28 November 2018
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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Murray High’s top star
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Photo: Anne-Marie Hattingh
This serene shot of a full-moon rising over Lookout Beach won Anne-Marie Hattingh top junior entry in the latest Plett PhotoFUNatics stakes - find out more on page 10, and do relish the last few days of virtual sanity before Plett Rage kicks off on Friday (read ‘Ministers urge matrics to celebrate responsibly’ at www.cxpress.co.za).
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NEWS & VIEWS
28 November 2018
Kwano’s PhD candidate to level with home crowd on World Aids Day Wandisile Afrika Sebezo
IVUYISIWE ‘Ntombi’ Wonci is one of the strongest women I have ever had the pleasure of calling a friend. She’s a senior to me in many respects; at Murray High she was a grade higher than me, but we were both members of the school’s debating team and Peer Education Group. Born on September 19 in 1989, Ntombi started her school career at Phakamisani Primary and matriculated at Murray High. She obtained her Bachelor’s and an Honours degree in Sociology of Health from the University of the Western Cape. She went on to complete her Master’s in Public Health, specialising in Health Education and Social Justice, at Montclair State University in New Jersey, USA. Ntombi is currently a PhD candidate at the Sociology department of the University of South Africa in Tshwane. Her thesis revolves around South Africa’s proposed national health insurance. She says her research “evaluates the implementation of the national health insurance pilot programme in Tshwane District through learning from views and experiences of government stakeholders and healthcare professionals�. I’ve come to know Ntombi at Murray High, but it was a different ball game at the time in that academic excellence was the order of the day - floppiness and laziness were not tolerated. We owe this to the calibre of teachers we had, who encouraged us and prepared a safe space for learning as well as meaningful academic competitions and engagements among us students; teachers who taught us that it was okay to
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dream, to think independently, to question, to find solutions and, most importantly, to dare. Ntombi has dared, indeed, to achieve all that she has at just 29 years of age. She has been living with HIV for the last 12 years, but that has hardly prevented her from chasing her dreams, proving to us all that one’s circumstances are no permanent barrier to reaching one’s goals in life. Her story is one of endurance - no mean feat in this world so quick to judge that which it doesn’t understand. Being the natural teacher that she is, it’s not surprising that Ntombi chose to focus her academic life on health studies. “My personal experience of living with HIV and having family members who passed on because of Aids motivated me to learn more about health - health inequalities, health justice, and health policies,� she says. St Monica’s Anglican Church in KwaNokuthula has invited Ntombi as guest speaker on December 1, which has been hailed as World Aids Day* since the year before her birth. Her talk is entitled ‘Memory boxes: a journey of living
with HIV and weaving dreams through a broken needle’. Says Ntombi: “I will talk about my experience of living with HIV for the past 12 years, starting on how I was diagnosed and how I learned to live with the virus thereafter. “I will reflect on the current state of people living with HIV in our country, and how we can create memory boxes through living a positive life and supporting each other. “I will also discuss the need for institutional, political, and societal transformation to allow people with HIV, affected families and allies to live their lives in harmony.� Saturday’s talk is significant because the South African society is still ignorant; our youth is sexually active, but reckless on safety. Ntombi points out that “the newly diagnosed are left with ARVs in their hands but no road map on moving forward� - in other words, people with HIV do not have solid support structures. She says that a call to action has been made to put pressure on the government and institutions of power “to improve
FINE FRIENDS: Yours truly and Ntombi catching up recently
NOTHING’S GONNA BREAK MY STRIDE: Ntombi Wonci is focussing on health issues for her doctor’s degree at Unisa
the brutal nervous conditions in which we experience living with or without HIV�. Ntombi’s talk is open to the public at 2pm on Saturday December 1 at St Monica’s Anglican Church in KwaNokuthula. • On October 27, 1988, the UN General Assembly officially recognised that the World Health Organisation declared December 1 to be World Aids Day. It has been observed on this date each year since then.
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NEWS & VIEWS
28 November 2018
CXPRESS
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Allegations against Bitou include money laundering and mayor’s double pay A forensic investigation into several allegations of ‘serious misconduct’ is underway after a failed high court bid by Bitou Municipality to prevent a Section 106 intervention by the Western Cape government - YOLANDÉ STANDER reports ITOU council allegedly attempted to prevent a Section 106 intervention by the Western Cape MEC for local government Anton Bredell into dealings of the municipality following 11 different allegations of misconduct. These include an allegation of the establishment of “ghost companies” clandestinely run by municipal officials which performed non-existent contracts for the municipality. On November 16, the Western Cape High Court found in favour of the department, denying the municipality’s attempt to stop the investigation. “The judge found that there were a number of serious complaints levelled against the municipality and its staff, particularly involving employees within the mayor’s office. The judge stated that each complaint
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was sufficiently serious to warrant forensic investigation,” Bredell said. The judgment ordered council to comply with the Section 106 investigation initiated by Bredell and further demanded that the council desist from impeding and or undermining the investigation. While Bredell confirmed that a forensic team had been sent to Bitou to conduct the investigation, he said it did not mean that the municipality would necessarily be placed under administration although intervention could eventually lead down that route. ‘There were a number of serious complaints levelled against the municipality and its staff - each complaint was sufficiently serious to warrant investigation’
DA caucus leader in Bitou Bill Nel said the court highlighted several allegations which its judgment was based on. These included allegations of the mayor’s office being involved in discretionary grant-in-aid funds to assist needy beneficiaries and organisations involved in welfare with money. He added an interim forensic report indicated that this amounted to a moneylaundering scheme. Another allegation includes that of bribery of up to R50,000 to obtain contracts with Bitou Municipality. Nel said an interim forensic report also alleged that mayor Peter Lobese, while employed with Bitou Municipality, received a further salary from Makana Municipality in the Eastern Cape. Bitou municipal spokesman James Sijama however
Brutal nature of Plett nurse’s murder confirmed in Knysna court Yolandé Stander
HE high court trial involving the man accused of raping and murdering Plettenberg Bay hospice nurse Penny Cumming, has commenced in Knysna over the past two weeks. Gcobani Lokwe, who pleaded not guilty to the charges, appeared in Knysna circuit high court for the past two weeks. He is accused of raping and killing the 63-year-old Schoongezicht Country Estate resident in January this year. He was arrested on January 30 when he was allegedly hiding near a school in KwaNokuthula, following
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the grisly discovery the previous day. Cumming’s naked and bruised body was found on the floor of her home by a friend. Her home was ransacked and her Volvo SUV was missing. The vehicle, which was partially destroyed, was found near Nekkies in Knysna later that day. It was later established that Cumming had also been raped and that the cause of death was strangulation. Among the many witnesses that have been called to take the stand over the past two weeks includes forensic pathologist Dr Mariette Hurst, who testified about
her autopsy findings. She testified that Cumming had been raped before she was strangled and showed signs of blunt force trauma to her face. She further said Cumming had two broken ribs and a broken sternum. Hurst also found that the strangulation was done by hands. The matter was set down until Friday and is likely to continue in February next year. Lokwe is currently in custody after he was denied bail in the Plettenberg Bay Magistrate’s Court in February this year. The matter was subsequently transferred to the high court. Garden Route Media
said Bredell’s move was nothing more than a publicity stunt and abuse of authority for political gain. He said the allegation by Bredell that the municipality wanted to prevent the department’s intervention was not true. “Part A of this application sought an urgent order that the investigation launched be stayed pending the review. The action is a legally permissible process and not a waste of the ratepayers’
money,” Sijama said. He further said that the second part of the application sought to review Bredell’s decision and to produce the relevant record of the decision. “The orders were sought as a result of the approach adopted by Bredell, as the council believed his conduct fell foul of the constitutional principles of legality and principles enshrined in the provisions of the Intergovernmental Re-
lations Framework Act.” Sijama said some of these issues included Bredell failing on several occasions to provide council with “adequate information to enable it to properly respond to the queries raised by him”. “Further to that he has imposed impossible deadlines for responses to his queries.” Sijama said the municipality however welcomed the court’s decision and would not question it. Garden Route Media
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NEWS & VIEWS
28 November 2018
Incubator programme launched by Bitou and partners in business HERE is hope for several Small, Medium, and Micro-sized Enterprises (SMMEs) in Plettenberg Bay after an agreement by Bitou Municipality, Nedbank, and SEDA to partner for an incubator programme aimed at assisting small businesses. In this partnership, Nedbank contributes R440,000 of funding, coaching and mentoring support to the SMMEs; SEDA provides business support, while Bitou Municipality facilitates and coordinates the programme. The memorandum of agreement for this partnership was concluded in September and the opportunity was advertised for the SMMEs to apply
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in October. After the November deadline date, 22 applicants out of 33 were shortlisted for interviews. Finally, 18 SMMEs successfully made the list of first-ever beneficiaries of this programme, which was launched on Thursday November 22 at The Fat Fish restaurant. Nedbank Public Sector manager Phumela Xanywa said the partnership was designed to assist previously disadvantaged SMMEs in particular, so turning job seekers into creators of jobs. SEDA district manager Quinton Coetzee - represented in Plett by popular business advisor Fumanekile ‘Fumi’ Makuyekwe, who was voted Best SEDA Business Advisor in the
Western Cape - said the biggest challenge for small businesses was not money but information on how to access funding. An excited mayor Peter Lobese said he was very grateful that SEDA, Nedbank, and Bitou had found each other, adding “it is always good to have such partnerships for the benefit of our SMMEs”. Lobese concluded: “For a municipality to have money it must generate revenue, and if these SMMEs become successful they will contribute to our revenue. So today we celebrate the launch of this three-year contract, and I hope all partners will be honest to each other so that we can be the best together.”
CREATING FAT BUSINESS FUTURES: From left are Bitou LED officer Jofre Lottering, Nedbank Public Sector provincial manager Edwin Moses, Bitou mayor Peter Lobese, Nedbank Public Sector national manager Phumela Xanywa, SEDA district manager Quinton Coetzee, Nedbank Plett Business manager Jualette de Klerk, and Nedbank Business manager Riaan Marais
Knysna Municipality is ready for season REATER Knysna - including Noetzie, Knysna town, Brenton, Belvidere, Rheenendal, Buffalo Bay, and Sedgefield - has long been a favourite holiday destination of local and international visitors. According to Knysna’s acting municipal manager, Jonny Douglas, administration and supporting staff are ready to provide residents and visitors with exceptional services throughout this summer season. “We constantly challenge ourselves to offer our residents a high standard of service delivery,” he said. “And, with an influx of visitors expected this summer, we have made the necessary preparations to continue this same level of service despite the increase in seasonal population.” The directorates of Community Services and Planning and Economic Development have compiled a seasonal plan to facilitate the smooth running of services during this period of increased demand. The plan was implemented earlier in November and will run until February 2019. It entails increased activity in several departments, includ-
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ing refuse collection, traffic and law enforcement, parks, water treatment, roads and public works, and informal trading. “We will be working harder than usual to make sure our residents and visitors enjoy their holidays,” Douglas said. “Our town - alongside areas within our greater municipal borders - has overcome many challenges over the last 24 months. We all deserve to take a breather and to enjoy the beauty that
still surrounds us. “I urge our residents to make the most of the facilities available to you. I welcome our guests and thank you for choosing Knysna as your home for the holidays. “I thank our council, administration, and all staff for working together to create an inspired, innovative and inclusive town where we can all make the most of summer.” Visit www.cxpress.co.za to read the full report.
Protection for Knysna’s estuary After a pilot phase, cargo nets are now ready to be rolled out to five more channels from the town’s CBD - this net at Ashmead channel survived last week’s heavy rainfalls, collecting four full bags of rubbish, which would have landed in the estuary. Photo: Scott Ronaldson SANParks
NEWS & VIEWS
28 November 2018
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Violence epidemic spreads to the Garden Route
Correspondent BOB HOPKIN recounts horrifying outcomes revealed at last Friday’s Garden Route Distict Municipal conference
BADS OF THE DADS: Detective coordinator Adele van der Poll bemoaned the fact that traumatised children seem to be drinking as much as their fathers do
HE recently renamed Garden Route District Municipality has not been wasting any time in trying to improve living conditions for its residents. The latest initiative, launched on November 23, was a gathering to set off its 16 Days of Activism for no violence against women and children. The period from November 25 until December 10 will see several individual events in locations where the problem is most severe, in the hope that drawing attention to this scourge may help reduce its severity. While a number of speakers stated the obvious - that any crime, and especially violence against family and friends, is abhorrent - they offered little in the way of
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solutions. However, the contribution made by the three SAPS staff present, based not on emotions but facts, provided some measure of the scale of the problem being faced. Major General Oswald Reddy, head of sector policing in George, set the scene with a list of violent crime statistics for the financial year 2017/18. There were 126 murders, including 15 women and 14 children; of 108 attempted murders, 32 included women and children. Of 2,824 grievous bodily harm assaults, 991 were on women and 215 on children; 577 rapes included 321 on women and 226 on children; of 200 sexual assaults, 85 were on women and, shock-
JUST STOP IT: The pledge signed at last Friday’s conference
ingly, 104 on children. Reddy emphasised that these statistics were only those reported to the police, where a docket was opened, and did not reflect instances in which victims were too embarrassed or shamed to report someone who may be a family member to the police. He estimates that the real situation is far worse than these figures suggest. “We are living in a violent society,” he said, “and the police are the last line of defence. “If you are a victim of any of these crimes do report it to us, as the problem is just going to recur if you ignore and brush it under the carpet. Violent criminals almost always re-offend.” He pointed out another astonishing statistic; violent crimes are usually the easiest to solve as they have an 86% success rate on adult violent crimes and 89% with children - due to the fact that, in most cases, the offender is known to the victim. Unfortunately, he recounted, in many cases the victim reconsidered after a few days and, frustratingly, withdrew the complaint because it concerned a family member or close friend of the family. SAPS colleague Cluster Detective Coordinator colonel Adele van der Poll added her own concerns. “In some cases the hopelessness of someone’s situation brings an addiction, usually to alcohol but sometimes to drugs. Substance abuse always brings emotions closer to the surface and if their immediate needs cannot be satisfied, then violence is often the result. “If children tend to look like their mothers, they now drink like their fathers,” she said. The conference ended with key members of the community signing a pledge to stop acts of violence against women and children, but it remains to be seen whether good intentions can be turned into good results.
LAST LINE OF DEFENCE: Major general Oswald Reddy urged victims to report crimes to the police, as the problem “won’t disappear if you brush it under the carpet”
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NEWS & VIEWS
28 November 2018
Global survey sheds light on senior learners’ preferences and future plans CCORDING to new research by Cambridge International, 85% of South African students aspire to continue their studies at university once they have left a school. In addition, many still aspire to pursue the more traditional, highly respected careers like medicine and dentistry (13%), engineering (13%), and psychology/ psychiatry (11%). The first-ever Global Education Census by leading international education organisation Cambridge International aimed to find out what life is like in schools around the world today for students aged 12-19 and their teachers. The 2018 census looked at other aspects of modern education including students’ favourite subjects, extracurricular activities offered at school, homework, and how schools celebrate success. The census found the most popular subjects chosen by SA students are English Language (95%), Maths (93%) and other languages (80%), followed by Accounting (29%) and Geography (17%). In fact, more SA students take Accounting and Geography than any other country surveyed. In contrast, SA students’ favourite subject is actually Biology (40%), followed by Maths (37%) and English Language (26%). This is similar to the favourite subjects of students around the world, whose favourite subjects are Maths (38%), Biology (29%), Chemistry (23%) and Physics (23%). Students in SA aspire to work for well-established organisations after completing their tertiary education. They also lead the way with the highest number of students globally (8%) who plan to take a year off after finishing matric. Juan Visser, Cambridge International’s regional director for Sub-Saharan Africa, said: “For a successful career, students need to
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work hard and be dedicated to their studies. “Education is a very important tool for everyone to succeed in life, as it is no secret that a good education has the power to change a life. It is important that educators and counsellors equip students with good career advice to make the right subject choices ahead of applying to university.” Wallace Isaacs, deputy director of Student Recruitment and Enrolment at the University of Pretoria, said: “Going to university after high school is a journey that is still expected for students in South Africa by many parents, educators, and the students themselves. “We find a significant number of students aspire to pursue careers in what is considered more conventional but well respected fields like medicine and engineering. However, with the advance of technology and globalisation, there are now a greater variety of professions that students can consider. “For example the new Masters Programme in Information Technology: Big Data Science, which didn’t exist a few years ago. “It is however important that students plan well in advance to ensure they select the right subjects early in high school, enabling them to gain entry to their desired university course. “It’s always advisable for students to seek advice from a career guidance counsellor at their school, or contact the university of their choice to get the right information.” Other key findings in SA • Career advice/university counselling: Over half of teachers say their school provides careers advice (51%) to help support students to fulfil their aspirations. For students who take extra lessons and/or tutoring, Maths (81%), Physics (37%) and Chemistry (31%) are the most popular subjects. • Homework: Over a third (35%) of South African
students say they spend 2-3 hours completing homework every day - this is the same amount of time reported by most students globally (28%). Students in SA have varying amounts of homework at the weekend, with 20% saying they spend 2-3 hours on homework, and 18% reporting they spend 3-4 hours on it. • Exams: Interestingly, 45% of schools in SA have two sets of exams per year - the highest globally. This is mainly due to the fact that when students apply for university or college, the mid-year exams are used to gain provisional entry. Preparations for exams are never an easy task, so many teachers use different methods; 70% of teachers in SA prefer teaching students how to respond to different questions, 69% provide extra lessons, and 59% advise students to look at the mark allocation, as this determines the length of the answer. • Technology in the classroom: Nearly half of students (48%) now use their smartphones as educational aids. However, traditional tools still have their place in education with 70% of students saying whiteboards are still used in their classroom (compared to 31% globally) and 89% saying they still use pen and paper. SA has the lowest proportion of laptop and desktop computer use - just 12% of students said they used these during lessons. Globally, one of the most interesting findings of the report is that one in three pupils does no exercise at school. This is despite growing concern by leading global health experts that childhood obesity and unhealthy lifestyles are on the rise. More than a third of students (37%) worldwide don’t exercise at school. Girls are less likely to play sport at school, with two in five girls (41%) saying they don’t take part in school sports, versus 28% of male students.
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Skills development key as province positions itself as a global technology hub HE Western Cape has all it takes to become a global technological hub, and the provincial department of Economic Development and Tourism has now launched a process to develop skills to this end. The department hosted a workshop during which trainers, educational institutions and employers presented research about the current state of digital skills in the province, identify opportunities, and map a way forward for development. A shared agenda and roadmap will now be developed for release in April 2019. The target includes ensuring 80% internet penetration for citizens in the province, and securing R10billion in investments in the sector by 2030. Speaking at the event,
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NEWS & VIEWS
28 November 2018
Economic Opportunities minister Beverley Schäfer said: “We have set the ambitious goal for our province to become a leading global digital hub. To do this we need to have the fundamental pillars of digital skills and competencies in place.” “Changes are happening at lightning speed in the digital space, and to meet the needs of a hyper-connected global economy and remain competitive, Western Cape businesses and individuals must keep pace. We cannot afford to be left behind. The impact on our competitiveness as a region and on jobs would be too great.” The Western Cape is already home to a strong and developing tech sector, with a wide mix of tech start-ups and international giants
like Amazon recently announcing a new data centre in the province. The AS-IS research report examined various sectors in the Western Cape economy (breakdown below) in order to understand its digital readiness and skills requirements. Said Schäfer: “As opportunities in the digital economy open up, and more investment is driven into the region, we need the skills to support this growth and amplify it. We also need to increase the ability of marginalised communities to participate in a digitally enabled world.” Retail and wholesale The retail and wholesale sector plays a major role in the province’s economy, registering average annual growth of 2.6% between 2007 and
2016. Nearly a quarter of all South Africa’s jobs (21%) are created in this sector. South Africa currently has around 18.4-million e-commerce users, with this expected to grow by an additional 6.36-million by 2021. According to the study, the sector will require skills in ecommerce management and planning, call centre agents, and software developers. However, as it becomes more digitised, significant upskilling and re-skilling of staff will be required in order to keep up with changes. Business and financial services This sector is the biggest employer in the province, adding 64% of the total jobs created in the Western Cape since 2011. Cape Town made its debut on the World Financial
Centres Index earlier this year at number 38, overtaking Johannesburg as the top financial centre in SubSaharan Africa. Key skills required include data analytics, big data, cyber security, machine learning, and cloud computing. The study suggests that universities will not be able to adapt their modules to keep up with the fast-paced changes in this field and, as such, a culture of innovation needs to be developed to keep up with skills needs. Accelerators, incubators, boot camps and master classes would be ideally suited to keep skills in this area fresh. Tourism This sector is a major job creator. The study notes that only 22% of visitors to SA use traditional travel agencies to book their trips. Online booking tools for flights, hotel reservations and other tourism attractions have changed the
tourism landscape, and yet, the study found that few tour guide courses offer any kind of mobile technology training. It notes that bigger international hotel chains will be able to keep up with changing digital needs, however, smaller and medium-sized hospitality businesses must possess social media skills as these are key to marketing their businesses. Animation, fi lm and media, gaming The Western Cape’s small animation industry is well developed, while the film and media industry has shown good growth in recent years. These industries are technologically driven, and with the correct skills base, have the potential to contribute significantly to economic growth. Key skills gaps include film and video editors, sound engineers, drone operators, game developers, and visualeffects artists.
Knysna food traders now know all about doing it the good, clean, healthy way
Garden Route District Municipality’s (GRDM) Environmental Health office in Knysna recently held an informal food traders training session at Masifunde Library in Joodse Kamp. The purpose of this gathering was to create awareness among informal traders about food safety, legal requirements and responsibilities, and good operational procedures, with special focus on red meat handlers’ awareness of food safety issues. Topics included health and hygiene practices in an informal food environment; five keys to safer food; and the legal requirements and implications for formal and informal slaughtering. The 23 participants - pictured above at the GRDM Environmental Health premises in Knysna - also received incentives of significant value. The traders all expressed their gratitude towards GRDM for empowering them with the knowledge that would guide them to prepare food that is as healthy as it is hygienic.
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NEWS & VIEWS
28 November 2018
CXPRESS
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Here’s what you need to know about Plett’s pursuit of polo excellence ANY local residents are unaware of the fact that more polo is played in Plettenberg Bay than anywhere else on the African continent. Several factors contribute to this achievement, the main one being the sheer driving force of members to achieve ‘polo excellence’. “We are constantly striving to be the best polo club in Africa - or, according to some, to remain the best club on the continent. Alas, that is not for us to say. “We let the polo and our events speak for themselves,” says Plett Polo committee member Garth Kanigowski. “Make no mistake, we are most fortunate to be playing polo here. As a club, we inherited some of the best facilities in the world, and all of that are right here in Plett which, as top holiday destination, attracts players from all over South Africa and the world. “It would be remiss of us not to capitalise on all of these advantages in our pursuit of excel-
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lence,” continues Garth. “Last season was our most successful yet, with 106 team entries and over 2,000 chukkas played. Hundreds of players from all corners of South Africa joined players from 11 different countries who came to enjoy Plett and our polo. “Particularly rewarding, too, was the fact that for the first time we really had the ‘buy in’ from Plett locals. “A sure highlight was watching sponsors Ruan of Dunlop, Warren of Medlife, and Enrico of Ristorante Enrico’s fame revelling in their teams battling it out in the SA Open Saturday Series. “I think the town is now realising that we are an inclusive club, and not a place teeming with people regarding themselves as ‘exclusive’. We are truly energised by this and now fully focused on the looming polo season. I can assure you that we’re doing everything in our power to ramp it up!” For the love of the game... Polo is an ancient game with its roots in the 6th
Century BC. To play polo is to love the game but also to understand just how challenging it is. One of the main elements that has changed over the years is the sheer speed at which the game is being played, bringing with it a whole new set of challenges; pony/player safety is one, and spectator enjoyment another. Due to the constant stream of international visitors to Plett’s club and having a fair number of players venturing off in winter to compete abroad, Plett Polo is well positioned to keep abreast of developments in the game. At present, there are talks between the Argentine, British, and American polo associations as to what can be done to keep the sport of polo alive and growing. Buster MacKenzie, a regular South African polo team coach, is in close contact with these associations and Plett is one of the very few clubs to be trialling some of the proposed changes. “Change is always diffi-
cult to propose and even tougher to enact. However, if you love the game as much as we all do, some change is necessary to remain relevant. “Think of 20/20 cricket; that was a battle to get off the ground but it has done wonders for the wider sport itself,” says Buster. “We have been trialling some changes to the game here in Plett, such as shorter chukkas, not swopping direction after each goal, and having a ‘knock in’, more in line with soccer than the traditional polo line-up. “How many of these changes will stick we don’t know, as it’s a constant conversation with the rest of our country and the international polo organisations,” he explains. “However, our intentions are true and stick to the basic principles for trying: we are putting the game first with an eye on horse safety, player enjoyment, and spectator involvement.” Visit www.plettpolo. co.za or call 064 877 2457 for details about the forthcoming season.
KURLAND TAKES THE CAKE: SA Open winners Kurland flank Peter Behr, raising the cup at centre - from left are Rory Bryden, Mike Osborn, Ben Crowe, and Gareth Evans
TERRIFIC TRIO: The delightful SA Open 2018 sponsors were, from left, Warren Roman, Ruan Pretorius, and Enrico Iacopini
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CXPRESS
SOCIAL SCENE
28 November 2018
MUNGO STRIKES ONE: When the folk at the new Mungo Mill, situated in Plett’s Old Nick Village, celebrated its first birthday on November 17, many guests were in attendance to benefit from the discounts, refreshments and tunes on offer. Pictured at right, Mungo founder and master weaver Stuart Holding pops a champagne cork to celebrate this beautiful baby’s first milestone. At far right, Plett Tourism’s Patty Butterworth and friends amble along Mungo’s elevated walkway with a view of this unique working weaving hub. Check out the beautiful houseware and other delights produced by Mungo Mill’s innovative staff. Old Nick Village is situated just off the Plett N2.
People, places & events
BREAKFAST FOR WORD BOFFINS: The Bitou 10 Foundation’s ‘Ready Steady Read Write’ tutors enjoyed a delicious breakfast together at Ouland Royale, in celebration of a successful year of early reading and writing intervention at Kranshoek Primêr. Said B10F manager Sooneela Naina, pictured at right above: “Thank you all for touching the lives of 52 learners and for making a difference in the Kranshoek community.”
TRAINED TO SHOOT THE MOON: The November gathering of Plett’s PhotoFUNatics came and went, the ‘Night’ theme being well supported and delivering some scary pics among a wonderful mix of ‘Open’ subjects. Says convenor Derek Rushton: “Eileen Covarr is our seniors winner with the steam train pictured at right. Says Eileen: “This photo was taken during the Photographic Society of SA’s recent congress in Port Elizabeth. The organisers arranged for us to photograph the Apple Express as well as this train. We had to be there at 5am to enable us to benefit from the best light.” Junior winner Anne-Marie Hattingh’s great capture at Lookout Beach, which adorns this edition’s cover, is explained as follows: “It was full moon and I was on Lookout to see if I could get a nice shot of the moon rising over the ocean. Then the beautiful scene of a father and daughter, and paddlers in the surf unfolded right in front of me!” Thanks for the eye candy, guys. Email Derek at derek_rushton@hotmail.com for PhotoFUNatics info.
Photo: Eileen Covarr
Celebrate Season
Photo: Alex Arwin Selfe
DELIGHTING IN THE CAVEMAN: Tim Plewman gave his 1894th performance of ‘Defending the Caveman’ - a satirical revue of the differences between men and women - to a capacity audience at The White House Theatre in Plettenberg Bay on the evening of November 22. The production was held in aid of the Kids of Kurland school project, which was founded in 2001 to raise funds for bringing about improvements to the quality of education given to learners at The Crags Primary School in Kurland. The evening was a feast of fun that evoked a riotous mix of guffaws, belly-laughs and chuckles. At right, Basil and Marietta van Rooyen chat to Cindy Wilson-Trollip of Plett Tourism, right. At top right from left are Christina and Raymond Auerbach of George, Charissa Prein of Schiedam near Rotterdam in The Netherlands, who is presently on holiday in South Africa and staying with Wittedrift residents Vernon Pendlebury and Philippa Mallec, at right. - Timothy Twidle
SUNERA TAKES OUR BREATH AWAY: Alex Selfe - who took this pic of a pretty chestnut gelding called Callaho Contendi in the stables at Sunera Equestrian Estate on Saturday - was one of hundreds of horse lovers who revelled in the show jumping extravaganza presented in the heart of Plett since last Tuesday, and culminating in the Western Cape and SA adult championships over the weekend. Those in attendance all seemed to agree that the event brought incredible flair to the line-up of Plett’s pre-seasonal events, with a significant influx of prize horses, grooms, riders and their families making for an interesting mix of visitors and locals at the spectacular venue at all times. Diarise, among other Sunera offerings, Prime Circle’s performance on Saturday December 15 - watch this space for details.
BUSINESS
28 November 2018
Audit report paints a dark picture as economy spirals downwards South Africa’s rogue provinces and municipalities are out of control as financial malfeasance continues to grow unabashed, writes STUART MURRAY HE latest eulogy from the country’s Auditor-General (A-G), Kimi Makwetu, is shocking. So out of control are almost 80% of provincial and municipal finances that many have reached rogue status. According to Makwetu, the majority of departments found guilty of maladministration - irregular expenditure, misspending or downright fraud - prefer to challenge the audit report rather than address it. And, he reports, some of these “challenges” are getting rough - to the extent that in some provinces police must accompany audit staff on assignment. Some have been shot, others held hostage. Many departments have been on the black list for a number of years. Bitou Municipality joined the outlaw ranks last year and it has been under fire from the Plettenberg Bay Ratepayers’ Association for non-compliant tendering. In his report, Makwetu noted that the number of departments incurring fruitless and wasteful expenditure had increased by 10% while fruitless and wasteful spending increased by 200%. Audited irregular expenditure reached R51billion, however this
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climbs to almost R80-billion if one includes nonaudited entities. Possibly the most alarming item on the black list is that at national level the departments of Education, Health and Public Works have the poorest results: only 33% of these departments received qualified reports. Considering the importance of these three departments, the news is damning; together they are responsible for more than half the budget spent on all departments. Much-vaunted technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges struggle to account for their finances, says the report. Of the 48 colleges audited by the A-G, only three received clean audits. Makwetu: “These colleges cannot accurately account for the money they receive or for what is owed to them and for their assets.” He criticised the potential loss of money through the poor management of assets, revenue and debtors at these colleges “at a time when funding is desperately needed for tertiary education”. The Road Accident Fund - which contributes so heavily to the overall
cost of fuel - also came in for some stick. It alone accounted for 75% of the R35-billion incurred by public entities whose expenditure exceeded their revenue. On a wider scale, the A-G revealed that serious weaknesses in the financial management of national and provincial government have not been addressed over the past four years. He warned that there was a risk of increased claims and litigation against departments, pointing out: “Departments do not budget for such claims, which means that all successful claims will be paid from funds earmarked for the delivery of services, further eroding the ability of these departments to be financially sustainable.” The dark picture grows... According to Makwetu, state-owned enterprises (SOEs) are also on the slippery slopes. There is “considerable doubt” whether SABC, PetroSA, and the Post Office can continue their operations in the future “without financial assistance”. Of the 16 SOEs audited by the A-G’s department, 88% had weaknesses in performance reporting. Irregular expenditure came
to R28.4-billion, which included R19.6-billion at Eskom and R8.1-billion at Transnet. Also listed are TransCaledon Tunnel Authority, Alexkor, and Broadband Infracor. Overall, warned Makwetu, the finances of Eskom, Transnet, and other SOEs have deteriorated to such an extent that they now pose a significant risk to the nation’s finances. Furthermore, audits still have to be done on South African Airways, SA Express, and Denel. State-owned companies are not applying proper accounting controls and ministries responsible for oversight of these entities are not doing a proper job. Overall, only 23% of national government departments obtained clean audits - down 30% on the previous year. Unauthorised expenditure rose by 38% while fruitless and wasteful expenditure surged more than 200%. Onwards and downwards we go... • Stuart Murray (stuartmurray758@gmail.com) is a former senior assistant editor of Financial Mail and co-founder, editor, and CEO of Finance Week. He is retired and lives in Plettenberg Bay.
WC Economic Opportunities minister slams rates hike HE Reserve Bank’s decision on Thursday November 22 to increase interest rates will have the biggest impact on those living on the breadline, and is the result of poor policy decisions made by the national government, according to Western Cape Economic Opportunities minister Beverley Schäfer. “We believe this crisis has been created in Pretoria as a direct result of corruption which had cost the country billions of rands, and bad policy decisions like land expropriation without compensation,” Schäfer said. “If the country’s systems and state-owned enterprises had been properly operated over the
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ECONOMIC OPTIONS OBLITERATED: Minister Beverley Schäfer says the poor will be hit hardest by last week’s rates hike Photo:Colin Hendricks
past nine years, this rate hike would never have been necessary,” she said. The rate hike is likely to impact the poor and middle class the most, as it becomes more expensive for them to service their debt. “This is just the latest in a series of blows the consumer has had to shoulder this year, including several consecutive fuel price hikes which have put the cost of fuel at an all-time high, and a regressive VAT increase. “Eskom has also requested a 15% electricity price hike over the next few years. Consumers are being punished for the national government’s poor decision making,” Schäfer said.
South Africans are paying more for petrol not just because the cost of oil has increased, but because economic decisions had seen the rand devalue, and the cost of imports increase as a result. Schäfer said the rates hike had not been an attempt to reign in consumer spending, as local inflation had been subdued, and had registered within the 6% band. “What consumers are essentially paying for is imported inflation because the currency has been devalued. We are paying more for imported goods and fuel and then being further punished with interest rate hikes,” Schäfer concluded.
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CXPRESS
INTERVAL
28 November 2018
‘n Skrikwekkende spinnekop storie K weet nou nie hoe julle oor spinnekoppe voel nie maar ek ry eerder ‘n fiets sonder ‘n saal voor ek een konfronteer. Ja, gisteraand lê ek rustig en lees, minding my own business, bedlampie brand baie domesticated en sag met die komplimente van Cash Crusaders, toe ek so ‘n sagte geskarrel in die kamer hoor. Ek dog toe eers dis die mot wat wil selfmoord pleeg teen die bedlamp se balpie… kyk, nee, mot se kind sit so stil soos ‘n pedigree foksterrier wat razorblades uitlaat. Toe is die skuifelgeluid weer daar en ek skrik alles regop wat plat was en alles pap wat op was. ‘n Onaardige gedrog van ‘n spinnekop met WP rugbykouse, en wat as weltergewig kan inweeg, toer teen 8,000 revvs oor die vloer en spring sommer so met die laaikassie se handles op. Op slag bemors ek my beste linne in ‘n herfskleur skakering in. Ek gooi alles, boek, bedlamp, asbak, glas - die hele toet - tot op die laagste vlak van die kamer, die vloer. Nou is die moebiese spider nog tussen my en die kombuis, waar ek, oor hul my so deur die jare gemolesteer het, ‘n arsenaal van Doom vergader het. Nou weet ek, ek sal flat out moet hol vir daai Doom. Ek trek weg kombuis toe en 10 sekondes
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later is ek by die kombuisdeur en moet backpaddle om nie twee agterdeure te hê nie. Lord of the Dance se agterwêreld, my bra! Terug, daar sit die bliksempie nog, en sommer so met die briektrek spuit ek al… gelukkig net Doom… osoonlaag en als se moses, spuit hom leeg! Ek duik my harige vriend soos Ryk Neethling agter die bedkassie in. Moses toe moet hy wees na daai dubbel Doom en stink-reuk wat nou dikker as toffie in die kamer hang. Ek trek die kassie bietjie vorentoe, skiem nog so ek het gewen, toe skielik hol daai vier-wiel van ‘n aardsgedrog teen die muur op, reg voor my oë verby, tot op kophoogte. Agt oë soos Beetle wheelcaps kyk my vierkantig in my twee ogies. Nou is dit nag. Ek verlaat myself, my water breek, my knieë swik, my longe loop leeg, my lippe parteer van mekaar. ‘n Kreet verlaat my binneste, ontsnap oor my trillende lippe. Dis toe die klanke wat Black Sabbath na die Drakensberg Seunskoor laat klink. Dit was maar ook spaaiderman se laaste asem, want net daarna los hy als en kom skeefskeef grond toe, soos fisant stront in vlug. Al retererende het ek en Doom die veldslag gewen!
If women ruled the world, there would be no wars...
...just a bunch of countries not talking to one another
Using spell-checker VERYONE knows David is a stickler for good spelling. So when an associate emailed technical documents asking him to “decifer” them, David had to set him straight. “Decipher is spelled
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with a ‘ph’, not an ‘f’,” he wrote. “In case you’ve forgotten, the spell-checker comes free with your Microsoft programme.” A minute later came his associate’s reply: “Must be dephective.”
Late night privilege teenage girl had just been given familycar privileges. One Friday night, she returned home very late from a party. The next morning, her father went out to the driveway to get the newspaper and came back into the house frowning. At 11am the girl sleepily
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walked into the kitchen, and her father asked: “What time did you get in last night?” “Not too late, Dad,” she replied nervously. Dead-panned, her father said: “Then I’ll have to talk to the paperboy about putting my paper under the front tyre of the car.”
ON THE SOAPBOX
28 November 2018
Letters to the Editor
Email: editor@cxpress.co.za - Fax: 044 533 0852 - PO Box 1449, Plett 6600
Famsa’s solution for the perfect gift Traditionally, Christmas and other festive days are a time for exchanging gifts. It can be quite a challenge to find a suitable and affordable gift for a special person or even for an acquaintance or client. Some of the options have become boring and one is not sure if the recipient would be happy with what you thought of as a good idea. Famsa has the solution. Families South Africa (Famsa) is a Non-Profit Organisation situated on the Garden Route. We have been rendering services in this area for more than 20 years. Famsa enhances emotional well-being and relationships through counselling and training to better equip individuals, families, and communities for resilience, restoration, responsiveness, and resourcefulness. A donation to Famsa in
lieu of a gift indicates the importance you associate with the recipient. The amount could be kept confidential. At the same time, you will be making a positive impact on the life of someone who is truly in need of the services the organisation offers. This gift will be a true reflection of the meaning behind the tradition of the giving of a gift - appreciation, love, and caring. There are several options for individuals and companies. Let Famsa take the stress out of shopping for gifts. Through your support you will be adding value to the services Famsa renders - bringing about positive change in our community. Please email Famsa at fdknysna@famsa.org.za or call or WhatsApp 084 240 3164 for more details. Lou van der Merwe - Famsa fundraising coordinator, Plett
Market Square paint job jolts the memory bank
Perino Pama of Plettenberg Bay sent this photograph, saying readers would have noticed that The Market Square shopping centre has painted each section in a different and bright colour. “I must say, it has livened the place up - and I was just very impressed by the tenacity of the painter who had to hang sideways on a long ladder with a heavy drum of paint. It reminds me of my days in London cleaning the windows on building sites. We tried to save money on cranes and cleaned the windows that way, but we had harnesses at least.” Those were the days, indeed! Swing past The Market Square shopping centre to see its bright new facades and then hit the shops and restaurants for a good seasonal self-indulge session!
Welcome Military Academy when they traverse the Route
BLOOD, SWEAT, AND CHEERS: This photo was taken during last year’s endurance race; this year, teams will depart from Plett’s Central Beach on Monday December 3
To pay homage to former president Nelson Mandela and ‘Ma’ Albertina Sisulu, who were both born a 100 years ago, students of the Military Academy at Saldanha will this year kick off their annual endurance race from Qunu in the Eastern Cape - the village where Nelson Mandela grew up in. The Military Academy houses the Faculty of Military Science of Stellenbosch University; students of the Academy have been planning, funding, and taking part in Trans Enduro for more than 30 years. The race is held to raise funds for the Academy’s Masiza community outreach programme, while the students are also involved in social impact projects along the way such as cleaning streets and neighbourhoods, painting school buildings, and visiting retirement homes. The Masiza programme this year focuses on the Girl Child and early childhood development. Students collected sanitary products and will hand these out at certain schools along the way. The theme of our Trans Enduro 2018 is ‘Thuma mina’ (‘Send me’), in response to president Cyril Ramaphosa’s call during his inaugural State of the Nation address on February 16 for South Africans to “accept the call to selflessly serve the embattled nation”. The exercise is planned and executed by the Academy students. This develops their leadership skills and enhances their understanding of the practical issues related to community service. In return, communities get exposed to the high calibre of young men and women serving in de-
fence of the country. Nine teams - including land, running, log, signal, media, cycling, and sea teams - travel from the Eastern Cape to Saldanha over a period of 11 days, staying over in towns along the way. While the cycling team covers a certain distance on bicycles, the sea team travels along the coast with two rubber dinghies. Land teams drive with vehicles from town to town collecting money, while the log team prepares for the other teams’ arrival. There is also a running team that covers a distance of 10km each day. At certain points the teams change. It is tradition that the mayor of each town writes a short letter of goodwill to the mayor of the next town. The letter is handed to the exercise commander who delivers it to the mayor of the next town. Each morning will see a short opening ceremony as organised in conjunction with the various mayoral committees of municipalities along the way. After departing from Qunu on November 27, opening ceremonies take place daily in East London, Port Elizabeth, and Jeffrey’s Bay before the team will enter your area. Please join us for the Plett ceremony on Monday December 3 on Central Beach at 7:30am, while the George ceremony takes place at the same time on December 4 at St George’s Square in Knysna Road. The teams then make their way via Still Bay, Struisbaai, Hermanus, and Hout Bay before arriving at their end destination of Saldanha Bay on December 8. Martin Viljoen, Cape Town
Plett community veterinarian carers get the national nod Tina van Reenen of Plett shared this photo and wrote how proud she was of Bitou CVC being selected as Community Vet Clinic of the Month in ‘VetNews’ - the monthly magazine that serves as official mouthpiece for SAVA (SA Veterinary Association) and forum to communicate with members. The article and pics can also be found in the mag’s electronic version, but the gist of it is that Bitou CVC has been running in Plett since 2005 with its main aims being vaccination/sterilisation and education. Says Tina: “A dipping programme was started by Marele and Tanya at premises in the industrial area and this has grown beyond expectations. Vaccination and deworming are also done, and kids are only given food for their dogs if the animals are vaccinated and sterilised. We sometimes see up to 80 dogs on a Saturday morning and have given talks at various local schools under the Mercantile Fund programme. Sterilisations and vaccinations are done in all the townships around Plettenberg Bay with help from volunteers. Contributions are collected from the owners to avoid entitlement syndrome and our vehicle collects and drops off the patients weekly. We also work closely with Plett Animal Welfare Service and have a very good working relationship with them.” Well done to all involved in this nationally-recognised initiative. Dr Bert van Reenen is the responsible veterinarian for Bitou CVC, which funds all of the above operations.
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28 November 2018
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SPORT & ADVENTURE
28 November 2018
Wedge now boasts three surf styles as well as beach soccer
WHEEEEDGE! Local bodyboarders like Niklas Martin and Lyndall Jucker joined a long line of national greats - like Mike Murphy, at left - to contend for King of the Wedge over the years; find out what all the buzz is about at Plett’s famous Wedge on Saturday and Sunday
HE Wedge in Plett has been the scene of the same-titled bodyboarding competition for decades, its claim to fame being that it’s the longest-standing event of its kind in South Africa. Whereas before The Wedge took place during the July school holidays and was governed by the SA Bodyboarding Association, the event is now scheduled for December 1 and two, with an exciting new format initialised by Roger Trebilcock of Surfing Life fame.
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“We decided to make it more inclusive by inviting competitors in three categories, being stand-up surfing, bodyboarding and body surfing,” says Roger, adding that the coveted King of the Wedge title will go to the guy or girl who does best in all three disciplines. “You can enter any of the three, as we will have a champ in each division. Another new side to the event is a five-a-side soccer competition that will be played out on the beach, run by
Sticks and Balls Sports Academy, with seniors playing on Saturday and juniors on Sunday,” he says. The prize-giving on Sunday afternoon will to be a fun affair with Surfing Life and Bay Boards sponsored prizes and a couple of surprises… So check in at 8am on Saturday December 1 at Wedge corner just off Hobie Beach, where the surfing action will start around 9. Call Roger on 082 359 0947 or Sticks and Balls on 071 252 4259 for details.
Plett bowlers battle it out Plettenberg Bay Bowling Club hosted a very successful Presidents Day tournament on November 22, when 17 teams from other towns arrived in full force to compete with six PBBC teams and one Personal Trust team to producing some quality bowling. Says the club’s Barry Ricketts: “We were blessed with perfect weather conditions, and many of our visitors complimented us on the quality of our greens and the tasty food provided. So a good day was had by all!” He thanks Helen Melon Properties for sponsoring the event. Prize-winners were as follows: 1st Gerrit and Adrie Theunissen, pictured at right with Petro and Dirk Breedt of George BC; 2nd Duncan Spence-Ross, Neil and Shar Calder and George Simpson of Plett BC, pictured at left; 3rd Sheila Horn, Roger Wright, Carl Louw and Bill Ingram (Plett Country Club); 4th Tommy Kingston, Jo Muller, Di Johnson and Paul van Niekerk (Plett BC); and 5th Larry and Julie Deferville, Peter Harris and Linda Ainscough (Plett BC).