16 March 2016 by CXpress

16 March 2016

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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Photo: Galeo Saintz

Rapist gets life x 37 p3

Jazz stars hit Plett p9

He’s 80 and racy! p12

WALK

this way... The Garden Route Walking Fest that takes place from March 25-29 promises to add a great-outdoors angle to your Easter, with over 50 hikes catering for ultra-leisurely ramblers and scalers of the neighbourhood’s highest peaks... and everyone in-between! Turn to p5 for an interview with festival founder Galeo Saintz.

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

CXPRESS

16 March 2016

NEWS & VIEWS

Driving Miss Crazy

Playing word games to make my French friends speak Seffrican English with a smile JEEVES shares his adventures as Garden Route chauffeur extraordinaire... AST week we were on a road trip into the Little Karoo with a couple from France - read it on page 2 of the March 9 edition at www.cxpress.co.za if you’ve missed out. Their Anglaise was on an equal to my Francaise, which can only be described in one word in both

languages: sh*#, or merde. This made communication arduous, but thanks to my cob-webbed memory of Matric French, we managed to struggle by. On descending the Swartberg Pass 36 hours into our journey together, it occurred to me that it wouldn’t be a bad idea if every visitor

entering the country should attend a one-hour crash course in local English, with emphasis on all its accents and dialects. And so I started to play a game with them, and they became the guinea-pigs for the launch of ‘The JeevesBerlitz Language School of Saarf-Efrican English’. For example, ‘eksekera, eksekera’ was Stellenbosch Latin. French fleurs becomes ‘flaahs’ from a florist - and when we passed a bush of blooming proteas, she sang out in highpitched soprano: “Luke sehr, flaaahahaaas!” They were really into learning and enjoying this new language. The French aversion to speaking English had disappeared! In ‘Jenizberg’, a ‘grudge’, for instance, is where you ‘pork’ your ‘korr’. (Get it? Grudge = garage where your ‘korr’ gets ‘porked’.) Or you can take it there for repairs after you have ‘clided’ with another ‘korr’. Or, you could just ‘pork’ it in the ‘gordin’. Out came pen and notebook, as she started to write down every word with its new spelling and, different meanings as a car ‘pork’ became a cochon (pig)! A stop-over at Cango Caves and a coffee. Then down to Oudtshoorn, overnighting at an ostrich palace guest lodge. Along the way, ‘pee-pool’ was for people - “Say it: peee, pool” - and so they learnt. The farm entrance had a ‘fantin’ spraying out water. For our candle-lit dinner of ostrich fillet with brandy-creamed mushroom sauce, accompanied by red cabbage and cauliflower mash (yum), a Black Oystercatcher Cab/Sauv Merlot from Elim, near Bredasdorp, was chosen.

JEEVES’S GUIDE TO UNDERSTANDIN’ SA: From the top, a good ol’ Seffrican ‘bra’ as opposed to a French bra(ssiere), the Boks about to play the ‘Newsland rigby sard’, and the pretty ‘fantin’ at the farm’s entrance...

This was the selected wine after sampling the contents of three other makes, which had failed the test of our connoisseur du vin. Monsieur was taken to try lesser known wines, from different regions outside the Boland and I can strongly recommend that tendency, if you happen to be dining somewhere off the beaten track - different, and generally cheaper than your stock brands. Over a cheese platter, with sweet red and white dessert wines, our word game continued, this time to do with ‘sport’ - which is also a word for ‘to hold the weight of’ or ‘to hold up’. And if the load is great, it must be a ‘pearful sport’. “The All Blacks” were the “Newsland rigby sard”, according to one TV presenter, whilst his cricketing counterparts refer to AB as the “Seffrican” team captain! A few other terms in our new dictionary: ‘wreckers’ - 33 1/3 vinyl discs, ‘plight’ - a well-mannered ‘bean’ (‘eweman bean’, that is), and if you’re in the Kruger ‘Pork’ having a shave, you might be lucky to see a line in the ‘myrrh’... Every new word was repeated over and over until they got the hang of it, and used at any applicable opportunity. They learnt fast, and loved learning. And, the best ‘till last: I was told once for truth that, while filming in Cape Town on a hot day, the famous Stephen Fry was asked by the runner whether he would like some ‘arsecream’. Well I mean... Until next time, keep buckled! Jeeves

NEWS & VIEWS

16 March 2016

CXPRESS

Denneoord serial rapist deserves the multitude of life sentences he received The 37 life sentences handed down to the George father who drugged and raped seven of his 12-year-old daughter’s friends during sleepovers have been met by widespread praise - YOLANDÉ STANDER reports HE 51-year-old man from Denneoord, who cannot be named to protect the identities of his victims, was sentenced in the Thembalethu Regional Court on Monday, 16 months after his arrest. He was handed down a life sentence for each of the 37 rape charges he pleaded guilty to in January, and was further sentenced to 10 years behind bars for 30 charges relating to the creation of pornography. The sentences will be served concurrently. He gave the girls, aged 10-12, sleeping tablets during sleepovers, raped them while they were uncon-

scious and photographed the acts. Originally accused of more than 3,000 crimes, he pleaded guilty to 67 of the charges as part of a plea bargain. Magistrate Eugenia Jacobs said she did not believe that the severe sentences were “shocking or inappropriate” as she found no compelling or substantial circumstances to deviate from the maximum prescribed sentences. “We have to protect the community against you. You are an absolute danger to society,” she said after highlighting his psychological assessment report which indicated that he

was at high risk of reoffending. He was also classified as a serial rapist and a paedophile. “While we sympathise with the man’s children and family for all the destruction he has brought into their lives and those of his victims, we are satisfied that justice has prevailed,” said Women and Men Against Child Abuse spokesman Joanne Barrett. She added that most law abiding citizens feel that the courts are too lenient in sentencing child abusers and want these perpetrators to be punished more severely. Yvette Wilschut - spokes-

No truth in rumour that hit-andrun driver killed Martin Malgas OCIAL media sites and WhatsApp networks went abuzz on Saturday night with the news that a local resident was killed in a hit-and-run incident on the Plettenberg Bay N2 in the vicinity of the polo fields. The first cryptic note stated: “Hit and run. Car drove off. Police clearing site. Standing opposite polo track.” This was followed by a series of posts by group members and ostensibly eye-witnesses who reported that a truck was responsible for the fatality before speeding off. It was further claimed that the victim lived in Wittedrift, “worked in Forestry Department” and was in his “early 30s”. Further posts, ignoring the fact that such shocking news may not be known to the deceased victim’s next of kin, claimed “… body still in road…” before

messages of condolences started streaming in – as well as queries about which of several local men with the surname Malgas it may have been. CXPRESS tracked down an acquaintance of the man, confirmed to be 36-year-old Martin Malgas, on Monday. She revealed the tragedy’s true extent when describing how a Wittedift resident remained in shock after having hit Malgas while he was walking along the N2. “When the lady stopped to turn around and check on the person she had hit, there was a truck right behind her - too close to slam on breaks or swerve away from the man in the road. He drove over him because he could not see him until it was too late. “He lived in Green Valley and his cousin went to identify the body. He had no children. It’s all too sad for words.”

Plett police spokesperson lieutenant Marlene Pieterse made no mention of the truck when confirming the identity of the deceased man, but urged eye-witnesses to come forward with any information that could help the investigation. “According to information available at this stage, it is alleged that the driver of a navy blue Ford Focus was travelling in the direction of Wittedrift on the N2, on Saturday evening at 8pm. While driving between Pennypinchers and the Keurbooms turn-off, she bumped a pedestrian who was walking in the middle of the road. Martin Malgas of Wittedrift died on the scene and a case of culpable homicide was opened.” Anyone who saw the accident is asked to urgently call D/Cst Tertius Wolmarans on 044 501 1943/1.

man for anti-child abuse group Green Hearts, who have been supporting the victims’ families during court proceedings - said while they preferred a world without sex crimes against children, the organisation was “extremely happy” with the outcome of the case. “Not only does this send

out a very strong message to any potential offenders, but also protects any future victims,” Wilschut said. Local lawyer Hardy Mills said he welcomed the sentence, as these crimes were rife on the Garden Route and this should serve as deterrent. He added that the man would only be able to apply for parole after serving 25 years of his term, but that then each of his life sentences would be taken into consideration. While very emotional, the

parents of the youngsters expressed relief. “I’m so incredibly grateful to the magistrate for handing down such a fitting sentence. Now my daughter can start moving on without fear of bumping into him in future,” said one of the girls’ mothers. “We are also so thankful for all the support we have been given throughout this processes. Today was worth all the times we were sent home after endless postponements.” Garden Route Media

CXPRESS

NEWS & VIEWS

16 March 2016

Child protectors enraged that man accused of sexual assault gets ‘slap on the wrist’ Anti-child abuse groups were shocked after a man accused of sex crimes against three little Plettenberg Bay girls were released on warning last week - YOLANDÉ STANDER reports HE suspect appeared in the Plett Magistrate’s Court on March 9 for a formal bail application where it came to light that on February 16 this year, he alleg-

edly lured three girls - aged nine, 10 and 11 - away from a dam where they were swimming with promises of grapes before sexually assaulting them.

During his bail hearing, Constable Thembela Melane took the witness stand and told the court that the girls, who live in New Horizons, had been swimming in a dam in Ladywood with friends when the accused, who cannot be named as he has not yet pleaded, approached them. When they emerged from the water the suspect allegedly told the girls he would show them where to find grapes and led them to nearby ruins where he forced them to undress themselves, sit on top of him and “massage” him. One of the girls became frightened and managed to run away, while one of the boys who had swum with them raised the alarm. The boy informed one of the girls’ moms, who con-

tacted the police. The man was arrested on February 21. While he denied knowing the girls, Melane said that the girls told her that they had spotted him near their school before. The accused indicated that the only money he had access to was R160. Because of his financial situation and that the was not considered a flight risk, Magistrate Izak van der Merwe released him on warning under strict conditions including no contact with or intimidation of the victims or witnesses. His release caused outrage among local anti-child abuse activists who felt that such “slap on the wrist” releases damaged child protection in the country. “Where are we going in terms of child protection in South Africa if people ac-

cused of sex crimes against children are released on warning, while those accused of white-collar crimes are released on astronomical bail,” a spokesman for the Green Hearts said after proceedings. Earlier this month, nine Crags residents accused of plundering a property belonging to two men they believed were suspects in a murder case, were released on R1,000 bail. “Yes there are bail conditions prohibiting the accused from coming near the victims, but what about his neighbour’s children or children who live in his area?” The man has to take his place in the dock again on March 30. • In January last year, a Plett computer engineer was accused of links to an inter-

national baby pornography network after SA and Belgian police raided his home and allegedly found sections of files containing hundreds of images and videos of violent assaults as well as internet addresses of more than 300 other alleged paedophiles. He was released on R10,000 bail and will next appear in court on Friday. In June last year, a national award-winning teacher from Plett was arrested over the alleged sexual abuse of a 10-year-old boy in his class and then again in December after allegedly raping a 15-year-old mentally disabled boy. He was released on R3,000 bail in both cases and his next court appearances are on April 12 and 26 respectively. In December last year, an 83-year-old man accused of raping a nine-year-old girl from The Crags was arrested and shortly thereafter released on R1,000 bail. He appears in court again on April 6.

NEWS & VIEWS

16 March 2016

CXPRESS

From Robberg Beach to walking the globe - here’s why you should join Galeo on the trail CXPRESS tracked down Garden Route Walking Festival (GRWF) founder GALEO SAINTZ for a chat before he whizzed off to Japan to meet with the committee of World Trails Network, and as the countdown to this Easter’s premium outdoors festival passes the 10-day mark HEN looking at the recent quests of conservation adventurer Galeo Saintz, it comes as no surprise that he’s at the helm of an event set to get thousands of feet hitting the multitude of hiking and walking trails between Mossel Bay and Tsitsikamma from March 25-29. CX: What would you say are your earliest memories of exploring the great outdoors on those well-travelled feet? GS: It’s the Garden Route really that got me into walking - Robberg Beach, to be more specific. As a two-yearold, I trudged up and down the dunes on Robberg, endlessly. But I think it was the slid down through the sand that was the most fun. CX: Fast-forwarding some decades on to your groundbreaking work off the beach, which experiences combined to result in an event comprising 52 guided walks over an area as vast as that covered by the GRWF? GS: My work for the Eden to Addo Corridor Initiative over 10 years ago really showed me for the first time the immense expanse and value of ‘forgotten places’ on the Route and the extent of the wild lands that still exist in our back hills. As a mountaineer and adventurer with a conservation focus, I’ve walked in the dust of rhino in iMfolozi and chased down the tracks of a

Photo: Anja Wiehl

KEEP ON WALKING: Galeo Saintz is a conservation adventurer, professional speaker, mountain wilderness guide, and founding member of conservation NGOs like Rim of Africa and Eden to Addo - and he dares you to explore the Route’s best rambles!

lone wolf with a Wild Peace Alliance team in the USA. Since 2012, I have been chairman of the World Trails Network which connects custodians of leading trails and trail destinations. Some of the world’s most famous trails are represented on our board, and it is in this capacity that I have travelled widely, championing trails across the globe. These travels have shown me first-hand the power of walking and the role that walking festivals can play in promoting a region and bring communities together.

In 2012, I decided on a whim to try the concept out in South Africa. The first festival we did was unexpectedly successful and fun. So last year, when Hi-Tec approached me to serve as sponsor and were prepared to get fully involved, we decided to go for it and this time to market the region as a whole. This is where the invaluable support of Garden Route and Klein Karoo Tourism and Wesgro has played a role - helping us to put the Garden Route on the map as one of the world’s great

walking destinations. CX: But this year’s event also has a strong focus on family and community, right? GS: Easter is family time in many ways, and with cooler weather and no major distractions as is the case during other holiday times, it’s ideal for getting out there. The more we can celebrate family values in the outdoors, the better for all of us as a society. Walking is a great unifying activity and accessible to everyone, and when walking we have the chance to both connect with ourselves and also in a meaningful way with others. The festival offers walks short and long, easy walks, night walks, full-day adventures, and even specialist walks - so there’s no excuse not to get out and make new friends with like-minded lovers of the outdoors. It’s also a real chance for locals to discover new walking spots and for visitors to really see the region through the eyes of locals and get off the beaten path while exploring the Garden Route National Park and CapeNature’s famous reserves. CX: What does it cost to participate in any or many of these sorties? GS: Thanks to sponsors Hi-Tec and Wesgro, local tourism bureaux, SANParks and others, we could make the festival accessible to everyone by doing away

with a registration fee. It’s also a platform for showcasing the great work done along the Garden Route by many local nature and conservation charities, so we would like helping them to continue their good work by encouraging participants to make a donation.

I love the words of Jay Griffiths, who sums up our allure for walking with such inspiration: “The lure of the wild and nomadic freedom has never left us, any of us. It is in our lungs, breathing in freedom, in our eyes, hungry for horizons, and in our feet, itching for the open road. Put your boots on.” If you love walking, come spend some time with me on the trail. • Visit www.walkingfest. co.za and see the advert on page 7 for further details.

CXPRESS

NEWS & VIEWS

16 March 2016

Easter weekend sports will give back big to all communities of Bitou ITH the Pennypinchers Easter Surf Ski Challenge now in its ninth year, numerous events having grown off this solid base, Easter in Plett certainly has a feel-good side to it. The weekend kicks off with the Plett Easter Games Golf Challenge on March 25, which helps raise funds and awareness for the Adopt a Swimmer programme. The importance of teaching underprivileged kids who live in a coastal town this important life skill cannot be ignored. Easter Saturday sees all the sports action moving to Cairnbrogie for a host of Trail running events and mountain biking with a difference. With sponsorship from Pennypinchers, IDM, PPC and Wesgrow, there is a full day of family fun at the Cairnbrogie Trail Park. The trail runs cater for any level of runner, distances ranging from 1.5km-18km. All runners will get fresh

milk and a choc chip cookie in place of a finisher’s medal. The morning starts off with special guests from the Sabrina Love Foundation having their own Easter egg hunt around the farmyard among the calves. Apart from all the locals who are involved with trail clearing, marshalling and selling home bakes, the main beneficiary of the day will be the Robberg Coastal Corridor Landowners Association. Says Andrew Hill of Cairnbrogie: “A few of the landowners made an application in early 2011 to the Western Cape Minister for Environmental Affairs and Development Planning to declare Association members’ properties a Protected Environment. “This declaration was signed in 2015. The properties comprise an ecologically sensitive and threatened 20km stretch of unspoiled coastline between Robberg Nature Reserve and Harkerville State Forest.”

With the Cairnbrogie Trail Park pump track open all day, families may want to hang around until the 5pm start of the Pennypinchers Cairnbrogie Trail Park Kids Fun Ride, when U13s and U9s will race a short 2.5km lap course for an hour, the winner having completed the most laps. As the sun sets, the now popular Nite MTB relay kicks off at 7pm. Riders from the Kwano Cycling Academy will be sponsored four team entries and those not riding will be employed to help on the night so they can support their buddies on the route. Sunday sees a full day of surfski races at Central Beach, with the Plett NSRI heroes doing safety duties and a donation being made from the race organisers to this great bunch of local volunteers. So this Easter, everyone’s a winner. See muddyfoot adventures.co.za for additional information.

PROMOTION

16 March 2016

CXPRESS

16 March 2016 Photo: Gerhard van Huyssteen

SOCIAL SCENE

PAC FINDS NEW HOME AT ‘SKI’: Plett Athletics Club recently announced that it has moved its official headquarters to the Ski-Boat Club. Explains the club’s Vicki Meggersee, in red at left in the pic above: ‘We were on the lookout for somewhere to call home when the Ski-Boat crew reached out to us. This new relationship is going to strengthen the clubs and has already seen new members brought to both. PAC will now start and finish time trials from the car park behind the club on Thursdays at 5:30pm. Afterwards, runners are encouraged to stay for a drink and a bite to eat. We’ve got some great specials and fun events pencilled in for 2016, so we’re looking forward to many happy times there.’ The pic shows happy runners and their families while taking a break from the boerie roll and salad treat laid on by the friendly Ski-Boat Club team. Email jbwoodhead@hotmail.com or sue.plett@gmail.com to find out more about either or both clubs.

THIS JAZZ GIG WILL ROCK: Successfully introduced in Paternoster on the West Coast in 2011, Jazz on the Rocks is one of the most popular and successful music festivals in the Western Cape, enabling families to enjoy quality time together while wooed by awesome tunes. The concept will now be replicated on SA’s best beaches and the Plett event on March 19 & 20 should make a profound impact on the town’s musically inclined when it hits Central Beach this weekend. The spectacular line-up is topped by none other than SA jazz legends Judith Sephuma and Jimmy Dludlu, pictured above, and food and refreshments prepared by local vendors will be on sale to ensure no dancing reveller or more sedate fan of the country’s jazziest stars should run out of steam. ‘While the event essentially harnesses the healing forces of nature and music, social entrepreneurship is at the heart of all of our endeavours,’ says Clarence Ford of Camissa Solutions - executive producer of the Jazz on the Rocks series. ‘Another important objective is for people on both sides of the N2 to benefit economically from our effort. We also aim to bring healing to our still fragmented society. Social cohesion is ultimately at the heart of any success. Jazz on the Rocks is a reality because Bitou Municipality, its mayor and council had vision, seeing the potential for employment and for increasing tourism in the area.’ Check out the advert on this page for the rest of the stellar line-up, get your tickets from Computicket, and contact Marilyn on 082 571 3261 or at marilynthompson@telkomsa.net for further details. NOT JUST SOCIAL PLAY: Plettenberg Tennis Academy had a weekend of top-quality tennis late last month, when courts were filled with kids as young as six and up to 13 years, all playing at competitive level. The standard was high and the players appreciated the presence of parents who supported the event. Says coach Luke Olson: ‘It was great to see such a wide variety of ages playing and enjoying the game, showing off the hard work they’ve been doing on the court. Plett is starting to boast some really talented young tennis aces!’ Singles U10 winners and runners up boys and girls were Lucas Briskham and Mathew Reekie, and Megan Plumbridge and Riley Slack. The U13s were Chris Reekie and Max Bouwers, and Sienna Mann and Calista Slack. Pictured at left are the U10 boys doubles winners - from left are Mathew and Lucas, with runners up Kaden Tuohey and Theuns de Bruyn.

CXPRESS

People, places & events

CXPRESS

16 March 2016

CLASSIFIEDS

ON THE SOAPBOX

16 March 2016

Letters to the Editor

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

Now this is a stylish way to taste our wines! Temporarily released from my Knysna and George offices - hospitals, obviously - I was invited last week by a beloved German some-

time-client to join her on a Crags Wine Route day. Well! You could spend a few days on this marvellous ad-

Illegal Sedgefield car guards nearly cause crash Where can a person report illegal car guards? There is really a problem with too many guards in Sedgefield, by the block where the chemist is. There are four car guards and all of them are regulating traffic at the same time. This nearly caused an accident on March 12, when one of them showed a courier bus to reverse, almost right into me! I hooted and quickly got out of the way. Luck-

ily he just missed me and when I got out of my car, the car ‘guard’ ran away! He wore one of those orange vests which you can buy at Agri. Melanie Jonker, via Facebook (This note was received on our Facebook page and has been passed on to Knysna Municipality for a response, but if anyone reading here can advise Melanie in the meantime, feel free to drop us a line… - Eds.)

Crash barrier in Piesang Valley Road must be installed at once

CORRODING AWAY: The new barrier had been delivered but not installed on the section of Piesang Valley Road that crosses a tributary of the river

During the first week of September last year, heavy rains caused damage to a crash barrier on a section of Piesang Valley Road in Plettenberg Bay, where it crosses a tributary of the Piesang River. It is with disappointment one has to report that, six months later, the crash barrier has still not been repaired. What’s more, sections of a new barrier have indeed been delivered to site, where they are now steadily becoming overgrown with grass and covered with detritus and soil. They are possibly therefore becoming corroded, such that the strength of the barrier material may be compromised. But installed they are not - the photographs above attest to this. Could Bitou Municipality please repair the

crash barrier of the section of this road where it crosses a tributary of the Piesang River? In the event of an accident occurring on this section of Piesang Valley Road and the proper crash barrier installation not being in place, the municipality could possibly be held culpable for injuries or harm arising out of such an incident and become involved in expensive litigation and the payment of damages. If I am incorrect in presuming that direct responsibility for the repair work lies with Bitou, could someone at the municipality do everything possible to facilitate, motivate, and expedite the necessary repairs? TR Twidle, Plett (CXPRESS awaits Bitou Municipality’s response in this regard. - Eds.)

venture. Who would have thought of such a thing on our very doorstep?! Absolutely glorious scenery, fabulous very-wellchilled wines in gorgeous venues, superb food - quite honestly, it’s the answer. Frankly, it rivals spending one’s days in the George Provincial eating their (darn good) cottage pie, even if you have had the sound thought of smuggling onto the ambulance your supply of All-Gold tomato sauce. You’ll nibble on delightful summer things, largely

based on spanspek, Parma ham, carpaccio and richman’s-lettuce-ish things at stylish places like Bramon, Newstead (wow!) or Rare Earth (architecturally world-class), or enjoy the wonderful friendliness of Redford Lane. It’s worth spending a few days exploring. Some of the wines are throat-tinglingly crisp and cold and wonderful. And everyone so helpful and smiling! Even the amphitheatre of hills and mountains seem proud. Martin Rattray, Plett

Medical care costs dearly for those who can ill afford it As an employer of a domestic worker, I am appalled at the lack of care and compassion that is experienced at our clinics in Plettenberg Bay by those who cannot afford private health care. Not only do the sick wait at a clinic for most of the day to be attended to, but many are not even seen by a medical practitioner, a nursing sister or a nurse by the end of clinic hours, and are told to return the next day to make an appointment to see a doctor two weeks later. Such was my domestic worker’s experience in KwaNokuthula recently when she attended the local clinic with her grandchild (a toddler) who had a severe earache and was oozing fluid from one of her ears. She had to resort to seeing a doctor in private practice, which she could ill afford. In November 2015, she went to the same clinic for a Pap smear. She was told to return for the results in January 2016. On presenting herself, she was told that her re-

sults could not be found but was, however, informed that she’d had an infection. She was sent away without any treatment for this condition and told to return at another time for a second Pap smear. I understand that a patient who is fortunate enough to be seen by a nurse is given pain pills, no matter what the ailment he or she complains of. I believe doctors only attend clinics twice a week. How many patients can be seen by doctors when their clinic visits are so infrequent? There seems to be a total lack of control of the situation and something meaningful ought to be done about it. I consider that, at the very least, an explanation as to why this is happening should be forthcoming from the powers that be. Concerned Resident, Plett (The responsibility of Plett clinics lies with the Western Cape Health Department, and we will endeavour to publish a response from them in the near future. - Eds.)

CXPRESS