20 january 2016

20 January 2016

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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Kranshoek Primary students from Grade R upwards listen with wideeyed attention during their first assembly of the year, when headmaster Mr Enoch Medea welcomed them to their brand new school building - read more on page 2

Ozone saved Kevin Evans’ life p3

Local and SA tourism stats looking good p4

New Ultra Run will complement Otter p12

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CXPRESS

NEWS & VIEWS

20 January 2016

Historic day for Bitou as Greenwood First day of school an auspicious Bay College opens officially occasion in Kranshoek

It was smiles all round as students, headmasters, staff and invited guests gathered around the fountain at the new Piesang Valley premises of Greenwood Bay College (read more about how the amalgamation of these two Plett schools came about in the August 19 edition at www. cxpress.co.za). Junior section headmaster Luke Perkins, at left below, said a few words of welcome before ward councillor Wayne Craig took the proverbial mic - but not before shooting a selfie, left, featuring highly entertained learners, to mark the happy occasion. He pledged the support and praised the venture on behalf of Bitou Municipality, echoing the broader sentiment in town that the facility is a huge boon for Plett and sure to grow into a formidable force in education.

Chairman of the GBC board Harry Brouwers - at right in the pic with Mr Perkins and Cllr Craig at centre - then proceeded to cut the ribbon to officially declare GBC open for the business of learning. Visit www.greenwoodbaycollege. co.za or email info@green woodbaycollege.co.za to find out more.

Photos: Halszka Covarr

Kranshoek Primary School building was erected in just over six months during 2015 and last week it was time for local kids to experience the joy of learning in this brand spanking new facility. In the pics clockwise from top left: headmaster Mr Medea addresses parents and kids during assembly; kids relax in the courtyard during break time; bright early morning smiles; Mr Claasen and his class look ready to tackle the academic year; and young Milahn is flanked by his couzies Chloe, left, and Cassidy on his first day of ‘big school’.

Photos: Ricky Luiters (081 585 0351 / rickyluiters@gmail.com)

Safer schools now a reality in Thembalethu S thousands of George learners were starting school on January 13, it was great to see that parents had come out in numbers to accompany and support their children.

Top bras of the local police force used this opportunity to visit Thembalethu and Tyholora primary, and Thembalethu and Imizamo Yethu high schools, where students were warned about the dangers of gangsterism.

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When this scourge takes place at schools, it leads to fights among students and even if these fights are broken up, they often continue outside the school premises and have in certain cases resulted in the death of those involved.

Students were also advised of the importance to steer clear of bullying, drugs and all criminal activities, and urged to only focus on their studies in order to succeed.

UNDER HIS WING: Thembalethu station commander Colonel Reuben France rubs shoulders with students of Thembalethu High School in George

NEWS & VIEWS

20 January 2016

CXPRESS

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Ozone was supposed to save Evans’ life, not enhance his performance Media24 report on Monday entitled ‘Top SA cyclist admits to doping charge’ sent shock waves through the local and national cycling fraternity, as it claims that SA mountain bike great and Plett resident Kevin Evans was caught for doping - albeit having retired from pro cycling eight months ago.

The report stated, inter alia: “The SA Institute for Drug-Free Sport has charged Evans with doping after identifying serious irregularities in his Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) - a profile of the athlete’s blood parameters.

“The expert panel and an independent, international ABP expert unanimously concluded that the profile was indicative of doping.

“As per ABP regulations,

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the athlete was afforded an opportunity to provide documented medical evidence that could explain the irregularities in his blood profile.

Evans accepted the charge of doping and did not contest the findings.”

It continues that the suspicious readings were identified over a period of time, and thus calls for disqualification of Evans’ results as of March 2014, as well as a four-year ban from sport.

During a subsequent interview with CXPRESS, the story of Evans’ health battles over the past several years, his emergency medication and the road back to fitness came to light.

These were further elaborated on in a report by Kevin McCallum, released on the same day, in which Evans says the reports of

anomalies found in his biological blood passport results were due to “lifethreatening circumstances and decisions doctors made to save my life”.

Evans says doctors informed him he needed the treatment after he was diagnosed with empyema and had repeated episodes of intra-abdominal sepsis due to an appendectomy in 2010.

“In October 2012 he had to undergo another operation to drain and remove an abscess in his abdomen, followed by a second appendectomy and further abdominal surgery again in December,” said the statement by McCallum.

“He underwent a similar procedure and an internal drain for four weeks in February 2013. That September, he had to undergo an emerTAKING IT LYING DOWN: Kevin Evans will not fight allegations of doping, but plans to focus on his business and giving back to the sport of cycling - this photo graced our cover on May 27, 2015, when he just hung up his pro cycling boots (read more about his career in that edition at www.cxpress.co.za) Photo: Dr Evil Classic

No bail for 83-year-old rape accused Yolandé Stander

LETTENBERG Bay anti-child abuse activists are rallying their troops for when an 83-year-old man accused of raping a little girl at The Crags takes his place in the dock again - this after the elderly man abandoned his bail bid last week due to what he described as financial issues.

The suspect is accused of raping the nine-year-old girl last month after luring her into his flatlet on her grandmother’s property.

Police spokesman Captain Malcolm Pojie said the accused was renting the flatlet from the child’s grandparents at the time of the al-

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leged incident.

He added that according to information available at this stage it was believed the suspect called the girl to his home while she was visiting her grandparents and asked her to write a letter on his behalf, saying he needed it as he wanted to borrow something from her grandparents.

While inside the flatlet the man allegedly raped the girl.

She reported the matter to her family, who subsequently reported it to police.

The man was arrested and appeared in the Plettenberg Bay Magistrate’s Court on December 22.

He was set to apply for bail on January 11, but in-

formed the court that he no longer wanted to continue his bail bid as he did not have the money. The matter was postponed until February 17.

Anti-child abuse activist and Green Hearts spokesman Yvette Wilschut said several members of the community as well as Green Hearts members would gather at court next month to express their horror over the frequency of child abuse in the coastal holiday town.

“Not a week goes by that we are not in court, dealing with one of these cases.

We cannot let it go on any longer,” Wilschut said.

Garden Route Media

gency tracheotomy due to an abscess bursting through his diaphragm into the lung, resulting in 10 days in ICU. “Between September 13 and 19, he received two blood transfusions to keep him alive. It was the professional opinion of three surgeons that Evans needed Ozone therapy as an alternative treatment to help his immune system cope with medication, so ensuring re-

covery and saving his life.”

Ozone therapy is not specifically mentioned in the World Anti-Doping Code, but is considered doping as it increases the body’s ability to transport more oxygen.

As part of the biological passport programme, which Evans had been a part of since 2010, he was subjected to testing a mere two weeks out of ICU, post transfusions, and hence the huge discrepancy.

“I followed up with Ozone treatment to help my body recover while still on the

ABP. I was desperate to get my health back and certainly didn’t intend to gain an advantage while competing,” Evans says.

“If I had to take the decision again, I would do it without hesitation. Being alive and healthy for my family was my priority, not cheating.

“Having retired, I’m naturally disappointed but have no desire to return to professional cycling, merely to focus on my business and giving back to the sport that has given me so much.”

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CXPRESS

Read CXPRESS online @ www.cxpress.co.za

NEWS & VIEWS

20 January 2016

A review of the Plett tourism year and projects in the pipeline LETT Tourism chair Peter Wallington released his chairman’s report last Friday, which kicks off with the hope that all and sundry enjoyed the Plett Summer “and that you get just the Plett feeling you’re looking for”.

Wallington singles out 2015’s most important milestones as the second Plett MAD Festival in July, with celebrity chef Reza Mahamad bringing glamour and fun to the successful Plett Food Film Festival.

“We also held our second Sasfin Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival in October and it’s quickly becoming another must-attend festival.”

This event coincided with a number of other activities, including the Tour de Plett MTB Challenge, of which the route has been acclaimed by all participants, so all expectations are for the challenge to attract even more riders in 2016.

Another first for the town was the Plett Trail, launched in October, and traversing from the paleontologically important Robberg Nature Reserve, through Kranshoek to Harkerville and then across to Nature’s Valley before ending in Redford Lane Wines in The Crags.

Projects in the works for 2016 include the Plett Birding Route - an integrated cultural/heritage experience, and a cycling/MTB package that will ultimately offer everything from the Cape Town to Plett Cycle, a Plett-Knysna trail, and many spectacular rides in

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the greater Plett area.

“There are also a number of significant projects in which Plett Tourism is involved, and they each promise to significantly add to Plett’s appeal out of season and create work, the core pillars of our strategy,” says Wallington.

“It’s this commitment which has led increased engagement with communities who have been margin-

alised from the economic mainstream. In the past year we have helped, in one way or the other, a number of projects and events in KwaNokuthula and elsewhere - visit www.pletttourism.com to find out more.

“This engagement is - and will on an exponential basis - introduce a wide range of community experiences into an integrated Plett feeling, offering greater value to

visitors and residents alike.”

He concluded by thanking the NSRI and Bitou Municipality for its contribution in keeping Plett safe and sound (traffic, safety, beach, fire) and all the departments who keep the town ticking over in the midst of season.

Email chairman@pletttourism.com with suggestions or feedback that can make your Plett experience even better.

Positive visitor figures for province and parks CCORDING to Wesgro, the official Tourism Trade and Investment promotion agency for Cape Town and the Western Cape, tourism figures for December 2015 suggest that the province experienced a busier December than it did in 2014.

Knysna Tourism, for example, reported that a local service station received 5,000 more feet through the door when compared to December 2014. This translated to a 14% increase on feet through the door and an increase in revenue of 6%.

In addition, the Knysna Waterfront reported on higher visitor numbers, even outdoing their bumper 2014 season. Knysna Tourism also reported a 43% increase in accommodation booking revenue

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during this period.

Kruger down, but SANParks experiences overall visitor increase South Africa’s iconic Kruger National Park received a total of 3,021 visitors less that last year December, while all 19 of SA’s national parks saw a collective 6.2% increase in visitors compared to the same time last year.

During December 739,972 guests visited South Africa’s 19 national parks - this is a major increase from the 696,981 people who visited the Parks during the same time last year.

Particularly heartening is that Garden Route National Park saw a hike of more than 9% in visitor numbers for December 2015, putting it in the good company of nine other parks with

increased visitor numbers - these include: • Addo Elephant 28,815 4.4% increase from previous year (27,601) • Agulhas 6,226 - 9.2% increase from previous year (5,700) • Bontebok 3,087 - 16.5% increase from previous year (2,649) • Camdeboo 6,643 - 19.1% increase from previous year (5,578) • Garden Route 70,382 9.1% increase from previous year (64 530) • Karoo 6,246 - 8.5% increase from previous year (5,759) • Kgalagadi 3,574 - 12.4% increase from previous year (3,179) • Mapungubwe 4,397 - 37.1% increase from previous year (3,208) • Table Mountain 358,652 - 10.1% increase from previous year (325,620) • West Coast 41,370 - 13.0% increase from previous year (36,598).

‘Our kids deserve to get on with their lives’ Yolandé Stander

AMILY and friends of the young girls who were allegedly drugged and raped by a George father facing more than 3,000 charges relating to sex crimes against children are fuming after yet another delay in the case.

The 51-year-old businessman from Denneoord was expected to plead in December last year, but the matter has been postponed

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twice since then after the accused’s lawyer failed to show up at court.

“After 15 months of waiting, the case was postponed yet again. His lawyer, who didn’t show up probably doesn’t even realise that he had just added another 11 days of pain and suffering to our lives,” one of the girls’ mothers said after the accused appeared in the Thembalethu Regional Court last Thursday.

The matter was post-

poned to January 25 after the man’s lawyer, Marius van Huyssteen, failed to show up in court as the appearance clashed with another one of his cases in Gauteng.

“Our children deserve to get on with their lives.

Enough damage has been done and there is no reason why he (the accused) can’t follow through and plead guilty when he appears in court again on January 25.”

Garden Route Media

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NEWS & VIEWS

20 January 2016

CXPRESS

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Everyone can benefit from Andy’s insight into the ups and downs of getting clean

HOPE INSTEAD OF DOPE: Andrew Sullivan spoke to the souls of those in attendance, at right, when launching his first book in Plett this month - above, he chats to Karen Schwarz from Germany, who congratulated him on the honesty of his address and bravery for revealing so much that may be of help to those suffering from addiction

LETT local Andrew Sullivan’s A Year Without Substance is a unique book, written from the perspective of a recovering addict as he battles with the ups and downs of the first year without drugs.

‘Andy’ - to his friends in town and out, rehabilitating or not - launched the book at Lederle’s on January 6 to a full house, those in at-

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tendance lapping up every word of his heart-felt and often humorous address.

Appetites were whet for the full story indeed, as Andy’s address on the day served as perfect appetiser to the achingly honest and detailed analysis of the inner workings of an addict’s mind, and the changes that take place at the start of recovery as described in

About Andrew Sullivan NDREW was born in the United Kingdom in August 1975. He attended Kings School Rochester in the South East of England from 1982-1991, leaving with just a handful of GCSE grade C passes and no A-Levels.

He pursued a relatively successful career in media sales and advertising in his early adult years before the disease of addiction caught up with him and the wheels fell off.

After years in the wilder-

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ness of active addiction he eventually found recovery in September 2014.

Today, recovery is Andrew’s main focus, and he will write about, speak about, and listen to people talking about all aspects of this illness.

“So long as addiction is being spoken about, then awareness can continue to spread, and more lives can be saved”.

He has two daughters, Tilly and Molly, and lives in his spiritual home of Plettenberg Bay.

the book.

A Year Without Substance has the overarching goal of explaining day-today issues and opportunities confronted during recovery so that addicts, people in recovery, family and friends of addicts, or those just interested in understanding more about the disease of addiction can gain invaluable insight.

Recovery is a lifelong journey, but the first year throws up a multitude of seemingly imponderable problems; there are ways to confront these problems, and there is also great reward to be had. Andy’s book provides a map to help navigate the twists and turns.

A Year Without Substance begins with Andy forensically describing the background to his addiction problems, which had its roots back in early childhood. From a particular event, a series of issues and an amazing ability to deny he had a problem led Andy into full addiction to drink and drugs in later life.

The landmark period in Andy’s life was when family and friends intervened and booked him into a rehab clinic in Plettenberg Bay. This is where the journey to recovery began, and the book provides a blowby-blow account of the ensuing 365 days.

Andy provides an insider’s view of recovery rather than the usual views of counsellors or psychiatrists, making the book particularly practical and unique.

His pragmatic view of the world sees him reacting to revelations that are occurring during the process.

Sometimes frustrating, often funny, and amazingly eye-opening, his is the story of a man desperately battling to open himself up to the pleasures the world has to offer without the fog of chemical addiction.

• Visit www.andrew sullivan.biz for additional details on the book.

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CXPRESS

NEWS & VIEWS

20 January 2016

Gingerbread house finds new home in Knysna GIGI LEWIS witnessed an act of über-sweetness when a beautifully decorated work of confectionary was shared by a well-known Knysna resident on behalf of her grandchildren SCHI Schultz’s grandkids Lisha and Jake brought big smiles to the faces of children in the care of Khayalethu’s Dorothy Broster Child and Youth Care Centre on January 4.

The house was made by the siblings and their grandma from home-baked gingerbread slabs, decorated with Smarties and other delicacies, then dusted over with icing sugar to represent the snow in European winters of old.

A chimney filled with puffs of cotton wool signified smoke coming from an imagined cosy fireplace inside.

The house was meant to be munched by the lucky

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youngsters from Cape Town over the Christmas period, but they had other ideas for this edible delight.

They decided to donate their combined work of art to some deprived township children who would have no hope of receiving anything as beautiful as the gingerbread house, and with grandma Uschi’s help, chose the Dorothy Broster children’s home.

Twenty six of the usual 50 kids were present on the occasion, preparing for the beginning of the new school term, and this sweet surprise could not have come at a better time.

Unfortunately, Lisha and Jake missed the big-heart-

ed delivery and could not witness the smiling faces first-hand, as they were returning to Cape Town with their parents that very morning.

And the smiles did not end there either, as three happy ladies on duty at the home - Cynthia, Patricia and Jostina - each received a small gingerbread house for themselves.

The tradition of making gingerbread houses for Christmas, usually by children with the help of their parents, is still carried out in many parts of Europe today - click on https:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gingerbread_house to find out more.

HOUSE HANDOVER WITH A DIFFERENCE: With Uschi from left are Dorothy Broster carers Cynthia, Patricia and Jostina taking receipt of their unique post-Christmas gifts - Photo: Gigi Lewis

Notice Board Diarise Mike’s next show Home-grown Plett opera star Mike ‘Bible’ has just announced the date for his next light classical concert, featuring favourites from Josh Groban to Il Divo.

Tickets at R55 per person will be sold at the door of St Peter’s Church hall on Friday night January 29 and the show will take place from 6:15 to 7:15pm.

2016 Young Writers Competition launched Knysna Literary Festival organisers are calling for entries from young writers in the Sedgefield, Knysna and Plettenberg Bay areas.

The annual Young Writers competition was first introduced in 2012 as part of the key objectives of the festival, which include inspiring local youth to read by hosting writing workshops during the festival and throughout the year, and coordinating an annual competition for short stories and poetry.

Entry to the competition is free and open to junior (six to 12 years) and senior learners (13 years to matric). Entries may be submitted in English, Afrikaans or isiXhosa.

The Junior competition calls for a short story of 400-800 words based on one of the following subjects: • The power of the mind • Africa my home • My President • My little habit • The foreigner • This is our time • In the blink of an eye.

Senior learners are required to submit a poem of between 15 and 30 lines based on the same subjects.

A panel of judges will select the finalists from each category and the winners will be announced on Thursday March 17 at Knysna Primary School at 12 noon. The first prize for both competitions for each language category is an MP3 Player and the second prize is a selfie stick.

Competition entry forms, which can be downloaded from www.knysnaliterary festival.co.za, must accompany the entries. These should be on A4 size paper and must be handed in to the Pam Golding Properties office at 5 Gray Street, Knysna. Only one entry per learner is allowed.

The closing date for submissions is Monday February 22 and all winning

entries will be published by The Knysna Literary Festival, which this year takes place for the seventh time, from Thursday 17 March to Sunday the 20th.

The four-day event promises an enthralling programme of current affairs, politics, history and adventure, centred around bestselling local and international authors.

Festival founder Ling Dobson says that the aim of the Festival is to expose locals and visitors to SA’s literary talent. “But my mission is also to stimulate the children of the greater Knysna area by encouraging reading and writing, and by contributing to local charities that focus on childhood development and education.”

The 2016 programme will provide attendees with a number of unique literary experiences, from engaging with authors in small group workshops or participating in larger presentations, to mingling with authors while sipping local wine at some of Knysna’s most exclusive private real estate.

Tickets will go on sale on February 1 at Pam Golding Properties Knysna.

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20 January 2016

CXPRESS

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CXPRESS

INTERVAL

20 January 2016

Gistraand het drie ouens by my huis ingebreek op soek na geld, en omdat dit Januarie is, het ek maar opgestaan en saam help soek...

The stern new boss company, feeling it was time for a shakeup, hired a new CEO. The new boss was determined to rid the company of all slackers.

On a tour of the facilities, the new boss noticed a guy leaning against a wall, idly picking his teeth. The room was full of workers and he wanted to let them know that he meant business.

He asked the guy: “How much money do you make a week?”

A little surprised, the man said: “I make a little over R500 a week, why?”

The new boss said: “Wait

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right here.”

He walked back to his office, came back in two minutes, and handed the guy R2,000 in cash and said: “Here’s four weeks’ pay. Now get out and don’t come back.”

Feeling pretty good about himself, the new boss looked around the room and asked: “Does anyone want to tell me what that goof-ball did here?”

From across the room a voice said: “Sure, he was the pizza delivery guy and was just waiting to collect the money.”

Watch your language Swiss guy, looking for directions, pulls up at a bus stop where two Englishmen are waiting.

“Entschuldigung, koennen Sie Deutsch sprechen?” he says.

The two Englishmen just stare at him.

“Excusez-moi, parlez vous Francais?”

The two continue to stare.

“Parlare Italiano?”

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No response.

“Hablan ustedes Espanol?”

Still nothing.

The Swiss guy drives off, extremely disgusted.

The first Englishman turns to the second and says: “Maybe we should learn a foreign language.”

“Why?” says the other.

“That bloke knew four languages, and it didn’t do him any good.”

Delightfully inexperienced young Chinese couple get married. She’s a virgin and they are both waiters at a big Chinese restaurant.

Truth be told, he is a virgin too, but she doesn’t know that.

On their wedding night, she cowers naked under the sheets as her husband undresses in the darkness.

He climbs into bed next to her and tries to be very reassuring.

“My darring,” he whispers, “I know dis you firss time and you berry flighten. I pomise you, I give you anyting you want, I do any-

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ting juss anyting you want.

You juss ask. Whatchu want?” he says, trying to sound experienced and worldly, which he hopes will impress her.

A thoughtful silence follows, and he waits patiently and eagerly for her request.

She eventually shyly whispers back: “I want to try someting I have heard about from other girls…

Nummaa 69.”

More thoughtful silence, but this time from him.

Eventually, in a puzzled tone, he asks her: “You wanna Garlic Shicken with Corrifrowa?”

During my wife’s labour, the nurse came up to us and asked: “How about Epidural Anaesthesia?”

I said: “Thanks, but we’ve already picked a name.”

A glass of water... desperate woman goes to the doctor, worried about her husband’s temper.

The doctor asks: “What’s the problem?”

The woman says: “Doctor, I don’t know what to do. Every day my husband seems to lose his temper for no reason. It scares me.”

The doctor says: “I have a cure for that. When it seems that your husband is getting angry, just take a glass of water and start swishing it in your mouth.

Just swish and swish, but

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don’t swallow it until he either leaves the room or calms down.”

Two weeks later the woman returns to the doctor fresh and reborn.

The woman says: “Doctor that was a brilliant idea! Every time my husband started losing it, I swished with water. I swished and swished, and he calmed right down!

How does a glass of water do that?”

The doctor says: “The water itself does nothing.

It’s keeping your mouth shut that does the trick.”

SOCIAL SCENE

20 January 2016

People, places & events

KOSPOTTE VAN KANAÄN: Toe Murray Pienaar en Suzanne Groenewald, links bo, besluit om hul gedeelde verjaarsdag op Sondag 17 Januarie by Avontura Plettenberg te vier, het genooide vriende geweet hul’s in vir groot bederf. Slim Suzanne se krullebol is ‘n bekende gesig vir besoekers

by Clicks apteek, en haar hande staan vir niks verkeerd nie. Murray het self ‘n klomp talente maar het landswyd bewonderaars ingepalm as een van die top deelnemers in KykNET se ‘Koekedoor’ laas jaar, en kook en bak ook in Plettenbergbaai by feeste en deesdae by Nguni restaurant. So die piekniektafels het letterlik gekreun onder lekkernye soet en sout, tuisgebakte tert en brood, vars vrugte en hemelse paté’s - ‘n fees van Bybelse proporsies.

En tussendeur die happies en heildronke het die vriende en hul skare kinders die lieflike rivier en park geniet soos net plaaslike maats kort na ‘n besige seisoen dit kan doen. Te héérlik!

JOIN THE CLUB: Mark Jones recently shared this photo with CXPRESS and said: ‘We have developed the Young CREW concept to focus specifically on our youth. One project that went extremely well this season was the Holiday Club - full day affairs filled with all kinds of activities for the kids, from forest walks to animal enrichment, quizzes and Oddball Olympics. The pic here represents one of the three Holiday Clubs held, while we also hosted the first Nature Club on January 3. This will happen every first Sunday of the month and will teach kids about conservation and wildlife. The image at right was taken at the end of the first Holiday Club day, teams showing off the flags they made - with Cara the donkey photobombing! Visit www. brackenburncrew.org.za for details.

SPREADING THE JOY: Joy Sachs of wool&more enjoys the great ambience of Clover Café at Plett’s Global Village - and on seeing this happy pic, the CXPRESS crew remembered her kind gesture to our head of distribution Tumi Tom, who was called back on his last newspaper run before Christmas ‘15 when exiting Joy’s shop in a hurry to get to the next of many outlets. Pressing a beautifully wrapped gift into his hands, she thanked him for veering off the beaten track, as it were, to ensure that customers in her Gibb Street shop always received the latest edition. Email esther@cxpress.co.za if you have distribution queries or suggestions to share. - Photo: Ricky Luiters - 081 585 0351 / Earthchild Media Facebook

CXPRESS

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20 January 2016

CLASSIFIEDS

Read CXPRESS online @ www.cxpress.co.za

Vacancy: Admin / Bookkeeping Position available at the Knysna Elephant Park: The suitable candidate should have: Excellent computer skills / Filing & Organisational skills Neat working manner / Ability to work flexible hours Strong work ethic / Bookkeeping experience would be a bonus Duties will include: Assist with bookkeeping & accounts / General office admin & filing / Asset & insurance registers / Compilation of reports, schedules and summary statistics / Personal assistant to director All CVs to be emailed to hr@knysnaelephantpark.co.za Closing date 29 January. If you have not heard from us by 12 February, consider your application unsuccessful.

Vacancy: Marketing Position available at the Knysna Elephant Park: The suitable candidate should have: Excellent computer skills / Filing & Organisational skills Excellent people skills - dynamic personality / Strong work ethic Neat working manner / Ability to work flexible hours Experience with Coreldraw & in marketing would be a bonus Duties will include: Marketing / Brochure management Internet & email communication / Newsletters Social Media / Sourcing new business & clients / Commissions / Compilation of reports and summaries All CVs to be emailed to hr@knysnaelephantpark.co.za Closing date 29 January. If you have not heard from us by 12 February, consider your application unsuccessful.

ON THE SOAPBOX

20 January 2016

Letters to the Editor

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

An open letter to the head of Home Affairs I want you to know that you have an exceptional employee, Nokohwaba Mtonjeni, in your Home Affairs department in Plett. Her calm, patient manner was a great help to me when my frustration was at an all-time high.

Her knowledge and her remarkable problem-solving abilities are rare indeed.

When discovering that my children’s passports had expired and that they could not be renewed unless my husband was present, she assured me with great confidence that there was sufficient time to get my children’s passports prior to our departure a few days later.

I applied for the passports on December 21 and was very grateful to receive an SMS to collect the passports on January 6, as our departure overseas was but a couple of days hence.

Nokohwaba’s abilities were further proven on the day when the passports were due for collection. I arrived at Home Affairs with at least seven people in line waiting to be helped and only Nokohwaba on duty.

It was quite something to see her calm demeanour and her multi-skilling abilities as she assisted three clients simultaneously. She took the time to ensure that

How did one cat manage to summon a cavalcade of municipal employees?

Speaking of cost-effective service, I would like to share the following story, then your readers can decide for themselves.

I own a property on the Rietvlei Road, which is zoned ‘agricultural’. My neighbours, the Steenkamp family, do not reside there but they rent the house and other units to tenants.

One owns a cute, small white dog named Tommy, and my Scottish terrier, Douglas, made friends and visited Tommy regularly.

One Sunday, one of the tenants paid me a very unfriendly visit complaining about Douglas chasing his cat. Now this was in the beginning of December.

I tried to keep Douglas at home by keeping him on a leash, but that is just not pleasant. Later, at least twice, the tenant shouted obscenities at me - once to the horror of one of my grandkids who overheard it all.

Then on January 9, a whole cavalcade of Bitou Law Enforcement mem-

bers turned up at my property. Eight of them in three vehicles. After a lot of chitchat we decided to speak to the tenant.

I introduced myself and the tenant only gave his name as Phillip. After some discussion we left that is myself and one from the group, apparently the highest ranking. I decided to monitor the situation for a week. Significantly, ‘Phillip’ also works for Bitou Municipality.

Then something very interesting happened on Tuesday January 12. A grey and white cat was walking in front of my garage late in the afternoon. I chased it and it ran straight to Phillip’s home. So now it was my turn to complain.

Confronting him, he acknowledged that it was his cat but said that he only received it from PAWS about 10 days before.

So now I’m wondering what cat Douglas chased in December and before…

Comic, Plett

everybody received her full attention and did not make anybody feel rushed.

Her loving nature shone through when explaining the requirements and forms to be completed to various people in front of me.

This in itself showed me a woman who really cares - a stark contrast to the cold, unfriendly service one experiences all too often.

I also would like you to know that I had bought Nokohwaba a box of biscuits as I was so appreciative for her help. Nokohwaba

kindly and diplomatically refused to accept my small gift due to policy.

I understand the policy but feel that if I can make a difference for her in some way by writing this letter and sharing it with CXPRESS - as she has made a huge difference for me and my family - then I will be most appreciative.

If the quality of a firm’s employees is an indication of future success, then Home Affairs has a very bright future indeed.

Cristina Botha, Plett

Future holidaymakers deterred by smell of sewage at Central Beach My family and I live in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, and as you may be aware, due to the poor quality of our beaches, we have lost virtually all of our Blue Flag accreditation.

Over the last 15 years we have been holidaying in Plettenberg Bay and Knysna mainly due to the drier summers in comparison to the KZN summer rains, as well as the quality of the beaches and the fact that we really enjoy Plett and Knysna.

On Tuesday January 5, we decided to spend the day at Plett’s main beach and perhaps grab lunch, etc. But after our arrival and having found a place on the beach, we were overwhelmed by the terrible smell of sewage.

I went to the lifesavers station and they indicated that they had been told the smell was due to the red tide. I’ve experienced the rotting smell of red tide before, but that was not the same as the human

excrement smell that was permeating Central Beach.

I was concerned about my children’s health if they were swimming in water contaminated by sewage, so we had no choice but to leave.

We have spoken to numerous other holidaymakers who have subsequently been to Plett main beach - in fact, the main topic of conversation regarding Plett among visitors was the stink on this beach!

Apparently the smell was still overwhelming by the time of writing, so we haven’t returned.

We now have to make the decision about whether we would return to Plettenberg Bay or Knysna next year. I think Central Beach has lost many future holidaymakers who will now decide to holiday elsewhere due to waterborne health fears.

Paul Walsh, Durban (This letter has been sent to Bitou Municipality for a response. - Eds.)

Just a matter of time before noisy jetskis and their reckless drivers cause human tragedy There was an incident at Central Beach on December 23 at around 5:45pm, when a father and son were riding one of the jetskis available for hire. My daughter and son were swimming in-between the lifeguard flags at the time.

They rode their jetski to where everyone was swimming, close to the shore where the waves were breaking. My children were very nearly hit by the jetski when the father lost control.

Luckily they managed to jump out the way, but it could have caused major injury. The lifeguards blew their whistle to warn the swimmers and came to see if the children were

alright.

A lot of parents were concerned about their children’s safety and ran into the water, with one parent cursing at the driver of the jetski.

Incidents like this are becoming a problem on Central Beach as I have heard of other such occasions. This needs to be kept under control before someone really does get hurt, and people riding these jetskis need to be monitored, checked for a licence and made aware of the rules before taking them into the bay.

Our complaints to various Bitou authorities have fallen on deaf ears - all involved have passed the

buck from one person to the next.

We have had, to date, no official response as to how this will be dealt with in the future and what impact it will have on swimming safety, let alone the impact on the environment, what with the noise, the pollution and the effect on marine life, like whales and dolphins.

Central Beach has become like grand central station and it is a matter of time before a human tragedy happens.

We have a place in Plett overlooking the sea and we leave Cape Town, where we live, to come to Plett to get away from the noise and to enjoy the sound of

the sea and bird life, not to be woken by jetskis at the crack of dawn.

Jetskis are banned on the Robberg side, so why would they not be banned on Central where their impact is so much more intense? The boats coming in and out are monitored and the yachts and canoes are no issue, all part of the ambiance.

Plett’s life guards do monitor the swimmers efficiently, but have no jurisdiction over the jetskis, so their hands are tied.

Nigel Sedgwick, Cape Town (The relevant authorities have not responded to this matter by going to press. Eds.)

CXPRESS

11

Thank you, Plettenberg Bay My father of 80 went on holiday to Plett with my sister in December. To cut a long story short, he ended up at the local Mediclinic on the 27th and had a hip replacement on the 29th.

To all the doctors, medical staff and volunteers at Mediclinic Plettenberg Bay, thank you. Thank you for the care and support you gave my sister, as I could only get there on December 30 to assist her.

Your understanding, care, patience, and support - not to mention the smiles and friendliness you showed to

all of us - were simply exceptional.

To the kitchen staff: thanks for the good food.

A long-term patient will get fat there! To the guesthouses that went out of their way to help with accommodation for my husband and me: thank you.

We all arrived back in Pretoria on January 9, and I’m glad to report that my father is doing very well.

Our sincere thanks go out to everyone who made this possible.

The Daley Family, Hartebeespoort

Rude behaviour of rangers mars excellent service at lovely lunch We have family in Plett and have been here many times in the last 20+ years. This year, while visiting our family, we were informed that Plett Game Reserve has a small café which serves teas and light meals, and that it is situated in the reserve.

We drove to the reserve on December 28 and were grateful to be away from the madding crowds. After turning off the main road we proceeded to the reception where we encountered very friendly staff. We were directed to the café and had a lovely light lunch.

After lunch we drove onto one of the reserve’s roads and encountered various animals. While we were watching these animals a ranger’s game drive vehicle drove past us at speed and cut us off, bringing us to an abrupt halt.

The ranger was very curt with us and told us that we were not permitted to be driving on this road and needed to turn around at once. We tried to explain that we did not know that we were not permitted to drive on this road and there were no signs to indicate that this was a private road.

The ranger said that there were “many” signs and that we missed them. We apologised politely and said we would turn around immediately. We did so with the ranger following us.

The manner in which we were addressed had spoilt our enjoyable lunch, particularly because there was no indication to day visitors that we were only permitted to proceed to the reception area.

We drove past the reception area on the road to the exit and drove past some guests who were on horseback. Within a short distance we came to a rhino grazing on the side of the road.

So as not to startle the rhino and put the riders on horseback in danger - and also to allow them the opportunity to photograph the rhino before it moved off - we stopped at the side

of the road.

A second ranger in a game drive vehicle with guests now drove past us and again cut us off. The ranger (a different one to the first one, who was a woman) came to our vehicle and angrily told us that what we were doing was illegal, that we were trespassing and had to “get off the property immediately”.

We pointed out to him that we were on the road to the exit already and it was our intention to leave but there was a rhino in the road. He angrily repeated that we had to leave at once. He moved his vehicle and we could proceed.

It left us stunned that these rangers were so rude to us and this, in the case of the second ranger, in front of their guests. There are no indications whatsoever when you enter the property in order to go to the reception or café that you are not allowed to drive on the roads and admire the animals. If this was the case we would have happily complied.

The sign on the main road has a teacup on it so it is clear that visitors can enter to have tea or a light meal, but there is no one at the gate to verbally inform you of what you may and may not do, and there are no clear signs either.

We will never return to Plett Game Reserve. It is such a pity that the courteous service and lovely meal was ruined.

It left a sour taste in our mouth and we will remember this outing for entirely the wrong reasons.

The manager/owner of the reserve may want to take note that such attitudes and behaviour of staff will result in fewer guests. I intend to submit reviews of this experience to various platforms so that other potential visitors are spared such rudeness and hostility.

T Frangakis, Johannesburg (We have sent the above letter to Plett Game Reserve for a response, which we hope to include in the next edition. - Eds.)

12

CXPRESS

SPORT & ADVENTURE

20 January 2016

You heard it here first: Entries now open for inaugural Tsitsikamma Ultra Trail Run on April 23 REAMS do come true. That is the latest word from James Stewart, founder of Muddy Foot Adventures. But what is the reason for this sentiment, and that from as un-airy fairy a type as Stewart, aka ‘Lettuce’, of Pennypinchers Adventure Racing fame and chairman of Plett Surf Lifesaving Club?

“My first experience of the Tsitsikamma Hiking Trail was for the very first mountain rescue callout for our small group of volunteers established for this purpose in The Crags about 10 years ago,” says Stewart.

“After that rescue, we ran and hiked all sections of the trail to gain a good knowledge of the terrain and all emergency exits, should the need arise to rescue other hikers.

“It was during this time that my dream of running the entire trail in a single day took shape, and then later to organise a race that would cover this route in a day as a mirror to the now world famous African Otter Trail Run,” he says.

Much planning and organising et al followed during the ensuing years,

D

Paws

Plett Animal Welfare Service

and Stewart has just announced that the first Ultra Trail Run will now take place on April 23 this year.

The 65km run will start at first light at the Big Tree in Storms River and then follow the trail in reverse into the Tsitsikamma Mountains, to finish in Nature’s Valley.

“Tsitsikamma can be translated from the Khoisan to ‘many waters’, and this is true for the trail, too, as the route crosses many streams and rivers that flow a short distance until they reach the Indian Ocean.

But runners will have to carry their own nutrition for the full course, as there will be no refreshment stations along the way.”

Another unique feature, says Stewart, is that the route will not be marked and runners will find their way via GPS. “The GPS will be part of a comprehensive list of safety equipment that runners will carry with them to ensure that they will be able to look after themselves until they can be evacuated, should they run into trouble en route.

“The route will be downloaded from our website by the runners and if the need arises. GPSs may be rented for a small fee from the organisers. The five huts on the trail will however be manned by Muddy Foot Adventures personnel to provide moral support, and in an attempt to ensure that all our runners will finish the route safely.”

Stewart says the run is limited to 100 runners. “We feel that this small field will then be able to experience the special feeling of being surrounded by the mountains.”

Participants will traverse a huge variety of vegetation, from fynbos to indigenous forests, and mountain passes like Rushes Pass and Splendid Pass all providing views down the long valleys that the path traverses.

“The finish line will offer a welcome meal and a cosy place to sit and relax and swap stories with us and their fellow competitors. With a prize purse of R18,000 we hope to attract some of the country’s top runners. That said, our events are always as much about the last competi-

tor to cross the line as the first,” Steward concludes.

Enter today and become part of the first group of people to run this spectacular route in a single day.

Entries are now open at entrytickets.net and more information will be available on the soon to be launched site muddyfoot adventures.co.za - watch the CXPRESS Facebook page for details.

ECHOING THE OTTER: With its vast vistas and many water crossings, the 65km Ultra Trail Run will spoil a small field of participants with that special feeling of being surrounded by the spectacular Tsitsikamma Mountains Photos: Graeme Pienaar (below) and Don Pinnock