18 September 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

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Two T Tw wo pa p pairs air irs of of B Blue lue lu ue Cr C Cran Cranes ran anes es h have ave av ve on o once nc ce e again chosen the Bitou River valley as ideal breeding ground, affording fans of our feathered friends an opportunity to observe South Africa’s magnificent national bird from up close. Turn to page 5 for more information and find a multitude of activities on offer to locals and visitors in the run-up to Heritage Day celebrations on September 24, throughout this edition.

Mona murder suspect arrested

This is crime, not xenophobia

Ouma Moodie makes the news!

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Photo: Bruce Ward-Smith

18 September 2019

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CXPRESS

NEWS & VIEWS

18 September 2019

Ochre on rock before oil on canvas T seems that one of mankind’s most enduring traits is the need to preserve evidence of our existence. The creation of a work of art, be it a sculpture or a symphony, is a means of proving that, during our short lifetimes, we added something permanent to the world for the enjoyment and education of our successors.

One of the most tangible and long lived is hunter/gatherer rock art that can be found in sheltered places like caves and cliff faces, protected from the

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worst of weather and the passage of people.

Retired physics lecturer and celebrated Wilderness historian Hugo Leggatt has many interests, among which is to find, interpret, and catalogue ancient rock art in the Southern Cape, and he took advantage during a recent talk to show and explain examples he had discovered in the area.

According to Leggatt, there are examples of this medium all over the world, some dat-

COLOURFUL ROCK ART: A prehistoric image of Eland at a gallop

ing back 77,000 years ago and some as recent as the 18th century, and all seem to want to preserve and illustrate images and experiences of the artist’s contemporary life.

He found that the subjects of these drawings usually fall into one of four categories: people, patterns, animals, and Therianthropes. The first three are obvious but the latter, meaning an image of a being half man and half beast, are possibly imagined when under a trance or other hallucinogenic influence.

The materials used to create these enduring images are all natural and are typically minerals such as ochre and chalk for the red and white and dried animal blood for the browns.

One image frequently found on cave walls is handprints, some as outlines and others as complete hands which may have been daubed in ochre or blood and then the donor may have demonstrated his athletic ability by leaping up to place his mark as high up as possible.

One of the most fascinating designs Leggatt showed was that of an elephant, which had a brown upper and grey lower

Words & photos: Bob Hopkin

body, illustrating that the artist had clearly seen the animal’s dust-covered body after it had waded through a river and took the trouble to record the detail.

Our ancestors may not have had access to computer graphics or 3D-printers, but we should be grateful that their artistic efforts have been preserved for millennia after they were created.

ROCK-STAR HISTORIAN: Wilderness-based Hugo Leggatt is a retired physics lecturer

NEWS & VIEWS

18 September 2019

CXPRESS

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Local suspect arrested for Sandisiwe Mona’s murder Ludumo Thede

murder docket was opened by KwaNokuthula detectives following the arrest of a suspect accused of killing 17-year-

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old Sandisiwe Mona in April this year.

According to the Southern Cape SAPS communications department, the 56-year-old man fled from Plettenberg Bay and was

apprehended in Joubertina in the Eastern Cape.

“After interrogation, the suspect was arrested and voluntarily pointed out the crime scene to investigators.

The suspect was arrested

Background to the Sandisiwe Mona case ANDISIWE Mona went missing between 6am on April 8 and 2pm on April 13. Initial information revealed that her grandmother left her at their home in KwaNokuthula while she attended a funeral.

Her remains were found on August 5 by a passer-by walking his dog in the Ladywood area. Following the grisly discovery an inquest docket was opened.

“As the investigation unfolded, DNA samples were obtained from the girl’s mother. Later, dur-

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ing private analysis, it was found that the mother’s DNA matched a sample retrieved from the skeleton of the missing girl,” said Southern Cape police spokesman captain Mal-

colm Pojie.

Pojie revealed that the accused had been identified as Motseki Palasi from KwaNokuthula.

- Yolande Stander / Garden Route Media

last Thursday and charged with murder.

“Initially we opened an inquest docket based on information provided by the family of the deceased. New information revealed that the suspect was last seen in the company of the deceased,” said police spokesman captain Malcolm Pojie.

Earlier last week, during Sandisiwe’s memorial service at KwaNokuthula Primary, brigadier Bhubhuzile Cetyana from SAPS Eden Cluster told the bereaved family and community that the case was at an ad-

vance stage and the suspect would be brought to book in no time.

On September 12, the man in blue lived up to his promise. Discovery of the minor’s remains stunned the local community and triggered an outpour of anger, manifesting in marches through Kwano and Plett on September 6 and 9. Both demonstrations called for the end of violence against women and children.

A third march from KwaNokuthula to the New Horizons court precinct coincided with the suspect’s first

date in the dock on Monday.

Prior to proceedings, organiser Thandikhaya Gqabi spoke to the prosecutor and informed him of the community’s insistence that no bail should be granted.

The suspect appeared briefly before Judge Ariefdien in the Plettenberg Bay Magistrate’s Court on charges of murder and defeating the ends of justice. He will appear again on October 4 for a formal bail application.

Sandisiwe was laid to rest on Saturday September 14 in her family’s homestead of Joubertina.

Western Cape High Court has no mercy for Wilderness sex-pest sensei Yolandé Stander ANOTHER GIRL CHILD GONE: Several residents, mostly women, peacefully marched from KwaNokuthula to the court to show their support to Sandisiwe Mona’s family

ILDERNESS resident and karate sensei Wessel Wilms, who was found guilty and sentenced on charges of creation and possession of child pornography and crimen injuria, lost his appeal against his conviction and sentence in the Western Cape High Court last week.

Wilms was first arrested in August 2014 in connection with these charges. At the time, his laptop and a desk-

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top computer were confiscated for analysis; a video clip that constitutes child pornography was among the confiscations.

Despite evidence of sexual grooming and harassment of three teenage girls admitted at the onset of the trial, Wilms was released on bail and permitted to continue teaching karate in George and Knysna.

In April 2017, he was subsequently handed a four-year prison sentence,

suspended for three years for the unlawful possession or manufacturing of child pornography.

He was also sentenced to 24 months of correctional supervision for four counts of crimen injuria and the court ordered that his name be placed in the National Register for Sex Offenders.

He then appealed his conviction and his sentence, but this was quashed by the Western Cape High Court on September 11.

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CXPRESS

NEWS & VIEWS

18 September 2019

OPINION PIECE

Unequal distribution of wealth leads to criminality, not xenophobia Wandisile Sebezo

OR us to have a meaningful conversation about this rather sensitive matter, it’s best to leave emotions out of it. I honestly do not think South Africans are xenophobic, not by a long shot.

What has been happening in two of our important metros cannot be described as anything other than criminal behaviour, both by South Africans and foreign nationals and, sadly, members of the South African Police Service.

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No one participating in that chaos in Gauteng was innocent, regardless of which flag they swore allegiance to.

South Africans have lived side by side with foreign nationals from other African states for decades, even before the advent of democracy in 1994. On the factory floor in South African mines, they were neighbours in hostels and in mining townships, arguably since the 19th century.

An artificial language called ‘fanakalo’ or ‘fanagalo’ was even de-

veloped by these very diverse migrant labourers, most of whom hailed from Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Malawi. Fanakalo is used as a lingua franca of the South African mining industry, spoken daily in a multinational and multilingual setting.

We need to call criminal behaviour what it is: crime. The moment we label it, it becomes a problem and opportunists start peddling it as xenophobia for their own narrow political interests.

Take the 2019 general elections campaign for example: almost all political parties in South Africa - par-

ticularly the DA, COPE and the right-wing FF+, reckoning they would form a coalition government should the ANC fall below 50% - promised to place foreign nationals in camps as opposed to letting them roam free in South African cities.

So what are the issues, really?

• South Africa is an extremely unequal society, its Gini coefficient* of 0.63 is the highest in the world.

• The legacy of apartheid endures, leaving a majority of South Africans with fewer skills, coupled with a skewed education system that produces graduates not necessarily needed by the economy.

• Economic growth and policies are exclusive and not pro-poor.

The problems facing the country are also rooted in the post-1994 government’s failure to meaningfully transform

our economy and society.

As a result, frustrated South Africans, especially young people who want to voice their anger and contempt of government, resort to looting. In the process, foreign African nationals become victims of their violent behaviour.

What is even sadder about this whole fiasco is the government’s inability to deal with the situation, especially members of the police who clearly have no strategy. This, coupled with the indecisiveness of the president, is telling of a government that doesn’t have a sense of urgency, nor does it care about the wellbeing of its citizenry. * The Gini index or Gini coefficient is a statistical measure of distribution developed by Italian statistician Corrado Gini in 1912. It is used as gauge of economic inequality, measuring income distribution among a population.

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NEWS & VIEWS

18 September 2019

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Ouma Moodie celebrates 109 years with loved ones and news team Words & photo: LM Dunn

HE Moodie family of Kranshoek celebrated the 109th birthday of their beloved ‘Ouma’ Elizabeth Moodie on Tuesday September 10, with an SABC news crew right there in her living room to record the auspicious occasion.

Elizabeth Moodie was born in 1910 in Botswana, but lived in Olifantshoek just outside Upington for most of her young life. In 1928, at the age of 18, she married Henry Moodie -

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who was then 26 years old.

In 1940 the family moved to Kranshoek. Her husband Henry passed on in 1996, at the age of 91.

Elizabeth was sitting smiling, nibbling on some of the birthday cake and snacks, and having tea with the guests, after everyone sang Happy Birthday.

She doesn’t use any medication and has never worn spectacles. She has been healthy all her life and has never been in hospital. She even gave birth to each of her children at home.

NOT TOO WORDY: An SABC TV crew interviewed Ouma on her 109th birthday last week, for broadcast that same evening

Ouma Elizabeth has been a housewife for most of her life and enjoyed cooking, dancing, and telling jokes.

She has always been a fun loving person with a peaceful character.

She has been a very strict mother, her children admit.

They shared family photographs with the guests, showing how much fun Ouma had on the beach in Mossel Bay 10 years ago at the age of 98!

Her children are Jacobus, Andrew, Stanley, Elsie, Irene, Ria, Violet, Henry, Alvin, Gail and Linda. She has 47 grandchildren, 94 great grandchildren and 28 great-great grandchildren and she still recognises each one of them.

Ouma does not speak much at the moment, but until recently she still knew them all by name. Now when she sees them, her smile shows her delight.

The Moodie family wishes to thank Sylvia Christian of the St Vincent de Paul charity, Ruby Kisses, and Pick n Pay Market Square for their support of this special day.

Ouma Elizabeth ended

SA’s national birds grace Plett with their presence Bruce Ward-Smith

OCAL birding enthusiasts are fortunate to have observed two pairs of breeding Blue Cranes (Anthropoides paradiseus - ‘vulnerable’ on IUCN Red List) around the Bitou River valley for the past few years.

Members of Birdlife Plettenberg Bay have kept an eye on these Blue Cranes during the breeding season, usually from August to October, and have collated some interesting information about breeding events.

The Bitou pair has been using a grassy berm in the wetland along the R340 towards Wittedrift, near a farm gate and signage for Bitouvlei Birding.

The nest site for the other pair, called ‘the N2 pair’, is unknown. They are regularly seen in the fields along

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Properties

the N2 between Buco and the Bitou River bridge. In 2015, we believe this pair was observed on a nest with egg(s) on Stanley Island.

Once the chicks have fledged, the birds usually stay in the vicinity of the nest site for several months and can be seen foraging in the fields as they grow to adult size.

Thereafter the cranes and juveniles seem to move off further afield and we presume that the now full size but still immature cranes find their own territories.

The cycle starts again after several months, when the adults return to their breeding areas in the Bitou River valley.

There are many predators around as well as other risk factors, so the chicks do not always survive to adulthood.

But club members’ sightings

Plettenberg Bay

and photos taken during the 2017 and 2018 breeding seasons confirm that both pairs produced two chicks each, and these four chicks all reached adulthood.

The Bitou pair laid two eggs in mid-August and both hatched some 30 days later. The chicks hatch a day apart and the family moves away from the nest site a day or two after the last chick hatches.

We should be able to view this Blue Crane family foraging around in the fields nearby to the farm gate along the R340 for the next several months, and watch out for the N2 pair to arrive in the fields with their chicks in the coming months.

• Bruce Ward-Smith is the chairperson of BirdLife Plettenberg Bay. Email bwardsmith@mweb.co.za for additional information.

her birthday by viewing SABC news that evening, learning that - along with a 115-year-old gentleman in

Cape Town - she is recorded as one of the oldest people in our province and most probably in the country.

We are honoured to have her in our midst and wish her the best of health, love and lots of laughter.

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CXPRESS

18 September 2019

25 Years of Democracy: Celebrating South Africa’s literary classics in

Venue: Sport Grounds, Kurland Date: 24 September 2019 / Time: 10h00

Come and celebrate Heritage Day with Bitou Municipality

#HeritageMonth #HeritageDay #IChoose2ReadInMyLanguage

NEWS & VIEWS

NEWS & VIEWS

18 September 2019

‘Nurture through nature’ is the motto of this caring eco-preschool OT so long ago, children used to play in the mud, attempt to catch butterflies, balance on fallen trunks, jump over ditches, leap out of trees and heave themselves back up, swing from branches, hike up hills and run free - until they collapsed from sheer joy and exhaustion.

How many parents can honestly say that, while they are at work, this is how their preschool-aged children are spending their morning?

There is a garden, a forest, and a hill hidden at the back of Old Nick Village in Plettenberg Bay where children are afforded these experiences while their parents are embroiled in their day jobs. The Village Eco-preschool is a small centre of learning that offers a magical outdoor learning environment to children aged 18 months to six years.

With so many children spending limited time outdoors and an excess of time in front of screens, Village Eco-preschool teachers pride themselves in living up to their motto of nurturing children through nature.

With the emphasis on ‘eco’, children are encouraged to spend as much time as possible playing outdoors. While they play, they learn - counting flowers, measuring sticks, grouping and pairing leaves, weighing stones and feathers, collecting seeds and berries and in-

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OUT THERE: Lessons learnt in the outdoors prepare Village Eco-preschool kids for a life of environmental awareness

volving themselves in real life experiences and experiments outdoors.

It is an accepted fact that children who spend more time within green spaces are likely to have reduced anger and fear and lower levels of stress.

Exposure to nature not only makes children feel better emotionally, but contributes to their physical wellbeing while

WEE AARR W EE OOPPEENN 24TH

SE 2019 PT

reducing muscle tension.

It develops muscle strength and co-ordination, boosts self-confidence, and establishes a stronger, more robust immune system in children.

The older children (three to six years) go on environmental outings each term, to encourage an awareness of conservation and caring for our beautiful planet. These children also

enjoy weekly adventures in and around the Old Nick Village gardens and surrounding forests and hills.

The younger children in the toddler class (18 months to three years) are nurtured through nature in an environment that feels like home away from home.

The intake of this small group is limited to 15 children which allows teachers to nurture each child as if it were their own, so ensuring that each toddler receives the attention required at this young age.

Filled with light, the classroom is tastefully decorated and set up to ensure that the little ones feel safe, secure and relaxed in a homely and friendly atmosphere created by teacher May and her assistant, Phakama.

When the sun shines, they spend much of the morning outdoors, watering the herb garden, feeding the chickens and checking for freshly laid eggs.

Enrolments for both classes are now open for 2020 but space is limited, so if you are a parent who values the importance of children being exposed to nature, in an environment that nurtures the spirit while creating awareness of conserving our precious planet, then get down to Old Nick Village and pay the school a visit.

Call Inge on 072 605 8573 or visit www.thevillageecopreschool.co.za for more information.

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18 September 2019

‘n Belangrike boodskap aan alle vroue…

IE 20ste September is die begin van die Wêreldbeker Rugby skou spel van 2019.

Tydens hierdie belangrike gebeurtenis is daar ‘n paar dinge wat julle moet weet en verstaan: 1. As julle ‘n ‘Mmmm’ hoor na ‘n vraag wat julle gevra het, beteken dit: Gaan, en geniet dit.

Moenie die kar stamp nie, en moenie meer as R500 spandeer nie.

Bring klam biltong met ‘n vetjie, 12 koue biere, ‘n pak chips, rump steak, wors (bykos), skaaptjops (bykos) en charcoal.

2. Skuif vroegtydig die meubels sodat julle nie tussen die rugbykenner en die TV-stel hoef verby te beweeg nie.

Om dit poedel-nakend te doen gaan geen verskil

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maak nie. Julle weet mos nou al.

3. Hou asseblief jul opruim gedagtes vir NA die wedstryd.

4. Halftyd en beseringstyd is daar sodat die man ‘n draai kan loop.

Moenie dan kom met onbenullige vrae nie, soos: “Moet daar water by die ceiling uitdrip?” of “Moet daar vlamme by die Kuga se dashboard uitkom?”

Los dit tot NA die game. Asseblief!

Baie dankie by voorbaat vir julle samewerking, dames. Ons is lief vir julle, julle lyk great in daai nuwe rok en nee, niemand moet skielik kom kuier nie.

Sien julle weer raak in Desember as die rugby replays boring raak.

Vriendlike groete, Die Boys

Daddy’s password made public ITTLE Mary’s father was typing away at his home computer, when she sneaked up behind him.

Suddenly, she turned and ran into the kitchen, squealing to the rest of the family: “I know Dad-

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dy’s password! I know Daddy’s password!”

“What is it?” her sister asked eagerly.

Proudly little Mary shouted: “Asterisk, asterisk, asterisk, asterisk, asterisk!”

INTERVAL

SOCIAL SCENE

People, places & events

18 September 2019

LILIZELA AWARDS EXCELLENCE: Cape Summer Villas group general manager Paul Duvergé on Monday checked in with some rather marvellous news for tourism in the bay and beyond: “I’ve just returned from the provincial Lilizela Awards held in Stellenbosch over the weekend and am extremely proud to announce that three of our graded properties were nominated in their respective categories. Spanish Farm Villas in Somerset West was a finalist in the Five-star Self-catering category; The Bungalow in Plett was a finalist in the Five-star B&B category; and Plett’s Sky Villa, which was nominated in the Five-star Boutique Hotel category, came out as winner! This is a massive achievement, considering it’s our first nomination.” Many congrats to Paul and the Sky Villa team, who had to beat contenders like Feathers Boutique Hotel and the mighty Lanzerac to come out tops. Pictured from left with Paul above are Ulandi of Spanish Farm Villas, Sky Villa duty manager Beauty, and front office supervisor Lucy. Above at left are The Bungalow sous chef Gareth and head waiter Peter. Another local tourism concern that was declared provincial Lilizela winner is the awesome AfriCanyon Adventures - congrats for pulling this off for a fourth consecutive year! See the adverts on p7 and p11 respectively for additional information on these two superb local tourist attractions.

CAKE AND TEA AND TURNING 90! On Friday September 6, Formosa Garden Village hosted a delightful Ladies Spring Tea to celebrate both spring and women. The organisers thank all 102 ladies who attended for making this event so very worthwhile. Delicious eats were prepared by the able FGV kitchen staff, and gratitude is also due to all the wonderful table hostesses. Thanks go to the special guests from Plett’s Rotary Anns, to Pamela de Vos Bonthuys for the donation of plants for the thank-you gifts, to Pippa’s Flowers for the beautiful arrangement, to John Craig for entertaining guests with beautiful piano music, and to the kids of Raphaeli School for the beautiful songs. The day also marked the wonderful occasion of resident Lynn Connell’s 90th birthday, pictured at above left with kitchen manager Mart Marie Herbst. At centre above, Veronica Rimbault and Judy van Dyk enjoy the fine occasion, as does Irene Hutchinson at right.

THE MOST ‘FORMOSA’ OF ‘EM ALL: The Mr and Miss Bahia 2019 competition was held on September 6 and the folk at Bahia Formosa School thank ALL their supporters and sponsors for making this lovely event possible.

Pictured from left are the winners of the Mr and Miss Bahia, Mr and Miss Junior Bahia, and Mr and Miss Little Bahia 2019 titles. The school thanks Bitou Municipality, Canon, Harbour Bay, Park Avenue Stationers, Love of Linen, Melvilles Spar, Wimpy, and Zigg Zagg for their support. Judges Siyabonga Yumata (a former Miss Plett), Tanya Nieuwoudt, and Yomelela Tom did an incredible job with lots of patience, while DJ Malcolm entertained with music and dancers Enrico and Ashley delivered wonderful performances. Finally, a shout out goes to all staff, parents and children for making the event such a huge success.

CXPRESS

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CXPRESS

18 September 2019

Gerhard van Huyssteen is your LOCAL registered Debt Counsellor (NCRDC#778) Cell: 071 332 2341 Tel: 044 533 2805 Email: plett101@gmail.com

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CLASSIFIEDS

ON THE SOAPBOX

18 September 2019

Letters to the Editor

CXPRESS

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

Expect a fine if no disabled sticker displayed Please note that if you are either temporarily or permanently disabled but do not have a sticker on your vehicle, you WILL receive a fine when parking in bays designated for differently-abled drivers.

Plett’s traffic officers are very much aware of the frustration of those who genuinely need these parking bays, but find that some selfish, perfectly normal individual has taken a chance and parked in a space so desperately need-

ed by the differently-abled.

The procedure is: • Collect the necessary form at the Bitou Traffic office located at 1 Park Lane, opposite the fire station in Marine Way. • Take the form to your doctor for completion and signature - this is important as he needs to give a current overview of your condition.

• Take the form to a cashier at the municipal offices on the second floor of Mellville’s Corner (old

Thanks after the fire I would like to express my gratitude to everybody who helped me when my house was destroyed by a fire. I’m indebted to my community as well as the Schoongezicht staff and homeowners - thank you for everything.

Thank you, Schoonge-

zicht Construction, for building me a beautiful new house.

To my general manager, Andries du Plessis: you made me very proud. To my security team: thank you guys, and may God bless you all.

Jonase Mluleki, Plett

Standard Bank premises) and pay R109.

• Go back to Park Lane with your completed form and receipt to collect your sticker.

If you cannot go through all the steps, let someone assist you - but know that your application will not be considered if you do not have a genuine assessment from your doctor.

I hope this will assist, since you MUST have that sticker on your windscreen. It simply takes too

much time and energy trying to get out of the fine afterwards.

Traffic officers will adhere to the regulations and we, the public, must respect their responsibilities. They are, after all, also there to protect the differently-abled from selfish, uncaring people.

If you need further advice, contact the Differently-abled Awareness Campaign on 082 560 2606.

Rita van Rensburg Hardaker, Plett

Space for traumatised women As a Plett citizen, this is my request to CXPRESS: please dedicate a block of space in each edition to encourage women who have been and are still going through trauma, e.g. abuse, rape, or abduction.

This will help breaking the chains and setting women free from captivity, so I hope you will consider this suggestion.

Chrystal Williams, Plett (Readers are invited to share their thoughts in this regard, especially those who have been victims of abuse in any form. Would you like to share your story to protect others from the same fate? Would you prefer to do so anonymously or divulge your identity? Email editor@cxpress.co.za with your sentiments. - Eds.)

Wittedrift High School girls get flowers of appreciation

In response to all the media attention in recent weeks surrounding violence against women and children, Wittedrift High School’s boys did something very special on Friday September 13. Head boy Monné Scheepers and his deputy, Marcell Patterson, arranged for several bunches of white flowers to be delivered to school. Flowers were then handed to every girl in the school as a sign of appreciation. In addition, the boys have committed to treat the girls with the utmost respect and to protect them, if ever the need should arise. It is particularly impressive to note that this was a learner-driven initiative. - ‘Mother of Girl’, Plett

BOOKING ESSENTIAL

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SPORT & ADVENTURE

18 September 2019

Local cyclists invited to join Heritage Day awareness ride HE Pedal Power Association (PPA) is hosting its second Stay Wider of the Rider awareness ride in Mossel Bay on 24 September, starting at 8am at Shell Truck Port Voorbaai.

The aim is to create awareness for cyclists on our roads.

Motorists are asked to give cyclists at least one metre when passing - that is the law in the Western Cape.

“We have asked petrol stations to partner with us with safe cycling messag-

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ing and to hand out safe cycling stickers,” says PPA CEO Robert Vogel.

“Speed is a major contributor to the death toll on our roads. Collisions at speeds that exceed 45km/hour, give cyclists a less than 50% chance of survival. Even if hit at slower speeds, they face suffering severe injuries.

“There is this belief that cyclists have less right to the road and should keep out of a motorists’ way. But both have equal rights on the

road. We need mutual respect and tolerance among all road users,” he says.

“When you turn or change lanes, there could be a cyclist next to you. Double check your blind spot and mirrors. Motorists also need to be aware of cyclists approaching from the front, when intending to cross the path of oncoming traffic.

“Drivers should not underestimate the speed of a cyclist,” Vogel explains, adding that there are valu-

able tips that would help in the event of a crash.

If knocking down a cyclist, the normal duties of the driver applies: • Check for injuries and render assistance. • Provide his/her details to the authorities or witnesses. • Report the crash within 24 hours. • A vehicle involved in a fatal accident may not be removed from the scene unless authorised. • In the event that a motorist knocks down a cyclist and the state decides to pursue a criminal case, the state will have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the driver is in fact guilty. • Should a motorist be found guilty of reckless, negligent or inconsiderate driving or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, a harsh sentence awaits. This may include imprisonment for culpable homicide.

“As much as we advocate for drivers to give cyclists ample space when passing, cyclists need to obey the rules of the road, too,” says Vogel. Some of the most important point include: • Be visible by wearing bright clothing with reflective strips, attach a white light to the handlebar and a red flashing light at the back of your bike. • Ride in a group to be more vis-

KEEP YOUR DISTANCE: Cyclists participating in the inaugural awareness ride sport the Pedal Power Association’s reflective gear, with its ‘stay wider of the rider’ message on the chest

ible. • Wear a helmet. Aside from it being against the law in South Africa to cycle without a helmet, a head injury can have permanent side-effects. • Don’t listen to music while you ride; if you can’t hear the cars around you, you can’t avoid potential accidents. • As a cyclist, you’re expected to follow the same rules of the road as anyone else. Although you have the advantage of being able to cycle in the yellow line, you still have to stop at stop streets and red lights, giving way when you are required to, and being considerate towards your fellow road users, including drivers and pedestri-

ans. • Be considerate at all times. Don’t hold on to cars to hitch a lift or keep your balance, and avoid hurling abuse or swearing at motorists. Keep yourself safe by keeping your cool.

Cyclists joining the ride will get a free cup of coffee and a reflective arm band, and reflective bibs will be handed out prior to the ride.

From Shell Voorbaai, riders will head to Oudtshoorn, then turn around at Brandwag Church, cut through Hartenbos, and return to Shell Voorbaai - a distance of 27km.

Contact liz@pedalpower. org.za or zarah@pedalpow er.org.za for further info.