16 May 2018 by CXpress

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

Sucked dry After the fuel-price increase earlier this month, the AA has warned that another near-future hike is inevitable if the rand doesn’t strengthen against the US dollar, and fast. Of course we don’t hold this against our ‘hood’s many able attendants - like cover-pic model Tito Matanzima - who fill our tanks with aplomb! Read ‘Fuel for thought’ on page 7 to find out more.

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16 May 2018

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NEWS & VIEWS

16 May 2018

President Patrick Leary was the epitome of Rotary motto ‘service above self’ PHILIP MURTON penned this tribute on behalf of Rotary Plettenberg Bay after the sudden passing of the club’s number-one member ATRICK Leary, the president of Plett Rotary Club, died on Saturday May 5, leaving his wife, Francesca. Patrick had served as president of Plett Rotary Club for almost his full term of two years and during that time he certainly made a mark on the club, ensuring that it made a useful, relevant and meaningful contribution to the community of Plettenberg Bay. Rotary’s motto is “service above self ” and Patrick certainly demonstrated that. For example, we will all recall the terrible fires that devastated much of Plett and Knysna last year. Patrick liaised with all the firefighting organisations in the area and took the initiative in arranging for a container of firefighting equipment to be imported from Switzerland. This was all brand-new equipment, but it was being given to us free of charge because it was out-of-date according to Swiss regulations. Patrick played a key role in getting the equipment through customs in Port Elizabeth. One struggles to believe the amount of red tape, officialdom and paperwork involved - enough to try the patience of a saint, but Patrick seemed to have had endless patience. Mind you, sometimes his patience ran short… Every year Plett Rotary provides about 10 marshals for the Knysna cycle race; this entails going up into the depths of the forest down forest roads, with a portable two-way radio to report any accidents back to the race organisers so that ambu-

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rent of colourful language coming over the air. For his efforts Patrick was given an ‘Official Reprimand’ by the organisers of the race. It’s a pity Plett Rotary did not have the chance to ask him if he would like to take part again this year in June. I’d love to know what he would have said. Patrick was a key member of the Plett Rotary team involved in upgrading Harkerville Pri-

PATRICK LEARY: 21 March 1952 - 5 May 2018 Photos: Philip Murton

GREEN-FINGERED: Patrick personally planted his gift-tree at Harkerville Primary, where it will form part of his multi-faceted legacy

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lances can be sent. Patrick decided to take his car to his marshalling station but on the way the forest track got narrower and rockier. It had rained and eventually Patrick was hopelessly stuck in the mud. Rotary Club members had never heard Patrick swear but unknown to him he had left his radio on: everyone within miles must have heard a tor-

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mary School. We are one of several local organisations taking part in this initiative and as part of Environmental Awareness education, each member of Plett Rotary had undertaken to plant a tree. Patrick’s contribution was planted in Harkerville by Patrick in person (see photo). The tree is still alive three months down the line so perhaps, like most people of Irish descent, he had green fingers? Plett Rotary will miss Patrick a lot and his sudden death came as a shock to all of us. Although our club has got back onto an even keel, in a way, by appointing an interim president, it seems safe to say that he will never be forgotten for as long as the club and its members are around. Farewell Patrick, and may you rest in peace. • A memorial service will be held at the Plett Community Church in Bowtie Drive on Friday May 18 at 16h00. See the notice on page 4.

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NEWS & VIEWS

16 May 2018

CXPRESS

ANC in Bitou calls on its ‘deployees’ for stability The Bitou branch of the ANC has called for stabilisation within the municipality’s administration following a series of political issues over the past few months - YOLANDÉ STANDER reports HE latest episode in the protracted Plett political saga was the DA’s withdrawal of a court application to declare a special council meeting during which a successful vote of no confidence was brought against two of the party’s councillors - illegal. This after Bitou mayor Peter Lobese, of the AUF, voted against his now former coalition with the DA when he sided with the ANC on, among others, votes of no confidence in speaker Annelise Olivier and deputy mayor Jessica Kamkam during a special council meeting in April. They were replaced with the ANC’s Euan Wildeman and Sandiso Gcabayi. The DA claimed that the special council meeting was illegally convened on several procedural grounds and that subsequent decisions, including the vote of no confidence, were therefore null and void. They subsequently applied for a declaratory order to declare the meeting illegal and the matter was set to be heard in the Western Cape High Court on Wednesday May 8. The day before the set court date, the party however withdrew the application due to “technical issues” with the application. This was only one of several other issues that reared its head over the past few weeks. The DA

in Bitou also laid criminal complaints with the Hawks against, among others, Lobese over alleged illegal “syphoning of money” from municipal accounts. ANC chief whip in Bitou Phakie Mbali said the party has now called on its “deployees” to stabilise the Bitou administration by, among others, “looking at the matter of the suspended municipal manager Thabo Ndlovu”. He added that the party believed Ndlovu had been “maliciously suspended” in December last year, just a month after the DA had taken over control of Bitou Municipality. “The unlawful suspension of Ndlovu was conducted as a witch hunt against black professionals by the DA. The ANC was not surprised by the act of the DA since they never approved his appointment, only for the MEC [of local government] to make a U-turn.” Mbali said due process on his appointment was followed, and added that the ANC/AUF government should not continue to waste public money on “frivolous charges” standing no chance to succeed. “We call on council to conclude the appointment of the head of department for Community Services, which has been vacant for over a year. We believe that the ANC/AUF government is moving in the right

direction in bringing certainty and stability in the administration.” Mbali also called on the ANC/AUF government to “instil discipline and promote public service that is governed by Batho Pele (people first) principles”. “We call on the ANC/ AUF government to promote accountability, something the DA failed to do, by making sure all accountability structures are put in place and that a municipal public account committee is chaired by the opposition, as we can not be the referee and the player like the DA did during its time in office.” Mbali further said to have a responsive government, they called on the ANC/ AUF to establish Section 80 committees to support the functions of the mayor, which were dissolved by the DA when it took over. “We believe that Bitou is probably the only municipality in this province that does not have Section 80 committees. Once again, the ANC calls on the leadership of council to promote good governance free of corruption.” • As this edition went to print, Bitou Municipality and bodies aligned to Plett Tourism were about to start doing battle around the issue of an imminent shake-up of the town’s quintessential marketers.

DNA delay causes Cumming case postponement HE court case against the man accused of murdering Hospice nurse Penny Cumming has been postponed until the receipt of a DNA report. The 30-year-old accused, who cannot be named until he has pleaded due to the sexual nature of the crime, briefly appeared in the local Magistrate’s Court on May 7. The matter was

however postponed to June 4 as the court is still awaiting a DNA report. The docket will also be sent to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for a decision on if the matter would be transferred to a higher court. The suspect, who has family ties in Plett but worked in Cape Town before the attack, remains

in custody. He was denied bail earlier this year. The man is accused of raping and killing the 63-year-old Schoongezicht Country Estate resident in January. He was arrested on the 30th, where he was allegedly hiding near a school in KwaNokuthula following the grisly discovery on January 29. Garden Route Media

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CXPRESS

Charlesford water pipeline to be connected this week NYSNA Municipality on Monday announced that the new Charlesford pipeline will be connected in the course of this week. “In November 2017, we reported that the municipality had several short-term interventions in place to assist with the current water scarcity in Greater Knysna,” said the statement. These included the Charlesford pipeline construction that will allow more water to be pumped from the Knysna and Gouna rivers. Phase 2A of the project will see 6km of the pipeline completed at a cost of R32-million and Phase 2B, valued at approximately R24-million, will provide a further 2.9km. “We are excited to announce that our engineers are ready to connect the new Charlesford pipeline during the course of this week. The switchover should not affect water supply. Additional water will be provided from al-

NEWS & VIEWS

16 May 2018

ternate water resources such as Knysna’s Reverse Osmosis plant, the Bigai Spring, and numerous boreholes while the connection process is underway. “However, we urge residents and visitors to be extra vigilant during the switchover period and continue to use water sparingly regardless of the proactive measures being taken by Knysna Municipality.” According to the statement, it is of utmost importance that residents, business and tourists remain proactive in their endeavours to save and reduce water consumption. The municipality thanks everyone who is taking the drought seriously and who has made water conservation part of their daily lives. Report leaks to 044 302 6331 during working hours or 044 302 8911 after hours. Do not hesitate to report any water wastage or abuse via WhatsApp to 060 998 7000.

Airports company to the rescue Bob Hopkin

S one of the few mainly State Owned Enterprises that are profitable, Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) recently provided an overview of its activities and expenditure in supporting good causes around the country. After the establishment of the Department of Socio-economic Development within the company, ACSA has spent some R41-million providing financial and infrastructural support to, in particular, communities adjacent to the nine airports that it controls. Corporate Affairs chief executive Refentse Shin-

ners explained, at a recent visit to George Airport, that the company takes a two-pronged approach to its corporate responsibilities. “Firstly we, at company level, identify areas where our financial or logistical expertise would benefit a community or activity and, secondly, encourage employees to devote some of their spare time to volunteer to assist local communities - not by monetary contributions, but by offering their individual expertise to help at a practical level,” said Shinners. Many of the central projects involve refurbishing schools that, due to the inadequacy of sup-

port from the Department of Education, have been left to rot without central government involvement. Examples given were education centres in Walmer near Port Elizabeth Airport, Empangeni near King Shaka in Durban, and a school in the Cape Flats. The head teacher of the Walmer school was interviewed as saying that, before ACSA’s involvement, the school was very run down and teaching staff demotivated but, after refurbishment, pass rates went from 22% in 2016 to 73% in 2017. Another example given were the establishment of the Goodbye Malaria

brand of clothing, made in under-privileged communities and sold by fledgling entrepreneurs at rent-free kiosks in ACSA terminals. Furthermore, selected environmentally-enthusiastic individuals are being trained as rangers, which may facilitate their future employment in nature reserves. While the ACSA staff emphasised that applications for assistance would be very carefully scrutinised, and none accepted from persons with political or religious affiliations, they encouraged applications from worthy causes to approach their local airport staff with worthy ideas.

Garden Route National Park now boasts a total of 18 awesome Green Flag trails

TOP-QUALITY TREKS: The Green Flag system officiated by the Hiking Organisation of Southern Africa ensures that trails meet standards in terms of outlay, accommodation, facilities and service, as well as the conservation of natural resources this image of the Half-collard Kingfisher Trail in Wilderness depicts some of the pristine-nature attraction offered on hikes throughout Garden Route National Park

N additional four hiking trails in the Wilderness section of Garden Route National Park received Green Flag accreditation from the Hiking Organisation of Southern Africa (HOSA) recently. This brings the number of accredited hiking trails in the park to 18, with 12 in the Tsitsikamma section, two in the Knysna sections, and now four in the Wilderness section, including the Halfcollard Kingfisher Trail (9.65km), Dune Mole Rat Trail (8.2km), Woodville Big Tree (2km), and the Circles in the Forest walk at 3.4km. The number of people hitting the tracks in Knysna, Wilderness and Tsitsikamma is on the increase, with a total of 667 people having hiked

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trails in Knysna during the Easter weekend alone. The Garden of Eden hosted the most visitors (266 of the 667), followed by hikers to the King Edward Big Tree (140), Kranshoek (132), Diepwalle (70), and Perdekop (59). Two of Knysna’s hiking trails - Perdekop in Harkerville and the Elephant Route in Diepwalle - received Green Flag accreditation by HOSA as far back as 2015. A total of 482 people walked the Half-collared Kingfisher Trail in Wilderness during the past Easter weekend, compared to 356 at the same time last year. This steady increase in the number of hikers in the park can be attributed to the Garden Route Walking Festival over

the same period, during which numerous SANParks routes were among the 52 hiking trails on offer to festivalgoers throughout the region. People are also walking trails in groups and are including hiking as one of numerous activities to do in Garden Route National Park. Says GRNP spokesman Nandi Mgwadlamba: “Progress is also being made in terms of the re-establishment of hiking trails in and around Knysna and Plett affected by the fires of June 2017, in order for these routes to be ready for visitors to the Knysna Oyster Festival this July.” Harkerville Trail The trail was re-routed in December 2017 pending the recovery of the burnt

area. Although the coastal portion of the trail is closed, an alternative scenic route was opened along the coastal ridge and bookings for the trail are now open. Kranshoek Trail The Kranshoek Trail is still closed, but maintenance work is underway, with about 90% of the route complete. Bookings will be opened pending final rebuilding and rehabilitation. Kranshoek Viewpoint Currently closed and inaccessible to visitors, management and scientists are in the process of finalising urgent deliverables pertaining to the specific area. • Email nandi.mgwad lamba@sanparks.org for additional information.

NEWS & VIEWS

16 May 2018

Knysna gets bio-wise and bottle-brick savvy UE Swain, executive director of BioWise, was guest speaker at the monthly Garden at Leisure meeting last week. Her talk focused on the NLC-funded Waste Nothing Knysna programme that was launched recently, and on how residents could become more biowise by taking their inspiration from nature. “Gardeners are essentially the caretakers of our soil and it was great to have the opportunity to share some thoughts and ideas with them. Being water-wise is essential for any gardener and we did not only talk about harvesting rain water, but also about ‘planting the rain’. “Run-off from stormwater can be redirected into garden swales and verge-

SOIL CARERS: At the Garden at Leisure get-together were, from left, visitor Pearl Richards, the club’s Par Korrubel and Esther Townsend, and BioWise director Sue Swain

side gardens, or used to create wetlands that will help keeping the land hydrated while recharging groundwater. The trick is to slow, spread and sink the water,” she explained. “Gardeners should also realise that once they put their garden waste in the blue bag for the munici-

pality to collect, they have no control over what happens to the content. But when you create your own compost, you upcycle and re-use, exactly as nature intended,” said Swain. Everyone attending had to bring along a bottle brick as ‘entrance fee’. “They were amazed at

how much unnecessary landfill waste goes into a bottle - as is everyone when they start making these,” enthused Swain. Café Bodega at the top of Waterfront Drive serves as drop-off point for finished bottles, and a number of bottle-brick projects are earmarked for implementation later this year. “We will need all the bottles we can collect, so get bottle-bricking and continue doing so,” she urged. “Naturally, you can also create your own bottlebrick structure in your garden. Then please share these ideas on our Facebook page, or email us some photographs.” Visit Waste Nothing Knysna on Facebook or email sue@biowise.org.za for more information.

Adventurous doc to address Wilderness audience Despite her wanderlust, on endurance… and then some! Joan loves living on her F you admire unimaginable courage and survival against all odds, then do not miss Dr Joan Louwrens’s talk on Ernest Shackleton’s bid to rescue his crew stranded on a hostile, frozen shore. Having lost their ship to Antarctic pack-ice, Shackleton, Worsley and Crean had to climb the never-scaled mountains on South Georgia Island to locate a rescue vessel. Joan is a medical doctor by profession but an adventurer by choice and desire. She has peddled across Africa and Asia as

JOAN OF THE JUNGLE: Doctor and adventurer extraordinaire Joan Louwrens is set to entrance her audience with the tale of an extraordinary rescue 104 years ago

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: The James Caird lifeboat in best repair, patched up and partially decked over by what meagre resources were available, sets out on a rescue mission to South Georgia

an expedition doctor before the pull of the Poles and the oceans set in. Combining career with adventure, she has worked in some of the most remote places on Earth, including the Arctic and Antarctica. As ship’s doctor, she had the good fortune to be on board during the Shackleton Centenary Voyage, along with many descendants of his famous Endurance crew. Joan will trace Shackleton’s incredible journey from Elephant Island to South Georgia and his subsequent climb to salvation.

small farm in Knysna, surrounded by indigenous forest and its animal dwellers. But give her the chance and she is up in Kruger National Park, manning the clinic. ‘Beyond Endurance’ is presented by the Wilderness Ratepayers & Residents Association and scheduled at 6pm for 6:30 on May 23 at the Wilderness Hotel. Entry costs R10 for WRRA members and R20 for non-members. A cash bar will be open and there’s an array of restaurants in the Village for after-talk dinner.

FROZEN: The crew left behind used a lifeboat for shelter while Shackleton, Worsley and Crean went for help

CXPRESS

NEWS & VIEWS

16 May 2018

Foundation named after mustard seed turns Bossiesgif youth into boffins Words & photo: Khaya Mbesi

TUDENTS in Plettenberg Bay who have chosen mathematics and science as school subjects are blessed to have Luyanda Fatuse and his wife, Maxwelline, on hand to help. This couple regard themselves as servants of the youth and have tasked themselves with assisting young people who find maths and science a tough challenge at school, college or university. “If they are stuck and feel they can’t move forward, we are here to lend a hand,” says Luyanda. The Fatuses arrived in Plett last year, having relocated from Saldanha Bay, where they were also involved with youth matters. Luyanda graduated with a Bcom Accounting degree from the University of the Western Cape, while Maxwelline boasts a Bachelors in Environmental Studies from Cape Tech. “We started Lwemostade [the term means ‘mustard seed’] Youth Foundation in Saldanha in 2005. It has helped scores of young people, who have since progressed in life and now hold senior positions within the private sector and government, in South African and worldwide. “We are here to target the toughest subjects and help students to master them. God has given us a special skill to assist young people

so that they can prosper in life,” says Maxwelline. Scores of local youngsters have already been attracted by the skills offered through Lwemostade Youth Foundation. As CXPRESS visited the Fatuses’ house, it was full of young people and their books. They were busy tackling either maths or science problems. Luyanda helps the students to understand certain criteria they didn’t grasp at school, but sometimes he drives them so hard that they find themselves ahead of the school syllabus. Most of his students return to the classroom empowered. “This is a project that enhances the lives of young people at school and at home. We also teach them how they should look after themselves. We advise that academics are far more important than knowledge about sex. “We teach girls to respect their bodies before they get boyfriends. Putting boyfriends first in your life will not take you forward.

Focus on your studies. We are bringing the moral fibre back to our society. We discourage alcohol and sex until a certain age, when youngsters know where they are going,” he says. Many parents at Bossiesgif urged their kids to attend the classes. Siyamthanda Bonya, 13, is one such a learner. “I am in Grade 7 at Phakamisani. I wanted to know more about mathematics and natural science, but in both subjects there were parts bothering me. “I started the classes in February and I am now doing very well. We are dealing with kilograms and milligrams, which we did not do at my school. It is a good course that makes everyone here know more than our class mates.” Thembela Dyani, 13, also says that the programme is good for her school work: “Mr Fatuse helps all young people across the board. There are other students that I am now helping in turn, and they are doing very well, too!”

MASTERMINDS: Luyanda and Maxwelline Fatuse help students with mathematics and science at their home in Bossiesgif

Notice Board ATHER your family or buddies and join Kurland Club’s Amazing Crags Paper Chase this Sunday. Discover The Crags while you navigate to hidden locations with fun activities along the way. Space is limited to 20 cars, with two to four team members per car. Join the Kurland Club crew afterwards for a prize-giving and delicious

chicken braai with summer salads and fresh breads. Entry fee is R100 per car and the braai costs R40 per adult (R20 per child). A licensed cash is bar available so no own drinks, please. Briefing is at 1:30pm at the club (opposite Kurland Hotel on the N2) and the race starts at 2pm. Email kurandclub@gmail.com or call 065 808 8003 to book.

The next PAWS Car Boot Sale is on Sunday June 3 from 9am to 1pm in the Market Square car park. A wide variety of goods on offer include linen, kitchenware, small appliances, ornaments, clothing, toys, DVDs, books, etc. A R100 donation to PAWS allows you to sell all! More info from Margie on 044 533 6262 or 082 551 6301.

BUSINESS

16 May 2018

Fuel for thought... Another petrol hike could break the hard-pressed motorist’s back - STUART MURRAY reports

HERE was more than a touch of irony to yet another fuel price increase coming, as it did, in tandem with the Workers’ Day holiday. Petrol went up by 49c a litre and diesel by 59c (58c for low sulphur), resulting in pump prices of R14.23/litre inland and R13.89 at the coast. And so it keeps rising, further fuelling - pun intended - the cost of living. And that’s not all! The Automobile Association (AA) has warned that if the rand doesn’t improve significantly against the US dollar, we can expect another fuel-price increase, possibly next month. The big problem is the fact that international oil prices are rising as producers steadily win back the losses they have experienced during the price hiatus. The fuel price levy, imposed by our government, is another major factor. This is a tax slapped on every litre of fuel sold. Back in April 2016, it rose from R2.55/litre to R2.85. In 2017 it again increased by 30 cents to R3.15. This year, so far, it has risen by 22 cents and now stands at R3.37/litre. The AA points out that the money collected by this fuellevy tax goes to the National Treasury and is not used for road-related expenses. The Road Accident Fund also takes its toll. The RAF levy, which is used to compensate victims of road accidents (and their legal costs) was R1.54 per litre in 2016. In 2017 it rose by a modest 9 cents to R1.63/litre; this year the levy increase was a whopping 30 cents and now stands at R1.93/litre. Combined, the general fuel and the RAF levies constitute R5.30 of every litre of fuel sold in South Africa. That

amounts to between 37% and 38% tax on every litre of fuel sold (depending on the inland/ coast differential). This is all combined with the Basic Fuel Price, which is calculated on shipping costs of petroleum from the Middle East and Singapore. Other costs include insurance, storage and wharfage. The BFP at present stands at R5.81. There are other costs. These include inland transport, customs and excise duties, retail margins and storage which, according to the AA, currently total R3.12 for inland petrol and R2.78 for coastal. The effect of these rising imposts has a serious effect on our cost of living, and there appears to be no sign of respite. The fuel price, in fact, has become the golden goose for a hungry fiscus. Need some more cash? Let’s whack up the fuel levies! The AA and others have long argued for fuel-price increases to be based on the inflation rate, pointing out that hikes above inflation hurt the poorest of the poor (the latest increases are more than double inflation), impacting on public transport costs and the cost of transporting goods. It is also unlikely that we will see a reverse of the steady climb in international oil prices. The oil sheikhs have had enough of tightening their belts. Moreover, they must be casting wary eyes on the development of electric road vehicles. Of interest is a list completed by Cars.co.za last year of the 10 most fuel-efficient cars available in South Africa. Electric cars were clear winners. The all-electric Nissan Leaf, using no fuel at all, topped the list; the next five on the list were all hybrids! I am still left with the question: how does one accurately judge hybrid fuel efficiency? • Stuart Murray (stuartmur ray758@gmail.com) is a former senior assistant editor of Financial Mail and co-founder, editor, and CEO of Finance Week. He is retired and lives in Plettenberg Bay.

CXPRESS

INTERVAL

16 May 2018

English signs from around the world • In a Bangkok temple: It is forbidden to enter a woman, even a foreigner, if dressed as a man. • In a Norwegian cocktail lounge: Ladies are requested not to have children in the bar. • At a doctor’s office in Rome: Specialist in women and other diseases. • At a Bangkok dry cleaners: Drop your trousers here for the best results. • At a Nairobi restaurant: Customers who find our waitresses rude, ought to see the manager. • On the main road to Mombasa, leaving Nairobi: Take notice - when this sign is under water, this road is impassable. • In a city restaurant: Open seven days a week and weekends. • In a cemetery: Persons are prohibited from picking flowers from any but their own graves. • A Tokyo hotel’s rules and regulations: Guests are requested not to smoke or do other disgusting behaviours in bed. • On the menu of a Swiss restaurant: Our wines leave you nothing to hope for. • In a Tokyo bar: Special cocktails for the ladies with nuts. • At a Yugoslavian hotel: The flattening of underwear with pleasure is the job of the chambermaid.

• In the lobby of a Moscow hotel across from a Russian Orthodox monastery: You are welcome to visit the cemetery, where famous Russian and Soviet composers, artists, and writers are buried daily, except Thursday. • A sign posted in Germany’s Black Forest: It is strictly forbidden on our Black Forest camping site that people of different sex, for instance men and women, live together in one tent, unless they are married with each other for this purpose. • In a Zurich hotel: Because of the impropriety of entertaining guests of the opposite sex in the bedroom, it is suggested that the lobby be used for this purpose. • A sign for donkey rides in Thailand: Would you like to ride on your own ass? • At a Japanese hotel: You are invited to take advantage of the chambermaid. • In a Copenhagen airline ticket office: We take your bags and send them in all directions. • In a Roman laundry: Ladies, leave your clothes here and spend the afternoon having a good time. • In an Abu Dhabi Souk shop window: If the front is closed, please enter through my backside.

Brian’s medical history UE to a job transfer, Brian moved from his hometown to the city. Being that he had a very comprehensive health history, he brought along all of his medical paperwork for when it came time for his first check up with his new doctor. The doctor kept glanc-

ing at Brian as he reviewed the medical paperwork. After browsing through the extensive medical history, the doctor stared at Brian for a few moments and said: “Well there’s one thing I can say for certain, you sure look better in person than you do on paper.”

I went to a fancy dress party last night dressed as a chicken. Entered a lady dressed as an egg. A lifelong question was answered... It was the chicken.

Isn’t it ironic?

SOCIAL SCENE

16 May 2018

CXPRESS

People, places & events

BURGERS BENEFIT POOCHES: Mary Everard of Muddy Pooches thanks everyone who contributed to making their build-your-own burger fundraiser on Wednesday May 9 into the wonderful evening it was. “We thank all sponsors involved and many individuals for ensuring the event’s success. Thank you Danielle for the idea and all your efforts; Jana and Freddy of Locals for the venue and hosting, and Denise for the use of your kitchen; Natalie from SuperSpar and Duncan from KwikSpar, as well as Karen and Gilli from Robberg Fine Foods. We are indebted to raffle sponsors Diane and Kirsten for the vouchers, Erika from Mandalay Guest House, Ilsa from Pussy Willow Cattery, Erasmus Panel Beaters and Belle Âme Clothing. Huge thanks go to our volunteers - there are simply too many of you big-hearted people to name. Lastly, the biggest shout-out goes to the public who joined us on the night. We never anticipated the huge amount of support we received and for this we’re ever grateful,” said Mary, adding that this may well be the first of many wonderful fundraisers to come. The Muddy Pooches team tallied a fat total of R13K once all the self-built burgers had been gobbled, so participants can rest assured that a large number of pooches will now benefit from their generosity. Drinking in the lovely Locals ambience are, from left above, Ashley Holmes, Liesl van Reenen, Mary and Emma Everard, and Marine Way Animal Hospital’s Bert and Tina van Reenen.

KAWS DOG OF THE WEEK: Are you looking for a jogging partner? Richie is a Ridgeback cross and was surrendered to Knysna Animal Welfare Services last October aged one year. After a few months a wonderful home was found for him. Unfortunately this didn’t work out and he has now been returned to the KAWS kennels. He is a very intelligent, loving and affectionate high-energy dog. Ideally he would be suited to someone who would run with him every day and give him lots of mental stimulation. Do you think that you have the right home for him? Email Retha Havenga at kawssocial@ gmail.com to claim Ridgeback Richie for yourself!

CHANGING ABLE HANDS: Hilton Nagel, right, decided to sell Plett’s favourite eatery after being in the Spur Group for the last 20 years. The new owners are Ruan Smit - pictured here while shaking on a great deal with Hilton - and Riaan Smit, who together boast more than 20 years as part of this proudly South African steakhouse group, too! The ‘Two Rs’ also own Falcon Creek Spur in Knysna, and they invite all locals to come and visit Yellow Wood Spur on Plett’s Central Beach parking area, with its prime view of the sea and lagoon. Customer satisfaction means everything for the Smits and their team, so whenever you have a suggestion, complaint or compliment, please contact Ruan direct on 082 836 3474 or email rsmit@mweb.co.za - they would love to hear from you. See the advert on page 12.

005-417 NPO

Photos: Leigh Dunn

ROSES FOR MOTHERS: The Bitou 10 Foundation hosted a delightful Mother’s Day luncheon at Bosky Dell Rose Garden on Sunday. On hand to share in the good vibes were, from left, caterer par excellence Andrie Combrink, chair of the B10F board Marietta van Rooyen, and Salon Divineowner Diana Bronkhorst. Apart from Andrie’s to-die-for lunch buffet, live musical entertainment by maestro Martin Wolfaardt, at right, made for an amazing afternoon.

WHY POLAND? With so many incredible destinations on offer today, Poland is a country often overlooked as a travel destination. But visitors are discovering what the locals have long known: Poland is rich in fine culture, scenic landscapes, European charm and beautiful cities with UNESCO world heritage status. It offers delicious traditional cuisine, great shopping, world famous composers and musicians, a rich and fascinating history and, yes, some heart-rending historical sites which have been lovingly preserved - ‘lest we forget’. Wander through the original old towns of Krakow and Gdansk; marvel at the incredible old city of Warsaw when you realise it has been completely rebuilt, just as it was, after being razed to the ground during WWII. See the advert on page 4 to find out more.

CXPRESS

CLASSIFIEDS

16 May 2018

Paws

Plett Animal Welfare Service

ON THE SOAPBOX

16 May 2018

Letters to the Editor

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

Hen-talk correction: do not confuse your swamp with your moor…

SWAMPHEN: Mere ‘moor posers’ - Photo: Willy Dalgleish

I wish to point out that in your edition dated May 9 on the Social Scene page you have a photograph of two birds taken at the Rondevlei hide, which are incorrectly identified. These birds are not moorhens as stated but African Swamphens. The bird pictured at right above is a Common Moorhen, which was captured by our club member and well-know

author Peter Ginn. The Lakes Bird Club is an affiliate club of BirdLife South Africa - the same as BirdLife Plettenberg Bay whose president, Mike Bridgeford, is mentioned in that edition of CXPRESS. We draw our members from a wider area than the Plett club, including Knysna, Sedgefield, Wilderness, George and as far as Mossel Bay.

MOORHEN: The real thing - Photo: Peter Ginn

Outings take place on the first Saturday of every month and another outing or talk usually on the second or third Thursday of the month. Talks are held in the winter months of June, July and August only and take place at St Francis Church Hall in Sedgefield, which is central for our members. Your readers are welcome to email lakes.bird.

club@gmail.com or call me on 044 382 0638 or Steve on 082 785 6152 for further information. Pat Nurse - Lakes Bird Club chairperson (Thank you Pat, now we know - as do the snaphappy shooters at Plett PhotoFUNatics! Read the story around Willy Dalgleish’s winning pic on page 9 of the May 9 edition at www.cxpress. co.za - Eds.)

CXPRESS has the WOW factor Wow, there is nothing quite like the feeling of picking up a newspaper and seeing one’s photo on the cover! Your team did a great job - thank you so much for printing my photos. I’m thrilled that Nature’s Valley Trust gets a mention - they do such wonderful work. [Read ‘Spring timed calm and storm captured metres apart’ on page 7 of the May 9 edition at www.cxpress.

co.za to find out more.] I’m so enjoying pursuing my photography in this area - lots still to learn. I was interested to read about the Plett PhotoFUNatics on page 9, and see the fab photo of the two moor-hens [Swamphens, even… see the letter above!] Here’s hoping the Bitou chaos unwinds with a happy ending. In the meantime, do keep CXposing all the fraudulent goings-on!

Corinne Fernley, Plett --BAIE dankie vir ons mooi storie en vir die feit dat meer besonderhede op jul webwerf verskyn. [Lees ‘Non-compliance to dog bylaws remains rife on Bitou’s beaches’ op bladsy 4 van die 9 Mei uitgawe.] Almal by PAWS en Nature’s Valley Trust is baie dankbaar dat julle dit kon inpas! Marsja Hall-Green, Plett ---

CXPRESS, you are a blessing! Our PlettAid charity shop pics on top of your Social page look too beautiful! Cecily van Heerden, Plett (You’re welcome, ladies. Readers are invited to visit the newly-opened PlettAid charity shop in Crescent Street, where bargains abound. You can also drop any previously-loved items there and in this way contribute to the important Hospice cause. - Eds.)

Words of gratitude to Plett Surf Lifesaving Club

FROM SINKER TO PROVINCIAL VICTOR: Bobby Kleinsmidt - pictured at left with fellow Plett Surf Nipper champ Berenice Chabanel, and second from right in the back row of the Western Cape team that won top national spot in Durban earlier this month - has progressed from a boy who could barely swim to a teen dead-keen to serve as lifeguard

I would like to take the time to recognise and thank Plett Surf Lifesaving Club for giving the children of Kranshoek the opportunity to be part of its development team. Growing up in an underprivileged community, these children never considered it possible for themselves to be part of such a well-established fraternity. Plett Surf is especially significant to me

as my own children are currently participating in the programme. I remember when my son Robert, aka Bobby, first started the programme - he could barely swim on his own. With the help of lifesaving coach Chas Fraser, he is now well on his way to becoming a lifeguard himself. Bobby has developed tremendously over the

last four years, thanks to the programme, and has even been selected to be part of the Western Province Nippers team. He has also proven to be very successful when competing at national level. This would never have been possible without the guidance of his coaches and the financial support of the club. On behalf of Bobby and the other children, I

thank everyone involved with Plett Surf and Born in Africa, who initially introduced the swimming programme to our children. You have enabled them to learn invaluable new skills when you invited them to be part of the club’s development team, and for that I convey my profound gratitude to all of you. Delina Kleinsmidt, Plett

CXPRESS

Read CXPRESS online at www.cxpress.co.za

CXPRESS

SPORT & ADVENTURE

16 May 2018

Bid now on luxury stays to get Johandrie to the USA LETT parents Jolanda and Jaco Peens are blessed with a truly kind and multi-talented daughter, who works incredibly hard to keep her academics on par with a sporting career that, at the tender age of 14, reads like the bucket list of any all-rounder worth her salt. With 2018 not halfway, Wittedrift High student Johandrie Peens has this year already been selected for the SA Development

Kickboxing Team, while also having gained SWD colours for athletics and KPSSS colours for netball. “This girl excels in all her sporting activities, it being the fourth year running that she’s part of both the SWD athletics and regional netball teams,” explains Jaco. “After only a year of doing kickboxing it’s a big honour to be chosen for the SA Development team.” Adds Jolanda: “And the fact that she is just as de-

termined in her studies has resulted in a breath-taking report card at the end this year’s first school term!” The family - including brother Jade - supports Johandrie in everything she does but with regard to the kickboxing team obligation, they now appeal to the local community for assistance to help fund a trip to compete in the States next month. Although a raffle has raised a few grand for the

cause, a whopping R19,000 must still be collected before Johandrie can participate in the 2018 US Open ISKA World Martial Arts Championships in Orlando, Florida. She is due to depart on June 23 and all fees must be paid by Sunday May 20. Jolanda all but rests on her laurels in the quest to fund her daughter’s participation in the USA, and bids are now open for two accommodation vouchers: a seven-day stay at the Beacon Island for two people valued at R15,000; or two nights at the Drakensberg Sun including breakfast

and dinner for two worth R5,000 (out of season bookings only, valid for one year in both cases). “We are extremely proud of Johandrie and admire how hard she’s been working towards raising funds. She doesn’t take anything for granted and has remained humble while always going the extra mile to help others,” concludes Jolanda. Call her on 071 220 6241 for additional information or email your bid for either or both marvellous accommodation vouchers to printtree@absamail.co.za by May 20 latest.

GOLD-RAKER: Johandrie Peens here sports three gold medals after the recent Eden martial arts champs for continuous and points fighting, and a tag team first - which was followed up by another two golds raked in during last Saturday’s EP Champs in Jeffrey’s Bay

Catch President’s League leaders at Plett rugby field on Saturday

Bitou Rugby - the team along with manager/coach Chris Ferreira at centre pictured here while celebrating a 67-34 victory against Madibaz - is currently top of the SWD President’s League log. With the season at its halfway mark after six games played, no local fan would want to miss this weekend’s important clash at Plett rugby field off Gris Nez Avenue. Says Chris: “Our supporters have been carrying us through the season so far and we can’t thank them enough for the continued support. None of our successes would have been possible without sponsors Face Adrenalin en Coastal Tool Hire Plett, and we also thank the Dolphins Netball Club for their hard work and encouragement during home and away games.” The action starts at 2:30pm on Saturday May 19. Call Chris on 082 809 7815 and follow Bitou Rugby on Facebook for more info.