23 October 2019
Published every Wednesday by CXpress 2006 (Pty) Ltd - PO Box 1449, Plettenberg Bay 6600 - 6 Park Lane, Plettenberg Bay - Tel: 044 533 1004 - Fax: 044 533 0852 Email: editor@cxpress.co.za / advertising@cxpress.co.za Web page: www.cxpress.co.za Printed by Group Editors
Burn to boost
Photo: Dirk Smit - SCFPA manager
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Pictured here are a few members of Working on Fire teams affiliated to the Southern Cape Fire Protection Association, who directed a successful controlled burn in the Tsitsikamma last week. The inset gives a bird’s eye view of the vast area that benefited from this rejuvenating blaze. Find out more on page 4.
Inset: Jacques Visagie - WoF
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CXPRESS
NEWS & VIEWS
23 October 2019
Have a good laugh - and why not pass the gift of The Bard on to your kids? PRING has arrived and there’s some fresh new energy in the air. In this spirit, Lunchbox Theatre has invited Studio 42 to stage its sidesplitting play ‘The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)’ in Plettenberg Bay on Saturday November 2. There will be two opportunities to see this 90-minute laugh-a-minute at St Peter’s Church: a matinee at 3pm and an evening performance at 7pm. The hilarious production has brought the house down on every single one of its previous 12 performances. Without giving away too much… ‘The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)’ brings together three actors from Sedgefield - Nita Allsopp, Gareth Pretorius, and Bomber Webb - in a mad-cap attempt to include The Bard’s masterpieces into a
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HILARIOUS: From left, Nita Allsopp, Bomber Webb, and Gareth Pretorius are the awesome actors who perform all 38 Shakespeare plays in 90 minutes to provide a highly-entertaining comedy show Photo: EL Rorke Photography
single theatrical experience. “As a show, it is joyfully choreographed chaos,” says director Melanie Baumeister, adding that Shakespeare fans simply love it. “Even those who have never dabbled in anything by The Bard have leaped to their feet and cheered. From highschool children to octogenarians, it seems the universal funny bone is truly tickled by ‘The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)’.” Only 120 seats are available per show, so please visit www. qkt.io/IeP6ef to secure your place at once, or grab some tickets from Barney’s Info Kiosk at The Market Square shopping centre in Plett. All proceeds from the shows will help educating local school children on the topics of environment, animal care and health issues through live theatre educational shows. Check out www.lunchbox.org. za/our-shows/ for details, and see the advert on page 9 for additional information.
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NEWS & VIEWS
23 October 2019
CXPRESS
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Knysna DA maintains: no infighting or factionalism Ludumo Tede
ONOVAN Pofadder could feel the heat and could not handle the rage of his ward residents because of his poor performance, and he is confusing it with infighting within the DA in Knysna. This is according to DA Knysna constituency head Dr Dion George, who said “there is no infighting in the party”, and also denied former DA member and Ward 11 councillor Donovan Pofadder’s claims of internal strife, which Pofadder cited as his rationale for resigning from the council and the party.
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SNAKE IN THE WARD NO MORE: It’s a case of ‘he said she said’ when considering opinions on Donovan Pofadder’s proficiency and reasons for resigning
On October 15, Knysna municipal manager Dr Sitembele Vatala received a resignation letter from Pofadder stating that he was leaving the seat with immediate effect. In the letter, the former councillor articulated: “The current political climate also played a role in this decision. The relationship with my constituents and the people in my ward has become strenuous. “I feel strongly that we as a party lost focus on what is important, while infighting within our ranks was taking priority.” He [Pofadder] also said the manner in which the
Mona case postponed ‘till November 11 HE man accused of killing Plettenberg Bay teenager Sandisiwe Mona, 17, briefly appeared in the local magistrate’s court last week. Motseki Palasi, 56, took his place in the dock, but
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the matter was postponed to Monday November 11 for further investigation. He will remain in custody until his next appearance. Palasi was arrested last month after the KwaNokuthula teenager’s remains
were discovered in Ladywood. According to police, Palasi was the last person seen with the girl before she was murdered. He also voluntarily pointed out the crime scene. - Yolandé Stander
Bitou housing issues clarified after brief barricade of N2 by dissatisfied residents HE confusion of Bitou Ward 2, 3, and 4 residents regarding housing development issues urged members of these communities to demand clarity from both the Western Cape and local Human Settlements departments. On the evening of October 15, dissatisfied residents once again forced closure of the N2 when they barricaded the road by burning tyres and pelting passing traffic. As in the past, this action resulted in traffic being diverted via Plett Airport Road. Prior to the protest action, senior members of Bitou Municipality were called to a public meeting in Ward 3 to clear the mist of confusion created by contradictory statements released by local and provincial authorities. In one instance, Bitou men-
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tioned temporary homes to be built on Minnaar Land; in another, the Western Cape Human Settlements minister said that only 36 RDP houses would be built on Minnaar Land. This left the community feeling that they were being taken for a ride. In the meeting, municipal manager Lonwabo Ngoqo told the community that he had arranged to meet with the provincial Human Settlement department on October 17, since Bitou had gone ahead with its temporary-homes plan. The meeting proceeded as planned at the Bitou council chambers, with community leaders of Qolweni and New Horizons in attendance, along with relevant officials from local and provincial government. Following the meeting,
Bitou issued a statement outlining the outcome. Said Bitou communications manager Andile Namntu: “The current process of developing the Transitional Residential Area on Minaar Land in Bossiesgif will be completed on October 31. “The provincial Human Settlements department committed to Bitou’s initial plan of developing 169 top structures for qualifying residents of Ward 2 and 3. Province also committed to the full budget for the development of the 169 structures… the timeframe for completion of this project is set for December 2020.” After several attempts, Qolweni community leader Thandanani Mdatyulwa could not be reached for comment before going to print. - Ludumo Tede
party was treating former Knysna mayor Mark Willemse further spurred his decision to resign. Meanwhile, George blames Pofadder’s underperformance in his role as councillor, saying that this culminated in the rage of his former ward residents. He said the DA welcomed his resignation and wished him well in his future endeavours. “He’d been given a mandate by the DA and he failed to deliver. He has
been underperforming in his role and that resulted in the ward residents taking out their rage on him. “We understand it was his first term in a ward councillor position, and he could not handle the heat. We are looking for a suitable candidate to fill the position. We are confident that the DA will win back the ward during the by-election, and will win Knysna outright come 2021. “We wish him well, he’s a
nice guy, we like him,” said George. However, the community-based organisation Knysna United, in a press release, praised Pofadder for his decision, saying he had “broken out from the web of lies”, and that he told Knysna United he could not lie to people anymore. The by-election date has not yet been set by the IEC, but local political parties have started calling for nominations for suitable candidates for the vacant position.
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CXPRESS
NEWS & VIEWS
23 October 2019
Tsitsikamma controlled burn rejuvenates 23.3ha of fynbos and thicket One of the benefits of last week’s fire in the Tsitsikamma section of Garden Route National Park is clearing of alien plants in the mountain catchment area ONTROLLED burns are an essential component to a healthy ecology of an area, says Garden Route National Park (GRNP) manager Paddy Gordon. He was speaking after a successful burn was conducted by SANParks in partnership with Mountain to Ocean (MTO) on October 16. Other stakeholders involved in last week’s operation were the Working on Fire teams, Bitou Municipality’s Traffic and Fire departments, and the Southern Cape Fire Protection Association.
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The area burnt covered about 23.3 hectares, and is located 5.1km west of the Tsitsikamma tollgate and about 8km east of The Crags (Kurland Village). “This area is made up of mainly Cape Mountain fynbos,” explains Senior Ranger in the Tsitsikamma section Eugenia Mkhatshwa, adding that this particular area has not burnt in the last 19 years. “Coastal fynbos comprises a mix of fynbos and thicket vegetation which needs to burn every 10 to 20 years in order to prevent the
thicket from replacing too much fynbos. When fynbos gets converted to thicket, it becomes fire resistant and impossible to burn under all but very extreme weather conditions.” Furthermore, the risks and extent of a wild fire are decreased through a controlled burn - the greatest advantage of which is that all resources are on site and weather conditions are selected to be most favourable. “Before lighting such fires, all fire breaks are in place and sufficient resources are at hand, including aerial support and ground staff like fire fight-
ers and their equipment. “Hence it took the Tsitsikamma team one day to burn the area. In the case of a wildfire, more teams and more resources would have been spent to extinguish it than a controlled burn,” she says. Although SANParks spends millions in clearing invasive alien plant species through its biodiversity programmes, another purpose of an ecological or controlled burn is to reduce as many invasive alien plant species as possible in the Tsitsikamma mountain catchment area. Types of invasive alien plants found in the area in question are Eucalyptus, Acacia, and Hakea. In removing the invasive plants,
the fire essentially also significantly reduces the fuel load. The significance of the burn was to ultimately limit the risk of wildfire north of the mountain catchment - an area notoriously difficult and dangerous to access during wildfire conditions. Garden Route National Park covers approximately 165,000 hectares of land, of which one third is indigenous forests and two thirds fynbos. At least 7.1% of the mammals protected by GRNP are listed as ‘endangered’ and 14% as ‘vulnerable’. Fire not only ship-shapes the landscape, but several plants and flowers germinate as a result of control burns. Email nandi.mgwadlamba@sanparks.org or call 078 702 9663 for further info.
Knysna Business Chamber update HE official launch of the Greater Knysna Business Chamber (GKBC) took place on September 26 at Percy Mdala High School with over 80 members and guests in attendance. The Chamber aims to be a powerful voice for all business sectors in Knysna, Sedgefield, Rheenendal, and surrounding areas. “It is our vision to make the Greater Knysna an attractive business and investment destination. We do not only want our area to be a place to visit for a brief stay, but also for long-term investment that will ensure our entire economy will prosper and grow,” says newlyelected chairperson and local businessman Johnny Nkosi. Nkosi, who was a member of the Garden Route Rebuild Initiative working group established after the 2017 Knysna Fires, further stated that the establishment of a business chamber was one of the strategic objectives set out by the Initiative. A phase-two key objective was to ‘build back better’ for longterm success and to revitalise the economy, with a functioning business chamber identified as essential for this purpose. The GKBC board of directors consists of individuals from the broader business sector who will drive the Chamber to achieve its vision. It will be led by Nkosi and vice chair Martin Hansson with board members Elmay Bouwer, Evelyn Pepler, Albert Lombaard, Dr Andrew Brough, Chris Schutte, Schalk van der Merwe, and Ian Shrosbree. “There have been numerous attempts in the past to establish a functioning business chamber, but for various rea-
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sons these have all failed. We are aware of the challenges ahead to make this a success and we will only be successful if we can build a strong membership base of local businesses,” says Nkosi. The board is therefore urging the Greater Knysna business community to support its objectives by signing up as members, and by being part of working groups to highlight issues to their sector of business. The board is determined that the Chamber will be apolitical, not serve individual interests and will represent all businesses in the Greater Knysna area, including those in informal and rural areas. “We want to be clear that the Greater Knysna Business Chamber is independent, non-political, membership based, and a non-profit company dedicated to promoting a business-friendly environment. “We look forward to welcoming you as a member. There is strength in numbers, so we need your support to be a powerful voice,” says Nkosi. The Chamber’s plan of action for the remainder of 2019 is to establish working groups within the sectors of Tourism, Professional, Property, Wholesale and Retail, Services, Agriculture, Manufacturing, and Non-Governmental/Non-Profit. “Our board members have started engaging with local entrepreneurs to join the working groups so that their business ideas or concerns can be addressed through the Chamber and, together, we can drive business in the area forward,” concludes Nkosi. The Chamber’s Memorandum of Incorporation is currently in the registration process at CIPC and will be available for viewing shortly. Email maggie@maggiezeelie. co.za with membership enquiries. INDEPENDENT, NONPOLITICAL, NON-PROFIT: Newly-elected chairperson Johnny Nkosi and his deputy, Martin Hansson, right, invite all businesses in the Greater Knysna to join the business chamber
NEWS & VIEWS
23 October 2019
CXPRESS
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Minister Fritz joins forces with Garden Route district to present provincial safety plan Correspondent BOB HOPKIN reports on a two-day summit targeting domestic, communal, and traffic safety in the Western Cape
SETTING SIGHTS HIGH: Community Safety minister Albert Fritz encourages youths to resist gangsterism - Photo: Bob Hopkin
OST of us consider ourselves lucky to live in this province at the southern tip of the country where hard statistics have shown that, in general, our provincial, district and local municipalities govern better than most. Last week this optimism extended a little further when, during a two-day conference in George, a joint presentation by pro-
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vincial staff, local SAPS and Garden Route District Municipality, more definition was provided as to how safety in all its forms would be enhanced within the province. The topic was treated holistically by addressing public safety at home, in communal actions such as shopping or leisure activities, at work, or on the move. To no one’s surprise,
generators of crime were defined as poverty, unemployment, and alcohol and drug abuse. Western Cape minister of Community Safety advocate Albert Fritz, who gave the keynote address, painted a bleak picture of prospects for youths and children in disadvantaged households. “They have little or no prospect of gainful employment. Peer pressure often leads them to start smoking dagga before they even start school and in terms of self-esteem the best they can expect is to be accepted when joining their friends to become gangsters,” he said. Some progress has been made to counter this progression thanks to the activities of Chrysalis Academies around the country, where youths aged between 18 and 25 attend a voluntary three-month programme that provides a means to experience “civilised life”, care for others, self-care, awareness of nature, skills development, and growth of self-esteem.
The ‘chrysalis’ analogy with butterflies captures the issue of a turning point for impressionable youth, when choices made determine the course of future life: health and prosperity or not. Having touched on the issues of causal factors, local SAPS Cluster Commander major general Oswald Reddy then addressed the pre-
vention and detection of crime and criminals. Recently, provincial premiere Alan Winde announced a police recruitment drive that looks to appoint an additional 3,000 officers and 50 investigators - a very welcome move according to Reddy, who said that he was 7% understaffed and 5% short on vehicles. In addition, a reorganisation is underway and includes the merging of Eden
and Mossel Bay clusters to become the Garden Route cluster, with improvements in communications and access to facilities. Finally, N2 Traffic Management regional director Nathan Arendse indicated a tragic situation on local roads where some 1,400 fatalities - a mixture of mobile and pedestrian, many alcohol related - occur annually in the province. The ambitious target is to reduce this to zero.
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CXPRESS
NEWS & VIEWS
23 October 2019
Alutha continua: Plett teen talks her way onto parliamentary podium LUTHA Phike, 17, was one of two learners selected by Murray High School to participate in a recent Western Cape Youth Parliament debate. She was one of 38 delegates from across the province who took part, which makes the fact that she claimed third place in the challenge all the more impressive. “I am very thankful to all those who have assisted me in my steps towards making this happen - my mother Noluvuyo Phike, my church mother Noksie Kolwapi, and the church women who took me under their wing. I also thank my teachers, my friends, and Delnay from the Khanya Project.
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ORATOR EXTRAORDINAIRE: Murray High student Alutha Phike, right, is pictured with Miss Plaatjies and Western Cape Provincial Parliament speaker Masizole Mnqasela at centre
“The programme has assisted me in various ways. Thanks to Khanya, I’ve learned things about my future that I would not have taken into consideration. I now view life in a more meaningful way and be-
lieve this project should be a compulsory subject!” For details on the project, go to www.bitou10founda tion.co.za or contact the Bitou 10 Foundation at mana ger@bitou10foundation.co. za or call 044 533 6466.
Painting and fixing with fellow Scouts earn Ms Storm her coveted Springbok award
Mikaya Storm of Plett sent these pics and wrote: “From September 23-28 I ran a community service project to qualify for my Springbok top award in Scouting. Along with Scouts from the First Plettenberg Bay Troop, I went to Siyakula Pre-primary in Qolweni, where preschool kids are educated without the assistance of government funding. We partnered with Plett’s Orca Foundation who supplied what we needed to repaint and repair the little school. I clocked 40 hours of community service, and I thank everyone who helped me reach this goal.” Pictured above with Mikaya at left are Joshua Oosthuizen, Murray Oosthuizen, and Michael Crone at right. At right from left, Scout buddies Gabriel Pfister, Baliseng Mokonyane, the Oosthuizen brothers and Danica Sinclair work hard at making Siyakula look like a million bucks.
Team Tshisa Talent does it once again! INCE 2008, Tshisa Talent have been going into the communities of Plettenberg Bay and Knysna to discover, develop and promote upcoming talent in the performing arts. During the third school term, armed with funding from the National Arts Council of South Africa, Tshisa Talent ventured into four high schools to find the Best of the Best Talent. A total of 156 youngsters from Concordia, Plett Secondary, Percy Mdala and Murray High auditioned to compete for the prizes, all prize money being invested into furthering their careers in the performing arts. First-prize winners of a whopping R5,000 were Concordia High Choir, Sibusiso Sinuko (dancer, Percy Mdala), Anqobile (singer, Plett Sec), and Three Sisters (singers, Murray High). Second-prize (R1,000) winners were Ayola Duka
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HOTTER THAN GEORGIA ASPHALT: Pictured from left are Tshisa Talent manager Maphiko Mncedisi Ncedani, rap artist Element Himself (one of Tshisa’s finest!), newest team member Ntombizodwa Ntoni, Tshisa Talent assistant Sibusiso Njonga, and Tshisa admin manager Gaillene Isaks - Photo: Shanette Elliott
(soloist, Concordia High), Aphiwe Mandidi (dancer, Percy Mdala), Crazy Cousins (dance group, Plett Sec), and Trigger Liro (rap artist, Murray High). Third prize (R500) went to Olwethu Mantwa (rap artist, Percy Mdala) and Jordan Plaatjies of Concordia High - congrats to these courageous young performers! Tshisa Talent delights in making dreams come true
for aspiring performing artists by visiting all communities in CX Country in search of upcoming talent. Thanks to judges Tigger Reunert, Amanda Valela, Stuart Palmer and one of Tshisa’s latest discoveries, rapper Element Himself. Visit www.tshisatalent.co. za for more info and check out www.facebook.com/ TshisaTalent to see these inspiring youngsters in action.
NEWS & VIEWS
23 October 2019
CXPRESS
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Ways to keep the power on without breaking the bank HERE’S no way of putting it lightly: load-shedding is no fun. While candles might seem like the best and most affordable idea when the lights go out, they’re not exactly the most practical or sustainable. If you’re not a fan of the dark, then invest in a few sustainable solutions around the house. Beat power outages and get cooking and lighting solutions without breaking the bank.
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doesn’t mean normal life comes to a halt. You will still need to cook dinner for yourself and the family at home, and a gas camping stove will prove to be a lifesaver when you need to make your morning cup of coffee without an electric kettle, while allowing you to whip up a quick pasta dish to keep hunger pangs at bay. Consol Solar Jar
Pop-up Lantern
The handy pop-up lantern is proof that dynamite comes in small packages. It’s super affordable and provides an impressive amount of light when you consider its tiny size. The lantern features three different light settings (light, dim and strobe) and boasts 20,000 hours of LED light. Power Banks Of course, you’ll also need a way to charge your various tech devices such as your smartphone or tablet. Whether you need to keep your smartphone charged for work purposes or want to watch movies on your tablet, look for a power bank or a solar-powered charging device. Gas Stove Just because the power is out
While simple, these solar-powered lights use the glass of a classic Consol jar to illuminate quite a large space. Simply leave it outside in the sun and when the lights go out, you know that you’ve got an effective (not to mention stylish) light source ready to be used. Small HotBag Eco Cooker
Don’t you hate it when you get caught by load-shedding right in the middle of cooking a delicious meal? With the Eco Cooker by your side, you’ll never go hungry again. This little guy cooks food using trapped heat.
After boiling is done using traditional cooking methods, the hot bag will do the rest. The bag reduces stove time by two thirds and is a great way to cook, keep plates warm, and warm food on the go. Visit www.pricecheck.co.za for a solution to almost any load-shedding woe. • PriceCheck is Africa’s largest product discovery and comparison service showcasing a range of products from SA’s favourite and most trusted stores. PriceCheck is the only place where consumers can see all the best deals aggregated in one place.
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CXPRESS
INTERVAL
23 October 2019
The squirrel lesson Sunday school teacher wanted to use squirrels as an example of a diligent work ethic and being prepared. She started the lesson by saying: “I’m going to describe something, and I want you to raise your hand when you know what it is.” The children were excited to show her what they knew, and leaned forward eagerly. “I’m thinking of something that lives in trees and eats nuts,” the teacher said. No hands went up. “It can be grey or
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brown and it has a long bushy tail.” The children looked around the room at one another, but still no one raised a hand. “It chatters and sometimes it flips its tail when it’s excited?” the teacher continued. Finally, one little boy shyly raised his hand. The teacher breathed a sigh of relief and said: “Okay, Michael. What do you think it is?” “Well,” said the boy, “I know the answer is supposed to be Jesus, but it sure sounds like a squirrel to me.
Saying it my way American actor, comedian, writer, producer, and director CHRIS ROCK
What’s Little Johnny up to? You were warned Finding little Johnny making faces at others on the playground, Ms Smith stopped to gently reprove him. With a sweet smile, Ms Smith said: “Johnny, when I was a child, I was told if I made ugly faces, it would freeze and I would stay that way.” Little Johnny looked up and replied: “Well, Ms Smith, you can’t say you weren’t warned.” Unbelievable Little Johnny went with his mother for the first time to deliver lunches
to the elderly. He kept starring at a pair of false teeth soaking in a glass. He said, very softly: “The tooth fairy will never believe this!” One-glove Johnny The teacher noticed that little Johnny had arrived at school wearing only one glove. “Why have you only got one glove?” she asked. “Well, Miss,” explained little Johnny, “I was watching the weather forecast on TV last night, and it said it was going to be quite sunny. But on the other hand, it could get quite cold.”
Wikipedia: “I know everything.” Google: “I have everything.” Facebook: “I know everybody.” Internet: “Without me you’re nothing.” Eskom: “Keep talking, losers.”
• I live in a neighbourhood so bad that you can get shot while getting shot. • There are only three things women need in life: food, water, and compliments. • If a woman tells you she’s 20 and looks 16, she’s 12. If she tells you she’s 26 and looks 26, she’s damn near 40. • You know, some people say life is short and that you could get hit by a bus at any moment and that you have to live each day like it’s your last. Bullsh*t. Life is long. You’re probably
not gonna get hit by a bus. And you’re gonna have to live with the choices you make for the next fifty years. • If you can keep your son off the pipe and your daughter off the pole, you’re ahead of the game. • Only dumb people try to impress smart people. Smart people just do what they do. • Wealth is not about having a lot of money; it’s about having a lot of options. • You can only offend me if you mean something to me.
SOCIAL SCENE
23 October 2019
CXPRESS
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People, places & events
STUDIO
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SEND US YOUR RUGBY FAN PICS, MAN! When the Boks made sushi of Japan on Sunday, the CXPRESS camera caught some fans at Flashbacks in midjubilation. Pictured at right are Arnie and Shaun, with John-Wayne, Debs and Robin below. But then a rather more exotic - yes, even more exotic than Arnie’s green hair… - image landed our side fresh from the WKU Kickboxing World Champs in Bregenz, Austria. Pictured above flying the SA flag high and rooting for the Boks are former Plett local and kickboxing star Astrid Schultze with the captain of her heart and fellow martial artist, Joachim Göhrmann. Says Astrid, who has been associated with Plett’s award-winning SKA dojo since 2017, and has taught kickboxing at the Piesang Valley gym from as far back as 2004: “This photo was taken around 4pm SA time, after we both started for SA [and scored big, by the look of it] at the WKU world champs. I want your readers to know that we’re supporting the Boks from wherever we are in the world, and that I really miss Plett and its people.” Right back at you, Astrid. Rugby fans are welcome to share photos of yourselves in full Bok regalia when supporting our boys during the weekend’s match against Wales. Email esther@cxpress.co.za with up to three clear pics and succinct caption information.
1 DAY 2 SHOWS! TRAMPOLINE CHAMP OFF TO TOKYO: Plett star Leolin Petersen, 13, is soon packing for the Gymnastics World Championships in Tokyo from November 2 onwards, which means she’s now ready to rock and roll on the world stage along with her SA Gymnastics team mates. On Friday October 4, with less than a month to go to the world champs in Japan, Leolin and mom Helen Bezuidenhout attended the Rotary Bonanza fundraiser at Plett Country Club as guests of honour. At the event, Leolin thanked Plett’s Rotarians for their generous donation of R16,000 toward her trip, and wooed the crowd of more than 200 guests with some impressive back flips and lots of joyful, most grateful smiles. Many guests took down Helen’s number in order to arrange for final contributions, as she still has a small financial goal to achieve before November dawns. She will continue baking her famous Hertzoggies from home and can be reached on 060 648 0407 for orders or financial assistance in any form. And if you’re a fan of a really good boerewors roll, catch Helen at You Save in New Horizons on Friday morning November 1, when she’ll be selling boeries to cover costs of Leolin’s winter threads and pocket money for Tokyo. The great turn-out at the Bonanza was Plett’s way of showing Leolin how proud Plett residents are of her achievements. We wish her the very best of luck in her quest for medals in the disciplines of Euro trampoline and tumbling at the World Champs. Pictured with Leolin and Helen is Plett Rotary president Neville Henley - LM Dunn
COME WALK FOR CANSA WITH THESE SISTERS OF MERCY! Plettenberg Bay-based champions in the fight against cancer, Sister Dee and Hanlie Sinclair, right - pictured here during this year’s Shavathon campaign - invite you to join them for Cansa’s Shades of Pink Breast Cancer Walk on Friday October 25 from Longstone Park (just past BI KwikSpar) at 5pm for 5:30. Registration takes place from 4:45pm with families paying R120, adults R50, and a R30 entry fee for kids. Call Jaqueline Biljon on 044 874 4824 or email jbiljon@cansa.co.za for additional information.
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CXPRESS
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ON THE SOAPBOX
23 October 2019
Letters to the Editor
Email: editor@cxpress.co.za - Fax: 044 533 0852 - PO Box 1449, Plett 6600
How CapeNature will ensure your Robberg CapeNature will enexperience is most memorable deavour to provide the With reference to the letter by ‘Friends of Robberg’ [read ‘Robberg supposedly Plett’s Pride - but what’s happening now?’ on page 11 of the October 16 edition at www.cxpress.
co.za], CapeNature would like to take this opportunity to provide clarity on the concerns raised. Entrance gate The tourism season in the Western Cape no longer
Today’s rugby explained I write in response to Kevin Meineke’s letter [read ‘What would Frik or Mannetjies make of how rugby is played today?’ on page 11 of the October 16 edition at www.cxpress.co.za]. Rugby Union is a multifaceted game with positions for all shapes and sizes, forwards and back line - the forwards being the strong men and jumpers and the backline the fast attackers and kickers. There are two places where you get primary ball in a rugby match and that is in the lineouts and scrums, both forward functions. The purpose of the scrum is to prove your power/strength over the opposition. If you can control the scrums and lineouts, you can dominate the play. Currently the Springboks have a defensive game plan that means you put pressure on the opposing defensive scrum, which could result in a penalty when the opposing front row cannot take the pressure - New Zealand no 1, Moody, is an example putting his arm on the ground - or you can
achieve a turn-over ball. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter if the ball is fed in the middle or under the feet of the team whose scrum it is. The rules have changed in this regard the scrumhalf must put the ball in straight to the scrum, but they are allowed to align their shoulder to the middle line of the scrum. This means they are putting the ball in a shoulder-width towards their own team’s side of the scrum (this was included in Scrum Law of Aug 2018). With the uncontested scrums in the game against Italy, the Springboks were disadvantaged, because they could not use their strength/strategy. As for the comment on no scrums in rugby, such rugby does exist - it’s called Rugby League. Pound for pound the Springboks of today are stronger, faster, and smarter than the amateur Springboks of old. They cannot be compared to the professionals of today, but we remember them fondly as our boyhood heroes! ‘Abree’, Plett
Here’s hoping you choke on my beautiful carnations, crook!
Plant thief, you have done it again - for the third time. You took my carnations, which I bought at the Red Shed Nursery, from my front garden. They are costly and precious to me. One was given to me by a dear friend as a present. But never mind, you took them for whatever reason. Maybe you like flowers? You like them so much that you have to hold onto their severed stems while you are walking. That seems to give you a very happy feeling. But when you replant them in your own garden, or in a pot, I hope they will leave you with a truly bitter taste, because you’ve stolen them from me! - Traute Brück, by email
has set dates, with the summer season becoming longer each year, which is naturally associated with an increase in numbers. According to Plett Tourism spokesperson Patty Butterworth, the Bitou municipal area has indeed been experiencing a significant increase in visitors, particularly in international tourists, compared to the same period last year. In response to the high volumes of visitors to the area, Robberg Nature Reserve management has put a variety of contingency measures in place, to mitigate access issues, including the following: • A new Point of Sale (POS) system will be rolled out at the reserve where the entity has moved away from the manual receipt book system in order to reduce the time spent by visitors at the gate. • A second gate guard will be employed from November 2019 to March 2020 to assist at the gate during the ‘high-season’ period, in order to accommodate the increase in visitors as well as the extended holiday season.
best possible sustainable eco-tourism experience and welcomes this boost of tourism to the local economy. Parking Currently, parking has been allocated inside the reserve and along the entrance road. Visitors are to bear in mind that Robberg is one of our smallest reserves and will continue to be a firm favourite among locals and internationals. We urge visitors to travel to the reserve in groups in an attempt to limit their environmental impact. Sand dunes It is important to note that sand dunes at the reserve shift due to natural ecological processes. CapeNature cannot interfere with this process as explained on the sign boards erected. However, general maintenance and upkeep is an ongoing priority for the organisation. We wish to encourage Friends of Robberg to engage directly with the reserve, and we thank them for their ongoing support. Sheraaz Ismail, CapeNature executive director: Eco-Tourism & Access, by email
Open letter to Bitou on risks and pollution caused by knock-n-drop distribution A Plett reader who remains anonymous, for fear of putting his home address in the spotlight and thus at risk, copied CXPRESS on his letter to Bitou Ward 2 councillor Dave Swart to voice a concern shared by a number of residents Dear Mr Swart, I realise you are likely to be inundated with matters of importance but feel I should inform you of an issue of concern which you may wish to refer to whomsoever can give effect to such issue. I reside in Robberg Road and have need to spend a fair amount of time away from town which means my property is unoccupied for such periods, which increases my concern. For years businesses have made use of the knock-n-drop (pamphlets advertising their wares) method to distribute reading material. I find the pamphlets of interest, but that is not the issue. Unless the householder takes possession of the package, it invariably blows away, creating litter. If this does not happen, it remains in full sight for all to see that the occupants are away from home - which may lead to you know what!
I am told that this method of distribution is illegal overseas. My proposal is that the distributors be instructed by bylaw to find another method of distribution, e.g. via CXPRESS newspaper, or by stock being delivered to retailers like Spar or Checkers. By so doing, I would still be able to enjoy reading what is on offer while having peace of mind. I am told that in Australia signs indicating ‘no adverts’, if affixed to doorways, obviate this problem and distributors ignoring them are heavily fined. Please let Plett lead the country in this, as it is a problem in Cape Town as well. (The author copied us on a response by councillor Swart, which advises that he had forwarded the above suggestion to Bitou’s director of Community Services for his consideration, and had also copied the municipal manager. Let’s wait and see… - Eds.)
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CXPRESS
23 October 2019
SPORT & ADVENTURE
Young Ackerman shifts gear from hurling furthest on the field to swinging clubs for Southern Cape ORMER Plett Primary student Jonathan Ackerman is no stranger to the sporting spotlight, having shown his mettle in athletics field events since age nine, when he scored gold at SA Nationals in shotput… while competing in the U11 age category. Says mom Anne: “We are very proud of our boy, as he has taken every challenge in his primary school sporting career and excelled by pressing himself to be the best.” By the time he turned 10, at the time attending Wittedrift Primary, Jonathan scored the school’s U11 Junior Victor Lu-
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dorum prize and then went on to receiving KPS (Knysna Plett Sedgefield inter-town), SWD, and Western Cape colours for both shotput and discuss during his U12 and U13 years at Plett Primary. Earlier this year, he again had the opportunity to attend the national athletics champs but another bug had by now bitten this determined young sportsman. Explains dad Marius: “Jonathan has started to excel in golf around March this year and has been playing many competitions, among these the recent Pro Ams at Goose Valley -
his pro being Fancourt’s Wynand Myburgh - where he shot an 86 from the men’s tees.” So when he was also chosen as part of the SCGU (Southern Cape Golf Union) team to play in Katberg during March, Jonathan faced a hard decision, as this tournament coincided with the athletics national champs. But the budding young golfer soon made up his mind and his SCGU team went on to attain a commendable fifth place among all the district teams competing at Katberg. Jonathan was once again selected for the U13 SCGU team to play SAs in September a most memorable experience indeed, where the Southern Cape juniors came eighth in the country... but not quite as unforgettable as when he had the opportunity recently to play nine holes with international golfing icon Gary Player and Goose Valley pro, Richard Lee! “The thing that I enjoyed most that day was to gain great knowledge from my ultimate golfing hero,” says Jonathan, who has been studying the career of ‘The Black Knight’. “I have been reading Mr Player’s books, and to share his first-hand knowledge of the air and the trees and everything else was just amazing. I was ecstatic to be able to play with Mr Player.” Other recent highlights for Jonathan in-
LEARNING FROM THE BEST: Jonathan had the opportunity to play a round with and learn from Gary Player at Goose Valley recently
clude being chosen along with other team mates for the Nomads SA U13 Stroke Play Championships in September. Jonathan took first place in the Nomads Southern Golf Union juniors stroke play champs at Goose Valley in his home town, shooting a great 75 on September 15, and again tied for first place in Knysna on October 13. “This back-to-back win for him was awesome,” says Anne, adding that they are very proud of Jonathan, who is being homeschooled of late, and will honour his dream of becoming a professional golfer.
McCann and Van Heerden become fastest South Africans to win Classic Otter run HE 11th running of the Otter African Trail Run took place on October 12, with sunny skies welcoming runners at the start at Storm’s River Mouth, and temperatures continued to increase. The top 24 men and 16 women made up the Abangeni runners, who took off from the start at 7am. The Classic Otter, run from east to west, starts with incredibly technical, rocky and uneven terrain as runners make their way along the coastline towards the first overnight hut. In the men’s race, 2017 Otter winner Christiaan Greyling, who struggled with injuries earlier this year, set the pace from the start with the front of the Abangeni pack doing their best to stick with him. After the first technical section however, Kane Reilly and Johardt van Heerden took over the lead, breaking away from the rest of the field and extending the gap to 13min by the half-way point. Behind the two leaders, Greyling and Mvuyisi Gcogco dropped into a similar pace. At Bloukrans, Van Heerden was on Marc Lauenstein’s sub-four-hour record pace, and had created a gap between himself and Reilly. The low tide gave the elites an advantage, making the crossing relatively smooth. Van Heerden just missed breaking the fourhour mark and finished in a time of 04:02:59, setting the new fastest time for a South African in the Classic Otter African Trail Run. (Swiss runner Lauenstein still holds the fastest time for the Classic at 03:59:29.) Reilly finished in second place (04:19:02), and an elated Greyling took the last position on the podium with a time of 04:27:58. The women’s race was dominated by four favourites: young guns Toni McCann and Bianca Tarboton, and trail legends Landie Greyling and Nicolette Griffioen. McCann
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Storms River
TIN HOUSE Self-catering accommodation
YES SHE CANN: Women’s winner Toni McCann navigating the technical trail just after the start at Storm’s River Mouth - Photo: Jacques Marais
took the lead from the word go, securing her position in the top 10 from the start line. At the halfway point, McCann and Tarboton were just 4min apart, with Greyling 8min behind her and Griffioen 2min back. Despite the humidity, the four women all looked comfortable in the race. McCann came into Bloukrans 5min ahead of Tarboton and in sixth position overall. She navigated the crossing with ease and continued to push ahead into the final third of the course. With just minutes to spare, McCann hit the final obstacle of the day: the floating bridge and balance beam, on the finish line, to a cheering crowd. Navigating the balance beam perfectly, she crossed the finish line to become the fastest woman to win the Classic Otter African Trail Run in a time of 04:52:48, and in the process she broke Kiwi trailie Ruby Muir’s 2013 record. It was an emotional Greyling who came in over the finish line in second place in a time of 05:08:52. Griffioen finished third in a time of 05:23:03.
TOP TRIO: Otter ‘first lady’ 2019 Toni McCann is flanked by third-placed Nicolette Griffioen, and runner up Landie Greyling - Photo: Peter Kirk