20 February 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
Why are Langvlei birds dying? - p4
Lady golfer inspires - p12
Photo: Gigi Lewis
Crime and court news - p3
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Darling Uys woos Knysna’s Golden crew South African theatre legend Pieter-Dirk Uys was surrounded by an appreciative crowd attending a Golden Gatherings event in Knysna on Monday, with co-convenor Linda Lifson pictured at right. The septuagenarian satirist takes to the White House stage tonight with his latest play, ‘When in doubt say Darling’, as part of the Plett Performing Arts Festival. Find out more on page 2.
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NEWS & VIEWS
20 February 2019
National treasure in our midst: Pieter-Dirk Uys on life, love, and the post-Evita era
Gigi Lewis
URING an impromptu get-together on Monday February 18, Pieter-Dirk Uys shared his precious time and passionately addressed in his inimitable way Knysna’s ‘Golden Gatherings’. A great believer in making every day count when reaching your autumn years, he said: “I only have two days left in my life - today and tomorrow.� The idea of creating a Golden Gatherings group came to Lit-
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erary Festival coordinator Sasha Campbell two years ago after meeting Linda Lifson, who had presented a workshop for bereaved spouses on behalf of Knysna Hospice. Linda mentioned that it would be wonderful if those who had just experienced the trauma of losing a partner, could find a place to continue meeting up after the course. Sasha sprang into action and a monthly gathering now
prospers at Whitewashed in Knysna Industria - a welcoming cafÊ cum bistro owned by Candice Barnard. Sasha’s choice of monthly speaker, invariably with an interesting story to tell, is nothing short of spectacular. But she never confides their guest’s identity until the day of the meeting. In most cases it’s a huge surprise when national and international celebs, such as PieterDirk Uys, step up to the plate
on the wooden floors of this special little cafĂŠ. After his ‘carpe diem’ message, he was asked about life without his iconic creation turned national treasure, Evita Bezuidenhout. He concluded the morning by generously giving his admiring audience a glimpse of her life, and what she has meant to him for over 40 years. • See below for more on the latest Pieter-Dirk Uys production, staged in Plett tonight.
Get real with award-winning editor Vanessa Raphaely at Knysna Literary Festival NOWN to many as the former, award-winning editor of Cosmopolitan South Africa, Vanessa Raphaely has had a long career in women’s media, including many years in London. She is now Associated Media Publishing’s content editor and is visiting the Knysna Literary Festival early next month to talk about her thrilling debut novel, Plus One, about two young women who find themselves on the darker side of the Hollywood media industry. The book touches on important themes surrounding women’s issues, many of which led to the creation of the #MeToo movement. Raphaely said that although Plus One is not autobiographical, the world it’s set in was, very much, her world. “I worked in media in London for over 10 years and spent a lot of time immersed in fashion, beauty, wealth, inherited wealth and celebrity. I have famous friends. Hugh Grant did used to drink too much, drop his trousers and waggle his bits around at parties I found myself at.
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“I once did have to get off a billionaire’s yacht in a hurry and I also had a boyfriend, who is now a hugely successful Hollywood agent. Early on in the process of writing, I was told to only ‘write what you know,’ so I did.� Plus One is not chic lit nor is it a moralistic tale, and Raphaely said her editor, Alison Lowry,
STYLE AND GREY MATTER: Author Vanessa Raphaely hails from women’s media royalty and will discuss her debut novel in Knysna next month Photo: Catherine Mac
described it well as “dark material written with a light touchâ€?. “I love this description. The whole issue of women’s power versus men’s is such a wound, that I think the subject matter is really of its time and actually, deadly serious. “The scenes that deal with rape and misogamy are spot on. I think they read authentic, because they are. As Claudia says in the book, ‘You show me a skirmish when a woman gets off better than a man’. “So, I’d say it’s contemporary fiction, a page-turner with something to say and a very real sting in its tail,â€? Raphaely said, adding that Plus One was written before the #MeToo movement gathered momentum. “However, in my career I’ve met more than a few Harveys, Les’, Terry Richardsons, Kevins, and Bills I’m sad to admit.â€? • Meet Vanessa Raphaely at Turbine Boutique Hotel on Saturday March 9, when she will discuss Plus One from 11am to 12 noon. Tickets cost R150 visit www.knysnaliteraryfestival. co.za for details.
Say ‘darling’ when in doubt
In his latest production, Pieter-Dirk Uys is sorting out 40 years of distress, disguise, and disgust: from apartheid to tripartite, from Amandla to Nkandla. Wigs, glasses, wagging fingers, toyi-toyis, red berets, trump cards of madness, icons, and aikonas. From Bezuidenhouts, Raubenheimers, and Ramaphosas - to Alzheimer’s. At a time when a casual greeting or embrace can be seen as racist harassment, the advice is simple: when in doubt, say ‘darling’. PieterDirk Uys stages ‘When in Doubt say Darling’ at The White House in Plett tonight. Call Ann Fermor on 082 452 8764 for details.
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NEWS & VIEWS
20 February 2019
CXPRESS
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Venter due for sentencing, Kelly denied bail, and Harty found unharmed Garden Route courts and crime fighters had their hands full over the past week following several incidents involving the safety and security of residents - YOLANDÉ STANDER reports N Monday, closing arguments in the court case against well-known George dentist Ian Venter was concluded in the George Regional Court. In April last year, Venter was convicted of sexually assaulting a then 12-yearold boy during a sleepover at his Herold’s Bay Home on April 11, 2015. The father of three was sentenced in December 2014 to four years under house arrest following his conviction on several charges including sex with a minor boy. Following the closing arguments by the prosecution and defence, the matter was postponed to February 28 for possible sentencing.
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“We at Women and Men Against Child Abuse (WMACA) are expecting direct imprisonment, including a harsh sentence which will send a strong message that child sexual abuse will not be tolerated. “In the Venter case, it is a second offence of the same crime, which clearly shows he felt absolutely no remorse. He was given an opportunity with his previous conviction to right his wrong,” WMACA Western Cape spokesman Joanne Barrett said. She added although Venter claimed to be the primary caregiver to his own children, this fact should “take a backseat, as the children
in the community need protection from this predator.” In the meantime Sean Kelly, 50, appeared in the Knysna Magistrate’s Court on Thursday February 14 to apply for bail following his arrest in connection with the brutal murder of Noreen Hampson in Sedgefield on Saturday February 2. He allegedly bludgeoned her to death with a hammer outside her home in Marigold Street. Kelly was denied bail and the matter postponed to March 29. Two counts of malicious damage to property were also added to the murder case. In Plett, residents and various safety role-players were
Man sought for attempted rape in Sedgefield The George Family violence, Child protection and Sexual offences (FCS) unit has released this ID-kit of a suspect sought for an attempted rape on December 21 last year in Begonia Bleshoender Street in Sedgefield. Preliminary investigation indicates that the 22-year-old victim was on her way to work around 2:45pm when she was accosted by the unknown suspect, who was dressed in red pants, a blue jersey and black beanie. He suddenly appeared from the bushes along the road and demanded in Xhosa that she hand over her phone. She did not have a phone and he then threatened her with a breadknife and forcefully pulled her into the bush where he attempted to rape her. She then attracted passers-by who came to her rescue. The suspect fled the scene on foot after he took R150 from the victim’s bag. He is described as a man in his late-20s to early-30s. He is tall and of medium build with a dark complexion. Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts is requested to contact the investigation officer, Sgt Anne-Marie Ndaba, on 044 803 4639 or Crime Stop on 08600 10111. All information will be dealt with confidentially.
DA delighted with by-election results in Knysna N February 14, the DA announced its joy over results of two by-elections that took place in the Western Cape last Wednesday. “We are thankful to voters in the City of Cape Town’s Ward 54 for entrusting the DA with their vote, as well as in Knysna’s Ward 4, where we saw a massive increase in our voter percentage,” said provincial DA leader
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Bonginkosi Madikizela. “The DA in the Mother City retained the ward with 88.63% of the vote. In Knysna, we saw an impressive increase of more than 20%, increasing voter percentage from 6.42% in the 2016 municipal election to 26.97%. “I am confident that Nicola Jowell will represent Ward 54 with pride and ensure that that the people’s
concerns receive top priority. I would like to thank Thobeka Duna for helping to increase our voter percentage in Knysna,” he said. Madikizela encouraged South Africans who have not yet registered to visit their IEC office. “It is crucial that all citizens of voting age are registered to vote in the May 8 national and provincial elections,” he concluded.
on high alert on Sunday after a woman was reported missing at about 9:30am. Plett police confirmed that Shana Harty, 31, went missing after leaving her boyfriend’s house in Mangold Point. “She walked along Longships Drive towards the local KwikSpar,” said SAPS spokesman captain Marlene Pieterse. Her family raised the alarm after they discovered a note that she had left be-
hind and did not return. Pieterse said the police dog unit was contacted to assist with the search. “Several other role-players were also called upon to help with the search.” Pieterse confirmed that she was found at Robberg Beach at about 7pm on Sunday. “She had no visible injuries. We would like to thank everyone for their assistance.” Plettenberg Bay Crime Prevention Association
(PBCPA) operations head Otto Olivier said several search teams were deployed after a detailed brief of the missing woman was given to the local NSRI crew. “She was found unharmed between the rocks at the end of Robberg Beach and was taken to the local Mediclinic for a thorough check-up.” Pieterse did not divulge further details surrounding her disappearance, but said foul play was not suspected.
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NEWS & VIEWS
20 February 2019
Is avian botulism to blame for Langvlei’s dead birds? Three young Rondevlei residents have spent the past week wading into Langvlei, twixt Rondevlei and Island Lake, to assist sick birds - FRAN KIRSTEN reports
Knysna Municipality strives to maintain its position as a premier tourist destination in South Africa – a place where peace, prosperity and harmony prevail, ensuring an exceptional lifestyle for residents and visitors alike.
FORMAL SCHEDULED WARD COMMITTEE MEETINGS The Municipality hereby gives notice of Ward Committee meetings which will be held in all municipal wards as per the schedule below:
Ward
Councillor
Date
Venue
Time
1
Leveal Davis
07 March 2019
Smutsville Youth Centre
18:00
2
Cathy Weideman
26 Feb 2019
Protea Hall - Karatara
18:00
3
David Skosana
14 Feb 2019
Chris Hani Hall
18:00
4
Vacant
14 March 2019
Chris Nissen Primary School
18:00
5
Eleanore Bouw-Spies
26 March 2019
Rheenendal Community Hall
18:00
6
Elrick Van Aswegen
19 March 2019
Hornlee Committee Room
18:00
7
Mandla Matiwane
28 Feb 2019
Khayalethu Library
18:00
8
Thando Matika
05 March 2019
Masifunde Library
18:00
9
Mark Willemse
12 March 2019
Cearn Hall, Leisure Island
18:00
10
Peter Myers
19 Feb 2019
Council Chambers
17:00
11
Donovan Pofadder
28 March 2019
Sunridge Primary School
18:00
Enquiries can be directed to Mr Brian Cornelius, Coordinator: Public Participation at bcornelius@knysna.gov.za or alternatively to Ms Noxolo Mcothama at nmcothama@knysna.gov.za or tel. 044 302 6586.
PRAVIR HARIPARSAD ACTING MUNICIPAL MANAGER CLYDE STREET KNYSNA 6570 www.ayandambanga.co.za
135704 www.thecandocompany.co.za
visiting ornithologist was alarmed when spotting children in the bird sanctuary while visiting Rondevlei. “I noticed the birds on the lake take off in great haste and thought that a predator must be scaring them. “Only after grabbing the binoculars did I realise there were three young lads in the lake,” said the tourist, who raced down to the lake and questioned the boys. “They told me they were looking for sick birds so that they could revive and release them. I took them home to their mother where I saw five birds on the mend. The sick birds in their backyard were a spoonbill, spurwinged goose, black-winged stilt, blacksmith lapwing, and an Egyptian goose,” he explained. SANParks spokesperson Nandi Mgwadlamba said symptoms displayed by the ailing birds created suspicions that they were infected with avian botulism. She added that Garden Route National Park (Wilderness section) manager Sandra Taljaard confirmed seeing the same symptoms in all the park’s sick birds. Taljaard speculated that this possible outbreak could be related to recent hot and dry weather, followed by a wetter spell - a pattern known to trigger avian botulism. “We are aware of the birds dying and our rangers are collecting birds as they die, but we are not sure what the
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link is to humans and if the disease affects us. The botulism we know of doesn’t really affect humans,” explained Mgwadlamba. It is not the first time that local residents have witnessed birds die or become sick. During 2016, SANParks reported that they had submitted several dead birds collected over an 18-month period to various laboratories to ascertain cause of death at the time. Although tests for avian flu, Newcastle disease, and avian botulism came back negative, they said clinical symptoms displayed by affected birds indicated the latter as likely cause of death. Avian botulism is a para-
BASKET CASE? A sick blackwinged stilt and a blacksmith lapwing were found in Langvlei and are being nursed back to health Photo: Fran Kirsten
lytic disease caused by ingestion of a toxin produced by the anaerobic bacterium Clostridium botulinum. It acts by blocking nerve function and leads to respiratory and musculoskeletal paralysis. In all cases, illness is caused by the toxin made by C botulinum, not by the bacterium itself. There are several types of toxin produced by strains of this bacterium, birds being most commonly affected by type C and, to a lesser extent, type E. Ultimately, Mgwadlamba reminded the public that Langvlei, Rondevlei, and Eilandvlei are Ramsar sites - wetlands of global significance. “People are requested to adhere to rules and regulations that govern these sites.” Should readers detect dead birds in or near these sites, they are urged to contact SANParks on 044 887 0046 to enable their rangers and environmental monitors to collect them. • According to SANParks ranger Jonathan Britton, they responded to investigate immediately after receiving reports of dead and injured birds on February 8. He said they had collected 10 dead birds during the week from February 8-15, and a further four from February 15-18. Britton added that, although the death of even one bird is a concern, they were not experiencing large numbers of dying birds in the area as was suggested by local residents.
NEWS & VIEWS
20 February 2019
Bitou finally appoints Environmental Management Officer LETT Environmental Forum is pleased to welcome Anje Taljaard in her new position as Environmental Management Officer in the Economic Development and Planning Department of Bitou Municipality. The Forum has for years campaigned for such a person be appointed, and we are delighted that it has finally happened. Taljaard is well qualified for the position and should be of great assistance to the Bitou community in helping us cope with concerns around local ecological and conservation matters. She has a BSc degree from the University of Pretoria with further qualifications in Geospatial Information Systems
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UBER QUALIFIED: Anje Taljaard has a BSc degree from Tuks, a qualification in Geospatial Information Systems from Maties, and received invasive species training from the South African Green Industries Council
(GIS) from Stellenbosch University and Invasive Species Training through the South African Green Industries Council. Taljaard is also experienced through her work as an environmental consultant in the Garden Route for the past five years, dealing extensively
with environmental impact assessments, the creation of sound environmental management plans, alien invasive control, and environmental compliance monitoring. Having started in the new position on November 1 last year, her duties are quite comprehensive but
as far as the public is concerned, the main ones are: • To plan, develop, and control environmental management and conservation of the natural environment in Bitou. • To manage environmental approval, authorisation processes and applications for human settlement, bulk infrastructure and other municipal development projects. • To help with awareness and educational programmes on environmental management among the community. Contact Anje Taljaard on 044 501 3318 or email ataljaard@plett.gov.za with queries. • Basil van Rooyen is co-chair of the Plett Environmental Forum.
ADVERTORIAL
Seven good reasons to give hearing aids a try AVE you thought about hearing aids, but weren’t sure if they’d be worth it? Have you tried hearings aids, but didn’t feel they helped? Truth is, hearing aids have changed substantially in recent years and when used correctly, provide lifechanging benefits. In fact, hearing aids can make you feel happier, more energised - even younger! Not convinced yet? Keep reading, because these reasons will show why you should be. 1. Discovering new or hearing old sounds once more You might find yourself noticing new sounds or reconnecting to old ones, such as waves crashing, floors creaking, or the clacking of a keyboard. Maybe you’ll be able to identify the type of bird chirping outside your window, or hear your loved one’s car rolling up the driveway. These sounds will brighten up your day. 2. Hearing aids can improve your relationships
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Your daily conversations and interactions will greatly benefit from better hearing and understanding, which can even improve relationships and allow you to reconnect with friends and family members. Imagine having a conversation without repeating: “What?” or “Can you say that again?” 3. Better hearing benefits overall health Did you know that hearing loss is associated with conditions such as sleep apnoea, obesity, diabetes, stress, and heart disease? In addition to these afflictions, studies show that untreated hearing loss can accelerate dementia, delayed speech recognition, and brain shrinkage. The good news is that hearing aids can lighten your cognitive load and delay the onset of these conditions. 4. Enjoy activities you used to love It is common for those with hearing loss to feel socially withdrawn because they cannot interact and communicate like
they once did. Hearing aids can help you reconnect to those activities, and do the things you love. 5. Hearing aids relieve stress Hearing loss can be frustrating when you’re missing important information during conversations. Most people’s stress levels soar when they are unable to follow in daily interactions, so having hearing amplification can relieve that stress and worry. 6. Several accessories can enhance your experience Don’t hesitate to ask your hearing healthcare provider about supplemental equipment. These devices work with hearing aids to provide you with the best-possible listening experience and can amplify sound for certain situations, i.e. when out to dinner or watching television. There are also alarms and phones specifically made for those with hearing loss. These devices use flashing lights to alert you if someone is at the door or if your phone is ringing.
7. Hearing technology is always advancing Keep in mind that hearing devices are being improved on a regular basis, and the technology is much more advanced than before. Today, hearing aids do more than simply make the audio louder; they actually adjust the sounds in your environment to give you the best listening experience possible. Not only are hearing aids drastically improving, but many are now compatible with your smartphone, allowing you to control settings with your smartphone rather than on the actual device itself. Remember, initial frustrations are common when wearing hearing aids for the first time, but keep in mind that they will help and that your Advanced Hearing healthcare provider will answer any questions. Try hearing aids, because life is worth hearing. Call Advanced Hearing Plett/Knysna on 044 533 3326, and on 044 343 1278 in Sedgefield.
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Basil van Rooyen
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NEWS & VIEWS
20 February 2019
Wilderness ‘jammed’ with artists Correspondent BOB HOPKIN visited the village’s fourth Art Festival ILDERNESS experienced a phenomenon last week: a traffic jam! The cause? The fourth and most recent Art Festival. Long known as the haunt of painters, sculptors, wood workers and artists, this festival has gradually expanded over the years. Conceived in 2016 to use the spare capacity of the Wilderness Hotel, last year’s event showed that exponential growth and an ever-wider catchment area of talent meant its confines were insufficient to display properly the breadth of material. Organiser Carole Durrant admitted being overwhelmed by the support. “Last year we encouraged local businesses to host some of the items on display, but
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this year we have gone even further by creating an ‘Art Walk’ throughout the village. “Virtually every enterprise has exhibits including live art lessons and openair entertainment on the Green,” she said. Typical of some of the more upmarket exhibits was the prominent show of oil on canvas paintings from Cape Town’s Loubser House Art
Gallery, founded by husband and wife team Ryan and Jodie Loubser - who use a highly-detailed style of painting to contrast the often impressionistic style of many other exhibitors. The success of this year’s event begs the question: “Where next for 2020?” Wilderness may well be overwhelmed, if the 2019 Art Fest is any indication.
IT’S IN THE DETAIL: Jodie Loubser with her intricate oil on canvas ‘Collectors Lounge’. “We display a wide selection of sizes, the larger pieces priced over R10,000 to compensate for the weeks of work we put in to complete the detail. So we make smaller, less intricate and more affordable pieces for those who like our style but can’t stretch to those levels,” she said. Photo: Bob Hopkin
BUSINESS
20 February 2019
Investor Focus HE fears created by Brexit, the trade disputes between the US and China, the South African elections, the global economic slowdown, the US government shut down and any other negatives that may be lurking in the sidelines, have not gone away. Most of these, however, are now well-known and have been debated forever on all the media channels. They have become what investors call “noise”; five years from now most will be history and the current debates forgotten. So if we decide to ignore most of the noise, then we discover real value in the depressed markets. Two areas that jump out are the property and the banking sectors. For retirees, the values and yields • Malcolm has been in the investment industry for nearly 50 years. He has written this column in CXPRESS for the last 20 years and is a specialist in managing retired wealth. See the MPK advert at right for more info and contact details.
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Malcolm Stewart – Investment manager at Michaelides Parker Wealth Knysna & Plett
Looking for value amidst the ‘noise’
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are hard to ignore, as demonstrated by the following companies’ expected yields: Property Stocks (REITS) • Growthpoint 9% • Emira 10% • Hyprop 6.5% • Redefine 10% • SA Corp 13% • Vukele 9.5% These are the expected yields that could be reached in the next 12 months. This sector has declined by over 32% during the last three years, mainly due to the collapse of other large groups of companies hounded by Viceroy (the ‘sell and tell’ specialists) as well as our own economic slowdown. These property companies are trading far below their net-asset value. They are well diversified and in some cases (e.g. Growthpoint), they have 27.7% of their properties in Australia, Poland, and Romania.
Banks • FirstRand: P/E 12, forward yield 4.8% • Nedbank: P/E 9.3, forward yield 5.5% • Standard Bank: P/E 9.7, forward yield 5.8% These yields and P/E ratios are based on consensus estimates for the next 12 months. Share prices may have improved in the short term so the estimates should be adjusted very marginally. The companies in both these groups are properly managed and held in many unit trusts. They are well researched and will certainly be around when the era of great fears comes to an end. A five-year investment horizon should prove very rewarding while the attractive yields will provide a sustainable income low that should grow at least equal to the inflation rate.
MPK Wealth has been developed as a natural extension of the accounƟng, audiƟng and tax pracƟce of MPK Chartered Accountants Inc (MPK). The focus of MPK Wealth is on Įnancial planning and management of client's investments, local and oīshore, whether it be for reƟred wealth or even assisƟng the younger generaƟons in establishing their foundaƟons of wealth for their ulƟmate reƟrement. MPK Wealth is an Authorised Financial Service Provider and operates under license 661. Contact Peter Michaelides or wealth@mpk.cx or 044 382 7070.
Malcolm
Stewart
on
SALE OF
SALES
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INTERVAL
20 February 2019
Making light of load shedding…
• FOOD STALLS AVAILABLE FOR RENT •
• Ramaphosa said he was shocked about the load shedding. To be shocked, you need electricity! • What’s the difference between South Africa and the Titanic? When the Titanic went down, the lights were on. • Looks like we, the people, need to rally together as we did with the Cape Town water crisis and create collection points for donations of coal and diesel... oh, and parts! • What does LOL mean? Lots of load shedding. • Eskom: “We don’t always supply you with electricity but when we do, please don’t use it.” • There’s a new word in the English language: Electrogasm. It’s that exited feeling you get as the electricity comes back on after load shedding. • A South African bedtime story: The doors are all locked, the security gates, too. Burglar-barred windows make it look like a zoo. The alarms are all activated and the cars are pulled in; the electric fence is buzzing and motion beams glow dim. The Rotties are snoring in baskets in the hall so they can’t be poisoned over the wall. Our prayers (to survive through the night) have been said. So, nightynight, we hope you’ll sleep tight. We’ll leave it to Eskom to switch off the lights... • The nice thing about Joburg’s weather right now is that you can see electricity in the sky, but you can’t have it in your house. It’s quite cool in a medieval sort of way. • It’s quite sad when you
type “es” and predictive text brings up “Eskom load shedding”. • What did South Africans use before candles? Electricity. • A great load shedding hair dryer: 1. Inflate a balloon 2. Hold the inflated balloon next to your hair 3. Slowly release the air towards your hair 4. Repeat the steps until your hair is dry. • South Africa has been voted the most romantic country in the world. We eat dinner by candlelight every night. • A letter to Eskom: Dear Eskom, I hereby regret to inform you that my bank account is currently at stage three. I am unable to shed funds to pay my electricity bill at this time. As soon as it comes down to stage two, I will however make a part-payment. Although it should not be viewed as a crisis at this time, this dismal situation is expected to continue (on and off) for the next 12 months. Please accept my humble apologies. Yours, Paying Consumer • With all the load shedding and everyone going to bed early, in nine months there will be a lot of babies with unusual names, like Kers Grobler, Darkness Mapogo, Vroegslaap Jordaan, Blackout Dube, Generator van Zyl, Parafienlamp van Rensburg, Pompie Primus, Flits Botha, Lampie Lambrecht, Kilowatt Koster, Kerswas van As, Donker Jonker, Gaslamp Aucamp, Vuurhoutjie van Vuuren en Nagskof van Niekerk.
The half-hearing problem man visits his doctor and says: “Doc, I have a serious problem. I only hear half of everything.” “That can’t be,” says the
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doctor. “Either you can hear everything or nothing. Repeat after me... 96.” The man quickly replies: “48!”
Dinner is served. Thank you so much, Eskom!
Die oom se treinrit IE ou oom staan in ‘n trein en kyk hoe ‘n vrou sit en borsvoed. Haar baba weier om te drink. Sy dreig hom: “As jy nie drink nie, gee ek my boobie vir die oom!”
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So gaan dit aan en aan. Weer weier die baba en weer dreig sy, tot die oom hom wip en sê: “Daai baba moet nou sy mind opmaak. Ek moes al vier stasies terug afgeklim het!”
SOCIAL SCENE
20 February 2019
CHEERS TO FOOD N WINE! The Plett Truck and Vine Festival was held at Kay and Monty Vineyards in The Crags on Sunday under clear, sunny skies and was thronged with people. Enjoying the festive ambiance were, clockwise from left, Sarah and Martin Steinman, Adrienne Ferguson, Mike Winn, Scott Taylor, David Black, Ruth Pettitt, Lynne Garsden, Alice Taylor and John Pettitt - British citizens one and all. Said Sarah: “We all love Plett - the people are lovely and we are definitely coming back!” A big international contingent rocked up to savour the delights on offer. Below from left are Mexican national Kitty Kennard, Klaus Garbisch and Ellen Sellmay from Germany, Hilary and John Griffiths of the UK and Northern Ireland respectively, and Trish Hall and Alex du Plessis of Durban in KZN. At right below, Plett locals Claudette Gericke, Cherilee Windvogel and Caroline Vedder enjoy the event. Some of the many folk who contributed to the success of the event were, at the bottom from left, Marshal Nyandoro, Matthew Mginywa, Sam Jacobs, Ben Mazeka, Megan Coleman, Rouston Plaatjies, Prudence Mupfunya and Cheredy Buys. - Timothy Twidle
People, places & events
GREAT-HEARTED GYNEA GIFTS PETS APLENTY: Plett’s beloved Dr Estia Odendaal turned 50 on February 13 and in celebration, decided to pay it forward and collect food and shelter for animals in need. An incredible response allowed Estia to deliver a mountain of donated goods to various facilities in the district, including Plett and Knysna Animal Welfare Services, Muddy Pooches in Plett Industria, Moyo Animal Outreach in The Crags, and Oudtshoorn Dogs in Need - what a generous birthday gal! Her crew thanked all of the kind souls who “not only got into celebratory mode for Estia’s 50th, but abundantly gifted the cats and dogs that will benefit from our food drive”. The pics here show some of the 50th food fun had.
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CONTACT NUMBERS OF THE PLETTENBERG BAY POLICING AREAS: SECTOR MANAGERS
Sector 1: CBD, Poortjies, Dunes, Town areas W/O Taylor: 079 894 1645 Sector 2: New Horizon, Bossiesgif, Qolweni, Wittedrift - W/O James: 079 894 1643 Sector 3: Natures Valley, The Grags, Keurbooms area, Covie Sgt De Vos: 082 820 7889 Sector 4: Rural Safety - farms W/O Van Pletzen: 082 411 2738
COMMUNITY SERVICE CENTRE
Plettenberg Bay 044 501 1900 / 044 501 1907 / 044 501 1908 / 044 501 1909/10 Vispol Commander: Lt Col Solomon: 044 501 1939 / 082 778 7310 Detective Commander Plettenberg Bay: Lt Col Cebekhulu: 044 501 1946 / 082 778 6713 COMMUNITY SERVICE CENTRE
Kwanokuthula 044 533 2145 Detectives: 044 533 3121 Administration: 044 501 2900 Switchboard: 044 501 4200 Policing areas: Kranshoek, Harkerville, Piesang Valley
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ON THE SOAPBOX
20 February 2019
Letters to the Editor
CXPRESS
11
Email: editor@cxpress.co.za - Fax: 044 533 0852 - PO Box 1449, Plett 6600
Good Samaritans come to the rescue of Hospice Plett carers The team at Hospice Plett would like to express our deepest gratitude to Willem Barnard and Henrie de Freitas for assisting our two carers when their vehicle broke down in Nature’s Valley recently. Your concern and help was a great comfort to our carers, who were
quite overwhelmed by the situation. We are also most grateful to you for having the car fixed at no cost to us. Here’s saluting two true gentlemen! Debbie Bruinders: Administrator - Hospice Plett (Henrie and Willem, who
Never too young to discover the joys of bowling
Plett reader John Swinley shared this photo and wrote: “A fortnight ago, we had a visit from a young couple Rich and Rozzie Bainbridge from the UK - on their first trip to South Africa. They were accompanied by their five-month-old daughter, Arabella, and had been told they could have their first exposure to lawn bowls at Plettenberg Bay Country Club. We thought this photo of Rich in action very appropriately demonstrated the art of taking multitasking to a whole new level!”
own Penduka Safaries in Botswana, rallied the locals in Nature’s Valley to help pay the bill. Amongst others, Robyn from Nature’s Valley Trading Store contributed financially, and Archie from Archie’s Automotive Works did not charge for the labour. Call 044 533 5616 or
email info@plettaid.org if you would like to support the essential services of the PlettAid Foundation/Hospice Plett. A fundraiser to further the Foundation’s cause will be staged on March 1 at Piesang Valley Hall. Email aconyngham@telkomsa.net to book. - Eds.)
About the welfare state Governments across the globe seem to repeat over and over again their famous old history about the “welfare state” - up to the point where many people who have believed it, have been greatly disappointed. This happened to a friend of mine who, about five years ago, told me she wished to retire to enjoy the “welfare state”. Now that she has finally retired, she has terminal cancer. You may think this is just a case of bad luck, but it has got me thinking. If we look what makes us happy we realise that happiness is very fleeting and normal life may go in a very different direction. The welfare state is like assuming that we are go-
ing to achieve heaven on earth - but this is impossible. Pleasures are always momentary, and sometimes leave us with quite a bitter aftertaste. Another friend went on a Mediterranean cruise, thinking it would be the best adventure ever, but the poor thing spent almost all of her days suffering from seasickness. Who does the welfare state benefit? Not those who work all their lives and try earning a decent salary, and the millions of unemployed take this as a joke, because they know all too well that those politicians harping on about welfare are the ones earning the biggest of salaries. Isabel Costa, by email
Read CXPRESS online at www.cxpress.co.za
12
CXPRESS
SPORT & ADVENTURE
20 February 2019
Sunshine Ladies Tour hat-trick delight for Nobuhle Dlamini in George Building the Future
WORTHY WINNER: She had the line, she had the pace, and Nobuhle Dlamini nailed the distance to claim victory in her favourite golfing town
N a dramatic Sunday at Fancourt, Nobuhle Dlamini drained a 32foot uphill birdie putt at the final hole of the Outeniqua Course to seal a Sunshine Ladies Tour hat-trick with a two-shot victory in the Dimension Data Challenge. Just a few minutes earlier, the big-hitting Swazi golfer tapped in a welltimed four at the par five 17th to take a one-shot lead. The birdie-birdie finish for a five-under-par 67 earned Dlamini a R70,000 pay-day on a winning total of two-under 214. “I had to really stop myself from running around
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on the green when that last putt dropped,” said the delighted Dlamini, who banked an additional R30K for partnering amateur Francis Tremearne to victory in the Betterball Team Competition. Dlamini posted rounds of 76 and 71 over the first two days at George Golf Club and was four shots behind joint leaders Monique Smit and Bertine Faber when the action moved to Fancourt. While Smit and Faber slowly faded out of contention, Kim Williams made a run for the lead with birdies at two, seven and 10. The three-time
Sunshine Ladies Tour winner led the field on three-under for most of the day, but Dlamini scored a run of birdies from seven. “This is one of my absolutely favourite events and I look forward to playing at Fancourt every year. Next week I’m going trophy hunting in the SA Women’s Masters and I can’t wait to defend my SuperSport Ladies Challenge title at the Wild Coast in two weeks.” • The kind-hearted golf-
er - ‘Nobby’ to her friends - is known for taking local aspiring golfers under her wing. Said Ernie Els and Fancourt Foundation member Zethu Myeki in a recent interview: “I think when someone like Nobby, who rose to third in the world amateur golf rankings, tells you that you have what it takes, you should listen.” The Swazi national serves as true inspiration for upcoming SA and Southern Cape ladies wanting to pursue a career in golfing.
Bahia athletes shine in Knysna
These Bahia Formosa learners did their school very proud during a district athletics meeting in Knysna on Saturday February 9. The only rose among these sporty little thorns is Unako Tame, second from right, who came first in the 60m for girls U9. Pictured with this fleet-footed young Plett lady are, from left, Eldrin Wildeman, who gave a star performance to win both the 80m and 1200m, and came third in the 100m race; Luniko Shumani scored a sixth spot in the 1200m; diminutive Ndiyakholwa Dingela came first in the 60m and second in the 80m race, and Ayakhanya Pose, at right, scored a fourth in shotput. Well done to y’all!
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