27 april by CXpress

27 April 2016

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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Ready, steady... GO! ‘Coz it’s all about cars and bikes and speed in Knysna from May 1 onwards. Get details of Sunday’s Knysna Motor Show on page 6, and turn to page 16 for news on the Jaguar Simola Hillclimb from May 6-8.

That was close! p3

More Crags arrests p4

Pink Loerie takes flight p11

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OBITUARY

27 April 2016

Beloved Plett icon Bertie Lubner passes, but not before making the world a better place ERTIE Lubner - philanthropist, community leader and international businessman known for his kindness, compassion and generosity - passed away last week at the age of 85. He will be remembered

through the legacy he created in commerce, community and country. After 40 years as chairman of the Plate Glass group, Bertie stepped down to concentrate on helping people and especially chil-

dren from previously disadvantaged backgrounds in the pursuit of building a better South Africa. As loved community leader his caring nature, boundless energy, and business acumen caused him to shine in many spheres. His legendary philanthropic achievements and contributions to our country include: • Co-founder, with his brother Ronnie, of the Field Band Foundation an organisation that has seen more than 70,000 children afforded the chance of a better future through life skills development using music and dance. • Afrika Tikkun is a ‘cradle to career’ development programme empowering and feeding previously disadvantaged infants and youth, with more than 20,000 beneficiaries receiving monthly support from community centres around the country, and providing 2.1-million meals a year, resulting in more jobs and a stronger economic backbone for many areas throughout SA. • Sabrina Love Foundation is iconic to Plett, providing support and care for almost every special needs child and their parent in the region. The Foundation’s heart and star sticker is symbolic of goodwill and love, and is well known across the country. • Smile Foundation had the privilege of former President Nelson Mandela as its patron and has provided life-changing facial surgery and rehabilitation to over 2,000 children since inception. • Economic development: Bertie was the oldest serving member of the Board of

Business Leadership, founding member of the Manufacturing Circle interfacing with government, and member of the World Economic Forum task force. He had waged war against poverty and was a strong proponent for a solution through public private partnerships. “We cannot succeed in South Africa if we expect government to work

GENEROSITY OF SPIRIT: Bertie’s love of people is encapsulated in this picture of kids from the Early Childhood Development programme in Alexandra Township, who spontaneously embraced him in an immediate bond of affection

‘A great man has passed this way’ alone,” he said. The recipient of numerous awards, including honorary doctorates and the prestigious President’s Award for meritorious service, Bertie on occasion when receiving such accolades, stated: “One should never expect to be rewarded for doing the right things. The reward in one’s own soul is far greater.” Above all, Bertie Lubner will be remembered as that “giant of a man” who cared about humanity and was committed to his greatest love and joy - his family.

COME A LONG WAY: Good friend and patron to many of his community projects, Nelson Mandela and Bertie Lubner shared a common characteristic of good humour while having a profound understanding and grasp of challenges and tasks at hand

UNEXPECTED INSPIRATION: The accomplishments of Afrika Tikkun were an inspiration described by Nelson Mandela as ‘a miracle’ and he added, ‘I never expected organisations of this nature, which have brought hope to the disadvantaged’

BIG BANG: Every year for the last 12, Sabrina’s grandfather Bertie - flanked here from left by son Tony and daughter Su at left, and daughter-in-law Suzi and granddaughter Gabriella Lubner at right - would start Plett’s famous Sabrina Love Ocean Challenge

NEWS & VIEWS

27 April 2016

CXPRESS

Surf-skiers unharmed after close encounter with White shark at The Wreck Bathers, surfers and paddlers cautioned to be prudent as ‘winter’ sharks mark their territory in the waters of the Bay

RIDAY morning April 22 saw a group of five seasoned Plett paddlers launching their surf-skis from Central Beach for a paddle towards Robberg. The next anyone heard of them was when the NSRI siren sounded shortly after 8:30am, and the Plett NSRI volunteers who responded learnt that the men, now safely ashore, had a close encounter with a rather large White shark close to The Wreck, about 400m off-shore of Robberg Beach. National Sea Rescue spokesman Craig Lambinon reported later that morning that Station 14 launched the craft Airlink Rescuer, and identified the men as Dave Manson, Douglas Hill, Peter Green, Mike Briereley and Neil Kilpatric - all locals from Plettenberg Bay aged in their 50s and 60s. “While on a regular paddle, one of the surf-skis had been pushed violently causing the paddler, Dave Manson, to be thrown out of the craft. “Realising that it was a shark that had pushed the

BOAT PUZZLE: Above, the shark-bitten boat on the beach and, below, the aft section of the surf-ski that was found on the beach after the shark encounter and kindly made available to Plett NSRI by Mr Woodhead

surf-ski from behind, the incident being witnessed by some of the other paddlers, Dave managed to get back into his surf-ski when it started to sink. It was noticed that the back of the surf-ski had been bitten off by the shark. “Dave abandoned his boat, grabbed one of his fellow paddlers’ surf-skis and held onto it while the

four men paddled ashore. Once safely on the beach, they raised the alarm.” Lambinon said that all five paddlers were convinced it was a White shark and quite large, and that bite marks on the craft would be investigated to determine the shark’s size. “No one was injured in the incident. The surf-ski was recovered from the water and returned to the paddlers.” He concluded: “It is now well known that at this time of the year, sharks migrate close in-shore to feed as part of their natural habit and we urge paddlers, surfers and bathers to be cautious and to be aware of this natural phenomenon.” When CXPRESS tracked down NSRI Plett stalwart and shark connoisseur Bruce Noble late on Monday, he was looking down at the bay from The Gap at Robberg and said he could spot at least four sharks “as we speak”. Noble has been monitoring and informally studying White shark movements and behaviour in the Southern Cape and specifi-

Rape case against Plett teacher withdrawn in regional court Yolandé Stander

NE of the charges against the wellknown Plettenberg Bay teacher accused of several sex crimes against children has been dropped. The 42-year-old teacher, who cannot be named until he has pleaded, briefly appeared in the Knysna Regional Court on Tuesday April 26 in connection with two cases - one involving the rape of a 15-year-old special-needs child, and the other the sexual assault of a 10-yearold boy. The matter was post-

poned to July 28 for trial, but not before the rape charge was withdrawn. No reasons were given by the court as to why the charge was dropped. The teacher was first arrested on June 22 last year after claims surfaced that he allegedly sexually abused a 10-year-old boy in his class. According to police the boy’s guardian suspected something was wrong when the child started wetting his bed. After play therapy the boy revealed to her that the accused had allegedly sexually assaulted him on two occasions

during May last year. Following his arrest the teacher was released on R3,000 bail under strict conditions. On December 13, he was arrested again after a 15-year-old boy claimed that the teacher had raped him twice - once in a classroom and a second time in the school’s bathrooms. In this matter he was also released on R3,000 bail under strict conditions. Both cases were transferred to the Knysna Regional Court recently, but the rape case was withdrawn yesterday. Garden Route Media

cally Plettenberg Bay for over 10 years from land, sea and air. Of late, his observations have been communicated to Natal Sharks Board head Geremy Cliff, as well as to Alison Kock who heads up shark spotters in the Cape Peninsula. “White sharks visit Plett en masse from around mid-April to early October each year - the complete

opposite of the Cape Peninsula, where most of the researchers are based,” he explains. He says the most fascinating part of Plett’s “winter” White sharks’ behaviour is how territorial they are. “We see the same sharks returning to exactly the same areas as the years before, whereas in summer, the White sharks swim long stretches and do not

hold in specific areas. “In Dave’s incident, I believe a strong possibility exists that it was related to this territorial behaviour and that the shark either saw Dave’s vessel as a threat or could have been jostling with other white sharks at the time, as they had just arrived in the Bay and it had possibly taken out its aggression on Dave’s surfski as it passed.”

CXPRESS

NEWS & VIEWS

27 April 2016

Major tension continues in The Crags following Valentine’s Day murder Yolandé Stander

ESIDENTS from The Crags are outraged after another 12 locals were arrested over public violence during an early morning raid last Friday. This brings the total arrests - which are linked to a massive protest following the murder of a former Bitou municipal law enforcement member earlier this year - to 21 since February. Plettenberg Bay police spokesman Lieutenant Marlene Pieterse said just after 3am on April 22, members of the George public order police arrested 12 community members. She added that they had been apprehended in connection with the plundering of a property on February 18. More than 700 residents protested that day for several reasons including police’s initial failure to arrest suspects they had identified as the alleged killers of a young former Bitou municipal law en-

forcement member. The 21-year-old Franklin de Waal was stabbed to death and his body found by family members in Geelhout Street just a few metres from his home on February 14. He had also been robbed of his cellphone. The protest turned violent when residents marched to the house of two men they believed murdered De Waal and plundered the property. Four days later, nine residents were arrested for public violence following the action. They were subsequently released on R1,000 bail each. Four of the 12 residents who were apprehended during the second round of arrests were also part of the first group. Crags resident Yvonne Mpondo said the arrests had caused major tension in the community following a brief period of relief when De Waal’s alleged

killers were arrested and denied bail. The suspects - Dillon Toll, 19, and a 16-year-old youngster - were arrested on March 27 and April 13 respectively. They applied for bail in the Knysna Magistrate’s Court, but bail was denied and the matter postponed to Wednesday May 25 for further investigation. The two were the same residents identified by the community as the alleged culprits. Their arrests followed several witness statements allegedly linking them to the crime. The 12 public violence suspects appeared in the Plettenberg Bay Magistrate’s Court on Monday and were granted bail of R1,000 each. All but three were able to pay bail. All the residents will have to take their place in the dock again on May 6 after the matter was postponed for further investigation. Garden Route Media

NEWS & VIEWS

27 April 2016

CXPRESS

The art and play of cairn building exposed...

Humans build cairns as markers: a pile of stones to catch the eye of a traveller toward an otherwise overlooked turn in a mountain trail; to pin the presence of a human body in the landscape in a visible way; to mark the site of a burial, and as a burial mound itself KAI MIRA of Cape Town tells more after a letter appeared in CXPRESS of April 13 How lovely that people are getting involved and playing! The photos here depict two instances of cairn-building in that realm in 2015 - one at Keurboomstrand (November 12) and another at Matjiesrivier (January 13). I’ve sub-titled the first: We cross our bridges as we come to them and burn them behind us, with nothing to show for our progress except a memory of the smell of smoke, and the presumption that once our eyes watered. The sub-title of the second is a quote by Tom Stoppard from the play Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. Hopefully, my feedback helps you on your journey to discover the stories of those who have taken to playing along.

WE CROSS OUR BRIDGES: The cairn on Keurbooms Beach, top, was built on November 12, the other at Matjiesrivier, above, on January 13

Y friend sent me a photo of your call for information about the happenings at Keurbooms [see ‘Rock art adorns Keurbooms Beach’ on page 11 of the April 13 edition at www.cxpress.co.za]. I spend most of my vacations with her there, and we spent one summer afternoon last December building the beginnings of a driftwood fort and expanding it with a cairn garden just a fun way to play and create for an afternoon. The cairns I build are an act of art-making, centred

on a very personal interrogation into memory, loss and memorialisation. To read more about it, Google my article ‘Too much remembering leads to forgetting’, published recently in the Cape Townbased Any Body Zine. In the two years or so in which I have been frequenting your area, there always appears to be at least one or two driftwood creations in the process of arising or disintegrating. However, I have not come across any cairns other than mine… until now.

CXPRESS

NEWS & VIEWS

27 April 2016

See the coolest of wheels at Sunday’s Knysna Motor Show

NO BULL: This prized 1925 Morris Bullnose of Hans and Ann Zwets will be on display at Sunday’s petrolhead-friendly event

NYSNA Motor Show is not about “Google Cars,” says main organiser Peter Pretorius, who invites all Garden Routers to come see and feel real classic cars and motorcycles plus a lot more at the Knysna High sports fields this Sunday. “This is where you will find out about the real heritage and preservation of our country’s best vintage, veteran and classic cars and motorcycles. The true oldies hail from 1911 through to 1940 - classic cars of the past alongside potential future classics, none of these often seen by the public. “Take a step further and the franchise motor dealers will have on display the

latest model offerings. It is an invigorating and adrenalin pumping motor show where you will see veteran and vintage cars such as the Ford model Ts, EMF 30, Maxwell, Morris Bullnose and classic models of marques like Jaguar, Mercedes, Austin Healey, Triumph, MG, Morgan, Lotus and Alfa Romeo.” Super cars like McLaren, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, Mercedes SLS and Audi R8 will be complimented by special displays of the Peter Lindenberg Shelby SA cars, the Hi Tech Automotive display of AC Cobra, Daytona and Zagato Perana cars, and the magnificent car collection

Friends on and off the field

Isabelle Brink shared this photo and wrote: ‘Teams from Greenwood Bay College and Plett Primary played hockey together at Rheenendal during a big tournament last weekend, and it was very cool to see these two Plett schools united on the field and playing their hearts out against stiff opposition, teams coming from as far as Paarl and Cape Town.’ Go, Plett!

of Brian Bruce. Related displays will include NMMU’s Advanced Mobility display, motoring memorabilia, lots to eat and drink and more. So it’s clear that the Knysna Motor Show on May 1 is jampacked with excitement. Not only will your family thank you for a fun day out, but you will make a difference to local charities. For further information, email peterp@afrihost.co.za or call Peter Pretorius on 082 321 4724. See you there!

Notice Board • Following the first hugely successful and delightful Tea at Kurland three Saturdays ago, it was decided to continue this fabulous affair at Kurland Hotel off the Crags N2 on the first and last Saturday of every month in support of the Kids of Kurland project (see www.kidsofkurland. com for details). Taking place from 3-5pm, the next occasion falls on April 30 with the special event rate of R80 including an assortment of teas, filter coffee, finger sandwiches and a scone or slice of cake, with charming classical piano tunes of songs from the 40s and 50s providing a musical backdrop. It’s imperative to RSVP as the inaugural event was hugely popular - and the health conscious shouldn’t despair, as Kurland’s kitchen will prepare sugar-fee, gluten-free, and diary-free treats upon request. Give them a bell on 044 534 8082 to book. • Join Knysna Historical Society for the unveiling of heritage plaques at the ruins of the Concrete Bridge on Knysna River at Westford next Wednesday. As noted on our previous cover page [check out the April 20 edition at www.cxpress.co.za], it will soon be 100 years ago that heavy flooding washed away the newly-constructed Westford Bridge, also called the Concrete Bridge, over Knysna River. Knysna Municipality requested that the Historical Society place heritage plaques on the surviving two concrete abutments, and readers are invited to join members of the Society and municipal officials at 10am on May 4 at the location of the eastern abutment for the unveiling of one of the two plaques to be installed. Committee member Murray Douglas will then give a talk on the events leading to the need to build this bridge and its unfortunate demise. Call Philip Caveney on 044 382 1572 for details.

PROMOTION

27 April 2016

CXPRESS

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CXPRESS

BUSINESS

27 April 2016

Latest wealth survey puts Plett property on par with Atlantic Seaboard and Sandton LETTENBERG Bay now ranks in the top three premier property locations in the country next to Cape Town’s Atlantic Seaboard and Sandton in Johannesburg. That is according to the latest New World Wealth Survey of wealthy suburbs undertaken in conjunction with MasterCard. Seeff licensee Kevin Engelsman says that according to the survey some 260 millionaires now own second homes in Plett, 120 of which are worth more than R20-million. This is the highest number of homes valued at this price outside of Cape Town and Joburg. Plett is attracting a lot of attention and this has boosted the property market, he says. Save for a shift in demand to the more affordable, sub-R5-million to R10-million price sector, there appears to be little cooling in the demand for property here. Seeff has, for example, sold R132-million worth of property over the November to February summer period. This is twice as much as during the corresponding period of the pre-

vious year and has now put Seeff firmly ahead in terms of agency market share. While the bulk of the sales activity is still under the R2-million price band, about 20% of all activity was above the R5 to R10million-plus price range. That is notable if you consider that very few properties sold above the R5million price mark just five years ago, says Engelsman. “Awareness of Plettenberg Bay as a premier coastal destination is growing and buyers and visitors are now coming from across the globe. “Plett Tourism is doing a great job promoting the town and we now also have a recognised wine route with twelve wine estates, many offering wine tastings and food. There are also plenty of leisure activities, from nature reserves to the river, ocean and, of course, our Blue-Flag beaches. “The almost year-round sunshine and mild winters also make Plett a popular choice for retirement buyers, some as young as 50,” says Engelsman. It is now also easier to get to Plett by air. Weekly

STRONG DEMAND FOR PLETT PROPERTY: This luxury villa, listed for R10-million, was recently sold by Seeff

flights from Joburg and Cape Town means it is just a short hop, ideal for weekenders and commuters over and above the traditional holidaymakers.

The Cape has seen strong migration patterns of buyers from other provinces, especially Gauteng, but as far as KwaZulu-Natal investing not just in second

homes, but relocating to the province. “We have seen some of this in Plett too - another boost for property sales. Joburgers and Capetonians, many of whom now own holiday homes here, are particularly keen on the town. The summer was buzzing and we expect a busy year ahead,” notes Engelsman. “Seeff’s annual Lifestyle Property Portfolio brochure, which showcases our sole mandates, was extremely popular with clients and we sold 29 of the listed properties over the summer. We have even seen same-day sales here.” Despite now ranking up there with the Atlantic Seaboard and Sandton, Engelsman says that Plett is still offering excellent value and smart buyers are taking note. Prices have risen very conservatively at only about 2% above the CPI rate over the last few years and property prices here are still significantly below par. According to the latest Private Property data, the average price for a twobedroomed apartment is R1-million and for a three-bedroomed apartment around R1.5-million. A three-bedroomed house sells for around R2.43-

million and for a four-bedroomed house, for around R4.17-million. In reality though, says Engelsman, you can still find a stunning two-bedroomed apartment for around the R600,000 price mark and a house for well under R2million. There is also still plenty of land up for grabs under R400,000 and you can even get ocean or river views for under R600,000. While most buyers are looking for good value, there has been no shortage of top end sales over the last five years with several R20-million-plus transactions ranging to as much as R43-million for a beach house on Robberg Beach, sold jointly by Seeff. Luxury holiday home buyers who find Cape Town’s Atlantic Seaboard a bit busy are now heading to Plett - and why not? It enjoys a prime seaside location and boasts excellent infrastructure including top class communication and web connection, and of course excellent public and private schools. • Contact Kevin Engelsman of Seeff Plettenberg Bay on 044 533 0311 or 082 229 8069, visit www.seeff. com, and see the advert on page 3 for current listings.

SHOW HOUSE FEATURE

27 April 2016

CXPRESS

SOCIAL SCENE

27 April 2016

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SOCIAL SCENE

27 April 2016

People, places & events

ZANTA AND ELNA ENTRHAL: At the third Knysna-Plett Concert of the year, held on the evening of April 20 at Knysna DRC hall, pianist Elna van der Merwe, above left, and Zanta Hofmeyr on violin gave a superlative performance of works by Claude Debussy, Camille Saint-Saëns, Francis Poulenc, Maurice Ravel and Gabriel Fauré, which was greatly enjoyed by a large audience. Pictured below from left are Rini van den Handel of Plettenberg Bay, together with Cherry Bullard and Els Daniel, both of Knysna. - Photos: Timothy Twidle

CXPRESS

SAME-SEX WEDDING EN MASSE: Pink fever is running high in Knysna as the 16th Pink Loerie Mardi Gras kicks off today, with a full programme of events until it concludes on Sunday May 1. A sure highlight will be the first-ever African mass same-sex wedding on Friday at the luxury Villa Castollini, which will provide a breath-taking backdrop of Knysna across its estuary. ‘This event promises to be a spectacular affair,’ said Pink Loerie coordinator, John-Louis O’Neil: ‘Our couples have been chosen and now all they need to do is pitch up with 10 of their family and friends at the most beautiful venue for the wedding to top all weddings!’ This year marks 20 years since the approval of the SA Constitution - the first in the world to outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation. It further celebrates the decade in which same-sex marriages has been legalised here… a first for Africa! To add to the significance of all these milestones South Africa’s first legally married LGBTI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex) couple, Vernon and Tony Gibbs-Hall, left - here flanking much-loved Archbishop and social rights activist Desmond Tutu - will be renewing their marriage vows at the mass wedding on Friday. Visit www.pinkloerie.co.za to find out more about the fun-and-glitz-and-feather-filled programme.

CXPRESS

27 April 2016

“There are three types of people in this world: those who can count and those who can’t.” - Carl Hostnik

Getting to know you T WO women are sitting next to each other in a bar. After a while, one looks at the other and says: “I can’t help but think, from listening to you, that you’re from Ireland.” The other woman responds proudly: “Yes, I sure am!” The first one says: “So am I! And whereabouts in Ireland are ya from?” “I’m from Dublin, I am,” the other woman answers. The first one responds: “So, am I! And what street did you live on in Dublin?” The other woman says: “A lovely little area. It was in the west end. I lived on Warbury Street in the old central part of town.” The first one says: “Faith, it’s a small world. So did I! So did I! And what school did ya go to?” “Well now, I went to Holy Heart of Mary, of course,”

the other woman answers. The first one gets really excited and says: “And so did I! Tell me, what year did you graduate?” “Well, now, let’s see. I graduated in 1964,” the other woman answers. The first woman exclaims: “The Good Lord must be smiling down upon us! I can hardly believe our good luck at winding up in the same pub tonight. Can you believe it? I graduated from Holy Heart of Mary in 1964 meself!” About this time, Michael walks into the bar, sits down, and orders a beer. Brian, the bartender, walks over shaking his head and mutters: “It’s going to be a long night tonight.” “Why do you say that, Brian?” Michael asks. Brian answers: “The Murphy twins have had too much to drink again…”

Visiting grandma RANDMA, who was becoming an ever more intimidating personality as the years went on, was giving directions to her grown grandson who was coming to visit with his wife: “You come to the front door of the apartment complex. I am in apartment 14T. There is a big panel at the door. “With your elbow, push

button 14T. I will buzz you in. Come inside, the elevator is on the right. Get in, and with your elbow hit 14. When you get out, I am on the left. With your elbow, ring my doorbell.” “Grandma, that sounds easy enought, but why am I hitting all these buttons with my elbow?” the grandson asked. “What... are you coming empty-handed...?!”

Time to switch to a clarinet Y dad bought my mom a piano for her birthday. A few weeks later, I asked how she was doing with it. “Oh,” said my dad, “I

persuaded her to switch to a clarinet.” “How come?” I asked. “Well,” he answered, “because with a clarinet, she can’t sing.”

A doctor and an advocate loved the same girl. The doctor gave her a rose daily, while the advocate gave the girl an apple. The girl got confused and asked the advocate: “There is a message in giving a rose - love. Why are you giving me apples?” The advocate answered: “Because an apple a day keeps the doctor away...”

INTERVAL

HOME & HEALTH

27 April 2016

CXPRESS

It’s Influenza Season… aaah-tissue! NFLUENZA Season kicks off this week, as is usually the case at this time of year (its duration being last week of April to the first week of July), and in response the Western Cape Health Department has started providing vaccinations to mitigate the effect of flu. Vaccines will be available throughout this period and the department - having received 100,000 doses of vaccines to be distributed to all public facilities around the province - will ensure it is utilised in accordance with the national campaign. The Influenza Vaccination Programme targets the following high-risk individuals that present to public health facilities: Adults or children at high risk for flu-related complications because of underlying medical conditions such as chronic pulmonary disease (including asthma); cardiovascular disease (ex-

cept hypertension); renal, hepatic, neurological and haematological disorders; metabolic disorders (including diabetes mellitus); morbid obesity; and immunosuppression (including HIV-infected persons with CD4 counts over 100/mm3. Other people at risk include women in all stages of pregnancy, children aged from six months to under five years (59 months), residents of old-age (nursing) homes and other chronic care or rehabilitation centres, children aged six months to 18 years on longterm aspirin therapy, and all persons aged 65 years and older. Western Cape Minister of Health Dr Nomafrench Mbombo encourages highrisk individuals and vulnerable groups to access these vaccines at their local health facilities. “Part of our vision for Healthcare 2030 is to increase wellness in all spheres

of society and this vaccination campaign forms part of our strategy to boost people’s immune systems, so that their bodies are less vulnerable to disease. “Receiving these vaccines will render individuals healthy and strong, enabling them to go to work every day and live the lives they value. Flu vaccinations are only the first steps on the road towards building a healthier society, so make use of this opportunity offered by our health services,” she says. As usual, surveillance programmes run by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) have detected sporadic cases. In the first nine weeks of this year, 39 specimens have been received from Viral Watch sites, of which three yielded evidence of influenza. The influenza vaccine can be accessed at public health sector clinics and private healthcare providers (phar-

macies, private practitioners, etc.). How do you get flu? The virus spreads mainly by droplets formed when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of those close by. You can also catch flu by touching a surface or an object that has flu virus on it and then touching your mouth, eyes or nose. What are the signs and symptoms? • Sudden onset of fever; • Acute upper respiratory symptoms, like a dry cough or sore throat; • General symptoms include malaise, headache, fatigue, muscle pain and body aches, cold shivers and hot sweats. Some people also experience vomiting and diarrhoea, although this is more common in children than adults. • Visit www.westerncape. gov.za to find out more.

Beds fit for Wonderland

PERFECT BED BUDDIES: You can’t go wrong with a pretty combo of violas, above, and snapdragons, at right

F you’ve watched Alice in Wonderland, you will be reminded of that memorable chorus of colourful flowers coming to life to serenade Alice whenever you see violas or snapdragons! And who can resist squishing the ‘cheeks’ of a snapdragon to make it ‘sing’? The striking appearances of these animated blossoms make them a wonderful edging or border plant combo. Their intricate and colourful blooms aren’t very leggy, so will stand neat and straight along borders.

Both plants thrive in cooler temperatures, tolerating frost rather than extreme heat, making them a perfect autumn companion. Planted en masse, these plants produce an overwhelming colour statement, the purple and blue hued violas looking especially striking against a background of yellow and orange snapdragons. Their wonderful colour combinations enhance these flowers’ ‘facial’ characteristics, especially the ‘lips’ of the snapdragons and the ‘mouths’ of the violas. Violas Violas have been around since the 1860s, allowing them to be propagated into more than 500 varieties. Although they’re thought of as the little cousin of the pansy due to their daintier blooms, violas outdo their cousins as floriferous bloomers. Being edible, they also add a beautiful flourish to salads.

Violas prefer to peep their pretty faces out of more shady spots, so they love being in the shade provided by the loftier snaps. They are herbaceous yet hardy annuals and mature at a height and width of about 15cm. Plant your seedlings about 20cm apart. For the best performance, water thoroughly about once a week, depending on rainfall. As it’s getting chilly, try not to wet their petals or leaves, but rather water the surrounding soil. And off with their heads! Well, dead ones anyway, allowing them to focus their energy on creating new blooms. Violas prefer soil rich in organic matter with plenty of leaf-mould or well-rotted manure, so compost before planting. If the weather is too warm, throw a nice insulating blanket of mulch over the soil around them keeping their feet cool and

their faces happy. Keep an eye out for slugs, snails or aphids who also enjoy a bit of viola in their salads. Snapdragons When pairing these two, opt for the medium to tall varieties of snaps in order to shade the shorter violas, as snaps prefer being planted in full sun. Snaps range in height from the dwarf varieties of 15cm up to the loftiest snaps of 120cm. Plant the green plants without blooms, allowing them to develop stronger roots before expending their energy on creating their intricate blooms. Find a balanced watering regime as snapdragons enjoy moist but not waterlogged soil. Don’t plant them too close together as they like a fair amount of air flowing around them, all the better to show off those multibloom stems. • Visit www.lifeisagarden. co.za for more information.

Read CXPRESS online @ www.cxpress.co.za

CXPRESS

Read CXPRESS online at www.cxpress.co.za

27 April 2016

CLASSIFIEDS

ON THE SOAPBOX

27 April 2016

Letters to the Editor

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

CXPRESS

Read CXPRESS online @ www.cxpress.co.za

Is Knysna to blame for the delay in upgrading N2 between Plettenberg Bay and Sedgefield? Is Knysna the villain in a highway feud with Sanral (SA National Roads Agency Ltd)? Have motorists on the N2 between Plett and Sedgefield become the meat in a Knysna-Sanral Sandwich? A few decades ago, when the N2 between PE and Mossel Bay was upgraded, the business community of Knysna refused to allow the construction of a bypass along the northern outskirts of the town on the premise that it would take passing trade away from the CBD. As an alternative, a south-

ern bypass was constructed via the Waterfront supposedly to expose motorists to the vibes and ambiance of the tourist attractions there. But since motorists are not ocean sailors, and being on their way home on dry land, they have neither the time nor desire to inhale Knysna’s infamous marsh fresh air. So that was a pipedream, too. The idea of protecting Knysna’s passing trade was tantamount to highway ransom. How many of the motorists travelling between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth shop in Knysna,

Father’s appearance in CXPRESS funnies will remain a secret

and how much fuel and time is wasted in the traffic congestion of Knysna? Even if Sanral does upgrade the N2 between Plett and Knysna (and beyond, to George), we would still be inconvenienced and delayed by the increased Knysna CBD traffic congestion. Wouldn’t Knysna be a much more peaceful tourist stopover without the present traffic congestion? There is ample land available for Sanral to construct a few passing lanes on the N2 between Plett and Knysna and come to the rescue of the long lines of light motor vehicles trailing behind 50 metres of heavy vehicles. Why delay this muchneeded relief for another five (?) years when construction of the proposed new highway to Knysna and beyond may commence sooner - and who knows when it will be finished… 20 years from now? Are we ever going to have a Knysna bypass? Let’s not be short-sighted and selfish when planning our highways. Wouldn’t it be lovely to have a new N2 that bypasses all the smelly little coastal towns and obviates the dangers of pedestrian and animals of our informal settlements? Would Sanral please ex-

THERE’S DAD! Plett reader Derek Iles was most pleasantly surprised to recognise his late father, seated in the foreground wearing a striped golf shirt, in one of the photos on a recent CXPRESS Interval page

I am referring to your issue of April 6 and specifically the ‘Go on, have a laugh’ page, where you have four pictures under the heading ‘Shopping with the wife…’ [check it out on page 8 of that edition at www.cxpress. co.za]. In the first picture, I was very surprised - and delighted - to see my late father, in the foreground wearing the striped golf shirt. I can’t imagine how you came by this picture and I have no idea where it might have been taken. (Victoria’s Secrets in the background is an American company, but he never went to that country). Dad lived all his life in England but visited Southern Africa several times after I moved to Rhodesia as a young man. But I suspect that this picture was taken somewhere in Europe as most of the other men in the picture appear to be of Mediterranean origin, I think. Dad is dressed for holiday time as this is the

only time he ever wore shorts; his pose is classic, waiting patiently for my mother as she shopped. He died in 2008 at the age of 97 and from the look of the picture he would have been about 70, which places it in the early 1980s. I would be really interested to know the source of the picture - if you know it. Thank you for a nice surprise and a touch of yester-year, even if it was pure chance. Derek Iles, Plett (Aah Derek, so happy to have inadvertently brought about a smile and fond memories, and thanks for putting pen to paper to let us know. Unfortunately, like the majority of jokes and images appearing on this well-loved CXPRESS theme page, the email with photos of men waiting patiently - and others not nearly as graciously as your dad - for their better halves to finish shopping, arrived unsolicited and with no clues as to its origin. - Eds.)

P MC

plain why during 2015 the road between Knysna and George was surveyed and white markers were placed alongside the road, apparently in preparation for widening of the road, but no such demarcation was done on the road between Plett and Knysna? Disadvantaged Garden Route Motorist, by email Kobus van der Walt, Regional Manager of Sanral Western Cape, responded as follows to the question of demarcation: Sanral’s Pavement Management System and traffic counts have identified that the section on the N2 between George and Knysna carries higher volumes of traffic than between Knysna and Plettenberg Bay. We are therefore following a phased approach to first address the section between George and Knysna, by improving the road capacity to two lanes per direction. The white markers that were placed along the route will be used to align the air survey data with that on the ground. This is for the development of accurate contour lines which will be used in the design process. Depending on the availability of funding, improvement of the section of road between Knysna and Plettenberg Bay is only planned for 2019/20.

Est. 1984

CXPRESS

SPORT & ADVENTURE

27 April 2016

Biggest-ever entry list for Jaguar Simola Hillclimb 2016 T HIS year’s Jaguar Simola Hillclimb is set to be the biggest and best yet, featuring a record number of entries spread across three days of non-stop adrenaline-fuelled motorsport action, from May 6-8 in Knysna. This is the third edition with Jaguar South Africa as title sponsor of the country’s premier motorsport event - recently awarded

Knysna’s Best Tourism Activity at the 2016 Sanlam Knysna Awards - and the seventh running of the event first held in 2009. The action kicks off on May 6 with Classic Car Friday. This popular category features no less than 60 iconic and historically significant cars competing for the fastest time up the challenging 1.9km Hillclimb course. The excitement builds

further on Saturday and Sunday when more than 80 competitors, including several of SA’s top motorsport legends, battle it out for supremacy in the final shootout for the 2016 King of the Hill title. An innovation this year is the SuperCar Shootout - a special category for exotic Super Cars. Aside from witnessing a dazzling array of the fast-

est, most powerful and exotic road and race cars in action, visitors will also be enthralled by numerous other attractions, including the bustling Gasoline Alley, parade laps, stunts and aerobatic displays. Go to www.jaguarsimola hillclimb.co.za or /Knysna SpeedFestival on Facebook, @SpeedFestivalCX on Twitter, JaguarSimola Hillclimb on Instagram and KnysnaSpeedFestival on YouTube, and see the advert on page 11 for details.

Eden martial arts competition to hit Plett… hard! LETTENBERG Bay Martial Arts Academy (PBMAA) will host the SWD Eden Challenge on Saturday May 7 at Plett Primary School. The Academy is thrilled to have been awarded the event for the second year running and judging by the response so far, organisers are expecting a bumper turnout. The PBMAA was formed in 2014 and over the past two years has gone from strength to strength with students excelling on national and international competition level. This year, four PBMAA students - blue belts Aligi Boni, Lojza Pisonic and Oscean Booyzen, and yel-

SENSATIONAL SPECIALS

Includ

FIGHTING FIT: Martial arts action will be on tap at Plett Primary School on Saturday May 7

low belt fighter Galliano Boni - will represent South Africa at the ISKA NMA World Championships in Orlando, USA. Accompanied by Sensei Elrie Bosman, they will have the opportunity to train with the South African squad and compete against top athletes from around the world. The success of the Academy is testament to the hard work and dedication of its students and senseis. Being awarded the SWD

Eden Challenge yet again is a reflection of these efforts and a great accolade for the town. Numerous clubs from around the Southern and Eastern Cape and beyond will be descending on Plett to participate in the competition. The various divisions include Points Fighting, Continuous Fighting, Grappling, X-Treme Kicking, Traditional and Creative Katas, Kumite, Unison Kata, Synchronised Kata and more.

The action kicks off at 8am on the Saturday morning and there will be food and beverages on sale, entertainment for the kids and a raffle draw with awesome prizes. So get ready for a day of high-energy martial arts at its best and come and support the Plett team. They are clearly a force to be reckoned with. See the advert on this page and call Andries Trahms on 082 451 7482 for more information regarding the event.

First Tsitsikamma Ultra Trail a runaway success

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Izak van der Merwe won the inaugural Tsitsikamma Ultra Trail Run on Saturday. This first-time event saw runners from all over the country follow the Tsitsikamma Hiking Trail in reverse from Storms River to Nature’s Valley - a distance of 60km. Muddy Foot Adventures in collaboration with the MTO Group and SANParks hosted the event which, by all accounts, was a resounding success. See muddyfootadventures. co.za for results and more information. - Photo: Glenn Murray Photography