1 March 2017 by CXpress

Photo: Yolandé Stander - Garden Route Media

1 March 2017

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

History’s alive and well!

What’s what with Budget 2017?

Suits of fire

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A concerted community effort saw 15 protective suits make their way from the Netherlands to Plett, so constituting a huge shot in the arm for local firefighting efforts in the midst of ongoing blazes around Bitou. In the pic, some of those instrumental in this rather suitable arrangement gather at Plett Airport for the shipment’s delivery by CemAir last Thursday. Read the full story on page 4.

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NEWS & VIEWS

1 March 2017

OBITUARY

Thank you, Roni, for giving us so much to remember Plettenberg Bay resident ALDA ENGELBRECHT shared these words of gratitude after the recent passing of her beloved mother, popular local livewire Roni Engelbrecht T has been three weeks without her... three weeks too long, and only the beginning of a lifetime of missing her. I find myself almost at a total loss for words, not only in light of the untimely and sudden and shocking death of our beloved Roni on February 6, but also because of the intense and genuine love that has been received through so many beautiful acts of kindness, condolences and comforts bestowed upon our family. We have been totally humbled by the messages, cards, gifts, phone calls, flowers, and food. Our gratitude is everlasting and words are simply inadequate to express our profound appreciation. It is impossible to name each one of the wonderful people who contributed to softening the blow of Roni’s departure - just know that you have left an everlasting imprint in our hearts. Thank You! On Monday February 13, we honoured and paid tribute to an amazing woman. A beautiful memorial service in true Roni-style was held at St Thomas Methodist Church in Plettenberg Bay. Thank you to everyone involved in the planning, finalising and execution of this beautiful service conducted by Pastor Colleen Stringer. Roni’s presence was palpable, to say the least. Special thanks go to Pippa for being spot-on with the flowers, and to the Women’s Auxiliary ladies for ensuring that everyone present enjoyed the consolation of a cuppa and some cake.

to share here the fact that Roni Engelbrecht was a Platinum Shore Crew member of the NSRI, and we will honour her by continuing to support you in her name.

Tribute to the Station 14 crew Special mention is due to pay tribute to the team at Plettenberg Bay NSRI Station 14: although we have lost this amazing woman, your help, efforts and support on that day (February 4) will never, ever be forgotten. She knows what you did! The Lord bless and protect each one of you as you continue to save lives. It is special

CHICKEN BULK FAMILY BRAAIPACK

SHE MADE BROKEN LOOK BEAUTIFUL: Veronica Avril Engelbrecht - 18 March 1952 - 6 February 2017

What we have learnt so far We were blessed beyond measure with, unquestionably, the best mother in the world; dad Jafta was accompanied by the most incredible woman and wife for 50 years; mom will live on in her four grandchildren she will smile when they smile - and she has left an eternal footprint on the heart of each and every person and living

creature she ever came across. I don’t say this lightly; I state this as a fact, because we who had the privilege of Roni in our lives, along with those who had the chance of meeting her, however briefly, all bear testimony to Roni’s greatness. This knowledge comforts all of us who were left behind. We shall see her in everything, every day, because it is impossible to forget someone who gave you so much to remember. She made broken look beautiful and strong look invincible. She walked with the universe on her shoulders and made it look like a pair of wings.

Heavenly view of Keurbooms captured

Plett reader Joyce Griffin contributed these spectacular images and wrote: “Just had to share these pictures of the Keurbooms River Mouth with CXPRESS. We went flying in my husband’s Jabiru J430 on Thursday February 9 - haven’t seen the tide so low and the river mouth so clear in a very long time.” The pics were so pretty we couldn’t decide which one to choose, so here, for your viewing pleasure, are both!

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NEWS & VIEWS

1 March 2017

Weekend fires fought with combined force Bitou firefighters have been working around the clock to maintain a fire in the Wittedrift area after it broke out on Friday February 24 - YOLANDÉ STANDER reports ABLAZE AGAIN: Working on Fire personnel joined Bitou Fire and Rescue services crew to extinguish various fires during the weekend, the most serious of these around the Old Plett Timbers site - Photo courtesy Plett South Fire Management Unit

HIS was one of at least two fires that flared up around Plettenberg Bay since the start of the weekend, but Plett South Fire Management Unit spokesman Stephen Ritky said the biggest concern by far was the Wittedrift fire, which started around the old Plett Timbers site. Ritky explained that, because there were large quantities of wood shavings in the area, firefighters

battled to completely put the fire out, as it continued to burn below the surface with little smoke. “This happens until the wind picks up and then embers go high and far,” Ritky said. Spokesman for Working on Fire (WoF) - an initiative by the Department of Environmental Affairs to assist authorities in fighting veld and forest fires Lauren Howard said that

aerial resources were deployed on Sunday, including a spotter plane and a Huey helicopter, as well as an 802 air tractor bomber, to douse the flames. She added that 25 WoF firefighters and ground crew from Bitou Fire and Rescue services assisted Bitou Municipality in its efforts to extinguish the fire. The fire was declared contained by Monday, but very hot and dry conditions remained a concern in the area. Howard said that about 30ha of veld had burnt. Ritky, however, added that the fire did not threaten any structures. “Teams will continue to monitor the line and conduct mop-up operations in the areas which burnt,” Howard said. There was also a flare-up in the Harkerville area near Fynbos Ridge where a fire raged for several days and threatened properties earlier this year. Although the fire, which broke out on January 18, was largely contained the next day, dry and windy conditions then led to several flare-ups over the following four days.

Large reward in offing after luxury lodge Yolandé Stander staffers tortured and robbed R20,000 reward is being offered for information after staff of a Plettenberg Bay restaurant and lodge were tortured and robbed. Police spokesman Captain Marlene Pieterse said just before midnight on February 11, three unknown men stormed the home of Emily Moon personnel on the property of the lodge. “The staff members were in the house when this hap-

pened. The three men then threatened the victims with firearms and tied them up with shoelaces and belts,” Pieterse said. She added that the suspects proceeded to pour boiling water over the victims in an attempt to force them into divulging where they could find money. “The suspects however fled with several cellphones, laptops, a flat screen television, and cash. They left the scene

in an unknown vehicle.” Pieterse said the owners of Emily Moon had offered a R20,000 reward to anyone who could assist with information about the incident. She also urged the public to come forward with any information that could lead to the arrest and prosecution of the culprits. Detective Warrant Officer John Nomdoe can be contacted in this regard on 044 501 1955/1900 or 072 239 3289.

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NEWS & VIEWS

1 March 2017

Suits to safeguard Bitou crews Security News

ADT’s proud history within the Plettenberg Bay area ADT is the oldest private security provider in Plettenberg Bay and hence we ensure that our clients receive the highest standard of professional services. Our service does not only have the safety and wellbeing of the Plettenberg Bay residents as focal point of our operations, but also ensure that we take no shortcuts that could adversely affect our ability to deliver the services associated with ADT. The services and benefits offered by a monitored alarm system such as ours is simply unmatched, and with the largest fleet of Armed Response vehicles in your area; strategically placed to ensure your safety and security, there is really no need to compromise on safety. We would like to take this opportunity to also reiterate the below, highlighting our state of the art security equipment and value added benefits: • • • •

•

ADT offers effective and efficient armed response services, providing the expertise associated with one of the largest security company’s in South Africa. Our officers go through vigorous training to equip them with the necessary skills to handle any emergency situation. ADT also offers medical responses, transporting you or a loved one to the closest hospital in case of a medical emergency. Our officers wear state of the art Kevlar Vests and helmets for their protection (best in class). They also carry security equipment such as Firearms, Pepper Spray, Handcuffs, Baton sticks (with a built in shock taser) and a Torch. We have one of a kind bullet proof plating in the armed response vehicles and these vehicles also have PTT devices, ensuring uninterrupted communication with the ADT control room. ADT has frequently won awards in the Garden Route, with the PMR Diamond Arrow Awards for “Best Security Company” and “Best Company that has made significant strides in combatting crime” being a regular feature.

Furthermore ADT continuously look to improve our service delivery, hence our recent decision to relocate our control room made in the best interest of our clients. A centralized control room leads to more effectiveness and efﬁciency when it comes to our operators’ service delivery, enabling us to better assist our clients in case of an emergency. Remember that despite the relocation of our control room, you still have a dedicated ADT team looking after the operations of the Plettenberg Bay area. Our team is based at Shop 11 & 12, 1 Plett Building, Plettenberg Bay and please feel free to stop by any time for security related questions or enquiries. Should you require any assistance please feel free to contact me on 044 801 8600 or via email stevengreen@adt.co.za. Yours in safety Steven Green ADT Branch Manager: Garden Route

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When 15 fire suits arrived at Plett Airport from Holland last Thursday at 15:00, it was the culmination of a comprehensive collaboration of residents and organisations alike - STEVE RITKY tells the story OME weeks ago, the outlying areas between Harkerville and Plett were threatened by raging fires moving through surrounding farmlands. Plett South Fire Management Unit (PSFMU) was requested to assist Bitou Fire Department in fighting this blaze. Our crew was on response for just over six days, with some guys on the fire lines for up to 24 hours. Due to effective communication and superb leadership from Bitou Fire, there was no loss of life and very little damage to structural property during what has been described by senior firefighters as the most intense blaze they had ever experienced, mainly due to large alien forests and vegetation left unattended for many years by farm owners as well as Sanral. But the extreme heat has left the ground irreparably damaged and natural vegetation will take years to re-establish and recover. During these fires, one of the PSFMU members put out a plea to the Plett community for assistance in repairing his personal vehicle that had been damaged in the line of duty. That plea was taken to heart by a large number of residents. Driven by Denise McNamara, funds where donated by individuals and meal vouchers for several restaurants in Plett were passed on to active PSMFU members to enjoy with their families. Special thanks go to Duncan of Plett Kwik-

WELL-TRAVELLED SUITS: Steve Ritky, centre, of Plett South FMU dishes out some of the protective suits soon after the shipment arrived - the T-shirt at right reads ‘Death smiles at everyone, firefighters smile back’ - Photo: Yolandé Stander

Spar, Luiz of LM in Plett, George of Melvilles Spar, and Chris from The Table. During this time a small group of individuals went beyond the call. Bettina ten Boske called family in Holland - active firefighters all - to see if there was any unused equipment that could be useful to our volunteers. The response was a huge surprise, even to Bettina: 15 brand new fire retardant suits were immediately made available. Santa du Toit and Bettina started the work of getting the suits to SA - a task handed over to our unit for completion. Logwin Air and Ocean SA took on getting the suits to Cape Town; Cecil Currie of Explore It took on the import agreements; CemAir brought the suits to Plett - all of the above at no cost to the PSFMU. When the authorities still wanted their pound of flesh in import duties and VAT, these costs were covered by a local support group. PSFMU members decided that 15 suits were more

than required by our six active firefighters, and that the remainder of the suits would be availed to other local FMUs. The suits will remain the property of these units rather than becoming the personal equipment of individuals. Contact has been made with all local FMUs and details passed on to them. Certainly this equipment goes a long way in giving some protection to our firefighters. The dangers of working without the correct equipment has been felt at various times by every member of the team, with some medical costs from injuries running very high. Although all active FMU members have received training, some are newer volunteers who receive no financial assistance with equipment or expenses. Our massive gratitude goes to each and every person who contributed in any way to funds, meals, water and snacks on the fire lines, and finally in getting the suits to us here in Plett.

Two-year-old remains discovered in line of duty IREFIGHTERS made a grisly discovery when they came across human remains earlier this month. Police spokesman Captain Marlene Pieterse said the crews were called in to fight a fire that broke out in the mountainous area near Old Nick on February 6, when they discovered the

human skeleton. “At this stage we don’t know who the person is. We did however find that the person had been wearing dark tracksuit pants when he or she died,” Pieterse said, adding that the gender of the person was yet unknown. “The post-mortem is still

outstanding, but according to the pathologist, it is estimated that the body had been lying in the bushes for more than two years.” Pieterse urged anyone with information, or who knew of a missing person, to contact detective W/O John Nomdoe on 044 501 1900. - Yolandé Stander

NEWS & VIEWS

1 March 2017

CXPRESS

End of an era as Peter Tullis hands over Historical Society reins …and do diarise Philip Caveney’s March 12 telling of the Knysna woodcutter tale

HISTORIC OCCASION: Outgoing Van Plettenberg Historical Society chair Peter Tullis, right, pictured here with committee member David Rowe during last year’s launch of Plett’s Relic Identification (turn to page 2 of the 28.09.2016 edition at www.cxpress.co.za to find out more)

FTER many years of loyal service to the Van Plettenberg Historical Society (VPHS), which has been flourishing since its foundation in the 1980s, chairman Peter Tullis will be stepping down on Sunday March 12. He will now be elevated to the position of Honorary Life President. The current committee comprising Lesley Mallows, Sean O’Connell, David Rowe, and Paul Scheepers - has proposed fellow committee member Dr Clive Noble of Redford House as new chairman, but will welcome any counter-proposal from registered members of the Society. At this very same landmark occasion, VPHS members and friends plan

a gathering at Plett Angling Club, during which Knysna Historical Society chair Philip Caveney will present a talk entitled ‘Woodcutter Settlements of the Southern Cape’. --Until well into the 20th century, the entire economic life and structure of Knysna revolved around the timber trade. In 1711, the eastward movement of the Dutch colonists facilitated the search for timber when news of vast forests in the area was related to the authorities in Cape Town. The inaccessibility of the area handicapped trade, but after the completion of a road from Swellendam and the establishment of an official ‘timber post’

in 1772, the situation improved somewhat and there was a gradual influx of settlers who made their living from the forests. The founding of towns in the Cape interior during the 19th century increased the demand for wood used in the construction of buildings, and the trade also benefited from the Great Trek, which created a larger market for ox wagons. The discovery of diamonds in Kimberley and gold on the Reef as well as the expansion of the railway network acted as further powerful stimuli, since timber from the George-Knysna area was used for mining props and railway sleepers. The timber trade was intimately connected with

the general growth of the South African economy, and the 20th century industrial expansion of the country ensured an increasing market for timber. Many of the newcomers to the area were evicted bywoners from the arid Karoo districts. These districts experienced a severe economic crisis after the ostrich feather slump of 1913-14, and a crippling drought in 1916. The forest and coastal belt were a haven for such ‘poor whites’ from the Karoo. The forestry settlements were started during and shortly after World War I as relief schemes for the urban unemployed and the rural casualties of drought. The majority of ‘poor whites’ in the area found themselves outside the plantation settlements. They constituted the bulk of the woodcutting population and were largely dependent on the indigenous forests for their livelihood. Many of them viewed the forests as a providential gift. “God het ons arm mense die houtjies gegee,” one woodcutter expressed this general sentiment. Indeed, God might have given the wood to the poor, but it was also a gift which others coveted and acquired at the expense of the poor… --Readers are cordially invited to the VPHS meeting on Sunday March 12 at Plett Angling Club on the Keurbooms River at

LABOUR OF LOVE: The work Knysna’s woodcutters performed and the conditions under which they toiled were most arduous; after his spell in the forest, the woodcutter came home to little more than a corrugated iron or wooden shack, consisting of two rooms with a clay floor and a kitchen - still, the majority viewed the forests as a providential gift Photo courtesy of Millwood Museum

10:30 for 11am. A buffet lunch will be available after Philip Caveney’s talk on the Knysna Woodcutters. Entrance is R30 per person and subscriptions cost R70 per member. Phone Jacky le Roux on 082 490 9910 before March 9 for reservations or Mike Kantey on 072 628 5131

for all other enquiries, and visit www.pletthistory.org for additional information. Please also note that the office of VPHS chairman will be finalised during this gathering, and although the committee has proposed Dr Clive Noble, any other nominations will be considered during the meeting.

ANTIQUITY AFICIONADO: Knysna Historical Society chair Philip Caveney is pictured at left with Debbie Stanley of EcoEd and PG Bison’s Heine Muller after the trio collaborated to restore the historic Old Coach House early last year (turn to page 4 of the 18.05.2016 edition at www.cxpress.co.za for the full story)

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NEWS & VIEWS

1 March 2017

Chair-bound Hospice charges get an excellent lift, thanks to Knysna VW experts N August 2015, Knysna Sedgefield Hospice had the opportunity to apply to the National Lotteries Commission (NLC) for funding. This they did and, more specifically, the NLC was asked for a grant that included a vehicle with a wheelchair lift to make it easier for wheelchair-bound patients to attend day care at Bond House on Tuesdays. Explains Dr Janet Stanford: “We received the funds in September last year and then, after extensive research by admin assistant Tersia Henn and our most helpful vehicle volunteer Tony Lyons-Lewis, we decided that the ideal vehicle for our purpose would be a Volkswagen Caddy Maxi

Crew bus with a wheelchair lift conversion. “We approached Knysna Volkswagen and received very good service and guidance from Addie Kleinjan and François Knoetze, the new owner.” The able VW crew needed to source a Caddy from overseas as there weren’t any available in South Africa. The Hospice team was kept up to date of progress and of the conversion being done in Cape Town, and they send heartfelt thanks to everyone at Knysna Volkswagen for their help and support. “We received the converted, Hospice branded Caddy early February and we are thrilled with it!” says

RIDING HIGH ON LOTTO GRANT: Standing from left are sister Dina Arends, Warren Arends, and vehicle volunteer Tony Lyons-Lewis, with Hospice admin assistant Tersia Henn kneeling in front of the useful bus

CADDY CREW: Pictured above are, from left, Knysna Volkswagen owner Francois Knoetze with Sean Middleton, driver-cum-nurse sister Caroline Witbooi, Dr Janet Stanford and Addie Kleinjan, whose experience and good guidance went a long way to inform the Hospice team’s decision on the type of car that would be perfect for the job

the good doc. Sister Caroline Witbooi, the Knysna Sedgefield Hospice nurse tasked with looking after patients in Hornlee and surrounds, was chosen as primary driver. “She is enjoying driving the vehicle and it is adding great value to our patients and care workers because of the ease with which we can now move wheelchairbound patients.” Email Ashleigh Smith at info@hospiceknysna.org. za to find out how you can contribute or donate to the essential services delivered by Hospice.

Entries open for youth entrepreneurship education competition SKOM Development Foundation has officially opened entries for the 2017 Simama Ranta School Entrepreneurship Education Competition. This annual competition is one of the Foundation’s flagship programmes and aims to identify and celebrate South African secondary schools leading the way in entrepreneurship education. The Foundation works in partnership with the Education With Enterprise Trust (EWET) in order to bring this premier competition to learners across the country, so encouraging youngsters to consider entrepreneurship as a career instead of studying to be-

come job seekers. Many who could be contributing to the economy are not able to do so due to a lack of jobs. According to Statistics SA data, almost 4-million young employable South Africans are unemployed, which demonstrates a dire need for alternatives. Through their partnership, the Eskom Foundation and EWET run various programmes aimed at addressing this challenge by empowering our youth to actively participate in the economy. Simama Ranta is open to all South African intermediate and secondary schools. To qualify, applicant schools must run

enterprise clubs that teach their learners the basics of business through practical application while responding to their respective communities’ socio-economic challenges. The competition awards winners with great prizes which they can use to grow their enterprises. The overall winner receives R100,000, each provincial winner gets R50,000 and provincial runners-up R25,000, while second runners-up receive R10,000. Entries for the Simama Ranta School Entrepreneurship Education Competition are open until June - email tshidi@ewet. org.za for details or to submit entries.

BUSINESS

1 March 2017

CXPRESS

Pravin Gordhan’s budget pulls off a balancing act Budget Speech 2017/8 cushions the blows of a weak economy for the poor and asks the wealthy to pay more, according to Sage tax expert ROB COOPER ITH South Africa’s government facing a R28-billion shortfall in tax revenue collection, Budget 2017/8 was never going to have much good news for consumers and business builders. Even so, Finance minister Pravin Gordhan has once again made the best of a difficult situation, proposing a Budget that is mostly fair and pragmatic. As expected, Gordhan has announced some relatively tough tax measures to raise the cash government needs for spending on social services, infrastructure, safety, healthcare and education. Three measures account for the bulk of the additional tax revenue collection: a new top marginal income tax rate, a higher dividend withholding tax, and steeper fuel levies and sin taxes. New personal income tax bracket for top earners I am not surprised by the addition of a new top marginal income tax rate at 45% for individuals earning more than R1.5million a year. As a form of wealth tax, it’s more politically acceptable than a VAT increase and, like the National Minimum Wage, it also has a redistributive effect that could help reduce inequality. Increasing income tax

in this politically popular way is an easy win for the Treasury as the extra revenue comes flowing into the coffers as soon as payrolls incorporate the new tax tables in the March wage and pay runs. Personal income tax hikes plus the partial relief for fiscal drag will yield an extra R16.5-billion for government this year. That said, given that highincome earners in South Africa already carry a heavy tax burden, government should be cautious about adding too much more to it in the next Budget Speech. There is a balance to be struck between collecting a fair share from the wealthy and taxing them so heavily that tax avoidance or moving overseas becomes attractive options to them. SARS and the government are rightly proud of improved compliance over the past two decades - it would be a shame if this trend were to be reversed. Outside of low income earners, Gordhan hasn’t compensated much for inflation in the new tax tables. Most middle and high-income earners will also be paying slightly more in tax in real terms, once you take the effect of fiscal drag into account. Increase in dividends tax

The increase in withholding tax on dividends from 15% to 20% is significant since it will raise a further R6.8billion for the fiscus. While it’s a relatively equitable tax increase in an environment with little room for manoeuvre, it could also negatively affect pensioners who depend on income from dividends as well as discourage people from saving and investment. Also noteworthy is a change to the law that includes three categories of dividends in remuneration from March 1. This means that these dividends can be potentially taxed at up to 45% - reducing the arbitrage opportunity for people who paid dividends tax at 15%. These categories relate to dividends on various forms of staff share incentive schemes; it seems fair that this loophole is being closed. Fuel levies and sin taxes It’s not surprising that fuel levies are going up, though the increase of 30c more per litre of petrol in addition to a 9c increase in the Road Accident Fund are relatively modest. This is another quick win measure because it is easy to collect. Sin tax rises - 12c on a can of beer, R1.06 on a box of 20 cigarettes, and 30c on a litre on wine - are

as steep as expected. A redistributive Budget Minister Gordhan’s Budget, along with the recent announcement of the National Minimum Wage Agreement, signals more focus from government on the challenges of inequality. Though this spells some pain for higher income earners, we need to be mindful of the growing social problems in South Africa and discontent among poorer communities. We need to focus on growth as well as redistribution if we are to tackle these challenges. • Rob Cooper is the tax expert and Director of Legislation at Sage. He is chairman of the Payroll Authors Group of SA, which liaises with statutory bodies on behalf of payroll system suppliers when dealing with proposed or problematic areas of employment legislation. He has in-depth understanding of the impact of legislation on the HR and payroll software industry. Sage is the market and technology leader for accounting and payment systems, powered by the cloud and supporting the ambition of the world’s entrepreneurs and business builders. (Budget Speech 2017 infographics courtesy of Standard Bank/Fin24)

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INTERVAL

1 March 2017

Chatting with Grandpa “GRANDPA, do you mind if I play my new harmonica in here?” asked little Phil. “Of course not, Phil. I love music. In fact, when your grandma and I were young, music saved my life.” “What happened?” asked Phil. “Well, it was during the fa-

mous Johnstown flood. The dam broke and when the water hit our house it knocked it right off the foundations. Grandma got on the dining room table and floated out safely.” “How about you?” asked Phil. “Me? Well, I accompanied her on the piano.”

The perfect dress to wear to a wedding ENNIFER’S wedding day was fast approaching. Her parents were divorced, but that never stopped her from wanting to get married. Her mother had found the perfect dress to wear to the wedding. A week later, Jennifer was horrified to learn that her father’s new young wife had bought the exact same dress as her mother. Jennifer asked her stepmother to exchange it, but she refused. “Absolutely not. I look like a million bucks in this dress and I’m wearing it,” her stepmother replied.

Jennifer told her mother, who graciously said: “Never mind, Sweetheart. I’ll get another dress. After all, it’s your special day.” A few days later, they went shopping and did find another gorgeous dress for Mom. When they stopped for lunch, Jennifer asked her mother: “Aren’t you going to return the other dress? You really don’t have another occasion where you could wear it.” Her mother just smiled and replied: “Of course I do, Dear. I’m wearing it to the rehearsal dinner, the night before the wedding.”

Millions of years ago… NE day, while at the dinosaur exhibit in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park, I overheard a confused woman complaining to her friend. She said: “How could

they possibly know the names of all those dinosaurs if they died 75 million years ago? “And here’s another thing, how do we even know they were called dinosaurs?”

Faulty refrigerator advice man calls a refrigerator repair service. “My refrigerator isn’t working, can you help?” “What kind is it?” “It’s a small one.” “Is it electric, gas, or propane?” “Propane.” “Ah! Then the problem is most likely vapour lock. You don’t need a

service call. Just turn the refrigerator upside down for a few minutes to allow the lock to clear. Then put it back and all should be well.” The repair service receives a second call, a few minutes later. “The least you could have done is to tell me to empty the fridge first!”

You had ONE job to do...

1 March 2017

CXPRESS

Photo: Elle Photography

SOCIAL SCENE

People, places & events PLETT COMES ALIVE WITH MUSIC: The fourth Plett Music Festival from February 23-26 opened with an evening of song performed by Mia Swart of Knysna, accompanied by Olga Schoeman on piano and harp, alongside flautist Ruan van der Vyver. Swart sang favourites of the contemporary and traditional idiom together with well-known standards. Show night #2 was graced with the performance of a miscellany of music from the world of opera and popular musicals by The Ubuntu Bass Baritones - pictured above from left are Owen Metsileng, Mandla Mndebele, Thato Machona and Monde Masimini - that was received to rapturous acclaim by a capacity audience. Young and emerging Bitou talent took to the stage on February 25, as the Plett All Stars entertained with a range of music that spanned classical piano, gospel, ensemble singing, guitar instrumental, and solo vocal. The festival closed with a performance by the Rosanthorn electric cello trio whose members, Capetonians Carol Thorns, Dorette Roos and Anjulie Nock, played a combination of new and reworked compositions. PMF 2017 was organised by a committee comprising Marie Hoadley, Carmen Clews, Ann Fermor, Michelle Dugmore, Jill McIlleron and Leon Swart, in conjunction with White House proprietor Susie Ovenstone. Proceeds from the festival were donated to The Crags Primary School in Kurland, some 20km to the north-east of Plett, to subsidise the recruitment of additional staff at the school and thereby improve the learner-teacher ratio of classes. Pictured below from the top are, from left, the happy family of Chris and Oliver Fermor, Saskia Hopff, Zarah Fermor and Tina Hopff; Carmen Clews with Bitou mayor Peter Lobese; Bitou residents Jessica and Jonathan Kamkam with Florina Kriga, right; and, at the bottom from left, Udo and Helga Böttcher of Hamburg, with Dagmar and Klaus Busacker of St Peter-Ording, a seaside town to the north of Hamburg.

Photos: Timothy Twidle

GOLF DOES GREATER KNYSNA GOOD: The generosity of golfers - pictured here with Knysna mayor Eleanore Bouw-Spies at centre in front - and businesses that supported last year’s Mayoral Golf Day, ensured that R215,000 could be distributed among local financial aid beneficiaries. Study grants of between R4,000 and R11,000 enabled 58 Greater Knysna youngsters to pursue muchneeded tertiary education. “This initiative is extremely close to my heart. Through the generosity of our residents, many students who have held steadfast onto their dreams throughout impoverished lives, can now fulfil these dreams,” said the mayor. She added that a strict selection process had been followed to determine who would benefit the most from the financial assistance. “The combined income of the applicants or their parents played a vital role in selecting the beneficiaries.” Bouw-Spies congratulated and encouraged all successful applicants to work hard and make the most of this opportunity. This year’s Mayoral Golf Day will be held on Friday October 13 at Simola Golf Estate. “Let’s really push ourselves to raise even more vital cash for this study fund. We have set our sights on raising R500,000 at this year’s Mayoral Golf Day. These funds play a pivotal role in the education of our youth. By reaching this target we can help so many more to follow their dreams of living a life filled with purpose and success,” concluded the mayor.

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Paws

Plett Animal Welfare Service

1 March 2017

CLASSIFIEDS

ON THE SOAPBOX

1 March 2017

Letters to the Editor

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

Positive impact of new Plett Airport Road deserves a special shout-out I have been thinking for a while about ways to express my gratitude to those responsible for Plett’s new Airport Road [read the report on page 3 of the February 1 edition at www.cxpress.co.za]. It is now about three months since the reconstruction and tarring have been completed and, oh my word, what a difference it has made to my daily journey travelling on this road! Every single time, I say a silent thank you, thank you, thank you!

For 23 years, my vehicle has taken a beating from the corrugation on the road surface. Electric windows nonfunctional, shock-absorbers constantly needed replacing, and rattling and squeaking were the norm. Windscreens pickled by stars and cracks from flying gravel was the order of the day. Washing my van used to be soul destroying three days later it looked either muddy or dusty, just like before. In very dry conditions

the powder-fine dust would inevitably, no matter how slowly I drove, manage to enter through the sliding door and settle evenly on all the clear cellophane flower sleeves. The frustration I felt when bright lights over my Hum Bee Flora shop’s flower display would make this particularly visible, can hardly be imagined. Driving past pedestrians or cyclists used to be extremely embarrassing, as I watched in my rear view mirror how I had enveloped them in a

cloud of dust. But all this is now a thing of the past. So yes, maybe it will improve Plett’s economy as claimed in your February 1 article, but it also has already made a vastly positive difference to all people living along this road. I wish to express my huge gratitude to the authorities who sanctioned the go-ahead, and to contractors Henra, who undertook and completed the project so efficiently and most professionally. Ulrike Baldzuhn, Plett

Gratitude abounds after enriching water wise session with Adopt a Swimmer kids On Saturday February 11, members of Plett NSRI Station 14’s volunteer crew had the privilege of spending a few hours with some of the participants in the Adopt a Swimmer (AaS) programme. What an incredible bunch of kids they are, from all different walks of life! They were attentive and eager to learn, listening to everything we had to teach them. They have already received a good grounding from AaS founder Louise Auersperg, but at that age there is always more to learn. The day started off with a quick tour of the station, the boats and other equipment we use to perform rescues. From there we moved upstairs for a short talk on water safety. We explained the force of rip currents and how

to escape the grip of the rip, taught them easy ways to remember emergency numbers and what to do when someone is in difficulty, and we talked about having a plan in place when visiting the beach, rivers or lagoons a course based on the water wise programme used by NSRI nationally. During three short video clips, they sat dead still, absorbing everything they saw. After the videos, the kids were taught the basics of CPR and remedial action when coming across an unresponsive victim. Finally, we went down to the sea where we showed them the rescue noodles in place at all major beaches and lagoons in our area, demonstrating how these could be used to save or assist someone in trouble.

RAPT BY RIP SESSION: Upstairs at Plett NSRI HQ on Central Beach, the kids were engrossed during an information session dealing, among others, with rip currents and how to escape its grip

It is truly impressive to realise how much Louise’s initiative is teaching these youngsters, and to see all her hard work paying off. To the Adopt a Swimmer kids: it was a pleasure to have you around. Keep up your hard work in the pool and ocean, and remember to teach others what you have learnt from Plett NSRI, as it is very important to be water wise and safe. Ross Badenhorst obo NSRI Station 14, Plett --We are extremely thankful to Ross, Bruce, and Wihann of NSRI for spending their valuable time with our kids. Your continued commitment to our programme motivates and inspires us to continue our journey

of making a difference in kids’ lives. NSRI concluded the morning by giving each kid a cellphone pouch with all the relevant emergency numbers. We also thank PlettAid and Etienne from Marcelo’s Taxis for helping us with transport. Please visit www. adoptaswimmer.co.za to view an SABC news report and documentaries on our breath control workshops with Ocean Child John McCarthy, as well as clips on surf lessons with our children thanks to Clayton’s Jammin’ Surf School during December. We thank all our supporters on behalf of the AaS board and trustees, as well as chairman François Geldenhuys. Peter and Louise Auersperg, Plett

OWN THE BEACH AND BE WISE ABOUT WATER: Adopt a Swimmer children and Plett NSRI crew members charm the camera during a break in their morning of water wise instruction on February 11

Putting the Plett bridge record straight We refer to the letter ‘Please take note of Plett Bridge Club’s new home’ in a recent edition [read it on page 11 of the February 15 issue at www. cxpress.co.za].

To avoid any confusion, we should like to mention that the Plettenberg Bay Bridge Club is registered with the South African Bridge Federation and has been holding its

weekly duplicate bridge sessions at Plettenberg Bay Country Club on Monday afternoons for many years. We are a friendly, hospitable club which is run

according to SA Bridge Federation standards and we welcome many overseas and local visitors each year. Mary Walter obo the PBBC committee, Plett

La Luna

CXPRESS

New format for King crowns at Simola Hillclimb 2017 Winners will be decided by a Top 10 Shootout for each category, earning individual King of the Hill titles as well as ‘Jody’ trophies ING of the Hill is the most prestigious title in the world of hillclimb events, and only six drivers have earned this crown to date on the Jaguar Simola Hillclimb - SA’s premier motorsport event, back on the Knysna track this May. Last year, Franco Scribante rewrote the history books by becoming the Hillclimb’s only double champion after repeating his 2014 victory, and fans can expect a fierce tussle for this year’s title in the single-seater and sports racing car category. But now, there’s a whole lot more King of the Hill excitement in store. Indeed, for the eighth running of the Jaguar Simola Hillclimb from May 4-7, organisers have separated the entries into three main classes, each with equal status and the allure of becoming a King of the Hill champ. Plus, there’s the special trophy known as ‘The Jody’ - named after South Africa’s only Formula One champion, Jody Scheckter - for each overall winner. “By its very nature, the Jaguar Simola Hillclimb features a variety of cars for the King of the Hill challenge, comprising eve-

SPORT & ADVENTURE

1 March 2017

rything from standard road cars to thoroughbred racing cars, which is what makes it such a drawcard among competitors and fans alike,” says Simola Hillclimb sporting director Geoff Goddard. The organisers introduced the Supercar Shootout as an additional element to King of the Hill in 2016, which was won by Jaki Scheckter in a showroomspecification Nissan GT-R. “There was such great interest in the SuperCar Shootout last year that we have taken this concept further for the 2017 Hillclimb,” Goddard adds. “There are now three individual categories for the broad types of cars competing at the Hillclimb, comprising road-going saloon and supercars, modified saloon racers, and single-seater and sports racing cars. Splitting into the three categories allows a more representative like-for-like structure allowing competitors to compete more fairly for a Jody. “We expect this to spice up the competition even further, and add to the excitement leading up to each one of the three Top 10 Shootouts on the Sunday

afternoon.” As before, each King of the Hill competitor will have five open practice runs on the Saturday, followed by their first two qualifying runs. Sunday commences with a warm-up, then a further four qualifying runs. Only the three fastest competitors, based on their qualifying results, progress to their respective class finals with single-run shootouts to determine the podium positions for each individual class. The action is then dialled into the red, with not one but three Top 10 Shootouts for the first time. The 10 fastest competitors in classes A, B and C will face off in their respective all-or-nothing shootouts, which are run in reverse order from 10th place. It’s guaranteed to be nailbiting stuff as the times tumble with the last-ditch efforts to claim King of the Hill glory, and one of the three highly-prized Jody trophies. All Day, Weekend, and Pit Access tickets for the 2017 Jaguar Simola Hillclimb are available online at www. itickets.co.za and readers can visit www.jaguarsimo lahillclimb.com for more information on the event.

Support Plettenberg Bay’s national para-cycling champion XPRESS has often reported on the achievements of Plettenberg Bay native and World Cup winning para-cyclist Toni Mould, so it was with great pride that we stumbled upon an insert featuring this unstoppable youngster’s rise to the international arena. States the story at http:// beautifulnews.news24. com, inter alia: “Toni Mould was never supposed to walk. Severe Cerebral Palsy stunted her growth and impeded her physical development. “But Mould has never let her abilities define her. Today she is an athlete, a World Cup winner for her country. She experienced the career highlight after taking part in the South African leg of the 2016 Para-cycling Road World Cup, a moment of triumph that punctuates a profoundly victorious life. “Most babies begin to tot about on two legs towards the end of their first year and are fully mobile by 14 to 17 months. “For Mould, this natural progression from the ground up was made close to impossible by Cerebral Palsy - a condition that severely disrupts muscle tone development. Unde-

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THIS LADY IS GOING PLACES: Toni Mould wears her South Africa national kit with great pride, and you can help fund her European tour campaign

terred, she learnt to walk when she was seven. “Mould started paracycling at the age of 29. Soon after her first ride, she was taking part in races for disabled athletes, without much experience or the correct equipment. “After 18 months she upgraded to a proper racing tricycle and experienced immediate success, placing first at the South African Nationals in 2015.

Seven months later she had her national colours. “Mould has epitomised endurance since childhood. She has lived out the message she hopes to deliver to others: anything can be accomplished with a focused mind.” Toni is currently raising funds to race in Europe this winter. Visit https:// makeachamp.com/tonimould to support her crowdfunding efforts.