18 November 2020

18 November 2020

Published every Wednesday by CXpress 2006 (Pty) Ltd - PO Box 1449, Plettenberg Bay 6600 - 6 Park Lane, Plettenberg Bay - Tel: 044 533 1004 - Fax: 044 533 0852 Email: editor@cxpress.co.za / advertising@cxpress.co.za Web page: www.cxpress.co.za Printed by Group Editors

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Traversing our wilds to open the flow

Garden Route infections soar - p3

Knysna wards won by DA - p4

Making contact with Rosalind - p7

Photo: Kevin Schnider

Clyde Berning, left, and Damien Schumann are pictured here soldiering forth on day five of the Flow of Life Run, which raises funds for the Eden to Addo Corridor Initiative. By noon on Monday the exceptional duo had run 238km, with 112km to go before finishing at Garden of Eden later today. They had by then crossed three mountain ranges - Groot Winterhoek, Baviaanskloof, and Kouga - and two mega-parks, namely Addo Elephant National Park and the Baviaans World Heritage Site, as well as four biomes including thicket, nama karoo, succulent karoo, and fynbos. Read ‘Let’s root for Clyde and Damien’ on the Editor’s Desk at www.cxpress.co.za to find out how you can support this essential cause, and see the gallery for breath-taking images of their spectacular traverse.

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CXPRESS

NEWS & VIEWS

18 November 2020

Tourism and jobs need a bailout - not our zombie state-owned airline ESTERN Cape provincial parliament member Deidré Baartman - the DA Western Cape spokesperson for Finance, Economic Development, and Tourism - welcomed the president’s announcement last week that our borders would be reopened for international travel to all countries under strict Covid-19 safety regulations and the presentation of a negative Covid-19 certificate.

“However,” said Baartman, “the bailing out of SAA for over R10-billion comes at a tremendous cost: the survival of an entire job-generating industry.”

Before lockdown, tourism in South Africa accounted for 9% of the country’s GDP, and in 2019 the Western Cape attracted 39.5% of overseas travellers who visited South Africa, providing a R25.7-billion injection into the local economy.

In the first quarter of this year, the Western Cape welcomed over 2.4-million international visitors, but the prolonged lockdown measures have hit the industry hard.

It is now estimated that 75,000 jobs are at immediate risk and 43.1% of the industry has been affected by the pandemic, which could see a loss of 61% of Gross Value Added in the Western Cape, according

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to Baartman.

“Government has hindered, not helped, the tourism industry. It has done so through an ill-conceived ‘red list’ of countries banned from visiting South Africa. Worse, it remains hell-bent on bailing out the zombie state-owned airline with taxpayer money.

“In the interests of saving tourism in the Western Cape and thousands of jobs, we remain convinced that the far better choice for economic growth and recovery would be to provide a comprehensive tourism relief package, for which we have previously called.”

For this reason, Baartman intends to write to national Tourism minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane in request of details for her department’s support to the industry.

“Silence on this matter thus far is nothing short of tone deaf,” she said, adding that national government should emulate the Western Cape’s Department of Economic Development and Tourism.

“Under minister David Maynier’s leadership, the province provided a Tourism Product Development Fund, boosted the industry by promoting the province as an ideal holiday destination and, with Wesgro, launched the Safe Travel website to help domestic and international tourists navigate travel restrictions.”

The Western Cape is a worldclass travel destination, which was confirmed this week when the City of Cape Town was awarded the title of ‘Africa’s Leading Festival and Event Destination’, and Table Moun-

GOING DOWN: South African taxpayers can not afford to fund failed state-owned enterprises such as South African Airways

tain picked up the title of ‘Africa’s Leading Tourist Attraction’ at the World Travel Awards.

A slew of other destinations and attractions in the Western Cape were also recognised, including Plett as Africa’s leading beach destination (read the story on page 3 of the November 11 edition at www. cxpress.co.za).

Baartman reiterated that the South African economy could not afford to fund failed stateowned enterprises.

“According to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey for the third quarter by Statistics SA, the official unemployment rate is 30.8% - the highest it has ever been since the inception of the labour survey - and youth unemployment stands at a staggering 61.3%.

“Tourism is a job-generating industry with the potential to give thousands of residents in the Western Cape economic opportunities, but national government needs to support this crucial industry in its recovery.

“The welcoming of international travellers back to the Western Cape is the start of the recovery for the tourism and hospitality sector and will see the dignity of thousands restored and livelihoods protected,” Baartman concluded.

Knysna tourism reminds travellers: we’re simply world-class!

UILDING on the Western Cape domestic campaign ‘We are Open - Get that Faraway Feeling’, Knysna Municipality and Visit Knysna hosted an event to officially launch an exciting domestic campaign for the area, aimed at showcasing various hotspots that should be on everyone’s bucket list.

The campaign showcases the depth and breadth of experiences that the greater Knysna area has on offer. Festive season visitors will be spoilt for choice with forests, mountains, lagoon, ocean, and markets.

Said Visit Knysna GM Colleen Durant: “That faraway feeling is closer than you think.

So our call to action is ‘Visit Knysna’, as the area should

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absolutely be on everyone’s bucket list.”

The November 13 launch, which was also attended by local media and key influencers in the region, was held at the Project Bar in Thesen Harbour Town.

“Knysna is open and waiting,” said mayor Elrick van Aswegen at the event. “Our tourism partners and operators are ready to welcome our domestic visitors and to give them a holiday experience they will never forget.

“We are proud of the quality and calibre of the offerings available to travellers. The municipality stands by our tourism industry and supports them in rebuilding this vital component of our local economy.”

The campaign, running initially for a period of four months, is digitally-led. It follows a smart remarketing approach by targeting audiences that have been built online previously for optimisation, and engages users that have shown interest in the region.

Kicking off this week, the collateral will be live on Instagram, Facebook, and Google, accessible across all devices and built for mobile.

Durant added: “We are very excited that through this campaign we can promote the various locations within greater Knysna, with each area having unique offerings - Rheenendal’s is different to that of Sedgefield, which varies from Knysna - and these experienc-

es have been captured here.”

Knysna has long been favoured as a must-see for travellers around the world. The town’s tourism portal, visitknysna. co.za, has comprehensive information to showcase yearround events and activities to create even more interest.

“Many South Africans have not had the opportunity to experience the extraordinary set of experiences and accommodation options on offer,” said Wesgro CEO Tim Harris.

“This campaign will remind domestic travellers of how successfully Knysna competes with other destinations on the world stage.”

• Visit https://youtu.be/Mo4T pM4Xgh0 to view the Knysna Tourism Campaign video.

NEWS & VIEWS

18 November 2020

CXPRESS

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C-19 cases soar as second wave threatens the Route ESTERN Cape Health department personnel in the Garden Route are experiencing a significant increase in Covid-19 numbers across the district.

“The total number of positive patients for the district is 12,289 in comparison with a week earlier, at 11,466. This is an increase of 823 positive patients, which is most disconcerting,” said Provincial Health cluster leader Dr Terence Marshall.

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“The increase for the previous week was 410 cases.

There has been a 237% district increase in cases over the last seven days, compared to the seven days prior.”

This case comparisons over the past fortnight shows figures for the past seven to 14 days, followed by cases recorded in the past seven days and the percentage of increase: • Bitou: 61 / 115 - 189% • Knysna: 60 / 172 - 287% • George: 207 / 464

- 224% • Hessequa: 13 / 29 - 223% • Kannaland: 2 / 0 - 0% • Mossel Bay: 38 / 145 382% • Oudtshoorn: 28 / 45 161% The district’s total tally over the period in question is 409 new cases (seven to 14 days ago), compared to 970 cases recorded during the past seven days, which equates an increase of 237%.

“Despite our wanting to return to normal, and de-

Dog shot by cops after drug suspect incites attack during raid

Yolandé Stander

LETTENBERG Bay police are investigating an assault case after a local man allegedly set a dog on a police officer during a drug bust in New Horizons recently. Police proceeded to shoot the dog in what has been described as an act to “contain the situation”.

Southern Cape SAPS spokesman Sergeant Christopher Spies said police conducted a crime prevention operation at a house in Freedom Street, New Horizons, just after 4pm on November 5.

“Upon searching the premises the police mem-

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bers found some small quantities of Mandrax as well as dagga on the site and subsequently arrested a 19-year-old suspect on a charge of possession of drugs,” Spies reported.

He added that available information suggests that while leaving the house, a man threatened the officers and “incited a dog to attack a member”.

“The officers responded to contain the situation,” Spies said.

He added that, as a result, police had opened a case of assault with the intent to commit grievous bodily

harm, malicious damage to property, and obstructing the course of justice.

“Investigation into this case is still ongoing and the suspect in this matter is yet to be arrested.”

Social media has however been abuzz about the shooting of the dog with some suggesting that the incident was uncalled for.

Spies concluded that drug abuse remained one of the major contributors to serious and violent crimes.

“Similar operations will be conducted in an effort to rid communities of drugs.”

Garden Route Media

spite the relative success of our response, it is important to keep up our prevention behaviour. Covid-19 is not gone; we need to work together to avoid a second wave,” urged District Health director Zee Brickles.

“As more people are moving around and economic activity is allowed under Level 1 restrictions, we are seeing smaller clusters of infections flare up. Many of these flare-ups originate at social gatherings - anything

from a party to a religious gathering or workplace.

“Social distancing cannot be maintained where large numbers of people congregate in a crowded venue with poor ventilation. Always wear your mask when going out and avoid crowds at all cost.

“Do not become complacent. Even when you feel safe between friends and family, you should continue to wear your mask and maintain a distance of at least 1.5m

from other people.”

The update of cases on November 16 indicated a total for Bitou of 884 with 168 active, 689 recovered and 27 deaths. Figures for Knysna by Monday were 1,888 of which 231 were active with 1,604 recoveries and 53 deaths.

According to the latest information available for both private and public facilities, there are 136 patients in hospital of which 24 are in ICU/high care.

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CXPRESS

NEWS & VIEWS

18 November 2020

Knysna DA not concerned about decline in voter numbers

Ludumo Tede

EADERSHIP of the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Knysna believes that seemingly thawing support, which could be deduced after a dismal turnout at the polls when two ward by-elections took place on Wednesday November 11, cannot be seen as an omen for the party’s fall in the 2021 municipal elections.

Both DA candidates claimed victory in the by-elections for Wards 9 and 10 in Knysna Municipality, however, with a noticeable number of support having been lost yet again. Sharon Sabagh is the new Ward 9 councillor and Peter Best won the vote in Ward 10.

Despite regaining both wards, DA voter support dropped by 36% when

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Investor Focus

tallying the combined votes. Elections analyst Dawie Scholtz labelled this performance as a “DA disaster”.

Local activists also concurred that the recent victory should arouse concerns about the party’s leadership future in Knysna.

Notorious Knysna activist Mike Hampton foresees the DA’s demise in next year’s elections.

He wrote in a recent statement: “If, for example, the Independent and Knysna Independent Movement (KIM) combine, they will win a seat in 2021.

“Alternatively, they can run in more wards, accumulating factions and possibly gaining two seats. However, it is likely

that the GOOD Party will be in play by then. So an alternative scenario is GOOD and KIM winning one seat each.

“Those two seats would likely be enough to decide who is in charge, and could ensure their place on the Mayco (mayoral committee).”

Meanwhile Knysna DA’s head of constituency Dr Dion George blames former mayor Mark Willemse and ex councillor Peter Myers for having failed in their leadership positions.

“If you have a look at why the results were lower than in the past, it’s very clear: we had a rogue mayor in the form of Mark Willemse and a councillor, Peter Myers, who caused absolute chaos in the cau-

cus in Knysna.”

George admits the contesting of the Independents made their sail to victory a bit rougher.

“We did have a reduced number in support as a result of the Independents that ran in the election.

We have seen that when Hilton Stroebel won in Ward 5, we also had Susan Campbell running, which split the votes for the DA. “During the recent byelection, we had a situation where Willemse ran for Ward 9 and Campbell for Ward 10, only to be beaten again.”

George says his party is not worried about the alleged decreased support.

Their mission is regaining people’s trust, so that they can enjoy an outright victory come 2021.

Malcolm Stewart – Investment manager at Michaelides Parker Wealth Knysna & Plett

As the road to recovery resumes, where to now?

HE big uncertainties of South Africa’s budget and the US elections are now behind us.

The former simply reenforced what we already knew: that Tito would try and install an “austerity” type budget. He seems to have support for the civil servants’ wage freeze - not from the trade unions, but from the cabinet.

But he lost the battle for the South African Airways (SAA) funds and we can certainly expect a period of aggressive strikes, while hoping for a buyer of what is left of SAA. The February 2021 budget will be a different story, with higher taxes and a growing debt level. Might there be more downgrades on the horizon?

The US election show is now over (I hope). So we can expect a better behaved White House, higher taxes for Wall Street, and better conditions for Main Street. One of the promised changes will be a focus on renewable energy and the acceptance of global warming.

The virus is striking

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back: as I write, Euroland and the UK are in lockdown, so prospects of even lower economic growth are very real.

This affects global trade and our own economic recovery. We may even see a return to lockdowns in the US. However, these threats will eventually pass, and the road to recovery will resume. This road is characterised by extremely low interest rates for at least another two years, accompanied by further

of the dividends. The renewable energy sector will continue to be a favourite, especially under the Democrats.

In South Africa, we have been lucky to escape the second wave so far, which means that our economic recovery could well continue.

Looking at some sectors, we see the REITS continuing to languish but with the promise of at least a reduced distribution. Most are trading at severe discounts

‘Our politics remains a serious worry, but we are seeing more arrests’ massive economic stimulus measures.

The pandemic fed the growth of shares in the IT world and saw the depression of both value and dividend themes. It is entirely possible that we will eventually see a rotation from these growth shares into value.

Some of these value shares show good dividends, but foreign withholding taxes confiscate between 20% and 30%

to their net asset value, but this does not help retirees who live off of the income. Their recovery could take another two to three years.

The banking sector is also marking time, but could recover sooner than most people think. Their massive bad debt writeoffs could prove to be excessive (or very conservative) and may be written back in future years.

This sector sees the es-

tablishment of several new players, most focusing on “fintech” developments. But with many new entrants, it is hard to pick a winner.

SA Inc companies are experiencing an array of mixed fortunes, from PP Cement in serious trouble, to Aspen hitting the jackpot. This area of the market needs sound research before investing.

As per usual, our politics remains a serious worry, but we are seeing more arrests, and possibly a ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ for Eskom!

Expect a good recovery of GDP in the third quarter, followed by a slower recovery thereafter.

So retirees may see some return of REITS income soon, while local dividends will begin to recover in the next twelve months.

• Malcolm has been in the investment industry for nearly 50 years. He has written this column in CXPRESS for the last 22 years and is a specialist in managing retired wealth.

See the advert on this page for contact details.

SOCIAL SCENE

18 November 2020

CXPRESS

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People, places & events WELL-DESERVED AWARDS: When the PlettAid Foundation held its AGM on October 29 at Piesang Valley Hall, Hospice Plett CEO Cecily van Heerden had the pleasure of presenting awards of excellence and sterling service to a number of her team members. Pictured are, above from left, homebased carer and Community Health Worker based in The Crags, Marie Pluim, with her Long Service Award; facility-based counsellor in Wittedrift, Ronel Thorne, with her Employee Excellence Award; and data-capturer cum shop assistant Sharon Kleynhans, who shows off her certificate for successfully completing Nacosa training in HIV Rapid Finger Prick Testing and Adherence Support. Visit www.plettaid.org to find out how you can contribute to the essential work done by Sister Cecily and her team, and diarise December 12 and 13 for Hospice fundraising concerts that you simply can’t afford to miss.

MAKING OUR PARKS PRETTY: In conjunction with Plett’s Parks department, several local residents have started a ‘Make a Difference’ group to assist Bitou Municipality in maintaining some of the parks and walkways in Plettenberg Bay. Explains Steve Keightley-Smith: “We are looking for volunteers and like-minded residents to assist us with this work and we are hoping many of your CXPRESS readers might be interested. The basic plan at the moment is to spend two hours pruning every second week on a Wednesday morning from 7-9am - before it gets too hot, as summer is now upon us. But depending on the interest, there could be other groups that meet on different days and at different times.”

Steve said their next clean-up meeting was planned for November 18, which means by the time you read here it’s a thing of the past, but do call him on 082 376 8644 if you would like to join the next meeting on December 2, or should you require any further information. Pictured at right are, from left, Jo Morley Jepson, Sue Keightley-Smith, and Heather Kennedy at the end of the first ‘Make a Difference - Plett’ clean-up session at the park on the corner of Longships and Jument Avenue.

DIFFERENTLY-ABLED BOWLERS SHOW THE WAY: November is Disability Bowls Awareness Month and since the nationals in March had been postponed, the Eden Disability Team due to compete then decided to stage a presentation match at Knysna Bowling Club two Sundays ago. Cars Online had the privilege of sponsoring shirts for the occasion and a great day was had by all, while promoting awareness of the challenges faced by differently-abled athletes. Notable was all team members’ remarkable ability to bowl as skilfully as their able-bodied team mates and opponents. The eight differently-abled bowlers from six different Eden District clubs who took part in the Day4Disability included polio survivor Julie Deferville of Plettenberg Bay Bowling Club, at top right, who was a pairs gold medallist at last year’s National Disability Champs. Representing Knysna Bowling Club was Chris Patton, at right - Protea bowler and silver medallist at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia.

Chris, who is confined to a wheelchair after surviving a car accident, proudly shows off the Eden Squad shirt with Rita Hardaker’s Differently-abled Awareness Campaign logo on the left chest. The rest of the team comprise Jeremy Middleton of Sedgefield Bowling Club, who is the newly-appointed Eden District head coach despite having deformities in both hands since birth; Crystal Barlow of George Bowling Club, a polio survivor who has earned her Eden District colours; new bowler and stroke survivor Koos Ellis, also from George; amputee Pieter Grove of Hartenbos Bowling Club; and Mossel Bay Bowling Club members Peter Koekemoer and Bennie Grassman, both being one-leg amputees.

THANK YOU, COMPUTER SHOP! The team at Plett Primary School is excited about their new partnership with The Computer Shop (TCS), which entails launching an online venture for parents and learners to use at home, with the assistance of TCS. Via a secure online platform, parents and learners will be able to access educational content to assist their learning at home.

TCS has sponsored six high-definition web cameras and microphones for the Grade 1, 2 and 3 classes (two per grade), including improved wireless data. The teachers are currently in training to use this new technology and will keep everyone posted on this exciting new adventure. “We thank @TCS for helping Plett Primary take another step into the digital age of learning,” says teacher Bianca Vollgraaff, pictured above, alongside some of the sponsored webcams.

TSITSIKAMMA ARTISTS LAUNCH SEASONAL SHOW: Art-for-All Gallery in Storms River Village last month launched an exhibition of new work created since the on-set of lockdown, which will be on display during the summer season. Visitors will have the opportunity to appreciate the resilience of artists - including gallery owner Johan Brink, Elzette Bester, Susan Kemp, Marcel Terblanche, Estelle Hester, Antoinette Neethling, and Ella Blue - who never stopped working throughout lockdown and are now hitting the ground running with a diverse show of new work. This is a great opportunity to see how artists respond to hard times. The ‘Early Summer Exhibition’ has become an annual event, as Johan is determined to bring local art to the public and provide opportunities for fellow artists. There are sculptures, drawings and paintings large and small, framed and unframed, originals and prints. “We pride ourselves on the fact that we offer a wide range of mediums and styles - art made by locals, made with passion and heart. Every piece, including the signed art prints, contains a bit of the artists’ soul and a dash of their DNA,” says Johan. The exhibition also expands the gallery’s signature Art-for-All range of small artworks to offer something affordable in these trying times. The range was initiated a few years ago to enable anybody to obtain affordable art and still get good value. Pictured above is a charcoal on brown paper life-drawing by Susan, entitled ‘Grace’.

CXPRESS

INTERVAL

18 November 2020

Cockroaches can survive a nuclear war, but hit them with a newspaper and they die.

See how dangerous the media is?

WHY DID MOM MARRY DAD? Grade school children were asked the question: “Why did your mom marry your dad?”

These are some of the responses: • She got too old to do anything else with him.

• My grandma says that Mom didn’t have her thinking cap on.

• My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world, and Mom eats a lot!

I WISH I WERE A BOOK “For heaven’s sake, Chris, why can’t you talk to me once in a while?”

Julie whined.

“What?” Chris replied.

“Look around!” Julie yelled, as she pointed around the room. “Look at all these books! You always have your head buried in a book! You don’t even seem to know I’m alive!”

“I’m sorry, honey,” Chris said.

“Sometimes I wish I were a book. Maybe then you’d at least look at me!” Julie exclaimed.

“Hmmmm,” Chris mumbled, “that’s not such a bad idea. Then I could take you to the library every few days and change you for something more interesting.”

WHERE IS JESUS? A Sunday school teacher of pre-schoolers was concerned that his students might be a little confused about Jesus Christ because of the Christmas season emphasis on His birth.

The teacher wanted to make sure the children understood that the birth of Jesus occurred for real.

He asked his class” “Where is Jesus today?”

Steven raised his hand and said: “He’s in heaven.”

Mary was called on and said: “He’s in my heart.”

Little Johnny, waving his hand furiously, blurted out: “I know, I know!

and asked Little Johnny how he knew this.

Little Johnny replied: “Well... every morning, my father gets up, bangs on the bathroom door, and yells ‘Good Lord, are you still in there?!’”

He’s in our bathroom!”

The class got very quiet, looked at the teacher, and waited for a response.

The teacher was completely at a loss for a few very long seconds. Finally, he gathered his wits

When I was your age, I had three jobs

If a woman says she’ll be ready in 15 minutes, she will be... There’s no need to remind her every half hour.

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S A Y H U I A L H E T E Z E UN T H S L E A L L E R S E AUD

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T I DA R E B I I B A S S P H D A E A L D E NO O V L T OA C C O N L C E N T A I N A M E D G AMB U E Y A P A D E L

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ON THE SOAPBOX

18 November 2020

Letters to the Editor

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

Rosalind now at peace over five decades since vanishing, claims local psychic Retired architect and former Plettenberg Bay mayor PAUL SCHEEPERS last week shared this thought-provoking letter with CXPRESS, on the subject of Rosalind Ballingall, who disappeared in the forest at Garden of Eden in August 1969 The Rosalind saga has sat with me for the 40+ years that I have lived in Plettenberg Bay. I remember her as we shared a cafeteria at the University of Cape Town (UCT). She was tall and good looking with a dress down to the ground. We architects did not chat up the hippy chicks.

We moved to Plett, and years later I got a DVD copy of The Ballad of Rosalind Ballingall made

by Nicole Schafer* in 2005. I also studied all information available at the time. There was a lot of information on the Internet with many stories of what happened to her.

One day I saw some mail from a lady in the UK who wanted a copy of Nicole’s DVD. I sent it to her and asked why after 40 years she wanted it.

She said that when Rosalind went missing, she and her boyfriend were on their way from Port Elizabeth to Knysna.

They saw a tall lady and

MYSTERIES AND MISCONCEPTIONS: This Afrikaans newspaper article at the time proclaimed that ‘rich kid’ Rosalind disappeared with a Bible in her hand, the main heading being ‘No trace of hippy girl in Knysna Forests’

a guy walking down the N2. She was sure that it was Rosalind.

Later, Rosalind’s mom tracked them down to a hotel in Knysna, asking if they had seen Rosalind.

They told her what they had seen and all they got was “thanks” - no one ever considered or investigated the N2. They only searched in Fisanthoek and the forest.

A while ago I spoke to David Hall Green about

Blue cranes going strong

Early last month, Bruce Ward-Smith of BirdLife Plett shared these photos and advised that, as in previous years, “our blue cranes are breeding again at the same site as last year, on the R340 at the Bitouvlei Birding farm gate”. By October 21, Bruce’s news was less cheery: “Our blue cranes lost their nest to the flood waters coming into the Bitou wetland last week. A local farmer rescued the two eggs from the waterlogged nest and put these under a chicken. So far one has hatched, and I am waiting for news on the other egg. Not sure how this situation will resolve itself or if the chicks can be reunited with the parents as some are suggesting.”

Around the same time, Sue Scheepers penned the following message on Facebook: “We hoped that the blue cranes’ nest in the Bitou wetlands would survive the recent floods, as the chicks were close to hatching.

Mama Crane sat on those eggs with the water lapping around her. Sadly the parents had to abandon their nest and we thought it was all over… NOT! Our neighbour, Jacques van Zyl, collected the wet-but-warm eggs and put them under a broody hen - the inset shows the first chick. How awesome? Go Jacques!” On November 5, Bruce took up the reporting again when confirming that both crane chicks had indeed survived and were safely at Tenikwa Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre: “If all goes well they will probably be releasable, but it obviously will take some time to get them there.”

On their Facebook page, alongside a video of the chicks feeding, the Tenikwa team wrote: “Last week two newly hatched blue cranes were admitted after the bad weather washed the nest away. They are stable and doing well but it is still a long hard road ahead. We are following a diet recommended by the avian dieticians at National Zoological Gardens. However, their natural diet is hard to emulate so that their long thin legs can carry their body weight as they grow. If you would like to do your part in ensuring they make it, go dig up some earthworms and drop them off at Tenikwa.”

(Call Tenikwa on 082 486 1515 to report animal emergencies in and around Bitou. Email bwardsmith@ mweb.co.za for info on BirdLife Plett, and see the latest blue crane chick update at www.cxpress.co.za - Eds.)

this matter. He told me to go and see Amanda Forrow who is a psychic, saying that she was brilliant and had helped many people.

I visited Amanda and gave her the DVD and all the information that I had.

A day later, she replied: Dear Paul, Rosalind was not walking with her boyfriend at the time of her disappearance. She was joined on the road by an opportunist who was driving past and took a liking to the way she looked.

He then coerced her into his car with the promise of dropping her somewhere or helping her with something. He then abducted her and knocked her out. He took her back to his home in East London where he kept her captive and abused her, eventually killing her when she tried to escape.

He buried her body along with the bodies of two other women that he also abducted - in his garden. He was a psychopath! His disgusting deeds were never discovered and he was never suspected either, but Rosalind is saying that you can search in the archives of disappearances for the other two women, if you wish.

Her boyfriend DID help with the search but he was blamed unfairly for her killing; she wanted to make sure people understood that he had

NOTHING to do with her death.

An aspect of her soul went back to the Garden of Eden, to try and undo what she had done that day when walking by herself, which is why she kept appearing and asking people for help.

She thought that she was safe walking there on that day and had brought a spiritual book (it was not the Bible as claimed, as she was not religious).

My Angels and I have released that aspect from that area now and it has rejoined her soul, very happy to be released.

She sent thanks to you, Paul, for loving her so faithfully and helping her to find peace, and she also leaned over and kissed me on the forehead, thanking me.

Rosalind reincarnated into another body in 1974, but that one aspect of her soul remained in the Garden of Eden, trying to understand how she could stop what was going to happen when she met that man and sadly trusted him.

May God bless and keep you.

Amanda Forrow I am now so happy that Rosalind is at peace after 51 years. Special thanks go to Amanda - the Lord will bless you for what you did.

Paul Scheepers, Plett * Nicole Schafer completed her Master of Fine Arts degree in film and television production at the University of Cape Town. While. ‘The Ballad of Rosalind Ballingall’ was the documentary film she made as her thesis, and was screened at the 2006 Frijbourg Film Festival among others.

A Google search of Rosalind Ballingall brings up numerous studies, media reports and even a recent podcast, all of which explore facts and myths around the 20-year-old UCT student’s vanishing on August 12, 1969.

Can’t choose a prez? It explains ‘no moon landing’ conspiracy…

Watching the absolute circus that is the US election process, certainly strengthens the conspiracy theory that there is no way they managed to put a man on the moon 51 years ago!

Kevin Meineke, Plett (This comment reached us as last week’s edition

went to print, and election chaos in the United States worked up to a climax.

Interestingly, the ‘alleged’ moon landing happened on July 20, 1969 - a mere month before the disappearance of Rosalind Ballingall, the subject of this week’s page-topping letter. - Eds.)

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18 November 2020

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