28 january by CXpress

28 January 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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No transport for Green Valley pupils

Municipalities owe Eskom billions

Brother of baby porn suspect speaks out

Cars and girls... It’s but two weeks and two days ‘till the advent of this year’s George Old Car Show and Lise-Mari van der Berg, pictured here alongside Kevin Casey’s Model T Ford Depot Hack, plans to join the Route’s vast vintage car community for the occasion once again - find out more on page 2

10 000 FREE COPIES OF CXPRESS DISTRIBUTED ALONG THE GARDEN ROUTE EVERY WEDNESDAY

CXPRESS

News & Views

28 January 2015

PLETT MUSIC FESTIVAL 2015

Book your seat for a five-day musical treat from February 4 to 8

N support of the Kids of Kurland School Project, this year’s Plett Music Festival at The White House Theatre offers five days of world class music, ranging

from choral through jazz, Caribbean rhythms, music from Mali and classic songs from the past. The organisers proudly present the second Music

Festival as a highlight on the Plettenberg Bay social and cultural calendar. Taking place from Wednesday February 4 to Sunday the 8th, the programme kicks off with the enchanting bistrostyle Café Chantant by seasoned performers Mia Swart on vocals and Olga Schoeman on guitar and keyboard. Renowned saxophonist Andrew Young, beloved by Garden Route theatre-goers, presents two performances: a morning of well-loved melodies on Thursday and, on Friday evening, a high-

energy performance of the fiery music of the Caribbean. An exciting newcomer to the Plett Music Festival is the outstanding musician and guitarist, Derek Gripper, who will perform his globally acclaimed adaptations of music from Mali on Thursday. This promises to be a breath-taking performance. Another first for the Plett Music Festival line-up is the Rhodes University Chamber Choir, who will present a performance of choral music on Saturday. Their programme will in-

clude Afro-American spirituals, popular music and, the choir’s speciality, South African traditional songs. The festival ends on Sunday with a great favourite in Plett, jazz master Martin Wolfaardt, this time in concert with the spectacular Anda Masala Jazz Quartet. From Thursday to Sunday there will be live entertainment in the White House courtyard from 7pm. A cash bar will be open and there will be snacks for sale. Space is limited - past performances have always at-

tracted full houses - and with the superb line-up of artists this year demand for seats will be great, so early booking is advised. All proceeds go to The Kids of Kurland School Project (www.kidsofkurland.com) and tickets can be bought at The Old House Shop in Plett CBD, or reserved by calling Ann Fermor on 082 452 8764. The Plett Music Festival is sponsored by the Department of Arts & Culture and supported by Plett Tourism – see the advert on page 9 for additional information.

Women with a passion for wheels prepare for Old Car Show

Our 10 000 free copies are distributed every Wednesday to a multitude of outlets along the Garden Route, with emphasis on Knysna and Plett and drop-offs at *Sedgefield Tourism *Caltex StarMart in Wilderness *Lynn Schroeder, Build It and other select outlets in George *Storms River Village and Bridge in Tsitsikamma - phone 044 533 1004 (o/h) with distribution queries.

If you’ve missed out on a hard copy, read the electronic version online at www.cxpress.co.za

ONE are the days of women being mere passengers in vintage cars - today they own them and drive them, or if not there yet, they aspire to own one someday. Karen van der Merwe was the first woman to become chairperson of the Southern Cape Old Car Club (SCOCC). In doing so she followed in the footsteps of her father, Mark Edwards, who was one of the founding members of the Veteran Car Club in Kloof, KwaZulu-Natal in the early 50s. Karen shares his keen interest in vintage and classic cars, and this interest was elevated when she inherited the last car he restored from a pile of scrap: a 1911 Model T Ford Runabout, which she named Lizzie. She loves driving Lizzie and often takes part in shows and tours. “I have driven it as far as Cape Town and back. When attending rallies further afield, I trailer the car to the starting point, drive it at the venue and trailer it back again.”

When not on the road, Lizzie is carefully stored under dust covers in the garage to protect the ample brass fittings from corrosion and metal thieves alike. The wheels with wooden spokes also need special care. She has a working knowledge of the mechanical side of the car and recently had to strip the head off the engine in order to replace a couple of burnt valves. Her three grown children share her interest. “My eldest daughter has learned how to drive Lizzie, which is quite an achievement because driving a Model T Ford is not at all similar to driving a conventional car.” Karen would like to build up a collection that will enable her to pick a car for every event. “It would be nice to have the choice of another car to drive for those occasions when the weather is against us.” Ali van Jaarsveld from Sandton, Johannesburg, will be trailering her 1907 Model S Ford to George to again take part in the George Old Car Show, this year sched-

SUNSHINE CAR: The George Old Car Show during Valentine’s weekend will not only display beauties like this mellow yellow oldie, but also modern cars and bikes, with entertainment geared for the ladies and children too

uled for February 14 & 15. “My husband Kobus was passionate about old cars. Together we took part in the Old Car Show for some eight years, and in memory of my husband who passed away two years ago, I have continued to take part.” She is particularly fond of the 1907 Model S Ford, which she will be driving from Prince Albert for the annual Vet Tour on February 13. “This car is really sweet and enjoyable, particularly for this kind of rally. She is relatively easy to drive - a real ladies’ car.”

She has much appreciation for members of the SCOCC. “It has been a great pleasure to take part in the tour and the show with the people of George. Members of the Car Club have been of great assistance.” Lize-Mari van der Berg is relatively new to the charming world of old cars. “I saw a vintage car in George for the first time when I was 17 and promptly decided I wanted to be driven to my matric farewell function in one of them,” says the 24-year-old preschool teacher from Pretoria. She took part in the SC Old Car Club’s Erfenis Tour in George in 2013, and learned to drive a Model T Ford. “I would love to help my father Ockert, a member of the Car Club, to restore a car of my own. That would be great for both of us.” Lize-Mari loves being part of the SCOCC community of old car lovers. “They are such nice people, and the old cars are so interesting. It is a pity many more young people don’t take part. These old cars should live forever.”

News & Views

28 January 2015

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Canned transport and full Wittedrift High leave Green Valley learners stranded More than 30 pupils’ high school career is hanging in the balance after a decision by the Western Cape Education Department to cancel school transport for Grade 8s from Green Valley to Plettenberg Bay Secondary School - this report was filed by YOLANDÉ STANDER

ARENTS were up in arms when, after enrolling their children last year, they arrived at Plett Secondary for registration last Monday and were then told that their children would have to attend Wittedrift High School. The department provides transport for pupils in poor communities who live more than five kilometres from

their nearest school. Although the department had been providing transport for Green Valley’s learners to Plettenberg Bay Secondary for several years, the department did not approve transport for them last year because Wittedrift High is their nearest school. Marie Morley, a concerned Plett resident who is tak-

George and Kranshoek locals in Robberg Road head-on collision

WANOKUTHULA police are investigating a case of reckless driving after two people were seriously injured in a head-on collision in Plett last Thursday. Police spokesman Lieutenant Marlene Pieterse said two vehicles, a Kia bakkie and an Isuzu bakkie, were involved in the accident on Robberg Road at about 12pm. “The driver of the Kia

and a passenger in the Isuzu sustained serious injuries and were transported to the local MediClinic where they are receiving the necessary treatment,” Pieterse said. One of the injured was a George resident, while the other was a Kranshoek local. “We are investigating a case of reckless and negligent driving.” Ictfgp"Tqwvg"Ogfkc

SA municipalities owe Eskom R4.6-billion

AST Thursday, AfriForum released a statement claiming that the debt municipalities owed to Eskom had increased with more than R2-billion in the last year (R2.3-billion in January 2014 compared to more than R4.6billion by the end of the year). “While the country suffered under load shedding the last couple of weeks, SA’s municipalities owe the electricity provider more than R4.6 billion. AfriForum is of the

opinion that this outstanding debt is contributing to the pressure on Eskom’s ability to provide electricity.” AfriForum manager of Community Structures Tiaan Esterhuizen asked what the municipalities were doing with this money. “Taxpayers who diligently pay their bills every month don’t have electricity due to poor financial management in municipalities.” To page 4

ing up the matter with the department on behalf of the parents of the 33 learners, said the department only sent the Eden District office a letter informing them of the decision on December 17. Due to the December holidays, district officials however only received the document on January 12. And, therefore, parents could only be informed at registration - their first contact with the school since it closed for the holidays. At that stage, Wittedrift High was already full and parents had no other options. She added that parents had

been sending their children to Plett Secondary for years as it was a no-fee school, while Wittedrift was not. “Most of the parents are unemployed and live from social grants, so they can’t afford transport costs, let alone pay for school fees. Many are also unaware that you can apply for a school-fee subsidy,” Morley said. So just two days before the schools reopened, parents were in a predicament; they were unable to afford transport costs and there was no place for the learners at the nearest school. Another Plettenberg Bay

resident, however, came to the rescue. Benette van Rensburg, who has been providing transport from Green Valley to Plett Secondary, decided to transport the youngsters at no cost for a week, hoping that the situation would be resolved. “Education is so important and I just don’t want these learners to lose out on anything,” Van Rensburg said. Morley added that parents hoped to meet with a representative from the department to discuss their situation. “This is a very urgent matter,” she said. Department spokesman Jes-

sica Shelver said Wittedrift High had a 33% spare capacity when the bus committee considered the application in November 2014. “Parents who cannot afford school fees can apply for exemption based on their annual income, in line with national policy. Unfortunately, the school is now full and the district will apply again for transport for learners from Green Valley,” Shelver said. She added that the district would look at ways in which to increase capacity at Wittedrift High. “The school has indicated that it will be happy to accommodate the learners, once capacity issues have been resolved.” Ictfgp"Tqwvg"Ogfkc

CXPRESS

News & Views

28 January 2015

SA municipalities owe Eskom R4.6-billion (cont.) From page 3 Fgdv"d{"rtqxkpeg • Mpumalanga - R1 478 699 504 • Limpopo - R221 666 382 • Free State - R1 606 430 495 • Gauteng - R213 785 845 • KZN - R63 466 453 • Eastern Cape - R188 727 702 • Western Cape - R21 182 475 • Northern Cape - R142 940

425 • Northwest - R671 565 715 “The growing number of outstanding bills can cause further problems if Eskom were to decide to cut the bulk electricity it supplies to towns. If municipalities do not settle their debt, Eskom will have no choice but to cut the electricity supply to these places,” he said. AfriForum further stated that the expressions made by President Zuma at the World

Economic Forum were incorrect. “The government was already warned by the previous management of Eskom 20 years ago. Electricity problems in this country are mainly caused by the government’s transformation policies,” Esterhuizen said. He added that municipalities that fail to pay their bills should lose their licence to supply electricity. “AfriForum is of the opin-

ion that privatisation of electricity management will cut out incompetent municipalities while at the same time dealing with the problems of electricity supply. “Privatisation can also make debt recovery more efficient and provide more accurate bills to consumers.” Readers are asked to share their opinion: Do you think Eskom should be privatised? SMS ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ to 45344 (charged at R1 per SMS).

KNYSNA 0, BITOU R100K+... The list at right of Western Cape municipalities’ debt to Eskom makes for interesting reading

News & Views

28 January 2015

CXPRESS

Brother breaks all ties with child porn suspect in bid to save business Family members of the Plettenberg Bay computer engineer who was arrested after alleged links to a child pornography ring have started picking up the pieces after their world was turned upside down when international police swooped on their home two weeks ago - YOLANDÉ STANDER reports

HE 37-year-old suspect, who cannot be identified until he has pleaded, was arrested during a sting operation by South African and Belgian police at his family’s Plett home on January 13. He is currently out on R10,000 bail and will have to appear in the local Magistrate’s Court on April 22. The man’s brother last week

opened up about how the ordeal has affected his family and his business. He said that, although he had not “written him off”, he had broken all ties in order to come to terms with the shock and to protect his business. “My brother is no longer associated with the business. He is no longer allowed on the premises. While he is a

50% partner, I’m in the process of buying him out.” He said although there had been some attacks from the local community on social media, and it had become difficult to face people, he had also been overwhelmed by support from some, including loyal clients. “I’ve decided to deal with the matter openly and an-

No bail for paedophiles: Child Protection march in Plett pipeline

XPERT local awareness cum fundraiser Yvette Wilschut is championing a march in protest of bail granted to those awaiting trial for offences against children, scheduled to take place in Plett on Saturday February 7. Starting at KwaNokuthula’s centrally situated Phakamisani Primary at 10am, residents of New Horizons and surrounds can join in when the procession passes Plett Secondary around 10:20. It is planned to pass the corner of Green Oaks Road and the N2 at 11:15, while people will have another chance to add their voices when the marchers pause at Whalesong car park around 11:45. The aim is reach Plett police station at 12:15 en masse to

hand over a petition. Says Yvette: “Please remember that this is a peaceful march, and that our traffic and police officers, Law Enforcement and Fire Department stand with us. “We are all moms, dads, grandparents, aunt or uncles and we ask marchers to wear white in honour of the victims who have died and those who have survived. Most importantly, we want to make every effort to prevent any more children suffering at the hands of this evil.” Yvette and her husband, the John of John Wilschut Signs, have already manufactured banners in three languages and they have been in contact with M-Net’s Ectvg" Dncpejg" over coverage of the event, so the Daron Chatz team will be

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on hand to film proceedings. A few thousand green hearts - the national colour of the child protection ribbon have also been made and will be handed out to marchers. So dress in white and join the march on February 7 if you agree with the cause. • Contact Yvette on 082 423 8077 or Phindiwe Seyisi on

swer questions when people approach me. I think mostly people realise that we as his family had nothing to do with what had happened and did not have a clue that this was happening.” He said he too was shocked when his mother woke him up at 6am on that Tuesday morning with the words “the FBI is here”. “I couldn’t believe it when I saw officers all over the house and didn’t know why. They questioned all of us and all our computers and cellphones were initially collected by police, and then my brother was arrested.” Although he knew his brother, who was adopted by

the Plett family 15 years ago, suffered a troubled childhood, they never suspected he would be involved in something like this. And it was especially difficult for his brother and business partner to digest, as the two shared a mutual passion for computers. “My parents taught us good moral values and my father, ‘My mother woke me up with the words “the FBI is here”... they questioned all of us, our computers and cellphones were collected, and then my brother was arrested’

who is also a businessman, taught us especially about good business ethics. So it is very difficult to accept. “Until I know exactly how to deal with this, I’ve decided to have no contact with him at this stage. We don’t even live under the same roof any longer.” He added that, like the rest of the community, the family would also only learn the extent of his brother’s involvement once the matter is heard in court. He concluded that he and his family were “absolutely against anything that has to do with child pornography” and that it was something that “deeply disturbs” them.

GREEN HEARTS FOR VICTIMS: Phindiwe Seyisi, left, and Yvette Wilschut with one of the 2.5m banners, in three languages, calling for a stop to the granting of bail for suspected paedophiles

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News & Views

28 January 2015

DOGGED DANCING RAPPER: Previous Tshisa Talent Competition winner, Alpha Dog, received great prizes including performing live on national television - this year it could be your turn! - Photo: ShowMe Plett

Self-mastery sessions in Plett

EADERS are invited to attend Peace & Prosperity personal development sessions at the Piesang Valley Community Hall from 10am to 12 noon on February 5-7. A panel of teachers taught by Living Masters will be on hand and there is no charge to attend. People support the sessions with a contribution of money, services or products. The website www.positive approach.co.za will give you more information.

SHISA Talent is looking for performing artists to take part in their annual talent hunt. Dancers, singers, musicians, choirs, actors and others are now called to register for the 2015 Tshisa Talent Competition. Registration takes place at the following Community Halls from 6:30 to 8pm: Monday February 2 - The Crags, Tuesday the 3rd Green Valley, Wednesday the 4th - Bossiesgif/Qolweni, Monday the 9th - Kranshoek, Tuesday the 10th - New Horizons, and Wednesday February 11 at Kwanokuthula. Auditions follow at the end of February with semi-finals in March and the Grand Finale in April. This programme is proudly sponsored by the National Arts Council and provides a platform for performing artists in Plettenberg to develop their skills and stand a chance to win great prizes in the April finals. Want to know more? Contact Stuart on 083 423 0083 and see the advert below.

Business

Investor Focus

28 January 2015 Malcolm Stewart – Investment manager at Michaelides Parker Wealth Knysna & Plett

Turbulence as 2015 hits…

LOBAL markets have started the year with incredible turbulence. As with air turbulence, a skilled and clear-thinking pilot navigates his/her way through or around the storms, so a patient and confident investor will always survive the volatility that we are currently experiencing. The first step in overcoming any problem is to first understand the problem. The oil saga that struck in rapid speed and led to an unprecedented drop in price

is the first black swan of the year. Much publicity and media comment has now helped unravel many aspects of this violent price movement. It has, however, become clear that the upward price moving capacity of OPEC has now been vastly diminished. Any upward price movement will attract additional output from US shale producers that will place a cap on the price. At what level this cap will appear is yet to emerge. At the same time, we have no way of knowing how low the

price will go in the short term. But the final investment conclusion is that oil will stay lower for a lot longer. Thus the shrewd investor will be doing his homework on the beneficiaries of this unexpected bonanza. Consumer shares are the obvious targets and in South Africa companies like Shoprite, Spar, Truworths Foschini, etc. should benefit. The Swiss national bank delivered another black swan when it decided to unpeg the Swiss franc from the Euro.

Re/Max positions itself for rapid growth with empowerment deal leadership team, we expect to

E/MAX of Southern Africa has achieved huge growth and success since establishing in the country 20 years ago. Re/Max is now the largest real estate company in South Africa with over 2,200 agents and sales in excess of R22-billion in 2014. Re/Max Southern Africa operates in 10 African countries and is part of the world’s largest real estate brand, plying its trade in over 90 countries worldwide with over 6,500 franchised offices and over 95,000 Re/Max real estate agents. In order to position the company for continued growth in all markets in the next 20 years, Re/Max has announced that Z Capital Properties (Pty) Ltd, a prominent black empowerment company, has purchased a significant ownership interest in Re/Max of Southern Africa. “We have taken this important step to show the industry and our local clients that we are serious about leading the industry into the next decade of real estate,” said Re/Max Southern Africa chairman Peter Gilmour. The department of Human Settlements and Estate Agency Affairs Board (EAAB) have in recent statements and in proposed legislation

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to be implemented this year, showed that transformation is very high on their agenda, and Re/Max wanted to be the first real estate group out of the top six groups in the country to introduce black ownership at the highest level. Said Z Capital chairman Yolanda Cuba: “We are very excited to pioneer black ownership in the largest real estate group in the country and plan to be closely involved with the growth and developments of our entrepreneurial estate agents going forward.” The Betterlife Group, long established business partner of Re/Max, facilitated the financing of the deal and intends to offer increasing opportunities to Re/Max offices and agents to escalate their income in the future. Re/Max of Southern Africa is celebrating its 20th anniversary since being founded in 1995 by Peter and Val Gilmour, and is now almost twice as large as their nearest competition. “Re/Max agents are entrepreneurial, professional and well trained to international standards to ensure clients and repeat clients receive an outstanding level of service in their real estate transactions. “With the highly qualified individuals strengthening our

take advantage of opportunities that will emerge in the industry over the next decade,” said Re/Max CEO Adrian Goslett. In 2015, Re/Max intends launching exclusive, innovative technology for their agents and will also open an in house Training & Licensing School for entrepreneurial estate agents. Personal development programmes will be introduced for experienced agents and a number of prominent overseas mentors will be in South Africa to train Re/Max agents. Re/Max will also continue its extensive marketing campaigns on TV, radio and print to ensure it maintains the high profile it has established over the last 20 years. Re/Max is now well positioned to continue to play a leadership role in the way real estate is conducted throughout the country and has great confidence in its professional service orientated agents and franchisees. Nobody in the world sells more real estate than Re/Max. Contact the Re/Max Prime Properties office in Plettenberg Bay on 044 501 4400 for all of your property requirements, and see the advert on this page for current listings.

Overnight the Swiss currency jumped by nearly 30%, while their market dropped almost 10% the following day! These markets are now beginning to stabilise as the dust settles, but there are some severe casualties out there that will never recover. However the important lesson to learn from this startling event is that those investors (punters?) who dabble in the forex markets, particularly where massive gearing is offered, should think twice.

Currencies do not offer a long term investment horizon; they are subject to both political and central bank manipulation and do not have the same investment fundamentals as do shares or property investment. The Rand is a typical example where its current Purchasing Power Parity places a value of ±9.7 to the US$, while it trades at a much undervalued level. What other black swans will emerge from the pipeline this year is anybody’s guess, but from our recent experiences, it becomes clear that

7 an investor who holds shares in sound, good quality companies will always be able to ride out the consequences of most investment surprises. So retirees should stick to their tried and tested unit trusts, or quality blue chips, not be panicked into selling them, and possibly increase their holdings should the opportunity present itself. Ocneqno"jcu"dggp"kp"vjg" kpxguvogpv"kpfwuvt{"hqt"qxgt" 62"{gctu0"Jg"jcu"ytkvvgp" vjku"eqnwop"kp"EZRTGUU" hqt"vjg"ncuv"38"{gctu"cpf"ku" c"urgekcnkuv"kp"ocpcikpi" tgvktgf"ygcnvj0

CXPRESS

Interval

28 January 2015

Last night I reached for my liquid Viagra and accidentally swigged from a bottle of Tippex. I woke this morning with a huge correction.

History the way it should be... Excerpts of actual answers given on history tests and in Sunday school quizzes by children between 5th and 6th grade • Ancient Egypt was old. It was inhabited by gypsies and mummies who all wrote in hydraulics. They lived in the Sarah Dessert. The climate of the Sarah is such that all the inhabitants have to live elsewhere. • Moses led the Hebrew slaves to the Red Sea where they made unleavened bread, which is bread made without any ingredients. Moses went up on Mount Cyanide to get the ten commandos. He died before he ever reached Canada but his commandos made it. • Solomon had 300 wives and 700 porcupines. He was an actual hysterical figure as well as being in the Bible. It sounds like he was sort of busy, too. • The Greeks were a highly sculptured people, and without them we wouldn’t have history. The Greeks also had myths. A myth is a young female moth. • Socrates was a famous old Greek teacher who went around giving people advice. They killed him. He later died from an overdose of wedlock, which is apparently poisonous. After his death, his career suffered a dramatic decline. • In the first Olympic games, Greeks ran races, jumped, hurled biscuits, and threw the java. The games were messier then than they show on television now. • Julius Caesar extinguished himself on the battlefields of Gaul. The Ides of March murdered him because they thought he was going to be made king. Dying, he gasped out: “Same to you, Brutus.” • Joan of Arc was burnt to a steak and was canonized by Bernard Shaw for reasons I don’t really understand. The English and French still have problems. • Queen Elizabeth was the

‘Virgin Queen’. As a queen she was a success. When she exposed herself before her troops, they all shouted “hurrah!” and that was the end of the fighting for a long while. • It was an age of great inventions and discoveries. Gutenberg invented removable type and the Bible. Another important invention was the circulation of blood. • Sir Walter Raleigh is a historical figure because he invented cigarettes and started smoking. • Sir Francis Drake circumcised the world with a 100 foot clipper which was very dangerous to all his men. • The greatest writer of the Renaissance was William Shakespeare. He was born in 1564, supposedly on his birthday. He never made much money and is famous only because of his plays. He wrote tragedies, comedies, and hysterectomies, all in Islamic pentameter. • Writing at the same time as Shakespeare was Miguel Cervantes. He wrote Fqpmg{" Jqvg0 The next great author was John Milton. Milton wrote Rctcfkug" Nquv. Since then no one ever found it. • Delegates from the original 13 states formed the Contented Congress. Thomas Jefferson, a Virgin, and Benjamin Franklin were two singers of the Declaration of Independence. Franklin discovered electricity by rubbing two cats backward and also declared: “A horse divided against itself cannot stand.” He was a naturalist, for sure. Franklin died in 1790 and is still dead. • Abraham Lincoln became America’s greatest Precedent. Lincoln’s mother died in infancy, and he was born in a log cabin which he built with his own hands. Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves by signing the Emasculation

Proclamation. • On the night of April 14, 1865, Lincoln went to the theatre and got shot in his seat by one of the actors in a moving picture show. They believe the assinator was John Wilkes Booth, a supposingly insane actor. This ruined Booth’s career. • Johann Bach wrote a great many musical compositions and had a large number of children. In between he practiced on an old spinster which he kept up in his attic. Bach died from 1750 to the present.

Submitted by Jeeves

Bach was the most famous composer in the world and so was Handel. Handel was half German, half Italian, and half English. He was very large. • Beethoven wrote music even though he was deaf. He was so deaf that he wrote loud music and became the father of rock and roll. He took long walks in the forest even when everyone was calling for him. Beethoven expired in 1827 and later died for this. • The nineteenth century was a time of a great many thoughts and inventions. People stopped reproducing by hand and started reproducing by machine. The invention of the steamboat caused a network of rivers to spring up.

Social Scene

28 January 2015

CXPRESS

LING & CREW CLINK COCKTAILS: Last Friday, Pam Golding Properties in Plettenberg Bay hosted a cocktail evening to thank their service providers and generally have a grand old face to face natter with colleagues and friends normally spoken to via email or by phone alone. The perfectly balmy late afternoon was enjoyed by franchisee and principal of PGP Knysna and Plett Ling Dobson - pictured second from right with, from left, CemAir CFO Laura van der Molen, head of Scheduled Services Nicolene Myburgh, Plett Tourism Projects manager Patty Butterworth, and CemAir CEO Miles van der Molen - along with her staff and guests at the Milkwood Centre premises so perfectly situated twixt the Piesang River lagoon and Central Beach, below.

HAIL THE CHIEF! Knysna Municipality welcomed Clinton Manuel to its fold as new Fire Chief Officer this month. Manuel hails from Cape Town, where he had been appointed as Divisional Commander in training at Cape Town Fire Rescue Services. ‘I joined the Cape Town crew as a fire fighter in 1988 and started working my way through the ranks,’ said Manuel, who also boasts a senior certificate from the SA Emergency Services Authority, a National Diploma: Fire Service Technology from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, and a Bachelor’s degree in Management at the University of Cape Town. He has a passion for training and staff development and hopes to start off by setting a standardised shift system for employees. By negotiating with the relevant unions, he will aim to institute a proper system that would deliver a 24-hour service to the greater Knysna. Manuel explained that he used to visit Knysna in days gone by. ‘When I visited 20 years ago, I told myself that someday I would work for this municipality. I believe that the quality of life is better here than in a big city. The traffic is a breeze and there is so much to do when you’re not working. I like to think of myself as a strategic thinker and hope that my contribution will aid in making the town safer for its residents, visitors and businesses,’ he concluded. We welcome you, Chief Manuel.

NEW GM FOR PEZULA: Multi-award winning Conrad Pezula Resort & Spa announced the appointment of a new general manager, Victor Chalfoun, last week. ‘The timing is perfect for Victor to take over and continue the sterling work accomplished by his predecessor Gert Venter. Victor’s tremendous experience as a hotelier will undoubtedly push Conrad Pezula to new levels and ensure that the resort continues to live up to the Conrad ethos of allowing our guests the perfect space to savour the luxury of being themselves,’ said Jan van der Putten of Hilton Worldwide. Piano-playing, Reiki-practising and basketballbouncing Chalfoun is an Elevator graduate, having undergone Hilton Worldwide’s Elevator programme - one of the hospitality industry’s best, aimed at grooming hoteliers. He has been in the hotel business for over 15 years with experience working in Dubai, Egypt, the Kingdom of Bahrain, Canada and South Africa. Chalfoun was pivotal in the opening of Conrad Hotel in Dubai, UAE in March 2012, and has experience working on global events including the FIFA World Cup, 2018 Winter Olympics Selection, Formula One and United Nations’ COP17. He is an alumnus of Helwan School of Hotel Administration in Egypt and the prestigious Cornell University School of Hotel Administration in USA, and has tutored some of Hilton Worldwide’s leadership programmes. ‘The hotel business is my passion and over the years I have developed my career across a number of Hilton Worldwide brands. Leading the team at Conrad Pezula is an incredible opportunity. I look forward to continue putting our best foot forward to give our guests the perfect space to relax and replenish, do business or play,’ he said.

Photo: Knysna Municipality

People, places & events A FURRY THANK YOU: Plett reader Coox Johns sent this pic of PAWS inspector Tracey Meintjies with the caption ‘Our fabulous Plett animal angel, Tracey’. Says Coox: ‘I took the pic at the PAWS kennels when she came to the gate with cat on board... and I thought I was the only mad one! What a wonderful woman of integrity, strength and empathy. Thank you from all your feathered, furry, fluffy and four-footed friends.’

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28 January 2015

Classifieds

On the Soapbox

28 January 2015

Letters to the Editor

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

Manage our work force and be nice, man! Why does Bitou Municipality not invest in someone to run management? Why does it take six people to paint a three-metre traffic line? One to sweep the dirt away. One to hold the paint bucket. Another to paint the thin yellow line. Two to watch. One to supervise. It takes three ladies to control one traffic point, done by standing on the pavement,

talking. Four assistant traffic inspectors have been walking up and down Main Street together this past season, making life hell for holidaymakers instead of a friendly smile and a warning. These are the people who are our life’s blood, spending money like crazy and keeping the town solvent. Be nice to them, let them

go home happy, not with outrageously stupid fines to pay just because we have a greedy municipality out for every cent they can get. We need these people to come back. If this council managed their staff correctly in this computer age, we would not have increasing rates and electricity costs. The council could keep within its budget

by continually keeping everincreasing staff costs down. And when are we going to stop this four and a half day week? Why do council employees not work a proper five-day week like the rest of us? Only then will you see the cost of running this municipality drop. It’s not their money they’re spending, it’s ours. Rcwn."Rngvv

When last did you see (or hear!) Paris? Gigi Lewis did a marvellous job of her interview with Hermann Paris [read it on page 2 of the January 21 edition at www.cxpress.co.za]. I and a number of friends have been watching, listening and enjoying his presence in Knysna for some while. I took a few pics of him - including the one featured here - which I’ve given to him. Perhaps, now that we’ve entered the slow-news period, Gigi could do a followup piece… Which reminds me: harking back to 1958, the names Gigi and Paris have a certain lg" pg" ucku" swqk, wouldn’t you say? Lqjp"Ociknn."Mp{upc

I LOVE KNYSNA IN THE SPRINGTIDE… Hermann Paris entertains at the Waterfront - Photo: John Magill

Ratepayers will pay, of course, if recycling bombs out In Mr Hans van Ameyde’s letter [read ‘Recycling training needed’ on page 11 of the January 21 edition at www. cxpress.co.za] he expresses his annoyance and disappointment at Bitou Municipality’s apparent lack of interest in our recycling programme. Like most residents of our town, I too have put out my recycle bags the day after the normal refuse clearance only to have them still standing on the pavement three days later. In spite of phone calls to

the relevant department, these bags have remained uncollected for the past two weeks. It seems to me that we are wasting our time as no one in the municipality appears to have any interest in the matter. Unless those in charge of the recycling programme demonstrate some interest, many residents will cease to support it. In the end, the ratepayer will have to cough up, so who cares? Uvgxg"Etwvejng{."Rngvv

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CXPRESS

Sport & Adventure

28 January 2015

A legend of rugby - and wine strikes threescore and 10 CXPRESS columnist, wine connoisseur, maths guru and hockey coach PETER BISHOP pays tribute to Jan Boland Coetzee as he celebrates his 70th birthday

UESS who was born in Porterville on January 20, 1945? JHH Coetzee. No, not the writer, but he who is known to all and sundry as ‘Jan Boland’. The West Coast remains in his blood, in his accent, in his humour, in his hairstyle, in the short trousers he wears, in his love of rugby and in the

latest wine he is developing the Grenache. Jan’s early career had him in the front row in school rugby, but once Dr Danie Craven saw this terrier at Stellenbosch University, he moved him to flank, and in no time made him captain of the Maties, first at under-19 level, then at senior level

where he went on to play for the university till after his 32nd birthday. As a first-year student, he was not allowed to wear badges nor medals. His dad had been a teacher at Lambert’s Bay, and when Jan was chosen for Boland Schools in the early days of Craven Week, a benefactor gave him the Boland blazer. As it was all he had to stay warm in his first winter, and because of his rugby prowess, he alone of the students was allowed to wear the colours of Boland Schools. He earned a brand name - the finest product of the Boland. He went on to play 127 games for Western Province and six games for South Africa as ‘Boland Coetzee’. His first test was a 3-12 loss to Willie-John McBride’s famous Lions team before 45,000 ‘Jan Boland’ fans at Newlands. His last test, in 1976, was under Morné du Plessis where Gerald Bosch’s kicking secured a 15-14 victory over Andy Leslie’s New Zealanders. Not only schoolboys insisted that they be called ‘Jan Boland’ at break time by grown-ups in the Klein Karoo, and I knew at least two of these single-minded competitors! Put together the fact that Dr Danie Craven believed fully in Jan as captain (from the age of 19) of Maties in

the days where that meant playing for Province and the Boks, with the fact that Jannie Krige, son-in-law of Oom Paul Sauer, the owner of Kanonkop, was the action man of Maties and WP rugby. Add the fact that Jan was Dr Joel van Wyk’s top pupil of Oenology at Stellenbosch University, and you will realise why the 22-year-old, in 1967, became Kanonkop’s first winemaker, to produce the 1973 Pinotage and Cabernet Sauvignon that guys like Tony Mossop hailed as the country’s best ever red wine. Jan was to leave Kanonkop eight years later to start his own farm, with an underground cellar at Vriesenhof, and also spent two years at Joseph Drouhin in Burgundy learning the art and intrigue of Pinot Noir. We have a man who has heralded Pinotage, has heralded Cabernet Sauvignon, has heralded Pinot Noir and is now heralding Grenache. That takes some doing. Especially at a time when the local and overseas media are trying to disparage “the old men of Stellenbosch”. Look at the arms of this man as he emerges from catching crawfish at his holiday home. Look at the esteem in the eyes of his workers right from 1967 whom he has helped in so many ways. Feel the warmth of the friends who attended his 70th. This ain’t no old man! This is a man of threescore and 10 who extends to others and has so much wisdom. He is an Old Testament prophet in a modern garb (short pants and sleeves). When I told him I was going to go to a symposium on a particular wine, he said: “There is a difference between Knowledge and Information.” I can’t get that thought out of my mind, as I will not for-

STREEPTRUI: Jan played 127 games for Western Province and six games for South Africa as ‘Boland Coetzee’

IN ACTION: Jan tackles Kerry Tanner in a 1976 ‘Bok vs Kiwi clash - Photo: springbokrugby.webs.com

THIS AIN’T NO OLD MAN: Jan Boland Coetzee has earned the esteem of his workers and love of friends, all of whom benefit from his wisdom

get what he told me on my first meeting in 1977 when I was deliberating on issues: “Do not be afraid of making a decision, as long as you are prepared to live by its conse-

quences.” He did that, and I think I did that. He is a Man Above Men! Your friends in the Southern Cape extend their greetings, ‘Jan Boland’.

Having history in the wine game

ALK to any of the young (mainly Swartland) producers trying to produce Rhone-like or at least Mediterranean-style wines and there is one word that has a magic all its own: Piekenierskloof. This is a region on the West Coast near Citrusdal, with some vines owned by the original Coetzee family. These are the most expensive grapes (R8,000 per ton) for winemaking in South Africa, and Jan Boland has first call on a special site. The vines of the thinskinned ripe berries are at

least 60 years of age, planted on their own rootstocks. In fact, they were brought to Piekenierskloof from St Helena where they had been planted to make wines to be enjoyed by Napoleon Bonaparte in exile. The current Vriesenhof Grenache (from 2008 to 2013) that caused such a buzz are all from Piekenierskloof. Grenache from vines developed from cuttings of those vines planted at Vriesenhof in Stellenbosch are sold under the Paradyskloof label, with a screwcap closure - the 2012, 2013 and 2014.