17 April 2019
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
Knysna residents woke up to a memorable sight when the historic Paddle Cruiser was found listing listlessly on its side as first light struck the lagoon on Friday morning. In the pic, NSRI Knysna members are busy extricating water from the hull. The Cruiser was not manned at the time it started taking water from unknown causes during the night. Read the report on page 4.
Photo: The Featherbed Co
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NEWS & VIEWS
17 April 2019
Calling all wannabe woodworkers: Madiba’s carpenter now training in Knysna XPRESS recently connected with carpenter par excellence Colin Fitzgerald - a resident of Knysna who’s on a mission to share his knowledge with candidates ranging from complete novices, to female and male hobbyists eager to hone their woodworking skills. Colin’s concern for community upliftment is rooted not least in the fact that he shared a significant part of his working life with the ultimate icon of reconciliation and the right of all humans to live in peace and prosperity. “I started working for president Nelson Mandela in October 1997, and continued to be in his personal employ at the Houghton Estate for the last 16 years of his life,� explains Colin. “I was Madiba’s Mr Fix-It - his carpenter, designer, woodwork consultant - and his friend. My wife, Clare, assisted me during that time. Ladies can be extremely good at woodwork, and my lady was brilliant!� Sadly, along with a world in mourning, Colin had to bid Madiba adieu in December 2013, and a little later, Clare lost her ongoing struggle with severe osteoporosis. “I was alone in the concrete city,� he muses. But then, about two and a half years ago, a good friend invited him to Knysna to stay until he found his feet. “I had been doing a considerable amount of woodwork training for maintenance staff and supervisors of the best five-star hotels in Joburg during my last 12 years or so in the city, while doing their specialised carpentry and restoration work, too. “I also trained private people interested in carpentry, my first trainee being a female professional photographer. She passed the course with higher marks than most of my male students!�
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As soon as he had arrived in Knysna, Colin ran a maintenance course for staff at Pezula Hotel. He then settled down to indulge himself in another passion (“obsession!�): writing. “The fires of June 2017 chased me away from my small wood cabin in Knysna Heights, and totally destroyed many of my close friends’ homes and places of work. “I wrote a compassionate book about the fires and my friends’ experiences, highlighting the fact that Knysna’s legendary Timber Village had been razed to the ground,� recounts Colin. Great was his indignation when the book’s potential publishers advised that they regarded the fire as insignificant. “They claimed they could not sell the story, ‘so don’t bother sending the manuscript’.� But a positive did emerge in the fire’s aftermath, when Colin connected with Timber Village founder Jock McConnachie and manager Daniel Hennessy. “I mentioned to Daniel and his new partner, Karl van Lith, that I planned to start training sessions in Knysna. Being top woodworkers, they showed a keen interest. “Soon after, I was contacted with the news that they, along with Bruce Bartie and a number of other caring business
FIRM FRIENDS: Colin and Clare with Graça Machel and then president Nelson Mandela at Houghton Estate in early 1998
people, were embarking on a skills development initiative. Could I do the training?� Colin proceeded to run a 10day Basic Woodwork course at Timber Village last September. He lauds Daniel and Karl for their support of his first three students - all residents of the fire-ravaged White Location informal settlement. “One of these students, Odwa Ngubenkomo, proved to be a keen and astute learner and passed my Trade Theory and Practical Work with flying colours. Thanks to the special people mentioned above and many others, Odwa was instantly offered employment at the highquality JB Furniture workshop,� says Colin. TOP STUDENT: Odwa Ngubenkomo from White Location receives his certificate from Colin, and was instantly offered employment at JB Furniture
He is now ready to launch into a new set of training sessions covering everything from basic to advanced woodwork, furniture repairs and restoration - and these fun and interesting courses designed over many years in the trade are sure to suit private hobbyists and other enthusiasts alike. “The more people that attend my courses, the less I charge per person. If I have more than a few underprivileged students on a course, I will train at least one of them for free. Interestingly, here in Knysna I’m able to offer the various courses at one third of the cost charged in Johannesburg way back.� Readers are invited to contact Colin and discuss their particular requirements, and he will supply a very reasonable set cost. The more trainees who sign up, the better the chances of less privileged locals benefiting from this invaluable upskilling. Concludes Colin: “It’s no good waiting around for other people to improve the situation in South Africa. We have to do it ourselves.� Call him on 082 735 4994 or email colinfitz@mweb.co.za for additional information.
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NEWS & VIEWS
17 April 2019
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Task team needed to quell resurgence of ATM scams Plett tourists have been plagued by ATM scammers over the past week, with one victim losing more than R30,000 - YOLANDÉ STANDER reports ISA Nagel from Plett Watch said they had received reports last week of two separate incidents in three days involving ATM scams. “The most recent scam involved the suspects telling the tourist that she had not ‘closed’ her transaction. When she went to do so, her bank card was snatched. “Apparently more than R30,000 was withdrawn
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from her account in about 10 different transactions before the card was stopped. These criminals are fast and brazen,” Nagel said. She added that in another scam, suspects told tourists they needed to pay for parking at an ATM. “They are then assisted out of their money.” Nagel said that, in order to counter these incidents, Plett Watch planned on
putting together a roster of locals interested to assist authorities in patrolling areas around the town’s ATMs. “By so doing, they would not only act as deterrent to would-be criminals, but also assist in reporting any suspicious behaviour,” Nagel said. This is not a new trend. In January, a group of ATM scammers, allegedly dressed as security guards, approached a woman at a
Suspected rapist gets R5K bail 55-year-old Plettenberg Bay man appeared in the local magistrate’s court last week after the alleged rape of a nine-year-old girl in September last year. The man, who cannot be
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named until he has pleaded, appeared in court on Wednesday April 10, but the matter was postponed to Friday May 3 for the submission of outstanding documents. The man is currently out
on R5,000 bail, which was extended until his next court appearance. He was arrested last year after the girl informed her guardians of the alleged incident on September 29. - Yolandé Stander
News Briefs made public due to pleas in this regard from her relatives, but it is believed that a memorial service is taking place in Plett today at St Peter’s Anglican Church.
TRAGIC: Paramedics declared the suicide victim deceased on the scene at Knysna’s Woodmill Lane shopping centre
Plett woman jumps to her death in Knysna A woman - at first reported to be in her 50s, but later confirmed to be a Plett resident aged 71 - committed suicide by jumping from the window of the third floor of Woodmill Lane shopping centre’s parking lot on Wednesday April 10, just before lunchtime. Knysna paramedics who arrived on the scene shortly after the incident confirmed her death after having as-
sessed the lifeless body. “The woman apparently arrived at the centre by taxi, left her handbag with the driver and after making a call to her son, told the driver she was going to the restroom, before jumping from the building moments later,” said Knysna police Lieutenant-Colonel Siddique Khan, adding that these reports were unconfirmed at the time. The identity of the deceased woman was not
Marching for dismissed retail workers Simcelile Duka on behalf of “the community of Bitou” on Monday advised that a peaceful march will be staged which may impact businesses in Plett on Thursday April 18. Starting from 10am in KwaNokuthula, the organisers are planning to gather fellow marchers in New Horizons and Qolweni before making their way down the N2 to Pick n Pay at The Market Square shopping centre, where they plan to “wait until receiving answers from the owners”. According to Duka, the matter revolves around the “unfair” dismissal of seven employees, which was carried out “without any notice or disciplinary procedures”.
Nedbank ATM at The Market Square shopping centre. It is believed that they created a distraction while the woman was attempting to do a transaction and, during the commotion, managed to scam her out of an undisclosed amount of money. Other ways of getting hold of PIN numbers and bank cards include approaching visitors, especially foreigners, in parking areas and
informing them that they need to pay for parking. The scammers then produce a machine with which they scan the bank card and request the cardholder to enter his or her PIN. They watch the process closely, get the PIN, and then distract the cardholder to get their hands on the card. Another way of getting their hands onto cards is placing a device in the card
slot, which makes it appear as though the machine had “swallowed” the card. Once they have seen the PIN number entered they convince the victim to leave the ATM and then retrieve the card using a pair of tweezers or a paper clip. To become involved in efforts to fight these crimes, please contact Nagel on 072 373 9689. Garden Route Media
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NEWS & VIEWS
17 April 2019
Paddle Cruiser stable while marine experts investigate NYSNA’S legendary Paddle Cruiser, the tourist restaurant vessel that was discovered partially capsized at its moorings on the banks of the Knysna Estuary in the early hours of April 12, was stabilised in position by that evening. Although the boat is still listing, the port hull has settled on the floor of
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Knysna Estuary, and the vessel is unlikely to tilt any deeper into the water. By Friday evening the Featherbed Co, which owns and manages the vessel, confirmed that expert divers and salvers had arrived from Cape Town and Port Elizabeth, and that the process of preparing the boat for re-floating had begun, and that work
would continue through the night. The company’s management has requested patience while independent assessors and marine engineers investigated the cause of the accident. “At this stage, and since no one was on board to witness the event, no one has enough information to hazard any guesses as
to how the accident happened,” said Featherbed Co spokesman Marin Hatchuel on Monday. “Although pollution control barriers were deployed around the vessel as a first response, no diesel has leaked from the hulls, and the hope is that the boat will pose no risk to the nat-
ural environment.” The company’s management thanked volunteers from NSRI Knysna, as well as members of SANParks, and Knysna Municipality’s rescue services for their help in stabilising the boat in the first hours after the accident. Management is also
grateful to the owners of Knysna Waterfront, which made the Waterfront’s jetties available for the temporary operation of other Featherbed Co vessels. See www.knysnafeatherbed.com for additional information, and visit www. cxpress.co.za for a gallery of images.
Why no NSRI street collection this Easter? Plett NSRI fundraising fundi DAVE HAYSOM explains the absence of their annual can-shake LETTENBERG Bay NSRI Station 14 prides itself in being able to sustain itself financially each year through a range of fundraising activities, including our Annual Street Collection over the Easter weekend. Station 14 will however not be doing the street collection this year as we transition to digital fundraising platforms we believe will, in the long term, deliver increasing and sustained funds to ensure the future of the station. Digital platforms like Yoco Machines, SnapScan, Zapper, and GivenGain provide opportunity through secure QR Codes (essentially a bar code unique to our station in this case) and secure electronic banking, assuring security for our donors and allow-
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A SIGHT TO BEHOLD: The Paddle Cruiser lists heavily to one side while rescue workers from Knysna Municipality and SANParks assist in extracting water from the craft
ing us to nurture long-term relationships with longterm funding sustainability. We will roll out these facilities during the course of this year - and, as always, we will depend on your support. Another objective of going cashless is achieving a clean audit which means that the financial statements of the NSRI are free from material misstatements; that there are no material findings on the annual performance report and, lastly, there are no material findings on non-compliance with key legislation. A clean audit is the objective of every corporate, but particularly a non-profit company, as an expression of good governance in providing assurance to stakeholders
that the company is ethical in all respects. As a leading SA charity, the NSRI aspires to the highest levels of corporate governance. Our auditors have advised that the control of cash collections (coins and notes) is a principle reason for not achieving a clean audit. We are aware that criminals are using the NSRI Brand to fraudulently solicit cash from unsuspecting members of the public and we need to prevent this from happening. We still need every penny we can get to fund our responsive and excellent services in Plett; knowing the people of the Bay are behind us is always hugely motivating to the crew. Thank you for your support. - david.haysom@ plettmail.co.za.
Photos: The Featherbed Co
The only pharmacy in Main Street
NEWS & VIEWS
17 April 2019
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Garden Route district mayor’s sugary SODA short on fizz and bubbles Correspondent BOB HOPKIN ponders on the motivation behind Memory Booysen’s need for a sequel and encore performance UST four weeks ago, this contributor provided to this paper an objective but glowing report on the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) Integrated Development Plan, including excerpts from the 2019/20 Budget. It was therefore surprising that, only a month later, local media members - or “paparazzi” as the mayor endearingly calls us - were invited to another event, this time entitled the first ‘State of the District Address’ (or SODA) at the same venue. Ever optimistic that new projects and initiatives would be revealed, it was disappointing that, during mayor Booysen’s hour-plus speech, we were treated to largely the same information, statistics and future aspirations that we had heard before. The task then was to detect the nuances or changes of emphasis to extract any meaningful outcome from the occasion. The invitation promised a review of accomplishments since the inauguration in 2016 of the current council and their plans for the future. In order to allay fears in the audience of excessive and wasteful expense on this repeat occasion, when
government) to work with. Perhaps, and this is conjecture, there is a concern that, after the coming national elections, there may be some rationalisation in government down from the current four levels of national, provincial, district, and municipal. Booysen was at odds to emphasise their role was not that of ‘Big Brother’ but as a coordinating unit between the seven local municipalities under their wing. It seemed as though the Garden Route mayor felt that their role in general was to leave the day to day running to the individual units but to focus on long-term projects of benefit to all. Among these were the new Mossel Bay landfill site, the Ikusasa agricultural fertiliser plant adjacent to PetroSA, and the Brulpadda gas condensate find off the Southern Cape coast as eventual replacement of Eskom power, with wind and solar from independent power producers. Mayor Booysen is never short of energy, optimism and motivation, and we hope residents of the Garden Route will see the fruits of his commitments in the very near future.
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MOTIVATED: Garden Route District Municipality mayor Memory Booysen updates the media again at the first State of the District Address event
a full dinner was provided, the mayor hastened to point out that Nedbank was a contributing sponsor. Although the point was subtle, this time around it seemed as though there was a concern about the role of district municipalities in general, and the Garden Route in particular, in future governance. As our largest local municipality, George has an annual budget of R2.282billion, almost all locally funded, while GRDM has but R410-million (R47million provided by central
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17 April 2019
SCHOOL NEWS
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17 April 2019
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NEWS & VIEWS
17 April 2019
Cutting edge enthusiasts gather BOB HOPKIN sliced it fine at last in George Correspondent weekend’s Garden Route Knife Show
ANCIENT TECH: The Romandesigned peasant knife
FIRM FAVOURITE: This Damascus steel knife with ivory handle is true cutler art
N recent years, knives of all kinds have acquired a sinister reputation due in part to their easy availability and unfortunate use in domestic abuse locally and criminal use internationally in major cities. However, bearing in mind that virtually any sharp object can be used by someone with violent intent, condemning knives in this way ignores the skill and dedication of those hobbyists whose interest is to produce artisanal cutting tools for their aesthetic value. Last weekend a small group of specialists attended the second Garden Route Knife Show at the George Showgrounds and their gentle demeanour was in contrast to the image of their products. Organiser Sarel Jacobsz primarily a knife collector and occasional fabricator - said the appeal of knife making was that artisans had to be proficient in many
skills to complete the finished product. “They work in specialised steels for the blade and tang, exotic woods, bone or ivory for the handle, hand-worked leather for the sheath, and usually indigenous woods for the presentation cases. “All of this is done by one person with the skills for all these materials,” he said, adding that to qualify for membership of a knife maker’s guild, the aspirant member has to create and submit for judging five different styled hand-made knives. If accepted as exemplary quality, they are granted membership. Within the styles of knives on display was a remarkable variety of appearance and size, some based on historic fighting weapons like the Sykes Fairbairn commando knife of WWII, and the (Jim) Bowie knife made famous from the Alamo battle with the Mexican Army. Another included the
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unique, and very first, folding knife invented by the Romans, now called the friction-folding peasant knife, which uses a lever gripped in the palm to ensure that the blade cannot close and cut the user. Some exhibitors showed items where the blade was polished to a mirror finish after many hours of sanding and polishing but, to this writer’s eyes, the most attractive were blades made from Damascus steel. This technique involves a process of folding in layers of nickel between the carbon steel, then folding, heating and hammer beating flat the metal ‘sandwich’ numerous times until it acquires an appearance similar to woodgrain. For those with the desire to try this hobby, call Sarel on 083 444 5353 or email oomsarel@absamail.co.za. Visit the gallery at www.cxpress.co.za for more images.
It’s the war all over… T Plett Country Club a week ago, Terry Henwood (a regular Plett swallow) challenged locals to a golf match under the banner of Brits versus 'Boks. Though there was an element of crossover among the personnel, Darell Philips captained the 'Boks team to victory by a single point in the Mixed Pairs Better-ball Stableford tournament. At the afterdinner presentation, Terry regaled the members with many a story before handing prizes to the top three pairs who all happened to be on the Brits team: first on 48 points were Barbie Fotheringham and Barry Ricketts, followed by Julie and Chris Brookes (44 points) and Heather Bianchi and Billy Grainger (43 points). Terry assured us the Brits will be out for revenge next year!
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NEWS & VIEWS
17 April 2019
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Easter entertainment returns to Sedge when Slow Fest opens tomorrow T is with great excitement that organisers of the Sedgefield Slow Festival are once again looking forward to entertain friends and families from April 18 to 21. Due to a lack of sponsorship, Slow Festival organisers were forced to cancel this ever-popular Easter family feast last year. Head event organiser Amanda Dixon explained that the festival had been unable to find a financial sponsor: “We simply aren’t able to continue to cover the costs of putting the festival together,” she said at the time. Recognising the importance of the event for both the town and its charities, Sedgefield Lions Club and Masithandane stepped up to the plate. “We are still receiving donations from sponsors and will release a list of these as soon as it is fully compiled, but Sedgefield’s Lions and Masithandane are supporting the festival and the proceeds will go to the various charities represented by
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them,” said Slow Festival 2019 spokesperson Janice Gibson. The public are invited to celebrate the return of the festival at the Red Shed, Scarab Market on Thursday April 18 during the Festival Opening Party. “It’s going to be a wonderful celebration featuring the band Cloud 9. There will be food, wine and beer available for sale during the evening,” said Gibson. Tickets cost R50 per person and are available at the Sedgefield Information Kiosk and at the venue on the night. “The festival itself is all about having fun the old-fashioned way. Celebrating the great outdoors in and around our seaside town, the Slow Festival includes a wide range of fantastic displays and activities for all ages and interests. We are looking forward to many more fabulous fun festivals.” For further information on the festival and its variety of events, visit the Slow Festival Facebook page. NO RAINING ON THIS PARADE: Sedgefield will once again host the family-oriented Slow Festival this weekend, with events like the Anything That Floats race on Saturday April 20 promising to be a highlight, as has been the case in previous years Photo: Supplied
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BUSINESS
17 April 2019
Topsy-Turvy* - or the state of pay in South Africa today We are concerned over the struggles of working men and women at the bottom of the earnings ladder, but what of those at the top? STUART MURRAY shares a piece of his mind… must say, having run a couple of (admittedly small) companies in my time, I reared back on my bar stool on reading the current published crop of some of South Africa’s senior execs’ pay packets. It’s not that I grudge or judge them; far from it, the responsibility in these troubled times of heading up a massive business, particularly one with thousands of shareholders and tens of thousands of employees, can’t be any walk in the park. Interestingly, the corporate beneficiaries are not all men, ladies will be delighted to learn. But the latter still comprise a very small representative number at the top of the corporate ladder. The rewards for most of these top executives are, in most cases, a blend of salary and perks, such as long-term incentives, post-employment benefits, shares and bonuses. In terms of earnings, retail banks (surprise, surprise) are way up there in doling out work-related rewards. Online watchdog Businesstech notes that data published for the 2017 financial year (Capitec 2018) shows that the average annual pay for top retail banking executives came to almost R47-million. This equates to R36,560 a day. Incidentally, president Ramaphosa’s annual salary is R2,874,851 plus perks. Capitec chief executive Gerrie Fourie came out tops among the country’s Big Five retail banks, with a R56.6-million pay packet - due mainly to a long-term incentive and a 10% hike in basic pay. This amounts to R226,560 per day. Next came FirstRand CEO Johan Burger who took home R53.89-million (R215,560 a day) for the year ended June 2017 (updated figures are due this
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coming October). In third place was Standard Bank’s Sim Tshabalala at R48.50-million, amounting to R194,000 each working day. Nedbank’s Mike Brown scored R38.12-million for the year (R152,480 per day) and Absa boss Maria Ramos - the only female in the Big Five - was the lowest paid of the grouping with R37.56-million (R150,240 per day). Another top female executive whose remuneration has been published is Lizé Lambrechts, CEO of Sanlam-subsidiary Santam. She made R36.077-million in 2017 (due to a R19-million payment as part of the assurer’s Out Performance Plan). Her former boss, Ian Kirk, has taken over the reins at Sanlam. More insurance/assurance heavyweights have been keeping the wolf from the door. Herschel Mayers, CEO of Discovery’s United Kingdom business Vitality Life, received a total package of R44.326-million paid primarily in sterling. Boss of Discovery’s other UK business Vitality Health, Neville Koopowitz, earned R33.9-million. Back at the ranch, Discovery founder Adrian Gore took home a relatively modest R17.65-million, as did Old Mutual CEO Peter Moyo (R15.059-million). Other executives whose income caught the eye include Dr Thabo Dloti, the CEO of Liberty Holdings (R24.975-million). Another online report, this time from TechCentral, reveals that MTN execs also receive rich rewards. Group CEO Rob Shuter was paid R42.9-million in the 2018 financial year. His income, says TechCentral, was made up of a base salary of R15.5-million
plus R25.3-million in bonuses, R1.6-million in postemployment benefits, and R746,000 in other benefits. MTN’s chief financial officer Ralph Mupita pocketed R22.5-million. Other top executives also did rather well; group chief operating officer Jens Schulte-Bockum took home a total pay of R23.5-million (R13.4-million in bonuses) and MTN Nigeria CEO Ferdi Moolman received R21.25-million (R7.7-million in bonuses). MTN South Africa chief executive Godfrey Motsa earned R23,490,000 that included two sign-on payments worth R9-million. The caveat to these eyeopening figures is, of course, the rand exchange rate. Top execs in South Africa need to be valued on an international scale, and their remuneration based accordingly. Thus the equivalent in sterling of R40-million (as I write roughly 18.4 to 1) would come to around 2.174-million sterling. Nice, but does it match up to the top international standards? I doubt it. Of course, the comparison doesn’t really matter when we consider the costs of both living and earning in South Africa, where Businesstech claims average daily earnings are below R1,000 a day - and way less for so many families where breadwinners are lucky enough to earn the minimum wage. * Topsy-Turvy: adjective - Something that is topsyturvy is in a confused or disorganised state. Synonyms: confused, upside-down, disorderly, chaotic. • Stuart Murray (stuart murray758@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 Plett.
PROPERTY
17 April 2019
Convenience is key for developers of beautiful Robberg Bay
SUPERIOR LIVING: Interior and exterior, the commercial site and the villas of Robberg Bay will be as soft on the eye as they will be convenient for residents and visitors to Plett alike
LETT has of late been the site of much hype and discussion around the new R350-million Robberg Bay development, situated in Whale Rock at the end of Longships Drive. The land comprises two portions originally zoned as a commercial site and a group housing site for the Whale Rock suburb. Through the years, developers have been wanting to increase the size of the commercial site and change the group housing zoning to that of general residential, resulting in a bigger and denser development. However Robberg Bay developers Latitude Properties saw the existing zoning as ample and designed their latest exclusive mixeduse development to add value to the area and offer residents the best of coastal living with an added bonus: convenience. Latitude Properties was founded in 2008 and current projects include the revamp of Lonehill Shop-
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ping Centre, Forest Walk, Sunset Square phase 2, the new Hartenbos Beachfront, and the massive Harbour Bay mixed-use development in Simonstown. They appointed DCA Architects - who have used natural materials and textures with the objective of effortlessly integrating this secure estate with its striking surrounds - for the residential component of Robberg Bay. A total of 60 luxurious, free-standing, double-storey villas (two, three and four-bedroom units) will be built. Designed with a contemporary coastal feel, the villas will feature lavish indoor and outdoor entertainment areas. Each villa has a private walled-in garden where owners can even incorporate their own pools, although shared amenities in the estate will include a 25m double-lane swimming pool, a community clubhouse, and organic herb and vegetable gardens. Fittings and features have
been hand-selected for premium quality, contemporary aesthetics, and the ultimate in eco-friendly functionality. These include LED lighting, solar geysers, gourmet kitchens complete with gas hobs, Smeg appliances, and Caesarstone counters. Central DSTV satellite and fibre connections to each unit are included in the levy and each unit comes standard with a telephone handset offering a direct connection to the guardhouse and retail centre. Electricity is prepaid. Security is also state-of-theart, complete with a perimeter wall, electrified fencing, CCTV, and a 24-hour access-controlled guardhouse. The commercial site will host an upmarket 8,000m2 retail and commercial centre, offering boutique shopping and dining, co-working office space, a gym, a spa, a pharmacy and supermarket, and much more. Latitude Properties will be retaining ownership of the centre and are paying serious attention to the tenant mix to add value to the shopping experience. The developers envisage starting with site works and services in June, with the approval of the site development plan by council. Construction of the shopping complex is due to begin around September/October with its completion date in December 2020, and phase 1 (42 villas) of the residential component will be completed by November 2020. For more information, visit www.robbergbay.co.za, call Bruce Noble on 071 298 0121 or visit the showroom in the RE/MAX office, FNB building, Main Street Plett.
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HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES
17 April 2019
Easter is just around the corner, so if you are looking for something to do over the long weekend,then be sure to check out Moss & Maple Farmstall 4 an Egg-cellent Easter Experience. Bring the whole family, young and old for a delightful family feast. Take delight and enjoy a quality collection of craft beers, fresh produce and curios. with Easter eggs scattered in our huge enclosed play Area.
Closed on Good Friday
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17 April 2019
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HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES
Places to be... people to see... so much to do... so little time... HAVE A HAPPY EASTER!
Celebrate Season
Find everything under one roof at The Market this Easter!
Five fab years at The Ma Fi rket
Eats and treats and gifts galore, massages and tattoos and custom-made boards, The Market on Main is the place to shop and dine ‘till you drop!
Barista extraordinaire Bab ette celebrates her 5th year of trade at The April 17 – congrats! You hav Market on en’t lived until you’ve tasted B’s brews at Stir It Up…
HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES
17 April 2019
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Hi-Tec Garden Route Walking Festival: Supporting nature while inspiring local communities OUTH Africa’s only walking festival is becoming the ‘not-to-miss’ event on the Garden Route over the Easter Weekend. Home to our country’s most famous trails and hikes, the festival celebrates the region’s iconic walks and appeals to adventure lovers while offering an exciting programme suitable for everyone, from kids to seasoned hikers. Some of the best walks in the country are showcased in this exciting festival. Not to be missed are the Tidal Pool Meander and the brisk hikes up the region’s highest peaks, such as the Peak 1067 Challenge outside George and the Peak Formosa Adventure in the Tsitsikamma.
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Traditional walks include the Robberg Peninsula or Circles in the Forest Elephant Walk, deep in the Knysna forest. For kids there is an amazing line-up this year, with SA’s first Gruffalo Walk being based on the famous children’s book character, allowing kids to learn about and encounter different species of animals in the forest. The all-time favourite HiTec Kids Pirate Treasure Walk is perfect for Easter Sunday and promises to be fun with friends and family on Keurbooms Beach. “The Hi-Tec Garden Route Walking Festival is the biggest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere - it’s a massive undertaking that involves the support and in-
volvement of volunteer and professional guides who share their knowledge of the region and their passion for nature. “Walks are offered every day for four days all along the coast from Mossel Bay, George, Wilderness, Knysna and Plett to Nature’s Valley,” says festival founder Galeo Saintz. “Each year we are astonished by how many new people discover the festival and join in. The Garden Route is one of the world’s great walking destinations. Its incredible mountains, secret forests, cascading waterfalls, coastal cliffs, amazing beaches and famous trails are ideal for an end-of-summer festival in the outdoors.” The programme of over
CLIMB EVERY MOUNTAIN: The Peak 1067 Challenge outside George and Peak Formosa Adventure in the Tsitsikamma are but two of 52+ special excursions which Garden Route Walking Festival enthusiast can tackle this weekend - Photo: Garden Route Walking Festival / Anja Wiehl
52 different walks includes unusual outings, such as the Walk with Poetry, the Underwater Walk, and the Sketching in Nature Walk. For those with an adventurous spirit, tough hikes along the rocky coast are a must, e.g. the Oystercatcher Trail experience. “Everyone is welcome, as the festival is about building connection between our
diverse communities and between ourselves and wild nature,” says Saintz. The event benefits Garden Route-based environmental charities and conservation projects by showcasing their work and facilitating donations contributed by walkers. “Join us for a fun time out, meet new friends and discover hidden gems off the
beaten track. This festival is ideal for famlies and everyone keen to discover new trails,” concludes Saintz. Registration is free, and necessary to coordinate numbers. Most walks are free, while others require SANParks or CapeNature permits or guiding fees. Register at www.walkingfestival. co.za and see the advert below for further details.
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INTERVAL
17 April 2019
Really bad golfers... • “Bob, why don’t you play golf with John anymore?” asks a friend. “Would you play golf with a guy who moved the ball with his foot when you weren’t watching?” Bob ask. “Well, no,” admits his friend. “Neither will John,” replies Bob.
• After a particularly poor round, a golfer spots a lake as he walks despondently up the 18th. He says to his caddie: “I’ve played so badly all day, I think I’m going to drown myself in that lake.” The caddie, quick as a flash, replies: “I’m not sure you can keep your head down that long.”
A proposal gone wrong EFFREY had gone to propose to his girlfriend and returns home crying bitterly. “What happened, son?” his father asks. “Did she accept?” “No, she sure didn’t,” sobs Jeff. “When I told her what you advised me to say, she slapped my face and told me to get out.”
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“Did you begin by telling her what I told your mother when she accepted my proposal? ‘Sweetheart, time stands still when I look in your eyes’. Did you tell her that?” asks his father. “Oh boy, Dad, I got it all wrong,” Jeff groans. “I said ‘my dear, you have a face that would stop a clock!’”
Habits of nuns ITTING behind a couple of nuns at a baseball game (with their habits partially blocking the view), three men decide to badger the nuns in an effort to get them to move. In a loud voice, the first guy says: “I think I’m going to move to Utah; there are only a 100 nuns living there.” The second guy
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speaks up and says: “I want to go to Montana, there are only 50 nuns living there.” The third guy says: “I want to move to Idaho; there are only 25 nuns living there.” One of the nuns turns around, looks at the men and in a very sweet, calm voice says: “Why don’t you go to hell... there are none of us there.”
Love letters from Grandpa Y grandmother told me how she ended up marrying Grandpa. She was in her 20s, and the man she was dating left for war. “We were in love,” Grandma recalled, “and wrote to each other every week. It was during that
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time I discovered how wonderful your grandfather was.” “Did you marry Grandpa when he came home from the war?” I asked. “Oh, I didn’t marry the man who wrote the letters. Your grandfather was the mailman.”
The sermon of good rest S the pastor gave his pretty lengthy sermon, he noticed one of his parishioners dozing off. After church, the pastor jokingly asked the dozer
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if he got a good rest during his sermon. The parishioner responded: “Not really, someone kept talking all the way through it.”
Homemade cinnamon rolls wife served some homemade cinnamon rolls for breakfast and waited eagerly for her husband’s reaction. When none was immediately forthcoming, she
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asked: “If I baked these commercially, how much do you think I could get for one of them?” Without looking up from his paper, her husband replied: “About 10 years.”
Stuck in the mud URING training exercises, the Lieutenant was driving down a muddy back road when he encountered another car stuck in the mud with a red-faced Colonel at
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the wheel. “Your jeep stuck, sir?” asked the Lieutenant as he pulled alongside. “Nope,” replied the Colonel, handing him the keys, “yours is!”
SOCIAL SCENE
17 April 2019 SELFIES AND SHOWCASES: The Plett-based crew of the Cape Summer Villa Boutique Collection, which features Sky Villa Boutique Hotel and The Bungalow Plett, had a ball while showcasing these magnificent properties during the World Travel Market held in Cape Town from April 10-12. Pictured at back from left are Sky GM Paul Duverge and events coordinator Elmar Killian, with duty manager Zandalee le Roux shooting the happy selfie. Check out the advert on page 14 for additional information.
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La Luna
People, places & events FIFTH TIME LOYAL: ‘Loyalty’ by Alan Landau is the fifth book in The Langbourne Series - a family saga set in Poland, Ireland and Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) - which was launched courtesy of The Village Bookshop at Plettenberg Bay Country Club on April 9. At right are Sonja and Mike Kantey, who has edited the entire series. At far right, the author signs a copy of his book for Claire Morris. - Timothy Twidle
SCORING BIG: RE/MAX Prime Properties agents attended their annual awards function in Port Elizabeth recently. This glitzy event covers offices as far as Port Alfred and down to Mossel Bay. Agents of RE/MAX Prime Properties in Plett walked away with some excellent awards. Cheryl van der Merwe won Administrator of the Region, while Sally Searle was one of four regional agents to receive the prestigious Hall of Fame award. To become a Hall of Fame member, agents must distinguish themselves as part of the elite in the industry as a whole, and produce real estate sales exceeding those of entire sales staff of other companies. Both Sally and Lisa Ritchie were awarded Gold Club status, while Lana Machado received Silver Club status. Bruce Noble, Zelda Caddie, and Robert Auersperg all scored membership to the 100% Club. Recognition was also given to Bruce for his work on the Robberg Bay development currently being established in Plett (find out more on page 11). Pictured above from left are Cheryl, Lisa, Lana, Bruce, Sally and Zelda, with the insert featuring Robert Auersperg. Congratulations to all these agents for bringing home their hard-earned awards. See the adverts on pages 1 and 20.
A CUT ABOVE: During a recent knife-makers huddle in George, local artisans showed off their steely art. Above is show organiser Sarel Jacobsz with part of his collection, while Plett craftsman David ‘Cold Front’ Atkinson flicks one of his fine products below. Turn to page 8 for the full report. Photos: Bob Hopkin
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17 April 2019
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CLASSIFIEDS
ON THE SOAPBOX
17 April 2019
Letters to the Editor
Email: editor@cxpress.co.za - Fax: 044 533 0852 - PO Box 1449, Plett 6600
Thank you Bloukrans River, for separating end up in pieces, just like making ballot choices over us from the East Machadadorp. provincial leadership and Reading in the press of the dismal state of affairs of both provincial and local government in the Eastern Cape in general and particularly in Port Elizabeth, we in the Western Cape can be thankful that we have Bloukrans River as a barrier between us. Reports on a wide range of topics, e.g. killing of policemen, unemployment, potential retrenchments, hospital negligence, a serious decline in tourism, aggressive begging, withholding of payments, a declining bus service, possible misappropriation of official funds, unsolved murders, litter, etc. are all over the news. It really makes for mind-boggling reading. The coalition of the ANC and the EFF in that province appears to be a disaster, with no one in office who seems to care for the people, and the top brass are there just to fill their pockets. Some time ago I spent a night in Machadadorp (eNtokozweni) and if anyone wants a sad and tragic example of just how the ANC can break something that was not
broken, this is it. Machadadorp used to be an attractive and busy town with a popular caravan park - a favourite stopping-off point for people travelling between Durban and the Kruger Park. When I was there the caravan park was closed and overgrown, the town hall with its many broken windows was in dire need of some paint, and what were once tar roads consisted of more potholes than tar. Many houses were on sale, since those who are able to leave are trying their best to do so. What a sad state of affairs for this once tourist-friendly town. If people are really honest with themselves they have to admit that the Western Cape is the last bastion of any form of competent provincial government in South Africa, governed as it is by a DA majority. There is an election looming and voters need to think very carefully of the way ahead, and then vote with discernment. Otherwise our province could end up broken like the Eastern Cape and our beautiful town could
Unkempt Plett Post Office a dirty disgrace The external environment of the Plett Post Office is a disgrace and creates a negative impression of the town. In an effort to make our town look fresh and clean we have tried to convince the Post Office management that something should be done. We have attempted to convey our message to the local branch manager, the regional manager in George, and in vain to senior management at the head office
in Pretoria. In fact, except for the branch manager, who is helpful, one does not even get as much as a response from anyone. Last year we even paid a garden service to cut the grass. We have now exhausted all possibilities and have to resort to a public platform to get action. The photographs below speak for themselves. David Scott obo Keep Plett Clean Campaign, Plett
SNAKE IN THE GRASS: Despite several appeals to management, from local level up to HQ in Pretoria, the maintenance and cleaning of the area surrounding the local Post Office would have been non-existent were it not for the efforts of Keep Plett Clean campaigners
This would truly be a catastrophe. Kevin Meineke, Plett (Part of that ‘discernment’ should most definitely be the careful consideration of what’s good for the province and what’s good for South Africa as a whole. A different approach may well be required when
one’s vote for the national ruling party. Think back of the Zuma days of pilfer and state capture, and then consider a future in which JZ’s old cronies have managed to divide and conquer and collude with JM to rule the land. It’s a vision too chilling to contemplate. - Eds.)
Dashing Goldwings grace Old Nick Village with their valuable presence
Our ‘Dashcam Diaries’ correspondent shared this pic of pretty trikes seen at Old Nick Village on Sunday morning April 7 and suggested we run his suspicions - “that they are all Honda Goldwing Tricycles and so the combined value could be close on R2-million” by CXPRESS ad agent and resident bike buff Watty Watson. But lo and behold, Watty was too busy Buffing in Hartenbos to research the combined value, but confirmed that these are Goldwing trikes indeed!
On the precipice again: musings on our marvellous land Arnold Toynbee - one of the brightest historians of modern times, as well as being a great lover of Africa - wrote that the world advances to the precipice of disaster, but never goes over it. Sounds familiar? So it must seem to many a South African as we face another national election with fear and continual voices of doom among the palefaces. Well, I ain’t a light in the darkness, but I would counsel against the misery of the Jeremiahs. Looking back in our history, we have probably hit the precipice more often than most. Yet again, with a backward glance of 30 years: what country built on so much blood has conducted such a bloodless political revolution? And where are we today? Sure, we have seen the collapse of our great and once well-run institutions in a manner that has been staggeringly rapid, with graft and theft of the lifeblood of these national institutions. To say nothing about nearly becoming a colony of India… But switching on your TV, it’s the ruling party that pursues and reveals through well-publicised inquiries, what will end up in prosecutions in the courts.
Unfortunately, as fast as they hit the constitutional court, they are thrown back into the street. Where do they get all the money for the legal fees? Now let us look at the quality of our human wealth, at their aspirations and ambitions. Is it not better to look at the glass half full (depending on what’s in it) and strive to give back to a country that has given us so much? We are an incredibly resourceful people, with an energy unmatched anywhere. Is packing up and leaving worth it in the end? My family motto is ‘out of order comes forth chaos’, but the reverse today is true. If we should want an example of faith in the future, next time you drive to Cape Town, check the new planting of citrus orchards under shade cloth. Now that surely is longterm hope. There are straws in the wind. It may not yet be a haystack in a gale, but this is Africa and we all know there is nowhere like it. We are a nation that is under-consumed, underproduced, and over-endowed and there, my lord, I rest my case. PS: ‘On the precipice again’ - sounds a like bit like Willy Nelson, non? Paul D, Plett
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SPORT & ADVENTURE
17 April 2019
Giving back is at the core of this weekend’s BUCO Easter adventures UMEROUS events have sprouted forth from the solid base of the BUCO Easter Surf Ski Challenge, now in its 12th year. Add to this oceanbased contest the weekend’s other events and it’s hardly surprising that Easter in Plett has become synonymous with ‘feel-good’ sporting fun. The weekend kicks off with
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the Super Sixes at Plettenberg Bay Country Club on Easter Friday April 19. This exciting new format of golf currently being showcased around the world will not only entertain, but also boost the coffers of beneficiary, Adopt A Swimmer. 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 BUCO, a full day of family fun is promised at the Plett Trail Park on Cairnbrogie Farm. The trail runs cater for any level of athlete, distances ranging from 1.5km to 16km. All runners will get fresh milk and a choc chip cookie in place of a finisher’s medal.
NEW BEAUTY: Old hands at Easter escapades and BUCO Adventure Team mates Stef le Roux, right, and Nic van den Handel ride in the forests - much of which was affected by the 2017 fires, but where new life now makes for magical riding - that will be traversed during Saturday’s races
While runners hit the trails from 8:30am onwards, the morning will also see special Sabrina Love Foundation guests enjoying their very own Easter-egg hunt around the farmyard among the calves. Apart from the many locals involved with trail clearing, marshalling and selling home bakes, the main beneficiary of Saturday will be #SoundstheCall. This NPO sets out to fulfil the serious task of equipping Bitou’s many volunteer fire fighters. A great group of selfless men and women have driven the project for the las 22 months. This year, thanks to the efforts of #SoundstheCall, Plett and surrounds are better prepared than ever before to handle the wild fires threatening our lives and properties today. With runs out the way, the BUCO Cairnbrogie Kids
Fun ride will kick off at 12:30. Now in its second year after a successful debut in 2018, the BUCO Adventure Rally MTB Ride at 2:30pm will follow the kids’ race. Riders will consult a rallystyle route book for 25km of fun mountain-bike riding. Entry fees for certain young members of Kwano Cycling Academy have been sponsored to see if they can outwit some of the
more experienced riders. Sunday features a full day of surf-ski races off Central Beach, with Plett Surf Lifesaving Club hosting and doing safety duties, while Plett NSRI will receive a donation from the race organisers to support this able bunch of local volunteers. So everyone’s a winner in Plett this Easter. See www. muddyfootadventures.co.za for entry details.
MOCKING MACNISH: Luke Macnish looks beat for having missed out on the moolah to Jasper Mocke in last year’s ‘Dash for Cash’ - Photos: Glenn Murray
For the love of polo ponies… N its pursuit of excellence, the number-one area of importance for the team at Plett Polo Club is the quality of ponies produced. In polo, the horse accounts for 90% of the game. Without good ponies you can’t play good polo and if you don’t love horses, you will never be able to ‘make’ good polo ponies. All over SA, wonderfully-talented horses are being produced with a high percentage of polo ponies hailing from Plett. In fact, recently, Plett Polo’s Pony of the Year 2017 was sold to the highest-ranking player in the world, Facundo Pieres - and she wasn’t the first, either. “It seems that the world’s best players love our South African horses and I believe that a majority of export-quality horses have been fully or partly produced in Plett. This is not a coincidence,” says the
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club’s Pony Welfare officer, Alicia Brokensha. “Plett Polo has some of the best facilities in the world and the area is sympathetic to horses, too. Temperate climes, confidence-building surfaces, and a good base stock make for animals that are in high demand.” Training up a polo pony is no easy (or cheap) task. Roughly 90% of the ponies are thoroughbreds and started life as race horses. Herein lies the first challenge; these horses have been trained to run very fast in a straight line. “In polo, they will be asked to wait until they are asked to run, then run, ready to stop at any time, then turn, then run… you get the picture. This requires a unique type of pony,” Alicia explains. To get the polo pony from this point to playing highgoal polo is a long and
complicated task that can’t be achieved without the highest level of care for the horse. An open joke among ‘polo wives’ is that the job you really want is being a high-goal polo pony… The polo pony is widely considered to be the greatest animal athlete and needs to be treated as such. Combine the best food available, a scientific training programme, around the clock management, and you might just produce one. One thing is certain: 90% of polo players foster a deep love of these animal athletes. You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink - and this is doubly so when it comes to nurturing Plett’s special polo ponies. See them in action on April 20 during the second SA Open Saturday at Kurland Estate, and turn to page 13 for contact details. HORSE WHISPERS Durbs is too far Foxtrot - it’s a flutter on the July at SKY for us. Nuzzling the glitzy, glam ladies will mess up the make-up. I can see the headlines: “Mabel and Foxtrot, a photo finish”… Wow!