23 September 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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Another child crime perpetrated in Plett p3
Coastal corridor now officially protected p5
WC views after Boks bow to Blossoms p16
A food festival with lots of soul, Plett on a Platter kicks off today and promises to make diners, whether having breakfast lunch or dinner at any one of a long list of local eateries taking part, fall right back in love with food, glorious food - turn to the scrumpdelicious spread on p8 & 9 of this edition to learn more about the participating restaurants and chefs
On a platter! Photo: Sharyn Hodges
10 000 free copies of cxpress distributed along the garden route every wednesday
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CXPRESS
News & Views
23 September 2015
Excerpts from ‘The Story of Archerwood’ by Charles Westwood
Part VII
Putting a 50-ton whale out of her misery, and stopping locals from robbing the wreck This week, the late Charles Westwood’s account of how Plett’s famous Archerwood was established kicks off with musings over the rising cost of living - turn to page 2 of the past six editions at www.cxpress.co.za to catch up on the story so far
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OES anyone reading this remember the price of petrol in the 60s? Would you believe that it was 40c a gallon? Notwithstanding the fact that our tenure of Archerwood was precarious as we were always short of ready cash, in our second year we found that it was easier to buy a new vehicle on HP than find the money for repairs needed on the old one. Considering today’s prices, I find it quite amazing that, in the late 60s, we were able to buy the first 1600 VW Beetle that Van Halderens in Knysna had for sale at R3,000.
We received a good tradein of R1,500 on the Beetle we had bought in Johannesburg in 1964. Having bought our second bakkie in later years from CP Nel in Knysna through Fred le Roux, we purchased from him a V8 two-door Minaro built in Australia. The forerunner of the SS Chev, it cost R4,000. We could not really afford it but bought it on HP nevertheless. Looking at car prices today and particularly outboard motors, I simply cannot believe that the six-cylinder outboard motor we bought from Derek Kershaw cost only R2,000.
OLD PLETT AND ITS PEOPLE I wonder if any of the Plett locals remember the day in 1965 when we suddenly saw a strange fellow on a motorbike riding around and around the business centre of Plett. After a few days he became known as Ike-the-Bike, and he was our first traffic cop. Many people have stories about Ike, some amusing and some not so. Locals could not get used to parking as we do today and received many fines. In later years, Jeremy McCarthy took over and thanks to him, we ended up with a full traffic department. -It was a great disappointment to the people of Plett and Knysna when Thesens closed down its wholesale food and clothing business, as so many people relied on their buying expertise and wonderfully friendly staff. So sorely missed, Hjalmar, we all remember. --A number of things come to mind about the early days in Plett, and one incident that had the whole town buzzing was the beaching of a 50-ton whale on the Lookout Beach side of Keurbooms River mouth. After many efforts to refloat the giant mammal, obviously in great distress, it was decided to put her out of her misery. I was viewing the situation when a municipal official approached me and suggested what was perhaps the only way out for the whale. Knowing I was the only one around with a high-powered hunting rifle, he asked if I
would fetch my gun from Archerwood. It took a number of shots to the head before she finally succumbed. Subsequently, many people arrived with chainsaws to cut up the carcass into carry-away chunks. I managed to feed the dogs in our kennels for a number of weeks on the meat. There was so much meat that it deteriorated quickly in the hot sun and the municipality had to eventually burn the remainder of the carcass as it was polluting the whole beach and surrounding area. --Just in passing, I wonder how many of Plett’s elderly residents remember the old Country Club? The wonderful little golf course which is now all houses; the tennis courts where we had many an afternoon playing with old Baron Behr - Nicky’s father - and Roderick Struben’s wife, Jacqui. I found it quite amusing when Andrew Roberts phoned me one day, having heard from Morris Robin that I was an archer. He had talked a group of elderly people into taking up archery as a pastime, but the interest quickly petered out. What a dear old person he was, and so unassuming. -Somewhere around the early 70s, the shipwreck off Robberg was a great talking point. Having arrived on the seaward side of Robberg in a heavy storm with blinding mist, the ship had hit the blinders - the rocks on that wild side of Robberg. The captain, realising he was going to sink, went towards the shore full-steam
NO ARROWS FOR US: Then Plett resident Andrew Roberts called on Charles in the hope that he would encourage locals to take up archery as a pastime, but to no avail - Charles was the champion shooter of Morena Archery Club in Johannesburg before moving to Plettenberg Bay
ahead and grounded 200m offshore, having managed to negotiate around Robberg into the Bay. The ship was loaded with tons of fish and at the time it was reckoned that there was enough electrical power operating its deep freeze compartments to light up Plett for months. A number of locals, who shall remain unnamed, managed to secure lots of items of interest before they were stopped. For many years the wreck could be seen at low tide before it broke up completely. --Incidentally, I had also be-
come friendly with Raymond Heyns’s father - initially when I contacted him to buy building sand, as Derbyshire’s was not the big, wellknown firm it is today. I spent many a morning talking to old Mr Heyns, drinking coffee and listening spellbound to his stories of not only the police force but of Plettenberg Bay itself in days gone by. Occasionally, he was corrected by Mrs Heyns, who said he tended to exaggerate. What lovely people; it was a privilege to have met them and so many others at that time. To be continued...
Notice Board • The Plett Art Route is hosting an Open Studio Day on Thursday September 24 from 10am to 4pm, all proceeds going to the Kids of Kurland project. Get your tickets and map at R60 cash from The Shop next to The Table or Ruby Kiss’s flower shop next to Pick n Pay. Call Jill McIlleron on 082 219 8204 for more information. • The Orchid Society spring
show at George Presbyterian Church hall from September 24-26 is the largest collection of orchid blooms under one roof on the Garden Route. The show also offers a plant table with a wide variety of orchids for sale at reasonable prices. Knowledgeable growers will be on hand to give advice on September 24 & 25 from 9am to 5pm, and on the 26th
from 9am to 1pm. Entrance is R10 for adults (kids U12 free) - call Iain Mann on 044 870 8201 for details. • Catch the Leisure Gardens Morning Market on Saturday September 26 from 9am ‘till 12 noon with tea and cakes, a white elephant stall, plants and hand crafts done by residents - among them two centenarians, and another who’ll turn 100 in De-
cember! Email liz_dafert@ yahoo.co.uk for details. • Knysna Garden Club will be meeting at the home of Audrey Howe in Marr Lane, Belvidere Estate on Wednesday September 30 from 9:45 for 10am to enjoy her beautiful spring garden. Bring hats, chairs, walking shoes, raffle money and cups. Tea and treats will be provided and visitors are welcome.
News & Views
23 September 2015
Threat to tell Qolweni mom of daughter’s whereabouts leads to alleged abuse
Yet another case involving alleged sex crimes against a child has surfaced in Plett this week - YOLANDÉ STANDER reports
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12-year-old girl has allegedly been raped in Qolweni on Saturday night. Police spokesman Captain Malcolm Pojie said it is alleged that the girl and friends visited the home of the suspect between Saturday 4pm and Sunday 8am where they had a few drinks. “Later the victim and her friends decided to walk home. Along the road they met a friend of her mother who threatened to tell her mother where she was. She decided to return to the house of the suspect where an elderly lady provided her refuge to sleep,” Pojie said. The girl woke up the next morning with blood stained underwear. A rape case was subsequently opened at the Plettenberg Bay police station by her parents.
The George Family violence, Child protection and Sexual offences unit (FCS) was sent to Plett to investigate the claims. By the time of going to print no one had been arrested yet. “Anyone with information regarding the incident and the whereabouts of the suspect is requested to contact the investigating officer, Constable Ann Janse at the George FCS unit on 044 803 4618 or 082 522 1049.” In the meantime a 38-yearold Ghanaian man will apply for bail in the Plettenberg Bay Magistrates Court on Friday after he was arrested over several crimes against young girls between the ages of seven and 11. The man, who cannot be named until he has pleaded, was arrested by members of
Bitou arrest leads police to child porn suspect in Joburg
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OLICE have arrested another suspect who was allegedly in possession of child pornography under the police’s operation Cloud 9, which is investigating the South African wing of a paedophile ring involving suspects from across the world. The 20-year-old university student from Gauteng was arrested in Melville as part of the operation that is headed up by the local FCS unit. These paedophile rings use of software that enables them to share images of child porn with each other. The young suspect, according to police spokesperson Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo, was identified through the account of the 38-year-old Plett computer engineer who was arrested on the same grounds early this year. “The suspect, who is a
computer science student at a Johannesburg university, has already appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court and was granted R5,000 bail,” said Naidoo. His case was postponed to December 4. “Until now, only adults have been arrested in connection with this heinous crime. However, it is evident that this crime has no boundaries and we want to warn people to allow themselves to be caught in this vicious web,” said Naidoo. It is alleged that 1,000 child porn images were found on his external hard drive. His arrest brings to seven the total the number of people arrested by the Cloud 9 investigation team, previous arrests being in Plett, PE, Midrand, Pennington and Scottburgh. - SAnews.gov.za
the George FCS unit at his home in KwaNokuthula on September 8 at about 8pm. According to police the man was initially charged with exposing children to child pornography, exposing himself to children, the attempt to commit a sexual offense and sexual assault. Since his arrest he has appeared in court several times and during his last appearance last Tuesday a further drug charge was added to the charge sheet. It also came to light that he is in contravention of South Africa’s immigration regulations. Garden Route Media
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Grave injuries sustained in Plett Airport Yolandé Stander Road police van crash
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WA N O K U T H U L A police are investigating a case of reckless driving after a head-on collision on Plett’s Airport Road on September 17 between a blue Ford Ranger bakkie and an Isuzu police van. Police spokesman Lieutenant Marlene Pieterse said the Ford bakkie, travelling away from the town centre, allegedly swerved into oncoming traffic crashing into the police vehicle at about 6am. The passengers in the police van - a 60-year-old man and a 37-year-old woman - as well as the 29-year-old driver sustained serious injuries. A 35-year-old woman, who was in the back of the vehicle, was also seriously injured. Pieterse said the 22-yearold driver of the Ford walked away from the accident with only minor injuries.
SCENE OF THE CRASH: Shortly after 11am on Thursday September 17, Traffic Garden Route WhatsApp group administrator Wildene Jackson distributed this photo of the police vehicle being removed from the scene of a collision with a Ford bakkie earlier that morning
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News & Views
23 September 2015
Who’s lurking in the Bay?
Understanding sharks for safety A spate of Great White shark encounters along the Garden Route this winter has yet again instilled anxiety amongst ocean users, leaving many wondering just how many sharks are out there and how safe the waters - MELISSA REITZ reports
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UP AND UNDER: The submarine was clearly visible as it surfaced close to Keurbooms River mouth before moving towards Beacon Island, accompanied by two Royal Navy vessels - Photo: Bill Jones
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LETTENBERG Bay residents could be forgiven if they thought for a fleeting moment the town was being invaded on Friday as two ships and a submarine entered the bay. It was, however, a training exercise between the South African and Royal navies which takes place about once a year. The submarine is part of the SA Navy fleet, while the other two ships are Royal Navy vessels. Naval liaison officer
Steve Eriksen said that the smaller of the two ships was a frigate - a small but very effective war vessel. He added the large ship was an auxiliary replenishment vessel carrying fuel and other supplies to keep fighting ships operational. After their training exercises, the submarine and its crew returned to Richards Bay while the Royal Navy crews continued to Cape Town. Yolandé Stander Garden Route Media
N June this year two attacks - a day apart - occurred in Plettenberg Bay and Buffalo Bay respectively. Dylan Reddering from Plett, aged 19 at the time, got away with severe tissue lacerations to his lower torso while 19-year-old Prince Albert resident Caleb Swanepoel lost his right leg. Less than a month later Australian pro-surfer Mick Fanning encountered a white shark while surfing the finals of the J-Bay Open. With Fanning’s experience making global headlines, these three encounters fuelled the fear and panic that is so often associated with Great White sharks. However, while it may appear that attacks are becoming more frequent on the Garden Route coast, statistics show otherwise. Apart from a spike in attacks between Mossel Bay and Port Elizabeth in 1998 which saw nine in total, the average annual rate of attacks in this area over the past 10 years is 0.8. The rest of South Africa has an average of 5.6 attacks per year, of which 1.8 are fatal. The International Shark At-
tack File, which investigates shark-human interactions worldwide, says: “As world population continues its upsurge and interest in aquatic recreation concurrently rises, we realistically should expect increases in the number of shark attacks. “However, shark populations are declining as a result of over-fishing and habitat loss, theoretically reducing the opportunity for these shark-human interactions.” In 1991 Great White sharks were listed as a protected species in South Africa under the Marine Living Resources Act, but shark researchers say their numbers remain compromised. According to researcher Alison Kock of Shark Spotters, although there is uncertainty around White shark population numbers, their abundance is low when compared to other predators. “There is no marked increase in the population size since its protection in 1991,” says Kock. Noted as highly migratory with inshore pit stops to digest food or give birth, the impact of angling, lack of
BIG FISH JUMPING: Shark populations are declining as a result of over-fishing and habitat loss, so seeing them in action is a sight to behold Photo: Dan Callister Photography
food variety and shark nets continue to put pressure not only on Great White populations but also other shark species, many of which are now facing near extinction. However, in the wake of the recent attacks many ocean lovers and businesses depending on the beach tourist trade want to see a solution to bathing safety and some are calling for nets on the Garden Route. But, although still used along the KZN coastline, nets and drumlines have proven to be extremely hazardous to marine life resulting in the death of over 400 sharks and 30 dolphins a year, thus been highly criticised by many conservationists. Since Fanning’s incident,
the Jeffrey’s Bay town council is considering a shark spotting programme using drones and sirens similar to that of Cape Town-based shark spotters, which has proven extremely effective in ensuring bather safety as well as contributing to marine conservation. Says chairman of Plett’s ORCA Foundation, Tony Lubner, at a recent talk about understanding shark behaviour by Anna Breytenbach: “It’s not uncommon for man to want to remove what he fears. “But that is only short term. The solution needs to be a deeper understanding of the relationships we have with the creatures that share our planet.”
News & Views
23 September 2015
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Declaration of Robberg Coastal Corridor as a Protected Environment now done and dusted
FIELD-TRIPPING: Linking the two core protected areas of Robberg Nature Reserve and Garden Route National Park will extend the Corridor’s length to over 35km from the tip of Robberg Peninsula to Noetzie, creating a coastal hiking trail as spectacular as the Tsitsikamma’s famous Otter Trail
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N a ground-breaking, never-tried-before land conservation approach, a few visionary landowners made application in early 2011 to the Western Cape provincial minister for Environmental Affairs and Development Planning to declare its members’ properties a Protected Environment (PE) in terms of the national Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act. Four years of determination paid off on Monday August 31 when minister Anton Bredell signed the declaration. The properties comprise an ecologically sensitive and threatened 20km stretch of unspoiled coastline between Robberg Nature Reserve and Harkerville State Forest, right in the middle of the Garden Route. This area, known as the Robberg Coastal Corridor (RCC) has beautiful coastal land and links Robberg Nature Reserve in the east to Garden Route National Park (GRNP) in the west. Certain owners, representing the majority of this unique corridor, founded the Robberg Coastal Corridor Landowners Association (RCCLA) as a vehicle to drive this intervention and they have thus tested SA’s conservation legislation for the first time. Their commitment is substantial: they are prepared to declare their properties for a minimum of 30 years with a view to protecting the land in perpetuity.
Pam Booth, founder director of the Eden to Addo Corridor Initiative, initiated the research into the possibility of implementing protected environments owned by private landowners. “The preservation of the RCC from encroachment and development, and linking it to the two core protected areas of Robberg Nature Reserve and GRNP will extend its length to over 35km from the tip of Robberg Peninsula to Noetzie - more than sufficient to sustain a hiking trail along a coastline equally as spectacular as the famous Otter Trail on the Tsitsikamma coast,” says Booth. “It will also protect and facilitate the natural movement of the flora and fauna along the corridor, thereby preserving the diversity of genetic species and enabling better adaptation to the vagaries of climate change. “Most important, it secures the last remaining ecological lifeline to the increasingly isolated Robberg Peninsula.” This pioneering private sector initiative is an important precedent and tool for reaching national conservation targets. Conservation corridors, essential for the exchange of genetic material required to keep plant and animal populations healthy, is a hot topic in the climate change debate. Dr Robbie Robinson - former head of SANParks, Eden to Addo Corridor Initiative head, and one of the founding landowners - be-
“It is a testament to these pioneering landowners that this coastline can now be preserved and managed as a fundamental link between GRNP and Robberg. The challenge ahead is to get other landowners on board to make this corridor contiguous and to increase the land under protection.” The commitment from local government is also to be highly commended as a large portion of the corridor is owned and managed by Eden District Municipality, who have added their property to the corridor and pledged their support to on-going initiaNOVEL NATURAL TREASURE: Last year, the new fynbos species Psoralea vanberkelae was discovered in the Robberg Coastal Corridor
lieves that inappropriate development is the single biggest threat to biodiversity on the Garden Route. “With the exception of this conservation-friendly neighbour, Robberg Nature Reserve is surrounded, on the terrestrial side, by intensive development. “Here, generations of conservation-sensitive landowners have struggled to keep the link between Robberg and the remaining coastal lowland fynbos viable. It is essential to maintain this vital corridor,” says Robinson. Chris von Christierson, owner of a property within the corridor on which a new fynbos species, Psoralea vanberkelae was discovered recently, considers this unique area to be utterly ir-
replaceable. “If we do not protect this last remaining lifeline to the peninsular, Robberg will become an ecological desert within a few generations. “Besides, we firmly believe that landowners in the corridor will add far more value to their properties in the long run by joining us. There are numerous examples of how properties adjoining national parks and nature reserves have appreciated.” Says RCCLA chairman Andrew Hill of this historical declaration: “We must start taking steps now to protect sensitive ecosystems and this announcement shows that it is possible to do so while maintaining individual objectives of landowners within the corridor.
tives of the RCCLA. SANParks has contributed by clearing Port Jackson, pine, hakea, blackwood and black wattle from the corridor. Approximately 100ha of coastal fynbos has been cleared over the past three years by a team of 13 people through the Land User Incentives programme. With the support of Cape Nature and SANParks and funding from the Table Mountain Fund, this Protected Environment heralds a new era in conservation in South Africa. Visit www.edentoaddo. co.za for more information.
Is your camellia historical?
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O you have a camellia tree on your property that might be of historical interest? If so, the SA branch of the International Camellia Society (ICS) would like to hear from you. This group of horticultural enthusiasts held its annual meeting at Vergelegen Estate in Somerset West on August 23. The event was attended by 20 camellia experts, including horticulturist and landscape designer Keith Kirsten and retired nurseryman Jan van Bergen. The magnificent 315-yearold wine farm boasts the only International Camellia Garden of Excellence in Africa. Its renowned collection of over 1,000 crimson, pink and white blooming camel-
lia bushes comprises about 550 different camellia cultivars, from as far afield as France, Japan, America and South Africa. “Vergelegen became a member of the ICS in 2010, and they have asked local enthusiasts to provide input on historic camellias to be found in South Africa,” explained Vergelegen horticulturist Richard Arm. “We would be most interested to hear about any unusual old varieties, and the stories that go with them.” If you think that your camellia tree could be of historic interest, please email Keith Kirsten at office@ keithkirsten.com or Richard Arm at gardens@vergelegen .co.za for further details.
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23 September 2015
News & Views
Not on our watch: this is the way towards a safer Plett
As its first anniversary approaches, WESLEY ANDREW introduces Plett.Watch to those not yet in the know, and provides a plethora of good reasons for each and every local resident to get involved
BIG BROTHERS IN ARMS: From left are members of the Plett.Watch A-Team response unit Riccardo Spagni, Jason Smith, Pierre van As, Wesley Andrew, Garin Andrew, Charles Fulton, Jared Harding and John Stewart
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LETT.WATCH is a neighbourhood watch body that works closely with the local police, the Plettenberg Bay Crime Prevention Association (PBCPA), and Bitou Municipal Law Enforcement (MLE) towards a safer and crime free Plettenberg Bay. Now approaching our first year of operation, the organisation was established on September 27 last year and, particularly in recent months, has grown exponentially to cover the majority of town. The aims and activities of Plett.Watch include: • Educating residents on security and achieving safe and secure neighbourhoods; • Patrolling the streets of Plett 24/7 in order to keep an eye out for any potential criminal activity; • Interacting closely with and developing an excellent working relationship with the police and other law enforcement agencies such as the PBCPA and MLE in order to ensure speedy and effective response to residents’ security concerns; • Deploying a reaction team (the A team) to lend support in any given situation of concern until the official law enforcement agencies arrive on the scene; • Instituting and operating a number of Plett.Watch WhatsApp groups and a Facebook page where residents can communicate with each other, sharing intelligence and monitoring any matters
of potential or actual concern fast and effectively. The Plett.Watch vision is to achieve a situation where every Plett resident is in some way involved in the neighbourhood watch. We want to educate residents on conducting their affairs and ordering their lives to avoid becoming victims of crime. Each resident should be observant and conscious of what is going on around them, and in the event of there being an incident of concern, should know: • How to correctly react to the situation; • Who to contact for immediate assistance; • How to contact the relevant organisation promptly and effectively by having the relevant contact numbers easily accessible on their cell phones; Finally, know your neighbours and how to make urgent contact with them, i.e. be part of your local neighbourhood watch structure. It becomes extremely difficult for criminals to operate in a town where residents are thus equipped. Plett.Watch currently has over 700 members on Facebook and 400 members in WhatsApp groups, primarily reporting suspicious behaviour and people loitering around for no apparent reason in residential and business areas. We urge all residents to join a WhatsApp group that provides a quick and easy way of reporting suspicious
incidents or behaviour, and which can also be used to call for assistance when a member of the group is in distress. The only information needed to become part of such a group is your cell phone number, physical address and email address. In endeavouring to achieve these goals, we urgently call on all Plett residents to become part of what we are doing and, in particular for as many as possible to assist us with patrols to lessen the burden on those presently undertaking patrolling. Those willing to patrol will be provided with basic training and tips on carrying out effective patrols. Our sole objective is serving as extra ears and eyes in our community, and reporting anything even slightly suspicious to the authorities. All that is necessary for crime to prosper is for good men to do nothing.
Hunt for our Heritage now on!
password you’ve collected and submit the form. The first prize is a weekend away at Anysberg Nature Reserve in the Karoo, and you can also win a prize by sharing a photo of yourself taken at any Provincial Heritage Site located in the Western Cape. Go to www.facebook.com/ events/1632839263668794 to post your photograph or share it on Twitter @West ernCapeGov, including the hashtag #HeritageHuntWC in your tweet, and then attach your photo.
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HE Western Cape Government is hosting a Heritage Hunt across the province to encourage communities to be part of Heritage Month celebrations. Nine sites have been chosen where people can go to collect clues from a secret spot. Participating sites in Eden are Oudtshoorn Museum, George Museum, Dias Museum in Mossel Bay, and Swartberg Nature Reserve. If you wish to participate, visit any of these sites, find
the hidden password and go to www.westerncape.gov.za/ heritage-hunt to enter. • Enter the co-ordinates into your GPS or phone to make your way to your chosen location (the Google Maps app is free). • Visit the museum or nature reserve of your choice. • Locate the secret password hidden somewhere inside or around each site by using the clue on the Heritage Hunt webpage, then complete your entry with the
• Follow Plett.Watch neighbourhood watch on Facebook and call Wesley Andrew on 071 688 9464 or Charles Fulton on 073 660 7913 for more information. The Plett.Watch team is made up of volunteers and welcomes any type of donations. The relevant account for cash deposits to further their noble cause is: Account name BMERC, Standard Bank Plettenberg Bay (branch code 050714), acc no 251 989 976, reference ‘Plett.Watch’.
Business
23 September 2015
Sotheby’s International Realty welcomes John McDermott
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EW Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty Plettenberg Bay extends a warm welcome to John Beyers McDermott, who has joined their team as a property consultant. John was born in Washington DC, his late father having been a US Diplomat while his late mother was of CapeAfrikaans stock - the Beyers lineage. John finished his schooling at Michaelhouse before attending Annapolis Naval College in the States. He then studied law at UCT and, at the same time, studied and
Investor Focus
received a Diploma from The Institute of Marketing Management South Africa. John is the author of Selling Yourself as a Way of Life (Second Edition), and was previously a major shareholder of the incredibly successful Steinhobel Ellis Real Estate in Johannesburg. “My lady partner died some 18 months ago while we lived in Cape Town, and I made the decision to move to magical Plett, having many happy memories of previous holidays spent here,” says John. “Where better to promote, market and sell beautiful
properties than in one of the most sought after holiday locations on the entire African continent? “I have joined Sotheby’s most certainly a local market leader due to its incredibly successful growth since inception in 1982 - as they pride themselves on delivering an exceptional service with a brand that is driven with passion, dedication and, most important to myself, with the highest degree of integrity.” Says Hein Pretorius, principal of the Plett branch: “We are excited that John has joined our company and trust
that he will continue to serve buyers and sellers in Plett with the same enthusiasm and professional service he is known for. “Backed by the most respected name in real estate, John can only go from strength to strength.”
Malcolm Stewart – Investment manager at Michaelides Parker Wealth Knysna & Plett
Looking at the more exotic Exchange Traded Notes and Funds
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HERE are many vastly different ETFs and ETNs listed on the JSE, and in this final of the series, I look at a few basic facts on a small sample of these specialised instruments. Standard Bank issues a series of ETNs that reflect the performance of a set of precious metals, including gold, platinum and palladium. Africa Gold ETF One unit of this ETF equals 1/100th of an ounce of gold and the fund is backed by actual physical gold, held in a secure vault. This makes gold ownership more convenient, reduces the risk of theft, and makes it very easy to buy and sell (i.e. you don’t have to transport it). There are no distributions, while the performance mirrors the movements in the Rand gold price. This fund is not one of my favourites… The Deutsche Bank MSCI Africa Top 50 Index This ETN limits its exposure of any share to a maximum
of 10%, and automatically reinvests all distributions. Its performance over one year is 9.8% in Rands and 3.55% in US Dollars. The country spread is 58% in South Africa, 25% in Nigeria and 17% in Egypt. Major shareholdings are Nigerian Breweries 8.4%, Zenith Bank 8.5%, Commercial International Bank 8.6%, Guaranty Bank 8.5%, Naspers 4.6%, Safaricom 4.5%, TMG Holdings 4.2%, Sasol 3.9% and Global Telecommunications Holdings 3.5%. There are few fundamentals available on this ETN so, again, I would caution that it’s not for sissies! Coreshares Property Tracking Index Coreshares is a subsidiary of Grinrod Bank, and this ETF offers an excellent entry into the JSE Property Index. The one-year forward yield (i.e. what you will receive over the next 12 months) is 5.93%, and distributions are made quarterly, which is an
attractive income generating proposition. The ‘ter’ ratio, i.e. total costs, is only 0.58%, which is well below that charged by property unit trusts. The four major holdings are as follows: Growthpoint 21.3%, Redefine 13.9%, Hyprop 9.5% and New Europe 9%. Performance over one year is 32.6%, over three years 21.3%, and over five years 20.6%. It is well known that this sector has been the best performing sector on the JSE for a long time. The recent correction has made property shares attractive again. These are all quality companies and will offer the investor a steady and growing income stream over the long term. The capital value will, however, continue to fluctuate. Malcolm has been in the investment industry for over 40 years. He has written this column in CXPRESS for the last 17 years and is a specialist in managing retired wealth.
Paws
Plett Animal Welfare Service
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7 BORN IN THE USA, BACKED BY PLETT’S BEST: New member of Plettenberg Bay’s winning Sotheby’s team, John’s life journey started in DC and took him from KZN to UCT and Jozi, but after losing his life partner in the Cape, Plett beckoned and has now become ‘home’ - see the advert on p1 for contact details
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23 September 2015
Two fleas were walking out of the cinema when they discovered it was raining hard. “Shall we walk?” asked one flea. “No,” said the other, “let’s take a dog.”
Fifty dollars is fifty dollars, my dear…
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orris and his wife Esther went to the state fair every year, and every year Morris would say: “Esther, I’d like to ride in that helicopter.” Esther always replied: “I know, Morris, but that helicopter ride is fifty dollars, and fifty dollars is fifty dollars.” One year Esther and Morris went to the fair, and Morris said: “Esther, I’m 85 years old. If I don’t ride that helicopter, I might never get another chance.” To this, Esther replied: “Morris that helicopter ride is fifty dollars, and fifty dollars is fifty dollars.” The pilot overheard the couple and said: “Folks, I’ll make you a deal. I’ll take the both of you for a ride. If you
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can stay quiet for the entire ride and don’t say a word, I won’t charge you a penny! But if you say one word it’s fifty dollars.” Morris and Esther agreed and up they went. The pilot did all kinds of fancy manoeuvres, but not a word was heard. He did his daredevil tricks over and over again, but still not a word. When they landed, the pilot turned to Morris and said: “By golly, I did everything I could to get you to yell out, but you didn’t. I’m impressed!” Morris replied: “Well, to tell you the truth, I almost said something when Esther fell out, but you know, fifty dollars is fifty dollars.”
Marital rivalry
ife: “Chris... Wake up, Chris, I think I heard someone downstairs; go check it out for me.” Husband: “What?! Why do I have to go and check?” Wife: “Because you are the man of the house and you always brag about how tough you are, so now
go and prove it, for goodness sake!” Husband: “Well I’m not going, so you’re going to have to do it yourself.” Wife: “CHRIS! Think of the children!” Husband: “What a marvellous idea! Which one should we send?”
The yuppie farmer
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yuppie moved to the country and bought a piece of land. He went to the local feed and livestock store and told the proprietor he was going to take up chicken farming. He then asked to buy 100 chicks. “That’s a lot of chicks,” commented the proprietor. “I mean business,” the city slicker replied. A week later the yuppie
was back again. “I need another 100 chicks,” he said. “Boy, you are serious about this chicken farming,” the proprietor told him. “Yeah,” the yuppie replied, “if I can just iron out a few problems.” “Problems?” enquired the proprietor. “Yeah,” replied the yuppie, “I think I planted that last batch too close together.”
Husband: “Why do you weep and sniffle over a TV programme and the imaginary sadness of people you have never met?” Wife: “For the same reason you scream and yell when a man you don’t know scores a try.”
Nou gaan ons braai!
Promotion
23 September 2015
CXPRESS
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CXPRESS
23 September 2015
Social Scene WORKSHOP ENABLES: Knysna Municipality along with the Association for Persons with Disabilities (APD) and the Department of Social Development (DSD) hosted a successful workshop for persons with disabilities on September 11 in Rheenendal. The aim of the workshop was to do a needs assessment to look at implementing an action plan on rendering services for disabled people. APD’s objective is to establish a Disabled Forum to ensure that services are rendered in a sustainable manner and to ensure capacity building for members belonging to the Forum. At left from back are Daniel Pompies, Sarah London (Knysna DSD), Ward 5 councillor Eleanore Bouw-Spies, Carol Bernardo (Peer Support APD), Lizel Smith and Cherien Felix (APD). In front from left are Nico Devos and Hendrick Blaauw of Vermont Centre, and Tessa Lezar of Epilepsy SA.
People, places & events
A BOWL HAD BY ALL! Pictured above is the Seeff bowling team, who gave competitors at Plett Lifesaving Club’s fundraiser on September 13 an excellent run for their money. From left are Cristina Botha, Chantele Kretschmann, Inge van Renen, Seeff Plett principals Kevin & Linda Engelsman, Brenda Duffus and Daniel van Renen. At right, two of the other teams who competed for the Barefoot Bowls crown, Coastal Tool Hire and Oakhill School, show off their wings and good spirits. See the advert on the cover for Seeff Plett contact details, and read the letter on page 15 for more news on the awesome event.
FOUR LEAVES FOR LUCK: Business partners in Clover Café Chris Brunette, left, and Werner Kruger welcomed guests at their opening do on August 31 with scrumptious snacks and delightful musical entertainment by Werner’s daughter, the acclaimed singer ChianoSky, at right. Visit them at The Global Village or follow them at www.facebook.com/clovercafeplett. BE A CUPCAKE ANGEL: Suzanne Vine shared this pic with CXPRESS to let readers know of the Cupcakes 4 Kids with Cancer initiative that takes place at 70 malls across the country on September 26. ‘We will be at Plett’s Market Square from 9am on Saturday morning in front of Pick n Pay. The event is the main fundraiser of this nonprofit organisation, which raises awareness about the early warning signs of childhood cancer and helps to raise funds for children who are fighting the illness, so please come and show your support. For a donation of just R10, you will receive a delicious cupcake made with love.’ Through their Cupcakes of Hope events, volunteers, sponsors and bakers share their love of baking for this great cause, so making these events the sweetest way to help. Visit www. cupcakesofhope.org to find out about other participating venues in CX Country.
Social Scene
23 September 2015
MÉTHODE IN THEIR MADNESS: Plett Tourism was proud to announce last Friday that Bramon Wine Estate had just won two Michelangelo Gran D’Or medals, one each for its 2012 and 2013 Blanc de Blanc Méthode Cap Classique. Pictured showing off their double-gold glory are Bramon owner Peter Thorpe and winemaker Anton Smal, right. The announcement came just in time for the town’s looming Wine and Bubbly festivities, promising a week of wine, bubbles, glitz, tastings, pairings and musical entertainment sans equal. Visit www.plett-tourism.co.za and see the block at right for more information.
CXPRESS
People, places & events
MARVELLOUS MUSIC LOVERS: The seventh Knysna-Plett Concert of the year was held on the evening of Monday September 7, when cellist Ben Capps and pianist Pieter Grobler played a selection of music by Benjamin Britten, Claude Debussy, Frédéric Chopin and Felix Mendelssohn. Among the large audience who attended were, clockwise from left, Margi Dane, left, and Siré Watters of Knysna, Rob Pringle and Moira Schäfer of Knysna, and Inga Patschke and Wayne Meyer from Groenvlei near Sedgefield. Photos: Timothy Twidle
Photos: Timothy Twidle
GERMAN FRIENDS UNITE AT THE WHITE HOUSE: The Rhodes University Chamber Choir, above, gave a spirited performance to an appreciative audience on the evening of September 3 at The White House Theatre in Plettenberg Bay. Proceeds from the concert have been donated to the Kids of Kurland, a charitable organisation that seeks to improve the quality of education provided to learners at The Crags Primary School in Kurland Village. Pictured at left from left at back are Michael & Monika Horn and Sue & Albert Bröhm, with Josephine Bröhm, Carolin & Marie Horn, and Isabella Bröhm in front. The Horn family hails from Munich in Germany and the Bröhms reside in The Crags, Plettenberg Bay.
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WINE PAIRING 101: Very simple - food and wine should each bring out the best flavours in the other. During the Sasfin Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival there will be options of great food paired with local Plett wines. Enjoy a variety of tastes, textures and tantalising possibilities to let your taste-buds run riot. Bon appetit! Enjoy this sneak peek at who will be pairing at this year’s Sasfin Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival… Arugula Bistro - the latest addition at Goose Valley; Bramon Restaurant - perfectly poised in the vineyards; Island Diner - the best seaside dining experience for the whole family; Seafood @ The Plettenberg - five-star dining with a sevenstar view; The Fat Fish - the trendiest ‘foodie’ haven in Plett.
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CXPRESS
23 September 2015
Classifieds
On the Soapbox
23 September 2015
Letters to the Editor
CXPRESS
Email: editor@cxpress.co.za - Fax: 044 533 0852 - PO Box 1449, Plett 6600
It’s the economy, stupid... Notes on sustaining Plett We are constantly being told that Plettenberg Bay is the third-fastest growing town in SA. But has anyone analysed the type of growth we are getting? It would appear that Plett’s population ranges from the super rich to the super poor, with not much in the middle, and very little investment to lift the poorest and even our average families out of their condition. It is all very well to build houses, but where is the in-
come to sustain them? If one looks at Plett as a place to rear a family, the benefits are unbelievable best primary school in the country, incredibly healthy climate, cleanest air, wonderful beaches. A child can ride a bike without it being stolen and we have no major shopping mall, which seems to be the only haunt for kids growing up in the cities. Surely now that there is the continuation of an air service
that connects us to the Cape and Joburg and we are no longer an isolated island, we should be attracting decent middle class families to help sustain a 12-month business environment instead of a six-month, at most, tourist season? The time is ripe for Bitou Municipality and Plett Business Chamber to advertise nationally to promote sustainable growth in Plett and improve the lot of the people who live and work here
year-round. The provision of work is the only way to halt the potential nightmare that we are steering towards in Plettenberg Bay. Let’s oil up the joints, get rid of that Outeniqua Rust, and get this town moving to provide a future for all these fantastic kids coming out of our schools. After all, most of their roots were planted here way before most of us arrived. Paul Deans, Plett
CXPRESS treatment makes brave Braai Buddies teary MAKING IT REAL: Wilderness local Sacha Buchanan, left, and her bestie Claudia D’Ambrosio Grobler adorned our previous edition’s cover
Gosh, I went to the Wilderness shop where your paper gets dropped and... Oh my word! Wow! What a rollercoaster of emotions when I saw the cover of CXPRESS! I did not expect feeling that emotional, and certainly did not expect that big a picture. I started shaking, with tears in my eyes. It looks amazing. I took a photo of the cover and sent it to Claudia. She started crying. You certainly made
it feel very real. Thank you so much. I do hope you get a great response from printing our story. There is just something about reading about it in a newspaper that is so much more real than online. My girls each took a copy to school the next day.
Thank you and well done. I’m just gobsmacked. Sacha Buchanan, Wilderness (Always a pleasure to spread your good news, Sacha - and no matter what the outcome of Ultimate Braai Master season 4, you’ve done us proud by making the grade. If readers have missed the last issue’s cover story, turn to page 5 of the September 16 edition at www.cxpress. co.za to find out more. - Ed.)
Thanks for making our Barefoot Bowls a roaring success A total of 25 teams of four players each pitched up at Plett Bowling Club for the inaugural Plett Surf Barefoot Bowls day on September 13. Looking across the packed greens it was clear that a lot of novices had taken up the challenge, some coming a long way to enjoy a great day out for a good cause. There were also a couple of pros in the field and hence the addition of the Jackpot End competition to level the playing fields a bit. The odd tequila issued as spot fines out on the greens also seemed to relax the novice players as they rolled out the woods. The best-dressed competition resulted in some fancy dress and some not so fancy dress, from the Montagu Fruit Minions to the “guys” of Coastal Tool Hire. Teams
BOSSIES OVER BOWLS: With PSLC chairman James Stuart, left, is Team Bossie Honeys from Royston Farms - from left are Bev Coetzee, Paula Whitaker, Michelle Nagel, and Dael Bunge
Nature Sport and Garden Route Timbers won the main competition, with late entry Rocky Road the winners of the Jackpot End. While results were being tallied, a bottle of Grants Whiskey was placed in the far corner of a green and for an entry fee of R5, bowlers played off to see who could get closest to the bottle.
Deon Coetzer of Plett Sports showed huge determination and a pocketful of R5 coins won him that coveted prize. Special mention must go to out-of-towners Oakhill School, who travelled through the forest, and the Tsitrus Café crew, who crossed provincial boarders from Storms River Village to come and support the day.
With great food from The Table and Fat Fish and the Plett Bowling Club hospitality, a fantastic day was had by all and next year’s event is definitely on the cards. The Plett Surf Bowls committee thanks all the sponsors, individuals who made donations and everyone who participated. Others not yet mentioned include Stuart & Marais Attorneys, Vans Auctioneers, CXPRESS, Nature Sport Company, Coastal Tool Hire, Hog Hollow, Yellow Wood Spur, Plett Sports, Solar Solutions, Lion Roars, Adopt A Swimmer, Plett Ski-boat Club, Plett Athletics Club, Surf Café, Seeff, Mexican Imports, Montague, The Music Box, Royston Farms, Flashbacks and Le Fournil. James Stewart obo Plett Surf Lifesaving Club, Plett
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CXPRESS
Sport & Adventure
23 September 2015
World Cup 2015 begins with a stutter for the Springboks South Africa’s obsession with bulk and their bruising approach to rugby may already have failed them at this year’s World Cup in England - GLENN MURRAY takes a closer look
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O finally the World Cup has begun and already there are upsets aplenty. Our loss to Japan was great for world rugby, great for the tournament and, luckily, not too bad for the Boks. These are the group stages and a hiccup here does not necessarily mean you cannot go on to win the cup... although it has never been done before. Think back to 2011, when the French lost two group matches but still came within two points of lifting the William Web Ellis trophy. The Bok performance against Japan was ponderous and clumsy. They left South African shores with the critics saying the team were too old, too big, too slow and too white. (Evidently, the only reason Victor Matfield made the team was because his son was a selector.) The team selected by Heyneke Meyer on Saturday night was the most capped SA side of all time - ironically, surpassing our last World Cup match team against Australia in Wellington in 2011, picked by Pieter de Villiers. (Spot the irony?) New Zealand, who have
this World Cup to lose rather than to win, fielded the most capped international team of all time against Argentina. So it seems that England 2015 is no place for the untested, the untried or the experimental - what a pity for the sport. England 2015 will see four groups of five fighting it out for two quarter-final spots. Group A is the Group of Death, and will see one of either Wales, England or Australia exiting before the knockout stages. Group B, which features SA, will have to play the winner or the runner up from Group A. Group C and D, although featuring the All Blacks and Ireland, will certainly feel that they have a smoother route as they forge ahead to the semi-finals. Although WC 2015 has already seen the biggest upset in the history of the tournament, don’t expect any more. I believe seven of the top-eight ranked teams will make it to the quarter finals. England are playing at home and the English fans are vociferous in their support, so with this home ‘player 16’ on hand, they should get out of the group stage and compete for the ultimate prize. Ireland were pre-tournament dark horses as holders of the Six Nations crown, but an iffy build-up to the tournament have reduced their odds. Australia are competitive when they take to the field in any sport, and will be hard to beat. This leaves the Springboks, who can only improve - and must, because an expectant nation demands. The rugged Argentinians are outsiders. But don’t be surprised if the image of Richie McCaw on the winners podium with that trophy is a cut and paste from 2011.
Photos courtesy RWC 2011/Glenn Murray
IMAGES FROM FOUR YEARS AGO: These photos depict the victorious All Blacks after the 2011 World Cup, supporters of 2015 hosts England, a bunch of happy blue Namibians and, now rather ironically, Japanese fans decked out in geisha regalia
Enrico’s food and fish enterprises back Master Marius’s Georgian campaign
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ATIONALLY acclaimed Plett athlete Marius Schlechter was selected to represent the South African Modern Pentathlon Association (SAMPA) to compete in the 2015 World Biathle Championships taking place in Batumi, Georgia, from September 18-20. Explained Marius: “Biathle is a run-swim-run event and I will be competing in the Men’s Masters category, for guys aged 50 and older.” The team was chosen after the South African Championships held in East London during July and in Georgia, Marius will be required to run 1,000m, swim 100m and run another 1,000m. “That distance does not sound particularly far, but it’s actually a sprint from start to finish, and it takes us about nine minutes to com-
GO RUN-SWIM-RUN! Enrico, right, hands Marius the cheque that sponsored part of his trip to Georgia for the World Biathle Championships this past weekend
plete the race.” All athletes are responsible for their own travel and accommodation costs and Marius thanks two local
businessmen, Enrico Iacopini of Enrico’s Restaurant and Patrick McDonald of Enrico’s Fishing Safaris, for sponsoring part of his costs.