21 october 2015

21 October 2015

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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Disgruntled members of the George taxi industry took to the streets last week, saying that the implementation of the Go George pilot project was ‘nothing but lies, corruption and theft’ - read more on page 4

p3

Duiker saved by CPR p5

Swiss smashes sub-4 p12

Photo: Yolandé Stander

Xenophobia in Plett

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CXPRESS

News & Views

21 October 2015

Jeeves’ Travels - Part III

Water so salty it won’t allow largebottomed girls to float face-up JEEVES shares his latest travel adventures, which interfered ever so slightly with his moonlighting as Garden Route chauffeur extraordinaire - turn to page 2 of the October 7 & 14 editions at www.cxpress.co.za to catch up with the story so far

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FTER a few weeks one is limited for new things to do when residing in a little village on the Croatian coastline, particularly if you don’t have wheels.

The way of life there is drinking coffee for hours at a sidewalk cafe, reading the paper, chatting with friends, and generally just watching the world go by.

Cars and caravans arrive in their droves, mainly with German, Austrian or Italian number plates, but also from Hungary, Poland, Serbia, and a few from Holland. During my entire month’s stay, I had noticed just one from the UK!

Groups of Ducati or BMW bikers were rife - after all, it was August, high season.

The tourists and locals are hot on licking coned icecreams; like yawning, a highly contagious pastime. One particular outlet opens only from May to end September, and if you were to have a different ice-cream a day, it would be three weeks before you had the same one again.

It’s a simple, money-making business. The machine is from Italy and comes with a recipe booklet of a hundred different varieties of icecream. The wife sits at home all day making the stuff, and

hubby brings it to the shop each morning in 10-litre tubs (see the picture below).

A daily visit to the market is a must for fresh bread, cheese, cold meats, fruit, and vegetables.

We had already walked the town and the coastal pathway flat. The daily swim in the warm, salty, crystal clear sea was a habit.

One day, I noticed a lady with a well-developed posterior who, when entering the water, had a problem trying to float on her back - she kept on spinning over with her bum high and dry, head submerged, such was the buoyancy of the salt water!

For a change, we decided to catch a bus inland into the hills and go for lunch to a recommended restaurant with a stunning view over the sea and islands.

Not having a clue of what the fare might be, I thrust a handful of loose coins onto the tray next to the bus-driver. He asked me a question, I think, which sounded like, “Yebrovchick intsh kaimajec dabrufka?”

I pointed at a village on my tourist map, and he swiped all the coins off the tray and into a bag. I looked at him and rubbed my thumb and index finger together... how much? He held up 10 fingers twice, plus another six.

There was no ways there was that amount of money in the tray, and when I withdrew my wallet to extract a note, he just closed his eyes and waved me away.

The other passengers consisted mainly of school kids, a couple of old ladies with full shopping bags, and an elderly gent, who incidentally was the only other person who entered a commercial transaction with the bus company by swiping his ticket into a machine.

He was a pensioner and, as we later discovered, had an annual free pass. Everybody else just clambered aboard while the driver and another passenger were deep in light conversation.

The bus laboured up the narrow, winding road, with treacherous hairpin bends.

Traffic signs showed de-

scending buses and trucks had right of way into the corners, using the whole road to turn, while upcoming vehicles had to stop.

The only time we actually halted at a bus stop was to pick someone up; the rest of the time the driver would only stop at this house or that little lane, and people would climb out, delivered to their homes. He knew where everyone had to get out, or lived.

A little old lady tossed a slab of chocolate onto his tray; he stopped the bus, got up and helped her out carrying her parcels up a flight of steps to her door!

Our restaurant was closed, only opening for dinner that day. The bus had driven off back down the hill, and would only be back in 90 minutes.

Earlier we had driven past an advertised four-star Michelin eatery at a small hotel. And so, ambling back the way we had come, we decided to go there, have a drink and wait for the bus to return.

Each cluster of houses we passed every few hundred metres had piles of covered

chopped wood stacked for the winter. Every garden or backyard produced something - the one olives, another lemons or figs or vines; chickens, sheep and goats; or spinach, tomatoes, cabbages, carrots and lettuces.

These were for the householder’s consumption, or to trade with the neighbours (usually relatives) - my eggs for your veg or goats-milk cheese, or slivovitz, wine or olive oil.

Back on the bus, I pulled out a 20 kune note and presented it to our driver. While fumbling in my wallet for more, he shrugged and gave me the magic hand-wave again, thrusting the note into a side pocket.

The bus was empty and we sat right at the back. Halfway down, a man in a uniform climbed on. Oh no, a ticket inspector? After about five minutes of much discussion and gesturing up front between the two, they exchanged places. Aah, a replacement driver!

The delay meant the bus was now behind schedule and so we pelted down the nar-

row country road at around 50km/h-plus with Michael Schumacher at the wheel.

I shuddered at the thought of flying over the edge. My friend clung to the seat-rail in front of her, eyes tightly shut, while I slid about next to her.

A few days later I stopped by at the tourist info office to pick up a boat-taxi timetable, and chatted to the only person in the village who spoke English.

Recalling the bus trip to him and the fact that our ticket payment didn’t appear to go near State bus-coffers, he smiled wryly, and said: “Welcome to Croatia!”

Until next time - and a trip with cricketing legend Barry Richards - buckle up!

Vq"dg"eqpvkpwgf”

WE ALL SCREAM... for his wife’s ice-cream, which is a delectable Italian recipe with many different flavours for most days of the month

UPCOUNTRY CROATIA: Into the hills and up the mountain we went bussing, with a most spectacular bay view from the top - Photos: Jeeves

News & Views

21 October 2015

CXPRESS

Xenophobic violence in Wittedrift The xenophobia that has plagued South Africa sporadically over the past few years has reared its head in the Plettenberg Bay community of Green Valley, where two Somalian store owners and their spaza shops became the target of a mob assault

LIVELIHOOD CUT OFF: Mohamid Khalif, above, looks at the devastated interior of the spaza shop that has supported him, and allowed him to support his family - destroyed eight years after ‘finding a place I could be happy’ in Green Valley

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HE attack on Sunday afternoon October 18 was allegedly prompted by a selfappointed Wittedrift community leader who demanded that long-time resident Somalians leave their shops and remove themselves from Green Valley, presenting them with a written demand to vacate and accusing them of dealing drugs from the shops.

The shop-owners, Mohamid and Abdi Khalif, were shocked by the demands after having lived and operated their shops here for a number of years.

They presented the letter to a local lawyer who declared it invalid, and continued operating, only to face the wrath of an apparently overexcited and incited mob of Green Valley residents who looted and trashed their three spazas, destroying everything they did not carry off or throw into the street.

Eyewitnesses said that the mob started off small, but as the looting continued, it continued to grow, bolstered by what they termed “opportunists”, and “mostly all on tik,” according to one witness.

“They were not in their right

minds, they didn’t know what they were doing, they just climbed in on the action.”

The same witness said that he failed to understand why they did it, because it all but helped the community. “We need those shops. They are good for our community. It’s difficult for us to get things sometimes and those shops always have something for us.

“People say they charge too much, but it’s not true. A loaf of bread in town is the same price as a loaf of bread in the spaza. They don’t charge more. I don’t know why this is happening. And what they say about them selling drugs is not true. It’s rubbish! We know who the drug dealers are in our community, and it’s not them.”

Another witness, who claims to be a born-andbred Green Valley resident, said she knew the Somalians well and added that “they are like sons to me. I know that if ever I need help, they will be there for me, and I will be there for them.

“I don’t know why they did this, but I do know the names of every person who looted every one of them.”

The Khalifs said that they were effectively homeless after Sunday’s attack, as they lived in a back room behind the main spaza and that room was also trashed.

They said they had received death threats and feared for their lives, and had been forced to sleep in hiding in bushes on Sunday night, too afraid to ask for help with a place to stay over - despite having lived there, apparently accepted and integrated into the local community, for eight years.

They have also unequivocally denied the allegations of drug dealing, saying that it is an unfounded excuse.

“I don’t even allow people who have been drinking or smoking dagga into my

shop,” Mohamid Khalif said.

“We don’t drink and we don’t smoke or do anything.

It is against our religion - we are Muslim.”

Tensions still ran high the day after the attack, when the

alleged mob leader confronted the Somalians and the CXPRESS reporter who went to Green Valley to get facts and photos of Sunday’s attack.

The man, who was witnessed breaking the spaza shop lock and inviting looters in on Sunday evening, and who allegedly attacked the shop owners with a knife (described by the victim and witnesses as being over 40cm long), blocked the Somalians and the reporter’s exit from the scene and threatened to shoot them.

The Somalians and the reporter were held through the threat of violence and physical harm against the wall of a house next to the spaza shop for more than half an hour until the man, who was extremely agitated and clearly under the influence, reached into his car “for his gun”.

He was then overpowered

3 by a companion, allowing for his intended victims to escape the situation. The man was angered that he was being accused of being the mob leader and by the Somalians’ claim that he wanted to kill them the night before.

He claimed that he was in fact trying to protect them during Sunday’s attack.

In front of a crowd of witnesses, he then said that since he was being accused, he would shoot all three anyway “right here, right now, in front of everyone”.

The same man later accosted the reporter a second time, threatening to shoot her in front of everyone in the street, but was restrained by a concerned resident who rushed out of one of the houses to assist. ß" Cnn" pcogu" qh" vjg" cnngigf" qhhgpfgtu" ctg" mpqyp" vq" EZ/ RTGUU"cpf"fgrgpfkpi"qp"ng/ icn"cfxkeg"cpf"UCRU"cevkqp." yg"yknn"gpfgcxqwt"vq"hgcvwtg" c"hqnnqy/wr"ctvkeng"qp"vjg"hcvg" qh"vjg"hqtgkipgtu0"

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CXPRESS

News & Views

21 October 2015

George buys into Go with 1-million tickets, but taxi lords cry ‘peanuts!’

Hundreds of taxi operators have vowed to continue mass protest action against the R2.27-billion Go George public transport network after staging their third march this year through the town’s streets last week - YOLANDÉ STANDER reports

STRIKE-READY: After similar action in August when several Go George buses were torched and infrastructure destroyed, a heavy police presence prevailed around protestors

M

ORE than 200 disgruntled members of the George taxi industry, followed by a convoy of more than 30 taxis, took to the town’s streets on October 15, saying that the implementation of the pilot project had been “nothing but lies, corruption and theft”.

This comes after similar action in August which turned violent, leading to several Go George buses being torched and other infrastructure destroyed.

Thursday’s march was supported by several political heavyweights including ANC Western Cape chairman Marius Fransman.

“Not even apartheid pushed aside the taxi industry as much as the DA-led region is now,” Fransman said from the doorstep of George Municipality, where protestors gathered to hand over their list of demands to mayor Charles Standers.

Cornelius Esau of George United Taxi Drivers, who represents the affected parties, said owners and operators had been forced by government “gangsters” to accept offers for compensation.

One of their main issues with the George Integrated Public Transport Network (GIPTN), which had been phased in since December, was the compensation model.

After lengthy negotiations between government and the affected taxi associations, operators and owners were in 2013 given the option of either relinquishing their operating permits and receiving compensation on a sliding scale per permit starting at R350,000, or becoming shareholders in Go George and receive a monthly income also on a sliding scale starting at about R5,000.

Esau said this was “peanuts” in relation to the business they had “built and maintained from scratch and that the industry demanded R2-million and R12,000 respectively.

He added that they also de-

BETTER BEFORE ‘94: Provincial ANC chairman Marius Fransman said the current state of taxi affairs is worse than during apartheid years

TAXIMEN VS ‘GANGSTERS’: Cornelius Esau represents the disgruntled taxi operators

ON THE RECEIVING END: Western Cape director of Transport and Public Works Yasir Ahmed took receipt of the memorandum - Photos: Yolandé Stander

manded a forensic investigation into all aspects of the Go George pilot project.

“If there is nothing to hide then why are you dragging your (Standers) feet with the institution of such an investigation?” Esau asked.

Industry role-players also demanded that negotiations be reopened. Esau vowed that protest action would continue until their demands were met.

Thursday’s action not only brought the Go George system to a standstill, but also

took place on the eve of its official launch by Western Cape premier Helen Zille, MEC for transport and public works Donald Grant, and Standers.

The GIPTN was launched at Conville Civic Centre and coincided with national transport month. By the middle of July, only seven months after roll-out of the first routes, Go George had sold more than one million tickets - not even halfway through activating the areas that will eventually be serviced by the network.

News & Views

21 October 2015

CXPRESS

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This ‘water rat’ can’t swim, but lives another day thanks to Russell’s CPR RUSSELL KATZENBERG of Keurbooms River Ferries tells of a rather unique encounter - with a happy ending - last week

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AST Monday while returning from an afternoon cruise along Keurbooms River, a rubber duck passed us creating a massive wake in the river’s no-wake zone.

At the time I thought nothing of this, other than knowing I had to position our boat to deal with the larger-thannormal wake.

As I was straightening up, one of our guests noticed something floating in the water. He shouted that a “water rat” was trying to swim across. I just laughed and explained that, in all my years of being on the river, I was yet to see a water rat. So we decided to investigate.

As we moved closer, I realised that it was a blue duiker trying to swim across the river. It must have been washed off the river bank when the duck created that huge wake a couple of minutes earlier.

I guessed that it had fallen into the water and, in fright, started swimming away from the bank it was washed from.

Blue duikers don’t have great swimming skills, and this bokkie started floundering in the middle of the river.

As we arrived on the scene, the duiker took its last breath and started disappearing under the surface. I only just managed to scoop it out and put it onto one of our boat’s

tables. It was no longer breathing, so I started CPR on the little duiker.

After a couple of minutes it responded to my chest compression and regurgitated the water. I dried it off and wrapped it in a towel before giving it to Tony and Lynette - a couple from Midrand who joined us on the cruise.

They then calmed it down and kept it warm inside Tony’s jacket while we continued travelling.

When arriving at First

Beach, we attempted to release the blue duiker into the forest, but it was in shock and would not move off.

At this point I decided to take the duiker back to the jetty and to give Henk Nieuwoudt of CapeNature a call for advice.

Henk sent one of his rangers down to meet us at the jetty - their response time was incredibly fast and they were already waiting by the time we arrived at the jetty.

Ranger Malcolm rushed the blue duiker off to Tenikwa Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre for recovery.

Two days later, I was joined

by Eben from CapeNature and Tanja from Tenikwa when taking the blue duiker upriver to where the incident took place. We wanted to release it as close as possible to its territory in case it had young ones in the area or a mate that would be looking for it.

Fortunately there were no hiccups and it only took a few minutes for the duiker to emerge from its transport box and scamper off into the thick undergrowth, hopefully to find its family.

Visit https://youtu.be/m7 CMS_84g7o for a video clip of the release, and call Russell on 083 254 3551 or visit www.ferry.co.za for info on Keurbooms River cruises.

RESCUE RANGERS: Russel, right, is pictured here with, from left, Gauteng guests Tony and Lynette and CapeNature contractor Sipamandla Bota, with the little duiker safely tucked into a box on the back of the bakkie - Photo: Eben Lourens, CapeNature

DIVING DUIKER: The little bokkie that was saved from drowning was released back into the forest where it was washed off the bank, after a quick recuperation stint at Tenikwa wildlife sanctuary, at left

Photo: Russel Katzenberg

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CXPRESS

News & Views

21 October 2015

Colourful gardens on show again for Plett pets’ sake

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ARDEN lovers along the Route can look forward to another enjoyable day outdoors visiting four lovely local gardens, while supporting Plett Animal Welfare Services (PAWS).

The fourth Plett Open Garden Day takes place on Saturday October 31 from 10am to 4pm and again features Rae Gilbert’s magnificent Bosky Dell Rose Garden as anchor venue.

This popular event is now a firm favourite on the annual calendar of events and attracts visitors from as far afield as Mossel Bay. Last year, despite cold, wet and windy weather, 313 hardy visitors turned up to help PAWS raise the impressive sum of R34,000.

A visit to Bosky Dell is always a must, not only for the roses in their first glorious flush of colour, but for the tea garden, quality cake and plant sales - with live music thrown in.

Another regular feature is the raffle for a painting by David Hall-Green, the former television personality who is also a trained artist. The winner can choose to have a child, beloved pet or even a motorbike painted by David.

Tickets at R60 for all four gardens will be sold at each garden. Flyers describing the gardens and their locations will be available at the gardens, but can also be collected from Barney’s Kiosk next to Mugg & Bean at The Market Square from Monday October 26.

“It’s quite a challenge for the small but committed PAWS team to raise enough funds to cover our monthly operating costs of about R50,000.

Without the generous support of the public for events such as this one, we cannot continue to provide the essential primary health care service to improve living conditions for Bitou’s many neglected and abused dogs and cats,” says Marsja Hall-Green.

The featured gardens are: ß" Dqum{" Fgnn" Tqug" Ictfgp on the N2, access opposite The Heath - follow dirt road to the farm. This magnificent garden containing more than 6,000 rose bushes is based on strict geometric design, with the bright colours of a large variety of roses complemented by indigenous borders and shrubs. A central pavilion overlooking a

GARDENS TO DIE FOR: Some of the spectacular venues featured during last year’s event included the Oppenheimer garden, above, and Milton garden pictured below

verdant valley houses the tea garden and visitors can stroll around a lovely lily pond. ß" Jcymgu" Ictfgp, Brackenridge Estate, access via main entrance off Piesang Valley Road (directions available at gate). The position of the stand, at the top of the ridge and exposed to prevailing wind, was an important factor when planning the garden.

Mike Vlok, designer of this impressive indigenous garden over two stands, created several tranquil corners that are revealed as one moves further into the main section, with its fabulous view over the valley, bay and mountains. The plan includes a lovely pond with a Robbie Leggatt sculpture and imaginative planting of exotics to provide year-round colour. ß"OeKxqt"Ictfgp, 52 Bitou Glade, access via main entrance to Brackenridge Estate, off Piesang Valley (directions available at gate).

Chick McIvor, who has always loved the serenity of English gardens, found it quite a challenge to design an indigenous garden where she had to contend with severe clay conditions.

After Graham von Hoesslin had provided the backbone for the layout, Chick set about planting her garden for the bees, birds, butterflies and buck. She has had to learn to share her garden with many wild visitors, including a voracious tortoise who loves gazanias. The allyear round colour is offset by the ever-changing view over mountains and ocean. ß" Fkrrgpcct" Ictfgp, 4 Robbebergbaai Road, Brakkloof, last left off road leading to Robberg Nature Reserve. This garden was very new when featured during the first Open Garden Day in 2012. Now, three years later, it has matured and still offers a large variety of mainly indigenous and endemic plants, with natural and unstructured plantings.

It was designed by Graham von Hoesslin for maximum impact of colour and to attract nectar, fruit and insecteating birds. Every corner presents a surprise, with a stunning view over Robberg and the ocean.

For additional information, please contact Marsja HallGreen on 073 645 9476 or 044 533 4578.

Notice Board

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NYSNA Garden Club meets on Wednesday Qevqdgt"4: at 9:45 for 10am at Croft’s House in Welbedacht Road. Come and enjoy a talk by Gerard Erasmus from Protek in this beautiful Knysna garden. Please remember to bring hats, chairs and walking shoes - visitors

are welcome. Phone Elinor Clegg on 044 387 1966 for more details.

The next Masizame Quiz Night takes place at Rod & Reel Restaurant in Plett on Qevqdgt"4:, at 18:30 for 7pm. Teams of six to eight members can be made up on

the night. Join this fun-filled evening which, at R120 per head, includes dinner and excellent brain-racking entertainment. RSVP by noon latest on Monday October 26 with Nicholas Coleman at masizamepr@gmail.com or on 044 533 6640. All proceeds go to Masizame.

News & Views

21 October 2015

Celebrate 21 years of pachyderm wellness at Knysna Elephant Park

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NYSNA Elephant Park (KEP) is proud to have been one of the Garden Route’s premier tourist destinations for the last 20 years.

And this year, on October 26, the KEP crew will celebrate their 21st birthday.

For the last two decades, the Park has dedicated itself to elephants in need and has become recognised both nationally and internationally as one of the best captive elephant facilities in the world.

Says KEP owner Lisette Withers: “We pride ourselves in constantly working towards improving elephant management to better suit the welfare needs of elephants in captive or managed environments.

“In line with this, we found-

COMING OF AGE: Having started out with two rescued elephants in 1994, more than 45 elephants have passed through Knysna Elephant Park’s gates in the last two decades, providing special experiences and lifelong memories for visiting humans- and more of those memories can now be secured by Garden Routers taking up the Park’s offer of 21% discount during its birthday weekend from October 24-26

Owners don’t doubt that île de païn lowing the conflagration has will live again been settled and it will now Timothy Twidle

A

fire that ravaged the first floor of a building on Thesen Islands in Knysna on May 6 caused collateral damage to the popular eatery île de païn, located directly below on the ground floor of the same building.

In recess at the time, île de païn was scheduled to reopen on June 16, but the extent of the impairment to fixtures, fittings and equipment due partially to fire but mostly to the ingress of water, smoke, dust and debris, made this impossible.

The venue has remained under lock-down ever since, much to the disappointment of the large and loyal clientele built up over more than 12 years - île de païn was the first new establishment on Thesen Islands aside from the existing Knysna Oyster Company.

Co-owners Liezie Mulder and Markus Färbinger were forced to retrench the entire staff of some 40 persons, many of whom still express sadness at being unable to continue working at their beloved île de païn. Such was the level of profession-

alism and motivation of the employees.

Having opened in December 2002, many staff members had worked there ever since. Over the years the reputation and popularity of the establishment grew exponentially and during holiday periods it was often necessary to wait over an hour before being seated at a table.

Patrons did not seem to mind queuing, for the fare was unique and of the finest quality. It was, however, the local patrons of île de païn who evinced the greatest loyalty frequently sharing ‘their’ île de païn with family and friends.

The courtesy and friendliness of staff was a signature quality of the venue.

Mulder and Färbinger are still receiving requests from a multitude of sources on a daily basis, enquiring as to the future of île de païn; they wish to assure everyone that efforts are unstinting in their determination to see the restaurant, patisserie and woodoven bakery reopen.

The insurance claim fol-

be necessary to demolish, redesign and rebuild the île de païn premises.

Says Färbinger: “We are continually taken up with travel, meetings and discussions directed at reopening île de païn and ideas, input and participation are welcome.

Please send us your questions or learn about the latest development via social media.

“The entire experience has been an incredible and humbling learning curve and we are happy to pass on all that we can share. We are planning for all possible future outcomes and eventualities.”

It will be another 200 to 300 days before île de païn will reopen, but live again it will.

The eatery encapsulated social, environmental and financial responsibility coupled with beauty, happiness and love; it was an efficient and wholesome business that ‘cooked’ in every sense of the word!

To the legions of île de païn’s followers, the owners say: “Thanks for your support and wonderful wishes.

We yknn bake bread again...”

October rocks for Brothers Battut

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OT on the heels of chef Laurent Battut’s recent TripAdvisor accolade as Best Plett Restaurant comes news of his brother Jerome’s triumph in the European Sea Rescue Championships, held in Alicante, Spain,

where he won gold in the Masters division.

An October 15 release by the world’s largest travel site stated that “the top restaurant in Plett is not entirely what you would expect”.

“Chez Laurent - the hum-

LIFESAVER: Jerome Battut, second from right, won gold in the European Sea Rescue Championships 2015

GOURMAND: Laurent Battut’s Market stall tops TripAdvisor’s list of best Plett eateries

ble, laidback bistro at The Market on Plett’s Main Street - comes in at the #1 place to eat in Plett.

“According to one review, one should not be fooled by this little ‘restaurant’ within a market place. ‘We had the famous steak rolls on two occasions, and also booked for a dinner with the best fillet steak I have ever had - very inexpensive for the quality you get.’”

Visit www.tripadvisor.co.za and search ‘Plettenberg Bay restaurants’ for the full list of reviewers’ best-loved local eateries. CXPRESS congratulates Ngu" Htëtgu" Dcvvwv on both these awards.

CXPRESS ed the African Elephant Research Unit (AERU) in 2009 - the first and only such unit in South Africa, aimed specifically at captive elephant research and welfare.”

Having grown from just two elephants, rescued from dire circumstances in 1994, more than 45 elephants have passed through the Park’s gates in the last 20 years. Some have become part of the resident herd, others have moved on to other facilities or even wild reserves, where they now raise their own wild families.

The experienced and talented staff, in conjunction with the support received from both local and international visitors, have enabled Knysna Elephant Park to now stand as an example of how a respon-

7 sible and best-practice facility should be run, illustrating optimal standards of elephant husbandry and welfare.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of our KEP staff and supporters for the commitment they have shown to us and our famous elephant family. We are excited to move forward into the next 20 years with all of you!” concludes Withers.

Help the team and their eles celebrate by joining them at the Park for their birthday weekend from October 2426, and taking advantage of a 21% discount on all daily tours. They look forward to welcoming you.

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CXPRESS

Interval

21 October 2015

Google is probably a woman, because I am still typing and then there are already about 10 suggestions.

How men and women record things in their diaries

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IFE’S Diary: Tonight, I thought my husband was acting weird.

We had made plans to meet at a nice restaurant for dinner.

I was shopping with my friends all day long, so I thought he was upset at the fact that I was a bit late, but didn’t comment on it.

Conversation wasn’t flowing, so I suggested that we go somewhere quiet so we could talk. He agreed, but he

didn’t say much.

I asked him what was wrong.

He said: “Nothing.”

I asked him if it was my fault that he was upset.

He said he wasn’t upset, that it had nothing to do with me, and not to worry about it.

On the way home, I told him that I loved him. He smiled slightly, and kept driving.

I can’t explain his behaviour. I don’t know why he didn’t say ‘I love you, too’.

Doctors and nurses

A

woman brings eightyear-old Johnny home and tells his mother that he was caught playing doctors and nurses with Mary, her eight-year-old daughter.

Johnny’s mom says: “Let

us not be too harsh on them, they are bound to be curious about sex at that age.”

“Curious about sex?” replies Mary’s mother. “He’s taken her friggin’ appendix out!”

When you’re going for broke

A

guy goes into a bar and orders seven shots of tequila and one beer chaser.

The bartender lines up seven shots and goes to get the beer. When he returns with the beer only moments later, all seven shots are gone.

“Wow! You sure drank those

fast.” the bartender says.

The guy explains: “You’d drink fast too if you had what I have.”

“What do you have?” the bartender asks.

The guy reaches into his pocket and says: “Fifty cents!”

You’ve been drinking too much coffee when…

• Your eyes stay open when you sneeze.

• You can take a picture of yourself from ten feet away without using the timer.

• You lick your coffeepot clean.

• You go to AA meetings just for the free coffee.

• You’ve built a miniature city out of plastic stirrers.

• People get dizzy just watching you.

• Instant coffee takes too long.

• You go to sleep just so you

can wake up and smell the coffee.

• You’re offended when people use the word ‘brew’ to mean beer.

• Your lips are permanently stuck in the sipping position.

• You can outlast the Energizer bunny.

• You don’t even wait for the water to boil anymore.

• You introduce your spouse as your ‘Coffee-mate’.

• You’re convinced that CPR stands for ‘Coffee Provides Resuscitation’.

When we got home, I felt as if I had lost him completely, as if he wanted nothing to do with me anymore.

He just sat there quietly, and watched TV. He continued to seem distant and absent.

Finally, with silence all around us, I decided to go to bed.

About 15 minutes later, he

came to bed. But I still felt that he was distracted, and his thoughts were somewhere else.

He fell asleep. I cried. I don’t know what to do. I’m almost sure that his thoughts are with someone else.

My life is a disaster.

Husband’s Diary: A two-foot putt… who the hell misses a two-foot putt?

21 October 2015

CXPRESS

9

Photo: Taz Genade

Social Scene

People, places & events

TAZ TRIGGER-HAPPY OVER PAWS WALK: Ace Plett photographer Taz Genade shared this spectacular pic of his Miniature Schnauzer Buddy in hot pursuit of a ball on the beach, with his buddy Wanda playing along in the background. And great news for doggy-huggers in Plett is that Taz will be on hand with his camera on Saturday October 24, when it’s time for the annual 4 x PAWS Trail again. Walkers and their four-legged friends will set off from Longstone Park at 8am, with entries costing R40 per dog or R100 for three+ dogs. Trail distances are 4.5km and 1.3km for puppies or oldies, and participants stand a chance of winning a bunch of great prizes. Call Michelle Moyes on 072 346 5103 for details, and check out Taz’s work at www.facebook/fotojan123.com or give him a bell on 083 718 4048 to find out more.

IS IT GETTING HOTTER IN KNYSNA? Yes! Because Tshisa Talent will be uncovering new performers in Knysna on Saturday October 24 at Masifunde Library in Witlokasie. A free Skills Development Workshop starts at 9am, followed by auditions for participants at 1pm. Singers, rappers, dancers, choirs and theatre makers will be selected to join the best of Plett’s Tshisa Talent Competition for a series of concerts around the Garden Route. Pictured at right is 2015 Tshisa Talent winner Zafie in full flight. An energetic rapper and Tshisa Talent Ambassador, Zafie takes his award everywhere with him and this inspires the youth who follow him. ‘I am proud to be part of Tshisa, which has helped me to market myself much better, and I believe there are great things to come! I urge Knysna to take advantage of this great opportunity,’ he says. This project is funded by the Department of Cultural Affairs & Sport and supported by Knysna Municipality. Contact Gaillene at admin@lunchbox.org.za or call, SMS or WhatsApp 071 090 6199 for details.

GOLF BRINGS RELIEF: The Mayoral Charity Golf Day in aid of Knysna mayor Georlene Wolmarans’ Social Relief and Bursary Fund takes place at Simola Country Club annually to raise funds for education and skills development. This year’s event on October 15 - the eighth since the inaugural occasion in 2007 - was a resounding success once again, offering participants the opportunity to play at one of our country’s most prestigious golf clubs. Funds raised do not go towards education alone, but are also used to set up soup kitchens, donate school uniforms to underprivileged children, and support crèches in disadvantaged communities. Flanking mayor Wolmarans in the pic are Golf Day winners Team Sonqua Consulting - from left are Randall Bower, Theo Adams, Ferlin Stuurman, Enquin le Roux - and Peter Berman, right, who sponsored the scratch golf competition.

ELVIS TUNES ENTHRAL: At a function in Knysna on October 9, Roy Taylor sang ‘The Elvis Story’ featuring some the best known songs of Elvis Presley - arguably the most revered person in the 20th century’s pantheon of popular entertainment. Interspersed with firm favourites like ‘Jailhouse Rock’ and ‘All Shook Up’, Taylor related cameos and anecdotes about Elvis Aaron Presley, whose life was lived in the merciless glare of publicity once he had ascended to stardom in the late 1950s. Taylor reminded that Elvis impersonators numbered in the tens of thousands and that there were look-alike competitions of the great man for women, children and even dogs, while four radio stations worldwide play Elvis Presley songs exclusively. His almost surreal meeting with US president Richard Nixon in December 1970 was also described by Taylor. Tickets for ‘The Elvis Story’ were sold out a week before the event and those attending enjoyed a fine dinner and an evening of enjoyable music. Roy has been involved with the world of entertainment for more than 50 years and his band, The Johnny Quantrose Five, has shared billings with The Rolling Stones, Manfred Mann and Cilla Black. Roy - pictured above with Baden Hall, right, who provided the musical backing - live in Knysna with his wife Barbara. Enjoying the evening at right arem from left, Stewart & Margaret Blackstock and Elizabeth Dafert.

Photos: Timothy Twidle

Photo: Anja Whiel

ANOTHER FANTASTIC FISH! The 34th Hansa Fish River Marathon took place on October 9 & 10, participating paddlers braving the 82km from Grassridge Dam to Cradock. This iconic white water race is never short of war stories and adventure - above, the Plett crew is pictured after swapping personal yarns over several Hansas. Saying ‘Feeeeesh!’ from left are Steph le Roux, Alexis Lyon, Jessica Reed, Dan Meiring, Mili Murchio, Brett Esterhuizen, Dave Visser, Neal Stephenson, Johan de Bruyn, Gio Primo, Carl Behrens and Glenn Murray.

La Luna

10

CXPRESS

21 October 2015

Classifieds

On the Soapbox

21 October 2015

Letters to the Editor

CXPRESS

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

Bay crime busters lauded for sterling work On a recent late Sunday afternoon, my daughter-inlaw’s and granddaughter’s mountain bicycles were stolen off their Combi, which was ‘safely’ parked inside our palisaded yard.

Apparently this is not so ‘safely’ as two youths stole both bikes while we were out for a walk. We immediately phoned the Plett Crime Pre-

vention Association [PBCPA] on discovering the theft.

Andrew, who was on duty, put out the call and within minutes, Tubby Will of Smhart Alarms, followed by two other PBCPA members, arrived at our house to get a description of the bikes.

My son also reported the theft to the SAPS. That evening, they report-

Ditto, Denise!

Dear Editors, I can only agree wholeheartedly with Denise Hugo’s comments about your paper [turn to page 15 of the October 7 edition at www.cxpress. co.za to find out more].

I have a holiday home on Keurbooms River and come to Plett four times

a year during the school holidays. I always make a beeline for CXPRESS to find out what is happening in your beautiful part of our country.

You are true news bearers and provide entertaining reading.

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ed that my granddaughter’s bike had been found in Marine Drive, and one suspect arrested. The other suspect got away by fleeing into Bossiesgif over the pedestrian bridge with the far more valuable bike.

By the Tuesday morning, the police reported that this bike had also been found in bushes near New Horizons, and the second youth arrested.

We owe Tubby a huge thank you for recovering these valuable items, and also to the PBCPA for the invaluable work done in coordinating crime prevention in Plettenberg Bay. Thank you, too, to Captain Theunissen and Constable Memani of Plett SAPS for the sterling work they did in this case.

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Sorry to say, but no robot laughs on the cards...

Paul Deans’ letter ‘Our only hope is for Asimov’s first law to kick into gear’ [turn to page 15 of the October 7 edition at www.cxpress. co.za] raises numerous valid questions. I do however, believe that robots will never talk and communicate as we do.

While discussing this very topic some years ago, a friend of mine raised an important question: Will robots ever develop a sense of humour?

Give it some thought. The human brain is an incredibly complex organ that robots will not be able to replicate.

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Why should law enforcers outnumber Plett residents?

This morning [October 16] in Plett’s Main Street, people were sitting in a small car diagonally parked in a ‘red zone’ next to a pedestrian crossing - yes, this is technically an offence.

Two Bitou Municipal Law Enforcement (MLE) officers drove past in a bakkie and spotted the offending vehicle on the other side of the road. The MLE vehicle stopped, parked across the pedestrian crossing and the officers left the vehicle, engine still running.

They both crossed the street and one proceeded to write out a ticket for the offending vehicle, while the other looked on. The whole time, their bakkie’s engine was running.

When approached as to why they had parked across a pedestrian crossing, they claimed to be working.

Do these people have nothing better to do than driving up and down our high street endangering pedestrians?

How much better would it have been for the officers to

find parking less than 30m away, walk that distance to the offending vehicle, and request the driver to move on, as they were parked in a zone endangering pedestrians?

Just think how much goodwill this would have created.

Oh and, by the way, the MLE vehicle would then not have endangered pedestrians!

While on the subject... over time I have made two other observations: Why is it that on a number of occasions we see empty MLE vehicles parked in

A sweet winning the pooh story...

So much has been written about the dogs on Plett’s beaches, but nothing about the dogs walked daily on the streets and pavements, where no one seems too fussed about carrying a pooh bag and scoop.

Are the owners making sure that their dogs are poohing anywhere but in the backyards while getting their exercise? At home they would HAVE to remove the mess.

It takes great effort to keep our gardens and verges neat and clean, and we do not feel the need to clear other people’s mess. So please guys, play the game and keep Plett doggy-doo and pooh-free.

Carrying a pooh bag really is not great effort.

On the lighter side, I saw a very well-groomed little Dachshund being walked

WHAT, ME WORRY? We couldn’t resist pilfering this image from a mailer by Cape Dachshund Rescue (CDR) - a Cape Town based organisation that rescues abused and neglected Dachshunds, and which has recently extended its reach to service the Eastern Cape as well (find out more at www.capedachs hunds.wix.com or follow them on Facebook at www.facebook. com/CapeDachs hundRescue)

down Longships recently.

He was carrying a very smart ‘stick’ - all chrome and wood - in his mouth.

His little legs were moving

so very fast and his attitude was that of someone having a real purpose in life.

So sweet! flDgnng"Pgn‚."Rngvv

Main Street, or down at The Market Square?

On Gibb Street, where parking is clearly marked ‘1 Hour Only’, municipal vehicles are parked outside their offices for well over an hour so presumably they are immune from parking tickets.

These bays are supposed to be for the use of shoppers, and there is reserved parking for vehicles behind the municipal offices, off the same street.

To make matters worse, groups of MLE officers often stand around chatting among themselves on Gibb Street - but ignoring vehicles parked for over an hour.

In conclusion, it would appear that there are a disproportionate number of MLE vehicles and officers compared to residents for 11 months of the year.

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Thank you for the kindness We thank everyone who supported us through the sad and difficult time after the sudden loss of our beloved daughterin-law, Sunelle.

Thank you for the love and kindness shown to Dirk Jr and Dianelle.

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11

12

CXPRESS

Sport & Adventure

21 October 2015

Swiss runner first to break Otter’s ‘unbreakable’ sub-4 T

HOT GROUP HUG: Marc Lauenstein at the finish line with the Collins family of Christine, Mark and his brother John, right

HE vibe at De Vasselot campsite in Nature’s Valley was pure electricity on Saturday morning as Otter African Trail Run race director Mark Collins and his crew waited to see if his R100,000 incentive for any of the runners finishing the iconic 42km hiking trail under four hours would be claimed.

Then word came in that Swiss trailblazer Marc Lauenstein was traversing the beach at a trot in his final approach, and suddenly that sub-4 finish was becoming a glaring reality.

Says Christine Collins of organisers Magnetic South: “It was quite a tense few

minutes building up to the four-hour race pace... we still cannot believe Marc actually did it. What a fantastic athlete, and so humble.

“If anybody deserved to have won that R100k, then it’s him. At prizegiving, he said some words about himself and how he felt bad accepting the money. Then he said, ‘...but you know, Mark, you gambled and you lost’.

Such a nice guy!”

And a nice guy he is, on top of being an awesome athlete: Lauenstein has pledged 25% of his winnings to Nature’s Valley Trust and a further 25% to disadvantaged youth with the aim to develop endurance sports.

The morning was far from over yet, with a riled-up crowd welcoming runner up Kane Reilly and third-place finisher Thabang Madiba, and first lady home Emma Roca from Spain as they completed the Grail of Trail.

First local runner home was Knysna’s Melikhaya Msizi, who managed a brave smile though seemingly racked by a cramping calf muscle.

Visit www.theotter.co.za for all the results and go to www.cxpress.co.za for more spectacular images.

BROKEN RECORD: Marc Lauenstein cut it fine when crossing the Otter finishing line in 3:59 - Photos: Glenn Murray Photography

Leolin versamel silwerware by Gim SAs in Pretoria

Tour de Plett fêtes its fifth year in grand style AND THEY’RE OFF! At far left, the 85km racing snakes gun it from the start at Wittedrift High School; at left, Kwano Cycling Academy star Melumzi Gagela cruises across the Bitou floating bridge Photos: Ray Winter

T

HE addition of new single-track along the Bitou and three floating bridges were some of the unique features that attracted a strong field of riders to The Tour de Plett 2015, which took the town and surrounds by storm on October 10.

The 85km cycling marathon was won by first lady home Robyn de Groot (3:57:27), while defending champ Dylan Rebello was the first man across the finish line in a time of 3:41:00.

The balance of challenging

but enjoyable route is establishing Tour de Plett as one of the must-do events on the Garden Route’s packed annual sporting calendar.

Organisers Club 100 Plett say a big thank you for the support of Plett Tourism and the sponsorship from MTO Group (previously Cape Pine), which allowed the route enhancements and the opportunity to partner with the excellent Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival.

Visit www.tourdeplett.co. za for more information.

L

EOLIN Petersen het twee silwer medaljes by die afgelope SA Gym Games in Gauteng verower. Sy het tweede plekke behaal in Euro Tramp en Tuimeling, en vyfde gekom in Double Mini.

Haar ma, Helen Bezuidenhout, het die foto’s hier met CXPRESS gedeel en sê: “Ons as familie wil

graag almal bedank wat die week in Pretoria vir ons moontlik gemaak het, met yslike waardering vir die rol van Bitou Munisipaliteit en burgemeester Memory Booysen.”

Helen bedank ook Leolin se afrigters Riaan, Lisa en Carolyn vir hul ondersteuning. Baie geluk aan almal betrokke!

PAKKIE DINAMIET: Talentvolle Plett Laer leerder Leolin Petersen - regs op die podium, en aan’t tuimel heelbo - het twee silwer medaljes losgeslaan tydens die onlangse SuidAfrikaanse kampioenskappe in die Jakarandastad