25 January 2017
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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Paradise!
This youngster revels in the glory of perfect Garden Route weather over the weekend, when Central Beach played host to the season’s first friendly Nipper Carnival - read all about it on page 12, and turn to page 5 for an opinion piece on the unsuitability of this particular stretch of paradise for a proposed harbour development that is set to include hotels and parking lots aplenty.
A century since SS Mendi sank p2
Baby porn case back in court p3
Knysna music year kicks off p9
Brand change
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CXPRESS
NEWS & VIEWS
25 January 2017
‘Men of the Mendi’ author joins Plett history buffs to Diarise this Sunday date celebrate naval tragedy’s centenary with the Van Plettenberg
X MARKS THE SPOT: The SS Mendi sank just south of the Isle of Wight
gether and we went to another ship. On the deck we met King George V and Queen Mary. The King addressed us personally and thanked us for the services we had rendered. He told us that we were going home within a few days, and when we reached home we must tell our chiefs and fathers how he had thanked us.” Like so many military disasters, the story of SS Mendi is one of supreme courage in the face of death and valour shown between brothers in dire circumstances. The courage displayed by these men has remained a legend in South African military history. The commemoration of the SS Mendi is held on the third Sunday of February annually. (http://www.navy.mil.za/)
Historical Society A South African Navy ship left Cape Town on the same day of the original voyage of the SS Mendi for a memorial wreathlaying ceremony to commemorate the 100th anniversary at the site of the original tragedy (see the map at left). During the same month, the Van Plettenberg History Society is proud to host a memorial address on Sunday January 29 at 10:30 for 11am at Plett Angling Club on the Keurbooms River. Speaker on the occasion is author Brenda Shepherd, who has compiled a book on the subject that will be on sale at the venue. Readers who wish to stay afterwards for a buffet luncheon should book in advance with Jacky le Roux on 082 490 9910 by Thursday January 26.
The book
N January 16, 1917 the SS Mendi troopship sailed from Cape Town to Le Havre in France, carrying the last contingent of the SANLC comprising 805 black privates, five white officers, 17 noncommissioned officers, and 33 crewmembers. On the morning of February 21 another ship, the SS Darro (10,0000 tons) travelling at full speed and emitting no warning signals, rammed the SS Mendi (4,230 tons), which sank in 20 minutes. No steps were taken by the SS Darro to lower boats or rescue the survivors. She stood off and floated nearby while lifeboats from the SS Mendi’s escorting destroyer, HMS Brisk, rowed among the survivors, trying to rescue them. There are many stories about the men’s bravery as the ship went down. One of them is that of the Reverend Isaac Wauchope Dyobha, who cried words of encouragement to the dying men. The men sang and stamped the death dance together as the SS Mendi sank, taking with her all still on board and many who leapt into the icy waters (607 black troops along with nine of their white countrymen and all 33 crewmembers). Of note is that, regardless of clan or tribe, these men faced death together as South Africans. Other heart-wrenching tales of valour are told of those trying to survive in the freezing water. It is said that the cries of
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the men dying of hypothermia echoed in the misty dawn: “Ho, ‘so and so’, child of my mother, are you dead that you do not hear my voice?” and “Ho, to me, men of ‘so and so’, that we may all die together?” Joseph Tshite, a schoolmaster from near Pretoria, encouraged those around him with hymns and prayers until he died. A white sergeant was supported by two black compatriots, who swam with him and found place for him on a raft. Among the black Africans lost were some prominent men such as the Pondoland chiefs Henry Bokleni, Dokoda Richard Ndamase, Mxonywa Bangani, Mongameli, and the Reverend Isaac Wauchope Dyobha. On receiving the news (on March 9) of the disaster, all members of the South African House of Assembly, under then Prime Minister and celebrated Boer War hero Louis Botha, rose in their seats as a token of respect to their fellow South Africans who had gone down with SS Mendi. Lore has it that the black tribes in South Africa were aware of the disaster before they were officially advised by the government. The survivors were to continue with their military service in France. One of the highlights was when some of them met the King and Queen of England at Rouen in July 1917. One of them, Koos Matli (of the Bahaduba tribe) recalled: “One day we were all called to-
THE AUTHOR: Brenda Shepherd was born in the mining town of Oranjemund in Namibia. She matriculated in Cape Town where she lived for most of her adult life, and holds degrees in English and Communication Science. Her film script on the Mendi story won Best Action Drama at the Sithengi Film Festival in 2004. Following research and site visits in England, France and SA, she has written Men of the Mendi as a historical novel to give a voice to these almost forgotten South African heroes. Brenda lives in Clarens in the Free State with her husband, George van der Merwe.
EN of the Mendi is the story of the sinking of the SS Mendi during WWI, bravery of the men on board and the ensuing inquiry conducted by the Board of Trade in London. The story follows the small band of survivors to France where they complete their tour of duty. The first World War rages on in Europe; it is a white man’s war, but when the British government calls for 10,000 black soldiers to be sent to France as a labour force, men from around South Africa volunteer for service. In the foothills of the Drakensberg, amaNgwane prince Kula Hlogwane steps forward to accompany them. For him it is a nightmare from which there is no escape.
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When crossing the English Channel on the troopship the SS Mendi, lights loom out of the thick black fog, then a siren blasts. With no time to avoid the collision, the Mendi is struck a devastating blow on the starboard side where Kula and his men lie sleeping. Within minutes, the Mendi begins to sink. The book makes use of various historical documents and the transcripts from the inquiry held in London to establish causality for the large loss of life. On conclusion of the inquiry, these transcripts were declared “secret” and concealed from view for the next 50 years. Men of the Mendi gives an in depth account of the inquiry and the apparent reason for the cover-up.
NEWS & VIEWS
25 January 2017
Baby-porn accused due in Knysna court on Friday
Two years after a Bitou resident made headlines over alleged links to a horrific international baby pornography network, the matter is finally scheduled to get underway in the Knysna Regional Court this week YOLANDÉ STANDER reports HE 38-year-old computer engineer, who cannot be named until he has pleaded, was arrested on January 13, 2015, when international police swooped on his home and allegedly found sections of files containing thousands of images and videos of violent assaults as well as internet addresses of more than 300 other alleged paedophiles. Following a series of delays, including with formulating the charge sheet, the case is finally believed to start, following his next court appearance on Friday. The delays even recently led to the possibility of having the matter struck from the court roll. One of the biggest chal-
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lenges was formulating the charge sheet and listing and describing each of the 179,000 images in question in the document. During an appearance last October, the court was informed that the office of the Director of Public Prosecution instructed that the man be individually charged for each of the 179,000 images relating to the case, and that each image would have to be described in the charge sheet. It was estimated that this process could take up to three months. The man’s legal representative then asked for the matter to be struck off the roll as he believed the state had more than enough time to prepare the charge sheet.
But despite his efforts, a final postponement was allowed and by November 30, the prosecuting team had managed to make such massive progress with the mammoth task that the matter was postponed again until Friday. The Plett resident was the first South African to have been arrested as part of Cloud 9 - an operation by SA and Belgian police responsible for cracking down on a child pornography ring linked to a cyber meeting space for paedophiles whose fetishes seem to be the sexual abuse of babies. Some of the images found included the torture and murder of infants as young as only a few days old.
News Briefs • SAPS Knysna confiscated drugs with an estimated value of R600,000+ and lead to the arrest of two suspects, from Knysna and Port Elizabeth, on January 18 at about 9:45pm. Police responded to information about a black Toyota Tazz with EC-registration possibly transport-
ing drugs. They spotted the car as it was travelling along Dahlia Avenue in Fraaisig. A search resulted in the discovery of 4,060 Mandrax tablets with an estimated street value of R264,000 and 10 parcels of Tik with an estimated street value of R350,000. The drugs and car were confiscated, and
the suspects aged 28 and 29 appeared in the Knysna court on Friday. • Further to a report on an alleged murder in Plett on January 7, police spokesman captain Marlene Pieterse said the suspect had appeared in court on January 18, when bail was granted with conditions.
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NEWS & VIEWS
25 January 2017
DA’s Wayne Craig resigns to fill role at family firm N January 18, the DA in Bitou announced that it had received the resignation of Ward 2 councillor Wayne Craig. “The DA accepts the resignation with gratitude for the hard work and dedication that he has shown over the years,” read the statement, adding that Craig planned to take up a position in his family business. “While he has resigned formally as councillor, he will not be lost to the DA and will remain involved in ensuring that the DA continues to grow in Bitou.” According to the statement, Craig as-
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sisted in the establishment of a new school and various ward committees. He championed the formation of the Bitou Tourism Board to facilitate this key job-creating sector and ensured greater community involvement in Bitou. Craig confirmed his ongoing commitment to the people of Plett in a brief interview with CXPRESS - if with a slightly different focus from the formal business of being ward councillor. “After four years at Bitou, it was not an easy decision and after long consideration,
I realised that I couldn’t perform both jobs,” he said about his shift from council to family enterprise, where he will take care of new business and marketing, as well as meat distribution at Robberg Fine Foods. This portfolio will necessitate travelling to Port Elizabeth, Mossel Bay, Cape Town and beyond and eventually, the plan is for him and Peter Dodds to fill the well-worn shoes of their fathers, Blaine Dodds and Malcolm Craig. Having served as volunteer crew for Plett NSRI for many years, he now plans to con-
clude his training as coxswain in-between the significant responsibility of ensuring the wellbeing of 70-odd Robberg employees. Craig gives thanks to Bitou Tourism chair Peter Wallington along with Bruce Richardson and Neville Peterson for believing in him when many other Bitou role-players thought he was too young to fill the post of councillor, and for the personal growth afforded him by his experience in council. His final word of gratitude goes to his parents, Malcolm and Heather, for their unwavering support. The DA’s Liz Mundell said they are now focussing on finding the best possible candidate to continue the work done by Craig. “The IEC has set the date for Bitou’s Ward 2 by-election for Wednesday April 5 and we are preparing to win with increased growth. The DA thanks Wayne Craig for his commitment to the principles of freedom, fairness and opportunity and for the years he spent in service to this cause.”
Oom Ben’s pure water a cut above the rest
LIFE’S WORK: Ben van Jaarsveldt with one of the awards he won in Hermanus
ENJAMIN van Jaarsveldt, fondly known as ‘Oom Ben’, has done it again! He earned a Department of Water and Sanitation and Water Institute of SA (WISA) award at a prestigious event held in Hermanus late last year. The awards acknowledge Process Controllers and their municipalities for commendable and selfless work to provide communities with safe drinking water and ensure the protection of precious water resources. Following an inspection at the sewage and water treatment plants in Karatara, Oom Ben received both the Best Process Controller Water (WTW<5ML/day) and Best Process Controller Wastewater (WWTW<5ML/ day) awards. Strict criteria were set for both these categories, among others, knowledge of the process and different components of the plant, record keeping, operation and control maintenance, and innovation and resourcefulness. Oom Ben, who also received three awards for his work in 2015, said: “I’ve been living in Karatara for the last 63 years and always serve my community the best I can. I am honoured and delighted to be recognised once again. What I do is not just a job; I see it as a purpose in life.” Said acting municipal manager Johnny Douglas: “Knysna Municipality is very fortunate to have such dedicated employees, and to have an external body recognise their worth is a feather not only in Oom Ben’s cap, but also that of the municipality. “On behalf of the municipality, I express my gratitude and congratulate Oom Ben for his commitment throughout the years - for his work, as well as for what he does for his community. We are truly grateful to have him on our team,” Douglas concluded.
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NEWS & VIEWS
25 January 2017
No place in our National Park for proposed harbour development In this opinion piece, Plett reader JOHN STEGMANN explains why Plett’s proposed smallboat harbour is inappropriate in terms of the universal imperatives to protect our natural environment and close the perilous discrepancy between haves and have-nots have a few vivid memories of my first visit to the Kruger Park more than 70 years ago - an adventure that provided a glimpse of what Africa was like in ‘the olden days’: basic thatched huts with high steel beds, communal braai places and ablutions, evaporator coolers, paraffin lamps. No tarred roads, no electricity, no phones, no supermarkets, no easy escape. Today’s visitors don’t get that kind of experience anymore. Why? Plett used to be a pristine wilderness experience. It has become a fashionable and luxurious destination for anyone with a car and a credit card to explore the eating places, shops, dis-
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cos and other attractions. Suppose that the custodians of the Kruger National Park decided to allow some of the dams, or portions of rivers, to be used for power boating. Would visitors see this as a great new experience not to be missed at any price? Or would there be an outcry against it, as the Kruger is a prized national park and must remain as natural as possible? If the latter, how many residents and visitors know that Plett is located in a proclaimed National Park? This Park has no entrance fee, no limits on number of visitors, no ridiculously restrictive speed limits; in this Park, anyone can own property
NOW AND THEN: The motors on this toy, above, are equivalent to 300 (three hundred!) horses - just for fun - but not so very long ago, transporting goods meant hitching 20 mules to drag a mule train at walking pace
and our building code is the same that applies in the cities and towns throughout South Africa. Do we regard this as a privilege or does it not mean much? How determined are we to preserve our wilderness inheritance? In Human Universe, physics professor Brian Cox questions several times why trivial expenditure (pet care or footballer’s salaries) exceeds rational expenditure on things that really matter (education, scientific research into renewable energy, protecting the planet from an asteroid impact). For example: “Here’s the deal. You can have unlimited clean energy for your lifetime, for children and grandchildren’s lifetimes and beyond, in exchange for grooming your own cat.” Cox thinks we’ve lost our way, as do other thinkers worried about the global impact of population growth and income disparity. Little more than a century ago, transporting goods meant hitching 20 mules to drag a mule train at walking pace. Back then people knew that a mule is about 10 times as strong as the average adult human. We don’t know that anymore and have very little
understanding of how much power we use. The smallest car has an engine as powerful as 60 horses. When we flip the switch on the kettle for a cup of tea or coffee, we put two horses to work several hundred kilometres away. Our National Park has a rapidly-growing resident population of job seekers who have come with their families. We’ve met a local fisherman a couple of times on the beach. He lost a leg in a motor accident when he stopped to help another motorist. At dusk he hobbles a kilometre or more to a fishing spot and at dawn he hobbles home, happy if he has one good-sized fish to take home. Can we only offer jobs building misplaced luxury accommodation with a follow-on expectation of jobs for domestic servants around Christmas and New Year? We need to protect our wilderness and fund education here to enlarge the range of job opportunities. We should not be asked to contribute to the legal costs of preventing the infliction of inappropriate developments. Nature’s Valley is doing what we should all be doing to make our Park an exceptional one.
CXPRESS
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NEWS & VIEWS
25 January 2017
Early humans explored at Robberg Corridor launch N inaugural lecture by Dr Curtis W Marean professor at Arizona State University’s School of Human Evolution and Social Change, and Foundation Professor at The Institute of Human Origins, USA - will celebrate the establishment of the Robberg Coastal Corridor (RCC). By courtesy of the Hill Family, the event will be held at Cairnbrogie Barn on Plett’s Airport Road on Saturday February 4 from 6-8pm, and will serve as fundraiser for the protection of the RCC and development of the Erica Coastal Hiking Trail. Founder member of the RCC Landowners Association Chris von Christierson will introduce Dr Marean, while former SANParks CEO and chairman of the Eden to Addo Corridor Initiative Dr Robbie Robinson will deliver an introductory message on the importance of the RCC and Erica Trail establishment. Particularly interested in human occupation of coastal ecosystems, Dr Marean’s research interests focus on the origins of modern humans, the prehistory of Africa, the study of animal bones from ar-
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chaeological sites, and climates and environments of the past. He conducts a variety of studies using zooarchaeology (the study of animal bones), and taphonomy (the study of how bones become fossils). A dedicated field researcher, he has conducted fieldwork in Kenya, Tanzania, and Somalia and, since 1991, has focused his field efforts in coastal South Africa. He is the principal investigator for the South African Coast Paleoclimate, Paleoenvironment, Paleoecology, Palaeoanthropology (SACP4) project based at Pinnacle Point in Mossel Bay. This large international project, funded by the National Science Foundation and the Hyde Family Foundation, employs a transdisciplinary approach to modern human origins, climate, and environment. Under Dr Marean’s directorship, it has become one of the world’s most important localities for the study of modern human origins. The cave at Pinnacle Point sheltered humans between 164,000 and 35,000 years ago - a time when Homo sapiens was in danger of
dying out. These people may well have been the ancestors of us all. Shortly after Homo sapiens arose, harsh climate condition nearly extinguished our species. Recent finds suggest the small population that gave rise to all humans alive today survived by exploiting a unique combination of resources along the southern coast of Africa. In his fascinating lecture, Dr Marean will explain the skills and technology of tool making and the use of fire (believed to have originated much later in France), the ability to grasp the link between moon phases and the tides and to schedule shellfish hunting trips accordingly. The ticket price of R300pp will include entry in a draw (on production of a numbered ticket) of a bronze edition of the Mapungubwe Rhino (no. 25/100) by sculptor Noel Ashton valued at R15,000. Email aconyngham@tel komsa.net or call 044 533 5178 to book, or buy your tickets from Barnie Barnard at The Market Square Info Centre (plettinfo@tel komsa.net or 044 533 3219 or 082 744 1884).
Meet one of the planet’s foremost paleoanthropologists URTIS Marean was born and raised in a small town called Stroudsburg in the Pocono Mountains in eastern Pennsylvania. “I knew from seventh grade that I wanted to be an archaeologist working in Africa,” he says. “My yearbook even states it, so I was focused from the beginning.” He’d always had an interest in the past - “everything from dinosaurs through Greek history to the Middle Ages” - but he also had a strong interest in ecology. “Africa has such a rich ecology that it always drew me,” he adds. “The real clincher was seeing a National Geographic Society film in a social studies class of the Leakeys
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LESSONS FROM THE PAST: Dr Marean is leading a team that seeks to develop a continuous sequence of environmental change from 400,000 to 30,000 years ago - work that will have implications not only for our understanding of modern human origins, but also for the response of terrestrial ecosystems to potential long-term climate change
finding fossils in Africa.” That, Marean says, is probably why he ended up focusing on Africa, animal bones, hunter-gatherers, on climate and environment. “Most importantly,” he continues, “my mother was a huge source of support and drive. She always encouraged my interests in nature, ecology, and the past. Our family was not one with a tradition of higher education, and she pushed me hard to go to university and found financial support to cover my costs.” Find out more about Dr Marean’s field of study at Cairnbrogie Barn on February 4, and visit https:// gustavus.edu/ to read the full interview.
Notice Board • A group of young Bitou residents came together recently to work on a movie project and are about to start shooting their Afrikaans-language flick in and around New Horizons in the near future. Convenor S’bosh Tom is now appealing to unemployed youngsters who live in Plettenberg Bay and who may be interested to
participate in the movie, to join this innovative crew either behind the scenes or in front of the camera. Phone Tom on 063 4032 712 for more information. • Moya Animal Outreach will host a Jumble Sale in Kurland Village Community Hall on Saturday February 4 from 10am to 2pm. If you are available to assist on the day, please call
Jacquie de Villiers Rodwell on 076 818 9069. Donations of clothes, shoes, books, household goods - anything in good nick that you no longer use and that will be able to raise funds for this worthy cause - will be most welcome and can be delivered to The Crags Vet by Saturday January 28. Thanks in advancefor your assistance!
BUSINESS
25 January 2017
CXPRESS
Borrow responsibly with the future in mind HE festive season has come and gone, unfortunately leaving some in a desperate position. It is sad that many consumers don’t plan for the New Year and find themselves having to borrow for essentials. Because of desperation, these consumers might borrow recklessly and from unregistered credit providers, says Mpho Ramapala, Education & Communication Manager at the National Credit Regulator (NCR). She advises consumers to only borrow from registered credit providers. Consumers should plan in advance on how to repay the loans,
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and most importantly determine whether they can afford the repayments, she further advised. The National Credit Act (NCA) allows a consumer to be given a pre-agreement statement and quotation when seeking credit. These outline the terms and conditions of the proposed agreement and all costs involved such as interest, monthly service fees, once off initiation fees, credit insurance if there is any, a deposit if required, number of instalments, date of first instalment, and last instalment. Once a consumer signs the credit agreement, they have
Investor Focus LOBAL and local politics are really clouding our views of the markets. We watch every utterance made by President Trump or Zuma; we worry about Euroland and then there’s Brexit. Media headlines are always political, and you can’t trust the social media as far as you can throw your PC. What a world we live in! Investment fundamentals rarely feature. We look for safe havens, hold cash, and have become extremely defensive. A close look at the investment fundamentals could well paint a very different picture. Here are some investment basics with thanks to Investec: 1. This should be a year of firmer global GDP
other debt or to fund luxuries can condemn you to a lifetime of debt. • Avoid paying over too many months as it will cost you more in the end. • If there is credit insurance, familiarise yourself with the terms of the insurance to avoid surprises when you most need the insurance. • Be honest - make sure that you honestly disclose all the information required by the credit provider. Dishonesty may cause you to lose the protection offered by the NCA. • Create a monthly budget and stick to it - work out
Malcolm Stewart – Investment manager at Michaelides Parker Wealth Knysna & Plett
Key thoughts for 2017
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an obligation to honour the terms and conditions of that particular agreement including repayments. This means that if a consumer cannot honour their repayments, they should communicate their situation with their credit providers. They should not avoid the situation with the hope that it will get better, because it only gets worse, she advises. Tips for borrowing wisely • Borrow as little money as possible. Borrowing to fund your children’s education or a home loan can be a good thing, but borrowing for consumables or to pay off
growth - an increase from 3.1% to 3.7% is possible. We have a decent pickup in the US to 2.8%. But this is not the only story in town, as China should expand at a pace similar to last year, i.e. 6.5% accompanied by a small increase in Euroland. Only the UK looks to see a decline from 2% to 1.4%. 2. The era of low to zero inflation comes to an end. Broad-based economic improvements and tighter labour markets accompanied by higher energy prices will see the initial phase of an inflation cycle. 3. Global bond yields should continue the current rising trend. The Fed will possibly announce a further two interest-rate hikes this year and three
more next year. Yields rose at the end of 2016, so further increases may well only take place towards the end of 2017. 4. Currencies will remain volatile, however, the strength of the US$ could begin to wane accompanied by a gradually strengthening Euro and Pound. The Rand could continue to grind its way towards its Purchasing Power Parity of R/$10. It may not get all the way there but an improvement on current levels is certainly possible. 5. Euroland should survive the onslaught of populist politicians, and the Euro may well perform better than expected. If one recalls the pain the people of Greece suffered to remain in Euroland, then one can understand the strong
will of all Europeans to remain united. So if you are already invested, then 2017 could result in better returns. Hold onto your shares/ unit trusts. If you are holding cash as a safe haven (remember tax and inflation), then you can be sure that politicians will afford us the opportunities to pick up some bargains. If you are looking to move some funds offshore, then spread these transfers over time, as currency markets are notorious for being impossible to predict. • Malcolm has been in the investment industry for nearly 50 years. He has written this column in CXPRESS for the last 18 years and is a specialist in managing retired wealth.
how much income your family earns and what your total expenses are each month. Will you be able to pay for your new debt once you’ve covered all your expenses? You should also plan for unexpected costs such as if one of your family members is retrenched. • Always keep receipts of your payments as you might need these in the future. • Always include savings in your budget. • Pay your debts on time. Paying late will adversely affect your credit report and possibly your ability to take out credit in the future. If you think you
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cannot meet your monthly instalments, call your credit provider immediately and try to re-arrange payments. Do not wait until you skip payments. • Check your credit report regularly. This way you’ll be able to identify any errors and correct them. Under the NCA, you are entitled to one free copy of your credit report each year at any other time, upon payment of the inspection fee of the credit bureau, if any. Visit www.ncr.org.za for a comprehensive list of registered and cancelled/lapsed credit providers, and contact the NCR on 0860 627 627 or at info@ncr.org.za for additional information.
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INTERVAL
25 January 2017
Comparing computers to cars T a recent computer expo, Bill Gates reportedly compared the computer industry with the auto industry and stated: “If GM had kept up with technology like the computer industry has, we would all be driving $25-cars that got 1,000miles per gallon.” General Motors responded to this comment by releasing the statement: “Yes, but would you want your car to crash twice a day?” Not only that, but… • Every time they repainted the lines on the road, you would have to buy a new car.
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• Occasionally your car would die on the freeway for no reason, and you would just accept this, restart and drive on. • Occasionally, executing a manoeuvre would cause your car to stop and fail and you would have to re-install the engine. For some strange reason, you would accept this, too. • You could only have one person in the car at a time, unless you bought ‘Car10’ or ‘CarNT’. But, then you would have to buy more seats. • Macintosh would make a car that was powered by the sun, was reliable, five times as fast,
P P P… Pregnant?! lady went to a doctor’s rooms and a few minutes into the examination, screeching could be heard, and then the lady burst out of the doctor’s room as if running for her life. After much effort, a nurse finally managed to calm the lady down
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enough to tell her story. The nurse then barged into the doctor’s office and screamed: “Shame on you! Mrs Smith is 82 years old, and you told her she’s pregnant.” The doctor continued writing and barely looking up, said: “Does she still have the hiccups?”
Sometimes it pays to be honest woman who ran to the shopping centre for a quick errand lost her purse, but an honest teenage boy returned it to her. The woman looked inside her purse and remarked: “That’s strange.
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Earlier I had a R100 note inside, but now it’s gone, and instead I see a R50, two R20s, and a R10.” “That’s right,” the boy said. “Last time I found a lady’s purse, she did not have change for a reward.”
twice as easy to drive, but would only run on five percent of the roads. • Macintosh car owners would get expensive Microsoft upgrades to their cars, which would make their cars run much slower. • The oil, petrol, and alternator warning lights
would be replaced by a single ‘general car default’ warning light. • New seats would force everyone to have the same size butt. • The airbag system would ask: “Are you sure?” before going off. • If you were involved in a crash, you would have no idea what happened.
DIY tiling gone wrong...
SOCIAL SCENE
25 January 2017
CXPRESS
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PLETSEK SLIMKOPPE: Die hoof en personeel van Plettenbergbaai Sekondêr is besonder trots op hul top presteerders in laas jaar se matriekeksamens. In eerste plek, van links, is Jolene Windvogel, wie ‘n gemiddeld van 78.9% behaal het met As vir Engels eerste addisionele taal, Lewensoriëntering, Besigheidstudies, en Rekeningkunde. Vertel Wetenskaponnie Tania Schlechter: “Jolene se plan vir vanjaar is om te begin studeer en as Rekenmeester te kwalifiseer.” In tweede plek was Jean-Pierre Plaatjies, en derde Genino Davids. Veels geluk, julle, en als van die beste vir ‘n skitterblink toekoms!
CONCERT SERIES KICKS OF: The Knysna Plett Concert Series presents The Casal Quartet along with guitarist Han Jonkers on Wednesday February 1. One of the top string outfits in Europe, Switzerland’s Casal Quartet is a renowned group of musicians well known for their precise performance of many styles of music, from 17th century compositions, to Tango Nuevo, to jazz and, of course, classical pieces. They will be accompanied by the solid and superbly talented Han Jonkers, who is much sought after as soloist and chamber musician alike. Han has given summer courses in guitar at the Arosa Music Festival and is currently on the academic staff of the University of Applied Sciences of NW Switzerland. The artists will perform music by Granados, Piazzola and Schubert, among others, promising a wonderful way to start off a year of musical magic. So bring along family and friends and enjoy the tunes at Knysna Dutch Reformed Church Hall in Fichat Street. The performance starts at 7:30pm and tickets are sold at the door from 6:45pm onwards (adults R120, scholars R30).
People, places & events BROADENING HORIZONS FOR LOCAL YOUTH: New Horizons Youth Forum secretary Rouston Plaatjies sent CXPRESS this pic and wrote: “We would like to thank all businesses and individuals who contributed to make our Back to School event on Monday January 9 a success - 155 children received a free haircut and stationery donated by these generous locals: Plett Tourism, Marais Taxis, Bernie’s Tavern, Meagan Windvogel, Sive (Barney), Lorgenique Plaatjies, Valencia Jordaan, Michell Salmars, Councillor Windvogel, Hilda Plaatjies, Prescilla and Enslin Booysen, Nadene Williams, Michelle Ludick, Shahieda Terblanche, Prescka, LBP Cape by Lylle, Elim Youth, Ernestine and Emmerencia Bower, Wittedrift Butchery, Warren Beauzick and Sgewaan Ashwill Lewis. We also laude each and every barber and hairstylist who donated their time, efforts and skills. All your gifts were highly appreciated by the NHYF and the scholars.” If you wish to find out more about upcoming events or how to donate, please call treasurer Renecia Leonard on 073 195 5185.
PEOPLE
MUST MAKE ROADS SAFER Vusi Mona - General Manager: Marketing & Communications. 9G DGNKGXG VJCV CNN VJTGG GNGOGPVU CTG KORQTVCPV CPF ENQUGN[ KPVGITCVGF VQ OCMG VJG PCVKQPCN TQCFU CU UCHG CU RQUUKDNG 6JCV JQYGXGT FQGU PQV VCMG CYC[ HTQO VJG 6TCPURQTV /KPKUVGToU DCUKE CRRTQCEJ 9G VJG CWVJQTKVKGU ECP CPF UJQWNF FQ CU OWEJ CU YG ECP DWV KP VJG GPF KV DQKNU FQYP VQ JWOCP GTTQT CPF KTTGURQPUKDNG DGJCXKQWT
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For more information, visit www.sanral.co.za
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CXPRESS
25 January 2017
Paws
Plett Animal Welfare Service
CLASSIFIEDS
ON THE SOAPBOX
25 January 2017
Letters to the Editor
Email: editor@cxpress.co.za - Fax: 044 533 0852 - PO Box 1449, Plett 6600
CXPRESS
Read CXPRESS online at www.cxpress.co.za
Resident action only hope for alleviating Five of these intersec- - who bear the brunt of Knysna traffic woes tions could be better serv- our town’s archaic traffic The letter from ‘Drone’ in last week’s CXPRESS [read it on page 11 of the January 18 edition at www.cxpress.co.za] refers. A quick count reveals that motorists have to progress through a series of eight traffic lights (robots) to get from one end
of Knysna to the other. Unlike the traffic lights in George, Knysna’s are not synchronised and several give priority to intersecting side roads. The result is a continual process of stop-start driving, causing tailbacks and frustration for motorists.
A licence to lash Americanisms
ON VERBS AND NOUNS… The plaque that offended Mr Nefdt’s grammar palate
I couldn’t but help noticing that Americanisms have poisoned the English language as we were taught it at school and later at varsity. There, on the front page of last week’s CXPRESS [January 18] for all to see for all eternity, is pictured a beautiful, shiny bronze plaque: ‘license’ instead of ‘licence’. In English, the former
is a verb and the latter a noun. The same sickness has crept in with program (English: a computer program) and programme (a programme of action). Just thought I’d mention it, but must also add that CXPRESS was spot-on with ‘licence’ in its page 5 article copy! Gavin Nefdt, Joburg
Jot this down for future reference…
“Whenever there is a power failure or any other municipal problem, one never seems able to find the correct contact details for Bitou Municipality. Well, this photo could help readers. I snapped it off the side of one of their vehicles when Longships Drive had a power problem over the festive season.” - John Larter, Plett
ed by small traffic islands (circles) which would keep traffic moving. Unless Knysna residents
management policies voice their dissatisfaction, nothing is going to change. Dave Reynell, Knysna
Take serious note of Plett’s two faces I am a pensioner who lives in The Crags and I wish to make the following observations. Our town certainly has ‘two faces’: one is the socalled rich and (some) famous who live in luxurious mansions near the sea, drive expensive, fast cars, can afford only the best, wear the latest trendy clothing and visit smart restaurants, shops, hair and beauty salons - a life of pure ecstasy. The only sound in their beautiful homes is the chink of ice floating in their gins and tonic. Comfortable? Yes, very, thank you! But not everyone is so fortunate. Wake up to the real world and look at the ‘other face’ of Plett. It is not a pretty one. I write this in anger and disappointment. Opposite where I live is the ‘other face’ epitome of Kurland Village. It is a desolate, unfriendly place where people live mostly in wooden homemade shacks. Some roads are partially tarred, there are no pavements, young girls walk the streets with babies, young and old hang about street corners looking for… who knows? Unemployment is high, as is alcohol, drug and child abuse. Young children scavenge in rubbish dumps for scraps of food. It is also a frightening place for strangers. I know this because the work I do necessitates my presence there. One doesn’t visit from choice. Why my anger and disappointment? For an example of the ‘other face’, I will narrate just one incident. The lady who helps me in my house lives in Kurland Village. She has a husband, three children, and used to have two dogs. The small mongrel called Lassie was a boy dog aged 14 years, blind,
deaf and toothless hardly a threat to anyone. On Sunday last, Lassie was found by her owner to have had boiling, oily water poured over his entire body by someone presently unknown. A neighbour? Perhaps, as few passers-by carry with them boiling water with oil, even in the village. To shorten the narrative; Lassie was taken to the vet, who kept him overnight to assess the injuries. Nothing could be done to ease the huge injuries inflicted on this little dog, and the extreme pain he was suffering; he was ‘put down’ the next day. So, that’s my anger. Are there really human beings who would do such an act of extreme cruelty to a defenceless little dog? The answer is yes, in Kurland Village! My disappointment is that those living comfortable lives do little to improve the plight of those living in poverty - the ‘other face’ - and which poverty gives rise to extreme behaviour of cruelty to animals, children and women. And I don’t exclude the elderly and infirm, who have no money and no hope. So, why not put down the gins and tonic, go into our townships and find out where you can help. Is that too much to ask? We must bear in mind that, for so long as we as private citizens don’t sit up and do something practical to improve the lives of the ‘other face’, then for so long will we have uneducated, unemployed, starving people, coupled with awful abuses and crime. Think about it; think of that little dog. And if you seek a local charity to guide you, contact Bitou 10, Kids of Kurland, Masizakhe Food4Learning there are many others. Peter Reynolds, Plett
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CXPRESS
25 January 2017
SPORT & ADVENTURE
Plett Surf Nippers nab victory in first beach meet of 2017 ENTRAL Beach was alive with action last weekend, when the first 2017 Nippers event - a friendly carnival to get kids and coaches and parents back into the swing of things - saw Plett Surf children compete on the beach and in the waves against Nippers from East London Surf, PE’s Summerstrand and Kings Beach clubs, as well as a small contingent from Mossel Bay. The perfect summer rays did much to make up for the fact that chilly water temperatures necessitated the donning of wetsuits in certain surf races, but this was regarded as a good training session for the Western Cape Nippers Champs hosted at Clifton in the Cape during the first weekend of March. Many thank-yous are due after a most successful event for Plett Surf Club, with the usual mix of voluntary dedication from parents and club officials and outside service providers responsible for keeping tummies full and coffee-heads sated. Spur burgers, fresh breakfast rolls and Stir-it-Up cappuccinos were ordered on the double throughout both contest days.
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THE GAME IS ON: These images provide some clue as to why the small town of Plettenberg Bay is right up there when taking home-grown Nippers to compete with the big dog clubs of Port Elizabeth, Durban and the Cape at Nationals annually, in this year’s case to be hosted by Summerstrand in PE on the first weekend of April - Photos: Isabelle Brink
With parents jumping in as catchers and scorers and the continued support of Paul and Lisa Taylor in terms of capturing these results, there was no contention when final tallies revealed Plett as outright victors with 1,225 points, followed by Kings Beach (787), East London Surf (653), Summerstrand (639), and the combined Santos Beach development team raking in 26 points. A final shout-out goes to PSLC administrators Shameera Paruk and Gerhard van Huyssteen, and Nippers officer Chris Fermor for overseeing the preparation, organisation and conclusion of the event around lunch time on Sunday, allowing ample time for visitors to hit the road home. Those who had the luxury of hanging around for a couple of toots after official business was over enjoyed the quirky service of Geo & Co behind the club’s bar and, if a little sun-beaten and emotionally fatigued after the rollercoaster ride invariably offered by these beach meets, it was clear to everyone involved that there’s much to look forward to during Nippers Season 2017.
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TOP TWO: Ben Brink of Plett and his top U14 girl counterpart from East London Surf show off the T-shirts kindly produced by Print Tree at Plett’s Market on Main to award the carnival’s best-scoring boy and girl in each age category; below, dad Chris Viljoen, left, and coach Brian Brink look geared for victory with Plett Nippers Milan, Sebastian, Declan and Sergio - Photo (top): Glenn Murray