24 june

24 June 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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Knysna riots quelled p3

Bitou coffers better p5

Local rugby rocks p16

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CXPRESS

News & Views

24 June 2015

A place where birds don’t sing

Eicke’s scheme effective in spreading fear and silencing opponents of the regime HENK BOLHUIS, who shared memoirs of growing up in the Netherlands during WW II on these pages before, continues with his account of a visit to Dachau concentration camp in Bavaria (turn to page 2 of the June 17 edition at www.cxpress.co.za for Part I)

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S I enter through KZ Dachau’s present-day entrance, I see immediately to the left of it, situated between the prisoners’ barracks and the administration buildings, Appellplatz - a large gravel area where the inmates had to assemble for roll calls.

During a normal day in the life of a prisoner, the first roll call was as early as four in the morning.

Here, inmates had to line up in perfect rows according to their barrack numbers and stand motionless in order to be counted, while their numbers (permanently tattooed on their arms) were read out by the guards. This procedure was repeated in the evening.

At this time during the morning “appell” they were also given work assignments for the day. With approximately 40,000 to 50,000 inmates (in 1944), this procedure sometimes lasted more than two hours before they were finally allowed to return to the barracks to get their mess kits for breakfast.

Initially, the camp was run by the Bavarian Police, but on

April 11, 1933 the Schutzstaffel (SS) - Heinrich Himmler’s powerful Nazi-military organisation - took over control of the camp and conditions inside immediately worsened.

The prisoners lost every civil right they had and were left utterly defenceless to the brutality and despotism of the cruel SS guards.

During June of that year, SS Obergruppenführer Theodor Eicke, a commander of the dreaded SS-Division Totenkopf of the Waffen-SS, became the commandant of Dachau.

Eicke immediately proceeded to set up a detailed organisational scheme to regulate life in the camp and it became a model that was eventually used for all concentration camps built subsequently.

According to Barbara Distel, “even the basic lay-out of the concentration camps came from Eicke. Each camp had its prisoners’ quarters surrounded by a high-tension fence and guard towers and, separate from these, a command area with administrative buildings and barracks.

“In 1934, Eicke was appointed Inspector General for all concentration camps.

With Dachau as his model, he developed an institution which was intended, by its very existence, to spread fear among the populace, an effective tool to silence every opponent of the regime.

“Dachau became, in effect, a training ground for the SS. Here its members first learned to see those with dif-

legal status and were utterly without hope.

Most of these newcomers had previously already been subjected to inconceivable sufferings during their journey from their hometowns to the camp.

“Supplied with only a piece of bread, they were locked up by hundreds in cattle or freight cars where, without sufficient oxygen, without drinking water, further care or

by the neck and silenced by your own methods.” (*6) A small tour group of Germans walk past me and stop nearby; most are in their early 20s and obviously born long after the war. Their tour leader begins to tell them about some of the cruel things that frequently happened here, sometimes on a daily basis.

A thought comes into my mind: ‘I wonder what these young people are thinking?

Some might even be direct descendants of the people who operated the camp during the war. What must be going through their minds right now?’

I step a bit closer to listen as their guide explains some of the punishments, such as

QUESTIONABLE CLAIM TO FAME: Its infamous concentration camp put the insignificant market town of Dachau on the map... - http://www.ushmm.org/wic/article.php?Moduleid=10005214

ferent convictions as inferior and to deal with them accordingly, not hesitating to murder when the occasion arose.

“In later years the SS was able, without a thought, to annihilate millions of innocent people in the gas chambers. The transformation of the theories of National-Socialism into a bloody reality began in the concentration camp at Dachau.” (*3) As I walk across Appellplatz on this quiet morning, the ghost of Dachau seems to live on in this square that once served as the camp’s assembly place.

In my imagination I can almost hear the movement of thousands of feet shuffling on the gravel surface as the inmates arrive and move into line, while the sadistic SS guards shout their orders in harsh German voices accompanied by the barking of their Alsatian guard dogs.

Although by now it is already late in the morning and quite warm, probably about 25°C, the stark reality of the place makes me shiver.

It was where the newcomers to the camp were “welcomed” in a brutal and degrading manner: “Blows and insults rained down upon the bewildered newcomers; their remaining possessions were confiscated, their hair was shaved off and they were put in striped fatigues.” (*4) The whole process was designed to intimidate the prisoners, to instil fear and to make them realise that from now on, they had no more

sanitary arrangements, they travelled for days.

“What took place within these cars, where people were so tightly packed that they could not even sit down, is indescribable.” (*5) One such story tells of a group of 2,521 prisoners from France, which left the town of Compiegne on July 2, 1944 and arrived at Dachau four days later, on July 6. When the doors of the cattle cars were opened, it was established that 984 (39%) of the prisoners had perished during the transport.

For the survivors of these transports, life in Dachau became a daily living hell and Appellplatz was indeed the place where, for many, all hope was lost. It was the location not only for roll calls, but also the central place of public punishment and often extreme torture.

As I slowly walk across this vast area, I realise I am walking on the very ground where many were subjected to inhuman, barbaric treatment and punishment and where innocent blood was spilled.

Sometimes punishment was meted out for ridiculous minor offences as dictated by the ‘Disciplinary and Penal Code’ of the camp.

This Code, instituted by Theodor Eicke in 1933, was subsequently used by all the other concentration camps right up to 1945, and had the following opening statement: “Tolerance means weakness... Beware of being caught lest you be grabbed

“public flogging” - when the prisoner, often naked, even in the dead of winter, was strapped to a specially constructed wooden block and had to count out aloud the number of lashes administered with a whip.

If the prisoner lost consciousness before the punishment was finished, the whole beating was repeated.

The “standing punishment” forced offenders, again often without any clothes, to stand without moving, sometimes for days. Many succumbed during extreme weather conditions.

“Tree or pole hanging” saw a prisoner’s hands tied behind his back as he was suspended from a special pole or branch from one of the trees nearby.

Apart from these public punishments, there were other brutalities such as bunker detention and the cutting off of rations. Punishment could be administered to an individual by placing him in solitary confinement, or to a group of prisoners together.

Watching the faces of the young German tourists as they listened to their guide telling them of these horrors is a moving experience, and one can clearly see strong emotions flooding their hearts.

Some of them are obviously not able to deal with the accounts of these atrocities and turn their heads away.

Two girls have wandered a short distance away from the group while others are silently weeping.

I, too, have to swallow of-

ten and experience difficulty in dealing with my own emotions. Again, in my imagination I see the prisoners before me, row upon row of emaciated human beings, standing there and having to watch and experience the physical and psychological torture of some of their own.

Fathers having to look upon their sons and sons having to watch their aged fathers; young and old treated worse than animals by Germany’s elite SS soldiers.

Distel, writing about this, says: “It was left to the discretion of each SS-man to determine the alleged offences of the prisoners and it was impossible to predict what might arouse the anger of an individual SS-man and thus result in a ‘punishment notice’.

“A button missing from a jacket, a spot on the barrack’s floor, a short pause to catch one’s breath at work, or an incorrect reply - the threat of punishment was always present.” (*7) Apart from these so-called “official” punishments, there was also the ever-present threat of some sadistic impromptu action by the guards and, living under these conditions, many of the prisoners were driven to utter despair that often resulted in suicide.

“Particularly favoured [by the guards] were ‘punishment drills’ through snow and bog, work during ‘free time’ or endlessly prolonged roll calls. When the SS wished to torment the prisoners, they would keep them standing for hours after the roll call count.” (*8) E Gostner, one of the prisoners who survived Dachau, wrote a book in 1945, called 1000 Tage im KZ (1,000 days in a concentration camp). In it, he tells of an event that happened on January 23, 1938. “…a prisoner escaped from the camp. The remaining prisoners had to stand in the roll call square throughout the night. It was cold and snowing, and a great number of prisoners collapsed and died during this night.” (*9) After some time I decide to walk to the other side of the camp, past the main administration buildings that used to house the offices of the camp commander and his staff.

Here, in a building on my left, the life and death of everyone in custody in the camp was hanging in the balance; in these very rooms, it was decided who would live another day and who would die.

Death, of course, was the ultimate aim of the camp indeed, it was the purpose of its existence and design - and truly death reigned supreme in Dachau. * Bibliography: Dachau Concentration Camp by Barbara Distel ‘Comité International de Dachau’ 1972 - (3) p2, (4) p4, (5) p13, (6) p6, (7) p6, (8) p7, (9) p7.

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News & Views

24 June 2015

CXPRESS

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Stun grenades and rubber bullets rain on rioting Nekkies crowd

Six residents face public violence charges after they were arrested during a destructive housing protest which brought traffic on the N2 just outside Knysna to a standstill last week - YOLANDÉ STANDER reports

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BOUT 400 angry Knysna residents staged a two-hour riot at Nekkies on Friday and the George Public Order Police (POPS) had to intervene with stun grenades and rubber bullets

to disperse the crowd, who had started gathering on the road just after 2pm.

The protestors strategically placed burning tyres and other items over the national road in an attempt to disrupt

Help identify two-yearold skeleton

Plett SAPS recently released inquest photos of the clothing found on a skeleton discovered in Piesang Valley two years ago. The skeleton was found hanging in a tree on May 5, 2013. With no clues as to the identity of the deceased having come to light in the interim, the Plett police is appealing to anyone who may be missing a family member since before the discovery date to come forward to submit a DNA sample. At this stage, no further details have been released by the SAPS, but the clothing is evidently that of a male. Please contact Sgt Teyise at the KwaNokuthula Detective Office on 044 533 3121. - Nikki Ridley

traffic, and pelted passing vehicles with bricks and rocks.

Police spokesman Captain Malcom Pojie said local authorities intervened and closed the road just after 3pm to ensure the safety of motorists.

Pojie said when POPS members arrived, they used stun grenades and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd and by 4:30pm the road was reopened. POPS members however remained on the scene to monitor the situation during Friday night.

Six locals were arrested for public violence and appeared in the Knysna Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

They were released on warning and will have to take their place in the dock again on July 23.

Knysna acting mayor Esmé Edge said municipal emergency services also responded to protest action at Nekkies, which led to the closure of the N2 on the eastern side of town. “The protest action stems from housing development processes. A meeting was held by the municipality and affected parties on Friday afternoon, and the municipality has responded in writing to issues raised by the community.

“A commitment was given that a public meeting would be held on Monday June 29,” Edge said.

She added that she was “extremely disappointed” by the actions of the protestors.

“Each time the N2 is closed due to protests, it creates irreparable damage to the town’s image.

“Irrespective of where we live in Knysna, whenever we are unhappy and consider a course of action, we should always ask ourselves whether our actions are in the best interest of Knysna.”

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FIGHTING FIRE WITH FIRE: George Public Order Police vehicles patrolled the N2 at Nekkies throughout last Friday night after having dispersed rioters who burnt tyres and pelted cars to express their gripes over housing issues Photo: Yolandé Stander

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CXPRESS

News & Views

24 June 2015

Plett teacher behind bars for alleged sexual assault on Grade 2 boy

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ETECTIVES from the George Family Violence and Sexual Offences unit arrested a 42-year-old teacher at his home yesterday in connection with allegations of sexual assault.

The arrest followed after a report by the guardian of a 10-year-old Grade 2 learner at a local primary school in Plettenberg Bay. Said Southern Cape police

spokesperson Captain Malcolm Pojie: “The child’s guardian became suspicious after the boy had some misfortunes in bed. She decided to interview the boy who revealed to her that the suspect had sexually assaulted him on two occasions during May, at a swimming pool and at school respectively.

“As a result, she reported these allegations to the local

police, whereafter a case docket was opened earlier this month and handed over to the George FCS Unit for further investigation.”

The suspect was scheduled to appear in the Plettenberg Bay magistrates court yesterday (June 23). He had been charged in terms of the Sexual Offences Act with sexual assault and compelling a child to

witness self-masturbation.

“Bail will be opposed by the investigation officer as these offences are regarded as serious and cannot be tolerated,” warned Pojie.

“Counselling has been arranged for the boy. We cannot reveal the identity of the boy or the school as we need to protect him from secondary victimisation and trauma.”

The investigation is ongoing.

Maspero fit to stand trial

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EENAGED Knysna resident and murder accused Kyle Maspero has been declared fit to stand trial for his part in the 2013 killing of 39-year-old Rosemary Theron in Clovelly, Cape Town.

Maspero was referred by a Western Cape High Court order to Valkenberg Hospital for a 30-day psychiatric evaluation in 2014, reportedly due to his inability to recall crucial details of the murder, but had to wait until this year for a bed to become available.

The trial date has been set

for October 15, and Maspero will remain under house arrest in Knysna until that time.

Maspero’s co-accused and the victim’s daughter, Phoenix Racing Cloud Theron, was convicted of her mother’s murder in 2014 and is serving a 15-year sentence.

She claimed she was under a “love spell” cast by Maspero, and later pleaded guilty to helping him strangle her mother with a rope and hide her body, at the same time implicating Maspero as part of a plea-bargain. /"Pkmmk"Tkfng{

News & Views

24 June 2015

CXPRESS

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Mayor shares good tidings during State of Bitou dinner affair Words & photos: Timothy Twidle

BRAGGING RIGHTS: At a dinner hosted by Bitou Municipality were, from left, councillors Sumeia Ndayi, Annelise Olivier and Hilda Plaatjies; CemAir CEO Miles van der Molen; councillors Neville de Waal and Wayne Craig, and Bitou mayor Memory Booysen

B

ITOU mayor Memory Booysen gave an extensive overview of the accomplishments of his municipality over the past four years during a dinner on Monday June 15.

The function was attended by some 70 guests, which included representatives of the town of Plettenberg Bay, neighbouring areas, other parts of the Western Cape and Gauteng.

Booysen began by explaining how it had been necessary to effect drastic improvements to the municipality’s financial situation and that this had been brought about by way of stern financial discipline, such that there were currently cash reserves of R60-million.

Sound financial manage-

ment had in turn paved the way for a number of projects aimed at bringing about improvements to the quality of life of all sectors of the local community.

Mention was made of the considerable efforts that had to date been implemented in training and development, upgrading of library services - including the present construction of a library in Kranshoek - the provision of the basic services of electricity, street lighting, potable water, roads, sanitation and recreational facilities.

Most notably, building plans for Bitou to the value of approximately R700million have been approved over the past four years, of which 74% have been completed, while housing pro-

What the frigate?!

The biggest vessel to grace the bay of Plett in quite some time, the 121m Navy frigate SAS Isandlwana dominated the view from town and caused quite a stir when it anchored in full view of Plett onlookers on Thursday June 18. The Dutch built valour-class frigate was en route from Simonstown to East London to take part in an SA Navy parade for World Hydrographic Day. No reason was provided for the impressive vessel’s temporary stopover. - Nikki Ridley

jects worth R204-million have been brought to fruition in the suburbs of Qolweni, Kranshoek, Kurland and KwaNokuthula.

Booysen said that human resources management had been improved by way of the introduction of a system of performance management; the staff complement of Bitou Municipality is 702 permanent positions, whereas current strength is 489.

Waste management has been an ongoing problem in Bitou for the past decade.

Domestic waste is presently being transported to Mossel Bay, but the mayor was able to report that a proper transfer station for the handling of refuse, in an enclosed building, was under construction on a site adjacent to the N2 between Plettenberg Bay and Knysna.

Day to day control of the 150 vehicles used by the municipality in the execution of service delivery had been improved by way of a mix of ownership and fleet management, together with rigorous monitoring of fuel usage.

Bitou now boasts four destinations that have been accorded Blue Flag status,

namely, Robberg 5 Beach, The Waves at Keurboomstrand, Nature’s Valley and Lookout Beach.

The municipality has received an unqualified audit from the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) and a clean audit from the Auditor General for the last financial year.

Bitou has also received Govan Mbeki Awards this year for its KwaNokuthula Project, and for the Best Integrated Residential Development Programme.

SERVING MEMORY: Mayoral office manager Siphiwe Dladla, left, and personal assistant Nomthandazo Sibhengile look sharp at the Bitou Municipality dinner on June 15

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CXPRESS

News & Views

24 June 2015

Heed the Ironman’s advice and enter Teens4Tots 2015

Our tennis boys and girls sport brand new kit! Big thanks go to teacher and coach Erena Stofberg for driving the sport of tennis within the school and for organising a cake sale to raise funds for the new outfits. Special thanks, too, to all the parents for their involvement and support. The new kit is stunning and the players are proud and excited to sport it on the court.

TIME TO GET READY, STEADY... The Teens4Tots Triathlon entails a cycle, run and swim so prepare to don those wetsuits and related kit and sign up for this uber beneficial event on Friday July 10 - Photos: Julie Ann Photography

We wish the best of luck to Plett Primary karateka Aiden Trahms, left, and Lojza Pisonic, second from right, who will be heading to the States for the US Open ISKAA World Martial Arts Championships in Orlando during the holiday. They form part of a group of seven martial arts students from Plett who will be representing South Africa - an outstanding achievement.

Grade 6 Creative Writing Peace

By Siyolise Modi and Chenoa Gips Peace is like a piece of cake.

But it’s also difficult to make.

Even though it’s hard to see Someone else having peace with me.

Always run away from a fight.

Before it comes back to bite.

Always make peace with your family.

So that your heart can be free!

Die Graad 5As se Kuns tema was Fokus en Beklemtoning - hier wys kunstenaars, van links, Simone Fourie, Shanice Olivier and Elmone Mare hul mooi werk.

We were completely blown away by the fantastic support from our parents during this year’s Maths Whiz.

Not only is this a great learning experience for participants, but it also raised R30,512.40 for the school.

Three of our Grade 3s show off the creations they made during class using only recycled items. From left are Logan van der Merwe, Michaela Stephenson and Mnombho Masiza.

Special thanks to Mr Deal for organising this initiative, to all the pupils for studying, and to the parents for supporting and motivating them to excel.

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HE Teens4Tots Triathlon is the first event of its kind in Knysna and coincides with the ever popular annual Pick & Pay Knysna Oyster Festival. Now in its second year, this fundraising initiative, aimed at athletes aged nine to 18, takes place on Friday July 10 at 2pm at Cruise Cafe.

Last year’s event provided great enjoyment, as Ironman Alec Riddle agrees: “The Teen Triathlon was a fun event and both Munro [Ferreira, trained by Riddle] and Jamie [his equally talented 11-year-old son] had a blast.

I expect this event to grow as more kids are starting to give triathlon a go.”

Says Knysna Education Trust (KET) director Nicky Goodall: “We believe the Teens4Tots Triathlon is a great opportunity for our youth to apply their energy towards making a difference in the lives of toddlers by supporting preschool education in the community.

“And we’re thrilled to have

Knysna Waterfront on board as a prize sponsor of this year’s event.”

All proceeds raised aid KET in the accomplishment of its mission to improve the quality of teaching, development, education and learning in disadvantaged preschools in the greater Knysna and Sedgefield communities.

KET has been in operation since 1993 and supports 2,450 children in 39 preschools by means of several projects including educational training, feeding schemes, numeracy and literacy programmes, infrastructure upgrades and rebuilds.

Fundraising is essential to ensure the implementation of these extensive activities in the field of Early Childhood Development.

Sanctioned by Triathlon Western Cape, the Knysna event entails a swim, cycle and run in a circular route around the Waterfront area.

Cruise Cafe is the venue for the start, finish and transition area of the triathlon,

which kicks off at 2pm sharp on Friday July 10 and is expected to last approximately 3.5 hours.

Both individual and team entries are welcomed. All necessary safety precautions will be in place and the event is fully supported by Triathlon South Africa.

Nicky concludes: “We enjoyed great local support last year so again invite the community to participate in whichever way possible and contribute towards establishing this initiative as a premier event for years to come.

“The greatest gift is the gift of education, as it’s truly to the benefit of everyone.”

Call 044 382 4638 or 083 412 4598, or email admin@ knysnaedutrust.co.za for entry forms. Updates will be posted on KET’s social media platforms, so please like them at www.facebook.com/ knysnaeducationtrustKET or follow www.twitter.com/ KnysnaEduTrust and visit www.knysnaedutrust.co.za for additional information.

Jewish ladies and Plett learners make winter warmer Plettenberg Bay’s Jewish Ladies Guild extends a very special thank you to the learners of Wittedrift High School, Plett Primary, Greenwood, Footsteps and Phakamisani Primary for their generous donations of warm clothing. ‘Without your willingness to give, this project would not have been possible,’ say the ladies, adding their huge gratitude to Cindy from The Print Shop for kindly sponsoring the letters given to each child. The clothes were handed over to the PlettAid Foundation on June 5. At right, PlettAid’s Zenzall Plaatjies is flanked by local Jewish Ladies Guild stalwarts Shirley Jacobson, left, and Stacey Aaron.

Newsletter takes a break - and Taryn ties the knot!

If you would like to get involved with our fundraising initiatives, please feel free to contact Taryn Antunes on 044 533 2126.

PLETT PRIMARY PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY:

THE Plett Primary School newsletter, which features on this page in every edition of CXPRESS, will not appear during the school holidays. But we’ll be back with

all the news of rugby tours and other school matters as soon as PPS learners hit the benches next month.

We also extends our early congratulations and the very

best wishes for a lovely wedding day to PPS public relations guru Taryn Antunes, who will exchange vows with her beloved Ryan on July 4.

Promotion

24 June 2015

CXPRESS

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CXPRESS

Interval

24 June 2015

A woman on the phone to her friend…

“I felt like my body was getting totally out of shape, so I asked my doctor’s permission to join a fitness club and start exercising. I decided to take an aerobics class for seniors.

“I bent, twisted, gyrated, jumped up and down, and perspired for an hour. But, by the time I got my leotard on, the class was over.”

The reason why women sometimes lie

O

NE day, when a seamstress was sewing while sitting close to a river, her thimble fell into the river.

When she cried out, the Lord appeared and asked: “My dear child, why are you crying?”

The seamstress said her thimble had fallen into the water and she needed it to help her husband in making a living for their family.

The Lord dipped His hand into the water and pulled up a golden thimble set with sapphires.

“Is this your thimble?” the Lord asked.

“It is not,” the seamstress replied.

The Lord again dipped into the river. He held out a golden thimble studded with rubies.

“Is this your thimble?” the Lord asked.

Again, the seamstress replied: “No.” The Lord reached down again and came up with a leather thimble.

“Is this your thimble?” the Lord asked.

“Yes it is,” the seamstress replied.

The Lord was pleased with the woman’s honesty and gave her all three thimbles to keep, and the seamstress went home happy.

Some years later, the seam-

A

stress was walking with her husband along the riverbank, and her husband fell into the river and disappeared under the water.

When she cried out, the Lord again appeared and asked her: “Why are you crying?’’

“Oh Lord, my husband has fallen into the river!”

The Lord went down into the water and came up with George Clooney.

“Is this your husband?” the Lord asked.

“Yes!” cried the seamstress.

The Lord was furious. “You lied! That is an untruth!”

The seamstress replied: “Oh, forgive me, my Lord.

It is a misunderstanding.

You see, if I had said ‘no’ to George Clooney, you would have come up with Brad Pitt.

“Then if I said ‘no’ to him, you would have come up with my husband. Had I then said ‘yes’, you would have given me all three.

“Lord, I’m not in the best of health and would not be able to take care of all three husbands, so THAT’S why I said yes to George Clooney.”

And so the Lord let her keep him.

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Almonds, anyone?

man is driving a bus full of old people who have to be moved to a new retirement home.

An old lady walks up to the bus driver while he is stopping for gas and says: “Excuse me, would you like these almonds?”

The driver looks at the can of almonds and says: “Sure!”

Before long, he’s eaten

all of the almonds.

Two hours later, another old lady approaches the driver and asks: “Would you like these almonds?

My gums are too soft to chew these.”

The man says: “Sure, but why do you buy them if you can’t chew them?”

The old lady says: “Oh, we just like to lick the chocolate off of them.”

The Shakespeare seat on a plane

M

Y grandparents were taking me on a holiday to Disneyland.

Grandma was excited for me when we boarded the plane; she exclaimed that I was lucky, because I got the Shakespeare seat.

“Why is it the Shakespeare seat, Grandma?”

“You are in seat 2-B, so it’s the Shakespeare seat.”

“Don’t be silly, Grandma.

All the seats on an airplane are Shakespeare seats.”

“How do you figure that?” she asked.

“Well, it’s either seat 2-B or not 2-B.”

Business

Investor Focus

24 June 2015 Malcolm Stewart – Investment manager at Michaelides Parker Wealth Knysna & Plett

So, just how are we doing?

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NE of our national characteristics is to be permanently negative about the “direction” of our country.

We discuss the woes of Eskom and corruption, the rise of crime and decline of the Rand. We forget that pre-‘94, many of our services were focused on only about 4-million people.

The massive level of urbanisation placed enormous stress on these services, which was accompanied by inefficient and sometimes disastrous attempts to up-

CXPRESS

grade and expand them.

While we can expect ongoing problems with most of these services, it is very interesting to look at how ordinary South Africans have managed to get on with their lives and have moved upwards in both wealth and in their standards of living.

The LSM (Living Standards Measure) system is used to assess the income levels of people in a country.

I recently came across an interesting way of reflecting what this system measures

and how we have developed since 1994. It shows the earning level of each category but it also gives an indication of how we all live, with LSM levels as follows: • LSM 1: Radio, minimal access to services. Earning R1,131 per month. These are people mainly on social grants. In ‘94 there were ±4.1m people in this category; today there are less than 200,000.

• LSM 2: Above plus stove, water on plot. Earning R1,378pm. Many will still get

social grants, ‘94 ±3m people, now ±600,000.

• LSM 3: Above plus TV, DVD/video player, electricity. Earning R1,501pm.

Many will also get social grants, ‘94 ±3.7m people, now ±1.8m.

• LSM 4: Above plus hi-fi, flush toilet, fridge, electric hot plate, newspaper. Earning R2,086pm, ‘94 4.2m people, now virtually unchanged.

• LSM 5: Above plus magazines, books, and lottery tickets. Earning R2,702pm, in ‘94 ±3.7m people, now ±8m.

• LSM 6: Above plus cellphones, cinema. Earning

New interactive website boosts business in townships

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A township-based business owners have jumped at the opportunity to join a new interactive website, designed to help them CANnect with their customers and grow their businesses.

The site www.cando.sa.com was launched by Nampak Bevcan’s consumer facing brand CAN DO! at the end of last year, and provides local outlet owners with a platform to profile their businesses as well as engage and interact with potential and existing customers, ultimately increasing their customer base

and sales.

The multidimensional mobile compatible site allows all “kasi-based” owners of restaurants, taverns, bars, shisa nyamas and even carwashes to upload their business’ profile and advertise their upcoming events free of charge on the online platform. The only prerequisite is that they sell beverage cans as part of their product offering.

The interactive online community allows young South Africans who are ready to unleash the fun an opportunity to CANnect with one

another and find the freshest and safest can-in-hand parties at township outlets around Mzansi.

“It is essentially a gig guide featuring all kasi parties and events in SA, with many more features that aim to keep CAN DO!’ers engaged and excited,” explains Alexandra Bouwer, marketing manager for the CAN DO! brand.

Through the site, township business owners who do not have websites now have an opportunity to create an online presence.

The CAN DO! website also

offers outlets that are already active on social media and have their own websites exposure to a larger market.

“Outlets are able to create their own profiles and advertise their upcoming parties.

CAN DO! fans are able to rate venues to show others where the hottest spots are, thereby giving business owners valuable feedback and positive reinforcement,” explains Bouwer.

This platform is sure to change the township party scene - visit www.cando. sa.com for more information.

R4,822pm. In ‘94 3.8m people, now 12m.

• LSM 7: Above plus DStv, motor vehicles, internet.

Earning R11,089pm. In ‘94 ±3m people, now ±9m.

• LSM 8: Above plus full ownership of durables, and full access to services. Earning R15,930pm. In ’94 ±2m people, now unchanged.

From the above, it is clear that our level of inequality has changed dramatically, for the better, over the last 20 years.

The massive rise in the LSM 5, 6, and 7 groups has moved over 18.5-million people up the social/earning ladder.

9 This rising tide goes against the negative direction syndrome of many South Africans. It also helps to understand the massive demand for basic services like electricity etc., and the frustrations now being felt. This is also understandable in the framework of the huge urbanisation that has taken place.

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10

CXPRESS

RHEENENDAL SUPPORT THEIR YOUNG: Youth Day on June 16 was celebrated under the theme Youth Action for Economic Freedom in Our Lifetime and, accordingly, Rheenendal Youth Centre in collaboration with Knysna speaker and ward councillor Eleanore Bouw-Spies, at right in the pic, hosted a Youth Market Day. The event aimed to promote entrepreneurial skills, provide young people with a platform to network and for them to take their first step towards being confident business owners.

Celebrated in good spirit, the day kicked off with an inspirational song by Rheenendal Youth Choir.

Various stalls were put up ranging from beading, food, vegetables, arts and craft, clothing, cosmetics, plant works and children’s items.

Residents of Rheenendal and surrounds came out in numbers to support the youth. In the pic with Bouw-Spies are, from left, youth advisor Devoline Koopman and Tamar Kahts of Wrap-It.

Social Scene

24 June 2015 THATO SCORES A BIKE FROM SPUR: Yellow Wood Spur in Plett’s latest colouring in competition had a brand new bike up for grabs and when the draw was done three Tuesdays ago after two months of arty kids entering, six-yearold Thato - pictured here with her parents and Spur waitron Granvelle, right - was declared the lucky winner. Spur manager Nicky explains: ‘We are currently trying to run these competitions on a monthly basis for all kiddies who visit our store with their parents - you can enter as many pics as they want to colour in. There are no specific rules, and all kiddies up to age 12 can participate in-store.’ See the advert on page 16 for current Spur specials and contact details.

AS SEEN ON PASELLA: The multi-awarded Linden Choir - which also boasts TV exposure on a variety of shows, as well as international performances - graces Plett and Knysna with its presence and three shows during the next fortnight. Singing in the Southern Cape towns of George, Hartenbos, Mossel Bay, Still Bay and Oudtshoorn from this weekend ‘till July 7, their CX Country shows are scheduled for Tuesday June 30 at Plett’s St Peter’s Church (entrance free but donations appreciated) and in Knysna on Thursday July 2 at St George’s Church and on Saturday the 4th at the Leisure Island library (tickets at the door at R20 each). All the shows start at 1pm sharp. The choir boasts 100 members of which, astoundingly, more than half are boys. They are in the capable hands of choirmaster Duncan Fourie and are accompanied by Gert Potgieter. Call tour organiser Dalene Davids for more information 083 668 6918.

People, places & events

PAINT SHOP CLIENTS WIN BIG WITH MINIS: Dulux stores in Plett and Knysna ran a competition for two lucky winners to score an iPad Mini if they spent more than R500 at either shop between May 12 and June 12, when the draw and both handovers were done. Pictured from left are Dulux Knysna’s Tony Gradwell handing over his prize to Mike Bird from Stanroy Construction in Knysna, and Andrea Gradwell giving his iPad Mini to Plett local Terry Torley from Timbastruc.

KEEPING HEARTS WARM: Winter solstice has passed but the fierce cold is far from over.

‘Sitting snugly in front of the fireplace, under a warm blanket, my thoughts kept returning to the thousands of residents that brave the cold and wet conditions without adequate clothing and blankets,’ said Knysna mayor Georlene Wolmarans. She lauded the successful blanket-drives recently held in Knysna and encouraged residents to share their warmth by donating more blankets and warm clothing.

Donations may be dropped off at the mayoral office at Knysna Municipality and will then be distributed to the needy. ‘Let’s respond to that uncomfortable feeling within while sitting snugly in our homes. Let us keep more people in the Greater Knysna warm by giving them what they need most this winter,’ concluded Wolmarans. Contact Liza Beeslaar at the mayoral office on 044 302 6479 or email ebeeslaar@knysna.gov.za for further information.

Entertainment

24 June 2015

CXPRESS

11

Bring your cat and dog and gumboots to The Yard’s first country fair T

HERE KITTY, KITTY: Owner pet lookalike stakes and other animal-related activities will complement the excellent food on offer and potjie cooking competition at The Yard in Piesang Valley from July 3-5

HE Yard in Piesang Valley Road will be hosting the Plett Country Fair on the weekend of July 3-5. The event kicks off on the Friday afternoon with a Potjie Competition (entry forms are available at The Yard or from the Plett Tourism website), with live music by John Craig.

Beer on tap and other refreshments will be on sale, and visitors will be able to purchase tickets to taste the results and have a main meal of their favourite pot, while also contributing to the judging process.

On Saturday the 4th from 9am to 5pm, the plan is to have 40 stalls selling homemade products and crafts, lo-

cal estate wines and cheeses, with agricultural displays, pet-related stalls and game displays to boot. Other delicacies on offer will be countrystyle foods and oqgtmqhhkg.

Says The Yard’s Willie Gouws: “In the nature of a true country fair, there will be the opportunity to showcase your pets in various categories such as My Pet Has Talent, owner pet lookalikes, agility tests and more.

“Other activities for the day will include pony rides, horse drawn cart and husky drawn sledge on wheels.”

He encourages owners of unusual pets to bring them along for the day - contact Adel Stander on WhatsApp

See you at the Fringe - slash 50% off opening night tickets!

P

LETT Fringe Festival at The White House Theatre offers five days of world class drama, comedy, music and storytelling in aid of the Kids of Kurland School Project.

The events brought to local audiences by the organisers of both the Fringe and Plett Music Festivals have become a popular institution on the Garden Route social and cultural calendar, attracting tourists and locals alike.

Once again the team has laboured for months to ensure that Plett Fringe Festival’s exciting programme [see page 7] will enjoy wide appeal, ranging through the full range of theatrical arts.

The line-up of artists involved this year is a real coup for Plett and includes acclaimed playwrights, directors and actors, each a star in their own genre.

The festival opens on Thursday June 25 with a Zakes Mda play. Vjg" Oqvj/ gt" qh" Cnn" Gcvkpi is a topical piece about corruption, moral decay and personal disaster.

It has been described as a timeless classic, as pertinent today as when it was written two decades ago.

Multi-award winning director Tara Notcutt’s play, Wpfgtokpgf, follows on June 26. She directs a superb professional crew and cast in this high-energy production

Score half-price tickets for first Fringe night’s ‘Mother’

T

HE first 10 readers to book for tomorrow night’s opening show, Zakes Mda’s The Mother of All Eating, will pay half-price for their tickets.

Call Ann Fermor on 082 452 8764 and mention CXPRESS to stand in line for this promotion, and see the advert on this page for additional information.

- song and storytelling at its most exciting. This joyous and widely acclaimed work centres on hope, persistence and an unexpected hero.

The Wpfgtokpgf cast will also perform Vjg" Kpetgfkdng" Lqwtpg{ - a play for young audiences staged at Kurland Primary School.

On Saturday morning, Lunchbox Theatre will present the interactive and entertaining family play KNkhc.

It tells of a loss, a promised great inheritance and an amazing journey to find that treasure, and is sure to enthral young and old.

On Saturday evening, the

delightful Alex and Lucy Tops present Dct"Pqpg which tells the funny yet poignant story of a family who has run a bar in New York City for decades. This charming musical romance will transport you to a happy place, filled with nostalgia, laughter, and the occasional tear.

On Sunday evening, the one-man show Dqtfgtnkpg will combine comedy, music and drama in the story of Van Heerden, a naïve Afrikaner conscripted in 1976. He endures physical humiliation and moral uncertainty, and discovers a passion for music.

Pierre van Heerden is a re-

markable vocal artist and comedian, well-known for his roles in Ecvu, Tqem{" Jqttqt" Rkevwtg" Ujqy, Ejkeciq. and Vjg"Nkqp"Mkpi.

The Festival ends on a high note on Monday June 29, when well-known South African comedian and satirist Nik Rabinowitz presents Yjcv"vjg"GHHA As South Africans, this is probably a question we ask more often than we would like. Nik Rabinowitz is here to answer the question - or maybe not answer it so much as shake it a bit, and see what falls out.

Ugg"vjg"cfxgtv"qp"vjku"rcig0

072 516 3446 for details.

Sunday July 5’s programme (9am to 3pm) kicks off with the allure of a man-sized breakfast, or a healthy alternative for the whole family.

Then prepare for kicks of a different kind when the very first Garde Route Gumboot Tossing Championships, sponsored by Protecx, takes to the field.

“Besides our stalls, we have also created space for a fleamarket to add a bit of flavour

to the day,” says Willie.

“Potential traders with unique products or skills are welcome to contact us to discuss options - the more activity, the better for all involved.”

The Yard crew is set on hosting this event once a year in a bid to keep it fresh and unique on each occasion.

Find more details on their Facebook page or contact Willie for more info and application forms - see the advert below for contact details.

12

CXPRESS

Food & Wine

24 June - 2015

Celebrate the end of your fast with these sweet treats

W

ITH Ramadan underway, the beautiful festival of Eid is often referred to as “Sweet Eid” because of the amount and variety of sweet dishes and traditional desserts that are consumed to celebrate the happy end of the long fast of Ramadan.

This year, Snowflake celebrates Eid-al-Fitr with a colourful carnival of syrupysweet desserts that embrace flavours of the East and the aromatic scents of cinnamon and cardamom.

Expert baker Asha Maharaj, who kneads a little extra sweetness into Eid-al-Fitr, shares her take on traditional Eid treats.

1/2 tsp rose essence 2 cups cake wheat flour 2 tbsp thick ghee Ghee for deep-frying Flaked almonds to decorate Hqt"vjg"oknm"u{twr 1/2 cup milk 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 tsp ground cardamom OCNKFC This crunchy, sweet treat is made from a rich dough, fried, then crumbled and mixed with a milk syrup.

Kpitgfkgpvu"*Ugtxgu"8+ 1 cup Snowflake Wheat Semolina Flour 1 cup milk

Ogvjqf 1. Place the semolina in a mixing bowl. Stir in the milk and rose essence. Leave for 10-15 minutes. Add the flour and rub in the ghee, by hand, until it forms a workable dough.

2. Break the dough into marble-sized pieces, flat-

EXOTIC EID DELIGHTS: Malida, far left, and Semolina Phirni, left are two showstoppers in the sweet stakes

UGOQNKPC"RJKTPK ten and fry until golden and crisp. Remove with a draining spoon and leave to cool.

3. Prepare the milk syrup by combining the ingredients and boiling for 3-5 minutes, or until thick. Pour the syrup over the fried biscuits and leave until absorbed.

4. Crumble the mixture into small pieces and sprinkle with almonds.

This wonderfully creamy and fragrant pudding is even cooler because of its mintgreen colour.

Kpitgfkgpvu"*Ugtxgu":+ 2 tbsp Snowflake Wheat Semolina Flour 2 cups milk 1/2 cup sugar A few drops of green food colouring 1 tbsp ghee

PeeBee’s Wine Column

1/4 tsp ground cardamom 1 tin evaporated milk Toasted flaked almonds for topping Ogvjqf 1. Place the semolina and milk in a saucepan, stirring over a moderate heat until it comes to the boil. Add the sugar, food colouring, ghee and cardamom. Turn the heat down and allow to simmer until reduced by half.

2. Remove from the heat and whisk in the evaporated milk.

3. Pour into a deep pudding bowl, sprinkle over the flaked almonds and leave to cool. Serve chilled.

Words & Photo: Peter Bishop

Going the long mile with GS Cabernet

T

HE strange phenomenon in human encounter is for people to ask the unqualified: “What/Who Was/Is the Best Ever?” If I answered whom the best person I ever met is/was, then I would lose my last handful of friends!

Given the danger of answering, there is one Cape wine that is singularly the most unique, without calling on the word ‘best’... The GS Cabernet 66.

The scene changes. What third-generation Stellenbosch winemaking family is the most unique? I know the question is grammatically incorrect, but allow the error. I would not risk opprobrium by answering: The Finlaysons.

A pathologist, Dr Maurice Finlayson, bought Montagne (now Hartenberg) in 1948.

At Sunday meals he offered Burgundy and Bordeaux to his four growing sons who had as a mother one of the finest women one could meet - Eleanor, a woman of nobility and grace.

Son Walter was to produce the famed Montagne Cabernet Sauvignon of the early 70s before becoming Diners Champion in 1981 and 1982 at Blaauwklippen and then moving to Glen Carlou that he ultimately sold.

Younger son Peter was Tim Hamilton Russell’s choice of winemaker in 1980. A decade later he moved to the new adjacent Bouchard Finlayson. where he still operates successfully.

Peter’s son - Peter-Allan has hit fame with his Crystallum range of Pinot Noir, and has recently married into Gabriëlskloof.

Walter’s daughter is the “creative” force in Creation Wines, produced by her erudite husband, Jean-Claude.

Walter’s elder son is a chip off the old block: David Finlayson.

David was born in 1972.

With his great friend - also ex-Rondebosch Boys High School - Victor Sperling born in 1966, they tasted birthyear wines. The Montagne

THE ART OF SPIES: David Finlayson, right, and art designer Nick Cumming at a recent Wade Bales expo in the Mother City

1972 was stunning but the GS 66 was in another world.

After the Millennium, when Glen Carlou had been sold, David bought Edgebaston on the R44 in Stellenbosch with one ambition: to fashion his own GS. His first attempt, David Finlayson Edgebaston GS 2003 fetched over R600 at the Cape Winemakers’ Guild and put him in line to win the Diner’s Winemaker of the Year contest that had been awarded to his dad 20 years before.

I recently tasted the Edgebaston GS Cabernet Sauvignon 2012, a vintage that is highly regarded. I wrote “glorious” and threw in five ticks.

Cassis and blackcurrant and all that.

Though still young, its tannic structure held power and definitely the ability to go on a long, long journey. A case of ‘watch this space’ as, finally, a few Stellenbosch winemakers are trying to give Cabernet Sauvignon the status that it deserves.

If the future of “GS” is assured, who then was GS? A former Eastern Cape art teacher found employment at Moni’s in Paarl that was associated with Nederburg and in time with Stellenbosch Farmers Winery in the 1960s.

The well-groomed George Spies (GS) made some red wines from Phil Walker vines and probably from Altydgedacht, both in Durbanville. When he was promoted as winemaker at SFW, George produced the GS 66 - and there was to be a GS

68 - and gave them regularly to the directors.

Duimpie Bayly was equally generous and gave me a few about 40 years ago, one of which I gave to Victor Sperling. In 2008, Ykpg magazine awarded the wine five stars a rare achievement.

The directors had originally found the tannins quite nasty but they lived through the resistance because of Australian Max Schubert and what he had done with Grange Hermitage in the previous decade.

Schubert had been a specialist fortified wine producer but after a 1949 visit to Bordeaux, he set different criteria. The directors of the dominant wine producer Penfolds accepted his trial 1951 but, in 1957, forbade him to make the wine as it was too hard.

That was the mild reaction.

In 1960 the Grange Hermitage 1955 won the Jimmy Matthews Award and was restored to reign as the supreme Australian wine. The GS 66 and GS 68 were the closest that South Africa came until the Vergelegen V of 2001.

For the foreseeable future as far as Cabernet Sauvignon is concerned - all eyes are on David Finlayson’s Edgebaston GS. It is more than clever boxing. It’s the link with the past going forward.

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Home & Health

24 June 2015

13

CXPRESS

Keep your kids safe at home, and out there, these holidays

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS: When boredom sets in, children tend to spend a lot of time online

F

OR children, the midyear school holiday is a welcome break, but for many parents - who have to work throughout - it is a stressful period of constantly wonder-

ing if your child is safe.

There are some basic and practical safety precautions parents can share with their children regardless of whether they are left with a

These home décor beauties have a story to tell

29 On Main opened its doors in Plett last year and is a veritable hub of pretty things for your home, mostly of Mexican origin. The Otomi scatter cushions pictured here are just some of the gems on display and, like most everything else stocked by this unique Plett emporium - be it homewares or art or tequila or chillis - they’ve an interesting history to share. The name ‘Otomí’ comes from the Nahua and means ‘hunters who carry arrows’.

It was applied generically by the Aztecs to several ethnic groups they considered fierce and cruel. The Native Otomi group is originally from the centre of Mexico and their most important productive activities are raising livestock, farming, hunting, fishing, pottery, metal working and textiles. Typical Otomi art are embroidered garments and other textiles, and they are also known for their use of natural colours. So go get in touch with your inner Aztec at 29 On Main, which is also the only stockist this side of the Mother City to boast the May Bru brand (see the advert below for further details).

caregiver, domestic staff or stay at home by themselves.

“It is important that they know to always keep entry and exit doors locked, and that nobody is to enter the property without your permission,” says Adrian Good of ADT Security.

“If you have a home security system installed, teach them how to activate and deactivate it and how and when to use other security devices like panic buttons.”

He adds that it is a good idea to have a list of emergency contacts - including the 10111 number - near the telephone and to explain to children when and how it must be used.

The cold weather means that older children are often confined indoors and that boredom quickly sets in, so they spend a lot of time online. Good says teaching your children to stay safe online is essential.

Here are some valuable tips parents can share with their children: • Never post any personal information online, e.g. your address, email address or mobile number.

• Think carefully before posting pictures or videos of yourself. Once you’ve put a picture of yourself online most people can see it and may be able to download it, it’s not just yours anymore.

• Keep your privacy set-

tings as high as possible.

• Never give out your passwords.

• Don’t befriend people you don’t know.

• Don’t meet up with people you’ve met online. Your child should always tell you if an online contact they have never met suggests they meet up.

• Remember that not everyone online is who they say they are.

• Think carefully about what you say before you post something online.

• Respect other’s views, even if you don’t agree with someone else’s views doesn’t mean you need to be rude.

• If a child sees something online that makes them feel uncomfortable, unsafe or worried they should leave the website, turn off their computer and tell someone immediately.

Children and teenagers should also be cautious of shopping malls, which are far busier during the holidays and a popular hang-out for older kids. If your child is going to a movie or to meet friends, they need to look after their belongings and to look out for each other.

“Busy malls present a prime opportunity for pick-pockets.

Teach your children to hold on tightly to their handbags, wallets and cellphones.

“It is also important that, if they become separated from their friends, they head straight to the mall information desk or to security and try to track them down from there,” concludes Good.

La Luna

CXPRESS

Classifieds

24 June 2015

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

24 June e 2015

25 June 2015

26 June 2015

27 June 2015

28 June 2015

29 June 2015

30 June 2015

Partly P tl sunny with it a shower

20° Lo 09°

Precipitation: 41% Thunderstorm: 20% Sunrise: 7:32AM Sunset: 5:25PM Wind: WNW 15km/h Gusts: 22km/h WNW

Windy, cooler, a p.m shower

Cool with clouds and sun

Cooler with h parti partial sunshine

Times of clouds and sun

22° Lo 05°

16° Lo 04°

14° Lo 02°

Precipitation: 50% Thunderstorm: 20% Sunrise: 7:33AM Sunset: 5:26 PM Wind: W 33km/h Gusts: 48 km/h W

Precipitation: 13% Thunderstorm: 0% Sunrise: 7:33 AM Sunset: 5:26 PM Wind: SSE 13km/h Gusts: 26km/h SSE

Precipitation: 6% Thunderstorm: 0% Sunrise: 7:33AM Sunset: 5:26PM Wind: WNW 17km/h Gusts: 44km/h WNW

Precipitation: 0% Thunderstorm: 0% Sunrise: 7:33AM Sunset: 5:27PM Wind: NW 17km/h Gusts: 46km/h NW

Precipitation: 40% Thunderstorm: 20% Sunrise: 7:33AM Sunset: 5:27 PM Wind: NNW 11km/h Gusts: 30km/h NNW

Precipitation: 59% Thunderstorm: 20% Sunrise: 7:33AM Sunset: 5:27PM Wind: W 26km/h Gusts: 59km/h W

16° Lo 08°

16° Lo 09°

18° Lo 05°

Cooler with a little shower

A touch of afternoon rain

MOON PHASES: June/ July 2015

14

Wed 24 June First Quarter Thu 02 July Full Moon

24 Wed 25 Thu 26 Fri 27 Sat 28 Sun 29 Mon 30 Tue 01 Wed 02 Thu 03 Fri 04 Sat 05 Sun 06 Mon 07 Tue

TIDES: 24 June - 07 July LOW

HIGH

LOW

HIGH

02h40 03h55 05h29 06h40 07h31 08h12 08h51 09h29 10h07 10h45 11h24 12h04 00h33 01h21

08h48 10h03 11h39 00h05 01h03 01h50 02h34 03h17 03h59 04h41 05h23 06h05 06h48 07h34

14h46 16h03 17h38 18h47 19h37 20h20 21h00 21h21 22h22 23h04 23h47 12h45 13h30

21h28 22h49 12h52 13h44 14h28 15h09 15h48 16h29 17h09 17h51 18h34 19h20 20h10

On the Soapbox

24 June 2015

Letters to the Editor

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

Furious about killing of birds in Sedgefield I am responding to the most disturbing letter written by ‘So Cruel’ of Sedgefield in the June 17 issue of CXPRESS [turn to page 15 of that edition at www.cxpress. co.za]. I totally agree with her and I am sure there are thousands of bird lovers who are extremely upset and angered by this news.

Why is it that people cannot control their animals? What kind of animal lover will allow his or her dog, cat or other pet to kill innocent and helpless birds in such a cruel manner? Surely, if you walk your dogs in an area where

there are other animals or birds, you restrain and discipline your dog? Isn’t that what pet owners do?

The senseless killing of birds equates to crime and the responsible person should be punished.

I think it is a good opportunity for all bird lovers to stand together and do something. I, for one, have already forwarded the letter to Birdlife SA. One has to start somewhere.

Many thanks for a great newspaper full of interesting reads. flCpit{"Dktfnqxgt‚."Rngvv

Please help us build a house The reason for us emailing you is that we desperately need your help. Since there is no housing development at the moment in Hornlee, my husband and I decided to buy a piece of land to build us a house.

Plans have been approved but now we are struggling financially. With R20,000

in hand, we seek some help with building a lovely loving house for our family.

If you can assist in any way it will be much appreciated. We have been to Knysna Municipality for assistance but unfortunately they can’t help us.

Ot"cpf"Otu"Rgvgtugp."

Mp{upc

Thumbs up to fast-acting and honest Plett police On Thursday morning at 4:45am, our house in Julia Avenue was broken into but I managed to catch and restrain the burglar.

My girlfriend immediately called 10111 and got through to George SAPS, and they contacted the Plett station.

Within 10 minutes our local cops arrived at the scene.

We noticed that cash and a phone had gone missing (stolen among other items that were later found on the property). As the second Plett SAPS vehicle arrived, one of the officers was in possession of the phone, which he had found up the road.

CXPRESS

At 7am, the cops returned to the house with the full amount of cash that had been taken and handed it to me.

Not many criminals get caught red-handed, and I guess we were also fortunate to have our two dachshunds and pitbull in our room to wake us up. When my girlfriend saw the burglar, I managed to catch, restrain and disarm him before the arrival of the police.

My girlfriend and I would like to publically thank constables Moloow and Matoni of Plett SAPS for responding so quickly and for recovering our goods.

Qwt"Eqru"Tqem."Rngvv

15

Read CXPRESS online @ www.cxpress.co.za

The absence of bird song confirmed As was the case with his World War II series, the currently featured account of Henk Bolhuis on his visit to Dachau concentration camp (see ‘A place where birds don’t sing’ on page 2 of this edition, and turn to the same spot in the June 17 edition at www.cxpress.co.za) has elicited a deluge of feedback, and the below is a letter received by Henk from an old friend in Gauteng On Wednesday I was at my art class and I was speaking to a lady who has been to Dachau - this is before I read your story [Henk has been sending out hard and electronic versions of his columns to friends far and wide].

She was telling me about it and explained that it is situated in the most beautiful countryside with incredible birdlife.

She said the one thing that amazed her was that, when she went into the concentration camp, there was no birdlife at all and you could

not hear a single bird sing.

I found that fascinating... and then today I read your story! Thanks for sharing.

Dtqpygp"Oqng."Rtgvqtkc *Yg" kpxkvg" tgcfgtu" vq" ujctg" vjgkt" gzrgtkgpegu" qh" ukoknct" qeecukqpu"ykvj"wu"/"pqv"pge/ guuctkn{" tgncvgf" vq" Fcejcw." dwv" qh" nkxgu" vqwejgf" d{" eqp/ pgevkqpu" vq" cp{" qh" vjg" eqp/ egpvtcvkqp"ecoru"vjcv"urtcpi" wr" cnn" qxgt" Gwtqrg" cv" vjg" vkog0" Rngcug" gockn" gfkvqtB ezrtguu0eq0|c" kh" {qw" yqwnf" nkmg" vq" gzejcpig" ogoqtkgu" qt"gockn"cfftguugu"ykvj"rkgtu" qh"vjg"gtc0"/"Gfu0+

Where is Ian Hepburn?

I have a query about the NSRI rescue craft Ian Hepburn, which I understand was either sold or for sale.

Do you have any information about it? Is it still in Plettenberg Bay? Has it gone to another station? Was it renamed?

Some of this may be confidential but even a small amount of information would be good. The boat was named after my grandfather and therefore I have some

sentimental connection to it.

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2014

Toyota Fortuner 3.0 D-4d, Auto, White, 41,800km, 4x4, Tow Bar ! R 379 900

2013

VW Kombi 2.0 TDi SWB, Manual, Silver, 45,200km, Tow Bar !

2011

Toyota FJ Cruiser, Auto, Red, 92,000km, 4x4 Adventure Awaits !

R 309 900 R 299 900

2013

Nissan X-Trail 2.0 XE, Manual, Silver, 51,300km, Great Value !

R 209 900

2010

Hyundai iX35 2.0 GLS, Manual, Bronze, 72,400km, Leather Seats ! R 189 900

2014

Toyota Avanza 1.5 SX, Auto, Silver, 27,200km, 7 Seater Wagon !

R 174 900

2012

Chevrolet Utility 1.8 Sport, Manual, White, 60,200km, Canopy !

R 154 900

2008

Toyota Hilux 2.7 Double Cab, Manual, White, 232,000km, Canopy ! R 159 900

2014

Toyota 1.6 Quest, Manual, White, 18,700km, 1.6 Liter Power !

2014

VW new Polo 1.4i Trendline, Manual, Grey, 33,600km, Cool Car ! R 149 900

R 149 900

2013

Toyota Corolla 1.3 Prof, Manual, Silver, 54,200km, Good Stuff !

R 144 900

2013

Toyota Corolla 1.3 Impact, Manual, Silver, 35,900km, 6 Speed !

R 139 900

2012

Hyundai i20 1.6i, Manual, Black, 7,900km, Awesome Mileage !

R 129 900

2014

VW Polo Vivo 1.4 Hatch, Manual, White, 19,800km, Air Con, USB ! R 124 900

2013

Suzuki Swift 1.4 GL, Manual, Grey, 38,000km, Compact Super Mini ! R 119 900

2011

Nissan Livina 1.6 X-Gear, Manual, White, 71,300km, Station Wagon ! R 119 900

2006

Peugeot 2.0 CC - 130 kw, Manual, Black, 83,900km, Convertible ! R 119 900

2011

Peugeot 207 1.4 VVT Active, Manual, Grey, 23,100km only !

R 109 900

2014

Ford Figo 1.4i Ambiente, Manual, Silver, 46,200km, Solid Gold !

R 104 900

2012

Chevrolet Aveo 1.6i Sedan, Auto, Silver, 57,700km, Good Value !

R 104 900

2014

Chevrolet Spark 1.2 L, Manual, Blue, 18,600km, Electric Window ! R 104 900

2013

Suzuki Alto 1.0 GLX,Manual, Grey, 23,500km, Air Con, Radio CD ! R 94 900

2012

Renault Sandero 1.4i, Manual, White, 70,400km, Awesome Value ! R 79 900

2005

Hyundai Sonata 2.4 GLS, Auto, White, 138,000km, Good Value ! R 69 900

16

CXPRESS

24 June 2015

Sport & Adventure

Face Adrenalin Crags Jaguars take Plett’s latest derby Words & photos: Glenn Murray

T

HE highly anticipated derby match between The Crags and Bitou kicked off on June 20 on the Jaguars’ home turf in Kurland Village.

Both teams are enjoying a great season in the Presidents League, and last weekend’s bout added the needle to the crunch game that attracted over 1,000 spectators - a record for the grounds.

The second team match treated the multitude of spectators to great running rugby, and the Jaguars won by 14-3.

Full of nerves in the begin-

ning, the first team game saw both sides making plenty of mistakes. Home advantage seemed to calm the Jaguars down in the second half, and they clawed their way to victory by 31 points to 21.

Rugby is in a very healthy place in Plett and The Crags at the moment and the community upliftment projects employed by both clubs are paying off (see story below), resulting in healthier sponsorships and growing crowds.

The Jaguars are presently second on the log, followed

by Bitou in fourth position, while the George Maoris currently top the log.

BITOU RUGBY ALIVE AND KICKING: The images at right attest to great rugby and a record crowd at the Kurland Village grounds last weekend, which bodes particularly well for increased sponsorship of the game on a local level - above are the marvellous Brothers Tuohey of Crags Jaguars backers Face Adrenalin, Devon, second from left and Bradon at right, with friends Daniel van Reenen, left, and Rogan Hindmarch

Bitou beats George and wins hearts with development drive

Bitou Rugby Club’s match against George on June 13 was a major success, both on and off the field. Not only did the local team - relative big league newbies - beat visitors George in the main game, but the well-attended event doubled as showcase for the club’s sharp focus on development and of providing school teams from in and around Plett with regular match events. Above at left, the Formosa Primary rugby boys look ready for their game against Crags Primary. At centre, Plett Secondary’s netball ladies took on the Green Valley team with aplomb. An invitational game comprising U/11 rugby players from Plett Primary and Greenwood School made for entertaining viewing and is hoped to be the first of many such matches to come - watch this space. Hats off to Bitou Rugby’s Chris Ferreira and his crew on a great day of sporting action and on their campaign to afford the benefits of sport to all levels of the local community. Call Chris on 082 809 7815 for more details.