund tuition fees on a monthly basis. • Investing in the stock market or investment

funds that offer consistent growth over the longterm is also an option for parents. “There isn’t a one size fits all approach when deciding on the best vehicle to save for private school fees as every family’s financial affairs differ. So it’s essential to consult your bank to identify the best investment plan, which takes into account a variety of factors impacting the family. “Making provision for educational expenses can give families peace of mind knowing that they won’t find themselves in a situation where they have to make financial sacrifices in order to give their children the best education possible,” concludes Enslin.

How to insure your business against cyber crime HE recent hack at one of South Africa’s largest insurers has been a wake-up call for many local businesses that have maintained a fairly relaxed approach to cyber security. As the biggest South African breach to date, it dominated headlines, but the reality is that cyber security issues have been creeping up on us for some time, with an increasing number of businesses having been victims of ‘ransomware’ attacks. “It’s crucial for advisers to understand cyber risks, and how to insure against them,” said Bertus Visser of PSG Insure. “This is often easier said than done, however, as they are very different to traditional business risks, and the nature of cybercrime is continually evolving.” According to Visser, cyber risks are often intangible and difficult to quantify, as the value of a loss depends on things like the nature and volume of the data compromised and the damages that have resulted.

These could include: • Loss of revenue • Loss of intellectual capital • Loss of competitive advantage • Reputational damage • Litigation from clients and third parties affected by the compromised systems or data. “These risks can lead to a host of costs for a company, such as the costs of IT specialists to contain the problem, or a forensic investigation to ascertain how the leak occurred,” said Visser. There could also be legal costs and the cost of public relations specialists to limit reputational damage. Then there are industry and regulatory fines and penalties to consider. “Under POPI, for example, if you accidentally send an email with personal information to the wrong person, this can be seen as an information breach and could trigger a liability,” said Visser. How an organisation responds to an incident is pivotal to reducing the

damage of a breach to all concerned. How does a cyber-attack happen? Phishing is a major risk for individuals and businesses alike, with increasingly sophisticated tactics being used to fraudulently obtain sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, and credit card details. Breaches can also result from negligence, either by a company or its third parties, or from rogue employees who are looking to gain financially or to damage a company and disrupt its operations. “Although cybercrime still seems a bit like science fiction to many of us, the reality is that it is becoming increasingly common,” he said. Cyber insurance to cover these risks does not normally form part of conventional commercial insurance, which usually only covers tangible assets. “Cyber insurance needs to be purchased as a stand-alone policy, and is available in South Africa

from a handful of specialist suppliers, who assist companies in identifying and pricing their cyber risks. The cost of a policy will normally relate to a company’s turnover, and the state of its IT infrastructure,” said Visser. Who needs cyber insurance? Any business that has an online presence and that holds or accesses confidential data is at risk. In practical terms, that means most businesses today. Research suggests that there are as many as one million cyber attacks across the globe every day, and SA is certainly not immune. Every business today needs to ensure they have the appropriate IT security measures in place, as well as the appropriate insurance cover. “A discussion with an insurance adviser who has experience in this space will help you better understand these risks and how they could affect your business, as well as how to mitigate them,” Visser concluded.

Vote now to boost Western Cape tourism industry APE Town and the Western Cape have dominated in the World Travel Awards nominations for Africa, with dozens of tourism sites and facilities making the 2018 shortlist. Cape Town International Airport is once again nominated as top airport in Africa, while the Cape Town Cruise Terminal features in the leading cruise port category. The Cape Town International Convention Centre is also in the running for the leading meetings and conferences venue in Africa. Cape Town is shortlisted in the leading city

category, as well as in the leading festival and events destination, and the meetings and conferences destination. Table Mountain and the V&A Waterfront are both in the running for the leading tourist attraction in Africa, in a category that also includes Mount Kilimanjaro and the Masai Mara Game Reserve in Kenya. Several hotels and accommodation establishments across the Cape Town CBD, in the winelands, and on the Garden Route are also shortlisted in the many accommodation categories.

Economic Opportunities minister Alan Winde said: “Tourism in the Western Cape has come under real pressure in the last year as a result of the drought, but the industry has worked phenomenally hard to save water and save important jobs. “The fact that the province features in so many of the categories is testament to the hard work of the people in the industry and the excellent experiences and value that we offer to travellers. “I am also pleased to see accommodation establishments in Hermanus, Robertson, Paarl, George,

and Knysna all feature in the listings as this shows that excellence exists in tourism experiences across the province.” The World Tourism Awards are based on a public vote, and members of the public as well as representatives in the tourism industry are able to cast votes for the African categories until Sunday August 19. Minister Winde encouraged Western Cape residents and visitors to register to vote for their favourites. Visit www.worldtravel awards.com/vote to register and vote.

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INTERVAL

15 August 2018

Short conversations • Jon: “Last night, even after having seven drinks, I felt confident to drive, but I acted responsibly and took an Uber.” Albert: “Where did you go in the Uber, bro? The party was at your house.” • Wife: “I lost my car keys again.” Husband: “It’s in your jeans, honey.” Wife: “Don’t drag my family into this!” • Teacher: “What is an island, children?” Student: “A piece of land surrounded by water except on one side.” Teacher: “On one side?” Student: “Yes, on top.” • Johnny’s father asked for the password to use his Wi-Fi. “It’s taped under the modem,” Johnny told him. After three failed attempts to log on, his father asked: “Am I spelling this right? T-A-P-E-D-UN-D-E-R-T-H-E-M-OD-E-M?” • Wife: “I wish I was a newspaper. So I’d be in your hands all day.” Husband: “I, too, wish you were a newspaper. So I could have a new one every day.” • John: “Can you loan me R100?” Fred: “I don’t have that much on me.” John: “Well, just give me what you have and you can owe me the rest.” • Teacher: “Kids, what does the chicken give you?” Student: “Meat!” Teacher: “Very good! Now what does the pig give you?” Student: “Bacon!” Teacher: “Great! And what does the cow give you?” Student: “Homework!” • Wife: “Before we got married, you used to give me gifts, and now you don’t. Why is that?” Husband: “Have you ever seen a fisherman giving worms to a fish he has already caught?” • A newly married man asked his wife: “Would you have married me if my father hadn’t left me

a fortune?” “Honey,” the woman replied sweetly: “I’d have married you, no matter who left you a fortune!” • A woman rushes into her local hardware store and says: “Can I have a mouse trap, please? And will you be quick; I’ve got a bus to catch!” “Sorry, Ma’am,” said the store clerk, “but we don’t sell ‘em that big!” • “If you’ll make the toast and pour the juice, sweetheart,” said Tracy, the newly-wed bride, “breakfast will be ready.” “Good, what are we having for breakfast?” asked Dewey, the new husband. “That would be oast and juice,” Tracy replied. • John: “My grandpa is 98 years old, and he doesn’t even use glasses.” Jack: “Wow, that is simply incredible!” John: “Yep, he drinks straight from the bottle.” • My wife asked me before going to the hairdresser: “What cut do you think would make me more attractive?” “A power cut,” was apparently the wrong answer. • One morning a phonecall came in to the school office. “Hello, please mark William absent today. He’s sick,” said the caller. “Okay,” said the receptionist. “May I ask who is speaking?” “It’s my uncle,” said William. • A man arrives at a home for the aged for his first day. He is greeted at the door by a woman, who says: “You look like my seventh husband.” The man replies: “How many times have you been married?” “Six.” • Teacher: “One day our country will be corruption free. What tense is that?” Little Johnny: “Future impossible tense.” • “Waiter, there’s a fly in my soup!” “Don’t worry, sir, the spider in your salad will get it.”

• “Mom, you said the baby had your eyes and Daddy’s nose, didn’t you?” “Yes, darling.” “Well, you’d better keep an eye on him... he’s got grandpa’s teeth now. • Two kids were deciding what game to play. One said: “Let’s play doctor!” “Good idea,” said the other. “You be the doctor who operates, and I’ll be the patient who sues.” • A guy calls the AA [Automobile Association]: “I’m stranded on the side of the road.”

AA operator: “At least you have a shoulder to cry on.” • My friend: “I work at Google!” Me: “That’s great, I Google at work.” • Two friends are talking, and one says to the other: “I am so tired of people not understanding what I’m talking about.” His friend asks: “What do you mean?” • My wife said: “I need to call the doctor today.” “Which doctor?” I asked. “No, the regular kind,” she replied.

Forgot to post on Facebook that I was going to the gym...

Now the whole workout is worthless!

SOCIAL SCENE

15 August 2018

CXPRESS

People, places & events

PHOTOGENIC FEATHERS: Marie Morley was the winner in this month’s junior challenge of Plett PhotoFUNatics. Says Marie: “I am really passionate about photography, but don’t have much time to fit it into my busy schedule. This makes it difficult to find interesting subjects so I often find myself trying new techniques on everyday subjects. Seagulls are one of my favourites as they are really photogenic and not too difficult to capture in their natural surroundings. This shot was taken at Robberg 1 on a quick lunchtime excursion.” Says PhotoFUNatics convenor Derek Rushton: “Our August meeting done and dusted, the ‘open’ theme opening a can of wonderful worms! We got to see a myriad of Plett pictures and a lot of elephants bums (very odd that) among some exquisite wildlife captures.” The next meeting on September 5 is themed architecture and/or portraiture and, of course, ‘open’ as usual. Email derek_rushton@hotmail.com for details. DUO’S RETURN LONG OVERDUE: The Knysna Plett Concert Series presents violinist Alissa Margulis and pianist Luis Magalhaes on Monday August 27 at the Dutch Reformed Church hall in Fichat Street. After a break for the winter school holidays, the Knysna Plett Concert Series is up and ready to welcome the slightly warmer weather with a concert not to be missed! Alissa comes from a family of Russian musicians and her music has been described as ‘a revelation’. She is an expressive and emotional musician who performs all over the world in concerts and at top music festivals. She will be joined by a regular to these concerts, Luis Magalhaes, who became a concert pianist at the age of nine. A superb musician in his own right, Luis often performs in concert with his wife, pianist Nina Schumann, with whom he created the recording label TwoPianists. Alissa and Luis will perform works by Dvorak, Beethoven and Prokoviev. The show starts at 7:30pm and tickets at the door cost R150 (scholars pay R30).

FIGHTING GHOST FISHING: What ‘invisible’ factor is destroying marine life on our doorstep? Not so invisible, really... Fishing gear that has been lost, dumped or abandoned. Nets, long lines, fish traps or any man-made contraptions designed to catch fish are capable of ghost fishing when unattended. Learn all about it at the next talk sponsored by the Wilderness Ratepayers and Residents Association. Mark Dixon, above - a Sedgefield resident and marine biologist (M.Sc. Ichthyology and Fisheries Science) with a wealth of fascinating knowledge and first-hand experience about our local flora and fauna - has embarked on research that looks at the state of shore-based pollution and recreational fishing along our coast. The evidence of local ghost fishing ultimately inspired Mark to study the impacts of intertidal small scale and sport fishing on marine biodiversity and their contribution to ghost fishing. Mark is versatile man; he’s a Springbok archer, has grown Proteas for export, worked as a scientific observer on boats at the Prince Edward Islands and in Antarctica, worked as an avifaunal expert on a wind farm, and is a hiking guide. ‘Fighting Ghost Fishing’ is presented by the Wilderness Ratepayers and Residents Association at 6pm for 6:30pm on Wednesday August 22 at the Wilderness Hotel. Entry is R10 for WRRA members and R20 for non-members, and more good news is that a cash bar will be open.

JOIN THE CLUB: New Horizons resident Maria Pienaar is chairlady of the New Horizons Pensioners Club, who represents causes of the elderly at municipal and provincial level. NHPC meets three times a week (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday) in their building on the sports field from about 9am ‘till 2pm. The ladies are in majority but there are a few gentlemen involved, too. The pensioners are served breakfast and lunch by a team of cooks; they are stimulated by each other’s company and conversation, by lectures, outings, and handcrafts. Interested pensioners can call Maria on 064 181 4686. Pictured above are Myrna Windvogel, Lynne Terblanche, Denise van der Westhuizen, Katrina Whaites, Sheila Windvogel, Elisabeth Yonn, Nelly Jonkerman, Katrina Pretorius, Hesse Cunningham, Charlotte Beukes, Mary Mabanie, en Susan Koopman.

THE SKY’S THE LIMIT FOR LOU: Louise Auersperg - clearly the centre of attention and bell of the ball in both pics above - and hubby Peter of Adopt a Swimmer fame welcomed 120-odd guests to a party venue prepared by Pete and friends over months, in order to be ready for Lou’s 60th birthday bash last Saturday night. She thanks Lisa and the girls who have been meeting for the past three months to make sure they pulled off a most memorable party, and says she now loves her most amazing husband and son Alexander even more than before. Finally, she’s indebted to her incredible friends for the gift of their presence and fact that they clubbed together for her main birthday spoil of a skydive over Plett - yeeehaaaa!

CXPRESS

15 August 2018

Paws

Plett Animal Welfare Service

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ON THE SOAPBOX

15 August 2018

Letters to the Editor

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

Pointer owners have no feeling for nature, wild running dogs. It is a only for their unruly dogs pity that we have people I read with interest the letter concerning the killing of cormorants on the beach [turn to page 11 of the August 8 edition at www.cxpress.co.za]. The dogs in question actually are pointers - white with brown patches. I have met with the

owner a couple of times walking along the lagoon at Saltings. At one time he, a man quite senior in years, and some friends also accompanied by two pointers were walking at the lagoon. Needless to say, not a single wading bird was

in sight due to the unruly dogs chasing into the water and sending all aflutter. Confronting them brought the same result as mentioned in the previous edition. Unfortunately, these owners have no feeling for nature, but only for their

with that mentality in our dog-loving community. Their behaviour forces the tough regulations on all of us. They should be banned from walking their animals if not on leashes at all times. Comic, Plett

Ode to the awesome women of Plett Tourism I want to wish you guys a happy Women’s Month. In the country we live in, it is almost difficult to be recognised as equal to a man. Even if you have achieved great things, people will come with some reason to discredit you just because you are a woman. But women have since 1965 taken to the streets, demanding equality, and these women came from all walks of life and represented all races. They stood together as South Africans. I was raised by a woman who was a single parent, so I know how difficult it is to be a mother and also be a male role model,

raising babies to become heroes or leaders of the world we live in today. I want to thank you guys for every role you played in supporting myself and my team from 2014 to date. You have been great to us, even with all your other responsibilities. You have to know that it doesn’t matter what people think or say, you will always be the rock that makes people like myself remember you and always look up to you guys - especially Cindy, you are doing a great job with your ladies. There are many communities who get support from the Plett Tourism office, and they are very grateful for your support.

I can see that when they come to your office - if one of you is not there, someone else on your team is always available to be of assistance. You serve the public, even when some of the matters people bring to you guys are not part of your job. You are always willing to help and make sure they leave with a smile. I know if your office had the budget that is required to help all of our communities, you would do that. May God bless you and may you all enjoy your month as we commemorate those who marched to Pretoria in 1965, no matter if some of us do not see that women are striving to

make this country a better place for all who lives here. I’m blessed to learn from you and your team. Sifundo Kenneth Magaga - chairman: Bitou Boxing Academy, Plett (Kenneth was hauled over the coals in our previous edition by the official body in charge of Eden boxing for not registering a planned tournament in Bitou with them, but in lieu of a response to that letter, he chose to share with CXPRESS readers his praise for Plett Tourism manager Cindy Wilson-Trollip and her able team. We thought it apt to share this overdue credit to them and to women in general. - Eds.)

How good is good enough when welcoming the differently-abled? It is with great gratitude that I give thanks on behalf of the DifferentlyAbled Awareness Campaign to Bitou councillors who are making Marine Drive wheelchair, crutch, and walker-friendly. Lowering of almost all curbs now nears completion, so that it will be possible for the differentlyabled to make their way to Plett Town Clinic, the medical centre, and the rest of town. This request was made in March and we have seen ACTION! Councillor Dave Swart accompanied us last week on an inspection tour of the entire Main Street to see what could be done to make it more wheelchairfriendly, and I believe this will be noticeable shortly with the pavement cleared of bins, sandwich boards, and overgrown verges. Zebra crossings and added disabled parking areas are also more noticeable. Disabled parking signs should be erected in due course. Placement of restrooms, a gym, and playto-learn satellite parks was also discussed and awareness of the need created. I still find most disturbing the absence of a ramp at Plett’s post office. As a government department serving the public, this should be a priority. Think of all the elderly pensioners who have to collect their meagre pensions but need assistance

down a staircase, in many cases after walking all the way to town. This is a travesty of citizens’ rights. Any suggestions on how we can get this fixed? Many establishments are now more aware of the needs of the differentlyabled and their value as contributors to our coffers. At the pace we are forging ahead now - especially with the free sewing kits, kids’ drawing and other competitions, representation on local radio and the press - our awareness campaign can truly be considered as voice for those who have not had that representation before. Not only are we more aware, but we have more heart and compassion while thinking out of the box. Once satisfied that Plett is truly wheelchairfriendly, we can move to the next step of hosting sports events for the differently-abled. Every sport imaginable can take place here, especially for the children, since we have it all. We just need to stop our ‘someone else will get involved’ attitude and really ask: What can I do today, now, to help just one person feel good and not ‘different’ - be they vision or hearing impaired, or struggle to do their shopping. Knysna can now take a page from Bitou’s book and start looking at improving conditions - this is long overdue, according

to some Knysna residents. We are well on our way not to just making Plett, but the rest of the Route the friendliest destination for the differently-abled. The awareness campaign is growing daily and the support given by so many people has been awesome. Please keep up the comments since we need to know where to fix the problems, and if you do not make your voice heard I cannot speak for you. Look around you and ask the question from a differently-abled point of view: how good is good enough? I thank our councillors and all of you who are truly trying to make a difference. Rita Hardaker (formerly Van Rensburg), Plett (The awesome DifferentlyAbled Awareness Campaign competition is on ‘till early September. Plett reader Karin Gilbertson shared this story as her entry: “When my boyfriend/partner recently lost his leg below the knee, we knew that this would be life-changing for both of us. However, we didn’t realise how much it would change things. “One of the many changes I have had to make is to practise more patience as I am not only doing my own daily tasks but both of ours, which obviously now takes longer. It has taught us not to take each other or the gift of mobility for granted, and that losing a limb does

not mean we can’t live life to the fullest. Although we may not be able to do certain things, we are able to do the rest together. “It has taught us to be humble and gracious when offered assistance by others. It has shown us the kindness and passion of the medical profession dealing with us and his amputation. “I have been blessed with this special person, who has not allowed these challenges to discourage his will to live life to the fullest, although he has come to accept he’ll never play goalkeeper for his beloved Chelsea FC! “His being differentlyabled has taught me so much in a short three months. I will always be thankful to him for helping me see all the challenges of life a ‘diffabled’ person has to endure. “And to those few true friends out there, you know who you are, thank you for your care and understanding during this life-changing experience that we are going through. Without your help he might have lost a part of his life spirit.” Grand competition prize is a night’s stay for two at Sky Villa Boutique Hotel, with dinner and breakfast included. Just answer the question: ‘What does being differently-abled mean to you?’ then email your answer, name, and town of residence to winwithskyvilla@gmail. com to enter today.)

CXPRESS

SPORT & ADVENTURE

15 August 2018

Sandton rookie’s surprise win sums up spirit of Storms S River Traverse

SEDOND TIME LUCKY: Stuart Biesheuvel took the solo men’s title in the three-day Glacier Storms River Traverse with only one previous stage race under his belt - Photos: MVM Media

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TUART Biesheuvel surprised even himself when taking the solo men’s title in this weekend’s Glacier Storms River Traverse, it having been but the second stage race of his short mountain-biking career. And a veteran endurance athlete described his victory as exactly why this event is so important to local mountain biking. Sandton local Biesheuvel, 26, took full advantage of a race that prides itself on being a relaxed and fun introduction to stage racing and won the three-day event in a time of 5:51.06. “It’s fantastic and I’m quite surprised myself,” said Biesheuvel, who admits to still being “really new to this whole scene”. “It was a great end to such a good race - I loved the atmosphere. It’s made me think I may have to step up my training and take all of this a bit more seriously.” Endurance racing veteran Carel Bosman was thrilled to hear of Biesheuvel’s experience. “It’s normally what happens at events like these. You don’t have all your top professionals competing and it allows a rider like that to get a little bit of experience and build his confidence,” he said. “I was looking at the times and I noticed a lot of really talented youngsters in this field, and it’s wonderful to see because that’s the future of mountain biking in South Africa,” said Bosman, who added that he was also pleasantly surprised by his experience at this race.

BEST BIKE BUDDIES: Aidan Connelly and Rogan Smart, right, are two 20-year-olds from Plettenberg Bay who competed in the weekend’s Glacier Storms River Traverse - and finished second in the Open Men category! Best friends who developed a love for mountain biking at school, they are now chasing a dream to compete at the highest level of their sport, even if their parents are telling them to get real jobs... They rode their first stage race two years ago and won. Now, with a small sponsorship and having caught the eye of some of the more experienced teams out there, they have dreams to be competitive in the world’s biggest mountain bike races. “We have a good team dynamic because we know each other pretty well. We were at school together and realised via friends that we both enjoy riding. Our respective friends actually introduced us to each other,” says Connelly in what sounds like mountain biking’s version of the perfect match-making scenario. “This has been an awesome race. Racing is always good, but we came to this event specifically for the fun,” says Smart. “We try and keep it as pro as possible, but also just have a good time and enjoy the vibe,” adds Connelly. “Yes. A good vibe,” says Smart. “And good beer.”

“I would never have thought you could find such an amazing race in this part of the world. There are so many riders here who are taking part in their first stage race, and you can see why they picked this one. “The routes are fantastic. They’re not flat, but it’s exactly the stuff mountain bikers enjoy. You also don’t want it to be overly technical. So although you need to keep your wits about you, it’s still very family-friendly. And even if you want to go hard, there’s enough distance and enough climbing to test you. “South Africa is by far the world leader when it comes to stage races, and that’s the international market telling us this. There is no other country that puts together stage races the way we do it,” concluded Bosman.

Formosa’s tennis kids get a taste of big match temperament

On August 2, a team from Formosa Primary School played their first tennis match against Greenwood Bay College. The Formosa team lost to GBS but they learned a lot through this experience. Says coach Miralde Groenewald: “These learners gave their best after practising during the week at school. On Fridays, they are privileged to be coached by David Olsen at the Plettenberg Bay Country Club tennis courts. Well done to everyone!” Pictured here with coach Groenewald are Formosa’s first team of Mickay Sonqayi, Endruano Baartman, Reagan Titus and Shagon Paulse.

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Ride on to remember ‘Uncle Peter’ The photo above was taken on Saturday morning August 11 during a pit stop on the memorial ride for Peter Plath, at the Enrico’s parking lot in Keurbooms village. Pictured along with Club 100 Plettenberg Bay members are representatives of Peter’s large and loving family, including his daughters, their husbands and children, as well as a couple of the South African cycling legend’s friends. Read the full story on page 2.