15 October 2014
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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Crime busting The SAPS held a successful cross-border operation earlier this month between the Northern, Eastern and Western Cape, its Joint Operational Centre based in Beaufort West, where this photo was taken - turn to page 4 for a report on a drug bust which formed part of this operation at the Tsitsikamma toll plaza
Dog-fight update
Meet ‘our’ Google guy
Local Seffricans!
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CXPRESS
News & Views
15 October 2014
Plett pets to benefit from glorious gardens display T HE third annual Plett Open Gardens Day for Plett Animal Welfare Services (PAWS) promises another visual feast and enjoyable
outing for local garden lovers. As in the past, Rae Gilbert will open her magnificent Bosky Dell rose garden for the rose season, and it will
Our 10 000 free copies are distributed every Wednesday to a multitude of outlets along the Garden Route, with emphasis on Knysna and Plett and drop-offs at *Sedgefield Tourism *Caltex StarMart in Wilderness *Lynn Schroeder, Build It and other select outlets in George *Storms River Village and Bridge in Tsitsikamma - phone 044 533 1004 (o/h) with distribution queries.
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act as anchor for a variety of other beautiful gardens. Says Open Gardens convenor and PAWS committee member Marsja Hall-Green: “This year’s selection will be a departure from the past collection of individual domestic gardens in that we will be including a farm and fynbos garden, as well as a group of integrated gardens on an estate. “As always, we have tried to find gardens that offer a wide variety of experiences different settings, formal and informal structures, indigenous and exotic plants, or the art of simplicity. “We hope our visitors will enjoy them all equally, from the unexpected to the more conventionally beautiful.” The gardens listed below will be on show on Saturday November 1 from 10am to 4pm and tickets at R60 for all four are available at each of the gardens. Maps will be available at the gardens and can also be collected from Barney’s Kiosk, next to Mugg & Bean at The Market Square. Please note that there will be no access to the houses and it is suggested that visitors make use of toilet facilities at various garages or at The Market Square. PAWS is enormously grateful to the individual garden owners and also managers of the private estates for agreeing to open their properties to the public for the benefit of Bitou’s animals. Please contact Marsja on 073 645 9476 or 044 533 4578 for further information. Dqum{"Fgnn"tqug"ictfgp Gpvtcpeg"htqo"vjg"P4" qrrqukvg"Vjg"Jgcvj."hqnnqy" fktgevkqpu"qp"vjg"fktv"tqcf"vq" igv"vq"vjg"hcto Rae Gilbert’s stunning rose garden is based on strict geometric design, with bright colours providing a formal yet rustic look. The setting, which includes a lovely lily pond, is a perfect backdrop for approximately 6,000 rose bushes that are at their glorious best at this time of the year. Rae will be having a sale of David Austin roses on the day and her lovely garden
pavilion will be open for tea, while PAWS members will host their usual quality cake and plant sale at the garden. Itcjco"xqp"Jqguunkp‚u" hcto"ictfgp
Gpvtcpeg"qrrqukvg"Hqtguv" Icvg"qp"vjg"P4."cdqwv"3mo" htqo"Dqum{"Fgnn"qp" Mp{upc"ukfg Graham von Hoesslin studied garden design in the UK
FEAST OF GARDEN ART: The Snoek-Henkemans garden at Whale Rock Ridge, above, designed by Graham von Hoesslin, is predominantly indigenous with a focus on year-round colour, and forms part of this year’s Plett Open Gardens Day for PAWS - an added bonus for visitors on Saturday November 1 is that walks through participating estates are encouraged, below
and has won many awards for his local work. He combines indigenous and exotic plantings with great flair and imagination and his gardens, while being carefully structured, are always sensitive to their environment. For the past six years, Graham has worked hard to eradicate alien vegetation and trees on his own farm and the fynbos has made a vigorous recovery. His own small garden, surrounding his wooden cottage, is surprisingly informal, with all his favourite plants combining in a riot of colour. Graham’s personal approach to his own garden is quite a contrast to his more structured garden commissions. Visitors can explore other parts of the farm and stroll through the rehabilitated fynbos to a lily pond. Vjtgg"kpvgitcvgf"ictfgpu"cv" Uejqqpig|kejv"Geq"Guvcvg Gpvtcpeg"qhh"vjg"Xcnng{" Tqcf."pgzv"vq"Rngvvgpdgti" Dc{"Eqwpvt{"Enwd This sought-after estate prides itself on its extensive, strictly indigenous estate gardens that complement the individual gardens. From time to time, walks are organised on the long boardwalk through the various sections of the estate, including the indigenous bush. Visitors will be able to view three neighbouring integrated gardens (homes Carson, James and Pieterse), all about a year old and very different in size and their approach to indigenous planting. Visitors will also be able to take a walk along the boardwalk around the lovely dam and into other parts of the estate. Upqgm/Jgpmgocpu"ictfgp Yjcng"Tqem"Tkfig."gpvtcpeg" nghv"qp"vjg"tqcf"vjcv"ngcfu"vq" Tqddgti"Pcvwtg"Tgugtxg This garden, designed by Graham von Hoesslin, is a predominantly natural indigenous garden with the focus on year-round colour. It has a cottage garden feel but with indigenous planting. Pathways wind through the garden providing spectacular views over Robberg and the Tsitsikamma Mountains. Once again, the surrounding fynbos provides a superbly natural setting for this colourful garden.
Oryx Desert Salt competition winners CONGRATULATIONS to Anne Beale, Dirk Green and Sylvia Burns for being the lucky winners of an Oryx Desert Salt four-pack (fine, course, smoked & red wine-flavoured) each for answering the question ‘Where in Knysna can you now buy Oryx Desert Salt?’ correctly. (The answer is Metelerkamp’s and Ile de Pain, for those who missed our previous edition - turn to page 16 of the October 8 issue at www.cxpress.co.za for the full story.)
News & Views
15 October 2014
CXPRESS
Dog-fighting case coincides with uproar over Knysna bylaw The spotlight was shone on the pitbull breed over the past week as not only the trial against six members of an alleged dog-fighting syndicate resumed in the Knysna Regional Court, but proposed pitbull-specific changes to the town’s keeping of dogs bylaw received massive public outcry - YOLANDÉ STANDER reports
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WO of the six men arrested during a May 2011 police raid in Plett finally took the witness stand last week after several postponements over the past year, some due to technical issues involving largely inaudible recordings. The accused - Donald Wall of Port Elizabeth, Rudi and Peter Wall of Queenstown and East Londoners Owen Butler, Yorick Grobbelaar, and Anton van Blerk - were part of a group of 10 men arrested during the bust on a property in Ladywood on the outskirts of Plett three years ago. During the trial witnesses testified that they had found two dogs fighting in a massive blood-splattered wooden cage in the lounge of a home on the property. Police also found dog-fighting paraphernalia and five other dogs chained on the property. Before the accused took the stand last week, they
brought an application to have the charges against them dismissed, but this was turned down. They pleaded not guilty on charges against them and explained that they had been unaware dog fighting would take place at the property and had been there merely as guests. Rudi and Donald Wall stuck to this version during their time in the witness stand. But during cross-examination, Rudi was shown a photo from his Facebook page depicting a pitbull restrained with a heavy chain, very similar to how the dogs were chained during the raid. After initially testifying that he did not chain his dog, he then admitted that it was his dog in the photograph. Another photo of the same dog showing a scar on its head was also presented to him. He explained the scar probably resulted from fleas.
Several discrepancies in Donald’s testimony were also pointed out during cross-examination. The trial was placed on the roll until Friday and postponed until March 25. In May last year, three of the 10 men arrested that day - Johannes Joubert of Johannesburg, Ferdinand Endeman of Somerset West and Anthony Blake of Plett - pleaded guilty and were sentenced. In July last year Bill Marais, another Plett resident whose property was used for the fights, was sentenced. Two of the accused - Van Blerk and Butler - were also convicted and sentenced in East London on similar charges in February. They were among 12 people arrested in October 2008 for being involved in an organised dog fighting event on a Glendene smallholding near East London. In the meantime, there had
Takoda departs after taking top title Lin Greenspan, pictured here with Takoda after winning Dog of the Year 2014 at Saturday’s 4xPAWS Walk in Plett, posted a heart-wrenching message on her Facebook page later that day: ‘It is with a deep and overwhelming sadness that I have to let you know that my son died early this afternoon. Takoda and I went to the annual PAWS walk where we hung out with other dogs and posed for pictures. Unfortunately, after a difficult 10-week ordeal with a Megaesophagus that in turn gave him bloat, Takoda died in my arms at Marine Way Animal Hospital not long after the walk. I thank Dr Bert and Tina van Reenen for their exceptional care of my beautiful boy.’ Lin is a body stress release practitioner working from a cottage adjacent to her house in Plett and said Takoda would occasionally come and say hello to clients and sometimes lie on the floor while she worked - and when asking about her wellbeing, they would invariably enquire about Takoda’s, too. ‘I wish I had the words to describe the immense loss that I feel,’ wrote Lin, explaining that Takoda means ‘friend to all’ in Native American Sioux. ‘From the beginning, the manner in which he lived up to his name was inspirational - greeting and loving everyone he met, lying down on the ground when coming across really small dogs so as not to appear as intimidating as his imposing size may have been perceived. My precious, beautiful boy gave me so much over the course of our 21 months together. Takoda was the dog of a lifetime, never mind dog of the year.’ Visit www.cxpress.co.za and view the Galleries for a tribute in images to this remarkable creature. - Photo: Sharyn Hodges - ShowMe Plett
been a massive outcry over a proposal to implement special controls on pitbulls including that owners would not be allowed to walk their dogs in public areas. By yesterday, a petition to stop this notion had received more than 1,000 signatures.
Knysna mayor Georlene Wolmarans, however, said it was important to understand that legislation required municipalities to regularly review bylaws, and the one in question came under review as a matter of course. “Some minor changes to this bylaw were approved by Council earlier this year for the purposes of public comment, in accordance with legal requirements. “The proposed bylaw on the keeping of dogs has, as advertised in the local media, been open for comment on the municipal website and at libraries since July 9,” Wolmarans said. “Among other minor com-
3 ments received during this public participation process, were that Council should include special provisions on the control of pitbulls, because they are considered dangerous by those respondents.” She added the administration considered this matter and drafted provisions that were put to Council’s Governance Committee on October 7 as recommendations for discussion. “These were recommended for consideration by my Mayoral Committee, which meets on October 23. As mayor, I will make appropriate recommendations to Council at the next scheduled meeting towards the end of November.”
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News & Views
15 October 2014
Suspected pedlar, 21, caught with drugs worth over R1-million
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OUTHERN Cape Police efforts to eradicate illegal drug trafficking by focussing on major entry and exit routes to the province paid off last Thursday, when a 21-year-old woman was arrested for possession of Mandrax and cocaine with an estimated street value exceeding R1-million. The bust took place after SAPS members pulled over a passenger bus travelling from Durban to Cape Town, at the Tsitsikamma toll plaza around
10:30am on October 9. Captain Malcolm Pojie, spokesperson of the SAPS Southern Cape headquarters in George, said it was part of a routine check carried out by members of the Western Cape Rural Flying Squad at the toll gates, located about 35km east of Plett. “In the search that ensued, 6.9kg of Mandrax tablets and just more than 458 grams of cocaine were found in the luggage of one of the
passengers on the bus. The drugs, estimated to be worth at least R1.1-million, were confiscated. “Subsequent to the find, a 21-year-old woman was arrested on the spot and taken to the Plettenberg Bay police station where she was later charged and detained for the illegal possession of drugs, believed to be destined for distribution in the Cape Metropole.” The suspect appeared in the Plettenberg Bay magistrate’s court on Friday and the case postponed until a later date.
SERIOUS STREET VALUE: The drugs confiscated at the Tsitsikamma toll plaza cover a large part of the table, while the suspect is covering her face in the background
Plett resident dies in Beacon Way crash BASIL VAN ROOYEN happened to be on the scene of a fatal accident that occurred in Plett’s Beacon Way on Saturday afternoon - in the absence of official information from the authorities by our going to press, we share his eyewitness account with readers
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T about 4:30pm on October 11, I heard what sounded like an explosion and saw a huge cloud of dust or smoke rising. I had to look for my cellphone to get the emergency number, then ran out of our gate in Beacon Way. The emergency people arrived incredibly quickly, even before I could phone. I spoke to several eyewitnesses, one of these a man who with his wife and three
children were in the car immediately behind the little Hyundai that got hit. The other was a woman who heard the screaming tyres coming down the hill and saw what happened with the bakkie immediately after impact, although she did not actually see the collision itself. I reconstructed the following: a rather rundown red bakkie with canopy and driver with no passengers came
racing down the hill from town. At the bottom where the road flattens out, it bends slightly to the right. The bakkie went off the bend into the gravel on the left-hand side of the road, then started spinning and apparently also rolling, for it ended up on its roof on the oncoming side of the road. As it careered across the road, the bakkie hit a small Hyundai on the other side
of the road head to head but slightly on the left side of the Hyundai, which spun across the road and ended up between two of the stalls selling stuff on the other side of Beacon Way. The driver of the bakkie was killed, whether instantly or not I don’t know. He had already been pulled out of the vehicle and had medics with him when I first saw him. He was apparently a local resident, and the bakkie had a CX number plate. The family in the Hyundai - dad, mom and small daughter, also local - were in better condition. The woman’s name is Lisa Bleeker and she wrote on the Plett Skinderblad Facebook page later the evening that they were in hospital and a bit banged up but fine. There were lots of police and ambulances around. The fire brigade arrived a few minutes later to pour foam over the overturned bakkie, which had petrol pouring from it. Perhaps I have seen too many movies with cars blowing up, but there were people moving around quite close to the wreck and that was scary. Why the bakkie was going that fast I suppose we will
SCENE OF THE CRASH: Emergency vehicles arrived swiftly and en masse - clockwise from below left, the bakkie came to a standstill on the other side of the road with petrol pouring from it and its canopy lying quite far off; the Hyundai after the crash; medics tending to the injured family - Photos: Basil van Rooyen
never know, but it does show how dangerous Beacon Way is with its ancient uneven surface. I think it badly needs speed
bumps, for lots of people use it as a race track and it is hard to enter safely from side streets because of its blind corners and bad surface.
News & Views
15 October 2014
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Product of Wittedrift becomes Google delegate Downunder
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LETT Primary and Wittedrift High School alumnus Jacques du Toit, son of well-known Plett mom Amanda and her late husband, Koos du Toit, was recently selected from among hundreds of hopefuls to attend the Google Teacher Academy in Sydney, Australia. Resident in the Queensland town of Maryborough, Jacques teaches at Riverside Christian College and was one of only 50 teachers picked from across Australia and New Zealand to attend a “two-day professional development experience” designed by Google to help educators from around the globe get the most from innovative technologies. According to a report in the Htcugt" Eqcuv" Ejtqpkeng,
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Jacques returned from the Academy inspired and ready to build a sustainable network of connected educators. “My vision is to build these connections to improve teaching practice, and allow our students to become truly globally connected individuals. “The biggest message is encouraging risk-takers students that are independent learners, who are curious - to foster creativity and allow them to explore,” said Jacques. By now, anyone who reads here and have seen the 2013 feel-good flick Vjg" Kpvgtp/ ujkr will remember the idyllic Google campus that serves as setting for the bulk of the movie. Said a www.suntimes. com review: “Here, young
INSPIRED: Jacques du Toit returned from the Google Teacher Academy in Sydney with an aim to change the way his students think - Photo: Fraser Coast Chronicle
geniuses in casual clothes set the agenda for the world while enjoying perks that include an unlimited supply
of free food and drinks, colourful bicycles for anyone to borrow, nap pods when you need to recharge, and an
amusement park slide in the middle of the main building.” If not quite to the same Hollywood scale, a YouTube clip of Jacques after his return from Sydney shows him explaining how impressive the Academy was, “spread across three buildings with restaurants in each, and scooters, sleeping pods and consul stations” all over. So how does mom Amanda feel about her son now being one of only 300 certified Google teachers internationally? “Jacques has always worked very hard, always giving his best. He was Dux student when matriculating in 1997 and head boy of Plett Primary when the school was still located up on the Odlands hill. “We moved here when he
was a year old, so he’s a Plett ncckvkg through and through. He was a Nipper and got SWD colours for athletics and rugby. I’ve always been very proud of him.” Amanda says Jacques went to play rugby and do odd jobs in New Zealand for a year after matric, and met his wife of nine years in London. They have been living in Australia for six years and have a fouryear-old daughter. “They will be back in SA for the first time in four years when coming to visit in December,” beams Amanda. We hope to track her talented son down for a chat if the seasonal madness allows but until such time, here’s three cheers to Jacques for the excellent job of becoming a Google insider.
Precious metal and diamond brokers, Gold Trader, now open in Plett
OLD Trader, a wellknown gold and diamond broker with offices in George, Mossel Bay, Oudtshoorn and Knysna, is now also open for business in Plett. Its newly renovated offices are centrally situated in the premises straight opposite FNB in Main Street. The brokerage, which originated in Mossel Bay in
2012, has shown phenomenal growth in a relatively suppressed economy, and has become the largest of its kind in the Southern Cape region. Gold Trader specialises in buying and selling precious metals - mainly gold and silver - as well as diamonds, Kruger Rands and bullion bars. Although only two years in the business, the internal
network of the company offers a lifetime of experience, expertise and contacts in this focussed field. With a dedication to integrity and ethics, customers can expect only the best service when dealing with the company. In line with offering customers a professional environment, Gold Trader
also provides specialised diamond services, including the repolishing of broken or poorly polished diamonds, a grading service through the two highest respected laboratories internationally, namely GIA and EGL, and professional advice on buying and selling diamonds. On Kruger Rands, all international gold coins and gold
bullion bars, Gold Trader will confirm the daily international gold price and offer the full value when buying. Gold Trader focuses on long-term relationships in the development of the business, with honesty and integrity central to this vision. In a market where the client is for the most part relatively uninformed and easily misled,
it is essential to consult with a company in good standing, which is what Gold Trader offers its customers. All consultations are done in the privacy of the Gold Trader offices or, when requested, in the comfort of a client’s home. Trading hours are 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 1pm on Saturdays. *Ugg"cf"dgnqy0+
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News & Views
15 October 2014
Let’s go green with The Crags Eco Preschool kids S EPTEMBER has been a very busy month on The Crags Eco Preschool’s Green Calendar, as teacher Inge Bassett continues to create environmental and social awareness among the young by commemorating important dates pertaining to our planet. Spring Day was celebrated with a planting project that involved the creation of new flowerbeds and the landscaping thereof. Seeds, flowers, cuttings and seedlings were carefully planted into holes dug by the children, who are encouraged to water and care for their plants as part of their daily programme at the school. Arbour Day was feted with an educational forest trip, when the indigenous wonders of a trip through Kalander Kloof included the opportunity for Crags Eco Preschool children to admire ancient Yellowwood trees in all their splendour. During Coastal Clean-up Week, the children were found combing the beaches to gather up any litter that could cause harm to our
feathered friends. Next up was International Day of Peace, which inspired them to learn about signs and symbols representing peace and harmony in our environment. Says Inge: “The children worked together using their bodies to create their own signs and symbols on the lawn.” National Recycling Day was used to demonstrate how we can use waste to create art and useful everyday items like wallets made from juice boxes. The Crags Eco Preschool has a display at Plett Library demonstrating the efforts of these young eco-warriors, and will be hosting an Open Day for prospective learners on Friday October 24. So if environmental education is a prerequisite when choosing your child’s school, or if you would like to experience these offerings firsthand, be sure to visit The Crags Eco Preschool on their Open Day. Rngcug"xkukv"yyy0 vjgetciugeqrtguejqqn0eq0|c" cpf"ugg"vjg"cfxgtv"qp"vjku" rcig"hqt"hwtvjgt"kphqtocvkqp0
CLIMB: National Arbour Week (September 1-7)
STICK IT: National Recycling Day (September 20)
LIE LOW: International Day of Peace (September 21)
SWEEP IT: International Coastal Clean-up Week (Sept 16-21), above and below
GROW: Spring Day (Sept 1)
Business
15 October 2014
Accounting made easy
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HEN I tell people that you can download really good computer software off the internet for free, and that it compares, often more than favourably, with expensive proprietary systems that do the same job for a whole packet of money, people tend to look at me as if I have escaped from some institution. There is no such thing as a free meal, is there? Who in their right mind does anything for nothing? These are typical responses, and people often voice the fear that it must be rubbish software. After all, if you want something that really works, you have to pay - don’t you? Well, let me put the sceptics’ minds at rest: I have not escaped from anywhere, and my office has been using Open Source software for the last 15 years; we’ve never needed to buy the proprietary equivalents. Like the sceptics, I have wondered just what the motivation is behind what appears at first to be a loony business model, and I have come up with a few theories as to why this phenomenon is growing exceptionally rapidly - and not only in the world of computers. So what does Open Source mean? For a computer to do anything at all, it has to be programmed to a code that the computer understands, making up the various systems that allow you to use the computer at all. This code, if it is also readable to humans and changeable, is known as the source code. Proprietary software vendors jealously guard their source code to protect their intellectual property and ensure they control the use of their product, and to maximise their revenue. Open source does exactly the opposite. Source code, developed over many years by programmers from all over the world, is available to anyone who wishes to download it and use it. In fact, they encourage
Investor Focus
Jeremy Andrews – Andrews & Co Chartered Accountant & Auditor - Plett
Yes, that free meal does exist... programmers from all over the world to do this and to contribute to the growth and improvement of the system or project, and users to assist in various ways either with suggestions or comments, or by directly being “testers” or documenters. The result is that the development of these systems often outpaces proprietary systems. They are more user-oriented and are at times more innovative and forward-looking. For those of us only interested in what the programme or system can do for us, readyto-use versions are available as free downloads. And unlike its siblings, Freeware and Shareware, there are no strings attached! Freeware & Shareware are ‘free’, but with restrictions to what you can do with the software, and often used as advertising teaser to give you a taste of what the product can do. But you have to pull out your credit card before it becomes really useful. Anyone who has downloaded apps for their phone or iPad probably knows what I am talking about. After many years of absolutely free use, the least I can do is give some Open Source vendors and projects a punt... I have used LibreOffice and OpenOffice the most and am most indebted to both. These two office productivity systems replace or live alongside MS Office and have some distinct advantages, other than being free. Don’t take my word - Google either, download and install as instructed. You will see that these are not Mikey Mouse organisations, but are backed by some of the biggest companies in the business. They are in use by 10s if not 100s of millions of users worldwide, in commerce, government (in fact, some departments are now specifying these to replace paid-for systems) and particularly in small businesses. These systems are a perfect example of the workings of
an open source philosophy. Both started life as OpenOffice, and improved and advanced quickly with contributions from some of the brightest brains in the game. A few years ago, because of dissatisfaction within the ranks, there was a split and LibreOffice came about, using the same source code. Each project has developed its system a little differently, yet they remain completely compatible. Of interest, too, is that these systems are able to use and produce work compatible with most proprietary systems. Much, much more could be said on the subject, but space is limited. In two weeks’ time, I will tell you about a few other open source projects that have really helped Andrews & Co in our quest for ever-increased efficiency and service. I will explain why the open source model is not as loony as it seems, and why people do it for no direct reward. Last word: this article was written using LibreOffice. Lgtgo{"Cpftgyu"jcu"dggp" kp"vjg"dwukpguu"qh"ocmkpi" ceeqwpvcpe{"gcu{"hqt"nqecn" dwukpguu"hqnm"hqt"fgecfgu"/" ugg"vjg"cfxgtv"qp"vjku"rcig0"
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Malcolm Stewart – Investment manager at Michaelides Parker Wealth Knysna & Plett
The Big Five - Part V: Sasol
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ASOL was formed in 1950 by the South African Government in an effort to counter the global trade sanctions then in force. It was an attempt to insure a local supply of petrol and energy to industry. In 1955, it opened the first coal-to-liquid plant at Sasolburg, and after its first five years of production it made a profit of R1.36-million. It soon developed into a huge petro-chemical industry and, in 1976, it began construction of Sasol 2. In 1976, it was privatised and listed on the JSE; in 1983, Sasol 3 was completed. During the 1990s, it developed into a massive petro-chemical company producing a number of products ranging from ethanol, polypropylene, ethylene, and even wax. Sasol then started its global diversification, using the initial coal-to-liquid processes it had developed from the original German model. Mozambique was the first stop, where it helped develop the Mozambican gas fields and established the gas pipeline to South Africa. In 2003, it was listed on Wall Street and was then able to access global capital
markets. It was during that year that the construction of its gas-to-liquid plant began construction in Qatar. In 2004, it entered the South African retail market and by now we are used to seeing the chain of Sasol garages across the country. In 2006/7, Sasol entered China to further develop its chemical production and distribution businesses; 2009 saw it establish a gas-to-liquid plant in Uzbekistan. By 2011 it entered the Canadian market, investing in shale gas while also developing various chemical plants in Nigeria and Gabon. Its latest and largest development is now in Louisiana in the USA, where another huge
gas-to-liquid plant is now taking shape. This is yet another example of a South African-born giant. It started in difficult circumstances over 60 years ago, but through skilled management and skilled technological developments has become a home-grown global giant. Over the last five years, Sasol’s dividend has grown from 540 cents per share to 1,900 cents in 2013, while its share price has doubled during the same period. Ocneqno"jcu"dggp"kp"vjg" kpxguvogpv"kpfwuvt{"hqt"qxgt" 62"{gctu0"Jg"jcu"ytkvvgp" vjku"eqnwop"kp"EZRTGUU" hqt"vjg"ncuv"38"{gctu"cpf"ku" c"urgekcnkuv"kp"ocpcikpi" tgvktgf"ygcnvj0
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Interval
15 October 2014
The easiest way to make your old car run better is to check the prices of new cars.
F R E S H
What does it mean to be British?
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British national daily newspaper asked its readers: “What does it mean to be British?” Some of the responses received were hilarious, especially this one from a chap in Switzerland... “Being British is about driving in a German car to
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an Irish pub for a Belgian beer, then travelling home, grabbing an Indian curry or a Turkish kebab on the way, to sit on Swedish furniture and watch American shows on a Japanese TV. “And the most British thing of all? To be suspicious of anything foreign.”
On fitness levels…
URING the physical examination for my retirement medical aid, my doctor asked me about my physical activity level. I described a typical day this way: “Well, yesterday afternoon I took a five-hour walk of about 7km through some pretty rough terrain. “I waded along the edge of a lake. I pushed my way through dense brambles. I got sand in my shoes and my eyes and an abrasion on
my forehead. “I avoided standing on a snake. I climbed rocky hills. I took a few leaks behind some big trees. “The mental stress of it all left me shattered. At the end of it all, I drank eight beers.” Inspired by the story, the doctor said: “Wow, you must be one hell of an outdoors man!” “No,” I replied, “I’m just a terrible golfer.”
Gratis advies oor beleggings
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S jy ‘n jaar gelede R1,000 se Nortel aandele gekoop het, sal dit nou R49 werd wees. As jy R1,000 se aandele in Delta lugdiens gekoop het, sou daar nou ook R49 oor gewees het. Met Enron-aandele sou jy R16.50 van jou R1,000
Things the movies have taught us...
oorgehad het. Met WorldCom sou daar minder as R5 oor gewees het. MAAR as jy ‘n jaar gelede R1,000 se wyn gekoop het, alles opgedrink en die bottels ingeruil het, sou jy nou R214 gehad het. Dit is dus duidelik dat jou beste huidige belegging is om baie te drink en die bottels te herwin.
I HATE WHEN I THINK I’M BUYING ORGANIC VEGETABLES AND WHEN I GET HOME I DISCOVER THEY’RE JUST REGULAR DONUTS
OUTNUMBERED? NEVER! A typical gun fight scene from the movie Olympus has Fallen
• All bombs are fitted with electronic timing devices which have large red readouts to tell you exactly when it will go off. • Should you need to pass yourself off as a German officer, it will not be necessary to speak the language, a convincing accent will do. • All apartments in Paris overlook the Eiffel tower. • Most laptop computers are powerful enough to override a bank security system or the communication system of an invading alien civilization. • Every single person in martial arts films has a black belt in karate. • When staying in a haunted house, women should investigate any strange noises they hear in their most revealing underwear. • One man shooting at 20 men has more chance of
hitting them than 20 men shooting at one man,w if he is the hero. • During a police investigation it’s necessary to visit a strip joint at least once. • Large studio-type apartments in big cities are affordable by single people with a low wage. • The entire British population lives in London. • It doesn’t matter if you are heavily outnumbered in a martial arts fight; your enemies will attack you one at a time while the others dance around you menacingly. • In musicals, everyone you meet in the street will know all the words to the songs and the steps to the dances. • When captured by an evil international terrorist, guns are not necessary to defeat them, sarcasm and wisecracks are your best weapons.
15 October 2014
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CXPRESS
Photo supplied by Mitchell’s Brewery
Social Scene
PRETTY GIRLS, THIRSTY GUYS... The past weekend’s Knysna Oktoberfest at Mitchell’s Brewery delivered the most hilarity many a local had experienced in yonks. Featuring a gaggle of pretty girls, excellent brews and bites, a vast range of musical entertainment and great vibes all round, the event was a raving success so kudos to co-organisers Shaun & Bev van Eck. Below, Mitchell’s master brewer Dave McRae ‘zapft’ the first glass of one of his new craft beers on Friday October 10. At far left from left are Mitchell’s director Frikkie Burger with Dave and Shaun, David Hendry, Peter Hollely, and Tim Proctor. Photos: Gigi Lewis
People, places & events
STORIES WELL TOLD: The annual concert of music, dance, mime, song and poetry of Formosa Primary School in Plett played to an audience of some 1,500 people comprising pupils, parents, friends and invited guests. The concert was opened by principal Colin Wildeman, who stated that the evening was one of the highlights of their academic year. Entitled ‘Fairy Tales’, the line-up contained nine sketches of well-known stories such as ‘Goldilocks and the Three Bears’, ‘Hansel & Gretel’ and ‘Cinderella’. An outstanding feature of the evening, greatly enjoyed by those present, was a number of ballet sequences. Above, a motley crew of pirates in pugnacious mood enter the sketch of ‘Peter Pan’ - from left are Pedro le Fleur, Jonathan Kapank, Jarryd Grootboom, teacher Leigh Dunn and Enrique Sam, with Keenon Ruiters in the title role at back. Below from left, Ashleigh Bailey, Alexis Witbooi and Athelia Harker are the essence of poise and concentration in ‘Little Red Riding Hood’. - Timothy Twidle
TWO CHEERS! At the second anniversary of the founding of the Mid-week Market at Plett’s Old Nick Village on October 8 are, from left, Tony Teodosio, Genevieve Bergé, Angela Teodosio and Mariella Rossi. Genevieve and Mariella founded and continue to run the market, while Tony and Angela have been operating their stall, Mary Lin’s, since the market’s inception. - Timothy Twidle
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CXPRESS
15 October 2014
Classifieds
On the Soapbox
15 October 2014
Letters to the Editor
CXPRESS
Email: editor@cxpress.co.za - Fax: 044 533 0852 - PO Box 1449, Plett 6600
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Read CXPRESS online @ www.cxpress.co.za
Local children are starving on our watch I agree, yet have some observations on JC Swanepoel’s views [‘What a terrible way to start Heritage Day?’ in CXPRESS of October 1]. With regard to the bad truck accident near Thyme and Again on September 24, JC Swanepoel registers “disgust” at “township children” sent into the wreckage of the truck to filch milk cartons. I concur that it is wrongful to steal goods from a wrecked truck (or at all), and to take wholly unfair advantage of another’s misfortune. However, look at it from another
viewpoint and, with apologies, I misquote Gilbert and Sullivan’s Trial by Jury: “…Ah! Consider the moral, I pray / Nor bring a young child to sorrow / Who steals this carton to-day / And takes yet another to-morrow…” My rtq"dqpq"rwdnkeq work takes me into the worst of the so-called underprivileged townships in Plettenberg Bay. People there barely exist under appalling conditions; some in huts made of bits of wood and cardboard. There are no jobs and kids scrounge in rubbish dumps
for scraps of food. There is just no money - for anything, including food. These children are starving and, what’s more, on our watch! With respect to JC Swanepoel, I am sure that he/she would act similarly (pinching cartons of milk) under the same circumstances. I certainly would, and to hell with the consequences. Yes, of course, like all of us, I have huge sympathy for the injured in the accident and wish them well, but I also feel for the children. What are we doing about
improving their utter hopelessness - nothing? Very little? Anything? Should we not all be asking ourselves: “What can I do to alleviate poverty in our town?” The answer: use a charity of your choice and contribute handsomely, and/or undertake charity work where it really matters, that’s what. Gfyctf"Dnckpg."Rngvv PS: I did note from JC Swanepoel’s photo that the children in it look reasonably well dressed - but were they the only ones? I would very much doubt it.
These locals are very proudly Seffrican!
No refuse truck ride for me, thanks I am responding to the letter ‘Bitou municipal Availability Charge misapplied?’ in CXPRESS of October 1 [read on page 15 at www. cxpress.co.za]. I thank ‘Plett Ratepayer’ for taking the time to inspect and to clarify certain specifics of the socalled bylaws. Only the weather is allowed to be unclear. The refuse situation for vacant stands cannot be termed unclear, because either there is refuse to be collected or there is no refuse to be collected - in most cases, NIL! Bitou cannot expect that all the vacant landowners of Plett hand over a bundle of cash just to solve a few instances, if any, where a heap of garden refuse may be left on its vacant stands or on pavements.
This is Bitou being ‘unclear’: “There is not a certainty that any refuse will be present, but just in case, Pay This Amount Anyway!” LOL. R2,622 per annum from each vacant landowner is a nice chunk of change. The Bitou managers’ beer fund is truly secured, right into the next millennium. I am sure most landowners will do the clean-up themselves or hire a contractor, which most of the time necessitates the transporting away of garden refuse. If certain vacant landowners request this service from Bitou, then by all means charge them, because then the driver has to drive the truck and check his list of paying stands. Ha! Then we come to the ‘Availability charge misapplied’
- in my case most definitely for electricity, water and sewerage. I saw red, but soon after I realised I had envisioned a bunch of EFF parliamentary members. I will use the words of my brother from another mother, Julius Malema (with the necessary accent): “Pay Back The Money!” I laughed a little here, but actually I am quite serious. I have put my foot down with a firm hand. Somewhere I read that government and municipal officials are there to serve the people of SA. I will accept a drink, but I will not be taken for a ride on a refuse truck, even if it is new and shiny. “May your light always illuminate your path, even if you stray into the shadows.” Itcjco"Crrgn."Rngvv
Chris du Preez shared this collage with CXPRESS and wrote: ‘On Heritage Day it was such a joy to walk into Pick n Pay at The Market Square in Plett, and be greeted by staff members proudly dressed in traditional clothes. The ladies working at the tills asked that I forward this to you for inclusion.’
Raking it in for non-existent services With reference to the letter from ‘Plett Ratepayer’ in CXPRESS of October 1, I would like to point out that I cannot see how Bitou Municipality sees it fit to charge for refuse removal on undeveloped plots, as nothing stops the landowner from putting out garden refuse. Let it be noted that the municipality does not pick up garden refuse, so this should not be their excuse to charge for refuse removal. As for the rest of the rates charges, the municipality is raking in rates for many homes that stand empty for most of the year, i.e. not providing services, as there is no service needed throughout most of the year. Mctkp"Ikndgtvuqp."Rngvv
Est. 1984
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CXPRESS
Sport & Adventure
15 October 2014
Klein Karoo skies teem with colourful craft T
HE first weekend of October saw more than 100 entrants from across SA converging on Oudtshoorn for the 43rd edition of a scalemodel flying competition hosted by Cango Flying Club at the local airfield. Spectators were riveted by the aerobatic display of radio-controlled model crafts of all shapes and sizes, as
pilots took advantage of the crystal-clear skies to show off their aerial expertise. Participating crafts - scale models of flyers used during both World Wars - ranged from helicopters to turbinepowered jets. Of particular interest was the scale model of a Russian aerobatic yak aircraft, flown by a South African pilot based in Angola.
PLANES TO GO! Some of the hundreds of radio-controlled aircraft raring to take to the skies at Oudtshoorn’s annual Scale Model Fly-in earlier this month - Photo: Bob Hopkin
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You heard it here first...
ARDEN Route Motor Club chairman Peter Pretorius plans ahead - far, far ahead. Why, just last week he copied CXPRESS on a letter to classic car and motorbike enthusiasts, advising that the Club has started preparing for next year’s charity event that will take place in Knysna on May 9. Says Peter: “Traditionally held on Sundays, the motor show will now move to a Saturday, with the Jaguar Si-
mola Hill Climb following a week later, from May 15-17. “Over the past three years, the show has grown exponentially from a small local event organised by the Garden Route Motor Club, to now being recognised as attracting national interest with the focus on featuring a variety of quality interesting cars and not necessary volume.” He explains that, after this year’s successful show, several questions arose that
needed debating among members of the Club among these the viability of moving the event to a date later in the year (no!), and to a Saturday to avoid it clashing with Mother’s Day (yes!). Interested parties are welcome to email peterp@af rihost.co.za or call 044 533 5114 or 082 321 4724, and visit www.grmc.co.za for more information on next year’s event - the motor show with a difference.
ADVERTORIAL
Combo of exercise and healthy advice keeps Curves ladies coming back for more
H
EATHER Johnson and her granddaughter, Lauren van Wyk, didn’t realise what a rewarding job they would be doing when taking over the Plettenberg Bay branch of Curves. This weight-loss centre specially designed for women features Curves Complete the only programme that includes exercise, meal plans, and coaching, all in one place! A cross-section of members includes 80-year-old Rhea Gardy, who has over 1,500 workouts under her belt. Sixteen-year-old Robyn de Vries, who survived brain surgery to remove a tumour, works out daily with her Mum, under Lauren’s supervision. Step into Curves Plett, located upstairs at The Market Square, and it’s clear that the young and not so young can work out together - like Pam Hynch, who brings her granddaughter along for company. Curves supports the National Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign’s Pink Drive by deducting 60% off the joining fee, and for every person who joins during the month of October, R100 is donated to this important campaign. Curves donations are used to maintain two mobile mammogram units on the road, as well as the cost of the nurses
GREAT HEALTH HAS NO AGE RESTRICTION: Above, Rhea Gardy, 80 supervised here by Curves Plett co-owner Lauren van Wyk - boasts an incredible 1,500 Curves workouts; at right, brain surgery survivor Robyn de Vries, 16, works out daily at Curves
employed. So pop into Curves Plettenberg Bay before the end of the month and sign up for a
whole lot of good reasons, or contact them at plettcurves@ telkomsa.net or on 044 533 5693 for more information.